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CORNELL 

UNIVERSITY 

LIBRARY 


GIFT  OF 


Crisfield  Johnson 


„„ Cornell  University  Library 

arY209 

History  of  Allegan  and  Barry  counties,  M 


..      3   1924  032   193  587 

olin,anx 


Cornell  University 
Library 


The  original  of  this  book  is  in 
the  Cornell  University  Library. 

There  are  no  known  copyright  restrictions  in 
the  United  States  on  the  use  of  the  text. 


http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924032193587 


HISTORY 


OF 


ALLEGM  11  UW  COUl 


JIE 


MICHIGAN, 


WITH 


Illustrations  and  Biographical  Sketches 


OF   THEIR 


PROMINENT  MEN  AND  PIONEERS. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

D.  W.  ENSIGN    &    CO. 
1880. 


i^ 


PRESS    OF  J.   B.   LIPPINCOTT   &    CO.,  PHILADELPHIA. 


INTRODUCTIOlsr. 


The  subject  of  this  history  is  the  territory  now  composing  the  counties  of  Allegan  and  Barry,  in  the 
State  of  Michigan,  and  the  acts  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  territory,  whether  red  or  white.  Everything 
lying  beyond  those  limits  will  receive  only  such  mention  as  may  be  necessary  to  show  the  connection  of 
events. 

Its  plan  embraces  three  parts,  the  first  embracing  a  general  history  of  both  counties;  the  second 
containing  separate  histories  of  the  townships  and  villages  of  Allegan  County;  the  third  comprising'like 
separate  histories  of  the  city  of  Hastings  and  the  townships  and  villages  of  Barry  County. 

The  General  History  is  composed  of  a  continuous  connected  account  of  the  Ottawa  and  PottawaUamie 
Indians,  who  formerly  ruled  and  occupied  all  this  region,  with  an  outline  of  the  general  course  of  events 
from  the  advent  of  the  white  man  to  the  present  time,  this  being  followed  by  chapters  devoted  to  various 
subjects  which  could  not  well  be  embodied  in  the  continuous  history, — such  as  the  civil  organization,  the 
lists  of  officers,  the  jiress,  etc.,  concluding  with  brief  sketches  of  the  numerous  regiments  in  which  the 
gallant  sons  of  Allegan  and  Barry  upheld  the  flag  of  the  Union  against  pro-slavery  treason. 

In  the  second  and  third  parts  each  township  history  tells  in  detail  the  story  of  the  hardy  pioneers, 
whose  arduous  toil  and  dauntless  resolution  subdued  the  savage  wilderness  of  fifty  years  ago ;  describes  the 
organization  and  names  the  oiBcers  of  the  township;  and  finally,  gives  separate  sketches  of  tlie  various 
churches  and  societies  to  be  found  within  its  limits.  With  each  township,  too,  are  given  biographical  notices 
of  prominent  citizens  and  old  pioneers,  accompanied  by  their  portraits  or  by  views  of  their  residences. 

Such  is  our  plan,  and  we  can  at  least  guarantee  that  it  is  carried  out  to  the  extent  of  a  full 
and  exhaustive  account  of  the  principal  facts  connected  with  the  history  of  Allegan  and  Barry  Coun- 
ties. As  to  the  manner  of  the  presentation  and  the  correctness  of  the  statements,  we  must  leave 
others  to  judge.  No  one  can  reasonably  expect  perfection, — especially  in  a  work  of  this  size,  in- 
volving the  collection  and  collation  of  such  a  mass  of  details.  But  we  have  taken  great  pains  to 
secure  accuracy,  and  we  believe  we  have  succeeded,  so  far  as  success  is  practicable  in  a  work  of  this 
nature. 

Certain  it  is  that  if  reasonably  accurate,  this  is  a  work  the  value  of  which  will  increase  with 
every  decade  of  years  as  it  rolls  away.  Some  may  possibly  look  askance  now  on  so  simple  a  work 
as  a  county  history,  but  in  future  years  their  children  and  their  children's  children  will,  we  trust 
and   believe,  turn   eagerly  to  these   pages   to   learn   the  humble   but  honorable  story  of  their  home. 

For  the  earliest  history  of  Western  Michigan  we  are  indebted  principally  to  the  works  of  Francis 
Parkman,  who  is  the  recognized  authority  in  regard  to  French  rule  in  America,  and  whose  "Dis- 
covery of  the  Great  West,"  "  Jesuits  in  North  America,"  and  "  Conspiracy  of  Pontiac,"  have  been 
closely  consulted  by  us.  Among  other  works  which  we  have  examined  have  been  Smith's  "Life 
and   Times   of    Lewis   Cass,"   Drake's    "Life   of  Tecumsch,"    Drake's    "Book   of  the  Indians,"    Los- 

3 


INTRODUCTION. 


sing's  "Field  Book  of  the  War  of  1812,"  Lanman's  "Eed  Book  of  Michigan,"  Durant's  "History 
of  Kalamazoo  County,"  and  especially  the  valuable  reports  made  out  by  Gen.  John  C.  Robertson, 
adjutant-general  of  INIichigan   during  the  war  for  the  Union,  and  still   holding   that  position. 

But  nearly  all  the  latter  part  of  our  work  is  derived  from  living  lips,  and  our  informants 
are  so  numerous  that  it  would  be  entirely  out  of  the  question  to  mention  them  here,  but  their 
names  will  often  be  found  in  the  various  township  and  village  histories.  We  can  but  thank 
tiiem  en  masse  for  the  information  they  have  given  us.  And  now,  our  labor  done,  we  submit  our 
work    to  the  candid  consideration  of   our  readers. 

C.  J. 

Philadelphia,  June  19,  1880. 


CONTENTS. 


HISTOI^/IO^Xj. 


GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  TWO  COUNTIES. 

CIIAPTEU  PAGE 

I. — Taking  Possession 9 

II. — Ketrospeotive 11 

III.— Our  Subject  in  1671 14 

IV.— From  1671  to  1707 15 

V. — The  Ottawas  and  Pottawattamies  in  1707         .        .  17 

VI. — Ottawas  and  Pottawattamies  from  1707  to  1815        .  19 

VII.— Events  from  1815  to  1830 26 

VIII.— Early  Settlements 30 

IX. — Pioneering  in  General 35 

X. — Indians  in  tlie  Pioneer  Days 38 

XL— The  Wolf-Record 42 

XII. — Outline  of  Later  Years 44 

XIII. — Organization 46 

XIV. — Early  Supervisors  and  Commissioners      ...  61 

XV.— Early  Courts 53 

XVI. — County  Buildings  and  Poor-Farms  ....  56 

XVII.— Lists  of  Officers 62 

XVIII.— County  Societies 68 

XIX. — Internal  Improvements,  etc 76 

XX.— The  Press 80 

XXL— Statistics 87 

XXIL— Second  and  Third  Infantry 88 

XXIIL— Sixth  and  Seventh  Infantry 93 

XXIV.— Eighth,  Ninth,  and  Twelfth  Infantry      ...  96 

XXV.— Thirteenth  Infantry 99 

XXVI. — Fourteenth,  Seventeenth,  and  Nineteenth  Infantry .  105 
XXVIL— Twenty-First,  Twenty-Eighth,  and   Thirtieth    In- 
fantry      110 

XXVIII. — First  Engineers  and  Mechanics        ....  113 
XXIX.— First,  Second,  and  Third  Cavalry     .        .        .        .117 

XXX.— Fourth  Cavalry 123 

XXXL— The  Michigan  Cavalry  Brigade        ....  130 

XXXII. — Eighth,  Tenth,  and  Eleventh  Cavalry,  etc.       .        .  137 

XXXIIL— First  Light  Artillery 142 

XXXIV.— Soldiers  of  Other  Regiments 144 


THE  VILLAGES  AND   TOWNSHIPS  OF  ALLEGAN 
COUNTY. 

PAGE 

Allegan  Village 147 

Allegan  Township 173 


PAGE 

Casco    Township 179 

Cheshire       "               187 

Clyde            "                196 

Dorr              "                198 

Fillmore       "  205 

Ganges         "                209 

Gun  Plain    "                218 

Heath           "                239 

Hopkins       "                244 

Lakotown     "                254 

Lee               "               257 

Leighton       "                259 

Manlius        "                261 

Martin         "               269 

Monterey     "                282 

Otsego           "                292 

Overisel        "                306 

Pine  Plains  "               312 

Salem            "                318 

Saugatuck    "               324 

Trowbridge"                3.35 

Watson         "                343 

Wayland      "               352 


THE    CITY   OF  HASTINGS,  AND    THE  VILLAGES 
AND    TOWNSHIPS   OF    BARRY  COUNTY. 

PAGE 

City  of  Hastings 367 

Assyria   Township 383 

Baltimore       "  392 

Barry  "        ' 400 

Carlton  "  409 

Castleton       "  417 

Hastings         "  432 

Hope  "  435 

Irving  "  .442 

Johnstown     "  449 

Maple  Grove  "  456 

Orangeville    "  464 

Prairieville    "  471 

Rutland         "  479 

Thornapple    "  486 

Woodland      "  500 

Yankee  Springs  Township 514 


B  I O  C3- 1?. -A.  1=  H I  O -A- L. 


PAGE 

Col.  John  Littlejohn facing  154 

Joseph  Fisk "156 

Osman  D.  Goodrich,  M.D 3*8 

Abram  R.  Calkins,  M.D 159 

Judge  Henry  H.  Booth 168 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  D.  Davis 169 

Augustus  S.  Butler 1'" 

Lyman  W.  Watkins 17" 


PAGE 

Alanson  S.  Weeks 171 

Ira  Chichester 172 

Elias  Streeter 172 

T.  McDowell facing  184 

Hon.  Crosby  Eaton 185 

Rev.  Charles  Johnson 185 

Henry  Overhiser 185 

Thompson  A.  Bixby 186 


CONTENTS. 


:BxoGr:Ei,j^FTs:xaj^Xj. 


Wm.  M.  Ruell     . 

Albert  D.  Ilcaly  . 

Isaac  S.  Linderman 

Marcus  Lane 

Dr.  S.  S.  Stout     . 

Kichard  Ferris    . 

A.  B.  Eaton 

Jonathan  Howard 

Orrin  Goodspced 

Lauren  C.  Gilbert 

Benjamin  Grover 

Charles  H.  Daugherty 

Edward  Penfold  . 

Chafles  0.  Hamlin 

Levi  Loomis 

Benjamin  Plummer 

William  Dornan  . 

S.  I.  B.  Hutchinson 

William  A.  Bellingbara 

Levi  Arnold 

Friend  Ives 

"William  R.  Delano 

George  II.  Anderson 

John  Murphy 

Justus  B.  Sutherland 

Eliezer  C.  Kn.npp 

William  Bcllingham 

llussel  B.  Fenner 

Charles  K.  Brownell 

0,  J.  Lemoin 

Jonathan  0.  Bound 

R.  C.  Round 

James  M.  Baldwin,  M.D. 

L.  A.  Atwatcr     . 

William  S.  Kcnficld 

James  E.  Parmclee 

Philip  Ilerlan 

Erastus  Congdon 

George  W.  Corbett 

AVilliam  B.  Hooker 

James  McCormick 

H.  F.  Marsh 

Edward  J.  Stow 

Hon.  William  F.  Ilardi 

G.  B.  Nichols      . 

Walter  Monleilh 

William  T.  Monleith 

Arthur  Anderson 

Andrew  Templeton 

Duncan  McVean 

George  T.  Lay    . 

Leonard  Ross 

James  McAlpino 

Hiram  Sabin 

Caleb  F.  Kenyon 

Joseph  Thorn 

Hon.  Wilson  C.  Edsell 

R.  Koning  . 

Daniel  G.  and  Mrs.  Mary  S.  Piatt 

William  Peet 

George  Heck 

AVilliam  Heck      . 

Horace  D.  Moore 

Stephen  A.  Morrison 

William  Corner  . 

Jacob  Grover 

Harvey  and  Mrs.  Abigail  Rose 

Hon.  H.  B.  Blackman 


facing 


facing 
tween  336j 
facing 


PAGE 

186 

186 

186 

11)2 

193 

194 

194 

195 

203 

203 

204 

2Q4 

214 

214 

215 

216 

217 

217 

23^ 

232 

232 

233 

234 

235 

236 

236 

237 

238 

243 

244 

250 

251 

251 

251 

252 

252 

253 

253 

254 

263 

208 

268 

268 

278 

278 

279 

280 

280 

281 

282 

288 

290 

290 

291 

291 

292 

305 

311 

317 

317 

323 

323 

333 

333 

334 

335 

337 

340 


W.  S.  Martindale 

B.  W.  Colburn     . 

George  W.  Grigsby 

Edgar  G.  Minckler 

William  Porter    . 

Stephen  Case 

William  A.  Reynolds 

Charles  Miner     . 

Isaac  Page  . 

Gorum  W.  Gorton 

D.  F.  Ayrcs 

Rev.  James  Selkrig 

Humphrey  Gardner 

Amaziah  R.  Balch 

Horace  J.  Tumor 

George  H.  Jackson 

Abel  Angel 

Josiah  E.  Harding 

Samuel  S.  Gunn  . 

Rollin  M.  Congdon 

William  Scaver   . 

A.P.Drake 

Harvey  N.  Sheldon 

Daniel  G.  Robinson 

Hon.  Honry  A.  Goodyear 

Hiram  J.  Kenfield 

William  Upjohn,  M.D, 

Richard  Jones     . 

George  W.  Knapp 

William  M.  Warner 

Samuel  Weeks     . 

Samuel  and  Samuel  R.  Wi 

Adam  Elliott 

Walden  T.  Barber 
Wells  Byington  . 

Solomon  Lawrence 

Jeremiah  M.  Rogers 

Rev.  Theodore  L.  Pillsbury 

Lorenzo  Mudge  . 

Allen  B.  Cooper  . 

William  Crabb    . 

Thomas  Blasdel 

Lycurgus  J.  Wheeler 

George  Whitney  . 

William  H.  Carpenter 

H.  F.  Peokham,  M.D 

James  C.  Hanna  . 

Albert  G.  Dewey 

A.  P.  and  B.  W.  King 

J.  E.  Fisk    . 

T.  B.  Ilinchman . 

Pliny  MoOmber  - 

Leander  Lapham 

Abram  S.  Quick  . 

Charles  S.  Dunham 

Francis  Holden  . 

Albert  Warner    . 

John  J.  Perkins  . 

William  Y.  Gilkey 

Albert  E.  Bull     . 

Robert  Harper    . 

William  Colby     . 

R.  B.  Messer 

I.  N.  Keeler 

P.  W.  Collins       . 

Amos  Hanlon,  M.D, 

J.  C.  Bray  . 

George  Cisler 


TAOS 

341 
341 
342 
342 

between  342,  343 
350 
350 
350 
351 
351 
351 
354 
362 
362 
363 
363 
363 
364 
364 
365 
366 
facing     370 
372 
.     379 
.     380 
.     381 
.     382 
.     390 
.     391 
.     398 
.     399 
404,  405 
.     406 
.     407 
.     408 
.     408 
.     416 
.     416 
420 
428 
430 
430 
431 
434 
440 
441 
448 
454 
454 
455 
455 
461 
462 
462 
463 
475 
476 
477 
478 

between  480,  481 
495 
496 
496 
496 
496 
407 
497 
498 


facing 


faci 


ng 


CONTENTS. 


Bioai?.^:Fi3:ioA.L- 


PAGE 

John  Carveth 498 

S.  B.  Smith 499 

John  Kilpatriok 610 

Levi  Holmes 510 

George  M.  Davenport 510 

Joseph  W.  Stinehcomb 5U 


PAGE 

Stephen  S.  Ingerson .        .511 

Dr.  David  Kilpatriok 512 

Washington  Rowlader 512 

Dr.  Henry  C.  Carpenter 613 

Alanson  P.  Holly 613 

Henry  D.  Norris 520 


ILXjTJSTK.^TIOn^S. 


Outline  Map  of  Allegan  County between  8,  9 

"  Barry  County     ^        .         .         .         .  "        8,  9 

Geological  Map  of  the  Lower  Peninsula  of  Michigan  .        facing     146 


View  of  the  County  Offices,  Allegan 


GOTJIsrT"2". 


ALtEGAN   VILLAGE. 

Portrait  of  Henry  H.  Booth  (steel)     . 

"  Ruth  Elizabeth  Booth  (steel) 

Portraits  of  Col.  John  Littlejohn  and  Wife 

"  Joseph  Fisk  and  Wife 

Portrait  of  Dr.  0.  D.  Goodrich  . 

"  Abram  R.  Calkins,  M.D.  . 
Portraits  of  David  D.  Davis  and  Wife 
Portrait  of  Augustus  S.  Butler    . 

"  Lyman  W.  Watkins  . 

"  Alanson  S.  Weeks 

"  Ira  Chichester  . 

"  Elias  Streeter     . 


facing     14? 


between  152,  153 
"         152,  153 
facing     154 
■    "         156 
.     158 
.     160 
161 
164 
164 
171 
172 
172 


facing 


facing 


179 
180 
180 
182 
184 
185 
185 


CASCO. 

Lakeside  Farm',  Residence  of  Rev.  Charles  Johnson 
Residence  of  T.  A.  Bixby 

"  the  late  I.  S.  Linderman 

"  William  M.  Ruell  (with  portraits) 

Portraits  of  T.  McDowell  and  Wife    . 
Residence  of  Henry  Overhiser  (with  portraits)  . 
Portrait  of  Hon.  Crosby  Eaton  .... 
View  of  Gothic  Ridge  Farm,  A.  Healy,  proprietor  (double  p.ige) 

between  186,  187 

CHESHIRE. 

Residence  of  Marcus  Lane  (with  portraits)  .  between  188,  189 
"  A.  B.  Biiton  (with  portraits)  .  "         188,  189 

Portraits  of  Dr.  S.  S.  Slout  and  Wife 193 

''  Richard  Ferris,  Wife,  and  Son  ....  194 
"  Jonathan  Howard  and  Wife 195 

DORR. 

Residence  of  C.  H.  Daugherty  (with  portraits)  . 

"  Orrin  Goodspeed    .... 

"  Lauren  C.  Gilbert  (with  portraits) 

Portraits  of  Benjamin  Grover  and  Wife    . 

GANGES. 

Residence  of  Levi  Loomis  (with  portraits) 

"  Charles  0.  Hamlin  (with  portraits) 

"  S.  I.  B.  Hutchinson  (with  portraits) 

"  Edward  Penfold  (with  portraits)    . 

Portraits  of  Benjamin  Plummer  and  Wife 
Residence  of  William  Dornan  (with  portraits)   . 

GUN  PLAIN. 

Residence  of  George  H.  Anderson  (with  portraits) 
"  R.  B.  Fenner  (with  portraits) 


facing 

198 

(( 

200 

i( 

202 

. 

204 

facing 

209 

(( 

210 

it 

212 

ti 

214 

• 

216 

facing 

217 

facing 

218 

(( 

220 

PAGE 

Residence  of  E.  C.  Knapp facing  224 

"  William  A.  Bellinghara  ...  "  224 

"         and   Stock-farm   of   Levi   Arnold   (double   page) 

between  226,  227 

Portraits  of  Friend  Ives  and  Wife      ....        facing  232 

Portrait  of  William  R.  Delano 233 

Portraits  of  JohnMurphy  and  Wife 235 

Portrait  of  Justus  B.  Sutherland 236 

"  William  Bellingham 237 

HEATH. 

Residence  and  Fruit-farm  of  0.  J.  Lemoin  .  .  facing  239 
Portrait  uf  Charles  R.  Brownell 243 

HOPKINS. 

Residence  of  L.  A.  Atwater  (with  portraits)  .  .  facing  244 
First  House  built  in  Hopkins,  in  1837  .  .  between  240,  247 
Late  Residence  of  J.  0.  Round  (with  portraits)  "        246,  247 

Residence  of  R.  0.  Round  (with  portraits)  .  "        246,  247 

"  Mrs.  M.  A.  Corbett  (with  portraits)       .        facing     248 

"  G.  M.  Baldwin  (with  portraits)      .         .  "        250 

"  Jas.  E.  Parmelee "252 

Portraits  of  Wm.  S.  Kenfield  and  Wife 252 

Portrait  of  Philip  Herlan 253 

"  Erastus  Congdon 253 

liEIGHTON. 

Residence  of  W.  B.  Hooker facing    259 

MANLIUS. 

Residence  of  James  McCormick  (with  portraits,  double 

page) between  264,  265 

Residence  of  U.  E.  Marsh facing    266 

"  B.  J.  Stow  (with  portraits)    ...  "        268 

MARTIN. 

Residence  of  Wra.  F.  Harden  (with  portraits)    .         .        facing     270 

"  Wm.  T.  Monteith "272 

"  Arthur  Anderson "         274 

"  D.  C.  McVean "276 

Portrait  of  G.  B.  Nichols "278 

"  Walter  Monteith 279 

"  Andrew  Templeton 281 

MONTEREY. 

Farm  and  Residence  of  George  T.  Lay  (with  portraits)  facing  282 
Residence  of  Joseph  Thorn  (with  portraits,  double  page) 

between  284,  285 
"  Caleb  F.  Kenyon  (with  portraits)        .        facing    286 

"  Leonard -Ross "288 

"  James  M.  MoAlpine  (with  portraits)     .  "        290 

Portraits  of  Hiram  Sabin  and  Wife   ......    291 

OTSEGO. 

Chair-manufactory  of  A.  B.  and  C.  D.  Stuart  ....  303 
Portrait  of  Hon.  W.  C.  Edsell  (steel)        .        .        .        facing    305 


CONTENTS. 


ILLTJSTI?>J^TI02srS- 


OVERISEL. 


Kesidence  of  E.  Koning 


PAGE 

facing     306 


PINE   PLAINS. 

Residence  of  William  Peet  (with  portraits)  .  .  facing  312 
Portraits  of  D.  G.  Piatt  and  Mrs.  Mary  S.  Piatt        .         .         .317 

SALEM. 

Residence  and   Mills  of  George  and  Wm.   Neck   (with  por- 
traits)         facing     323 

SAUGATUCK. 

Residence  of  Stephen  A.  Morrison  (with  portraits)  .  facing  324 
Portraits  of  Horace  D.  Moore  and  Wife  (steel)  .  hetween  332,  333 
Residence  of  Horace  D.  Moore  ....  "        332,  333 

"  AVilliam  Corner facing     334 

Portraits  of  William  Corner  and  Wife 334 

TltOWBUIDGE. 

Portrait  of  Jacob  Grover facing     335 

Portraits  of  Harvey  Rose  and  Wife  .  .  .  between  336,  337 
Residence  of  Mrs.  John  W.  Grover  (with  portraits)         "       336,  337 


"  Mrs.  Martin  Sheffer  (with  portraits) 

"  G.  W.  Grigsby  (with  portraits) 

"  E.  O.  Minckler  (with  portraits)     . 

View  of  Minckler's  Lake 

Portraits  of  Hon.  H.  E.  RIackman  and  Wife 

Residence  of  W.  S.  Martindale  (with  portraits) 
"  E.  W.  Colburn  (with  portraits) 

Portraits  of  William  Porter  and  Wife 

WATSON. 

Residence  of  Isaac  Page  (with  portraits)    . 

"  Charles  Miner  (with  portraits) 

Portraits  of  Stephen  Case  and  AVife  . 
Residence  of  William  A.  Reynolds 

"  G.  W.  Gorton 

"  D.  F.  Ayres   .... 

WAYLAND. 

Residence  of  Dr.  H.  J.  Turner  . 
"  George  H.  Jackson 

The  Wayland  House,  AVm.  Seaver,  proprietor  (with 
portraits) 

Residence  of  Josiah  E.  Harding  (with  portraits) 
"  S.  S.  Gunn  (with  portraits)    . 

"  Humphrey  Gardner  (with  portraits) 

"  the  late  A.  R.  Balel).  (with  portraits) 

"  Abel  Angel 

"  R.  M.  Congdon  (with  portraits)     . 


facing     337 

between  338,  339 

"         338,  339 

"         338,  339 

facing     340 

"         341 

between  342,  343 

"         342,  343 

facing     344 

"         348 

.     350 

351 

351 

351 

352 
352 

354 
356 
358 
360 
362 
363 
364 


facing 


facing 


CITV  OF  HASTINGS. 

View  of  Courl-House  and  Public  School  Building      .       facing    367 

Portrait  of  Dr.  A.  P.  Drake "370 

"  Harvey  N.  Sheldon "372 

*'  Daniel  G.  Robinson 379 

"  Hon.  Henry  A.  Goodyear 380 

"  Hiram  J.  Kenfield 381 

"  William  Upjohn,  M.D 382 

ASSYRIA. 

Residence  of  G.  W.  Knapp  (with  portraits) 
"  Richard  Jones  (with  portraits) 

BALTIMORE. 

Residence  of  Samuel  Weeks         .... 

"  William  M.  Warner  (with  portraits) 

Portrait  of  Samuel  Weeks  .... 


facing 

384 

** 

390 

facing 

392 

it 

396 

. 

399 

BARRY. 

Residence  of  Samuel  Lawrence  (with  portraits)         .       facing    400 
Portraits  of  Samuel  Willison,  and  Samuel  R.  Willison  and  Wife    405 


PAGE 

40fi 
407 
408 


412 
416 


420 
424 
428 
430 
431 


Portraits  of  Adam  Elliott  and  Wife 

"  Walden  T.  Barber  and  Wife 

"  Wells  Byington  and  Wife 

CARLTON. 

Residence  of  Rev.  T.  L.  Pillsbury  (with  portraits)     .        facing 
"  Jeremiah  M.  Rogers  (with  portraits)     .  " 

CASTLETON. 

Portraits  of  Lorenzo  Mudge  and  Wife         .         .         .        facing 
Residence  of  Thomas  Blasdel  (with  portrait) 
Portraits  of  Allen  B.  Cooper  and  Wife 
Portrait  of  William  Crabb 

'*  Lycurgus  J.  Wheeler 

HASTINGS. 

Residence  of  George  Whitney  (with  portraits)  .        .        facing    432 

HOPE. 
Residence  and  Mill  of  H.F.  Peckham,  M.D.      .         .        facing 
Portraits  of  II.  F.  Peckham,  M.D.,  and  Wile    .... 

IRVIXG. 

Residence  of  James  C.  Ilanna facing 

"  Wm.  H.  Carpenter  ....  " 

JOH.XSTOWN. 

Residence  of  A.  6.  Dewey  (with  portraits)         .         .        facing 
"  A.  P.  and  B.  W.  King   .... 

"  J.  E.  Fisk  (with  portraits)     ...  " 

"  T.  B.  Ilinohman  (with  portraits)   .         .  " 

MAPLE  GROVE. 

Residence  and  Store  of  Leander  Lapham  (with  portraits)  facing 
Residence  of  Chas.  S.  Dunham  (with  poi traits)  .  " 

"  Pliny  McOmber  (with  portraits)  .  " 

"  Abram  S.  Quick  (with  portraits)  .  " 

PRAIRIEVILLE. 

The  Gilkey  Homestead,  and  Residence  of  Mrs.  L.  W.  Wood- 
hams  (with  portraits) facin" 

Portraits  of  Albert  Warner  and  Wife 

Portrait  of  John  J.  Perkins         ..... 


441 
441 


442 

442 


449 
450 
452 

454 


456 
458 
461 
462 


RUTLAND. 

Residence  of  the  late  Albert  E.  Bull    . 
Portraits  of  Albert  E.  Bull  and  Wife  . 

THORNAPPLE. 

Portrait  of  John  Carveth    .       \ 
"  R.  B.  Messer     . 

"  Amos  Hanlon    . 

"  S.  B.  Smith       . 

Residence  of  J.  C.  Bray  (with  portraits)    . 
"  I.  N.  Keeler  " 

"  Robert  Harper  (with  portraits) 

"  William  Colby  " 

Portrait  of  F.  W.  Collins    .... 
"  George  Cisler    .... 


between  480, 
"         480, 


471 
476 

477 

481 
481 


facing 


WOODLAND. 

Residence  of  Hon.  J.  AV.  Stinehcomb  (with  portraits) 

"  Levi  Holmes 

"  S.  S.  Ingerson 

"  George  M.  Davenport 

"  Mrs.  A.  P.  Holly   . 

"  John  Kilpatrick     . 

"  Washington  Rowlader 

Portraits  of  Dr.  David  Kilpatrick  and  Wife 

"  Dr.  Henry  C.  Carpenter  and  Wife 

YANKEE   SPRINGS 

Portrait  of  Henry  D.  Norris 


facing 


486 
486 
486 
486 
488 
490 
492 
494 
496 
498 


500 
602 
604 
506 
508 
SIO 
512 
512 
513 

521 


/     '     uw  / 


— _>1 


Vs.  ■'■  '    T! 


tell, 


MIChtl-'QrAH. 


HISTORY 

OV 


ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


FA.RT     FIRST. 

GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  TWO  COUNTIES. 


BY  CRISFIELD    JOHNSON. 


CHAPTER   I. 

TAKIBTG  POSSESSIOIT. 

The  Scene  at  Saut  de  Sainte  Marie — Chippewas,  Ottawas,  Pottawat- 
tamies,  etc. —  Their  Garb  and  Weapons — Varied  Occupations  — 
French  Voyageurs — Perrot  and  Joliet — Allouez  and  other  Jesuits — 
Saumont  de  St.  Lnsson — Blessing  the  Cross — The  Proclamation  of 
Possession — Views  of  the  Indians — Speech  of  Father  Allouez — The 
Proc6s  Verbal — Fxtent  of  Knowledge  of  the  Lakes — Meaning  of 
"  Michigan'^ — Importance  of  St.  Luason's  Action. 

On  the  14th  day  of  June,  in  the  year  1671,  a  wild  and 
motley  throng  was  gathered  heside  the  narrow  channel  down 
which  the  waters  of  the  mightiest  of  lakes  rush  foaming 
towards  the  far  Atlantic,  forming  a  succession  of  rapids  to 
which  the  zealous  missionaries  of  Catholic  France  had 
already  given  the  name  of  Saut  de  Sainte  Marie  (Falls  of 
St.  Mary),  in  honor  of  their  most  beloved  intercessor,  the 
virgin  mother  of  Christ. 

By  far  the  greater  portion  of  the  assembled  crowd  con- 
sisted of  the  fierce  aborigines  of  the  Northwest.  There 
were  to  be  seen  the  sullen  occupants  of  that  immediate 
locality,  the  Ojibwas,  or  Chippewas,  the  most  intractable  of 
all  those  intractable  savages,  whose  scowling  features  were 
now,  however,  somewhat  relaxed  in  anticipation  of  the  fire- 
water to  be  dispensed  at  the  impending  ceremony.  There, 
too,  were  their  neighbors  and  kinsmen,  the  Ottawas,  a  trifle 
less  implacable  in  disposition,  a  shade  less  forbidding  in 
feature,  but  ready,  nevertheless,  in  the  caprice  of  a  moment, 
to  imbrue  their  hands  in  human  blood,  and  to  subject  the 
enemies  they  might  capture  to  the  most  fearful  tortures 
which  a  demoniac  malice  could  invent. 

There  also  were  Pottawattamies  from  the  western  side  of 
Lake  Michigan,  Miamis  from  the  head  and  eastern  shore 
of  that  same  broad  sheet,  and  Illinois  from  the  banks  of 
the  river  which  still  bears  their  name ;  while  the  members 
of  numerous  other  tribes — Ckees,  Amikones,  Nepissings, 
2 


Sacs,  Winnehagoes,  and  Menominees — stalked  haughtily 
along  the  rocky  shore  of  the  Saut. 

The  more  distant  tribes  were  represented  by  delegations 
of  chiefs,  while  of  the  nearer  ones  warriors,  women,  and 
children  were  assembled  en  masse  in  honor  of  the  great 
occasion.  The  garb  and  arms  of  the  Indians  of  the  North- 
west had  not  yet  been  changed  to  any  great  extent  by  the 
adoption  of  European  importations.  In  a  large  majority 
of  cases  the  stalwart  warrior  wore  only  leggins  of  deer- 
skin and  robe  of  bufialoskin,  or  else  strode  among  the  pines 
in  naked  majesty,  unrelieved  save  by  a  narrow  breech-clout, 
while  his  arms  were  the  war-club,  the  stone  tomahawk,  and 
the  bow  and  arrows,  with  which  his  ancestors  had  for  un- 
known generations  waged  war  against  their  foes.  The 
squaws  were  more  amply  clothed,  but  in  the  same  deer-skin 
materials,  while  the  bright-eyed,  'cute-looking  children  of 
both  sexes  disported  here  and  there  in  absolute  freedom, 
clad  only  in  the  copper-colored  garments  which  nature  had 
provided  for  them. 

Still,  there  was  a  considerable  number  of  Indians  and 
squaws  adorned  with  gaudy  blankets  and  cheap  jewelry  of 
French  manufacture;  many  warriors  had  substituted  iron 
tomahawks  for  stone  ones,  and  occasionally  there  might  be 
seen  one  who  by  extraordinary  diligence  in  fur-hunting  had 
acquired,  or  who  on  account  of  especial  prowess  had  been 
presented  with,  a  long  flint-lock  French  musket,  which  he 
proudly  bore  with  him  wherever  he  went,  to  the  despairing 
envy  of  his  less  fortunate  comrades. 

The  assemblage  combined  the  characteristics  of  council, 
camp,  hunting-excursion,  fishing-party,  and  co-operative  do- 
mestic establishment.  While  the  old  sachems  conversed 
gravely  regarding  the  occasion  of  their  meeting,  some  of  the 
younger  warriors  scoured  the  forest  for  game,  which,  when 
slain,  was  borne  into  camp  by  the  ever-patient  squaws. 
Others,  in  frail  birch-bark  canoes,  fearlessly  rode  the  foaming 
waters  of  the  Saut,  holding  themselves  poised  motionless 

9 


10 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BAKRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


amid  the  boiling  waves,  and  anon  darting  a  flint-tipped 
lance  into  an  incautious  fish,  affording  an  example  of  dex- 
trous and  picturesque  fearlessness  which  still,  as  displayed 
by  their  descendants,  awakens  the  admiration  of  every 
spectator.  On  shore  scores  of  squaws  were  working  to- 
gether around  the  fires,  preparing  the  food  of  their  lordly 
masters.  Save  in  a  few  of  the  very  youngest  there  were 
no  traces  of  that  nut-brown  beauty  with  which  romancers 
have  loved  to  elidow  the  female  companion  of  the  Indian  war- 
rior ;  for  toil  and  hardship  soon  destroy  the  small  modicum 
of  grace  and  symmetry  which  nature  may  have  bestowed. 
Yet  Indian  custom,  though  harsh  in  its  requirements  in 
regard  to  labor,  assigned  no  slight  dignity  and  influence  to 
the  older  matrons  of  the  tribes,  and  their  grave  faces  might 
be  seen  in  groups  here  and  there  amid  the  trees,  as  they  con- 
sulted regarding  the  events  of  the  day. 

Conspicuous  among  these  numerous  children  of  the  forest 
were  a  score  of  Frenchmen,  almost  as  varied  in  appearance 
as  their  red  brethren.  The  majority  of  these  were  voyw- 
geurs,  a  wild  and  hardy  race,  whose  lives  were  spent  on  the 
streams  and  in  the  forests  of  the  wilderness,  and  who, 
with  French  versatility,  had  become  half-Indian  in  garb,  in 
manner,  and  in  appearance.  The  most  prominent  of  these 
was  Nicolas  Perrot,  who  acted  as  interpreter  between  the 
commander  of  the  expedition  and  his  Indian  friends.* 
Another  distinguished  explorer  present  was  Louis  Joliet, 
one  of  the  most  adventurous  of  French  traders,  whose 
name  is  now  borne  by  a  flourishing  city  of  Illinois. 

There  were  also  four  black-gowned  Jesuits  from  the 
mission  close  by,  an  establishment  founded  three  years 
before,  which,  on  account  of  its  isolated  position  among  so 
many  savages,  had  a  half-military  appearance,  consisting, 
as  it  did,  of  a  square  palisade  of  cedar  pickets,  with  a 
chapel  and  residence  inside.  These  were  Claude  Dablon, 
superior  of  the  missions  of  the  lakes,  Gabriel  Druillettes, 
Claude  Allouez,  and  Louis  Andre. 

But  the  great  man  of  the  assemblage,  in  the  eyes  of  both 
whites  and  Indians,  was  Daufaont  de  St.  Lusson,  a  French 
officer  who  had  been  sent  out  the  previous  year  by  the 
intendant  of  Canada  to  search  for  copper-mines  on  Lake 
Superior,  and  who  had  determined  to  signalize  his  expe- 
dition by  an  important  and  imposing  proceeding.  For  this 
purpose  he  had  called  together  all  the  tribes  of  the  Great 
Lakes,  and  the  savages,  already  favorably  disposed  towards 
the  French,  and  generally  fond  of  councils,  speeches,  and 
ceremonies,  had  promptly  responded,  no  less  than  fourteen 
tribes  being  represented  in  the  grand  assemblage. 

St.  Lusson  had  caused  a  large  wooden  cross  to  be  pre- 
pared, and  also  a  cedar  post,  to  which  was  attached  a  metal 
plate  graven  with  the  arms  of  France.  When  all  was 
ready  the  commander  (attended  by  the  four  priests)  led 
forward  his  fourteen  followers,  fully  armed  and  equipped. 
All   around   stood  or   crouched   or  reclined,  the   Indian 

*  Perrot  was  the  most  conspicuous  of  all  the  voyageura  of  his  day, 
not  so  much  on  account  of  superior  valor  and  enterprise,  though  he 
was  both  brave  and  enterprising,  as  because  he  had  that  very  unusual 
acoomplishment  for  a  voyageur,  the  ability  to  write, — not  only  to 
write  his  name  but  to  write  a  book.  He  was  the  author  of  a.  work 
entitled  "  Moeurs,  Coutumes  et  Keligion  des  Sauvages  de  I'Amerique 
Septentrional"  (Manners,  Customs,  and -Religion  of  the  Savages  of 
North  America). 


warriors,  gazing  with  curious  and  half  suspicious  eyes  on 
the  unwonted  scene.  Dablon  blessed  the  cross,  and  it  was 
then  raised  erect  and,  planted  in  the  ground,  while  the 
Frenchmen,  with  uncovered  heads,  sang  the  '•  Vexilla 
Regis."  Next,  the  post  bearing  the  royal  arms  was  planted 
beside  the  cross,  this  portion  of  the.  ceremonies  being  ac- 
companied by  the  singing  of  the  "  Exaudiat,"  and  by  a 
prayer  for  the  French  king  on  the  part  of  one  of  the 
Jesuits. 

Then  St.  Lusson,  holding  his  drawn  sword  in  his  right 
hand,  raised  a  sod  of  earth  with  his  left,  and  in  a  loud 
voice  made  this  proclamation  in  the  French  language  : 

"  In  the  name  of  the  Most  High,  Mighty,  and  Kedoubted  Monarch, 
Louis,  Fourteenth  of  that  name,  Most  Christian  King  of  France  and 
of  Navarre,  I  take  possession  of  this  place,  Sainte  Marie  du  Saut,  as 
also  of  Lakes  Huron  and  Superior,  the  island  of  Manitoulin,  and  all 
countries,  rivers,  lakes,  and  streams  contiguous  and  adjacent  there- 
unto, both  those  which  have  been  discovered  and  those  which  may 
be  discovered  hereafter,  in  all  their  length  and  breadth,  bounded  on 
the  one  side  by  the  seas  of  the  North  and  of  the  West,  and  on  the 
other  by  the  South  Sea;  declaring  to  the  natives  thereof  that  from 
this  time  forth  they  are  vassals  of  His  Majesty,  bound  to  obey  his 
laws  and  follow  his  customs;  promising  them  on  his  part  all  succor 
and  protection  against  the  incursions  and  invasions  of  their  enemies, 
declaring  to  all  other  potentates,  princes,  sovereigns,  states,  and 
republics, — to  them  and  their  subjects, — that  they  cannot  and^are 
not  to  seize  or  settle  upon  any  of  the  parts  of  the  aforesaid  countries, 
save  under  the  good  pleasure  of  His  Most  Christian  Majesty,  and  of 
him  who  will  govern  in  his  behalf,  and  this  on  pain  of  incurring  his 
resentment  and  the  efforts  of  his  arms.     Long  live  the  king!" 

"  Long  live  the  king !"  repeated  the  Frenchmen  present, 
and  the  thousands  of  savages  collected  around  yelled  in 
sympathy  with  the  shouting  Europeans. 

It  is  hardly  to  be  supposed  that  the  free  sons  of  the 
forest  and  the  prairie  would  have  consciously  assisted  in 
the  assumption  of  sovereignty  over  the  country  they  had 
so  long  called  their  own  by  an  unknown  potentate  beyond 
the  Atlantic,  but  all  the  tribes  of  this  region  were  in  great 
fear  of  the  terrible  Iroquois,  who  occupied  the  central  and 
western  portions  of  the  present  State  of  New  York,  and 
whose  native  valor  was  made  still  more  dangerous  by  the 
muskets  and  ammunition  which  they  had  received  from 
their  friends,  the  Dutch  of  New  Amsterdam,  now  New 
York.  The  upper-lake  tribes  were  very  glad  to  receive- 
the  promise  of  assistance  from  the  French  against  these 
dreaded  foes,  and  even  the  acquisition  of  a  few  French 
muskets  and  some  powder  would  tend  materially  to  put 
them  on  an  equality  with  their  enemies.  They  were  accus- 
tomed also  to  give  the  respectful  appellation  of  "  Father" 
to  the  leaders  of  the  whites,  and  were  doubtless  willing  to 
acknowledge  the  great  chief  of  the  French  beyond  the 
seas  as  their  "  father"  and  protector,  provided  he  would 
whip  the  Iroquois.  We  cannot  believe  that  they  meant 
more  than  this  by  the  screams  with  which  they  responded 
to  the  proclamation  of  St.  Lusson. 

But  St.  Lusson  and  his  superiors  meant  much  more  than 
this,  and  the  chances  were  then  very  great  that  they  and 
their  successors  would  be  able  to  carry  their  schemes  to 
completion  ;  that  they  would  be  able  not  only  to  subject 
this  whole  region  to  the  authority  of  France,  but  to  place 
it  in  the  actual  occupation  of  French  gentry  and  peasantry. 

After  the  commandant  had  concluded  his  portion  of  the 
ceremony.  Father  Allouez,  the  most  distinguished  of  the 


KETROSPEOTIVE. 


11 


priests  present,  though  not  the  highest  in  ecclesiastical 
rank,  harangued  the  Indians  on  the  religious  and  political 
aspects  of  the  great  event.  He  spoke  of  the  cross  which 
had  just  been  set  up  as  the  symbol  of  the  Christian  reli- 
gion, and  then  continued  in  the  following  florid  but  striking 
language ; 

"  Look  at  this  post,  to  which  are  aflfixed  the  arms  of  the 
great  chief  of  France,  whom  we  call  king.  He  lives  across 
the  sea.  He  is  chief  of  the  greatest  chiefs,  and  has  no 
equal  on  earth.  All  the  chiefs  whom  you  have  ever  seen 
are  but  children  beside  him.  He  is  like  a  great  tree,  and 
they  are  but  the  little  herbs  which  one  walks  over  and 
tramples  under  foot.  You  know  Onontio  [as  the  Indians 
called  all  the  French  Governors  of  Canada],  that  famous 
chief  at  Quebec ;  you  know  and  you  have  seen  that  he  is 
the  terror  of  the  Iroquois,  and  that  his  very  name  makes 
them  tremble  since  he  has  laid  their  country  waste  and 
burned  their  towns  with  fire.  Across  the  sea  there  are  ten 
thousand  Onontios  like  him,  who  are  but  warriors  of  our 
great  king,  of  whom  I  have  told  you.  When  he  says,  '  I 
am  going  to  war,'  everybody  obeys  his  orders ;  and  each  of 
these  ten  thousand  chiefs  raises  a  troop  of  a  hundred  war- 
riors, some  on  sea  and  some  on  land.  Some  embark  on 
great  ships,  such  as  you  have  seen  at  Quebec.  Your  canoes 
carry  only  four  or  five  men,  or  at  the  most  ten  or  twelve, 
but  our  ships  carry  four  or  five  hundred,  and  sometimes  a 
thousand.  Others  go  to  war  on  the  land,  and  they  are  so 
numerous  that  if  they  should  stand  in  a  double  line  they 
would  reach  from  here  to  Mississaquenk,  which  is  more  than 
twenty  leagues  away.  When  our  king  assaults  his  enemies 
he  is  more  terrible  than  the  thunder ;  he  makes  the  earth 
shake;  the  sky  and  the  sea  are  on  fire  with  the  flash  of  his 
cannon ;  he  goes  in  the  midst  of  his  warriors  covered  with 
the  blood  of  his  enemies,  whom  he  slays  in  such  numbers 
that  he  does  not  count  them  by  scalps,  but  by  the  streams 
of  their  blood.  The  number  of  the  prisoners  whom  he 
takes  is  so  great  that  he  makes  little  account  of  them,  but 
lets  them  go  where  they  will  to  show  that  he  is  not  afraid 
of  them.  No  one  now  dares  make  war  on  him.  All  the 
nations  beyond  the  sea  have  submitted  to  his  power,  and 
have  humbly  asked  for  peace.  Men  come  from  every  part 
of  the  world  to  listen  to  him  and  admire  him.  All  that  is 
done  on  the  earth  is  decided  solely  by  him." 

This  is  the  French  report  of  the  speech,  and  it  shows 
that  the  worthy  Jesuit,  who  would  have  given  his  life  with- 
out a  moment's  hesitation  for  his  faith,  did  not  scruple  to 
say  whatever  was  necessary  to  make  a  strong  impression 
upon  his  savage  auditors.  These  were  well  satisfied  with 
his  gorgeous  rhetoric  and  inflated  statements,  and  greeted 
the  close  of  his  speech  with  vociferous  marks  of  approval. 

The  closing  scene  of  St.  Lusson's  little  drama,  and  one 
which  was  considered  very  important  by  all  French  oflScials 
in  similar  circumstances,  was  the  drawing  up  and  signing  of 
the  pmcls  verbal,  or  oflBcial  statement  of  the  whole  transac- 
tion.* Such  a  statement,  made  on  the  spot,  was  the  almost 
invariable  accompanimeot  of  any  important  act  done  by  a 
French  officer;  it  being  written,  signed,  and  sealed  by  a 

»  Notwithstanding  the  word  "verbal,"  the  general  meaning  of 
which  is  the  same  in  French  as  in  English,  this  species  of  process  was 
always  in  writing. 


notary,  if  one  was  present, — if  not,  then  by  the  commander. 
It  is  somewhat  doubtful  whether  a  notary  accompanied  St. 
Lusson  in  his  wanderings,  but  a  '■^  prods  verbal  de  la  prise 
de  possession"  (official  account  of  the  taking  possession) 
was  duly  executed,  and  is  mentioned  in  Parkman's  "  Dis- 
covery of  the  Great  West,"  from  which  most  of  the  facts 
set  forth  in  this  chapter  are  derived. 

It  will  have  been  observed  that  only  Lakes  Huron  and 
Superior  were  mentioned  in  St.  Lusson's  proclamation.  The 
northern  part  of  Lake  Michigan  had  certainly  been  navi- 
gated as  far  as  Green  Bay,  and  perhaps  the  southern  por- 
tion had  been  explored,  but  a  map  made  about  that  time 
delineated  only  the  northern  part,  which  it  showed  as  a 
prolongation  of  Lake  Huron,  the  whole  being  named 
"  Michigan^,"-}-  or  "  Mer  Douce  des  Hurons"  (Fresh  Sea 
of  the  Hurons).  At  all  events,  both  peninsulas  of  Michi- 
gan are  embraced  in  the  claim  of  the  proclamation,  which 
included  "all  countries,  rivers,  lakes,  and  streams  contigu- 
ous and  adjacent"  to  Lakes  Michigan  and  Huron. 

The  action  of  Daumont  de  St.  Lusson  was  the  formal 
procedure  which  invested  France  with  the  sovereignty  of 
the  present  State  of  Michigan  (including,  of  course,  the 
counties  which  are  the  subject  of  this  volume)  and  of  many 
adjacent  lands,  thus  bringing  all  this  vast  region,  nominally 
at  least,  under  the  rule  of  a  civilized  nation.  It  has,  there- 
fore, been  selected  as  the  starting-point  of  our  history,  and 
has  been  described  with  considerable  minuteness.  True,  the 
proclamation  and  the  prods  verbal  did  not  give  possession 
of  the  territory  in  question,  but  like  the  execution  of  a 
deed  it  gave  a  legal  title  in  the  eyes  of  the  French,  and,  as 
it  was  afterwards  made  good  by  the  erection  of  forts  and 
trading-posts  throughout  the  Northwest,  it  formed  an  era 
from  which  we  may  properly  date  the  history  of  the  counties 
of  Allegan  and  Barry. 

Before,  however,  descending  the  stream  of  time  from  that 
era,  it  is  necessary  to  devote  a  chapter  to  a  cursory  mention 
of  preceding  events  affiscting  the  destiny  of  the  upper-lake 
country,  and  to  a  description  of  the  situation  in  1671. 


CHAPTER    IL 

KETHOSPECTIVB. 

The  Discoveries  of  Cartier — Of  Champlain — English  and  Dutch  Set- 
tlements— The  Jesuits — The  Terrible  Iroquois — Defeat  of  the  Hu- 
rons and  Ottawas — Marquette  at  the  Saut  de  Sainte  Marie — Loca- 
tion of  the  Ottawas — Miamis  and  Pottawattamies — The  ** Mound- 
Builders" — Doubts  as  to  their  Kesidence  in  Michigan — Description 
of  Circles  and  Mounds — A  Sensible  Theory — Description  of  "  An- 
cient Garden-Beds" — Speculations  on  their  Origin. 

When  Daumont  de  St.  Lusson  took  possession  of  the 
upper  lakes  and  their  adjacent  lands  in  the  name  of  Louis 
the  Fourteenth,  only  a  hundred  and  seventy-one  years  had 
passed  since  the  discovery  of  America  by  Columbus.  It 
had  been  a  hundred  and  thirty-seven  years  since  (in  1535) 
the  French  explorer,  George  Cartier,  had  sailed  up  the  St. 

f  This  word  Michigan^,  or  Michigan,  is  said  to  be  derived  from 
two  Chippeica  words,  Mitchan  Sagegan,  meaning  great  lake;  being' 
applied  by  that  tribe  to  Lakes  Huron  and  Michigan,  which  were  con- 
sidered as  one  body  of  water. 


12 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Lawrence  to  Montreal,  and  had  taken  possession  of  all  the 
country  round  about,  in  the  name  of  King  Francis  the 
First,  by  the  name  of  New  France.  He  had  made  some 
attempts  at  colonization,  but  in  1543  they  had  all  been 
abandoned,  and  for  more  than  half  a  century  the  disturbed 
condition  of  France  had  entirely  prevented  its  people  from 
utilizing  the  discoveries  of  Cartier. 

In  1 603  the  celebrated  French  mariner,  Samuel  Cham- 
plain,  had  led  an  expedition  to  Quebec,  had  made  a  perma- 
nent settlement  there,  and  had,  in  fact,  founded  the  colony 
of  Canada.  From  Quebec  and  from  Montreal,  which  was 
soon  after  founded,  the  adventurous  French  explorers,  fur- 
traders,  and  missionaries  had  pushed  rapidly  into  the  West- 
ern wilderness,  and  as  early  as  1615  Champlain  himsqlf 
had  visited  the  JSurons  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Manitouline. 
Almost  or  quite  as  early,  priests  of  the  R^collet,  or  Fran- 
ciscan, order  had  established  missions  in  the  same  locality. 

Meanwhile,  in  1606,  the  English  had  settled  Virginia, 
and  in  1 609  a  Dutch  ship,  under  the  command  of  the  Eng- 
lish sailor,  Henry  Hudson,  had  sailed  into  the  river  which 
still  bears  its  captain's  name.  These  events  had  been  fol- 
lowed in  1620  by  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims  on  Plymouth 
Rock,  and  in  1623  by  the  commencement  of  permanent 
Dutch  settlement  on  the  Hudson.  Thus  three  distinct 
streams  of  emigration,  with  three  attendant  claims  of  sov- 
ereignty, had  begun  to  make  their  way  westward  from  the 
Atlantic,  and  to  all  appearances  the  French,  having  such 
ample  water-communication  with  the  interior  by  means  of - 
the  St.  Lawrence  and  the  Great  Lakes,  had  decidedly  the 
advantage  in  the  race  for  empire,^ — at  least  so  far  as  Michi- 
gan was  concerned. 

In  1625  there  had  arrived  on  the  shores  of  the  St.  Law- 
rence a  few  Jesuits,  the  vanguard  of  a  host  of  those  fiery 
champions  of  the  cross,  destined  to  crowd  aside  the  more 
peaceful  or  more  inert  Franciscans  throughout  the  whole 
lake  region,  and  substantially  to  approprialte  that  missionary 
ground  to  themselves.  Their  course  was  generally  across 
Canada  by  land  to  Lake  Manitouline,  and  thence  in  canoes 
through  Lakes  Huron,  Superior,  and  Michigan ;  for  the 
more  convenient  route  by  way  of  the  Niagara  River  and 
Lake  Erie  was  guarded  by  the  ferocious  Iroquois,  whom* 
Champlain,  by  an  ill-advised  attack,  had  made  the  implaca- 
ble, enemies  of  the  French. 

About  the  year  1650  those  terrible  confederates,  already 
famed  far  and  wide  for  their  wisdom,  their  valor,  and  their 
ferocity,  had  become  more  redoubtable  than  ever  before. 
Having  destroyed  the  Kahquahs  and  Eries  on  the  shores 
of  Lake  Erie,  they  had  (about  1659)  attacked  the  Hurons, 
or  Wyandots,  located  on  the  eastern  shore  of  the  lake  which 
bears  their  name,  inflicting  such  terrible  defeat  that  many 
of  the  conquered  nation  are  said  to  have  sought  shelter  on 
the  frozen  borders  of  Hudson's  Bay.  The  greater  portion, 
however,  fled  to  the  Ojibway  hunting-grounds,  on  the 
southern  shore  of  Lake  Superior,  as  did  also  the  Ottawawas, 
or  Ottawas,  who  had  been  located  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Ottawa  River,  in  Canada.  The  implacable  Iroquois  fol- 
lowed the  fugitives  to  their  new  haunts,  but  the  latter,  by 
the  help  of  the   Chippewas*  were  at  length  enabled  to 

*  The  original  name  of  these  Indians  was  Ojibwas,  but  for  a  long 
time  they  have  always  been  called  Ckippewae  by  the  whites,  and  to 


repulse  their  arrogant  enemies,  who  thenceforth   seldom 
sought  a  war-path  which  led  so  far  to  the  north. 

I^  1668  the  celebrated  Father  Marquette,  accompanied 
by  Father  Claude  Dablon,  finding  the  friendly  CMppewas 
and  others  in  peaceful  possession  at  the  Saut  de  Sainte 
Marie,  had  established  there  the  mission  of  Sainte  Marie  du 
Saut,  and  had  soon  afterwards  founded  that  of  St.  Esprit 
among  the  Ottawas,  near  the  western  extremity  of  Lake 
Superior.  But  in  1669  or  1670  the  Ottawas,  finding  that 
they  were  no  longer  molested  by  the  Iroquois,  had  estab- 
lished their  principal  seat  on  the  island  of  Mackinaw,  in 
the  straits  variously  known  as  Michillimacinac,  Mackinac, 
or  Mackinaw,  but  which  we  much  prefer  to  designate  by 
the  latter  appellation,  and  there  Marquette  established  the 
mission  of  St.  Ignace  in  1671,  the  same  year  that  De  Lus- 
son  took  possession  of  the  country  in  behalf  of  Louis  the 
Fourteenth.  From  Mackinaw  the  hunting-parties  of  the 
Ottawas  rapidly  spread  southward,  especially  along  the 
eastern  shore  of  Lake  Michigan,,  nearly  or  quite  to  the 
counties  which  are  the  subject  of  this  history, — Allegan  and 
Barry. 

At  this  time  (1671)  the  Pottawattamies  were  located  on 
the  western  shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  from  Green  Bay  to 
,  the  site  of  Chicago ;  while  the  Miamis  dwelt  and  hunted 
on  the  eastern  shore,  from  the  head  of  the  lake  nearly  to 
the  mouth  of  Grand  River. 

Such  was  the  situation  in  1671.  There  is  but  one  more 
subject  that  needs  to  be  dealt  with  in  this  retrospective 
chapter.  That  is  the  so-called  "  pre-historic  race"  which 
is  supposed  to  have  inhabited  this  region  previous  to  its  oc- 
cupation by  the  Indians.  In  various  parts  of  this  State,  and 
eastward  along  the  southern  shore  of  the  Great  Lakes,  to  the 
foot  of  Lake  Ontario,  numerous  mounds  were  found  by  the 
first  settlers,  some  of  which  were  evidently  places  of  sepul- 
ture, while  others  had  every  appearance  of  having  been 
originally  erected  as  fortifications.  The  latter  were  simple 
breastworks,  from  three  to  six  feet  high,  usually,  though  not 
always,  constructed  on  strong  natural  positions,  such  as  a 
steep  hill  or  a  promontory  nearly  surrounded  by  ravines. 

As  one  goes  southward  the  works  become  more  extensive 
and  elaborate,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Ohio  they  are  so 
large  as  to  have  attracted  the  most  earnest  attention  of 
scientific  men.  It  has  long  been  a  matter  of  general  belief 
by  such  men  that  those  works  were  built  by  a  race  anterior 
and  superior  to  the  Indians,  to  whom,  for  lack  of  any  other 
name,  has  been  given  the  appellation  of  "  Mound-Builders.'' 
It  is  needless  here  to  discuss  the  question  whether  such  a 
race  actually  existed  on  the  shores  of  the  Ohio  and  lower 
Mississippi,  or,  if  so,  what  were  its  characteristics.  It  may 
reasonably  be  presumed  that  the  general  belief  of  the 
scientists  is  correct  on  those  points. 

But  as  to  whether  a  portion  of  that  race  ever  resided  in 
Michigan,  we  feel  like  expressing  a  modest  opinion  to  the 
effect  that  there  is  but  slight  evidence  of  its  presence  here. 
In  fact,  the  generally  trivial  character  of  the  works  in  the 
lake  country,  compared  with  those  on  and  near  the  Ohio, 
naturally  raises  the  presumption  that  the  fornjcr  were  not 
built  by  the  same  race  as  the  latter.     Moreover,  the  struo- 

avold  confusion  they  will   thenceforth  be   thus  designated  in  this 
volume. 


RETKOSPECTIVE. 


13 


tures  in  the  lake  region  were  such  as  certainly  could  have 
been  erected  by  the  Indians,  whether  they  were  or  not. 
True,  the  Indians  were  not  in  the  habit  of  building  earthen 
fortifications  when  the  whites  first  settled  in  America,  but 
they  did  build  very  elaborate  palisades  out  of  logs  cut 
down  with  their  stone  axes,  and  thjs  required  much  more 
.  kbor  and  skill  than  the  construction  of  small  earthen 
forts.  In  fact,  among  warriors  whose  only  weapons  were 
clubs,  stone  tomahawks,  and  bows  and  arrows,  the  palisade 
wa.s  a  much  better  protection  than  the  earthwork,  as  it 
was  much  harder  to  shoot  over  or  climb  over,  and  may  very 
naturally  have  succeeded  the  latter  in  the  rude  engineering 
of  the  savages.  Subsequently,  the  Creeks,  Choctaws,  and 
other  southern  Indians  built  breastworks  at  Talladega, 
Horseshoe  Bend,  and  elsewhere,  to  protect  themselves 
from  the  rifles  of  the  Americans,  and  there  is  no  reason 
why  their  ancestors  should  not  have  done  as  much.  Or 
perhaps  the  earthworks  were  auxiliary  to  the  palisades,  as 
suggested  below. 

Moreover,  some  of  the  fortifications  in  the  lake  country 
contained,  when  discovered,  large  piles  of  round  stones, 
evidently  intended  for  use  against  assailants,  and  tend- 
ing strongly  to  prove  that  those  works  were  built  by  a  very 
barbarous  people,  having  none  of  the  culture  and  skill  at- 
tributed to  the  so-called  "  Mound-Builders"  of  the  Missis- 
sippi and  Ohio  valleys. 

The  same  may  be  said  of  the  mounds  found  in  Michigan, 
and  apparently  constructed  for  burial-purposes.  Perhaps 
they  were  not  built  by  Indians,  but  they  do  not  seem  much 
beyond  the  capacity  of  Indians  to  construct. 

From  an  article  by  H.  D.  Post,  Esq.,  in  the  Allegan 
Journal  of  June  8,  1878,  we  condense  a  description  of 
several  mounds,  etc.,  carefully  examined  by  him,  and  which 
will  serve  as  types  of  those  found  elsewhere  in  Southern 
Michigan.  They  were  all  situated  within  a  mile  of  each 
other,  and  of  the  crossing  of  Rabbit  River  by  the  Grand 
Haven  Railroad,  in  the  townships  of  Fillmore,  Manlius, 
and  Heath,  in  Allegan  County.  The  first  work  visited  was 
on  the  farm  of  Mrs.  Bostwick,  on  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  36,  in  Fillmore.  On  the  south  end  of  a  ridge 
which  rises  fifteen  or  twenty  feet  above  the  adjoining  land 
the  explorers  found  a  circular  earthwork,  averaging  two  feet 
high  (notwithstanding  frequent  plowing)  and  sixteen  feet 
wide ;  the  diameter  of  its  outer  circumference  being  from 
one  hundred  and  twenty-four  to  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
eight  feet.  It  was  evidently  formed  by  throwing  up  earth 
from  a  ditch  outside. 

On  the  land  of  Mr.  Brouwer,  on  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  1,  in  Manlius,  was  a  circle  which  had  been  leveled 
by  plowing,  and  was  then  barely  discernible,  but  which  was 
described  by  early  settlers  as  having  been  two  and  one-half 
feet  high  and  sixteen  feet  wide  when  the  land  was  cleared. 
Its  maximum  diameter  was  one  hundred  and  forty-four  feet. 

Another  circle  similar  to  the  foregoing  was  found  on  the 
land  of  Mr.  Helmer,  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
36,  in  Fillmore.  Its  greatest  diameter  was  one  hundred 
and  thirty  feet,  and  it  was  said  to  have  been  three  feet  high 
when  first  cleared.  Another,  nearly  obliterated,  on  the 
same  farm,  had  a  maximum  diameter  of  about  eighty  feet. 
There  are  said  to  have  been  several  small  mounds,  about 


four  feet  by  eight,  inside  the  two  circles  on  the  Helmer 
place,  but  no  traces  of  them  remained  at  the  time  of  Mr. 
Post's  visit. 

Besides  these  there  was  a  burial-mound,  thirty  feet  in 
diameter  and  apparently  four  or  five  feet  high,  on  the  north- 
west quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  6,  in 
Heath.  Mr.  George  Harrington,  who  accompanied  Mr. 
Post,  examined  this  in  1870,  finding,  some  eighteen  inches 
below  the  top,  about  one  hundred  human  skeletons,  with 
little  or  no  earth  among  them.  These  extended  to  a  depth 
of  some  two  feet  and  a  half.  Beneath  them  was  a  layer  of 
ashes  and  fine  coals,  perhaps  half  an  inch  thick,  and  then 
came  the  natural  soil,  on  a  level  with  that  around. 

It  doesn't  seem  as  if  it  needed  any  antediluvian  or  pre- 
historic race  to  pile  a  lot  of  corpses  together  and  throw  some 
dirt  over  them. 

Another  mound,  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  1, 
in  Manlius,  measured  twenty  feet  in  diameter  and  three 
feet  high.  It  had  been  dug  open  and  a  large  skeleton  re- 
moved from  it. 

No  weapons,  ornaments,  nor  implements  were  found  or 
heard  of,  either  in  the  mounds  or  circles. 

Mr.  Post  appended  to  his  statement  what  seems  to  us 
the  most  sensible  theory  in  regard  to  these  circular  earth- 
works that  has  ever  come  under  our  notice.     He  says, — 

"  These  earthen  walls,  after  making  due  allowance  for  the  leveling 
of  the  centuries  past,  and  the  more  destructive  plows  of  latter  years, 
could  never  have  been  high  enough  to  have  been  of  any  use  for  shelter 
or  defense  alone.  They  are  probably  the  remaining  traces  of  slight 
stockade  forts,  surrounded  with  palisades  set  deep  in  the  ground,  and 
the  earth  from  a  ditch  outside  used  to  make  an  elevated  walk  on 
the  inside,  high  enough  to  gire  their  defenders  command  of  the 
level,  outside,  and  to  enable  them  to  shoot  over  their  palisade 
defense.'' 

Or,  perhaps,  the  palisade  was  loopholed  for  arrows ;  we 
think  some  early  Indian  forts  discovered  in  the  East  were 
thus  constructed. 

The  so-called  "  Ancient  Garden-Beds"  of  Michigan  fur- 
nish more  material  for  controversy.  They  are  so  named 
because  they  are  raised  above  the  earth  and  separated  by 
paths,  like  modern^arden-beds,  though  many  times  larger. 
They  have  seldom  been  found  out  of  Michigan,  but  were 
quite  numerous  in  the  southern  part  of  that  State  at  the 
time  of  its  settlement  by  the  whites.  Many  were  found  in 
Kalamazoo  County,  and  some  in  Allegan  and  Barry.  Bela  S. 
Hubbard,  Esq.,  of  Detroit,  who  has  given  especial  attention 
to  this  subject,  divides  the  beds  into  eight  classes,  which 
he  describes  as  follows  : 

"  1.  Wide  convex  beds,  in  parallel  rows,  without  paths,  composing 
independent  plats.  Widtlr  of  beds,  twelve  feet;  paths,  none;  length, 
seventy-four  to  one  hundred  and  fifteen  feet. 

"  2.  Wide  convex  beds,  in  parallel  rows,  separated  by  paths  of  same 
width,  in  independent  plats.  Width  of  beds,  twelve  to  sixteen  feet; 
patli=,  the  same ;  length,  seventy-four  to  one  hundred  and  thirty-two 
feet. 

"3.  Wide  parallel  beds,  separated  by  narrow  paths,  arranged  in  a 
series  of  plats  longitudinal  to  each  other.  Width  of  beds,  fourteen 
feet;  paths,  two  feet;  length,  one  hundred  feet. 

"i.  Long,  narrow  beds,  separated  by  narrower  paths  and  arranged 
in  a  series  of  longitudinal  plats,  each  plat  divided  from  the  next  by 
semicircular  heads.  Width  of  beds,  five  feet;  paths,  one  foot  and  a 
half;  length,  one  hundred  feet;  height,  eighteen  inches. 

"  5.  Parallel  beds,  arranged  in  plats  similar  to  Class  4,  but  divided 


u 


HISTORY -OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


by  circular  heads.  Width  of  beds,  six  feet;  paths,  four  feet;  length, 
twelve  to  forty  feet ;  height,  eighteen  inches. 

"6.  Parallel  beds,  of  varying  widths  and  lengths,  separated  by 
narrow  paths,  and  arranged  in  plats  of  two  or  more,  at  right  angles 
(north,  south,  east,  and  west)  to  the  plats  adjacent.  Width  of  beds, 
five  to  fourteen  feet;  paths,  one  to  two  feet;  length,  twelve  to  thirty 
feet;  height,  eight  inches. 

"  7.  Parallel  beds,  of  uniform  width  and  length,  with  narrow  paths, 
arranged  in  plats  or  blocks,  and  single  beds  at  varying  angles.  Width 
of  beds,  six  feet ;  paths,  two  feet ;  length,  about  thirty  feet ;  height, 
ten  to  twelve  inches. 

"  S.  Wheel-shaped  plats,  consisting  of  a  circular  bed,  with  beds  of 
uniform  shape  and  size  radiating  therefrom,  all  separated  by  narrow 
paths.  Width  of  beds,  six  to  twenty  feet;  paths,  one  foot;  length, 
fourteen  to  twenty  feet." 

The  labor  involved  in  constructing  these  "  beds"  (which 
were  raised  from  twelve  to  eighteen  inches  above  the  paths) 
was  not  at  all  beyond  the  capacity  of  the  squaws,  but  the 
mathematical  reguFarity  which  is  attributed  to  them  seems 
somewhat  more  precise  than  we  should  expect  from  Indians. 
But  when  we  consider  the  proneness  of  mankind  to  exag- 
gerate the  wonderful  character  of  anything  they  may  dis- 
cover, when  we  take  into  view  the  rapidity  with  which  these 
so-called  "  beds"  were  obliterated  by  the  settlers'  plows,  and 
the  consequent  difficulty  of  ascertaining  whether  they  were 
as  regular  in  form  as  represented,  we  may  well  hesitate 
before  we  create  another  race  of  men  on  purpose  to  construct 
and  work  these  curious  plats.  Mr.  Hubbard  himself  ad- 
vances the  opinion  that  these  beds  may  have  been  cultivated 
until  within  three  or  four  centuries  of  the  present  time. 
If  such  was  the  case,  they  were  certainly  cultivated  by 
Indians,  for  it  is  almost  three  hundred  and  fifty  years  since 
Cartier  sailed  up  the  St.  Lawrence  to  the  site  of  Montreal, 
finding  the  shores  of  that  river  occupied  by  Indians  of  the 
Algonquin  race,  and  there  can  be  no  question  but  that  the 
whole  northern  part  of  North  America  was  then  occupied 
by  the  red  men  so  well  known  to  the  settlers  of  this 
country. 

All  things  considered,  therefore,  and  in  spite  of  the 
opinion  of  some  eminent  men  on  the  subject,  we  must  be 
permitted  to  doubt  whether  Michigan  had  ever  been  occu- 
pied, previous  to  the  advent  of  the  whites,  by  any  race 
more  civilized  than  the  Ottawas  and  Pottawattamies  who 
then  roamed  through  its  forests. 


CHAPTER   IIL 

OUH   SUBJECT  IN    1671. 

What  our  Subject  is — -The  Territory  of  Allegan  and  Barry  in  1671 — 
Surface  of  the  Ground — The  Rivers  and  their  Tributaries — Numer- 
ous Lakes — The  Trees  of  the  Forest — Wild  Animals. 

The  subject  of  this  history  is  the  territory  comprised  in 
the  counties  of  Allegan  and  Barry,  the  events  which  have 
transpired  within  its  limits,  and  the  deeds  of  its  red  and 
white  residents,  wherever  done.  In  order,  however,  to  show 
the  chain  of  events,  we  are  obliged  to  mention  briefly  some 
outside  occurrences  connected  with  the  general  progress  of 
discovery  and  civilization  in  Michigan  and  the  Northwest. 
Before,  however,  proceeding  down  the  historic  pathway  from 
1671  to  1880,  we  will  glance  at  the  principal  characteristics 


of  the  territory  itself,  as  it  was  in  the  former  year,  and  as 
it  remained  until  the  beginning  of  settlement  within  it  by 
the  whites. 

That  territory  would  now  be  described  as  all  that  part  of 
the  State  of  Michigan  bounded  south  by  the  base-line,  east 
by  the  line  between  ranges  6  and  7  east,  north  by  the  line 
between  townships  4  and  5  north,  and  west  by  Lake  Mich- 
igan. But  in  1671  there  were  of  course  no  base-lines  nor 
meridians,  no  ranges  nor  townships,  and  the  voyageurs  and 
missionaries,  the  primitive  geographers  of  that  day,  would 
have  used  a  far  different  method  of  description.  They 
would  have  spoken  of  a  tract  of  rather  sandy  land,  twenty- 
four  miles  wide,  stretching  back  about  sixty  miles  from  the 
eastern  shore  of  Lake  Michigan  (its  southwestern  corner 
being  but  about  sixty  miles  from  the  head  of  that  lake), 
and  if  they  had  been  extremely  minute  in  their  explorations 
they  might  have  told  something  of  the  nature  of  its  forest 
covering,  and  of  the  streams  which  rolled  across  it. 

The  surface  was  somewhat  broken,  but  not  extremely  so, 
and  gradually  ascended  from  the  lake  eastward.  It  hag 
been  decided  by  scientific  observation  that  at  the  eastern 
limit  of  the  tract  (being  the  eastern  boundary  of  the 
present  county  of  Barry)  the  ground  rises  to  a  height  of 
two  hundred  and  fifty  feet  above  the  level  of  Lake  Michigan, 
and  the  distance  is  nowhere  exceeded  between  that  line 
and  the  sheet  of  water  just  mentioned. 

The  principal  stream  which  watered  the  tract  under  con- 
sideration was  the  one  which,  according  to  the  early  ex- 
plorers, was  called  the  Kekalamazoo  by  the  Indians,  but 
which  has  long  been  known  to  the  whites  under  the  abbre- 
viated butstill  sufficiently  lengthy  appellation  of  Kalamazoo ; 
which  entered  the  present  county  of  Allegan  from  the 
southeast,  three  miles  west  of  its  southeastern  corner,  and 
pursued  a  general  northwestern  course,  though  with  many 
turns  and  convolutions,  till  it  poured  its  waters  into  Lake 
Michigan  seven  miles  south  from  the  northwestern  corner 
of  the  same  county.  Its  principal  tributary,  now  known 
as  Rabbit  River,  entered  the  "  Kekalamazoo"  from  the 
northeast,  about  eight  miles  from  its  mouth,  and,  with  its 
branches,  drained  all  of  the  northeastern  part  of  the  terri- 
tory of  Allegan  County.  The  next  largest  affluent,  which 
has  long  borne  the  name  of  Gun  River,  carried  the  waters 
of  a  large  lake  from  the  present  boundary  between  Allegan 
and'  Barry  Counties  southwestward  into  the  Kalamazoo, 
which  it  reached  only  four  miles  below  the  entrance  of 
that  stream  into  the  territory  under  consideration.  The 
other  tributaries  of  the  river  just  named  drained  all  the 
remainder  of  the  territory  of  Allegan  County  except  a 
small  tract  in  the  southwestern  corner,  the  dark  waters  of 
which  flowed  southwestward  through  the  various  branches 
of  Black  River  into  Lake  Michigan,  and  a  still  smaller 
area  in  the  northwest,  the  trooks  and  creeks  of  which 
found  their  way  into  the  long  bayou  now  known  as  Black 


The  eastern  portion  of  the  tract  under  consideration,  now 
known  as  Barry  County,  was  mostly  drained  by  the  main 
channel  and  the  branches  of  a  stream  which  flowed  north- 
westwardly through  it, — making  its  way  into  Grand  River, 
and  thence  into  Lake  Michigan, — and  to  which,  on  account 
of  the  wild  fruit  along  its  banks,  was  early  given  the  name 


FROM   1671  TO  1707. 


15 


of  Thornapple  River,  although  the  water  of  the  extreme 
southern  and  western  borders  rippled  southwestward  through 
groves  of  pine  to  unite  with  the  Kalamazoo. 

But  the  distinguishing  feature  of  the  territory  of  Barry 
County  was  the  lakes  which  dotted  its  surface  in  the  most 
lavish  profusion.  The  Ottawa  or  Pottawattamie  warrior, 
as  he  bounded  through  the  gloomy  glades  after  the  deer, 
or  set  out  on  the  war-path  against  his  distant  foes,  passed 
scores  of  pellucid  lakes  flashing  in  the  sunlight  of  summer 
or  covered  with  the  ice  of  winter,  and  varying  in  size  from 
the  broad,  irregular  expanse  now  known  as  Gun  Lake, 
covering  over  five  square  miles,  to  the  miniature  sheet 
flashing  amid  the  dark  mass  of  pines  like  a  diamond  im- 
bedded in  emerald.  Nearly  a  hundred  and  fifty  of  these 
lakes  or  ponds  were  to  be  found  in  what  is  now  Barry 
County,  while  the  territory  of  Allegan  County,  though 
much  larger,  showed  but  about  eighty. 

These  hills  were  covered,  these  lakes  were  surrounded, 
largely  by  towering  pines,  comprising  some  of  the  most 
majestic  specimens  of  that  genus  to  be  found  in  America, 
the  dark  and  odorous  foliage  of  which  swayed  and  sighed 
in  the  breeze  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  above  the  earth 
from  which  they  sprang.  These,  however,  did  not  comprise 
the  whole  of  the  native  productions  of  the  soil.  Beeches, 
maples,  oaks,  elms,  and  other  trees  common  in  American  for- 
ests were  found  in  many  localities,  and  the  hemlock  showed 
itself  here  and  there  beside  the  more  stately  form  of  its 
sister  evergreen. 

Around  the  lakes  and  through  the  forest  the  deer  roamed 
in  large  numbers.  Here,  too,  at  night,  was  heard  the  howl- 
ing of  innumerable  wolves,  always  apparently  hungry  and 
seeking  with  ill  success  for  food,  their  principal  reliance 
being  some  superannuated  or  crippled  deer  which  they  were 
able  to  overtake.  Occasionally  a  black  bear  rolled  his  un- 
wieldy form  beneath  the  trees,  though  the  prevalence  of 
pines,  instead  of  the  oaks  and  hickories  on  which  those 
animals  depend  for  food,  rendered  their  presence  rare.  At 
still  wider  intervals  the  shrill  scream  of  the  panther,  fiercest 
of  American  beasts,  was  heard  afar  in  the  forests,  making 
all  other  animals  tremble  with  fear,  and  startling  even  the 
Indian  warrior  with  the  prospect  of  more  than  ordinary 
danger. 

Raccoons,  squirrels,  and  other  small  animals  abounded  ; 
wild  turkeys  trooped  in  noisy  squadrons  through  the  under- 
growth ;  wild  geese  and  ducks,  in  spring  and  autumn,  often 
covered  the  surface  of  the  placid  lakes;  while  amid  the  trees 
flitted  thousands  of  the  smaller  birds,  of  varied  song  and 
diverse  size  and  many-hued  plumage.  On  the  ground, 
besides  some  harmless  varieties  of  serpents,  the  deadly 
rattlesnake  made  its  tortuous  way,  preluding  its  fatal  stroke 
with  the  warning  note  which  distinguishes  it  from  all  other 

reptiles. 

Of  the  human  occupants  of  this  region,  almost  as  deadly 
as  the  serpent  we  have  just  mentioned,  and  even  more 
deadly,  enough  will  be  said  in  some  of  the  following 
chapters. 


CHAPTER    IV. 
FROM    1671    TO    1707. 

French  Enterprise — Marquette  and  Joliet  discover  the  Mississippi — 
Marquette's  Mission  to  the  Illinois — His  Keturn  along  the  Edge  of 
Allegan  County— His  Death— La  Salle— The  "  Griffin"— The  Port  of 
the  Miamis — La  Salle's  Return  to  Canada  on  Foot — His  Misfortunes 
— Passage  and  Repassage  along  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Lake  Michi- 
gan— His  Subsequent  Career — French  Dominion — Forts  in  Eastern 
Michigan — Fear  of  Iroquois  by  VFestern  Indians — Denonville's 
Expedition  —  Founding  of  Detroit — Pottawattamies  occupy  St. 
Joseph  Valley — Ottawas  and  Pottawattamies  jointly  occupy  the 
Territory  of  Allegan  and  Barry  Counties. 

After  1671  the  French  pushed  rapidly  forward  in  vari- 
ous directions,  and  under  various  leaders,  to  make  good  their 
possession  of  the  lands  over  which  they  had  so  proudly 
proclaimed  their  sovereignty.  The  intrepid  Jesuit,  Father 
Jacques  Marquette,  inspired  by  zeal  for  his  religion,  was 
one  of  the  foremost  of  these  bold  explorers  of  the  North- 
west. In  1 672,  in  company  with  the  adventurous  trader, 
Louis  Joliet,  already  mentioned,  he  went  up  Green  Bay 
into  Wisconsin,  and  the  following  spring  he  proceeded  up 
Fox  River  and  down  the  Wisconsin,  discovering  the  Mis- 
sissippi at  Prairie  du  Chien  on  the  17th  of  June,  1673, 
and  exploring  it  for  a  long  distance  southward.  Returning 
to  Green  Bay,  he  remained  there  until  the  autumn,  when 
he  set  out  to  found  a  mission  among  the  Illinois.  He  was 
detained  by  sickness  near  the  .site  of  Chicago  through  the 
succeeding  winter,  but  in  the  spring  of  1675  he  reached 
the  Illinois,  located  on  the  river  of  the  same  name,  and 
preached  to  them  with  all  his  wonted  zeal. 

Finding  his  health  rapidly  failing,  however,  he  set  out 
for  Mackinaw,  making  his  way  with  two  or  three  compan- 
ions in  a  small  boat  along  the  eastern  shore  of  Lake  Michi- 
gan. This  is  the  first  definite  account  we  have  observed  of 
white  men  even  skirting  the  shore  of  Allegan  County, 
though  it  is  not  improbable  that  French  missionaries  had 
previously  tried  their  eloquence  on  the  wandering  Ottawas 
or  Miamis  along  its  shore,  nor  that  French  fur-traders  had 
made  their  way  up  the  Kalamazoo  in  their  eager  search  for 
valuable  peltry. 

Marquette's  health  continuing  to  fail,  he  and  his  com- 
panions landed  on  the  19th  of  May,  and  that  same  night 
he  died.  The  place  of  his  death  is  described  as  being  "  at 
the  mouth  of  a  small  river,  some  distance  south  of  Sleep- 
ing Bear  Point."  It  has  generally  been  supposed  to  have 
been  at  the  mouth  of  Pfere  Marquette  River,  on  the  site  of 
the  present  town  of  Ludington,  which  was  also  long  known 
by  the  name  of  P6re  Marquette,  but  the  locality  is  now 
believed  to  have  been  farther  north. 

But  a  still  greater  explorer  than  Marquette  was  about  to 
traverse  the  lakes  and  lands  of  the  Great  West,  though, 
unlike  Marquette,  he  did  not  subordinate  all  other  objects 
to  the  spread  of  his  religion.  In  the  month  of  August, 
1679,  the  wonder-stricken  savages  on  the  shores  of  the  De- 
troit River  saw  what  seemed  to  them  a  huge  canoe,  with 
immense  wings,  stemming  the  powerful  current,  without 
the  aid  of  oars  or  paddles,  and  swiftly  traversing  the  placid 
sheet  of  water  now  known  as  Lake  St.  Clair.  This  was  the 
"  Griffin,"  a  schooner  of  sixty  tons  burden,  built  the  pre- 
ceding winter  and  spring  on  the  shore  of  the  Niagara,  just 


16 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARKY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


above  the  great  cataract,  and  which  on  the  7th  of  August 
had  set  forth  on  the  first  voyage  ever  made  by  a  sail-vessel 
over  the  waters  of  the  upper  lakes.  Its  commander  was 
Robert  Cavelier  de  La  Salle,  the  most  hardy  and  adventur- 
ous of  all  the  gallant  Frenchmen  who  explored  the  wilds  of 
North  America,  and  the  one  whose  discoveries  did  the  most 
to  extend  the  dominions  of  his  royal  master. 

The  only  portrait  which  has  been  preserved  of  La  Salle 
represents  him  as  a  handsome,  blue-eyed  cavalier  with  blonde 
ringlets,  apparently  better  fitted  for  the  salons  of  Paris  than 
the  forests  of  America,  but  a  thousand  evidences  show  not 
only  the  courage,  but  the  extraordinary  vigor  and  hardihood, 
of  this  remarkable  man.  He  was  accompanied  by  Tonty,* 
a  gallant  Italian,  who  was  his  second  in  command,  by  Father 
Hennepin,  a  Franciscan  monk,  who  became  the  historian 
of  the  expedition,  and  by  about  thirty  sailors,  voyageurs, 
hunters,  etc. 

The  "  Griffin''  passed  on  over  the  waters  of  Lake  Huron, 
stayed  but  a  brief  period  at  the  post  of  Mackinaw,  where 
Tonty  stopped  with  some  of  the  men,  and  then  proceeded 
to  the  mission  at  the  head  of  Green  Bay.  Thence  it  was 
sent  back  with  a  part  of  its  crew  and  a  cargo  of  furs,  while 
the  intrepid  La  Salle,  with  a  score  of  men,  remained  to  explore 
the  vast  empire  which  lay  spread  before  him.  He  and  his 
comrades  coasted  around  the  western  shore  and  the  head  of 
Lake  Michigan  in  birch-bark  canoes,  and  in  the  month  of 
October  reached  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Joseph  River.  To  this 
stream  he  gave  the  name  of  River  of  the  Miamis,  from  the 
Miami  Indians  whom  he  found  in  that  vicinity,  and  on  the 
site  of  the  village  of  St.  Joseph  he  built  a  fortified  trading- 
post,  which  he  called  the  Fort  of  the  Miamis. 

This  was  the  first  post  built  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Lake 
Michigan,  and  its  erection,  together  with  the  appearance  of  a 
French  vessel  in  the  upper  lakes,  was  another  important  step 
in  the  work  of  subjecting  the  great  Northwest,  and  especially 
the  southwestern  portion  of  Michigan,  to  French  rule. 

La  Salle  and  his  companions  waited  several  weary  weeks 
at  the  Fort  of  the  Miamis  for  the  return  of  the  "  Griffin," 
and  also  for  the  arrival  of  Tonty  from  Mackinaw.  About 
the  20th  of  November,  Tonty,  with  ten  men,  made  his 
way  in  boats  along  the  western  shore  of  Allegan  County, 
having  left  ten  more  men  to  supply  the  common  larder 
by  hunting  a  little  farther  north.  The  gallant  Italian 
had  lost  an  armf  on  a  European  battle-field,  but  was  always 
ready  to  meet  the  greater  dangers  of  the  American  wil- 
derness or  the  stormy  lakes  with  unflinching  eye,  and  was 
still  more  distinguished  for  his  fidelity  than  his  courage 
among  the  many  faithless  followers  of  La  Sallo.  He  joined 
his  chief  at  the  Fort  of  the  Miamis  at  the  time  just  men- 
tioned, and  was  soon  followed  by  the  hunters  who  had  been 
left  behind. 

But  the  "  Griffin,"  the  pioneer  vessel  of  Lake  Michigan, 
was  never  heard  of  after  leaving  Green  Bay.  It  probably 
went  to  the  bottom  in  a  storm  with  all  its  men,  but  it  min-ht 
possibly  have  been  captured  at  anchor  by  jealous  savao-es 
the  crew  butchered,  and  the  vessel  itself  destroyed. 


»  This  name  was  originally  the  Italian  one  of  Tonti,  but  La  Salle's 
lieutenant  always  wrote  it  in  the  Gallic  form, — Tonty. 

t  Its  pla(ie  w.as  supplied  by  one  of  iron  ;  henqe  he  was  generally 
called  "Bras  de  Fer"  (Iron  Arm)  by  the  Indians. 


Despairing  of  the  return  of  his  vessel.  La  Salle  went 
with  the  greater  portion  of  his  men  to  a  point  on  the  Illi- 
nois River,  where  he  built  a  post  to  which  he  gave  the  ex- 
presive  name  of  Fort  Crevecoeur, — Broken  Heart.  His 
courage  was  by  no  means  exhausted,  however,  and  in  order 
to  obtain  reinforcements  and  supplies  he  and  three  com- 
panions performed  the  remarkable  feat  of  returning  from 
Crevecoeur  to  Fort  Frontenac  (on  the  site  of  Kingston, 
Ontario)  on  foot,  depending  on  their  guns  for  support. 
Having  once  more  made  his  way  to  the  West  he  was  met 
with  new  disappointment,  for  both  the  Fort  of  the  Miamis 
and  Fort  Crevecoeur  had  been  destroyed,  and  all  his  men, 
save  Tonty  and  a  few  others,  had  deserted  to  join  the 
savages  or  the  scarcely  less  lawless  voyageurs. 

Nevertheless  the  intrepid  explorer  again  re-established 
his  posts,  passing,  in  the  autumn  of  1680,  along  the  west- 
ern shore  of  Allegan  County,  and  thence  down  the  lake  to 
Mackinaw,  where  he  obtained  twelve  men,  with  whom  he 
returned  by  the  same  route  to  the  fort  on  the  Illinois.  The 
subsequent  career  of  this  adventurous  explorer  is  not  espe- 
cially connected  with  the  history  of  this  region,  and  must 
be  dismissed  in  a  few  words.  After  many  other  exploits 
and  hardships  he  descended  the  Mississippi  to  the  sea,  in 
1682,  being  the  first  to  traverse  the  lower  part  of  that 
stream  and  to  prove  that  it;  emptied  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 
He  took  possession  of  the  country  in  the  name  of  King 
Louis  the  Fourteenth,  and  called  it  Louisiana.  Returning 
to  France,  he  astonished  and  gratified  the  court  of  that  mon- 
arch with  the  story  of  his  discoveries,  and  in  1684  was  fur- 
nished with  a  fleet  and  several  hundred  men  to  colonize  the 
new  domain.  The  fleet,  however,  through  the  blunders  of 
the  naval  commander,  landed  in  Texas  instead  of  Louisiana, 
and  after  innumerable  misfortunes  the  indomitable  La  Salle 
set  out  for  Canada,  in  1687,  on  foot,  to  seek  assistance,  but 
was  assassinated  while  still  in  Texas  by  two  of  his  own  men. 

But,  notwithstanding  the  unfortunate  end  of  the  great 
discoverer,  his  achievements  had  extended  the  dominion  of 
France  more  widely  than  had  those  of  any  of  his  compa- 
triots, and  from  that  time  the  Bourbon  kings  maintained 
an  ascendency  more  or  less  complete  throughout  all  the 
vast  region  extending  from  Quebec  to  New  Orleans,  until 
compelled  to  resign  it  nearly  a  century  later  by  the  prowess 
of  the  British.  French  vessels  circled  around  the  Great 
Lakes  on  the  track  of  the  ill-fated  "  Griffin,"  French  forts 
and  trading-posts  were  erected  in  the '  wilderness,  and 
French  missionaries  bore  the  cross  among  the  heathen  with 
redoubled  zeal.  French  adroitness  succeeded  in  establish- 
ing and  continuing  friendly  relations  with  nearly  all  the 
Indians  of  the  Northwest,  and  members  of  nearly  all  the 
tribes  found  their  way  to  Fort  Frontenac,  and  even  to 
Montreal,  with  packages  of  furs  to  sell  to  the  children  of 
their  great  father  across  the  sea. 

The  English,  busily  engaged  in  building  up  a  powerful 
but  compact  empire  along  the  coast,  scarcely  attempted  to 
rival  their  Gallic  competitors  in  gaining  control  over  the 
immense  interior.  The  Indians  would  doubtless  have  re- 
jected with  scorn  the  idea  of  French  ownership  in  the 
lands  which  they  and  their  ancestors  had  so  long  occupied, 
but,  as  between  the  English  and  French,  it  was  substantially 
understood  that  the  dominion  of  the  former  extended  from 


THE  OTTAWAS  AND  P0TTAWATTAMIE8  IN   1707. 


17 


the  mouth  of  the  St.  Lawrence  to  that  of  the  Mississippi, 
the  only  question  being  where  the  boundary,line  should  be 
drawn  between  the  two  domains. 

In  1686  Fort  St.  Joseph  was  erected  near  the  site  of  the 
city  of  Port  Huron,  where  the  waters  of  Lake  Huron 
enter  the  river  St.  Clair,  to  aid  in  the  maintenance  of 
French  dominion  over  the  Northwest.  Soon  after,  a  post 
called  Fort  Detroit  was  established  near  the  site  of  Detroit. 
Fort  St.  Joseph,  however,  was  destroyed  two  years  after  its 
erection,  by  the  French  themselves,  and  about  the  same 
time  a  fort  bearing  the  same  name  was  erected  at  the 
mouth  of  the  St.  Joseph  River,  on  the  site  of  La  Salle's 
Fort  of  the  Miamis. 

The  Indians  of  the  upper  lakes  were  the  more  ready  to 
court  the  French,  in  order  to  obtain  from  them  arms  and 
ammunition  with  which  to  combat  the  dreaded  Iroquois. 
In  1687  volunteers  were  obtained  from  almost  all  the  tribes 
of  the  Northwest  to  join  the  expedition  of  the  Marquis  de 
Denonville,  Governor-General  of  Canada,  against  those  fierce 
confederates.  Tonty  led  one  band  of  about  two  hundred 
from  Illinois  to  Detroit,  while  the  main  body,  consisting  of 
Oltawus,  Pottawattamies,  Chrppewas,  and  others,  assembled 
at  Mackinaw.  Their  conduct  was  somewhat  doubtful,  but 
La  Durantaye,  the  French  commander,  waylaid  and  cap- 
tured some  English  boats  which  were  on  their  way  with 
goods  to  be  traded  with  the  savages,  distributed  their  con- 
tents among  the  latter,  gained  their  zealous  friendship,  and 
led  them  to  Fort  Detroit. 

Thence  they  all  proceeded  to  the  southern  shore  of  Lake 
Ontario,  where  they  assisted  Denonville  to  defeat  the  Senecas 
in  battle,  but  without  materially  diminishing  their  power  or 
thit  of  their  brother  Iroquois.  A  few  prisoners  were  cap- 
tured, and  Denonville  wrote  about  the  atrocities  committed 
by  "  our  rascally  Ottawas,"  whom  he  also  accused  of  coward- 
ice in  the  fight. 

Fort  Detroit  was  soon  after  abandoned,  and  for  many 
years  the  only  French  posts  in  Michigan  were  those  at 
Saut  Sainte  Marie,  Mackinaw,  and  the  mouth  of  the  St. 
Joseph  River.  The  Miamis  continued  a  great  part  of  the 
time  on  the  latter  river,  but  they  were  absent  for  about  ten 
yeaw  after  1681,  and  in  1697  a  large  number  of  them 
were  massacred  by  the  Sioux,  and  many,  but  not  all,  of  the 
remainder  fled  the  country.  The  territory  of  Allegan  and 
Barry  Counties  remained  a  debatable  .ground  between  the 
Miamis  and  Ottawas,  unoccupied  save  by  winter  hunting- 
parties,  but  to  all  appearances  more  fully  under  the  control 
of  the  Ottawas  than  of  any  other  tribe. 

In  1701,  La  Motte  Cadillac,  who  had  been  for  several 
years  the  commandant  at  Mackinaw,  established  a  perma- 
nent post  on  the  "  detroifc,"  or  strait,  between  Lakes  Erie 
and  St.  Clair,  which  was  at  first  known  as  Fort  Ponchar- 
train,  but  soon  received  the  appellation  of  Detroit,  which, 
as  post,  village,  and  city,  it  has  retained  to  this  day.  Ca- 
dillac immediately  made  strenuous  efi'orts  to  induce  all  the 
various  tribes  of  the  Northwest  who  were  friendly  to  the 
French  to  locate  themselves  around  Fort  Ponchartrain, 
evidently  desirous  to  have  them  well  in  hand,  so  that  the 
French  commanders  could  more  easily  lead  them  on  warlike 
expeditions  against  the  English  and  Iroquois.  A  portion 
of  the  Ottawas  accepted  his  invitation,  while  the  remainder 
3 


continued  to  keep  their  headquarters  at  IMackinaw,  and  to 
occupy  their  hunting-grounds  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Lake 
Michigan.  About  1707  the  Miamis,  who  were  located  on 
the  St.  Joseph  River,  removed  to  Detroit.  Their  place 
was  supplied  almost  immediately  by  the  warlike  Pottawat- 
tamies, who  established  their  chief  seats  along  the  lower  St. 
Joseph,  and  whose  hunting-parties  roamed  northward  until 
they  met  those  of  their  friends  and  allies,  the  Ottawas,  in 
or  near  the  territory  of  Allegan  and  Barry  Counties.  The 
Ottawas  and  Pottawattamies  occupied  the  eastern  shore  of 
Lake  Michigan,  including  the  counties  of  Allegan  and 
Barry,  nearly  one  hundred  and  thirty  years,  and  the  account 
of  their  dominion  must  be  reserved  for  another  chapter. 


CHAPTER    V. 


THE  OTTAAVAS  AND  POTTAWATTAMIES  IN  1707. 

Their  Location — Tlieir  Affinity — The  Algonquin  Eaee — Its  Extent — 
The  IrocLUOis  in  its  Midst — Superiority  of  the  Latter — League  of 
Chippewas,  Ottawas,  and  Pottawattamies — Concentration  of  Mich- 
igan Indians  at  Detroit — Characteristics  of  the  Ottawas  and  Potta- 
wattamies— Their  Freedom — Manner  of  going  to  War — Manner  of 
carrying  on  War — Their  Cruelty— Their  Religion — Their  Numbers 
— Enmity  toward  the  Miamis. 

As  early  as  1707  the  two  tribes  of  Indians  whose  names 
head  this  chapter  became  the  owners,  by  right  of  occupa- 
tion, of  the  territory  of  Allegan  and  Barry  Counties,  and 
remained  so  until  within  the  memory  of  men  now  living. 
The  Ottawas  were  on  the  north,  the  Pottawattamies  on 
the  south.  The  boundary  between  their  respective  posses- 
sions was  not  strictly  defined, — as,  indeed,  boundaries  sel- 
dom were  among  the  Indians, — and  the  hunting-parties  of 
both  tribes  roamed  at  will  over  the  territory  in  question. 
As,  however,  the  two  nations  were,  during  all  the  time 
mentioned,  bound  closely  together  by  the  ties  of  friendship 
and  alliance,  no  ill  results  were  caused  by  this  joint  own- 
ership. 

The  Ottawas,  as  before  stated,  were  fugitives  from  Canada, 
where  the  Ottawa  River  and  the  capital  city  of  British 
North  America  still  perpetuate  their  memory,  while  the 
Pottawattamies  were  recent  emigrants  from,  the  western 
shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  where  they  had  been  found  by 
the  earliest  French  discoverers.  Yet  both  tribes  belonged 
to  the  great  Algonquin  race,  and  both  spoke  dialects  of  the 
Algonquin  language,  so  similar  that  Ottawas  and  Potta- 
wattamies (as  well  as  Chipipewas)  could  understand  each 
other  without  the  aid  of  an  interpreter. 

The  Algonquins,  it  should  be  said,  according  to  those 
who  have  made  a  special  study  of  Indian  history,  were  a 
great  Indian  race,  comprising  nearly  all  the  tribes  residing 
north  of  the  present  State  of  Tennessee,  east  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, and  south  of  Hudson  Bay.  Nearly  all,  we  say, 
for  in  the  midst  of  them  were  established  the  five  confed- 
erated nations  of  Iroquois,  who  constituted  a  separate  race, 
and  who  occupied  the  greater  part  of  the  present  State  of 
New  York.     The  Wyandots,  or  Hurons,  residing  near  Lake 


18 


HISTORY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND   BARKY   COUiNTIES,  3I1CIIIGAN. 


Huron,  were  an  outlying  branch  of  the  Iroquois,  but  hos- 
tile to  that  great  confederacy,  while  the  Tuscaroras  were  a 
friendly  offshoot  in  the  south,  who,  about  that  time,  became 
the  sixth  of  the  "  Six  Nations." 

Aside  from  these  the  woods  and  prairies,  far  and  near, 
swarmed  with  the  divers  tribes  of  the  Algonquin  race ; — 
Ahenaquis  in  Canada,  Pequots  and  Narragansetts  in  New 
England,  Delawares  in  Pennsylvania,  Shawnees  in  Ohio, 
Miamis  in  Ohio  and  Indiana,  Illinois  in  the  territory  of 
the  State  which  still  bears  their  name,  Sauks,  Foxes,  and 
Menomonees  in  the  country  west  of  Lake  Michigan,  while 
the  great  peninsula  of  Michigan  and  some  neighboring  sec- 
tions were  occupied  by  the  Chippewas,  the  Ottawas,  and 
the  Puttawatlamies.  All  these,  though  so  widely  scattered, 
and  though  often  warring  desperately  ainong  themselves, 
belonged  as  has  been  said  to  one  great  stock,  and  spoke 
various  dialects  of  one  language.  They  outnumbered  the 
Five  Nations  of  Iroquois  more  than  ten  to  one,  yet  such 
was  the  sagacity  and  valor  of  those  confederates  that  they 
had  been  able  to  defeat  their  disunited  foes  one  after 
the  other,  until  the  terror  of  the  Iroquois  name  had  spread 
over  half  the  continent  of  North  America.  Even  the 
Hurons,  though  of  the  same  race  and  almost  equal  in 
numbers,  lacked  the  ferocious  energy  of  the  Five  Nations, 
and  had  been  driven  in  utter  rout  before  them. 

The  Chippewas,  Ottawas,  and  Pottawattamies,  who,  as 
already  stated,  after  the  removal  of  the  latter  tribe  to  the 
St.  Joseph  valley,  occupied  the  present  State  of  Michigan 
and  some  adjoining  territory,  were  united  in  a  rude  confed- 
eracy, somewhat  similar  to  the  celebrated  league  of  the 
Iroquois,  but  far  less  thorough  and  less  potent.  We  are 
unable  to  say  whether  it  was  formed  before  or  after  the  re- 
moval of  the  Pottawattamies  to  the  eastern  shore  of  Lake 
Michigan,  though  its  origin  was  certainly  not  much  later 
than  that  event,  and  it  could  hardly  have  been  much  earlier, 
on  account  of  the  previous  wide  separation  of  the  three 
tribes. 

Since  the  advent  of  the  French,  who  furnished  them 
with  arms,  ammunition,  and  leadership,  these  tribes  had 
become  less  afraid  of  the  Iroquois,  and  were  consequently 
willing  to  locate  themselves  in  positions  farther  east  than 
they  would  previously  have  dared  to  occupy.  La  Motte 
Cadillac  had  urged  his  policy  of  concentration  with  such 
success  that  already,  in  1707,  a  considerable  number  of  the 
Ottawas,  Hurons,  and  Miamis  had  located  themselves  under 
the  protecting  walls  of  Fort  Ponchartrain.  The  main  body 
of  the  Ottawas,  however,  remained  in  Northern  Michigan, 
and  the  Pottawattamies  were  just  setting  up  their  wig- 
wams in  the  fertile  valley  of  the  St.  Joseph.  More  of  the 
Ottawas  subsequently  went  to  Fort  Ponchartrain  (or  De- 
troit), and  several  villages  of  the  Pottawattamies  were 
subsequently  transferred  thither,  but  the  two  tribes  still 
retained  their  ownership  of  the  territory  of  Allegan  and 
Barry  Counties,  and  occupied  it  as  a  hunting-ground  for 
nearly  a  century  and  a  half.  In  winter  they  hunted  over 
its  hills  and  dales,  in  spring  they  fished  in  its  streams,  but 
in  summer  they  returned,  the  Ottawas  to  the  northern  part 
of  the  State,  the  Pottawattamies  to  the  St.  Joseph  valley, 
and  some  of  both  tribes  to  the  vicinity  of  Detroit ;  and  in 
these  localities,  during  the  summer,  the  squaws  raised  the 


corn,  the  beans,  and  the  pumpkins  which  constituted  the 
Indians'  only  Relief  from  a  diet  of  fish  and  meat. 

It  will  be  seen  that,  while  the  Ottawas  and  Pottawatta- 
mies were  undoubtedly,  according  to  Indian  ideas,  the  own- 
ers of  the  territory  of  Allegan  and  Barry  Counties,  their 
residence  there  was  of  a  very  transitory  character.  Yet, 
as  they  were  so  long  the  only  human  occupants  of  the  ter- 
ritory in  question,  we  shall  devote  the  following  chapter  to 
a  slight  account  of  some  of  their  principal  exploits.  This 
can  the  more  easily  be  done  because,  on  account  of  the 
league  already  mentioned,  these  two  tribes,  together  with 
the  Chippewas,  almost  always  fought  together;  whether 
against  the  Iroquois,  the  English,  or  the  Americans. 

It  would  be  foreign  to  the  design  of  our  work  to  give  an 
extended  description  of  these  ancient  lords  of  the  soil. 
They  had  the  usual  characteristics  of  the  Indian,  and  espe- 
cially of  the  Algonquin,  race.  Less  terrible  in  battle,  less 
sagacious  in  council,  thap  the  men  of  the  Six  Nations,  they 
were  nevertheless,  like  the  rest  of  their  red  brethren,  brave, 
hardy,  and  skillful  warriors,  astute  managers  so  far  as  their 
knowledge  extended,  generally  faithful  friends,  and  invaria- 
bly most  implacable  enemies.  Their  own  time  they  devoted 
to  war,  the  chase,  or  idleness,  abandoning  to  the  women  all 
the  labors  which  could  be  imposed  upon  their  weary  shoul- 
ders. 

They  lived  in  the  utmost  freedom  which  it  is  possible  to 
imagine,  consistent  with  any  civil  or  military  organization 
whatever.  Their  sachems  exercised  little  authority,  save  to 
declare  war  or  make  peace,  to  determine  on  the  migrations 
of  the  tribes,  and  to  give  wise  counsels,  allaying  any  ill  feel- 
ing which  might  exist  among  the  people.  There  was  no 
positive  law  compelling  obedience. 

Even  in  war  there  was  no  way  by  which  the  braves  could 
be  forced  to  take  the  war-path.  Any  chieftain  could  drive 
a  stake  into  the  ground,  dance  the  war-dance  around  it, 
strike  his  tomahawk  into  it  with  a  yell  of  defiance,  and  call 
for  volunteers  to  go  forth  against  the  foe.  If  his  courage 
or  capacity  was  doubted,  he  obtained  but  few  followers.  If 
he  was  of  approved  valor  and  skill,  a  larger  number  would 
grasp  their  tomahawks  in  response  to  his  appeal ;  while,  if 
he  was  a  chieftain  distinguished  far  and  wide  for  deeds  of 
blood  and  craft,  the  whole  nation  would  spring  to  arms,  and 
all  its  villages  would  resound  with  the  terrific  notes  of  the 
war-song,  chanted  by  hundreds  of  frenzied  braves.  Even 
after  they  had  taken  the  field  (or,  more  properly  speaking, 
the  woods)  against  their  enemies,  they  could  not  be  com- 
pelled to  fight,  except  by  the  fear  of  being  called  a  "  squaw," 
which,  however,  to  the  Indian  mind  was  a  very  terrible 
punishment. 

With  the  Indian  method  of  warfare  the  American  mind 
is  pretty  well  acquainted,  so  that  we  need  not  give  a  de- 
tailed description  of  it  here.  Few  have  not  read  how  the 
warriors  went  forth  against  their  foes  clad  chiefly  in  hid- 
eous paint,  but  armed  with  tomahawk  and  scalping-knives, 
and  those  who  had  been  sufficiently  successful  in  fur-catch- 
ing carrying  also  the  coveted  muskets  of  the  white  man ; 
how  they  made  their  way  with  the  utmost  secrecy  through 
the  forest  until  they  reached  the  vicinity  of  their  enemies, 
whether  white  or  red ;  how,  when  their  unsuspecting  vic- 
tims were  wrapped  in  slumber,  the  whole  crowd  of  painted 


OTTAWAS   AND  POTTAWATTAMIES  FROM   1707   TO  1815. 


19 


demons  would  burst  in  among  them,  using  musket,  knife, 
and  tomahawk  with  the  most  furious  zeal ;  and  how,  when 
the  torch  had  been  applied,  men,  women,  and  children  were 
stricken  down  in  indiscriminate  slaughter  by  the  lurid  light 
of  their  blazing  homes. 

It  is  well  known,  too,  that  those  who  escaped  immediate 
death  were  often  reserved  for  a  still  more  horrible  doom ; 
that  the  fearful  sport  of  running  the  gauntlet,  when  a  hun- 
dred weapons  were  flung  by  malignant  foes  at  the  naked 
fugitive,  was  but  the  preliminary  amusement  before  the 
awful  burning  at  the  stake,  accompanied  by  all  the  refine- 
ments of  torment  which  a  baleful  ingenuity  could  invent, 
yet  supported  with  unsurpassable  fortitude  by  the  victim, 
who  often  shrieked  his  defiant  death-song  amid  the  last 
convulsions  of  his  tortured  frame.  Their  religion  was 
what  might  have  been  expected  from  their  practices, — a 
mass  of  senseless  and  brutal  superstition.  Marquette,  the 
most  zealous  of  missionaries,  after  several  years'  labor  on 
the  upper  lakes,  could  only  say  that  the  Hurons  "  retained 
a  little  Christianity,"  but  that  the  Ottawas  were  "addicted 
above  all  other  tribes  to  the  foulest  incantations,  and  to  sacri- 
fices to  evil  spirits."  The  efforts  of  both  Catholic  and 
Protestant  missionaries  made  very  little  improvement  among 
them  in  regard  to  religion. 

In  speaking  of  Indians,  the  term  "  nation"  is  generally 
used  as  synonymous  with  tribe,  and  to  the  civilized  ear  the 
word  carries  the  idea  of  large  numbers,  confirmed  by  the 
immense  range  of  Indian  operations  and  by  the  terror 
which  they  always  inspired  on  otir  frontiers.  Yet  the  cele- 
brated Five  Nations,  in  the  height  of  their  power,  numbered 
altogether  but  two  or  three  thousand  warriors ;  the  Wyan- 
dot branch  of  the  Iroquois  had  about  the  same  number, 
and  the  various  tribes  of  Algonquin  lineage  were  propor- 
tionally small.  As  nearly  as  can  be  ascertained  the  Potta- 
watiamies,  at  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century, 
numbered,  all  told,  about  eight  hundred  warriors,  while  the 
Ottaubas  had  probably  about  twelve  hundred.  The  Ghip- 
pewas — with  whom,  as  before  stated,  those  two  tribes 
were  linked  in  a  loose  confederacy — were  supposed  to  num- 
ber as  many  as  both  of  them. 

At  the  time  of  the  settlement  of  the  PottawaUamies  in 
the  St.  Joseph  valley,  about  1707,  both  that  tribe  and  the 
Ottawas  were  at  enmity  with  the  Miamis,  and  from  the 
vao-ue  accounts  which  have  come  down  to  us  it  seems  prob- 
able that  it  was  the  joint  hostility  of  the  first  two  tribes 
which  compelled  the  Miamis  to  leave  that  locality  and  es- 
tablish themselves  farther  southward.  Yet  all  three  tribes 
were  under  the  influence  of  the  French,  who  were  able  to 
produce  at  least  partial  harmony  among  them,  and  to  unite 
them  for  hostile  purposes  against  the  Iroquois  and  the  Eng- 
lish. The  following  chapter  gives  a  slight  account  of  the 
subsequent  history  of  the  Ottawa  and  Pottawattamie 
lords  of  Allegan  and  Barry. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

OTTAWAS  AND  POTTA'WATTAMIES  PKOM  1707 
TO  1815. 

The  Michigan  League — Attaclc  on  the  Settlement  at  Fort  Ponchar- 
train — Return  of  the  Michigan  Warriors — The  Conflict,  Rout,  and 
Massacre — Thirty  Years'  Peace — The  Fur  Trade — Superstition — A 
Child  Chieftain — The  War  of  1744 — Western  Indiana  in  Canada — 
They  ravage  New  York  and  New  England — The  Old  French  and 
Indian  War — Ottawas  and  Pottawattamies  harassing  the  Frontiers 
— Slaughtering  a  New  Jersey  Regiment — Destruction  of  Major 
Grant's  Force — Evacuation  of  Fort  Duquesne — Going  to  the  Relief 
of  Fort  Niagara— Defeated— Pall  of  the  Fort— Fall  of  Quebec— Sur- 
render of  Canada — Pontiae — The  Great  Conspiracy — Detroit  at- 
tacked— The  Siege — Capture  of  Fort  St.  Joseph — The  Mackinaw 
Massacre — The  Battle  of  Bloody  Run — End  of  the  Siege  of  Detroit 
— Bradstreet's  Expedition — Croghan's  Treaty — Fate  of  Pontiao — 
Ottawas  and  Pottawattamies  join  Gen.  Burgoyne— Their  Return — 
The  Futile  Expedition  from  Little  Traverse — Byrd's  Raid  into  Ken- 
tucky— England  holds  Michigan  after  the  Revolution — Indians 
hostile  to  the  United  States— Their  Defeat  by  Wayne— Chief  Rob- 
inson's Description  of  the  Battle — The  Treaty — Surrender  of  West- 
ern Posts  to  the  United  States — Organization  of  Michigan  Terri- 
tory— Treaty  of  1807— Battle  of  Tippecanoe— War  of  1812— Battles 
near  Detroit — Massacre  at  Chicago — Battle  and  Massacre  on  the 
River  Raisin — ^Fort  Meigs — Fort  Stephenson — Battle  of  the  Thames 
— Suing  for  Peace — Close  of  the  Independent  Career  of  the  Ottawas 
and  Pottawattamies. 

The  Ottawas,  Pottawattamies,  and  Chippewas,  forming 
the  Michigan  league  already  mentioned,  usually  acted  to- 
gether in  their  numerous  warlike  expeditions.  Of  the  con- 
flicts which  they  waged  with  other  savages  there  is  seldom 
any  record  unless  they  fought  in  connection  with  the  French. 
Even  in  that  case  the  accounts  are  few  and  meagre.  The 
Michigan  Indians  were  almost  continually  at  war  with  the 
Iroquois,  and,  notwithstanding  the  acknowledged  valor  and 
sagacity  of  the  Six  Nations,  the  former,  having  the  sup- 
port, and  sometimes  the  active  assistance,  of  the  French, 
were  able,  after  1707,  to  hold  their  ground,  remaining  in 
possession  of  the  peninsula  throughout  the  century. 

Early  in  May,  1712,  when  the  warriors  at  Cadillac's 
settlement  at  Fort  Ponchartrain  were  nearly  all  absent, 
hunting,  a  large  body  of  Outagamie  (^Fox)  and  Mascoutin 
Indians,  supposed  to  be  in  league  with  the  Iroquois,  sud- 
denly appeared  before  the  fort,  erected  a  breastwork,  and 
made  other  preparations  for  an  assault.  Du  Buisson,  the 
commandant,  who  had  only  about  twenty  men  with  him, 
sent  runners  to  call  in  the  hunting-parties,  and  then  awaited 
the  assault  of  his  foes.  It  was  made  on  the  13th  of  May, 
and,  though  temporarily  repulsed,  there  was  every  prospect 
that  it  would  be  successful,  on  account  of  the  comparatively 
large  numbers  of  the  assailants. 

While  it  was  going  on,  however,  the  Ottawa,  Pottawat- 
tamie, and  Wyandot  warriors  returned  from  the  hunt,  and 
immediately  attacked  the  assailants.  The  latter  were  driven 
into  their  own  defenses  ;  those  defenses  were  assaulted  by  the 
French  and  their  allies,  and  these  were  in  turn  repulsed  by 
the  Foxes  and  Mascoutins.  Thus  the  conflict  continued 
with  varying  fortunes  for  no  less  than  nineteen  days,  when 
the  invaders  fled.  Several  miles  north  of  Detroit  they 
halted  and  built  a  rude  fortification,  but  the  French  and 
their  allies  attacked  them  with  two  small  pieces  of  artillery, 
and  routed  them  after  three  days  more  of  fighting,  when 
the  Ottawas,  Pottawattamies,  and  Wyandots  massacred 
eight  hundred  men,  women,  and  children. 


20 


IlISTOEY  OP  ALLEGAN   AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


In  fact,  the  Fox  nation  was  reported  to  be  completely 
destroyed,  but  this  was  not  the  case.  Some  of  its  warriors 
joined  the  Iroqvoh,  while  the  main  body  fled  to  the  west 
side  of  Lake  Michigan,  where  they  were  long  distinguished 
for  their  especial  hatred  against  the  French.  In  1716 
an  expedition  was  sent  against  them  by  the  Governor  of 
Canada,  which  defeated  them  near  Green  Bay  and  com- 
pelled them  to  assume  an  attitude  of  comparative  peace- 
fulness. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  friendship  then  cemented  be- 
tween the  French  and  the  Ottawas,  Pottawattamws,  and 
Wyandots  endured  through  more  than  half  a  century  of 
varied  fortunes,  and  was  scarcely  severed  when  throughout 
Canada  and  the  West  the  Gallic  flag  went  down  in  hopeless 
defeat  before  the  conquering  English. 

During  the  next  thirty  years  there  are  but  few  records 
regarding  the  acts  of  the  Ottawas  and  Pottawattamies. 
Their  hunting  and  fi.shing  parties  every  year  roamed  over 
the  territory  of  Allegan  and  Barry  Counties,  and  doubtless 
their  war-parties  marched  across  that  territory  against  their 
savage  foes,  but  England  and  France  were  at '  peace  for 
thirty-one  years  (from  1713  to  1744),  and  the  exploits  of 
our  Ottawa  and  Pottawattamie  friends  were  not  considered 
worthy  of  much  notice. 

In  1721,  Monsieur  de  Tonty,  then  in  command  of  De- 
troit (a  younger  brother  of  La  Salle's  lieutenant),  held  a 
council  withHlie  chiefs  of  the  Hurons,  Ottawas,  and  Potta- 
wattamies, and  united  them  in  a  league  against  the  hostile 
tribes  west  of  Lake  Michigan,  but  neither  party  was  able  to 
drive  the  other  from  its  hunting-grounds. 

The  Michigan  Indians  usually  sold  their  surplus  furs  to 
their  friends,  the  French,  in  exchange  for  blankets,  cali- 
coes, ornaments,  guns,  ammunition,  and  brandy.  After 
1727,  however,  when  the  English  opened  a  trading-house 
at  Oswego,  many  of  the  upper-lake  Indians  made  their 
way  thither  with  their  furs,  where  they  could  obtain  much 
better  bargains  than  the  French  would  give  them.  Never- 
theless, their  friendship  was  bestowed  on  the  latter  people, 
and  a  few  years  later  the  French  local  authorities  reported 
to  the  home  government  that  they  exercised  authority  over 
a  hundred  and  three  tribes,  numbering  sixteen  thousand 
warriors.  But  this  authority  was  very  precarious,  and 
would  more  properly  have  been  described  as  influence. 

An  incident  which  occurred  in  1734  shows  the  supersti- 
tion which  the  Ottawas  shared  with  all  sayage  tribes.  In 
that  year  they  became  engaged  in  a  struggle  with  another 
tribe,  said  to  be  allied  with  the  English.  Twice  the  Ottawa 
warriors  went  forth  to  attack  the  foe,  and  twice  they  were 
repulsed  with  heavy  loss.  In  vain  the  French  commandant 
at  Mackinaw  urged  them  to  repeat  the  attempt.  They 
were  discouraged,  and  would  not  try.  At  length .  the  great 
war-chief,  La  Fourche,  announced  that  he  had  learned  from 
a  dream  that  the  Ottawas  could  not  succeed  unless  they 
were  accompanied  by  the  half-breed  boy,  Charles  de  Lang- 
lade (then,  according  to  the  story,  only  five  years  old),  son 
of  a  French  trader  and  his  Indian  wife,  the  sister  of  the 
chieftain.  His  father  consented  ;  the  boy  was  taken  on  the 
hostile  expedition  by  his  uncle,  and  the  Ottawas,  believing 
themselves  protected  by  a  powerful  Manitou,  rushed  upon 
the  enemy  with  a  confidence  and  impetuosity  that  nothing 


could  resist ;  routing  him  with  great  slaughter,  and  returning 
to  their  homes  laden  with  glory  and  scalps. 

When  war  broke  out,  in  174 1,  between  the  French^  and 
English,  numerous  bands  from  all  the  northwestern  tribes 
sought  the  service  of  the  French.  Some  of  them  assailed 
the°frontiers  of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia,  while  others 
made  their  way  to  Montreal,  where  they  were  furnished 
with  arms  and  ammunition,  and  were  sent  forth  against  the 
settlers  of  New  York  and  New  England.  In  1745  one  of  the 
numerous  records  made  by  the  Canadian  officials  states  that 
fifty  "  Poutewatamies,"  fifteen  Puans,  and  ten  Illinois  came 
to  go  to  war.  Another  mentions  the  arrival  of  thirty-eight 
"  Outawois,"  seventeen  "  Sauternes,"  twenty-four  Hurons, 
and  fourteen  "  Poutewatamies."  Similar  official  memoranda 
show  the  sending  out  of  not  less  than  twenty  marauding 
expeditions  against  the  English  colonists  in  one  year,  fre- 
quent mention  being  made  of  the  part  taken  by  the  Otta^ 
was  and  Pottawattamies  in  these  bloody  raids. 

After  the  close  of  that  war  by  the  treaty  of  Aix-la- 
Chapelle,  in  1748,  there  was  comparative  quiet  among  the 
red  men  of  the  Northwest  until  the  opening  of  the  great 
conflict  known  in  Europe  as  the  Seven  Years'  War,  but 
in  America  called  the  "Old  French  and  Indian  War." 
This  contest  was  begun  in  1754  by  a  fight  between  a  body 
of  Virginia  rangers,  under  Maj.  George  Washington,  and  a 
company  of  French  sent  out  from  Fort  Duquesne,  now 
Pittsburgh.  The  next  year  desperate  exertions  were  made 
on  both  sides.  Bands  of  Northwestern  Indians  again 
joined  the  French,  while  the  Iroquois  acted,  as  usual,  in  the 
interest  of  the  English. 

The  latter  fitted  out  three  expeditions,  the  most  celebrated 
of  which  was  the  one  under  the  commander-in-chief.  Gen. 
Braddock.  Early  in  June,- 1755,  that  brave  but  conceited 
and  thick-headed  commander  led  forth  an  army  of  some 
two  thousand  men,  mostly  British  regulars,  against  Fort 
Duquesne,  situated  on  the  site  of  Pittsburgh.  After  a  part 
of  the  distance  had  been  traversed  he  advanced  with  twelve 
hundred  men  and  some  light  artillery,  and  on  the  8th  of 
July  camped  within  a  few  miles  of  the  fort.  The  French, 
meanwhile,  had  made  the  most  earnest  efforts  to  strengthen 
their  meagre  force  with  all  the  Indians  they  could  induce 
to  repair  to  Fort  Duquesne.  The  red  men,  however,  are 
much  averse  to  being  shut  up  in  forts,  and,  according  to 
"  Sargent's  History  of  Braddock's  Expedition,"  there  were 
but  six  hundred  and  thirty-seven  warriors  at  Fort  Duquesne 
when  Braddock  approached  that  post.  These  comprised  Ab- 
enakis  and  Caughnawagas  from  Canada,  Shawnees  from 
Ohio,  Chippewas,  Ottawas,  and  Pottawattamies  from 
Michigan,  and  some  smaller  bands  from  other  sections. 
There  were  also  two  or  three  hundred  French  regulars  and 
Canadian  militia.  These  numbers,  to  a  generation  which 
has  seen  a  million  and  a  half  Americans  in  arms  at  once, 
may  perhaps  seem  too  scanty  to  deserve  attention  ;  but  In- 
dian forces  were  usually  small  (extremely  small  in  compar- 
ison with  the  terror  they  inspired),  and  the  mere  squad 
then  gathered  at  Fort  Duquesne  was  able  to  affect  the 
course  of  the  war  throughout  this  continent,  and  to  fill 
England  itself  with  indignation  and  alarm. 

The  second  officer  in  command  at  the  "fort,  Capt.  Beaujeu, 
boldly  proposed  to  attack  the  English  on  their  march,  and 


OTTAWAS   AND  POTTAWATTAMIES  FKOM   1707   TO   1815. 


21 


the  commander  reluctantly  consented.  But  the  Indians 
were  much  alarmed  at  the  reported  numbers  of  the  English, 
and  at  first  refused  to  make  the  effort.  But  Beaujeu,  who 
had  great  influence  over  them,  harangued  them  ardently, 
and  finally  threatened  to  go  alone  against  the  enemy  if 
they  would  not  accompany  him.  They  yielded,  and  were 
soon  as  eager  as  Beaujeu  himself.  The  next  morning,  July 
9th,  that  ofiBcer  led  forth  about  eight  hundred  white  and 
red  warriors  and  fiercely  attacked  the  English,  a  little  after 
noon,  while  passing  among  deep  ravines  about  nine  miles 
from  the  fort.  Charles  de  Langlade,  the  boy  already  men- 
tioned, now  grown  to  man's  estate  and  become  an  ensign  in 
the  French  army,  was  an  active  participant  in  the  fight, 
and  is  said  by  some  to  have  led  the  Oltawas  on  that  occa- 
sion. Beaujeu  was  killed  at  the  firet  fire,  but  his  lieuten- 
ant rallied  the  wavering  forces,  and  the  Indians  ensconced 
themselves  in  the  ravines,  whence  they  kept  up  a  terrific 
fire  on  the  demoralized  British,  who  were  extremely  fright- 
ened at  seeing  that  the  volleys,  as  was  said,  came  out  of  the 
ground  at  their  feet. 

In  vain  the  British  ofiEcers  endeavored  to  encourage  their 
soldiers  ;  in  vain  Braddock  himself  rushed  into  the  thickest 
of  the  fire,  where  five  horses  were  successively  shot  under 
him  ;  in  vain  his  aide-de-camp,  young  Col.  Washington, 
seconded  the  efforts  of  his  chief,  having  two  horses  killed 
under  him  and  his  clothes  riddled  with  bullets ;  in  vain  a 
few  Virginia  riflemen  fought  the  enemy  with  good  effect 
from  behind  trees.  The  whole  body  of  regulars  was  com- 
pletely demoralized,  and  after  three  hours'  fighting,  during 
which  the  general  was  mortally  wounded,  while  nearly 
three-fourths  of  the  officers  and  more  than  half  the  men 
were  killed  and  wounded,  the  whole  command  fled  in  utter 
rout,  and  hardly  halted  till  it  reached  the  settlements  of 
Pennsylvania. 

The  Ottawas,  Pottawattamies,  and  other  Indians  present 
celebrated  their  victory  with  a  perfect  carnival  of  blood, 
having  never  before  reaped  such  a  harvest  of  scalps  and 
plunder. 

The  defeat  of  Braddock  encouraged  the  rest  of  the  West- 
ern warriors  to  take  up  arms  for  the  French,  and  nearly 
every  Ottawa  or  Pottawattamie  who  could  lift  a  tomahawk 
went  forth  upon  the  war-path  against  the  hapless  inhabitants 
of  the  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia  frontiers.  Nearly  a  thou- 
sand Western  savages  joined  the  army  of  Montcalm  in 
Canada  in  1757,  and  took  part  in  the  stirring  scenes  in  that 
locality.  The  Ottawas  are  particularly  mentioned  for  their 
valor  and  activity,  in  the  accounts  of  that  period.  A  letter 
from  Montcalm  describes  the  destruction  visited  by  them 
in  July,  1757,  on  a  regiment  of  three  hundred  and  fifty 
New  Jerseymen  who  were  crossing  Lake  George  (N.  Y.) 
in  barges,  of  whom  one  hundred  and  fifty-one  were  killed 
and  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  taken  prisoners.  Three 
hundred  and  thirty-seven  Ottawas  were  also  engaged  in  the 
siege  of  Fort  William  Henry  the  same  season,  and  in  the 
ferocious  massacre  which  followed  its  capture. 

la  1758  they  were  again  summoned  to  the  defense  of 
Fort  Duquesne,  then  threatened  by  another  English  army, 
under  Gen.  Forbes,  but  such  was  their  inveterate  dislike  to 
the  task  of  either  attacking  or  defending  fortified  posts  that 
less  than  a  thousand  were  brought  together.     These,  how- 


ever, supported  by  a  few  French  and  Canadians,  attacked 
and  almost  utterly  destroyed  a  force  under  Maj.  Grant,  sent 
forward  to  reconnoitre  the  post.  On  the  approach  of  the 
main  army,  however,  the  French  and  their  red  allies  were 
compelled  to  abandon  Fort  Duquesne  and  retreat  to  fast- 
nesses still  deeper  in  the  forest. 

During  the  summer  of  1759  an  Anglo-colonial  force  at- 
tacked Fort  Niagara,  at  the  mouth  of  Niagara  Biver,  and 
once  more  the  French  summoned  their  Ottawa,  Pottawat- 
tamie, Chippewa,  and  Shawnee  allies  to  aid  them.  D'Au- 
bry,  the  commander  at  Venango,  succeeded  in  gathering 
about  six  hundred  Indians,  and  with  these  and  a  somewhat 
larger  force  of  French  and  Canadians  proceeded  down  Lake 
Erie  and  the  Niagara  River  to  relieve  the  fort.  Sir  Wil- 
liam Johnson,  however,  who  co'mmanded  the  besiegers,  at- 
tacked D'Aubry  just  below  the  Falls  of  Niagara,  defeated, 
wounded,  and  captured  him,  and  slew  or  took  prisoner  a 
large  part  of  his  command. 

Fort  Niagara  soon  surrendered,  and  a  little  later  the  fall 
of  Quebec  (at  which  a. large  body  of  Western  Indians  was 
present)  virtually  decided  the  fate  of  Canada  and  the 
Northwest.  The  Indians  began  to  lose  faith  in  the  omnipo- 
tence of  their  French  friends,  and  most  of  them  returned 
to  their  homes  on  the  shores  of  the  great  lakes  and  rivers 
of  the  West,  and  gloomily  awaited  the  result. 

The  next  year  three  British  armies  were  concentrated 
against  Montreal,  and  the  Governor-General  was  compelled 
to  surrender  Canada,  which  included  the  whole  Northwest, 
to  the  English.  Maj.  Robert  Rogers,  a  celebrated  New 
Hampshire  partisan,  was  immediately  sent  with  a  body  of 
his  rangers  to  take  possession  of  Detroit,  and  the  following 
year  (1761)  Mackinaw  and  St.  Joseph  were  surrendered  to 
the  English,  the  three  posts  being  considered  as  carrying 
with  them  authority  over  the  whole  peninsula  of  Michi- 
gan. 

It  was  not,  however,  until  February,  1763,  that  the  final 
treaty  of  peace  between  France  and  England  was  signed,  by 
which  Canada,  including  the  Northwest  as  far  as  the  Mis- 
sissippi, was  formally  transferred  to  the  latter  power.  The 
news  of  this  event  did  not  reach  Detroit  till  the  following 
summer,  and  in  the  mean  time  the  newly-established  power 
of  the  British  was  almost  overthrown  in  the  West  by  a  few 
despised  bands  of  savages. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  the  principal  chief  of  the  Ottawas 
was  the  celebrated  Pontiac.  Tradition  declares  that  he  led 
the  warriors  of  that  tribe  at  the  time  of  the  destruction  of 
Braddock's  army,  but  there  is  no  direct  evidence  on  this 
point,  yet  the  statement  is  quite  probable,  for  he  could  hardly 
have  become  head-chief  of  the  Ottawas  without  displaying 
his  valor  on  many  a  stricken  field.  As  before  stated,  the 
Ottawas,  Pottawattamies,  and  Chippewas  were  united  in 
a  loose  confederacy,  and  Pontiac  seems  to  have  been  recog- 
nized as  its  head,  though  his  authority  over  the  last  two 
tribes  was  not  so  great  as  over  his  own.  In  the  "  Pontiac 
Manuscript,"  written  soon  after  Pontiac's  war  and  now  in 
the  possession  of  the  Michigan  State  Historical  Society,  he 
is  described  as  "  Pondiac,  great  chief  of  all  the  Ottawas, 
Chippewas,  and  Puttawattamies,  and  of  all  the  nations  of 
the  lakes  and  rivers  of  the  North,"  yet  he  seems  to  have 
had  no  power  over  any  but  the  three  tribes  named,  save  the 


22 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN   AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


natural  influence  of  a  commanding  mind ;  their  temporary 
adhesion  to  him  being  entirely  voluntary. 

Pontiac  had  long  been  the  friend  of  the  French,  and  he, 
as  well  as  all  the  Indians  of  the  Northwest  who  had  come 
in  contact  with  the  English  after  the  conquest  of  Canada, 
had  been  much  exasperated  by  the  rudeness  and  arrogance 
of  the  latter.  He  laid  a  plan  for  capturing  all  their  forts 
in  the  West,  including  Fort  Niagara  and  Fort  Pitt  (for- 
merly Fort  Duquesne),  and  in  the  autumn  of  1762  sent 
emissaries  to  all  the  tribes  of  the  Northwest  asking  their 
assistance.  All  assented.  Each  post  had  its  destined  cap- 
tors assigned  to  it.  The  Chippeioas  were  intrusted  with 
the  destruction  of  Mackinaw,  the  Pottawattamies  of  the 
St.  Joseph  promised  to  massacre  the  garrison  of  the  little 
fort  at  the  mouth  of  that  river,  while  Pontiac  himself,  with 
his  OUawas,  the  Hurons,  and  a  part  of  the  Pottawattamies, 
undertook  the  capture  of  Detroit. 

That  post  was  defended  by  a  hundred  and  twenty  sol- 
diers, under  Maj.  Gladwyn,  of  the  British  army,  and  also 
contained  forty  or  fifty  employees  and  fur-traders,  who 
might  aid  in  its  defense.  On  the  7th  of  May,  1763,  Pon- 
tiac with  a  large  number  of  his  chiefs  obtained  admission 
under  pretense  of  holding  a  council,  his  intention  being  to 
massacre  the  unprepared  ofiicers  while  assembled  at  the 
council,  and  then,  after  letting  in  the  eager  horde  outside, 
to  destroy  the  leaderless  garrison.  But  Gladwyn  had  in 
some  way  been  notified  of  the  plan  (tradition  says  by  a 
Chippewa  damsel  who  lived  among  the  Pottawattamies 
and  had  become  the  mistress  of  the  British  commander), 
and  when  Pontiac  entered  at  the  head  of  his  chiefs  he  found 
the  whole  garrison  under  arms.  The  baffled  conspirators 
withdrew  and  spent  two  or  three  more  days  in  attempts  to 
circumvent  the  English,  but  in  vain. 

On  the  night  of  the  9th  of  May  the  conspirators  were 
reinforced  by  a  band  of  Chippewa^,  and  the  next  morning 
they  assaulted  the  fort  with  great  energy,  keeping  up  a 
furious  fire  for  half  a  day,  which  was  steadily  returned  by 
the  garrison.  But,  though  they  numbered  ten  times  as 
many  as  their  opponents,  the  Indians  dared  not  charge  the 
walls,  and  finally  suspended  the  attack. 

Pontiac  then  attempted  to  starve  out  the  garrison  by  a 
siege,  and  actually  maintained  one  throughout  the  whole 
summer  and  a  part  of  the  autumn, — a  remarkable  manifes- 
tation of  steadiness  for  Indians  to  make,  which  shows  the 
extraordinary  influence  established  by  Pontiac  over  those 
brave  but  unstable  warriors. 

In  the  mean  time  all  the  other  British  posts  doomed  by 
Pontiac,  except  Ports  Pitt  and  Niagara,  were  captured  by 
the  Indians,  and  their  garrisons  wholly  or  partially  massa- 
cred. 

Fort  St.  Joseph  was  garrisoned  by  an  ensign  and  four- 
teen soldiers.  On  the  25th  of  May  a  number  of  Potta- 
wattamies, apparently  friendly,  strolled  into  the  fort.  They 
were  speedily  followed  by  others ;  their  savage  war-cry  was 
raised,  the  sentinel  was  tomahawked,  and  in  less  than  two 
minutes  all  of  the  garrison  was  butchered  except  the  ensi"-n 
and  three  soldiers,  who  were  seized  and  bound  hand  and 
foot.  These  were  afterwards  exchanged  for  Pottawattamie 
prisoners  in  the  possession  of  Maj.  Gladwyn  at  Detroit. 
The  post  at  Mackinaw  was  the  scene  of  a  still  more  ter- 


rible massacre.  On  the  4th  of  June,  the  anniversary  of 
the  king's  birthday,  the  Chippewas  played  a  game  of  ball 
close  beside  the  fort,  the  officers  and  soldiers  watching  them 
with  unsuspicious  minds  and  open  gates.  At  length  the 
ball  was  thrown,  apparently  by  accident,  inside  the  wall  ; 
several  Indians  ran  in  after  it ;  squaws,  already  inside,  gave 
them  tomahawks ;  the  work  of  murder  immediately  began, 
and  in  a  moment  the  whole  horde  of  furious  demons  was 
engaged  in  the  attach  on  the  hated  English.  Seventeen 
were  killed  and  as  many  more  captured.  Most  of  the 
prisoners,  including  the  commander,  were  released  by  a 
body  of  Ottawas  from  L'Arbre  Croche  (Little  Traverse), 
under  Charles  de  Langlade,  the  half-breed  officer  already 
mentioned,  being  subsequently  allowed  to  go  to  Montreal. 

After  the  fall  of  Forts  Mackinaw  and  St.  Joseph  the 
British  authority  in  Michigan  was  confined  to  the  walls  of 
the  fort  at  Detroit.  The  Indians  did  not  succeed,  however, 
in  reducing  that  post,  as  the  English  had  free  communica- 
tion with  the  East  by  means  of  a  couple  of  small  schooners, 
which  the  Indians  were  unable  to  capture. 

On  the  29th  of  July,  Capt.  Dalzell,  of  the  British  army, 
and  Maj.  Rogers,  the  renowned  partisan,  brought  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty  soldiers,  with  a  large  quantity  of  ammu- 
nition and  provisions,  to  the  relief  of  the  garrison.  But 
this  aid  was  almost  neutralized  by  the  imprudence  of  Dal- 
zell, who,  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  1st  of  Au- 
gust, led  out  his  command  to  attack  Pontiac  in  his  camp, 
— an  enterprise  to  which  Gladwyn  had  reluctantly  and  most 
foolishly  given  his  consent.  The  chieftain  had  heard  of 
the  threatened  onslaught  through  some  of  the  French  Cana- 
dians who  resided  in  the  vicinity,  and,  instead  of  waiting 
to  be  attacked  in  his  camp,  he  stationed  his  warriors  on 
the  north  side  of  Parent's  Creek  (since  called  Bloody  Run),  - 
about  a  mile  and  a  half  above  the  fort,  and  assailed  the 
approaching  column  with  a  tremendous  fire,  made  more  ter- 
rible by  the  darkness  of  the  night.  Half  of  the  advance 
guard  was  killed  or  wounded  at  the  first  fire,  and  after 
several  fruitless  charges  on  the  elusive  foe  Capt.  Dalzell 
was  compelled  to  retreat. 

The  assailants  in  front  were  Ottawas  and  Chippewas; 
the  Pottawattamies  and  Wyandots  having  made  a  treaty  of 
peace  with  Gladwyn  a  short  time  before.  But  when  Dal- 
zell retreated,  the  treacherous  warriors  of  those  tribes 
fiercely  assaulted  the  flank  of  his  column.  Dalzell  was 
killed,  and  it  was  only  by  the  most  desperate  exertions 
that  bis  successor,  Capt.  Grant,  with  the  aid  of  Maj. 
Rogers  and  his  American  rangers,  was  able  to  make  good 
his  retreat  to  the  fort,  after  a  fourth  of  his  men  were  killed 
and  wounded. 

On  hearing  of  this  victory,  new  bands  of  warriors  from 
St.  Joiseph,  Mackinaw,  and  the  intervening  country  has- 
tened to  the  aid  of  their  brethren,  but  still  the  Ottawa 
chieftain  was  unable  to  capture  the  fort.  When  autumn 
came  the  warriors  were  obliged  to  seek  their  hunting- 
grounds  to  obtain  food  for  the  coming  season.  The  Potta- 
wattamies, Wyandots,  and  Chippewas  made  treaties  of 
peace  (which  they  doubtless  intended  to  keep  or  break,  as 
suited  their  convenience),  and  then  scattered  in  pursuit  of 
deer  and  moose.  Pontiac  and  his  Ottawas  continued  the 
unavailing  contest,  firing  on  every  Englishman  who  showed 


OTTAWAS  AND  POTTAWATTAMIES  FKOM  1707  TO   1815, 


23 


himself  outside  the  fort,  until  the  last  of  October,  when  a 
messenger  came  from  the  commandant  of  Fort  Chartres, 
the  principal  French  post  on  the  upper  Mississippi,  warn- 
ing the  chieftain  that  the  French  and  English  were  at 
peace,  and  that  he  could  expect  no  help  from  the  for- 
mer. Pontiac  had  paid  no  attention  to  previous  notifi- 
cations of  peace,  but  he  now  sent  word  to  Maj.  Gladwjn 
that  he  should  advise  all  the  Indians  to  bury  the  hatchet, 
and  himself  soon  withdrew  from  the  vicinity. 

The  next  summer,  1764,  Gen.  Bradstreet  came  to  De- 
troit with  a  considerable  force  of  English,  Americans,  and 
Iroquois,  the  appearance  of  whom  doubtless  tended  to  im- 
press the  power  of  England  on  the  Ottawa  and  Pottawat- 
tamie mind.  Bradstr.eet  sent  troops  to  reestablish  the 
posts  at  Mackinaw  and  Green  Bay,  and  then  returned  east. 
The  one  at  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Joseph  does  not  seem  to 
have  been  reoccupied. 

In  August,  1765,  George  Croghan,  deputy  superintendent 
of  Indian  affairs  under  the  celebrated  Sir  William  Johnson, 
held  a  grand  council  at  Detroit  with  the  Ottawas,  Cliip- 
ptwas,  and  PottawattaTnies.  They  had  by  that  time  become 
thoroughly  humbled,  and  were  sincerely  desirous  of  peace 
and  the  reopening  of  the  fur-trade.  After  the  treaty  then 
made,  all  these  tribes  remained  steady  friends  of  the 
British  so  long  as  that  nation  had  any  need  of  their  ser- 
vices. 

Pontiac  himself  gave  in  his  submission  at  another  council 
held  the  same  month.  This  celebrated  chieftain  was  mur- 
dered by  an  Illinois  Indian  near  St.  Louis  in  1769.  The 
Ottawas  and  other  tribes  which  had  followed  his  lead 
sprang  to  arms  to  avenge  the  murder,  and  almost  extermi- 
nated the  Illinois. 

Except  this  and  similar  conflicts  with  neighboring  sav- 
ages, the  Ottawas  and  Poftawattamies  remained  at  peace 
until  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution.  The  British  then 
made  strong  efforts  to  obtain  their  assistance,  and  in  the 
summer  of  1777  several  hundred  Ottawas,  Potlawattamies, 
and  Cliippewas,  with  some  Winnehagoes  and  others  from  west 
of  Lake  Michigan,  all  under  Langlade  and  another  French 
o£Bcer,  joined  the  army  of  Gen.  Burgoyue.  They  accom- 
panied him  in  his  invasion  of  New  York,  but  accomplished 
little  except  to  burn  some  houses  and  slaughter  a  few  fami- 
lies. The  celebrated  murder  of  Jane  McCrea  was  attribu- 
ted to  a  band  of  Poftawattamies.  Burgoyne  made  some 
efforts  to  restrain  their  ferocity,  which  so  disgusted  them 
that  nearly  or  quite  all  returned  home  before  his  surrender 
to  Gates.  They  also  complained  that  Burgoyne  did  not 
take  good  care  of  them,  and  that  over  a  hundred  of  their 
number  were  needlessly  sacrificed  at  Bennington. 

Afler  this,  although  the  Iroquois  were  kept  employed  in 
ravaging  the  American  frontier,  few  or  none  of  the  Michi- 
gan Indians  were  taken  to  the  East.  When  the  American 
general,  George  Rogers  Clarke,  took  possession  of  Southern 
Indiana  and  Illinois,  the  Ottawas,  Pottawattamies,  and 
other  tribes  were  called  together  by  the  British  agents  at 
L'Arbre  Croche  (Little  Traverse  Bay),  in  the  winter  of 
1778-79.  Many  were  opposed  to  taking  any  further  part 
in  the  contest,  but  after  much  debate  a  large  force  of  In- 
dians set  out  from  L'Arbre  Croche  early  in  the  spring  to 
reinforce  the  British  commander,  Governor  Hamilton,  and 


fight  against  Clarke.  They  went  up  Lake  Michigan  in 
canoes  to  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Joseph,  where  their  leaders 
learned  that  Hamilton  himself  had  surrendered  to  Clarke, 
and  the  expedition  was  consequently  abandoned.  In  the 
summer  of  1780  the  British  Col.  Byrd  led  a  force  of  some 
six  hundred  Michigan  Indians  into  Kentucky,  capturing 
quite  a  number  of  stockades  and  many  prisoners.  Occa- 
sional bands  also  made  murderous  raids  against  the  frontiers 
of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania,  but  it  is  not  necessary  to 
describe  them  here. 

At  the  close  of  the  Revolution  the  treaty  of  peace  gave 
Michigan  to  the  United  S'tates,  but  England  continued  to 
hold  Detroit  and  the  other  posts  of  the  Northwest,  and  all 
the  Indians  of  this  section  were  still  under  its  influence. 
In  1789  the  Ottawas,  Pottawattamies,  and  other  tribes 
were  represented  by  their  principal  chiefs  in  a  great  coun- 
cil held  by  Gen.  St.  Clair,  Governor  of  the  Northwestern 
Territory,  on  the  Muskingum  River,  in  the  present  State 
of  Ohio,  where  they  made  a  treaty  of  peace  with  the  United 
States.  None  the  less  they  still  hated  the  Americans,  who 
were  moving  westward  in  a  resistless  column  of  emigration, 
and  were  encouraged  in  this  feeling  by  the  British  officials. 
And  when,  a  little  later,  two  American  armies,  under  Gens. 
Harmar  and  St.  Clair,  were  successively  defeated  by  the 
tribes  of  Ohio,  those  of  Michigan  were  eager  to  take  part 
in  the  fray. 

Accordingly,  when  Gen.  Wayne  led  his  army  into  Western 
Ohio  in  1794,  and  the  Shawnees  and  Miamis  gathered  on 
the  Maumee  to  oppose  him,  they  were  soon  joined  by 
numerous  bands  of  Ottawas  and  Pottawattamies,  equipped 
with  guns  and  ammunition  obtained  at  the  British  post  at 
Detroit.  But  "  Mad  Anthony"  was  a  different  kind  of 
general  from  those  who  had  previously  commanded  in  the 
West,  and  when  the  hostile  forces  of  red  men  and  white 
men  met  a  few  miles  south  of  the  rapids  of  the  Maumee, 
the  former,  after  a  hot  contest,  were  completely  routed,  and 
fled  with  the  utmost  precipitation  from  the  field.  A  trader 
who  not  long  afterwards  met  a  Miami  warrior  that  had  fled 
before  the  terrible  onslaught  of  Wayne's  soldiers  said  to 
him : 

"  Why  did  you  run  away  ?" 

With  gestures  corresponding  to  his  words,  and  endeavor- 
ing to  represent  the  effect  of  the  cannon,  he  replied : 

"  Pop,  pop,  pop, — boo,  woo,  woo, — whish,  whish,  boo, 
woo, — kill  twenty  Indians  one  time, — no  good,  by  dam  1" 

A  young  half-breed  Pottawattamie,  named  Robinson, 
afterwards  one  of  the  principal  war-chiefs  of  the  tribe,  who 
was  present  at  the  battle  with  Wayne,  used  in  later  years 
to  describe  it  very  clearly.  The  chiefs  had  selected  a  swamp 
for  the  battle-ground.  They  formed  their  line,  however, 
half  a  mile  in  front  of  it,  on  the  summit  of  a  gentle  ele- 
vation, covered  with  a  very  open  growth  of  timber,  with 
no  underbrush,  intending  when  Wayne  attacked  them  to 
fall  back  slowly,  thus  inducing  the  Americans  to  follow 
them  into  the  swamp,  where  the  Indians  would  have  every 
advantage,  and  where  they  expected  a  certain  victory.  But 
"  Mad  Anthony"  soon  broke  up  their  plan.  About  half 
of  his  little  army  was  composed  of  cavalry,  whom  he  formed 
in  front  of  his  infantry.  After  a  few  volleys  from  his 
artillery,  always  very  trying  to  the  nerves  of  the  red  men. 


24 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


he  ordered  the  cavalry  to  advance.  The  Indians  had  never 
seen  men  fi<;ht  on  horseback,  and  supposed  they  would  dis- 
mount before  reaching  the  top  of  the  ridge.  But  instead 
of  that  they  began  to  trot,  then  drew  their  swords, — those 
terrible  "  long  knive.s,"  which  always  inspired  the  Indians 
with  dread, — then  broke  into  a  gallop,  and  the  next  mo- 
ment were  charging  at  the  top  of  their  horses'  speed,  "  yell- 
ing like  hell,"  as  Robinson  expressed  it,  swinging  their 
swords,  and  looking  like  demons  of  wrath  to  the  astonished 
red  men. 

"  Oh  !"  said  Robinson,  "  you  ought  to  have  seen  the  poor 
Indians  run  then." 

They  gave  but  one  random  fire,  and  fled  as  fast  as  possi- 
ble towards  the  swamp.  But  it  was  too  late.  The  cavalry 
burst  through  them  like  a  whirlwind,  and  then  wheeled 
about  to  cut  off  their  retreat,  while  the  infantry  came 
up  on  the  double-quick  and  barred  their  escape  in  that 
direction. 

"  Oh  !"  the  chieftain  would  continue,  "  it  was  awful." 

Robinson  admired  his  conqueror  so  much  that  he  named 
one  of  his  sons  "  Anthony  Wayne,"  and  always  expressed 
the  most  profound  respect  for  that  dashing  soldier.* 

The  chiefs  were  much  impressed  both  by  Wayne's  vigor 
and  by  the  strength  of  the  United  States,  and  when  that 
general  summoned  them  to  council  in  1795,  at  Greenville, 
Ohio,  they  all  promptly  responded.  There  a  treaty  was  made 
by  which  the  Sliaionees  and  others  ceded  a  large  part  of 
their  land  in  Ohio  to  the  government,  but  the  Michigan 
Indians  only  agreed  to  keep  the  peace  towards  the  United 
States,  remaining  in  undisturbed  possession  of  their  old 
hunting-grounds. 

It  is  evident  from  the  treaty  that  the  Ottawas  and  Pot- 
tawaltamies  ranked  among  the  more  important  tribes,  for, 
though  they  conveyed  no  land,  each  tribe  received  a  thou- 
sand dollars  in  gratuities,  as  did  also  the  Delawares,  Mi- 
amis,  Shawnees,  and  Chippewas,  while  the  Kickapoos  and 
other  tribes  received  only  five  hundred  dollars  each.  When 
the  time  came  for  signing  the  treaty,  it  was  twice  read  over 
to  the  chiefs,  and  every  section  was  carefully  explained  to 
them  by  Gen.  Wayne  through  an  interpreter.  Then  he 
said :  "  You,  Chippewas,  do  you  approve  of  these  arti- 
cles of  treaty,  and  are  you  prepared  to  sign  them  ?"  A 
unanimous  "  Yes''  was  the  response. 

"  And  you,  Ottawas,  do  you  approve  of  these  articles  of 
treaty,  and  are  you  prepared  to  sign  them  ?"  Again  a 
unanimous  afiirmative. 

"  And  you,  Pottawattamies,  do  you  approve  of  these 
articles  of  treaty,  and  are  you  prepared  to  sign  them  ?" 
"  Yes,  yes,  good  I"  said  or  grunted  the  dark  warriors  of 
Southern  Michigan.  Similar  responses  were  obtained  from 
the  other  tribes ;  then  the  white  officials  signed  the  treaty, 
the  chieftains  made  their  marks,  and  the  negotiation  was 
concluded. 

In  1796  the  British  surrendered  Detroit  and  the  other 
posts  in  the  West  to  the  United  States,  and  then,  and  not 
till  then,  did  that  government  obtain  any  real  power  over 
Michigan. 

Even  then  the   Ottawa  aud  Pottawattamie  chiefs  con- 

*  Wisconsin  Historical  Collections,  vol.  vii.  p.  329. 


tinued  to  be  the  most  important  personages  in  Western  Mich- 
igan.  Those  tribes  still  occupied  the  territory  of  Allegan 
and  Barry  Counties  as  a  common  hunting-ground,  and  their 
war-parties  still  passed  over  it  in  their  conflicts  with  the 
Shawnees  and  other  tribes  to  the  south  or  west.  Many 
interesting  legends  regarding  these  contests  are  related  by 
Judge  Littlejohn  in  his  work  entitled  "Legends  of  Michi- 
gan and  the  Old  Northwest." 

In  1805  the  Territory  of  Michigan  was  organized,  and  be- 
tween that  time  and  1810  Gen.  Hull,  the  first  Governor  of 
the  Territory,  made  several  treaties  with  the  Ottawas  and 
Pottawattamies,  but  none  of  much  importance  except  the 
one  made  at  Detroit  on  the  17th  of  November,  1807.  By 
that  agreement  the  chiefs  of  the  Chippewa,  Ottawa,  and 
Pottawattamie  tribes  ceded  to  the  United  States  all  their 
land  in  Michigan  east  of  what  is  now  known  as  the  prin- 
cipal meridian,  and  southward  of  a  line  drawn  from  the 
centre  of  Shiawassee  County  to  White  Rock,  on  Lake  Huron. 

In  1810-11  the  warriors  of  those  tribes,  as  of  all  the 
Northwest,  were  aroused  to  renewed  hostility  by  the  arts  of 
the  celebrated  Shawnee  war-chief,  Tecumseh,  who  was  en- 
deavoring to  unite  all  the  Indians  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 
to  Lake  Superior  in  a  league  against  the  advancing  Amer- 
icans. In  person  or  by  eloquent  messengers  he  visited  all 
the  tribes,  reawaking  their  ancient  hatred  of  the  Yankees, 
and  probably  promising  the  assistance  of  their  father,  the 
king  of  Great  Britain,  a  war  between  that  potentate  and 
the  United  States  being  constantly  expected. 

On  the  7th  of  November,  1811,  Tecumseh's  brother, 
"  The  Prophet,"  at  the  head  of  a  large  force  of  Indians  of 
various  tribes,  including  about  three  hundred  Pottawatta- 
mies and  a  considerable  number  of  Ottawas,  attacked  the 
army  of  Gen.  Harrison  on  the  celebrated  field  of  Tippe- 
canoe. After  a  hotly-contested  battle  of  two  or  three  hours, 
the  Indians  gave  way  at  all  points.  Harrison  destroyed  the 
villages  of  the  Shawnees,  which  were  not  far  from  the 
battle-field,  but  the  more  fortunate  Pottawattamies  and  Ot- 
tawas fied  to  their  homes  in  the  forests  of  Michigan, 
whither  the  Americans  were  in  no  situation  to  follow  them. 

In  June,  1812,  war  was  declared  by  the  United  States 
against  Great  Britain.  At  first  there  seems  to  have  been 
some  doubt  what  part  the  tribes  under  consideration  in  this 
chapter  would  take,  for  the  British  and  Americans  both 
sent  agents  to  the  Pottawattamies  to  infiuence  their  action. 
The  British  agent,  Jean  Chandonais,  attempted  to  capture 
his  half-breed  nephew,  Jean  Baptiste  Chandonais,  who  was 
one  of  the  American  agents,  but  was  instantly  killed  by  the 
latter. 

If  the  Ottawas  and  Pottawattamies  had  any  doubts  as 
to  their  course,  they  were  dispelled  by  the  messengers  of 
Tecumseh,  who  speedily  summoned  the  warriors  to  take  up 
the  tomahawk  in  behalf  of  the  British.  Many  of  the 
braves  promptly  responded  to  the  call,  and  on  the  5th  of 
August  they  participated  with  Tecumseh  and  his  Shawnees 
in  the  defeat  of  Maj.  Van  Horn's  command,  on  Brownstown 
Creek,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  present  county  of  Mon- 
roe. The  same  warriors,  with  a  body  of  British  soldiers, 
also  attacked  Col.  Miller  at  Maguagua,  twelve  miles  below 
Detroit,  a  few  days  later,  but  were  defeated  and  compelled 
to  flee  to  Canada. 


OTTAWAS  AND  POTT  A  WATT  AMIES  FROM   1707  TO  1815. 


25 


On  the  15th  of  August  a  large  force  of  Potiawattamies 
attacked  the  garrison  of  Fort  Dearborn  (on  the  site  of 
Chicago)  a  short  distance  from  that  post,  as  it  was  endeavor- 
ing to  retreat  to  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.,  killing  two-thirds  of  the 
soldiers  and  a  large  number  of  the  women  and  children 
accompanying  them,  and  capturing  the  remainder.  Topen- 
abee,  the  head-chief  of  the  Potiawattamies,  Kobinson, 
already  mentioned,  and  two  or  three  other  chiefs,  were 
friendly  to  the  Americans,  sent  them  information  of  the 
attack,  and  saved  several  intended  victims  from  being  mur- 
dered. Robinson  took  Captain  Heald,  the  commander  of 
the  troops,  and  his  wife,  both  wounded,  in  a  bark  canoe 
along  the  eastern  shore  of  Lake  Michigan  to  Mackinaw, 
and  delivered  them  to  the  British  commander  there.  On 
the  other  hand,  Pokagon,  long  known  as  the  second  chief 
of  the  Potiawattamies,  was  said  to  have  received  that  name 
(which  meant  "  rib"),  in  lieu  of  the  one  he  had  formerly 
borne,  on  account  of  his  having  slain  a  pregnant  woman  at 
the  Chicago  massacre,  and  then  cut  under  her  rib  and  taken 
out  the  child. 

The  cowardly  surrender  of  Detroit  by  Gen.  Hull  on  the 
16th  of  August,  1812,  preceded  as  it  had  been  by  the 
capture  of  Mackinaw  and  other  posts  by  the  British,  carried 
with  it  the  control  of  the  whole  of  Michigan,  which  for 
the  next  year  became  practically  British  territory.  The 
Indians,  of  course,  became  still  more  favorable  to  the  Eng- 
lish after  this  manifestation  of  their  power,  and  still  more 
warriors  flocked  to  the  British  standard. 

The  next  battle  in  which  the  Ottawas  and  Potiawattamies 
were  engaged  was  the  celebrated  conflict  on  the  river 
Raisin,  in  which,  in  conjunction  with  the  British  troops 
under  Gen.  Proctor,  they  defeated  and  captured  the  Ameri- 
can Gen.  Winchester  with  his  whole  force.  The  sick  and 
wounded  Americans  were  abandoned  to  the  tender  mercies 
of  the  Indians,  who  butchered  nearly  all  of  them. 

The  Ottawas  and  Potiawattamies  were  also  largely  rep- 
resented in  the  force  which  Gen.  Proctor  led  against  Fort 
Meigs,  at  the  rapids  of  the  Maumee,  on  the  28th  of  April, 
1813,  full  half  of  the  thousand  Indians  under  Tecumseb 
belonging  to  those  tribes.  Gen.  Harrison,  who  was  in 
command  of  the  Americans,  succeeded  in  repelling  his 
assailants,  but  during  the  siege,  which  lasted  till  the  9th 
of  May,  Col.  Dudley,  with  eight  hundred  Kentuckians,  was 
lured  too  far  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy  after  a  temporary 
success,  fell  into  an  ambuscade  devised  by  Tecumseb,  and 
was  slain,  nearly  all  his  command  being  killed  or  captured.* 

»  The  Rev.  Isaac  MoCoy,  long  a  missionary  among  the  Potiawat- 
tamies, charges  the  Michigan  Indians  with  cannibalism  as  well  as 
massacre.  In  a  book  descriptive  of  his  mission  and  the  Indians,  he 
says  ■  "  From  well-attested  facts  we  are  compelled  to  believe  that  the 
Poltawatiamies,  Ottaxoas,  Chippewae,  and  Jl/ia«,w  have  all  been  guilty 
of  cannibalism.  ...  If  the  accounts  of  the  Indians  can  be  credited, 
the  last  war  with  England,  in  which  Indians  were  mercenaries  on  both 
sides,  was  disgraced  by  cannibalism,  the  last  instance  of  which  we 
have  been  informed  having  occurred  near  Fort  Meigs,  on  the  Manmee 
River,  in  1813." 

4 


In  July  the  British  and  Indians  again  attacked  Fort  Meigs, 
but  without  success. 

On  the  31st  of  July,  Gen.  Proctor  appeared  before  Fort 
Stephenson,  at  Lower  Sandusky,  with  a  thousand  British 
and  fifteen  hundred  Indians,  of  whom,  as  before,  about 
half  were  Ottawas  and  Poltawattamies.  These  surrounded 
the  fort  and  fired  at  every  soldier,  while  on  the  2d  of  August 
a  column  of  British  attempted  to  carry  it  by  storm.  The 
assailants  were  repulsed,  however,  with  heavy  loss,  by  the 
garrison  of  a  hundred  and  sixty  Americans  under  Maj. 
Croghan,  and  Proctor  soon  retired  in  disgust. 

After  the  defeat  of  the  British  fleet  on  Lake  Erie  by 
Commodore  Perry,  Gen.  Harrison  at  once  advanced  into 
Canada.  On  the  29th  of  September  he  took  possession  of 
Detroit,  and  Michigan  once  more — let  us  trust  forever — 
passed  under  American  sway.  On  the  5th  of  October, 
1813,  he  came  up  with  the  enemy  at  the  Moravian  towns 
on  the  river  Thames,  where  Proctor  with  his  British  and 
Canadians,  and  Tecumseh  with  his  Shawnees,  Ottawas, 
and  Potiawattamies,  had  determined  to  make  a  final  stand. 
The  Americans  gallantly  charged  the  hostile  lines.  Proc- 
tor fled  almost  at  the  first  fire,  Tecumseh  was  slain  while 
fighting  desperately  at  the  head  of  his  braves,  and  the 
whole  combined  force  of  British  and  Indians  was  either 
killed,  captured,  or  sent  flying  in  utter  rout  before  the 
victors. 

This  battle  extinguished  the  hopes  of  victory  enter- 
tained by  the  Indians  of  the  Northwest.  The  Ottawas, 
Potiawattamies,  and  several  other  tribes  at  once  sent  dele- 
gations to  offer  peace,  and  on  the  16th  of  October  Gen. 
Harrison  granted  an  armistice.  The  warriors  returned  to 
their  respective  villages  and  took  no  further  part  in  the 
war,  which  closed  a  little  more  than  a  year  afterwards. 
The  government  inflicted  no  punishmenton  them  for  their 
conduct,  and  by  a  treaty  concluded  at  Springwells,  near 
Detroit,  on  the  8th  of  September,  1815,  it  was  agreed  as 
follows: 

"The  United  States  give  peace  to  the  Chippewa,  Ottatca,  and  Put- 
lawattamie  tribes.  They  also  agree  to  restore  to  the  said  Chippewa, 
Ottaica,  and  Pottawatlamie  tribes  all  the  possessions,  rights,  and 
privileges  which  they  enjoyed  or  were  entitled  to  in  the  year  1811, 
prior  to  the  commencement  of  the  late  war  with  Great  Britain,  and 
the  said  tribes  upon  their  part  agree  to  place  themselves  under  the 
protection  of  the  United  States,  and  of  no  other  power  whatsoever." 

Nevertheless,  the  war  of  1812  closed  the  career  and  de- 
stroyed the  power  of  the  great  league,  consisting  of  the 
three  tribes  just  named,  which  had  for  more  than  a  century 
exercised  an  important  influence  over  the  destinies  of  the 
Northwest.  Thenceforth  they  are  to  be  considered  as  fee- 
ble, disorganized,  and  practically  subjugated  tribes,  and, 
though  we  shall  have  considerable  to  say  regarding  the  un- 
fortunate remnants  of  the  Ottawas  and  Potiawattamies  in 
the  succeeding  chapters,  no  separate  record  of  their  acts 
will  be  convenient  or  necessary. 


26 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


CHAPTER  VIL 

EVENTS    FROM    1815    TO    1830. 

A  Eesum^  of  Nominal  Politieal  Changes — Allegan  and  Barry  as  a 
Part  of  Quebec— Of  Hesse— Of  the  Northwest  Territory— Of  Indi- 
ana— Of  Michigan — Treaty  of  the  Maumee — Of  Saginaw — Bounds 
of  the  Cession  then  made— The  Treaty  of  Chicago — Bounds  of  the 
Cession — The  Consideration — List  of  the  Signers — An  Honest  Mur- 
derer— •"  Give  us  Whisky" — Demoralization  of  the  Pottawattamies 
— Their  Superstition — An  Indian  Festival — The  Ceded  Land  at- 
tached to  Lenawee  County — Course  of  Settlement — United  States 
Surveys — First  Townships  surveyed — Barry  County  erected — Ter- 
ritory of  Barry  and  Allegan  attached  to  St.  Joseph  and  Cass  Coun- 
ties— Early  Indian  Traders — Location  of  Posts — Articles  sold — 
Methods  of  Transportation — An  Incident  on  the  Kalamazoo— Early 
Drummers — Kinds  of  Fur  received — Prices  paid — Arbitrary  Con- 
duct of  Traders. 

Desiring  to  confine  the  attention  of  the  reader  in  the 
preceding  chapter  to  the  fortunes  of  those  ancient  lords  of 
the  soil  of  Allegan  and  Barry,  the  Ottawas  and  Potta- 
wattamies, we  passed  with  little  or  no  mention  over  sev- 
eral political  changes  which  nominally,  but  in  fact  not 
very  seriously,  affected  those  counties.  In  1774,  by  what 
was  known  as  the  "  Quebec  Act,"  the  British  Parliament 
made  Michigan  a  part  of  the  province  of  Quebec,  but,  in 
fact,  it  did  not  receive  any  civil  government.  Small  tracts 
around  the  military  posts  were  subject  to  the  commandants, 
while  the  remainder  was  under  the  rule  of  our  friends, 
the  Chippewas,  Ottawas,  and  Pottawattamies. 

Four  years  later  the  captain-general  of  Canada  divided 
that  province  into  four  districts,  the  peninsula  of  Michigan 
being  one  of  them,  with  the  name  of  "  Hesse,"  given  in 
honor  of  the  Hessian  troops  then  serving  King  George 
III.  in  America.  But  the  fortunes  of  war  decided  that 
the  people  of  Michigan  should  not  be  "  Hessians." 

By  the  treaty  of  peace  at  the  close  of  the  Revolution, 
as  before  stated,  Michigan  became  part  of  the  United 
States,  but  the  British  still  held  the  military  posts,  thus 
I'etaining  their  ittfluence  over  the  Indians  and  the  control 
of  the  peninsula.  In  1787  Congress  declared  Michigan  to 
be  a  part  of  the  "  Northwest  Territory,"  which  was  then 
organized,  but  the  possession  of  the  forts  by  the  British 
prevented  the  act  from  being  carried  into  effect  north  of  the 
Maumee. 

Immediately  after  the  surrender  of  the  posts  to  the 
Americans  in  1796,  Gen.  St.  Clair,  Governor  of  the  North- 
west Territory,  organized  the  county  of  Wayne,  extending 
from  the  Cuyahoga  River  in  Ohio  to  Detroit,  and  thence 
indefinitely  into  the  woods  of  Michigan. 

In  1800  the  western  part  of  Michigan  became  a  part  of 
Indiana,  that  Territory  being  formed  from  the  Northwest 
Territory  in  the  year  named,  and  its  present  eastern  bound- 
ary being  continued  north  to  the  Straits  of  Mackinaw. 
When  the  State  of  Ohio  was  formed,  in  1802,  the  eastern 
part  of  Michigan  was  also  annexed  to  Indiana. 

In  1805  the  Territory  of  Michigan  was  organized,  and 
the  soil  of  Allegan  and  Barry  Counties  has  ever  since  been 
a  part  of  that  Territory,  or  of  the  State  into  which  it  de- 
veloped. No  counties  were  organized  in  the  Territory  until 
after  the  war  of  1812.  In  1815,  Gen.  Cass,  the  first 
Governor  after  the  war,  reorganized  Wayne  County. 

This  closes  our  retrospective  view,  and  the  subsequent 


changes  will  be  noted  in  the  order  of  time,  on  the  occasions 
of  their  occurrence. 

Gen.  Cass  was  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs  in  the 
Northwest  as  well  as  Governor  of  Michigan,  and  imme- 
diately after  the  close  of  the  war  he  turned  his  attention  to 
the  extinguishing  of  the  Indian  title,  so  that  the  Territory 
might  be  open  to  settlement  by  the  whites.  In  September, 
1817,  he  and  Gen.  Duncan  McArthur  held  a  council  with 
the  chiefs  of  the  Wyandots,  Ottawas,  Chippewas,  Potta- 
wattamies, and  other  tribes,  at  the  Maumee  Rapids,  when 
they  ceded  to  the  United  States  all  their  lands  in  Ohio, 
and  a  small  tract  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Michigan. 

The  Wyandots  seem  to  have  had  the  principal  interest 
in  the  lands  then  ceded,  as  the  treaty  provided  that  they 
should  receive  four  thousand  dollars  annually  forever  ;  the 
Pottawattamies  being  granted  thirteen  hundred  dollars  a 
year  for  fifteen  years,  and  the  Ottawa  and  Chippewa  na- 
tions a  thousand  dollars  each,  annually,  for  fifteen  years, 
while  the  other  tribes  received  still  smaller  annuities. 

This  treaty  was  signed  by  thirty-two  Pottawattamies, 
while  all  the  other  tribes  were  represented  by  a  less  num- 
ber than  that  one.  The  Pottawattamies  usually  had  very 
large  delegations  at  the  councils  at  which  their  interests 
were  decided,  and,  judging  i'rom  this  fact,  we  should  sup- 
pose them  to  have  been  the  most  democratic  people  in  the 
whole  Northwest. 

In  September,  1819,  a  treaty  was  concluded  at  Saginaw 
with  the  Chippewa  Indians,  by  which  they  ceded  to  the 
United  States  the  whole  of  Northeastern  Michigan,  bounded 
as  follows  :  Beginning  at  a  point  in  the  then  Indian  bound- 
ary (the  principal  meridian)  six  miles  south  from  the  base- 
line ;  running  thence  west  sixty  miles  ;  thence  northeasterly 
in  a  direct  line  to  the  head  of  Thunder  Bay  River ;  down 
that  river  to  its  junction  with  Lake  Huron  and  northeast 
to  the  Canada  line ;  thence  southward  along  that  line  to  the 
line  prescribed  by  the  treaty  of  1807,  and  along  that  line 
to  the  place  of  beginning. 

A  distance  of  sixty  miles  from  the  principal  meridian 
reaches  to  the  east  boundary  of  Kalamazoo  County ;  a  line 
'  from  a  point  in  that  boundary  six  miles  south  of  the  base- 
line, running  northeastwardly  to  the  head  of  Thunder  Bay 
River,  would  cut  off  about  one-third  of  the  county  of 
Barry,  which  seems  to  have  then  been  ceded  to  the  United 
States  by  the  Chippewas.  Yet  in  the  following  paragraphs 
it  will  be  seen  that  two  years  later  the  whole  territory  south 
of  Grand  River,  including  all  of  Barry  and  Allegan  Coun- 
ties, was  ceded  by  the  Ottawas,  Pottawattamies,  and  Chip- 
pewas. All  the  authorities  show  that  the  Ottawas  and 
Pottawattamies  occupied  the  land  south  of  Grand  River, 
and  that  the  Chippewas  did  not.  Doubtless  the  last- 
named  tribe  made  large  claims,  and  it  was  thought  best,  in 
1819,  to  buy  all  they  claimed  ;  after  that  the  rights  of  the 
true  owners,  covering  a  part  of  the  same  ground,  were 
purchased. 

But  of  all  the  treaties  concluded  by  Gen.  Cass  the  most 
important  was  the  one  which  conveyed  the  soil  of  Allegan 
and  Barry  Counties  from  red  to  white  owners.  It  was 
concluded  at  Chicago  on  the  29th  day  of  August,  1821, 
and  has  ever  since  been  known  as  the  treaty  of  Chicago. 

Hon.  Solomon  Sibley  was  associated  with  Gen.  Cass  as 


EVENTS  FROM   1815   TO  1830. 


27 


a  commissioner  on  the  part  of  the  United  States,  while  the 
treaty  was  signed  by  two  chiefs  of  the  Chippewas,  eight  of 
the  Ottawas,  and  fifty-five  of  the  Pottawattamies.  In  fact, 
however,  a  large  proportion  of  the  two  last-named  tribes, — 
men,  women,  and  children, — were  gathered  at  the  council, 
the  number  being  estimated  by  a  spectator  atJ  from  five  to 
six  thousand.  Although  the  names  of  two  Chippewa  chiefs 
were  signed  to  the  treaty,  yet  but  few  of  that  tribe  were 
present,  and  nothing  was  paid  to  them,  as  they  had  already 
sold  whatever  claims  they  might  have  had  to  the  lands  in 
question.  The  tract  ceded  by  the  treaty  of  1821,  is  thus 
described  in  it : 

*'A11  the  land  comprehended  in  thefollowinghoundaries:  Beginning 
at  a  point  on  the  south  banlt  of  the  river  St.  Joseph  of  Lalie  Michi- 
gan, near  the  Pare  aux  Vaches  [a  few  miles  south  of  Niles,  Berrien 
Co.],  due  north  from  Rum's  Village,  and  running  thence  south  to 
a  line  drawij  due  from  the  southern  extremity  of  Lake  Michigan; 
thence  with  the  said  lino  east  to  the  tract  ceded  by  the  Pottawattamies 
to  the  L'nited  States  by  the  treaty  of  Fort  Meigs,  in  1817,  if  the  said 
line  should  strike  the  said  tract ;  but  if  the  said  line  should  pass  north 
of  the  said  tract  [as  was  actually  the  case],  then  such  line  shall  be  con- 
tinued until  it  strikes  the  western  boundary  of  the  tract  ceded  to  the 
United  States  by  the  treaty  of  Detroit,  in  1807  [the  principal  meri- 
dian], and  from  the  termination  of  the  said  line,  following  the  bound- 
aries of  former  cessions,  to  the  main  branch  of  the  Grand  River,  of 
Lake  Michigan,  should  any  of  the  said  lines  cross  the  said  river;  but 
if  none  of  the  said  lines  should  cross  the  said  river,  then  to  a  point 
due  east  of  the  source  of  the  said  main  branch  of  the  said  river,  and 
from  such  point  due  west  to  the  source  of  said  principal  branch,  and 
from  the  crossing  of  said  river,  or  from  the  source  thereof,  as^he  case 
may  be,  down  the  said  river,  on  the  north  bank  thereof,  to  the  mouth ; 
thence  following  the  shore  of  Lake  Michigan  to  the  south  bank  of  the 
said  river  St.  Joseph,  at  the  mouth  thereof;  and  thence  with  the  said 
south  bank  to  the  place  of  beginning." 

As  the  principal  meridian  crosses  Grand  Eiver  in  Ing- 
ham County,  that  river  comprised  the  whole  northern 
boundary  of  the  tract  in  question.  Five  reservations  were 
excepted  from  the  cession, — two  in  what  is  now  Kalamazoo 
County,  one  in  St.  Joseph  County,  one  in  Branch  County, 
and  one  at  "  Maugachqua,  on  the  river  Peble."  These 
were  all  designed  for  the  Pottawattamies  and  the  Ottawas 
mino-led  with  them,  as  the  main  body  of  the  OWoroas,  who 
occupied  the  north  part  of  the  ceded  tract,  still  retained 
an  ample  territory  north  of  Grand  River.  There  were  also 
several  small  individual  reservations  near  the  St.  Joseph 
Eiver  for  the  benefit  of  favored  Pottawattamies. 

In  consideration  of  the  cession  the  United  States  agreed 
to  pay  the  Ottawas  a  thousand  dollars  a  year  forever,  be- 
sides fifteen  hundred  dollars  a  year  for  fifteen  years  to  sup- 
port a  blacksmith,  teacher,  and  farmer.  To  the  Pottawat- 
tamies the  government  agreed  to  pay  five  thousand  dollars 
annually  for  twenty  years,  besides  a  thousand  dollars  a  year 
to  support  a  blacksmith  and  teacher. 

Such  was  the  treaty  which  gave  the  ownership  of  the 
land  of  Allegan  and  Barry  Counties  to  the  United  States, 
and  which,  in  a  certain  sense,  constitutes  the  basis  of  all 
the  land-titles  in  those  counties.  It  being  of  so  much  im- 
portance, we  append  a  list  of  the  chiefs  and  warriors  who 
signed  it,  which  is  long  and  grim  enough  to  give  title  to  a 

continent. 

These  were,  on  the  part  of  the  Chippewas,  Mettayyaw 

and  Michel. 

On  the  part  of  the  Ottawas  the  signers  were  Keewa- 
goushcum,  Nockawgeegum,  Keeotoawbee,  Ketchemee,  Ep- 


peesausee,  Kayneewee,  Moaputte,  and  Matcheepeenashee- 
wish.* 

On  the  part  of  the  Pottawattamies,  the  treaty  bore  the 
signatures,  or  rather  the  crosses,  of  Topenabee,  Meteay, 
Chcbonsee,  Loinson,  Weesaw,  Keepotaw,  Schayauk,  Kee- 
bee,  Schomang,  Wawemickemack,  Nayouchemon,  Kongee, 
Sheeshawgau,  Ayscham,  Meeksaymauk,  Meytenway,  Shaw- 
wenuemetary,  Frangois,  Mauksee,  Waymego,  Mandauming, 
Quayquee,  Aapenhawbee,  Matchaweeyaas,  Matchapoggish, 
Mongan,  Puggagans,  Sescobennish,  Cheegwackgwago,  Waw- 
sebban,  Peecheco,  Quonquoitaw,  Rannish,  Wynemaig,  On- 
muckemeck,  Kawaysin,  Ameckose,  Oseemeet,  Shawkoto, 
Noshaweequat,  Meegunn,  Macshekeetenmore,  Keenotoge, 
Wabawnesheu,  Shawwawnaysee,  Atchweemuckquee,  Pish- 
sheebaugay,  Wawbassay,  Meggeessesee,  Saygawkoomick, 
Shawwayno,  Sheeshawgun,  Totomee,  Ashkuwee,  Shayauk- 
keebee,  Awbetonee. 

Certainly,  a  title  sanctioned  by  such  a  list  of  names  ought 
never  to  be  disputed. 

A  curious  incident  in  connection  with  this  council  is  nar- 
rated in  Smith's  "  Life  of  Cass,''  derived  from  the  general 
himself.  While  the  latter  was  watching  some  peculiar  cer- 
emonies of  the  Indians,  in  the  early  part  of  the  proceed- 
ings, he  observed  a  Chippewa  looking  very  grave,  and 
keeping  apart  from  his  fellows.  Governor  Cass  inquired 
the  reason,  and  learned  that  the  man,  in  a  fit  of  passion, 
had  killed  a  Pottawattamie  in  the  early  part  of  the  same 
season.  The  Pottawattamies  had  demanded  the  surrender 
of  the  murderer,  and  as  the  Chippewas,  and  in  fact  the 
homicide  himself,  admitted  the  justice  of  the  claim,  it  was 
expected  that  the  clansmen  of  the  slain  man  would  inflict 
the  penalty  of  death. 

But  the  murderer  was  owing  some  traders  for  goods  re- 
ceived of  them,  and  he  was  anxious  to  pay  them  before  he 
died.  He  accordingly  solicited  and  obtained  the  postpone- 
ment of  his  execution  until  he  could,  by  hunting,  procure 
the  means  of  satisfying'  his  creditors.  He  had  hunted  suc- 
cessfully through  the  season,  had  obtained  furs  enough  to 
pay  his  debts,  and  had  come  to  the  council  prepared  to 
suffer  death  at  the  hands  of  the  friends  of  his  victim.  The 
Governor  was  touched  by  the  stolid  honesty  of  the  doomed 
nkitn,  and  by  liberal  presents  to  his  intended  executioners 
persuaded  them  to  let  him  go  free. 

*  The  last  signer  for  the  Ottawas,  Matchcepeenashewish,  was  the 
chief  of  the  band  at  Kalamazoo,  and  the  reservation  there  was  named 
afier  him.  Yet  that  reservation,  like  all  the  others  in  Michigan  south 
of  the  Grand  River,  is  generally  said  to  have  been  occupied  by  Potta- 
iDnttamies.  Doubtless  they  formed  a  decided  majority,  but  there  were 
some  Ottawas  mingled  with  the  Pottawattamie  bands,  as  has  been  fre- 
quently observed,  and  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  a  member  of 
one  tribe  to  become  a  chief  in  another,  even  where  the  relations  of  the 
two  tribes  were  much  less  close  than  those  of  the  Ottawas  and  Potta- 
wattamies. The  chieftain  and  the  region  in  which  he  flourished  are 
thus  mentioned  in  a  quaint  old  song  of  the  pioneer  days,  reprinted  in 
the  Centennial  Record  of  Michigan.  After  glorifying  various  Michi- 
gan localities,  the  poet  says  : 

"  But  of  all  the  darndest  countries 

Beneath  the  shining  sun, 
Old  Kalamazoo  can  take  the  rag 

"When  all  the  rest  are  done. 
There,  in  the  burr-oak  openings, 

Big  Matchcebeenashewish 
Baised  doulile  crops  of  corn  and  beans. 

And  ate  them  with  bis  fish." 


28 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Very  likely  a  good  supply  of  whisky  was  the  principal 
consideration  which  induced  them  to  forego  their  revenge, 
for  that  has  ever  been  the  most  potent  agent  to  reach  the 
Indian's  heart.  It  is  related  that  even  Topenabee,  the 
principal  chief  of  the  Pottawattamies,  the  octogenarian 
warrior  who  had  signed  the  treaty  with  Gen.  Wayne  in 
1795,  and  had  vainly  endeavored  to  save  the  doomed  gar- 
rison of  Chicago  in  1812,  was  more  anxious  about  obtain- 
ing a  supply  of  whisky  than  anything  else.  When  Gen. 
Cass  urged  him  to  keep  sober,  so  as  to  make  a  good  bargain 
for  himself  and  his  people,  he  replied,  "  Father,  we  do  not 
care  for  the  land,  nor  the  money,  nor  the  goods.  What  we 
want  is  whisky;  give  us  whi.sky." 

The  old  chief  was  a  sad  drunkard  himself;  still,  it  is 
possible  that  he  spoke  sarcastically,  in  view  of  the  manifest 
anxiety  of  the  Indians  for  their  deadliest  bane. 

The  next  year  Rev.  Isaac  McCoy  established  what  was 
known  as  the  Carey  Mission,  on  the  site  of  Niles,  Berrien 
Co.  In  his  published  journal  he  depicts  the  Potta- 
wattamies as  rapidly  falling  victims  to  their  own  love  of 
liquor,  and  as  becoming  demoralized  to  the  last  degree,  so 
much  so  that  in  1832  the  missionaries  abandoned  their  self- 
imposed  task  in  utter  hopelessness.  The  Ottawas  drew 
back  into  their  northern  wilds,  and  were  less  affected  by 
the  presence  of  the  whisky-sellers,  although  even  they  suf- 
fered severely  from  them. 

Other  statements  in  Mr.  McCoy's  book  show  that  the 
Indians  retained  their  old  superstitions  in  addition  to  the 
acquired  vices  of  the  white  man.  He  relates  an  instance 
of  this  in  the  story  told  by  themselves  regarding  the  man- 
ner in  which  they  obtained  food  on  a  certain  occasion. 
According  to  their  account,  four  or  five  hundred  of  them  were 
collected  on  the  St.  Joiseph  in  the  autumn  of  1826,  and  set 
out  to  attend  a  council  on  the  Wabash,  under  the  leader- 
ship of  Chebass,  a  prominent  chief.  They  depended  on 
game  for  their  food ;  but  during  the  first  three  days  their 
best  hunters,  though  sometimes  as  many  as  fifty  were  out 
in  the  woods  at  once,  could  not  kill  a  deer.  The  people 
began  to  suffer  from  hunger. 

On  the  morning  of  the  fourth  day,  the  chief  Saugana  in- 
formed them  that  during  the  night  a  ghostly  visitant  had 
come  to  him  in  a  dream  and  had  told  him  that  the  hiyi- 
ters'  ill  success  was  due  to  the  fact  that  Chebass  had  set  out 
on  the  journey  "  like  a  white  man,"  without  making  a  re- 
ligious sacrifice.  Therefore  Chebass  must  fast  that  day, 
and  just  twelve  men,  with  faces  blackened  to  indicate  hun- 
ger and  devotion,  must  go  out  hunting,  just  six  on  each 
side  of  the  trail  the  company  was  following.  By  the  mid- 
dle of  the  forenoon  Saugana  said  they  would  kill  four  deer, 
because  in  his  dream  he  had  seen  four  deer  lying  dead. 

These  directions  were  followed,  and,  according  to  the 
Indians'  story,  the  four  deer  were  killed  within  the  appointed 
time,  and  were  brought  to  the  company.  A  halt  was  called, 
the  deer  were  boiled,  and  all  went  to  eating  except  poor 
Chebass,  who  was  condemned  to  fast  till  sunset,  on  account 
of  his  beginning  the  journey  as  irreligiously  as  a  white  man. 
During  the  rest  of  the  expedition  plenty  of  game  was  killed, 
and  all  fared  sumptuously. 

The  so-called  religious  ceremonies  of  the  Indians  would 
hardly  be  described  as  such  by  the  whites  of  the  present 


day.     Mr.  McCoy  thus  describes  one  which  he  attended 
in  1825  : 

"  Different  festivals  have  appropriate  names.    The  seasons  for  some 
occur  regularly,  but  most  of  them  are  occasional,  as  circumstances  are 


supposed  to  suggest  or  require 


them.     That  which  occurred  at  this 


time  was  one  at  which  singular  feats  of  legerdemain— such  as  taking 
meat  out  of  a  boiling  pot  with  their  naked  hand,  drinking  boiling-hot 
broth,  eating  fire,  etc.— are  attempted.  Some  ignorant  whites,  who 
have  mingled  with  the  Indians,  have  reported  that  the  latter  were 
very  dextrous  in  these  feats ;  but  we  have  never  seen  anything  of  the 
kind  attempted  among  them  that  was  not  very  clumsily  performed. 

"  On  the  present  occasion  a  little  tobacco  was  placed  in  the  centre 
of  the  hall,  on  the  bottom  of  a  new  moccasin,  with  a  small  bundle  of 
cedar  sticks  resembling  candle  matches  [pine  splinters].  Three  large 
kettles  of  meat,  previously  boiled,  were  hanging  over  a  small  fire, 
near  the  centre  of  the  house.  The  aged  chief,  Topenabee,  led  in  the 
ceremonies.  He  delivered  a  speech  of  considerable  length  without 
rising  from  his  seat,  with  a  grave  countenance,  and  his  eyes  almost 
closed.  He  then  sat  and  drummed  with  one  stick,  and  sung  at  the 
same  time,  while  his  aid  at  his  side  rattled  a  gourd.  At  length  four 
women  appeared  before  him  and  danced.  Awhile  after  this  he  arose, 
delivered  another  speech,  then,  drumming  and  dancing,  turned  round, 
and,  moving  slowly  around  the  dancing-hall,  was  followed  by  all  the 
dancing-party.  When  he  had  performed  his  part  in  leading,  others 
went  through  the  same  ceremony,  and  these  were  repeated  until  every 
pair  had  twice  led  in  the  dance. 

"These  exercises  were  accompanied  with  many  uncouth  gestures 
and  strange  noises.  Three  large  kettles  of  meat,  previously  boiled, 
were  hanging  over  a  small  fire  near  the  centre  of  the  house,  and 
occasionally  a  man  would  stoop  to  the  kettle  and  drink  a  little  soup. 
One  fellow,  assuming  a  frantic  air,  attended  with  whooping,  lifted 
out  of  a  kettle  a  deer's  bead,  and,  holding  it  by  the  two  horns  with 
the  nose  from  him,  presented  it  first  upwards  and  afterwards  towards 
many  of  the  bystanders  as  he  danced  round,  hallooing.  The  drop- 
pings of  the  broth  were  rather  an  improvement  than  an  injury  to  the 
floor,  it  being  of  earth  and  now  becoming  pretty  dusty. 

*'At  the  conclusion,  which  was  after  sun-setting,  each  brought  his 
or  her  vessel  and  secured  a  portion  of  the  food.  Chebass,  a  chief, 
sent  to  me  and  invited  me  to  eat  with  him,  and  I  having  consented 
he  placed  the  bowl  on  the  earth  beside  me,  and  said,  '  Come,  let  us 
eat  in  friendship.'  After  eating,  another  speech  was  delivered,  the 
music  followed,  all  joined  in  the  dance  with  increased  hilarity,  and 
most' of  them  with  their  kettles  of  meat  and  broth  in  their  hands, 
and,  at  length  breaking  off",  each  went  to  his  home." 

For  several  years  after  the  treaty  of  Chicago  no  settle- 
ments were  made  west  of  the  principal  meridian,  and  the 
Ottawas  and  Pottawattamies  still  continued  to  roam  at 
will  over  the  territory  of  Allegan  and  Barry  Counties. 

Down  to  1823  all  of  Michigan  was  embraced  in  the  land 
district  of  Detroit.  In  that  year  the  district  of  Monroe 
was  established,  which  included  not  only  the  southern  part 
of  the  State,  but  also  all  west  of  the  principal  meridian. 

In  1826  a  few  prospecting-parties  went  west  over  the 
celebrated  "  Chicago  road,"  through  the  southern  tier  of 
counties  of  the  State,  as  far  as  Lake  Michigan  ;  but  there 
were  still  no  settlers  west  of  the  meridian.  In  November 
of  that  year  the  territory  of  Allegan  and  Barry  Counties 
was  nominally  brought  under  civil  jurisdiction  by  an  act  of 
the  Legislative  Council,  declaring  that  all  the  country  pur- 
chased at  the  treaty  of  Chicago  should  be  attached  to  the 
county  of  Lenawee.  In  April,  1827,  the  same  territory 
was  constituted  the  township  of  St.  Joseph. 

In  the  spring  of  that  year  (1827)  settlement  began  in 
Hillsdale  County,  pushing  thence  westward  and  northwest- 
ward with  great  rapidity.  In  November,  1828,  it  reached 
Trairie  Ronde,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  and  in  June,  1829,  the 
first  settler  made  his  appearance  on  the  site  of  Kalamazoo 
village. 


EVENTS   FROM    1815  TO  1830. 


29 


Meanwhile,  the  United  States  surveyors  had  made  their 
way  westward  a  little  in  advance  of  the  settlers.  Accord- 
ing to  the  simple  system  of  surveys  adopted  by  the  United 
States,  the  western  boundary  of  the  lands  bought  from  the 
Indians  by  the  treaty  of  1807  (which  ran  through  the 
centre  of  the  present  county  of  Ingham,  nine  miles  east  of 
Lansing)  was  adopted  as  the  principal  meridian  from  which 
ranges  of  townships  should  be  numbered  east  and  west, 
while  the  parallel  of  forty-two  degrees  and  twenty-five 
minutes  was  made  the  base-line,  from  which  the  townships 
themselves  (each  six  miles  square)  should  be  numbered 
north  and  south.  This  was  subsequently  made  the  south 
boundary  of  Allegan  and  Barry  Counties,  their  eastern 
boundaries  being  respectively  the  eastern  lines  of  ranges 
11  and  7  west. 

In  1825,  the  outer  boundaries  of  township  1  north, 
range  11  west  (Gun  Plain),  were  run  out  by  John  MuUett, 
one  of  the  government  surveyors.  But  it  does  not  seem  to 
have  been  the  custom  then  to  run  the  range  and  township 
lines  for  long  distances,  for  it  was  not  till  the  next  year 
that  Mr.  MuUett  ran  the  boundaries  of  township  2,  range 
11  (Martin),  and  Lucius  Lyon  those  of  townships  3  and  4 
in  the  same  range  (Wayland  and  Leighton)  and  of  township 
4  in  range  12  (Dorr).  The  boundaries  of  the  other  town- 
ship were  not  run  until  1830  or  after.  None  of  the  town- 
ships were  subdivided  into  sections  until  1831. 

Barry  County  was  established  by  law,  with  its  present 
boundaries,  on  the  29th  of  October,  1829,  and  six  days 
later  it  was  attached  to  St.  Joseph  County,  as  were  ranges 
11  and  12,  in  the  territory  of  Allegan,  while  the  rest  of 
that  territory  was  for  the  time  being  assigned  to  Cass 
County.* 

We  have  now  reached  the  verge  of  permanent  settlement 
by  white  people  within  the  territory  to  which  our  history 
especially  relates,  and  have  to  notice  but  one  other  class  of 
facts  previous  to  entering  on  that  portion  of  our  subject. 
Between  the  close  of  the  war  with  Great  Britain,  in  1815, 
and  the  beginning  of  settlement  in  Allegan  and  Barry 
Counties,  in  1830,  numerous  posts  were  established  for  the 
purpose  of  trading  with  the  Indians  throughout  Central  and 
Western  Michigan.  Some  were  built  by  individual  traders 
and  some  on  behalf  of  the  American  Fur  Company,  of 
which  John  Jacob  Astor  was  the  head.  The  first  in  this 
region  was  at  Kalamazoo,  and  this  was  followed  by  others 
at  vai-ious  points  in  Allegan  and  Barry  Counties.  The  old 
traders  are  all  dead  or  scattered  far  away,  and  the  exact 
date  of  the  establishment  of  the  various  posts  cannot  be 
ascertained.  Even  in  regard  to  that  at  Kalamazoo,  as  to 
which  special  inquiries  were  made  a  number  of  years  ago, 
there  was  a  serious  discrepancy,  one  early  trader  (the  late 
Rix  Robinson,  of  Kent  County)  fixing  the  date  of  its  es- 
tablishment in  1823,  and  another  (G.  S.  Hubbard,  of  Chi- 
cago) stating  it  to  have  been  before  1820. 

Subsequently  a  Frenchman  named  Bouchon  had  a  trad- 
ing-post in  the  east  edge  of  the  present  township  of  Allegan, 
on  the  south  side  of  the  Kalamazoo  River,  at  the  head  of 
what  was  known  as  the  '•  Bouchon  Stretch,"  a  long  piece 
of  nearly  level  water.     At  the  point  where  Rabbit  River 


»  See  Chapter  Xir. 


empties  into  the  Kalamazoo,  in  the  present  township  of 
Manlius,  Allegan  Co.,  was  the  post  of  Louis  Campau,  a 
noted  French  trader  of  Detroit.  The  American  Fur  Com- 
pany had  a  post,  as  early  as  1825,  at  what  was  then  called 
Peach  Orchard  (from  the  fact  that  the  Indians  planted 
some  peach-stones  and  raised  peach-trees  there  before  any 
settlement  by  the  whites),  but  was  afterwards  known  as 
McCormick's  Landing,  on  the  Kalamazoo,  some  four  miles 
above  the  site  of  Saugatuck  village.  These  were  all  of 
which  we  could  learn  which  were  established  in  Allegan 
and  Barry  Counties  previous  to  1830.f 

The  houses  used  by  the  traders  were  of  various  sizes, 
being  in  some  places  mere  huts,  in  others  quite  commo- 
dious. They  were  built  of  logs,  and  were  usually  covered 
with  black-ash  bark.  Here  the  traders  sold  ammunition, 
tobacco,  steel  traps,  fish  hooks,  and  a  few  hats,  caps,  boots, 
and  shoes,  besides  beads,  calicoes,  and  some  other  cloths,  of 
those  gay  colors  in  which  both  Indians  and  squaws  greatly 
delighted.     They  also  sold  a  few  shot-guns  and  rifies. 

Immense  numbers  of  brooches,  ear-rings,  and  other  arti- 
cles of  adornment  were  likewise  disposed  of.  From  the  books 
of  William  Burnet,  an  early  trader  in  Berrien  County,  we 
learn  that  he  sent  by  a  single  agent,  who  went  to  trade 
among  the  Indians  in  their  camps,  a  thousand  "  silver 
brooches''  of  the  largest  size,  and  eleven  hundred  smaller 
ones.  According  to  Mr.  Barnes,  the  traders  of  Allegan 
and  Barry  were  equally  well  supplied  with  such  jewelry. 
It  was  called  "  silver,"  but  in  fact  was  made  of  a  cheap 
white  metal,  a  brooch  costing  only  about  twenty  cents. 

But,  above  all  other  articles,  whisky  and  other  ardent 
spirits  formed  the  most  profitable,  if  not  the  most  exten- 
sive, portion  of  the  trader's  outfit.  The  sale  of  strong  liquors 
to  the  Indians  was  strictly  forbidden  by  law,  but  the  profits 
were  enormous,  the  braves  were  thirsty,  and  the  traders 
were  avaricious  ;  and  we  doubt  whether  there  was  a  single 
one  of  them  who  did  not  sell  all  he  could, — at  least  until  the 
organization  of  courts  in  the  respective  counties. 

The  traders  were  mostly,  though  not  all,  French  or 
French  half-breeds,  and  with  the  usual  Gallic  adroitness 
gained  great  influence  over  their  savage  customers.  Their 
articles  for  trade  were  either  brought  across  the  peninsula 

f  Our  principal  information  in  regard  to  the  early  posts' and  also  in 
regard  to  many  of  the  other  facts  mentioned  in  this  chapter  is  derived 
from  Mr.  Lucius  A.  Barnes,  of  Wa.yland,  AUcgan  Co.,  who  is  better 
informed  on  that  subject  than  anyone  else  now  living  in  either  of  the 
two  counties.  lie  acted  as  clerk  for  Campau  at  his  post,  at  the  mouth 
of  Kabbit  River,  for  over  a  year,  in  1831  and  1832,  and  states  that  it 
had  then  been  there  several  years, — how  many  he  does  not  know.  The 
post  of  the  American  Fur  Company,  farther  down  the  Kalamazoo, 
was  equally  as  old,  or  older.  The  logs  of  which  it  was  composed  and 
the  stumps  from  which  they  were  out  showed  many  marks  of  age. 
At  a  later  date,  as  we  are  informed  by  others,  a  post  was  established 
by  Campau  at  the  foot  of  the  "  Bouchon  Stretch,"  on  the  Kalamazoo, 
in  the  present  township  of  Pine  Plains,  Allegan  Co.,  and  there  was 
another  at  u.  place  called  "  Wolf  Skin,"  on  the  Kalamazoo,  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  present  township  of  Manlius,  in  the  same  county. 
Campau  also  established  one  on  Green  Lake,  in  what  is  now  Leighton, 
Allegan  Co.,  and  one  near  the  southeast  corner  of  Thornapple,  Barry 
Co.  The  next  year  after  Mr.  Barnes'  service  with  Campau  he  worked 
for  Rix  Robinson,  a  celebrated  trader  of  that  day,  at  the  junction  of 
Thornapple  and  Grand  Rivers,  in  Kent  County.  This  also  appeared 
quite  old.  W.  G.  Butler's  post,  on  the  site  of  Saugatuck  village,  was 
established  in  1830,  but  this,  though  his  first  business  was  with  the 
Indians,  was  intended  as  the  beginning  of  a  permanent  settlement. 


30 


HISTORY   OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


from  Detroit  on  pack-horses,  or,  as  was  much  more  com- 
monly the  case,  were  transported  from  Detroit,  Mackinaw, 
or  even  from   Montreal,  on  large   open  boats,  known  as 
Montreal  barges,  which  would  carry  about  eight  tons  each 
in  smooth  water.    When  these  boats  came  all  the  way  from 
Montreal,  they  passed  from  Lake  Ontario  to  Lake  Huron 
through  the  streams  and  lakes  of  Upper  Canada,  several 
portages  being  made  on  the  way.     A  quite  common  way 
was  for  the  American  Fur  Company,  or  large  traders  like 
Campau,  to  bring  the  goods  to  Mackinaw  in  sail-vessels, 
which  were  unloaded  there.     They  were  then  furnished  to 
small   traders  at  a  stipulated   price,  who  sold  them  out 
among  the  Indians  and  paid  for  them  with  furs,  skins,  etc., 
at  a  price  also  agreed  upon  with  wholesale  dealers.    Bouchon 
and  others  were  furnished  in  I  his  manner  by  Campau,  and 
other  traders  were  supplied  by  the  American  Fur  Company. 
From  Mackinaw  the  goods  were  brought  in  barges  up  Lake 
Michigan,  and  then  up  the  principal  rivers  to  the  various 
trading-posts.      The  navigation  of  the  lake  was  attended 
with  much  danger,  and  that  of  the  river  with  scarcely  less. 
G.  S.  Hubbard,  an  early  trader  at  Kalamazoo,  in  a  letter 
read  before  the  State  Pioneer  Society  in  1875,  says  : 

"  In  the  fall  [of  1820]  I  had  left  buried  in  the  sand  at  the  mouth 
of  Kalamazoo  River  some  heavy  articles,  because  of  the  rapids,  my 
boat  being  heavily  loaded.  In  March  I  took  a  perogue,  a  large  wood 
canoe,  and  with  one  of  my  men  went  for  them.  We  camped  at  the 
foot  of  the  rapids  [where  Allegan  village  now  stands]  in  a  snow-storm. 
In  the  morning,  still  snowing,  we  with  great  effort  poled  up  the  rapids  ; 
had  neaohed  the  upper  end— I,  in  the  bow,  poling,  my  man  seated, 
with  paddle.  A  tree  had  fallen  into  the  river;  pushing  out  to  round 
it,  current  still  strong,  the  bow  striking  the  current,  my  man  careless, 
the  canoe  would  have  upset  had  I  not  jumped  into  the  river.  Telling 
my  man  to  follow  me  down  the  rapids,  I  swam  and  reached  our  camp- 
ing-ground safely,  though  much  exhausted;  got  dried  and  started  up 
again ;  reaching  home  the  next  day." 

There  were  two  or  three  sail-vessels  which  used  to  run 
on  Lake  Michigan  to  Chicago  and  St.  Joseph,  and  the  tra- 
ders at  the  head  of  the  lake  were  largely  supplied  by  them, 
but  they  rarely  or  never  stopped  at  the  mouth  of  Grand  or 
Kalamazoo  River,  or  elsewhere  in  this  locality,  until  after 
the  settlement  of  the  country  by  the  whites. 

The  Indians  paid  for  the  articles  they  bought  principally 
with  furs,  deer-s^ins,  and  maple-sugar.  The  latter  com- 
modity was  not  much  sought  for  by  traders,  as  it  could  not 
be  exchanged  for  goods  in  the  Eastern  markets ;  yet,  to 
please  their  tawny  customers,  they  did  receive  large  quanti- 
ties of  it,  which  they  shipped  East  and  sold  as  best  they 
could. 

All  the  larger  traders  kept  runners  among  the  Indian 
camps  all  winter.  These  were  usually  French  or  half-breeds, 
who  carried  their  goods  on  their  backs,  and  brought  back 
in  the  same  way  the  furs  they  received. 

There  had  once  been  beaver-dams  and  beavers  in  this  sec- 
tion, and  there  may  have  been  a  few  of  these  animals  here 
between  1815  and  1830,  but  they  were  all  hunted  out  before 
the  arrival  of  the  white  settlers.  The  greater  part  of  the 
furs  sold  to  the  traders  were  those  of  tlie  marten,  mink, 
muskrat,  and  raccoon.  The  three  first  named  were  am- 
phibious animals,  spending  much  of  their  time  in  the  water. 
The  most  valuable  were  the  marten-skins,  for  which  the 
traders  usually  allowed  the  Indians  a  dollar  apiece,  or 
what  they  called  a  dollar,  ail  furs  being  paid  for  in  goods,  to 


which  the  traders  aflBxed  their  own  prices.  Cheap  calico 
sold  at  twenty-five  cents  a  yard,  and  a  better  quality  at  fifty 
cents.  Good  mink-skins  were  estimated  at  fifty  cents  each, 
raccoon-skins  at  the  same  price,  and  muskrat-skins  at 
twenty-five  cents.  There  were  also  a  few  fisher-skins, — the 
fisher  being  an  amphibious  animal  somewhat  larger  than  a 
cat, — which  rated  at  a  dollar  each. 

Besides  these,  which  were  called  by  the  general  name  of 
"furs,"  there  were  those  which  were  known  in  distinction 
aa  "  skins,"  viz., — deer-skins  and  quite  a  number  of  bear- 
skins. 

After  the  treaty  of  Chicago,  the  Ottawas  and  Potta- 
waitamies  received  a  yearly  payment  from  the  government. 
Nearly  the  whole  of  the  money  thus  received  went  into  tb« 
hands  of  the  traders.  If  an  Indian  had  neither  money  nor 
furs  to  offer,  and  wanted  to  purchase  on  credit,  it  was  gen- 
erally given  him,  unless  he  was  known  to  be  dishonest.  On 
the  average,  they  paid  quite  as  promptly  as  white  men  do 
at  the  present  day.  The  traders  always  attended  the  pay- 
ments by  the  United  States  agent,  and  generally  received 
the  money  due  them  from  the  Indians.  If  he  did  not,  or 
if  there  was  a  dispute  about  the  amount,  the  trader  would 
sometimes  at  least  take  the  law  into  his  own  hands,  and 
seize  the  money.* 

Such  was  the  state  of  affairs  in  Allegan  and  Barry 
Counties  in  1829.  The  scenes  of  the  next  ten  years  must 
be  reserved  for  another  chapter. 


CHAPTER    VII L 

EARLY   SETTLEMEITTS. 

First  Settler  in  Allegan  County-Butler  at  the  Mouth  of  the  Kala- 
mazoo—First  Settlement  unconnected  with  Indian  Trade— Giles 
Scott's  Log  House-A  Puncheon  Dancing-Floor— First  Settler  in 
Barry  County-The  First  Saw-Mill-Formation  of  Allegan  County 
—The  Black-Hawk  War— Divided  Councils— Tragic  Close  of  a 
Debate— Council  on  Gun  Plain-Decision  for  Peace— Grand  Pow- 
wow-Allegan  County  Volunteers-Early  Marriages-Settlers  in 
1833-Campau's  Post  in  Leighton— First  Settlement  in  Allegan- 
In  Barry  Township-In  Thornapple-In  Trowbridge-Emigration 
increasing-Settlements  in  Martin-In  Watson-In  Saugatuck  and. 
Manlius-The  Trail  from  Kalamazoo  to  Grand  Rapids-Settlement 
of  Yankee  Springs-Of  Orangeville-Of  Hastings-Of  Carlton- 
Of  Assyria-Stato  Roads-Increasing  Excitement-Settlement  of 
Irving,  Woodland,  Castleton,  and  Maple  Grove-More  State  Roads 
--Financial   Collapse-Slow  Emigration-The  remaining   Town- 


The  first  .settler  in  the  territory  comprising  the  counties 
of  Allegan  and  Barry  was  William  G.  Butler,  of  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  who,  with  his  wife  and  two  children,  located 
on  the  site  of  the  village  of  Saugatuck,  three  miles  up  from 
the  mouth  of  the  Kalamazoo  River,  in  the  spring  of  1830. 
True,  his  first  business  was  trading  with  the  Indians,  and 
we  have  not  generally  classed  Indian  traders  as  settlers,  be- 
cause they  had  no  intention  of  becoming  permanent  resi- 
dents at  their  respective  posts;  but  Mr.  Butler. did  come 


*  Mr.  Barnes  informs  us  that  he  saw  Campau's  men  take  away 
money  from  a  chief  who  disputed  the  trader's  account  at  a  payment 
at  Grand  Rapids. 


EARLY   SETTLEMENTS. 


31 


with  that  intention,  and  selected  land  for  that  purpose* 
He  came  by  the  way  of  the  lakes,  being  landed  from  a  ves- 
sel, with  his  family  and  a  small  amount  of  Indian  goods, 
probably  in  May  of  the  year  mentioned. 

He  immediately  erected  a  log  house  on  the  site  of  Sau- 
gatuck  and  began  trading  with  the  Indians.  "For  three 
years  he  and  his  family  were  the  only  white  residents  of  the 
western  half  of  Allegan  County,  except  the  transient  traders 
mentioned  in  the  preceding  chapter.  On  the  advent  of 
other  settlers,  however,  he  platted  a  village,  as  he  had  evi- 
dently intended  from  the  first,  went  to  trading  with  the 
whites,  and  assumed  the  usual  duties  of  a  citizen. 

The  first  settlement  in  the  two  counties  entirely  uncon- 
nected with  the  Indian  trade  was  made  by  Giles  Scott,  who 
came  from  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  with  his  wife  and  two  chil- 
dren, in  the  autumn  of  1830,  and  began  the  erection  of  a 
log  house  at  the  mouth  of  Pine  Creek,  in  township  ] ,  range 
12,  now  the  township  of  Otsego,  Allegan  Co.  He  had  been 
through  this  region  during  the  previous  year  (1829)  in 
company  with  Dr.  Samuel  Foster  and  a  Mr.  Percival,  look- 
ing for  mill-sites  and  other  points  desirable  for  a  new  set- 
tler. He  was  accompanied  in  the  fall  of  1830  by  Uri  Baker, 
Sloan  Eaton,  a  Mr.  Hill,  and  John  B.  Yeomans. 

As  soon  as  his  house  was  complete  Mr.  Scott  moved  into 
it,  and  was  joined  during  the  following  winter  by  the  other 
members  of  his  family.  The  house,  as  was  usually  the 
case  with  the  settlers  who  preceded  the  erection  of  saw- 
mills, had  a  floor  made  of  "  puncheons"  or  split  logs,  yet  it 
was  afterwards  found  suflSciently  smooth  to  dance  on,  and, 
as  Mr.  Scott  was  quite  an  adept  with  the  fiddle,  it  was  fre- 
quently utilized  for  that  purpose,  the  house  being  probably 
the  first  temple  of  Terpsichore  in  the  two  counties. 

Somewhat  later  than  Scott,  but  during  the  same  autumn, 
Turner  Aldrich,  Jr.,  of  Lodi  (now  Gowanda),  Erie  Co., 
N.  Y.,  made  his  appearance  in  the  same  locality.  He  was 
accompanied  by  two  daughters,  and  brought  with  him  a 
complete  set  of  irons  for  a  saw-mill,  and  an  old-fashioned, 
perpendicular  saw.  He  immediately  began  the  erection  of 
a  saw-mill,  about  a  mile  up  Pine  Creek  from  its  mouth. 
This  was  completed  the  following  year,  and  was  the  first 
mill  of  any  kind  in  the  counties  of  Allegan  and  Barry.f 

About  the  same  time  that  Mr.  Scott  made  a  settlement 
in  Otsego,  Amasa  S.  Parker,  a  sturdy  young  bachelor  who 
had  just  arrived  at  Gull  Prairie,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  selected 
a  piece  of  land  in  township  1,  range  10  (now  Prairie- 
ville,  Barry  Co.),  and  began  to  clear  it  off.  This  was  the 
first  improvement  made  in  Barry  County.  Mr.  Parker, 
however,  did  not  put  up  a  house  until  the  next  year,  re- 
turning to  Gull  Prairie  to  winter. 

The  next  settler  in  Allegan  County  was  Dr.  Samuel 
Foster,  a  native  of  Maine,  who  had  practiced  as  a  physician 
in  Vermont,  but  who  had  given  up  hi.s  profession  and 
never  practiced  it  in  Michigan.  He  located  himself,  near 
the  end  of  1830,  on  section  23,  in  the  same  township  as 
Scott  and  Aldrich,  being  the  first  settler  within  the  present 


*  As  soon  as  the  land  was  surveyed,  which  was  in  the  summer  of 
1831,  he  made  a  purchase. 

-f-  This  mill  was  burned  in  July,  1832,  while  in  possession  of  Charles 
Miles  and  Cyrcnius  Thompson  (afterwards  the  first  settler  in  Gun 
Plain),  who  had  leased  it. 


corporate  limits  of  Otsego.     His  son,  Samuel  D.  Foster, 
still  resides  there. 

The  survey  of  this  township  into  sections  was  completed 
in  the  latter  part  of  January,  1831.  In  the  certificate  of 
survey  the  surveyor,  Lucius  Lyon,  mentioned  that  three 
families  (above  designated)  had  already  settled  in  the 
township,  and  also  stated  that  Messrs.  Sherwood  and  Scott 
were  preparing  to  erect  a  saw-mill  and  a  grist-mill  on  Pine 
Creek,  near  the  mouth.  Mr.  Scott  we  have  already  spoken 
of.  His  partner  was  Hull  Sherwood,  who  arrived  in  the 
fall  of  1831.  He  was  accompanied  by  his  married  sons 
Eber  Sherwood,  Hull  Sherwood,  Jr.,  and  Royal  Sherwood 
and  their  families,  and  his  unmarried  son  Lebbeus ;  a  still 
younger  son,  Edmund,  having  come  with  Mr.  Scott.  Like 
Mr.  Scott,  the  Sherwoods  were  from  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

By  an  act  of  the  Legislative  Council  approved  on  the  2d 
day  of  March,  1831,  the  county  of  Allogan|  was  formed 
with  its  present  boundaries,  but  this  was  merely  a  formal 
proceeding  which  did  not  change  the  actual  relations  of 
the  few  inhabitants.  The  settlers  in  township  1,  range 
12,  were  still  citizens  of  Kalamazoo  County  for  all  prac- 
tical purposes,  while  Mr.  Butler  and  two  or  three  traders, 
who  were  the  only  voters  in  the  western  part  of  the  new 
county,  could  only  exercise  the  franchise  by  going  forty 
or  fifty  miles  south  to  the  settlements  of  Cass  County. 
These  matters  are  fully  set  forth  in  Chapter  XIII.,  devoted 
to  the  subject  of  organization. 

In  the  spring  of  this  year,  Amasa  S.  Parker  raised  him 
a  small  log  house  (it  is  said  without  a.ssistance)  on  the  land 
he  had  chosen,  and  became  the  first  permanent  white  resi- 
dent of  Barry  County.  His  land  was  the  west  half  of  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  35,  in  township  1,  range  2. 
In  June,  1831,  he  located  his  tract  at  the  land-office. 

But  very  few  more  settlers  came  into  the  territory  of 
Otsego  township  in  1831,  and  at  the  end  of  the  year  that 
was  still  the  only  township  settled  in  Allegan  County. 

In  the  spring  of  1832  nearly  the  whole  West  was  start- 
led from  its  propriety  by  the  outbreak  of  the  Black-Hawk 
war.  This  celebrated  chief  sent  runners  to  the  Ottawas 
and  Poftawattamies  to  urge  them  to  join  him  in  a  war  with 
the  whites.  The  old  chiefs  of  those  tribes,  however,  had  had 
so  much  experience  of  the  folly  of  fighting  the  Americans 
that  they  were  strongly  opposed  to  taking  up  the  hatchet. 
Many  of  the  young  braves  were  desirous  of  war,  and  the 
question  was  zealously  debated  at  several  councils,  but 
finally  the  wiser  plan  prevailed,  and  the  whites  of  Michigan 
were  not  molested.  It  is  related  in  the  history  of  Cass 
County  that  at  the  council  of  the  Pottawattamies  of  the 
St.  Joseph,  Topenabee,  the  venerable  head-chief  of  that 
tribe,  who  had  signed  the  treaty  with  Gen.  Wayne  in 
1795,  argued  strongly  against  war  and  advised  neutrality. 
A  chief  named  Optogome  charged  him  with  cowardice. 
At  this  the  ancient  warrior  threw  a  knife  to  Optogome,  or- 
dered him  to  defend  himself,  and  then,  with  his  own  knife 
in  his  hand,  advanced  to  attack  him.     At  the  first  thrust 

J:  The  word  "  Allegan"  is  evidently  of  Indian  origin,  but  we  have 
never  met  with  any  satisfactory  explanation  of  its  meaning.  There 
is  no  stream  nor  lake  of  that  name,  and  we  have  never  heard  of  any 
tribe  of  Indians  bearing  it.  The  closeness  of  its  resemblance  to  Alle- 
gany suggests  that  some  New  Yorker  may  have  chosen  that  name, 
but  sought  to  make  it  more  convenient  by  dropping  the  "y." 


32 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


the  veteran  drove  his  knife  completely  through  the  hody  of 
his  antagonist,  who  fell  dead  at  his  feet.  The  council  de- 
cided for  peace. 

The  Chlppewas,  Ottawas,  and  Pottawattamies  of  this 
region  met  in  council  on  Gun  Plain  (or  Gun  Plains,  as  the 
locality  was  more  commonly  called),  in  the  present  town- 
ship of  that  name,  to  decide  on  the  same  momentous  ques- 
tion. A  half-breed,  named  Prickett,  who  lived  at  the 
mouth  of  Gun  River  (and  who.  is  said  to  have  been  of  In- 
dian and  Yankee  parentage,  instead  of  Indian  and  French, 
which  was  the  composition  of  most  of  the  half-breeds),  told 
the  whites  that  the  Indians  were  going  to  massacre  them. 
Some  buried  their  goods  in  preparation  for  flight,  but  we 
believe  none  left.  In  fact,  it  was  suspected  by  some  that 
Prickett  wanted  to  frighten  them  Into  fleeing  in  order  to 
get  their  property,  though  perhaps  this  suspicion  was  un- 
just. 

Bouchon,  the  French  trader  on  the  Kalamazoo,  below 
the  site  of  Allegan,  came  up  to  the  settlement  and  agreed 
to  attend  the  council,  relying  on  the  friendship  of  the  In- 
dians, and,  if  they  declared  for  war,  to  notify  the  settlers 
in  township  1,  range  12  (Otsego),  as  fast  as  his  pony 
could  carry  him  thither,— albeit  the  warning  would  have 
come  rather  late,  for  an  Indian  declaration  of  war  is  usu- 
ally followed  very  speedily  by  overt  acts.  The  council 
lasted  three  days.  Young  Samuel  D.  Foster,  then  about 
nineteen,  determined  that  he,  too,  would  have  early  in- 
formation of  the  intentions  of  the  Indians,  and  every  day 
he  went  over  to  the  council  on  Gun  Plains.  Bouchon  was 
there  all  the  while,  and  from  time  to  time  he  interpreted 
the  language  of  the  speakers,  whether  friendly  or  hostile, 
for  the  benefit  of  young  Foster. 

Near  the  end  of  the  third  day  the  final  decision  was  arrived 
at,— not  to  attack  the  whites,— and  this,  too,  was  promptly 
interpreted  to  young  Foster.     Soon  afterward  the  squaws 
began  to  clear  off  a  piece  of  ground,  eight  or  ten  rods  long 
and  twelve  or  fifteen  feet  wide.     This  they  brushed  off 
with   great  care;  making  it  almost  as  smooth  as  a  floor. 
Then    there  was  a  grand   dance  and  "powwow,"  which 
lasted  all  night.     Young  Foster,  who  seemed  to  have  had 
a  good  deal  of  confidence  in  the  Indians,  remained  through- 
out the  scene,  and  said  that  he   never  saw  anything  else 
that  would  compare  with  those  extraordinary  performances. 
The  Indians  jumped,  and  kicked,  and  howled  from  end  to 
end  of  the  extempore  ball-room,  till  one  might  have  thought 
a  legion  of  demons  were  holding  their  orgies  there,  while 
the  woodland  arches  rang  on  every  side  with  their  shrill, 
far-reaching,  unearthly  cries. 

The  whites  soon  became  satisfied  that  the  Indians  of  this 
vicinity  were  not  going  to  injure  them  ;  and  when  the  mili- 
tia was  called  out  in  May  to  march  to  the  assistance  of 
the  Illinoisans  against  Black  Hawk,  several  men  of  the 
Otsego  settlement  joined  the  command  of  Col.  Isaac 
Barnes,  of  Gull  Prairie,  Kalamazoo  Co.  They  were  un- 
married, transient  men,  however,  and  their  names  are  not 
remembered.  It  was  soon  found  that  the  danger  was  not 
as  great  as  had  been  supposed,  and  the  command  only  went 
to  Niles  or  thereabout,  being  mustered  out  after  a  week  or 
two  of  service. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  of  1832,  Dr.  Cyrenius 


Thompson,  a  physician  from  Ohio,  who  had  quit  the  prac- 
tice of  the  profession  and  had  moved  into  township  1,  range 
12  (Otsego),  erected  a  framed  house  in  the  adjoining  town- 
ship west  (now  Gun  Plain),  and  moved  into  it  early  in  the 
autumn  of  that  year,  becoming  the  first  white  resident  of 
that  township.  It  was  not  a  very  elegant  mansion,  the 
boards  being  fastened  perpendicularly  to  the  frame  with 
wooden  pins,  yet  it  is  entitled  to  notice  as  the  first  framed 
house  in  the  two  counties, — so  far,  at  least,  as  we  can  ascer- 
tain. 

In  1832,  also,  the  first  post-oflSce  in  the  counties  of  Al- 
legan and  Barry  was  established  by  the  government ;  Sam- 
uel Foster,  of  township  1,  range  12,  being  appointed  the  first 
postmaster. 

Another  early  event  of  much  importance  was  the  first 
marriage  in  the  two  counties,  which  as  nearly  as  can  be 
ascertained  was  a  double  one,  which  occurred  in  December, 
-1832,  A.  L.  Cotton  being  wedded  to  Mary  Sherwood,  and 
Erastus  Jackson  to  Ann  Sherwood,  her  sister.     Mr.  Cotton 
and  the  two  brides  were  all  residents  of  township  1,  rann-e 
12  (Otsego),  but  Mr.  Jackson  was  from  Comstock,  Kala- 
mazoo Co.,  and  the  ofliciating  justice  of  the  peace  was  Col. 
Isaac  Barnes,  of  Gull  Prairie,  in   the  last-named  county. 
The  next  marriage,  which  occurred  during  the  followin"' 
October,  was  between  another  of  the  same  family,  Miss 
Martha  Sherwood,  and  Mr.  Oka  Town,  who  then  lived  in 
Kalamazoo  County,  though  he  has  for  the  last  forty-six 
years  been  a  resident  of  Otsego.     The  officiating  minister 
was  Rev.  William  Jones,  of  Gull  Prairie,  who  came  on  foot 
and  waded  the  Kalamazoo  River  for  the  purpose  of  per- 
forming the  ceremony. 

Quite  a  number  of  new  settlers  located  in  the  present 
townships  of  Otsego  and  Gun  Plain  in  1833,  and  a  Baptist 
Church — the  first  church  in  the  two  counties — was  organ- 
ized in  the  latter  locality  in  that  year.     Not  a  solitary  emi- 
grant, however,  made  his  home  in  Allegan  County  outside 
of  these  two  townships,  Mr.  Butler's  family  remaining  the 
sole  white  occupants  of  all  the  rest  of  the  county  (except, 
perhaps,  two  or  three  keepers  of  Indian   trading-posts), 
while  in  Barry  County  there  was  but  one  more  settler  during 
the  year,  viz.,  Ofville  Barnes,  who  located  himself  on  the 
same  section  as  Parker,  in  the  present  township  of  Prairie- 
ville. 

The  following  extract  from  the  Territorial  laws  of  1833 
describes  the  first  road  provided  for  in  the  two  counties 
under  consideration.  The  "  middle  village"  mentioned  in 
it  was  an  Indian  village  near  the  line  between  Thornapple 
and  Yankee  Springs  townships  : 

"Sec.  8.  That  a  Territorial  road  shall  be  laid  out  and  established 
beginning  at  the  middle  village  (so  called),  in  Barry  County,  thence 
on  the  most  direct  and  eligible  route  through  or  near  to  Gun  River 
Plain,  to  the  Territorial  road,  near  the  forks  of  the  Paw  Paw  (so 
called) ;  and  William  Duncan,  Cornelius  Northrop,  and  Carlos  Barnes 
are  hereby  appointed  commissioners  to  lay  out  and  establish  said 
road. 

"Provided  that  no  part  of  the  expense  of  laying  out  said  roads,  or 
damage  accruing  to  persons  through  whose  lands  either  of  said  roads 
may  pass,  shall  be  paid  out  of  the  Territorial  treasury. 

"Approved  March  29, 1833." 

In  1833  or  1834,  Louis  Campau  built  a  house,  out  of 


EARLY   SETTLEMENTS. 


33 


timber  cut  on  the  spot  with  a  whip-saw,  near  Green  Lake, 
in  the  present  township  of  Leighton,  Allegan  Co.,  where 
he  established  an  Indian  trading-post,  but  no  permanent 
settlement  was  made  there  until  several  years  later. 

At  this  time  speculation  had  become  rampant  throughout 
the  country,  especially  in  the  West,  and  speculators  and 
capitalists  were  constantly  wandering  through  the  wilds  of 
Michigan  in  search  of  locations  for  future  cities.  In  1834 
a  party  of  capitalists  residing  in  Boston,  Mass.,  and  Eoch- 
ester,  N.  Y.,  purchased  the  lands  on  both  sides  of  the  Kal- 
amazoo, at  the  rapids  of  that  river,  in  township  2  north, 
range  13  west,  and  also  bought  large  tracts  in  the  surround- 
ing country.  Here  they  projected  the  city  of  Allegan  and 
immediately  sent  on  workmen  to  make  a  beginning;  the 
first  actual  settlement  being  made  by  Leander  S.  Prouty 
and  family,  who  descended  the  Kalamazoo  on  a  raft  for  that 
purpose.  The  details  of  the  early  improvements  in  Allegan 
are  given  in  the  history  of  that  village. 

The  same  year  (1834)  the  first  settlement  in  township  1, 
range  9  (now  Barry  township,  Barry  Co.),  was  made  by 
Moses  Lawrence,  who  is  noted  in  local  history  as  having 
entered  the  first  land,  built  the  first  cabin,  preached  the 
first  sermon,  and  set  out  the  first  fruit-trees  in  that  town- 
ship. 

In  the  autumn  of  1834,  also,  Calvin  G.  Hill  began  the 
settlement  of  the  north  part  of  Barry  County,  selecting  a 
location  on  the  site  of  the  village  of  Middleville,  in  the 
present  township  of  Thornapple. 

The  only  new  township  settled  in  the  two  counties  in 
1835  was  No.  1,  in  range  13,  now  Trowbridge,  in  Allegan 
County,  one  of  the  pioneers  there  in  that  year  being 
Leander  S.  Prouty ;  already  mentioned  as  the  first  settler  in 
Allegan.  About  thirty  laborers  were  also  at  work  on  the 
various  improvements  begun  in  Allegan  village. 

This  year  Allegan  County  was  organized,  as  stated  in  the 
chapter  relating  to  organization  (Chapter  XIII.),  and  at  the 
first  election  in  the  autumn  was  found  to  contain  sixty-one 
voters.  As  near  as  can  be  estimated,  there  were  then  about  a 
dozen  voters  in  Barry  County,  including  six  or  eight  who 
had  settled  in  town  1,  range  10  (Prairieville),  that  year. 

It  was  not  until  1836  that  the  tide  of  emigration  got 
under  full  headway.  In  that  year  settlements  were  made 
in  the  present  townships  of  Martin,  Watson,  Monterey, 
and  Manlius,  in  Allegan  County,  and  in  Hastings,  Yankee 
Springs,  Orangeville,  Rutland,  Carlton,  and  Johnstown,  in 
Barry  County. 

The  first  settlement  in  township  2,  range  1  (now  Mar- 
tin), was  made  in  March,  1836,  by  Mumford  Eldred,  who 
selected  a  little  opening  which  was  still  occupied  by  a 
band  of  Indians,  who  were  not  dispossessed  without  con- 
siderable trouble,  the  story  of  which  is  told  in  the  history 
of  that  township. 

The  settlement  of  township  2,  range  2  (now  Watson), 
by  William  S.  Miner  and  Daniel  Leggett,  followed  within 
two  or  three  months  after  that  of  Martin,  and  was  con- 
temporary with  that  of  township  3,  range  13  (now  Mon- 
terey), by  a  person  bearing  the  peculiar  name  of  Gil  Bias 
Wilcox.  Wayland  was  also  settled  in  1836  by  Daniel 
Jackson  and  Lucius  A.  Barnes,  on  the  land  of  Col.  Isaac 
and  Mr.  George  W.  Barnes. 
5 


Thus,  by  the  latter  part  of  1836,  nearly  all  of  the  west- 
ern half  of  Allegan  County  was  settled  to  the  extent  of 
having  at  least  one  family  in  each  township.  The  excep- ' 
tional  townships  in  that  half  were  No.  4,  in  range  11,  now 
Leighton  (in  which  there  were  no  whites  but  the  keepers 
of  the  trading-post) ;  Nos.  3  and  4,  in  range  12  (Hopkins 
and  Dorr) ;  and  No.  4,  in  range  13  (Salem). 

But  not  alone  in  Eastern  Allegan  were  the  axes  of  the 
pioneers  heard  resounding  in  all  directions  throughout  the 
spring,  summer,  and  autumn  of  1836.  New  settlers  made 
their  appearance  at  Sangatuck,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Kal- 
amazoo, with  minds  intent  on  lumbering  and  tanning ;  and 
during  the  same  year  John  Allen,  of  Ann  Arbor,  laid  out 
the  city  of  Richmond,  a  few  miles  up  that  river,  in  town- 
ship 3,  range  15,  now  known  as  Manlius,  sending  Ralph 
R.  Mann  thither  with  a  number  of  workmen,  in  the  fall, 
to  make  a  settlement. 

Turning  to  Barry  County,  we  find  it  too  all  astir  with 
emigrants  and  land-seekers  of  various  kinds.  The  old  In- 
dian trail  from  the  Pottawattamie  village,  on  the  site  of 
Kahimazoo,  to  the  "  rapids  of  Grand  River"  (now  more 
concisely  designated  as  Grand  Rapids),  passed  through 
Gull  Prairie,  in  the  present  township  of  Richmond,  Kala- 
mazoo Co.,  and  thence  northward  through  the  present 
townships  of  Prairieville,  Orangeville,  Yankee  Springs, 
and  Thornapple,  by  way  of  the  Indian  Middle  Village,  in 
Barry  County,  and  thence  down  the  Thornapple  River. 
The  emigrants  and  other  travelers  naturally  followed  the 
same  route,  and  by  1836  there  was  a  well-defined  road 
along  the  old  trail,  although  as  yet  no  surveyor  had  desig- 
nated any  portion  of  it  as  a  highway. 

On  this  road,  near  the  northwest  corner  of  section 
35,  township  3,  range  10  (now  Yankee  Springs),  and  near 
some  fine  springs  of  delicious  water,  a  man  named  Calvin 
Lewis  and  a  Mr.  Tryon  built  a  log  house  in  the  year 
1836. 

Lucius  A.  Barnes  (now  of  Wayland,  Allegan  Co.),  of 
whom  we  have  already  spoken,  while  returning  from  a  trip 
to  the  North,  came  to  the  point  named  just  as  Lewis  was 
about  to  raise  his  house,  and  helped  in  the  task.  In  a  few 
months  Calvin  Lewis  and  Mr.  Tryon  transferred  the  place 
to  a  brother  of  the  former,  William  Lewis,  who  denomina- 
ted his  log  tavern  the  "  Mansion  House,"  and  hung  a  sign 
bearing  that  name  on  an  oak-tree  standing  near  the  door.  It 
attained  a  widespread  reputation,  but  was  generally  known 
as  the  Yankee  Springs  House.* 

»  The  origin  of  this  name  dates  baoli  to  the  previous  year,  when 
Henry  Leonard  and  family,  including  a  youth  named  Charles  Paul, 
were  moving  into  Thornapple.  They  were  from  one  of  the  New 
England  States,  and  while  they  were  stopping  for  luncheon  at  the 
excellent  springs  mentioned  above,  a  stranger  joined  them,  who  was 
also  from  that  part  of  the  Union.  One  of  the  party  remarked,  "We 
are  all  Yankees,"  and  suggested  that  the  springs  should  be  called 
Yankee  Springs.  Charles  Paul  hewed  the  bark  off  the  side  of  a  large 
oak,  and  cut  the  words  ''-Yankee  Springs"  upon  it.  The  name  was 
adopted  by  the  public.  Lewis'  tavern  became  known  as  the  Yankee 
Springs  House,  and  finally  the  township  received  the  same  appella- 
tion. ( 

All  accounts  agree  that  the  Yankee  Springs  House  was  one  of  the 
very  best  hotels  ever  known  in  the  pioneer  days.  Its  glories  were 
celebrated,  in  the  lines  quoted  below,  by  George  Torrey,  Sr.,  in  the 
Kalamazoo  Telegraph,  in  1814.     The  springs,  it  is  true,  were  not  on 


34 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Township  No.  2,  range  10  (now  Orangeville),  which  ad- 
joined the  one  just  mentioned  on  the  south,  was  settled  the 
same  year— 1836 — by  George  Brown,  John  Patton,  and 
Joshua  J.  Pease. 

The  same  season  Lorenzo  Cooley  and  a  Mr.  De  Groat 
came  and  made  a  beginning  in  the  way  of  improvement 
near  the  eastern  shore  of  Long  Lake,  in  township  No.  3, 
range  9  (now  Rutland),  lying  directly  east  of  Yankee 
Springs. 

Passing  eastward  on  the  same  line,  we  find  that  in  August, 
1836,  several  residents  of  Marshall,  who  had  already  bought 
a  large  tract  of  land  on  the  Thornapple  River,  in  township 

3,  range  8,  organized  a  company  known  as  the  Hastings 
Company,  which  immediately  set  laborers  at  work  building 
a  saw-mill  on  the  site  of  the  city  of  Hastings,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  lay  out  a  village  at  that  point. 

Township  No.  1,  in  range  8,  now  Johnstown,  was  settled 
in  the  fall  of  1836  by  Harlow  Merrill,  his  location  being 
made  in  the  east  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
35. 

Still  another  township  was  added  in  1836  to  the  list  of 
those  which  could  be  described  as  "  settled/'  in  the  two 
counties  under  consideration  in  this  work.     This  was  No. 

4,  in  range  8,  lying  directly  north  of  Hastings,  and  now 
known  as  Carlton,  the  first  settlement  in  which  was  made 
in  September,  1836,  on  the  banks  of  the  north  branch  of 
Thornapple  River,  near  the  centre  of  the  township,  by 
Samuel  and  Harrison  Wickham  and  George  Fuller. 

Township  1,  in  range  7  (Assyria),  was  also  settled  in 
1836,  the  first  pioneer  being  Joseph  S.  Blaisdell,  who 
located  on  section  36,  in  the  southwest  corner,  a  mile  or 
two  from  a  couple  of  Indian  villages,  the  inhabitants  of 
which  were  his  nearest  neighbors  in  Barry  County  until  the 
following  March. 

This  brings  the  list  of  settled  townships  in  Barry  County 
at  the  close  of  1836  up  to  nine,  while  in  Allegan  County 
there  were  ten. 

During  the  session  of  the  Legislature  of  the  half-way 
State  (for  Michigan,  though  provided  with  a  State  govern- 
ment, was  not  admitted  into  the  Union  until  the  fore-part 
of  1837),  that  body  had  provided  roads  for  the  gathering 
tide  of  emigrants  so  far  as  it  could  do  so  by  the  mere 
authorization  of  State  roads  without  expense  to  the  State, 
care  being  taken  to  insert  in  every  law  of  the  kind  a  pro- 
vision that  no  part  of  the  burden  of  either  surveying  or 
making  such  roads  should  be  borne  by  the  State.  The 
roads  through  either  Allegan  or  Barry  authorized  by  the 


the  direct  road  from  "  Detroit  to  Kalamazoo,"  but  then  something 
must  doubtless  be  alloVred  for  poetic  license: 

"  Did  you  ever  go  out  to  Grand  Kiver, 
From  Detroit  to  Kalamazoo, 
In  a  wagon  without  any  kiver, 
Through  a  country  that  looks  very  new  1 

"If  you're  hungry,  and  wish  for  a  dinner, 
Breakfast,  supper,  and  lodgings  to  boot. 
If  you're  a  Turk,  a  Christian,  or  sinner, 
Yankee  Spz-ings  is  the  place  tliat  will  suit. 

"  The  landlord's  a  prince  of  his  order, — 
Yankee  Lewis,  whose  fame  and  renown. 
Far  and  near  throughout  Michigan's  border. 
Is  noised  about  country  and  town." 


Legislature  of  1836,  as  shown  by  the  session  laws  of  that 
year,  are  as  follows  : 

Road  running  from  Allegan  eastward  through  the 
county-seats  of  Barry,  Eaton,  and  Ingham  Counties,  and 
terminating  at  Howell,  the  county-seat  of  Livingston 
County.  Joseph  Fisk,  of  Allegan  County,  Charles  G. 
Hill,  of  Barry  County,  and  J.  B.  Crane,  of  Livingston 
County,  were  appointed  commissioners  to  lay  it  out. 

Road  beginning  at  Allegan,  running  thence  to  the  "  old 
county  seat  of  Van  Buren  County"  (Lawrence),  thence  to 
Niles,  and  thence  to  the  Indiana  State  line.  Ninian  Ab- 
bott, E.  G.  Nichols,  and  Hull  Sherwood,  Jr.,  were  appointed 
commissioners. 

Road  from  Grand  Haven  to  Allegan.  Calvin  T.  Warner, 
of  Allegan,  and  William  Hathaway  and  Nathan  H.  White, 
of  Grand  Haven,  were  appointed  commissioners. 

Road  from  the  Grand  River  turnpike,  about  two  miles 
south  of  the  base-line,  in  Wayne  County,  westward  near 
the  base-line  to  the  vicinity  of  the  Kalamazoo  River,  and 
thence  by  the  most  practicable  route  to  Allegan.  Enoch 
Baker,  Alanson  Grossman,  and  Charles  Thayer,  conjmis- 
sioners. 

Road  from  Allegan  to  the  mouth  of  North  Black  River. 
Ira  Burdick,  John  E.  Brackett,  and  Enoch  Baker,  commis- 
sioners. 

Road -from  Edwardsburg,  in  Cass  County,  by  way  of 
Cassopolis,  Yolinia,  and  Paw  Paw  to  Allegan.  David 
Crane,  Jacob  Silver,  and  John  L.  Shearer,  commissioners. 

It  will  be  observed  that  every  one  of  these  roads  termi- 
nates at  Allegan,  which  may  be  accounted  for  by  the  fact 
that  Hon.  Elisha  Ely,  one  of  the  proprietors  of  that  village, 
was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of  1836. 

The  year  1837  opened  with  popular  excitement  still 
intense  and  emigration  still  active.  Nearly  everybody 
expected  to  become  rich  through  the  rise  of  land,  and  espe- 
cially of  city  lots.  Surveyors  were  kept  constantly  busy 
running  out  the  lines  of  newly-selected  lands,  and  some  of 
the  earliest  pioneers  made  a  good  living  merely  by  showin'^ 
desirable  tracts  to  new-comers. 

Few  emigrants  located  in  the  dark  pine  forests  of  Western 
Allegan,  the  only  new  township  invaded  that  year  in  that 
region  being  No.  2  in  range  15,  now  known  as  Clyde, 
whither  Jacob  Bailey  led  a  party  of  laborers  and  began  the 
erection  of  a  saw-mill,  as  the  agent  of  a  New  York  firm. 
In  Eastern  Allegan  no  new  township  was  settled. 

But  in  Barry  County  the  tide  was  as  strong  as  ever,  four 
new  townships  hearing  the  woodman's  axe  reverberating 
through  their  previously  unbroken  forests  during  the  year 
1837. 

In  that  year  A.  E.  Bull  built  a  cabin  and  made  his 
home  in  the  southeast  corner  of  section  33,  township  4, 
range  9  (now  Irving),  having  purchased  a  forty-acre  lot 
there  in  1836,  as  well  as  a  much  larger  tract  in  the  adjoin- 
ing township  to  the  south,  now  known  as  Rutland.  His 
purchase  was  mostly  prairie-land,  and  the  locality  is  known 
as  Bull's  Prairie  to  this  day.  This  was  near  the  site  of 
Campau's  trading-post,  kept  by  Moreau,  as  already  men- 
tioned. 

Township  4,  range  7  (now  Woodland),  was  first  settled 
in  the  autumn  of  1837,  by  Samuel  S.  and  Jonathan  Hai<>-ht 


PIONEERING  IN  GENERAL. 


35 


and  Charles  Galloway,  who  all  located  on  section  15,  near 
the  centre  of  the  township. 

Lorenzo  Mudge  made  the  first  improvement  in  the  ad- 
joining township  on  the  south  (now  Castleton)  in  1837, 
having  purchased  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  32  on 
the  south  line  of  the  township,  where  for  eight  months 
his  family  resided  alone,  his  wife  not  seeing  the  face  of  a 
white  woman  during  that  period. 

Township  2  in  range  7,  now  known  as  Maple  Grove, 
like  Castleton,  was  first  occupied  on  its  southern  border, 
and  like  it  was  settled  in  1837,  though  probably  a  few 
months  earlier  in  the  year.  Eli  Lapham,  its  first  pioneer, 
was  obliged  to  leave  his  family  several  weeks  at  Cleveland 
Ellis'  house,  in  Assyria,  while  he  prepared  a  home  for  them 
on  section  35  in  Maple  Grove. 

Thus,  at  the  close  of  1837,  fourteen  out  of  the  sixteen 
townships  of  Barry  County  had  been  occupied  by  one  or 
more  settlers  each,  while  only  eleven  of  the  twenty-four 
townships  of  Allegan  County  contained  any  other  inhabi- 
tants than  Indians  and  wild  animals. 

For  the  benefit  of  the  numerous  emigrants,  as  well  as 
for  that  of  the  old  settlers  (for  all  who  had  been  in  Michigan 
over  a  year  were  thus  designated),  a  new  crop  of  State  roads 
was  provided  by  the  Legislature  of  1837  and  1838,  subject, 
as  before,  to  the  provision  that  the  people  of  each  county 
should  lay  them  out  and  work  them.  These  were  as  follows : 
Road  from  Marshall,  Calhoun  Co.,  by  Verona,  through 
the  south  part  of  Prairieville,  and  through  Gun  Plains  to 
Allegan.  C.  W.  Spaulding,  of  Prairieville,  Silas  F.  Little- 
john,  of  Allegan,  and  Cephas  A.  Smith  were  appointed 
commissioners. 

A  road  from»  Bellevue,  Eaton  Co.,  to  Hastings,  the 
county-seat  of  Barry  County.  Andrew  L.  Hays,  Reuben 
Fitzgerald,  and  Jeremiah  P.  Woodberry,  commissioners. 

Road  from  Battle  Creek,  Calhoun  Co.,  through  Gull 
Prairie,  on  the  most  eligible  route  to  Grandville,  in  the 
county  of  Kent.  George  Torry,  Isaac  Barns,  and  Roswell 
Britain,  commissioners. 

Road  from  the  county-seat  of  Kalamazoo  County  to  the 
county-seat  of  Barry  County.  Muraford  Eldred,  Jr.,  Isaac 
Otis,  and  John  Mills  appointed  commissioners. 

At  this  period  (1837)  the  general  inflation  of  the  cur- 
rency by  "  wild-cat"  banks,  and  the  consequent  reckless 
speculation  in  land  and  other  property,  culminated  in  a 
great  financial  collapse,  the  most  distressing  ever  known  in 
the  United  States.  Nearly  all  the  business  enterprises  of 
the  West  were  stricken  with  financial  palsy,  and  even  emi- 
gration moved  with  an  exceedingly  slow  pace  for  several 

years.  .   , 

Settlers  came  slowly  into  the  townships  already  occupied, 
and  it  took  no  less  than  twenty-one  years  even  to  make  a 
he.'inning  in  all  of  the  others.  In  1838  a  commencement 
was  only  made  in  three,-now  known  as  Hopkins,  Pine 
Plains,  and  Ganges,  all  in  Allegan  County.  Cheshire, 
Allegan  Co.,  was  first  occupied  in  1839  ;  Leighton  in  the 
^ame  county,  in  1840  ;  Fillmore,  same  county,  1841 ;  Bal- 
timore and  Hope,  Barry  Co.,  1842;  Casco  Allegan  Co., 
1845;  Laketown,  same  county,  1847;  Overise ,  sa„.e 
county,  1848;  Heath,  1850;  Salem,  1851 ;  Lee,  1858 
A  general  view  of  the  hardships  undergone  and  the 


diflSculties  conquered  by  the  pioneers  of  Allegan  and  Barry 
Counties  is  given  in  the  following  chapter.  The  names  of 
the  settlers  in  each  township,  with  numerous  incidents  con- 
nected with  them,  are  given  in  the  separate  township  his- 
tories. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

PIONEEBING  IN  GENEKAL. 

Two  Classes  of  Settlers  —  Mill-Builders  and  Farmers— Settling  on 
Prairies — Oak-Openings  and  Timber-Lands — Picture  of  an  Emi- 
grant Family  on  their  Way — A  Preliminary  Cabin — Preparing 
Logs— The  Raising— The  Axeman's  Task— The  Whisky-Jug— An 
Aristocratic  Mansion — Pioneer  Chairs  and  Bedstead — Friendly  In- 
dians— Clearing  Land — Scientific  Tree-Chopping — The  Logging- 
jjee — Skill  and  Labor — Excitement  and  Dirt — Fence-Building — 
Breaking  Up — Deer  and  Bear — Wolves — Fever  and  Ague. 

In  the  preceding  chapter  we  have  sketched  an  outline 
of  the  course  of  settlement  in  the  two  counties  of  Allegan 
and  Barry.  In  this  one  we  purpose  to  give  a  general  idea 
of  the  scenes  passed  through  by  the  pioneers  after  their 
arrival.  It  is  true  that  many  of  them  still  survive,  and 
need  no  county  history  to  tell  them  the  story  of  the  hard- 
ships they  have  endured,  and  that  others  of  the  people 
have  often  heard  from  parents  and  friends  the  same  absorb- 
ing tale.  Nevertheless,  some  of  our  readers  will  doubtless 
be  new-comers,  who  never  knew  the  joys  and  woes  of  pio- 
neer life,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  a  few  copies  of  our 
work  will  survive  to  a  day  when  all  the  forests  shall  have 
been  swept  from  the  surface  of  Michigan,  and  when  the 
last  survivor  of  the  pioneer  army  shall  have  passed  away. 

The  settlers  of  Michigan  were  of  two  classes, — one  com- 
posed of  men  with  more  or  less  capital,  who  erected  mills 
and  went  to  lumbering,  and  who  usually  laid  out  villages 
wherever  there  was  a  promising  locality,  and  in  some  places 
where  it  required  a  very  sanguine  temperament  to  see  any 
promise  whatever ;  the  other  comprising  the  pioneers  proper, 
who  were  usually  poor,  who  purchased  from  the  United 
States  from  forty  to  a  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  each, 
and  who  then  set  themselves  to  work  to  clear  off  and  cul- 
tivate their  farms  with  their  own  hands.  It  is  of  these  that 
we  speak  here. 

In  many  cases  the  emigrant  came  on  foot,  selected  his 
land,  cleared  a  little  piece  of  ground,  built  a  cabin,  and 
then  returned  East  for  his  family.  Some  of  the  very  first 
settlers  in  Allegan  and  Barry  found  small  prairies,  where 
the  plow  could  be  put  at  work  at  once.  Others  were  able 
to  obtain  "  oak-openings,"  where  the  timber  was  scattered, 
and  where  comparatively  little  work  was  required  to  fit  the 
land  for  cultivation.  But  the  large  majority  were  obliged 
to  content  themselves  with  homes  in  the  dense  forest, 
where  the  soil,  indeed,  was  generally  fertile,  but  where  the 
severest  labors  were  necessary  ere  it  could  be  made  to  yield 
up  the  wealth  which  was  hidden  within  it. 

Those  who  were  able  to  make  beginnings  and  then  bring 
their  families  belonged  to  the  more  "fore-handed"  class  of 
emigrants.  Many  brought  their  families  with  them  in  the 
first°place.  Some  had  horse-teams,  but  probably  a  decided 
majority  of  the  settlers  in  Western  Michigan^ between  1830 
and  1845,  came  behind  ox-teams.     These  patient,  cheap, 


36 


HISTORY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


and  hardy  animals  were  much  better  adapted  than  horses 
to  the  terrible  roads  of  those  days,  and  possessed  the  further 
advantage  of  being  always  transmissible  into  beef  in  case 
of  accident  to  them  or  scarcity  in  the  family. 

Sometimes  two  or  three  yoke  of  cattle  were  hitched  to 
a  single  wagon,  and  they  were  pretty  sure  to  be  needed  on 
the  early  roads  of  Michigan.  A  picture  of  one  emigrant 
family  with  its  appurtenances  on  its  way  to  Western  Mich- 
igan would  do  for  thousands  of  others,  and  we  will  take  a 
look  at  one  in  imagination  as  a  type  of  its  class. 

A  big  substantial  wagon  is  seen,  surmounted  with  hoops, 
on  which  is  stretched  a  sheet  of  heavy  canvas  which  was 
once  white,  but  which  is  now  stained  with  every  one  of  the 
seventy  or  eighty  different  kinds  of  mud  to  be  found  be- 
tween Detroit  and  Battle  Creek.  Two  sturdy  yoke  of  cattle 
pull  it  slowly  along  the  forest  roadway,  now  moving  easily 
over  a  comparatively  dry  track,  and  anon  straining  every 
muscle  to  drag  the  vehicle  from  some  almost  fathomless 
mud-hole  puddle,  or  some  unbridged  creek.  By  their  side, 
with  long  ox-goad  in  hand,  marches  a  tall  pioneer,  the  type 
of  a  class  which  has  subdued  a  continent.  His  hair  is  un- 
kempt and  his  face  is  darkly  bronzed  by  exposure  and  toil, 
but  his  eye  flashes  with  native  intelligence,  and  his  features 
are  marked  all  over  with  the  signs  of  indomitable  will  and 
unflinching  courage.  His  form  is  long  and  slim  and 
gaunt,  but,  except  the  skin  and  the  bones,  it  is  composed 
entirely  of  muscle,  and  every  muscle  is  as  tough  as  a  raw- 
hide whiplash.  There  is  no  danger  that  he  will  not  face, 
no  hardship  he  will  not  undergo,  no  experiment  he  is  not 
ready  to  try,  if  necessary,  and  yet  his  cool,  sound  judgment 
and  unemotional  nature  prevent  him  from  indulging  in 
either  rashness  or  bravado. 

On  the  front  seat  of  the  wagon  sits  a  woman  who  may 
be  the  counterpart  of  her  husband  in  strength  and  determi- 
nation, but  is  quite  likely  to  show  the  delicate  features  so 
common  among  American  women,  worn  with  toil  and  sur- 
mounted by  sad  eyes,  which  look  with  dread  on  the  dark 
forest  by  which  they  are  surrounded,  and  in  which  they  are 
to  make  themselves  a  new  home.  Beside  her  sits  the  oldest 
girl,  red-cheeked,  blue-eyed,  and  curly-haired,  lier  features 
glowing  with  youth,  and  very  probably  resplendent  with  a 
delicate  beauty  not  to  be  found  out  of  America  in  persons 
of  no  higher  position  in  life. 

If  you  lift  a  corner  of  the  canvas  and  glance  inside,  you 
will  find  the  whole  space  below  the  hoops  crammed  full  of 
beds,  bedding,  provisions,  a  few  simple  articles  of  furniture, 
and  probably  two  or  three  children  stowed  away  wherever 
it  is  most  convenient.  A  cow  and  a  few  young  cattle  prob- 
ably follow  in  the  rear,  driven  by  a  youngster  of  fourteen, 
who  is  alternately  shouting  at  his  charge  and  grumbling  to 
himself  because  he  is  not  as  fortunate  as  his  big  brother  of 
eighteen,  who  is  out  on  the  flank  with  his  father's  rifle.  If 
he  could  only  carry  that  rifle  through  the  woods  for  a  day, 
he  knows  he  could  kill  a  deer,  and  perhaps  a  bear.  Oh,  if 
he  could  only  kill  a  bear  his  highest  hopes  would  be  satis- 
fied, and  he  would  aspire  to  no  loftier  ambition  on  this 
earth. 

Day  after  day,  from  1830  to  1845  or  later,  such  corteges 
as  we  have  described  were  to  be  seen  making  their  way 
through  the  wilds  of  Western   Michigan  to  the  various 


townships  of  Allegan  and  Barry.  If  there  were  no  settlers 
in  the  locality  which  the  head  of  the  family  selected  for  his 
new  home,  a  little  cabin  was  hastily  constructed  of  small 
logs,  which  he  and  his  boys  could  handle,  and  covered  with 
bark  or  grass,  a  blanket  serving  as  a  door  and  ample  cracks 
taking  the  place  of  windows.  If  there  were  a  few  settlers 
within  two  or  three  miles  of  the  selected  place,  the  emigrant's 
family  was  probably  sheltered  in  one  of  them  until  a  log 
house  could  be  built.  New-comers  were  always  warmly 
welcomed  by  their  predecessors,  partly,  no  doubt,  from 
natural  kindness,  and  partly  because  each  arrival  helped  to 
redeem  the  forest  from  its  forbidding  loneliness,  and  added 
to  the  value  of  improvements  already  made. 

Suitable  trees  for  a  house  were  speedily  felled  and  cut 
into  logs  from  fourteen  to  twenty  feet  long,  according  to  the 
wealth  and  pretensions  of  the  builder.  When  these  were 
ready  a  man  or  boy  was  sent  to  all  the  pioneers  for  miles 
around  to  summon  them  to  the  "  raising."  It  was  rare  in- 
deed that  one  failed  to  respond,  for  a  raising  not  only  added 
another  house  to  the  township,  but  was  usually  the  occasion 
of  a  jollification,  furnishing  one  of  the  few  recreations  of 
frontier  life. 

On  the  day  specified,  perhaps  only  a  dozen  men  would  be 
collected  from  as  many  square  miles,  but  all  would  be  able 
to  handle  their  axes  as  easily  as  the  deftest  clerk  flourishes 
his  pen.  The  logs  already  cut  were  drawn  by  oxen  to  the 
desired  spot,  and  four  of  the  largest  were  selected  as  a 
foundation.  Four  of  the  most  active  and  expert  men  were 
designated  to  build  the  corners.  They  began  by  cutting  a 
kind  of  saddle  at  the  ends  of  two  of  the  logs.  Notches  to 
fit  these  saddles  were  cut  in  the  other  logs,  and  then  they 
were  laid  upon  the  first  ones.  The  operation  was  repeated 
again  and  again,  the  four  axemen  constantly  shaping  the 
logs,  which  were  quickly  raised  by  their  comrades.  Arrived 
at  a  height  of  six  or  eight  feet,  rafters  made  of  poles  from 
the  forest  were  placed  in  position,  and  if  a  supply  of 
"shakes"  (rough,  hard-wood  shingles,  three  feet  long)  had 
been  provided,  the  roof  was  at  once  constructed,  tEe  gable- 
end  being  formed  of  logs  successively  shortened  to  the  pin- 
nacle. Then  a  place  for  a  door  was  sawed  out,  and  another 
for  a  window  (if  the  proprietor  aspired  to  such  a  conve- 
nience), and  the  principal  work  of  the  architects  was  done. 

They  were  usually  cheered  in  their  labors,  and  rewarded 
at  the  end  of  them,  by  the  contents  of  a  jug  of  whisky; 
for  it  must  have  been  a  very  poor  neighborhood  indeed  in 
which  a  few  quarts  of  that  article  could  not  be  obtained  for 
great  occasions. 

Afterward  the  proprietor  made  a  door  of  rough  boards, 
built  a  fireplace  of  stone,  surmounted  by  a  stick  chimney 
well  plastered  with  mud,  and  perhaps  put  in  a  glass  window 
and  a  board  floor. 

A  log  house  eighteen  feet  square,  with  a  shingle  roof, 
a  board  floor,  and  a  window  containing  six  lights  of  glass, 
was  a  decidedly  stylish  residence,  and  its  owner  was  in  some 
danger  of  being  disliked  as  a  bloated  aristocrat. 

The  furniture  was  often  as  primitive  as  the  houses.  Most 
families  brought  a  bed  and  some  bedding  with  them,  and 
if  they  added  a  bedstead  and  three  or  four  chairs,  it  showed 
that  they  belonged  to  the  higher  classes.  Substitutes  for 
the  latter  were  frequently  made  by  splitting  a  slab  out  of  a 


PIONEERING  IN   GENERAL. 


37 


log,  boring  four  boles  in  tbe  corners,  and  inserting  four  legs 
manufactured  with  equal  expedition. 

A  bedstead  was  almost  as  easily  constructed,  four  posts 
being  quickly  hewed  out,  holes  bored  in  them,  and  poles  in- 
serted on  which  a  rope  was  strung, — that  is,  if  the  family 
had  ropes  enough  for  the  purpose.  In  some  extreme  cases 
strips  of  bark  supplied  their  places. 

Usually  the  emigrant  brought  a  small  stock  of  provis- 
ions with  him,  for  food  he  knew  he  must  have.     These, 
however,  were  frequently  exhausted  before  he  could  raise  a 
supply.     Then  he  depended  on  his  neighbors,  and  on  the 
game  he  could  shoot  or  could  buy  from  the  Indians.     The 
latter  still  occupied  several  villages  in  the  two  counties. 
They  were  almost  invariably  friendly  to  the  whites,  and  fre- 
quently sold  them  food  at  very  reasonable  rates,  asking 
but  a  quarter  of  a   dollar  for  a  "  saddle"  of  venison, — 
that  is,  the  two  hind-quarters  of  a  deer,  large  or  small. 
They  also  frequently  helped  in  raising  houses,  being  especi- 
ally fond  of  the  whisky  dispensed  on  such  occasions.     The 
following  chapter  is  devoted  to  the  Indians  of  that  period. 
After  building  a  house,  the  next  task  was  to  clear  a 
piece  of  land.     If  the  pioneer  had  arrived  very  early  in 
the  s^son,  he  might  possibly  get  half  an  acre  of  woods  out 
of  the  way,  so  as  to  plant  a  little  corn  the  same  spring,  es- 
pecially if  his  land  was  wholly  or  partly  "  oak-openings.'' 
If  not,  his  attibition  was  usually  limited  to  getting  three  or 
four  acres  ready  for  winter  wheat  by  the  first  of  September. 
To  do  this  he  worked  early  and  late,  fortunate — very  for- 
tunate— if  his  hand  was  not  stayed  by  the  ague,  that  dreaded 
scourge  of  all  new  countries. 

The  first  move,  of  course,  was  to  fell  the  trees,  but  even 
this  was  a  work  of  science.  It  was  the  part  of  the  expert 
woodman  to  make  them  all  lie  in  one  direction,  so  they 
could  be  easily  rolled  together.  Then  they  were  cut  into 
logs  from  fourteen  to  eighteen  feet  long,  and  the  brush  was 
cut  up  and  piled.  When  the  latter  had  become  dry  it  was 
fired,  and  the  land  quickly  burned  over,  leaving  the  black- 
ened ground  and  charred  logs.  Next  came  the  logging. 
When  the  piece  was  small  the  pioneer  would  probably 
"  change  work,"  so  as  to  obtain  a  couple  of  helpers,  and  the 
three  would  log  an  acre  a  day,  one  driving  the  team  and 
two  using  handspikes,  and  thus  dragging  and  rolling 
the  logs  into  piles  convenient  for  burning.  The  first  dry 
weather  these  too  were  fired  ;  the  brands  were  watched  and 
heaped  together,  and  when  all  were  consumed  the  land  was 
ready  for  the  plow. 

Even  an  ordinary  day  in  the  logging-field  was  a  sufS- 
ciently  sooty  and  disagreeable  experience,  but  was  as  noth- 
ing compared  with  a  "logging-bee."  When  a  tract  of 
several  acres  was  to  be  logged,  the  neighbors  were  invited 
from  far  and  near  to  a  bee.  Those  who  had  oxen  brought 
them  ;  the  others  provided  themselves  with  cant-hooks  and 
handspikes.  The  oflScer  of  the  day,  otherwise  known  as 
the  "  boss,"  who  was  usually  the  owner  of  the  land,  gave 
the  necessary  directions,  designating  the  location  of  the 
various  heaps,  and  the  work  began.  The  charred  and 
blackened  logs  were  rapidly  drawn  (or  ''  snaked,"  according 
to  the  common  term)  alongside  the  heap,  and  then  the 
handspike  brigade  quickly  rolled  them  on  to  it.  Another 
and  another  were  dragged  up  in  rapid  succession,  the  hand- 


spike-men being  always  ready  to  put  it  right  if  it  caught 
against  an  obstacle.  As  it  tore  along  the  ground  the  black 
dust  flew  up  in  every  direction,  and  when  a  collision  oc- 
curred the  sooty  zephyrs  arose  in  treble  volume. 

Soon  every  man  was  covered  with  a  thick  coat  of  black, 
involving  clothes,  hands,  and  face  in  a  darkness  which  no 
mourning-garb  ever  equaled.  But  the  work  went  on  with 
increasing  speed.  The  spirit  of  rivalry  broke  forth,  and 
each  sooty  trio  or  quartette  strove  to  make  the  quickest 
trips  and  the  highest  piles.  It  is  even  said  by  old  loggers 
that  the  oxen  would  become  almost  as-  excited  as  the  men , 
and  would  "  snake"  the  logs  into  place  with  ever-increasing 
energy.  Teams  that  understood  their  business  would  stand 
quiet  while  the  chain  was  being  hitched,  then  spring  with 
all  their  might,  taking  a  bee-line  to  the  log  heap,  and  halt 
as  soon  as  they  came  abreast  of  it.  They  had  not  the  bene- 
fit, either,  of  the  stimulus  applied  to  the  men,  for  the  whisky- 
jug  was  in  frequent  circulation. 

There  was  a  good  chance,  too,  for  the  men  to  show  their 
skill  in  ox-driving.  Some  never  hitched  to  a  log  their  cat- 
tle could  not  draw,  and  always  made  them  draw  the  one 
they  did  hitch  to.  Others  were  constantly  hitching  to  the 
wrong  log  or  failing  to  get  the  right  one  to  the  heap. 

But  as  the  day  went  on  there  was  an  increasing  tendency 
to  depend  less  on  skill  and  more  on  main  strength  and 
recklessness.  Faster  and  faster  sped  the  men  and  teams 
to  and  fro,  harder  strained  the  handspike  heroes  to  increase 
the  pile,  higher  flew  the  clouds  of  dust  and  soot.  Careless 
of  danger,  men  sprang  in  front  of  rolling  logs  or  bounded 
over  them  as  they  went  whirling  among  the  stumps.  Ac- 
cidents sometimes  happened,  but  those  who  have  been  on 
the  scene  only  express  wonder  that  they  were  so  few,  and 
that  half  the  necks  of  those  present  were  not  broken. 

As  the  day  draws  to  a  close  a  thick  cloud  covers  the  field, 
through  which  are  seen  a  host  of  sooty  forms, — four-legged 
ones  with  horns,  and  two-legged  one  with  handspikes, — 
pulling,  running,  lifting,  shouting,  screaming,  giving  the 
most  vivid  idea  of  Pandemonium  that  a  farmer's  life  ever 
ofi'ers,  until  night  descends,  and  the  tired  yet  still  excited 
laborers  return  to  their  homes,  clothed  in  blackness,  and  the 
terror  of  even  the  most  careless  of  housewives.  But  the 
work  is  done. 

The  land  would  perhaps  be  sown  for  winter  wheat,  per- 
haps reserved  for  corn  and  potatoes  in  the  spring. 

The  next  thing  in  order  was  fence-building.  Sometimes 
a  temporary  one  was  constructed  by  piling  brush  together 
around  the  edge  of  the  clearing,  but  this  was  a  poor  de- 
fense against  a  steer  that  was  really  in  earnest,  and  if  it 
was  retained  after  the  first  year  the  owner  would  incur  the 
reproach  of  "  shiftlessness,"  that  chief  of  sins  to  the 
Yankee  mind. 

The  universal  reliance  of  the  pioneer's  heart  was  the 
old-fashioned  "  Virginia  rail-fence."  When  winter  had  put 
an  end  to  other  work,  the  sturdy  settler,  armed  with  axe, 
and  beetle,  and  iron  wedge,  and  wooden  wedges,  tramped 
through  the  snow  to  the  big  oaks,  elms,  and  walnuts 
already  selected,  working  late  and  early  to  convert  them 
into  great  three-cornered  rails  twelve  feet  long  and  facing 
six  or  eight  inches  on  a  side.  Many  young  men  made  a 
specialty  of  splitting  rails,  and  there  was  frequently  con- 


38 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


siderable  rivalry  as  to  the  number  which  the  respective 
knights  of  the  beetle  and  wedge  could  produce  in  a  day. 
To  fell  the  trees,  cut  them  into  logs,  and  split  a  hundred 
rails  was  considered  a  fair  day's  work  for  an  ordinary 
hand,  and  two  hundred  for  a  good  hand,  but  some  would 
improve  even  on  the  latter  number. 

Breaking  up  the  soil  was  also  made  a  specialty  by  some 
of  the  settlers.  In  the  heavily-timbered  land  it  was  soft, 
and  the  owner  could  break  it  as  easily  as  in  the  East,  with 
one  or  two  yoke  of  cattle.  In  the  "  openings"  the  ground 
was  tougher  and  three  yoke  were  employed,  while  on  the 
open  prairie  the  matted  turf,  bound  together  with  innu- 
merable long,  strong  grass-roots,  required  four  yoke  of 
cattle  to  tear  it  apart  and  overturn  it,  though  sometimes  a 
less  number  were  used. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  that  when  the  county  was 
•first  settled  wild  game  was  found  in  abundance.  Deer 
were  frequently  seen  from  the  settler's  cabin-door  nibbling 
at  the  edge  of  his  wheat-field,  and  sometimes  a  drove  of 
•from  twenty  to  thirty  would  be  found  feeding  at  night  on 
some  secluded  grain-field  or  grass-grown  "  opening."  As 
the  pioneers  were  usually  expert  with  the  rifle,  many  a  fine 
haunch  of  venison  rewarded  their  moonlight  vigils.  An 
occasional  bear,  too,  which  in  its  desire  for  pork  ventured 
too  near  an  emigrant's  cabin,  was  sometimes  brought  low 
by  a  deadly  bullet,  but  these  were  rare  cases.  Fish,  how- 
ever, was  abundant  in  all  the  streams,  and  furnished  a 
welcome  relief  from  the  salt  pork,  potatoes,  and  "johnny- 
cake,"  which  formed  a  large  part  of  the  emigrant's  usual 
sustenance. 

Besides  the  deer  and  the  bear,  there  was  another  wild 
animal,  which,  indeed,  could  not  be  utilized  by  the  settlers 
for  food,  but  which  might  possibly  use  him  for  that  pur- 
pose, and  which  was  certain  to  engage  a  portion  of  the 
thoughts  of  every  pioneer  who  tried  to  keep  sheep.  The 
"wolf's  long  howl"  was  heard  on  every  hillside  by  the  first 
pioneers,  and  woe  to  the  unlucky  sheep  which  was  not  in 
safe  quarters  when  night  came  down  upon  the  forest ! 

But  the  most  dangerous  enemy  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Allegan  and  Barry  was  no  four-legged  wanderer  of  the 
woods,  but  a  foe  which  entered  every  household  in  spite  of 
bolts  and  bars,  seized  upon  old  and  young  with  undis- 
■criminatingfury,  and,  if  it  did  not  slay  them  outright,  often 
made  them  wish  for  the  presence  of  death.     This  was  the 
celebrated  monster  of  the  West,  the  fever  and  ague.     This 
disease  ruled  in  Michigan  with  more  than  imperial  sway. 
If  there  was  a  solitary  one  of  the  early  settlers  who  did 
not  at  one  time  or  another  own  the  power  of  Lord  Fever- 
and-Ague,  we   have  yet  to  learn  his  or  her   name.     In 
fact,  its  blessings  were  so  widely  enjoyed  and  are  so  vividly 
remembered  that  it  is  needless  to  describe  them,  especially 
as  no  description  could  do  the  subject  justice,  and  as,  more, 
over,  there  are  enough  cases  occurring  at  the  present  time 
to  give  an  idea  of  the  old  enemy.     A.  D.  P.  Van  Buren 
Esq.,  of  Kalamazoo  County,  very  vigorously  presents  some 
of  the  characteristics  of  the  disease  in  an  article  reproduced 
in  the  history  of  that  county,  from  which  we  quote  the 
following  vivid  paragraph  regarding  some  of  its  results : 

"  There  were  several  phases  to  this  complaint.    Some  had  it  every 
day,  some  every  other  day.    As  it  began  with  you,  so  it  continued. 


It  opened  the  account  with  you  at  such  an  hour  on  such  a  day,  and 
then  put  in  its  appearance  a  little  later  every  day  or  every  other  day, 
until  your  morning  shake  was  changed  to  one  at  sunset  or  midnight. 
The  cold  sensation  increased  in  severity  until  it  culminated  in 
shaking  the  life  nearly  out  of  you ;  then  by  degrees  it  waxed  and 
waned  perceptibly  less  till  it  left  you.  The  *  fits'  came  so  regularly 
that  the  settler  made  his  calculations  by  it.  His  calendar  was  divided 
into  well-days  and  ague-days.  The  minister  made  his  appointments 
to  preach  so  as  to  accommodate  his  '  shakes.'  The  justice  entered  the 
suit  on  hia  docket  to  avoid  the  sick-day  of  the  party  or  his  own.  The 
constable  watched  the  well-day  of  the  witness  to  get  him  into  court, 
and  the  lawyer  adjourned  his  case  on  account  of  his  ague-day.  The 
housewife  regulated  her  afi'airs  by  it, — she  would  do  up  her  work,  and 
sit  and  wait  for  the  ague,  as  for  a  visitor  to  come.  And  the  pioneer 
gallant  went  sparking  on  his  well-night,  and  then  he  sometimes 
found  his  Bulcinea  'sitting  up'  with  the  'fever'n  ague.'" 

After  that  there  is  nothing  more  to  be  said  about  pio- 
neering. The  fever  and  ague  was  the  cap-sheaf  of  the 
settler's  experience. 


CHAPTER    X. 


IWDIAITS    IIT    THE    PIOWEEK    DAYS. 

The  Migratory  Ottawas  and  Pottawattamies— Coming  up  the  Xake— 
Mackinaw  Boats— Going  up  the  Rivera — Passing  the  Riffles— Scat- 
tering over  the  Hunting-Grounda— Chasing  the  Deer — Indian  Trails 
—Ponies— Ottawa  Chiefs— Spearing  Fish— Making  Sugar— Indian 
Sap-Buckets- Mococks- Going  Back— Roasting  the  White  Dog— 
A  Great  Jollification- Removal  of  the  Dead— The  Pottawattamies 

go  West— Decrease  of  Annual  Expeditions— Permanent  Villages 

The  Selkrig  Colony— Indians  in  Martin— The  Middle  Village— Two 
Villages  in  Assyria- A  Band  in  Prairieville. 

During  the  first  ten  years  of  white  settlement  in  Alle- 
gan and  Barry  Counties  the  Indians  were  almost  as  numer- 
ous and  active  as  they  had  ever  been.  As  had  been  their 
custom  for  more  than  a  hundred  and  fifty  years,  most  of 
the  Ottawas  spent  the  summer  in  the  vicinity  of  Mackinaw, 
and  came  up  Lake  Michigan  in  the  autumn  to  hunt.  With 
these  were  mingled  large  numbers  of  Pottawattamies,  from 
the  banks  of  the  St.  Joseph  (though  they  were  not  as  nu- 
merous as  the  Ottawas),  for  the  two  tribes  still,  as  of  yore, 
occupied  their  hunting-grounds  in  common.  In  fact,  so 
closely  had  they  become  united  that  some  of  the  Pottawat- 
tamies made  their  summer  home  at  Mackinaw,  remaining 
with  their  Ottawa  friends  year  after  year,  while  a  few  o"f 
the  latter  were  to  be  found  raising  corn  and  beans  in  sum- 
mer far  south  of  the  Kalamazoo. 

After  the  corn  was  harvested  at  Mackinaw,  in  the  latter 
part  of  October  or  fore-part  of  November,  the  watcher  on  the 
shore  of  Lake  Michigan  might  have  seen,  when  there  was 
a  favorable  wind,  a  gallant  fleet  of  the  celebrated  Mackinaw 
boats  sweeping  southward  before  the  breeze.  If  there  was 
no  wind,  or  none  in  the  right  direction,  one  or  more  Indians 
would  go  on  shore  from  each  boat,  and  tow  it  up  the  lake 
by  means  of  a  long  rope  made  of  birch-bark. 

As  the  fleet  came  nearer,  the  spectator  would  see  a  host 
ot  boats  which,  probably,  combined  size  and  lightness  more 
ully  than  any  others  in  the  world.  Twenty  to  thirty  feet 
ong,  made  of  great  strips  of  birch-bark  stretched  upon 
light  ribs  of  cedar,  and  carefully  sewed  together  with  cords 
made  of  the  inner  bark  or  of  deer-skin,  the  seams  bein<r 
well  pitched  to  keep  out  the  water,  the  Mackinaw  boa" 


INDIANS  IN  THE  PIONEER  DAYS. 


39 


would  carry  the  whole  family  of  an  Ottawa  warrior  (con- 
sisting of  himself,  three  or  four  squaws,  and  an  indefinite 
number  of  children  of  various  sizes),  blankets,  guns,  fishing- 
tackle,  and  an  ample  supply  of  dried  corn  for  the  winter's 
use.  It  is  believed  by  those  conversant  with  the  subject 
that  a  Mackinaw  boat  would  carry  ten  tons,  and  yet  it  was 
so  light  that  when  unloaded  it  could  easily  be  borne  by  two 
men.  A  slender  cedar  mast  was  erected  in  it,  which  usually 
supported  a  cloth  sail,  but  sometimes,  when  the  owner  was 
too  poor  for  that,  he  supplied  its  place  by  a  piece  of  the  heavy 
matting  woven  out  of  bark  by  the  squaws  for  the  material 
of  a  tent.  The  boats  sailed  very  handsomely  on  the  lake 
before  a  light  wind,  though  of  course  they  would  hardly 
weather  a  severe  storm. 

Arriving  in  this  region,  the  fleet  would  perhaps  turn  up 
the  Grand  River,  to  be  followed  the  next  day  by  one  which 
would  ascend  the  Kalamazoo,  and  these  again  by  others, 
going  up  the  same  or  other  streams.  A  hundred  boats 
have  been  known  to  ascend  one  of  these  rivers  at  once  ;  each 
bearing  a  family  which  would  probably  number  on  the  av- 
erage ten  persons.  Sometimes  two  small  families  would  oc- 
cupy one  boat,  but  usually  the  domestic  establishment  of 
one  polygamous  brave  was  considered  enough  for  the  capa- 
city even  of  a  Mackinaw  boat. 

On  up  the  streams  went  the  frail  vessels,  the  head  of  the 
family  invariably  sitting  in  the  stern  and  steering,  while  the 
squaws  did  the  harder  work  of  paddling  the  boat  against 
the  often  rapid  tide, — ^up  the  Kalamazoo  to  Allegan,  to  Ot- 
sego, and  even  to  Kalamazoo  ;  up  Grand  River,  and  some- 
times up  the  Thornapple  to  the  centre  of  Barry  County,  for 
no  slight  obstacle  would  stop  them.  If  a  bit  of  low  water 
or  an  unusually  rapid  riffle  was  encountered,  all  sprang  out ; 
the  squaws  loaded  themselves  with  the  freight  in  the  boat, 
while  a  couple  of  Indians  shouldered  the  boat  itself,  one 
under  the  prow  and  one  under  the  stern,  and  passed  rapidly 
around  the  obstacle.  A  similar  method  was  used  when  it 
was  desired  to  cut  across  a  neck  of  land  and  avoid  paddling 
around  a  long  bend  in  the  river. 

Each  brave  selected  his  own  place  for  winter  headquar- 
ters, though  sometimes  several  located  together.  Unless 
they  were  much  crowded,  they  chose  a  place  on  the  bank  of 
a  stream  navigable  by  their  canoes.  They  carried  light 
cedar  tent-poles  with  them,  and  each  family  could  put  up 
its  tent,  move  its  household  goods  (consisting  mostly  of 
dried  corn)  into  it,  and  be  ready  for  keeping  house  within 
fifteen  minutes  from  the  time  of  arrival. 

Then  the  hunters  scattered  out  over  the  hills  of  Allegan 
and  Barry.  As  an  old  settler  said,  "  The  woods  were  alive 
with  them."  Every  head  of  a  family  had  a  gun.  Of  the 
younger  Indians  some  had  guns,  while  others  were  still 
forced  to  content  themselves  with  bows  and  arrows.  But 
all  were  alike  eager  for  the  sport.  They  knew  the  drinking- 
places  and  the  salt-licks  to  whidi  the  deer  resorted,  and  could 
often  waylay  and  shoot  them  down  with  but  slight  exertion. 
But  if  his  intended  victims  became  too  wary  for  easy 
slaughter,  the  son  of  the  forest  hesitated  at  no  toils  neces- 
sary to  accomplish  his  object.  For,  notwithstanding  the 
apparent  indolence  and  selfishness  with  which  he  abandoned 
the  labors  of  the  field  to  his  squaws,  he  did  not  shirk  his 
duty,  "as  he  understood  it."     That  duty  embraced  the 


fatigues  and  dangers  of  war  and  the  chase,  and  nothing 
else. 

Of  the  pleasures  of  war  the  Ottawas  and  Pottawattamies 
had  been  largely  deprived  since  their  complete  conquest  by 
the  United  States,  but  the  chase  still  remained.  It  was 
followed  with  ardor  through  the  closing  weeks  of  autumn, 
but  it  was  when  the  white  mantle  of  winter  covered  all  the 
land  that  the  brave  girded  his  loins  for  the  severest  toil. 
Over  hill  and  dale,  over  ice  and  snow,  through  chilling 
stream  and  tangled  undergrowth,  he  pursued  the  track  of 
the  deer  with  unwavering  patience  and  unflinching  endur- 
ance. 

Arriving  at  length  in  the  vicinity  of  the  quarry  (the 
nearness  of  which  he  could  discern  with  extraordinary  sa- 
gacity), his  approaches  are  made  with  a  skill  equaling  that 
of  the  profoundest  military  strategist.  Creeping  slowly  and 
stealthily,  with  half-frozen  feet,  a  mile  or  more,  to  gain  the 
side  of  the  doomed  animal  away  from  the  wind,  lying  prone 
in  a  snow-bank  to  lull  its  half  aroused  suspicions,  standing 
so  quiet  behind  a  tree  that  he  seems  a  part  of  it,  he  at 
length  gains  the  long-desired  opportunity,  and  a  bullet  from 
his  rifle  brings  the  stately  animal  to  the  ground.  With  a 
yell  in  which  lingers  some  of  the  glory  of  the  old  scalp- 
hunting  times,  the  hunter  bounds  forward  to  cut  the  throat 
of  his  victim,  and  then,  after  hanging  the  carcass  on  a  tree, 
out  of  reach  of  the  wolves,  presses  on  with  undiminished 
zeal  to  fresh  toils  and  fresh  conquests.  Perhaps  he  returns 
and  carries  the  animal  to  camp,  but  more  probably  he  in- 
forms his  squaw  (or  squaws)  of  its  whereabouts,  who  skin 
and  quarter  it  and  carry  it  home. 

Meat  was  of  course  abundant,  and  a  white  man  could 
always  buy  a  fine  "  saddle"  of  venison  (that  is,  the  two 
hind  quarters)  for  twenty-five  cents. 

Though  accustomed  to  the  most  distant  and  most  uncer- 
tain excursions  in  search  of  game,  yet,  in  traveling  from 
one  well-known  locality  to  another,  the  Indians  usually  fol- 
lowed one  trail  year  after  year  in  all  its  windings,  marching 
one  after  the  other  in  the  well  known  "  Indian  file,"  and 
with  their  own  and  their  ponies'  feet  wearing  a  hard,  deep 
path  into  the  ground,  barely  wide  enough  for  a  pony  to  walk 
in,  but  six  or  eight  inches  below  the  surface. 

Ponies  could  not  of  course  be  brought  from  Mackinaw 
in  birch-bark  canoes,  so  they  were  not  as  common  here  as 
at  the  summer  quarters  of  the  Indians,  but  the  Fottawata- 
mies  brought  up  some  from  the  south.  Some  were  kept  by 
the  Indians  whose  permanent  homes  were  in  this  vicinity, 
and  perhaps  a  few  were  brought  down  from  the  north  by 
land ;  at  all  events,  they  were  not  very  uncommon  here. 
When  an  Indian  wanted  to  hitch  his  pony,  he  tied  his  fore- 
feet together,  so  that  he  could  only  travel  by  jumping  like 
a  rabbit,  feeling  certain  that  under  such  circumstances  he 
would  not  go  farther  than  was  necessary  to  find  food.  Even 
this  was  no  slight  task,  for,  when  there  was  no  gi-ass,  the 
poor  ponies  usually  had  to  subsist  on  browse.  Occasionally 
a  particularly  prudent  or  tender-hearted  brave  would  ex- 
change fur  or  venison  with  a  white  man  for  hay ;  but  this 
was  not  common. 

Nevertheless,  the  Indian  ponies,  though  small,  were  hardy 
and  sagacious  beasts,  well  fitted  for  the  service  required  of 
them,  which  was  to  carry  their  masters  and  occasionally  a 


40 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


load  of  tent-material,  kettles,  etc.,  from  place  to  place.  The 
half-breed  interpreter,  Prickett,  had  a  pony  at  the  time  in 
question,  which  he  would  lead  into  a  canoe  whenever  he 
wished  to  cross  a  stream,  and  which  would  stand  perfectly 
quiet  while  his  master  paddled  across ;  but  that  was  the 
only  case  of  the  kind  we  have  heard  of. 

At  this  time  the  head-chief  of  the  Ottawas  who  came 
into  this  region  was  called  Pinlanwan,  while  the  war-chief 
was  Macksawbee.  Macksawbee  was  the  best  known  by  the 
whites,  and  the  Indians  who  followed  him  were  sometimes 
called  the  Macksawbee  tribe.  They  were  undoubtedly, 
however,  part  of  the  Ottawa  tribe.  Pinlanwan  and  Mack- 
sawbee were  said  to  be  brothers,  and  there  were  three  other 
chiefs  who  were  brothers  of  those  two, — Muckatau,  Shaw- 
shawqua,  and  Nimsbaqua.  About  1840,  Pinlanwan  was 
succeeded  by  Waukezoo  as  head-chief. 

When  spring  opened,  new  tasks  and  pleasures  awaited  the 
children  of  the  forest ;  the  men  went  to  fishing  and  the 
squaws  to  making  maple-sugar.  Fish  swarmed  up  the 
Grand  River,  the  Kalamazoo,  and  their  tributaries,  in  un- 
limited quantities.  Besides  the  inevitable  and  irrepressible 
"  sucker,"  vast  numbers  of  sturgeon,  pike,  and  other  tooth- 
some denizens  of  the  lake  sought  the  shaded  recesses  of  the 
thousand  streams  and  lakes  of  Allegan  and  Barry.  Net 
and  hook  were  brought  into  requisition  for  their  capture, 
but  the  Ottawa  brave's  favorite  implement  was  the  spear. 
While  one  paddled  the  frail  canoe  at  night  over  lake  or 
stream — the  darkness  lighted  up  by  a  pitch-pine  torch  in 
the  prow,  and  the  water  flashing  far  away  beneath  its  rays 
— another  stood  erect  with  spear  in  hand,  his  fierce  eyes 
peering  into  the  deep  as  if  watching  for  ambushed  foemen 
there.  Attracted,  like  moths,  by  the  torch,  the  fish 
crowded  to  the  side  of  the  canoe,  and  ever  and  anon  a  light- 
ning-like stroke  of  the  spear  was  followed  by  the  transfer- 
ence of  an  unlucky  sturgeon  or  pike  into  the  boat.  These 
were  dried  by  the  ever-busy  squaws,  preparatory  to  trans- 
portation to  Mackinaw. 

During  the  same  period  the  squaws  were  also  engaged  in 
making  maple-sugar.  One  of  them  would  take  from  fifty 
to  one  hundred  sap-buckets  on  her  shoulders,  and  set  out 
for  the  sugar-bush  she  designed  to  drain  of  its  sweetness. 
It  should  be  explained,  however,  that  an  Indian  "  sap- 
bucket"  was  simply  a  piece  of  birch-bark,  about  two  feet 
square,  which  when  not  in  use  was  perfectly  flat.  When  it 
was  to  be  used  it  was  soaked  a  short  time  in  water,  then  the 
corners  were  bent  up  and  sewed  together  with  strips  of  bark, 
and  behold  a  "  sap-bucket"  which  would  hold  six  or  eight 
quarts. 

The  sap  was  boiled  in  brass  kettles,  most  of  which  had 
originally  been  brought  from  Mackinaw,  but  which  after 
being  used  each  spring  were  hidden  in  holes  in  the  ground, 
being  covered  with  bark  and  then  with  earth,  to  await  the 
sugar  season  of  the  next  year.  Numerous  other  articles 
were  thus  hidden,  such  a  place  of  concealment  being  called 
a  cache, — a  French  word,  pronounced  "  cash,"  and  meaning 
a  hiding-place. 

When  the  sugar  was  made  it  was  packed  in  "  mococks," 
another  article  manufactured  from  the  ever-useful  birch- 
bark.  These  were  made  with  more  care  than  the  sap- 
bucket,   the  corners  being   notched  out,  sewed   up,   and 


pitched,  so  as  to  make  a  square,  permanent  bucket,  a  lid 
being  generally  sewed  on  with  fine  strips  of  bark.  Mo- 
cocks were  of  all  sizes.  Some  would  only  hold  about  a 
pound  of  sugar.  These  were  generally  adorned  with  hedge- 
hogs' quills,  stained  with  bright  colors,  and  presenting  quite 
a  fenciful  appearance.  From  this  size  they  increased  in 
capacity  until  the  largest  would  hold  one  hundred  and  fifty 
pounds  of  sugar.  They  were  also  used  for  preserving  and 
transporting  dried  corn,  and  for  numerous  other  purposes. 

When  the  sugar  and  fish  season  was  over,  the  Indians 
prepared  to  return  to  Mackinaw,  or  to  the  valley  of  the  St. 
Joseph.  Their  kettles  and  other  articles  which  they  did 
not  want  to  carry  with  them  were  put  in  caches;  their 
dried  venison,  dried  fish,  and  sugar  was  packed  into  their 
canoes ;  finally,  their  tents  were  struck  and  placed  in  the 
same  capacious  vessels,  and  then  band  after  band  made  its 
way  down  the  various  streams  to  the  lake.  Some  of  their 
fiirs  they  took  with  them,  but  a  large  portion  of  them  were 
sold  to  the  traders,  either  during  the  winter  or  at  the  time 
of  leaving. 

Arrived  at  the  lake,  all,  or  nearly  all,  of  the  Indians 
usually  assembled  at  a  destined  rendezvous,  either  at  the 
mouth  of  Grand  River  or  of  the  Kalamazoo  (or  perhaps 
there  would  be  a  crowd  at  each  place),  and  proceeded  to 
indulge  in  a  grand  jubilee.  They  roasted  a  white  dog. 
This  ceremony  seems  to  have  been  very  widely  difi'used 
among  the  Indians ;  for  it  was  practiced  among  the  tribes 
of  both  Algonquin  and  Iroquois  race,  and  is  still  in  use 
among  the  feeble  remnants  of  the  Six  Nations,  on  their 
reservations  in  the  State  of  New  York.  It  seems  to  have 
been  intended  as  a  kind  of  sacrifice,  the  poor  canine 
answering  somewhat  the  purpose  of  the  scapegoat  of  the 
Israelites, — the  sins  of  the  tribe  being  deposited  on  his 
unlucky  head  and  then  burned  up  with  him. 

Having  thus  got  rid  of  their  sins,  the  Indians  proceeded 
to  get  drunk.  There  may  have  been  some  exceptions,  but 
they  were  so  few  that  it  would  be  substantially  correct  to 
say  that  the  whole  male  portion  of  the  assemblage  above 
the  age  of  childhood  gave  themselves  up  to  the  joys  of 
intoxication.  But  before  beginning  operations  all  their 
arms  were  surrendered  to  the  squaws,  who  took  them 
away  into  the  woods  and  concealed  them.  Then  the  attack 
on  the  whisky  was  begun,  and  was  kept  up  until  both 
assailants  and  assailed  were  completely  conquered.  The 
noble  red  men  made  no  half-way  work  of  it  when  they  set 
out  on  a  whisky  campaign.  Burns  could  not  truly  have 
said  of  them  : 

"  They  were  na  fou,  but  glorious; 
O'er  a'  the  ills  of  life  victorious." 

They  were  most  emphatically  drunk,  and  their  yells, 
half  jubilant  and  half  ferocious,  rang  loud  and  long  through 
the  lofty  arches  of  the  forest.  Many  a  conflict  took  place 
between  the  warriors,  but  the  squaws  kept  secret  the  lo- 
cality of  rifles  and  tomahawks,  and  the  braves,  being  re- 
duced to  the  use  of  nature's  weapons,  with  which  they 
were  not  expert,  suffered  no  more  severe  injury  than  bloody 
noses  or  bruised  faces. 

When  the  Indians  had  recovered  from  their  spree  they 
resumed  their  arms,  and  then  their  ladies  got  drunk  in 
turn.    Their  jubilee  was  not  as  loud  nor  as  exciting  as  that 


INDIANS  IN  THE  PIONEEE  DAYS. 


41 


of  their  lords,  but  it  was  sufficiently  so  to  satisfy  their 
modest  desires. 

The  farewell  rites  being  thus  celebrated,  the  assembled 
thousands  speedily  embarked,  and  their  hundreds  of  canoes 
■were  soon  sweeping  rapidly  to  the  northward.  If  the 
hunters  had  had  good  fortune  in  this  vicinity  they  would 
probably  make  their  way  directly  to  Mackinaw,  but  if  not, 
then  they  would  stop  to  hunt  or  fish  at  different  points  on 
the  way.  If  the  former  was  the  case,  they  would  take 
back  with  them  those  who  had  died  during  their  stay  in 
this  region.  These  had  been  buried  at  various  accustomed 
places.  One  was  at  "  Jenner's  Kift,"  at  the  foot  of  the 
Allegan  County  fair-ground;  another  on  the  site  of  the 
village  of  Saugatuck.  The  birch-bark,  which  was  used 
for  boat,  sail,  house,  carpet,  sap-bucket,  and  sugar-hogshead, 
was  also  employed  as  coffin  and  shroud ;  for  when  a  de- 
parted Indian  or  squaw  was  to  be  buried,  after  a  hole  was 
excavated  and  the  body  placed  in  it,  a  covering  of  birch- 
bark  was  laid  over  the  corpse  to  preserve  it  from  contact 
with  the  dirt  with  which  the  hole  was  then  filled. 

If  the  intention  was  not  to  sail  directly  to  Mackinaw,  but 
to  hunt  or  fish  on  their  way,  the  dead  were  left  behind. 
They  were  not  abandoned,  however.  Sometimes  they 
were  left  till  the  end  of  the  next  winter's  hunt ;  some- 
times a  special  visit  was  made  for  the  purpose  of  removing 
them  ;  but  removed  to  Mackinaw  they  always  were.  Mr. 
Knapp,  of  Allegan,  mentions  having  seen  nine  bodies  taken 
away  from  Jenner's  Rift  at  one  time,  under  escort  of  a 
large  fleet  of  boats.  In  silence  the  long,  floating  column 
swept  down  the  turbid  stream,  the  hard,  stoical  faces  of 
the  Indians  becoming  yet  more  stern  and  solemn  from  the 
consciousness  of  their  mournful  errand. 

Until  about  1840  the  annual  visits  of  the  Indians  con- 
tinued in  full  force.  At  that  time  the  Pottawattamies  were 
removed,  in  accordance  with  treaty  stipulations,  to  territory 
beyond  the  Mississippi.  By  this  time,  too,  the  presence  of 
so  many  white  settlers  had  scared  away  much  of  the  game, 
and  the  yearly  attendance  of  the  Ottawas  began  to  dwindle 
in  numbers.  It  gradually  fell  off  during  the  succeeding 
ten  years,  and  since  the  close  of  that  period  the  Mackinaw 
boats  have  scarcely  been  known  on  the  streams  of  Allegan 
and  Barry,  and  th-e  Ottawa  hunters  have  rarely  chased  the 
deer  through  the  forests  of  those  counties. 

Besides  the  great  body  of  the  Ottawas  who  moved  back 
and  forth  with  the  recurring  seasons  in  the  manner  already 
described,  there  were  some  small  bands  which  stayed  in 
this  region  throughout  the  year,  having  a  summer  residence 
in  some  small  openings  where  the  squaws  raised  corn  and 
beans,  and  removing  a  short  distance  for  hunting  purposes 
in  the  winter.  The  most  prominent  of  these  bands  was  the 
one  of  which  "Sagamaw"  or  "  Saginaw"*  was  the  chief, 

*  This  name  has  been  given  us  both  ways.  We  believe,  however, 
that  the  former  method  is  correct,  and  that  he  was  the  same  chief  who 
had  formerly  resided  with  his  band  on  the  reservation  at  Kalamazoo. 
That  chief  is  thus  described  in  a  letter  from  A.  H.  Scott,  of  St.  Joseph, 
Mich.,  dated  Jan.  9,  1880,  and  published  in  the  recently-issued  his- 
tory of  Kalamazoo  County : 

"  In  regard  to  personal  characteristics  of  any  noted  Indiansj  etc.,  I 
would  say  that  the  best  specimen  of  an  Indian  that  I  ever  saw  in  those 
early  days  was  Sag-a-maw,  the  chief  of  all  the  Potlawatlamiea  in  and 
about  Kalamazoo  County.     He  was  a  man  of  great  good  sense,  of 

6 


and  which  in  1838  numbered  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
pei-sons,  being  located  on  a  peninsula  jutting  into  Gun 
Lake,  on  the  eastern  border  of  Barry  County. 

In  1838,  Right  Rev.  Samuel  A.  McCoskry,  Episcopal 
bishop  of  Michigan,  proposed  to  Sagamaw  and  his  band  to 
locate  themselves  permanently  on  a  tract  of  land  and  go  to 
farming  under  the  protection  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 
(The  United  States  gave  some  aid  to  several  churches  to 
carry  out  such  a  plan  in  regard  to  various  scattered  bands 
of  Indians.)  After  considerable  discussion  Sagamaw  and 
his  band  agreed  to  the  proposition,  and  in  1839  they  took 
possession  of  a  small  tract  purchased  for  their  use,  though 
in  the  name  of  Bishop  McCoskry,  situated  in  the  present 
township  of  Wayland,  near  the  sheet  of  water  now  known 
as  Selkrig  Lake.  They  were  placed  under  the  charge  of 
Rev.  James  Selkrig,  and  went  to  farming  in  a  small  way 
under  his  direction.  Sagamaw  was  killed  by  a  drunken, 
relative  in  1845,  but  Jlr.  Selkrig  continued  engaged  in  his 
self-imposed  task  until  1878,  when  he  died.  The  band, 
now  reduced  to  about  seventy-five  pereons,  still  occupies  the 
tract  on  which  it  entered  in  1839.  The  farming  of  the 
Indians  is  not  very  thorough  and  their  houses  are  far  from 
elegant,  yet  they  support  themselves  by  their  own  labor, 
and  bear  a  fair  reputation  for  honesty  and  morality.  A 
detailed  account  of  the  Selkrig  mission  is  given  in  the 
township  history  of  Wayland.f 


noble  bearing,  of  great  integrity,  and  in  every  way  a  dignified  gentle- 
man. He  was  called  a  great  orator  among  his  people.  He  was  a  true 
friend  to  the  whites.  I  have  heard  him  make  speeches  to  his  people, 
and,  although  I  could  not  understand  him,  his  manner  and  voice  were 
very  interesting,  and  the  effect  of  his  speech  on  his  people  was  very 
great.  He  was  the  only  Indian  that  I  ever  saw  who  was  polite  and 
attentive  to  his  squaw.  When  they  came  to  the  store  at  Schoolcraft 
to  do  their  trading,  he  would  help  her  off  of  her  pony,  and  when  they 
were  ready  to  return  he  would  place  his  hand  on  the  ground  by  the 
side  of  her  pony,  and  she  would  place  one  foot  in  it,  and  he  would 
lift  her  with  apparently  great  ease  into  her  saddle,  and  no  white  man 
could  have  shown  more  respect  and  politeness.  If  he  wished  for  any 
credit  at  the  store,  he  had  it  and  paid  promptly.  Any  Indian  that  he 
told  us  it  was  safe  to  trust  was  sure  to  pay  us.  He  always  told  us  never 
to  trust  his  son,  Cha-na-ba,  who  was  a  very  worthless  fellow." 

•\  The  most  prominent  of  the  Selkrig  band  was  Rev.  Henry  Jack- 
son, an  educated  minister,  but  a  full-blooded  Indian.  His  Indian 
name  was  Bammenodenokaid  or  Storm-Cloud.  He  was  a  Chippewa 
by  birth  and  a,  native  of  Canada,  but  resided  among  the  Oltawas, 
while  his  business  frequently  called  him  to  the  home  of  the  little  band 
of  Pottawattamiea  remaining  on  Nottawa  Creek,  about  twenty  miles 
south  of  the  city  of  Battle  Creek,  of  whom  he  was  the  interpreter 
and  agent.     The  Detroit  Post  said  of  him  at  the  time  of  his  death  : 

"He  was  well  educated,  and  a  very  intelligent  man.  He  once  de- 
livered a  lecture  in  the  Seventh-Day  Adventists'  church,  in  this  city, 
upon  *  The  Manners  and  Customs  of  the  Ohippeioaa/  which  drew  a 
large  audience,  and  which  proved  a  highly  entertaining  and  instruc- 
tive lecture.  He  was  probably  better  acquainted  with  the  history  and 
traditions  of  the  Indians  of  Michigan  than  any  other  person  in  the 
State,  and  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  some  of  our  State  historians,  or 
the  secretary  of  the  State  Pioneer  Society,  did  not  secure  these  tradi- 
tions and  histories  in  writing  before  his  death." 

A.  D.  P.  Van  Buren,  Esq  ,  of  Kalamazoo  County,  has  published 
the  following  regarding  Jackson  and  his  people: 

"  I  well  remember  Jackson,  or  '  Storm-Cloud.'  He  was  a  forcible 
speaker,  earnest  and  pathetic  in  his  appeals  to  his  red  brethren.  His 
English  education,  and  the  knowledge  which  he  had  gained  in  his  in- 
tercourse with  the  whites,  had  aided  him  much  in  his  labors.  One 
Sabbath  morning  I  had  gone  with  a  party  of  young  ladies  and  gen- 
tlemen from  the  school  district  north  of  the  mission,  where  I  was 
then  teaching.     We  arrived  at  an  early  hour,  and,  entering  the  log 


42 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


-A  still  smaller  band  had  its  headquarters  in  a  small 
opening  in  the  present  township  of  Martin.  Mumford 
Eldrcd,  the  first  settler  in  the  township  of  Martin,  pur- 
chased the  opening  for  the  purpose  of  beginning  a  farm  on 
it.  He  had  considerable  difficulty  with  the  Indian  occu- 
pants, but  finally  induced  them  to  leave,  and  subsequently 
a  part  of  them,  at  least,  joined  the  Selkrig  colony  in  Way- 
land.  More  extended  mention  is  made  of  them  in  the 
township  history  of  Martin. 

There  was  another  gathering  of  wigwams  near  the  pres- 
ent south  line  of  Thornapple,  which  was  known  as  the 
Middle  Village,  being  about  half-way  between  the  village 
of  Matchebenashewish,  on  the  site  of  Kalamazoo,  and  the 
one  at  the  rapids  of  the  Grand  River,  where  the  city  of 
Grand  Rapids  now  stands. 

There  were  also  two  villages,  containing  from  twenty  to 
thirty  wigwams  each,  in  township  1,  range  7  (now  Assyria, 
Barry  Co.),  and  some  smaller  collections  in  other  parts  of 
the  two  counties,  but  the  bulk  of  the  Indian  population  of 
Western  Michigan  migrated  to  and  fro  in  the  manner 
already  described. 

In  the  winter  of  1836-37,  Rev.  Leonard  Slater  brought 
a  band  of  Ottawas,  who  had  been  under  his  charge  at 
Grand  Rapids,  from  that  place  to  what  is  now  the  township 
of  Prairieville,  where  they  located  themselves  on  sections 
26,  27,  and  35,  where  a  combined  church  and  school-house 
was  built  for  them,  and  where  they  remained  until  1852. 
They  will  receive  further  mention  in  the  history  of  Prai- 
rieville. 


CHAPTER  XL 

THE  "WOLI'  BECOKD. 

Beasoo  for  giving  this  Eecord — First  Action  of  Allegan  County  Super- 
TisorE — Bounties  in  1838 — Heavy  Slaughter  in  1839 — The  County 
Bounty  abolished  — Allowances  of  State  Bounty  —  The  County 
gives  Two  Dollars  in  1840 — Three  more  in  1841 — Kecipients  in 
1842 — Still  more  Liberal  Allowance — Sixty-four  Dollars  at  once — 
County  Bounty  reduced  to  Five  Dollars  in  1844 — Changes  from 
1847  to  1852 — Payments  after  1852— Barry  County  Keeord — Early 
"Wolf-Scalps  sent  to  Kalamazoo  —  No  County  Bounty  in  Barry  at 
first — Becipients  of  State  Bounty — County  Bounty  granted  in 
1842  and  1843,  but  rescinded — Later  Becipients. 

Killing  wolves,  during  the  pioneer  period,  was  not 
merely  a  pastime,  but  a  regular  winter  business  on  the  part 
of  some  of  the  settlers,  from  which  considerable  remu- 
neration was  derived.     The  records  of  the  boards  of  su- 


chnpel,  seated  ourselves  and  awaited  the  gathering  of  the  dusky  con- 
gregation. Soon  a  young  Indian  came  in,  and,  taking  down  a  long 
tin  horn,  which  hung  behind  the  door,  he  stepped  out  in  front  of  the 
chapel  and  wound  it  so  loudly  and  musically  that  we  could  hear  the 
twanging  notes  reverberating  through  the  dim  arcades  of  the  sur- 
rounding forest  and  dying  away  in  the  distance.  Repeating  the 
echoing  calls  a  number  of  times,  he  stepped  back  into  the  chapel  and 
hung  up  the  horn  in  its  place. 

"  The  children  of  the  forest  now  began  to  assemble  in  their  rude 
place  of  worship.  Quietly,  with  the  stealthy  Indian  tread,  old  and 
young  came  in  and  took  their  feats.  No  noise, — not  even  a  whisper. 
Nothing  but  the  silence  characteristic  of  their  natures.  The  whole 
gathering  was  the  very  impersonation  of  a  hushed  and  solemn  re- 
ligious assembly." 


pervisors  of  both  counties  contain  numerous  references  to  ' 
wolf-bounties  and  wolf  slayers.  We  have  transcribed  the 
record  on  those  subjects,  not  only  to  show  who  were  the 
Nimrods  of  those  days,  but  also  because  the  decrease  of 
wolf-killing  marks  the  advance  of  cultivation  and  improve- 
ment. _ 
ALLEGAN  COUNTY. 

The  first  record  made  on  this  subject  by  the  supervisors 
is  dated  Thursday,  Nov.  8,  1838,  and  reads  as  follows : 

"Resolved,  That  a  bounty  of  five  dollars  be  allowed  by  the  county 
for  each  wolf  destroyed  therein  upon  the  presentation  by  the  claim- 
ant of  a  certificate,  agreeably  to  the  laws  of  1837-38,  and  for  each 
whelp  the  sum  of  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents,  proof  as  above." 

In  accordance  with  this  action  of  the  board,  and  with 
State  laws  giving  sometimes  eight  and  sometimes  ten  dol- 
lars bounty,  the  following  bills  were  audited  at  the  same 
session : 

County.  State. 

No.  1,  Nicholas  Shelman $5.00  S8.00 

No.  2,  James  Harkinson 5.00  10.00 

No.  3,  Samuel  Emerson 5.00  10.00 

No.  4,  James  H.  Kinnicott 5.00  10.00 

No.  5,  Hiram  Ross 5.00  8.00 

No.  6,  John  H.  Billings 5.00  8.00 

No.  7,  Hiram  Ross 5.00  8.00 

No.  26,  Tobin  S.  Higgins 5.00  8.00 

No.  30,  Elias  Streeter 5.00  8.00 

At  the  session  beginning  Dec.  24,  1838,  the  following 
wolf-bills  were  audited : 

County.  State. 

Tobin  S.  Higgins $5.00  $8.00 

Justin  Noble 5.00  8.00 

Lyman  Loomis  (2  wolves) 10.00  16.00 

The  following  record  is  dated  July  8,  1839  : 

County.  State. 

James  Bracelin $6.00  $8.00 

Elias  Streeter 5.00  8.00 

Lewis  McSaubie  (2  wolves) 10.00  16.00 

The  next  is  Oct.  9,  1839,  which  seems  to  have  been  a 
remarkably  good  time  for  wolves.     It  reads  thus : 

County.  state. 

Peter  Fisher  (2  wolves) $10.00  $16.00 

Jacob  B.  Bailey  (7  wolves) 35.00  56.00 

R.  H.  Hardy  (2  wolves) 10.00  16.00 

N.H.Hardy 5.00  8.00 

E.  Streeter 5.00  8.00 

Jasper  Fish 5.00  8.00 

Only  one  slaughter  is  recorded  Feb.  24,  1840,  viz. : 

County.       State. 
Nicholas  Shelman $5.00      $8.00 

By  the  13th  of  July,  1840,  the  county  bounty  appears 
to  have  been  dropped  and  the  record  reads  : 

"  The  following  claims  for  wolf-bounties  are  presented  and  allowed 
at  eight  dollars  each  ;  Daniel  Pike  (4  wolves),  A.  Moncton,  Nathaniel 
Plummer,  Daniel  Plummer,  A.  Moncton,  W.  S.  Miner." 

On  the  11th  of  August,  1840,  Gil  Bias  Wilcox  was 
allowed  eight  dollars  each  for  two  wolves. 

On  the  19th  of  October,  1840,  the  following  persons 
were  allowed  eight  dollars  each,  except  P.  Richard,  who 
was  to  have  sixteen  dollars :  Elias  Streeter,  Daniel  Cook, 
Peter  Richard  (2  wolves),  D.  B.  Cook,  W.  H.  Warren. 

Nov.  7,  1840,,  the  bill  of  Peter  Rickart  for  two  wolves' 
was  duly  audited.  At  this  meeting  it  was  ordered  that  a 
county  bounty  of  two  dollars  should  be  allowed  on  wolves. 

Under  this  regulation  the  following  audits  were  made : 

March  29,  1841. 
_  ,.       ,.    „.  County.      State. 

Cotton  M.  Kimball $2.00      $8.00 


THE  WOLF  RECORD. 


43 


Juhj  12,  1841. 

Samuel  B.  Hooker  (3  wolves) S6.00  $24.00 

Moses  Nichols  (2  wolves) 4.00  16.00 

William  Tyler 2.00  8.00 

William  Allen  (2  wolves) 4.00  16.00 

At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  supervisors,  Oct.  28, 1841, 
$3  was  added  to  the  county  bounty.  This  order  produced 
the  following  results : 

Dec.  24,  1841. 

Connty.  State. 

Joseph  McSaubie $5.00  $8.00 

Lyman  Fisk 5.00  8.00 

W.  S.  Hooker 5.00  8.00 

J.  L.  Miles 5.00  8.00 

Jan.  29,  1842. 

Allen  Stretter $5.00      $8.00 

Joseph  McSaubie 5.00         8.00 

Dee.  26,  1842. 
William  S.  Hooker $5.00      $8.00 

Soon  after  this  the  county  bounty  appears  to  have  been 
raised  to  eight  dollars,  though  we  can  find  no  such  record. 
The  following  liberal  bills  were  audited  : 

July  7,  1843. 

County.  State. 

Allen  Streeter  (2  wolves) $16.00  $16.00 

Titus  Losey  (6  wolves) 48.00  48.00 

Thomas  Brown 8.00  8.00 

At  the  meeting  of  the  board  on  the  day  last  mentioned, 
it  was 

"  Resolved,  That  all  votes  for  the  imposition  of  County  bounty  on 
Wolves  be  and  are  at  this  time  rescinded,  and  that  a  County  Bounty 
of  five  dollars  be  allowed  upon  every  full-grown  wolf  killed  after  this 
time." 

This  action,  however,  was  evidently  rescinded,  as  appears 
by  the  following  audits : 

Oct.  17,  1873. 

County.  state. 

Lewis  McSaubie  (2  wolves) $16.00  $16.00 

Allen  Streeter  (4  wolves) 32.00  32.00 

Lyman  Fish  (2  wolves) 16.00  16.00 

Jan.  2,  1844. 

William  T.  Gilkey  (2  wolves) $16.00  $16.00 

J.  W.  Palmer '. 8.00  8.00 

Alexander  F.  Bouck 8.00  8.00 

Orson  Cook 8.00  8.00 

Silas   Powell 8.00  8.00 

Allen  Streeter  (4  wolves) 32.00  32.00 

Elias  Streeter 8.00  8.00 

Jan.  5,  1844. 

Allen  Streeter  (2  wolves) $16.00    $16.00 

.     Lyman  Fish..... 8.00         8.00 

Jan.  6,  1844. 
John  M.Reed $8.00      $8.00 

In  January,  1844,  the  county  bounty  was  all  taken  off, 
but  it  was  soon  restored,  though  at  the  reduced  amount  of 
$5.     Under  this  rule  the  following  allowances  were  made : 

Oet.  14, 1844. 

County.       State. 

^^Dascon. ............ ^  ^^        ^^^ 

A.  Ser-(2  wolves)....  ".OO       16.00 

Nathan  Boyington  (3  wolves) 15.00       24.00 

William  B.  Hooker 5.00         8.00 

Dec.  13,  1844. 

Richard  Weare S5.00      $8.00 

Harvey  C.  Kibby ^-U"        ^■'"' 

Jan.  7,  1846. 
Allen  Streeter -«»•«»      »8-»» 


At  this  period  the  State  bounty  was  raised  to  ten  dollars, 
two  hunters  receiving  fifleen  dollars  each,  viz. : 

Jan.  4,  1847. 

County.  State. 

Allen  Streeter §5.00  $10.00 

E.J.Cook 5.00  10.00 

At  the  session  of  1847  the  State  bounty  was  abolished, 
and  from  then  until  1850  the  wolf-business  was  very  poor, 
only  two  persons  applying  for  pay  in  Allegan  County,  viz. : 
Oct.  11, 1847. 

Comity. 
Lasan  Baker $5.00 

Jan.  3,  1848. 

County. 
E.  J.  Cook $5.00 

In  1850  the  State  bounty  of  eight  dollars  was  restored, 
while  the  county  bounty  was  abolished  or  suspended.  Three 
payments  were  made  during  the  year,  namely : 

Oct.  15,  I860. 

state. 

Orletus  C.Thayer S8.00 

David  Smith 8.00 

* 
Dec.  13,  1850. 

State. 

Davis S8.00 

Nurdegoish  (Indian) 8.00 

After  this  a  county  bounty  of  five  dollars  was  allowed, 
though  apparently  by  a  special  vote  in  each  case.  The 
record  runs  as  follows : 

Oat.  14,  1851. 

County. 
State.       Extra. 

Robert  McCarty  (2  wolves)  each $8.00       $5.00 

David  Smith  (2  wolves)  each 8.00        5.00 

Jan.  6,  1852. 

SethA.  Lucas $8.00       $5.00 

Wat-u-noka  (Indian) 8.00         5.00 

After  1852  the  amounts  paid  are  not  stated  in  the  record. 
The  wolf-slayers  were  allowed  "full  bounty,"  which  we 
may  presume  to  be  something  more  than  State  bounty, 
probably  the  sums  last  mentioned, — eight  dollars  and  five 
dollars.  The  following  is  the  list  of  recipients  and  the 
dates  of  payment : 

June  15,  1853. 

Joseph  Scbonn full  bounty. 

March  30,  1854. 

L.  K.  Pratt  and  J.  S.  H.  Miller full  bounty. 

Oct.  10,  1854. 

Samuel  Town  and  Marcus  Booers full  bounty. 

Jane  10,  1856. 

Walter  Kronemeyer  (7  wolves) full  bounty. 

Oct.  15, 1857. 
M.  McDowell,   Moses  Sperry,  George   Middaugh,  0.  W.  Goodrich, 
Samuel  Smith,  Barent  Bongelaa,  E.  P.  Goslin. 

Jan.  4,  1858. 

William  Inderson,  Samuel  Fifer,  Russell  Davis,  Jr.,  Timothy  Bliss, 

David  Bergett. 

Oct.  4,  1858. 

Joseph  McSaubie full  bounty. 

Thomas  C.  Jenner "         " 

Heman  P.  Fisher  (2  wolves) "        " 

Oct.  18,  1859. 
Henry  Allen full  bounty. 

Jan.  4,  1860. 
John  H.  Beaman full  bounty. 


44 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAxV. 


Jan.  9,  1862. 

Robert  McCftrty full  bounty. 

S.  L.  Konkel " 

Oct.  16,  1862. 
Robert  MoCarty  (3  wolves) full  bounty. 

This  closes  the  record  of  Allegan  County.     If  any  of  the 

grayback  robbers  were  slain  afterwards  in  that  county,  they 

sank  into  the  arms  of  death  unwept,  unhonored,  unsung, 

and  unpaid  for. 

UAEEY   COUNTT. 

Previous  to  the  organization  of  this  county,  wolf-slaugh- 
ter could  only  be  rewarded  by  the  slayers  taking  the  sealps 
to  Kalamazoo.  For  several  years  after  the  organization, 
also,  the  county  paid  no  bounty.  The  first  action  taken 
by  the  board  of  supervisors  on  this  subject  was  on  the 
8th  day  of  July,  1839,  when  State  bounties  were  awarded  to 
the  following  persons : 

Bache  (an  Indian) $8.00 

Samuel  Hagar  (two  wolves) 16.00 

Moses  Durkee 8.00 

The  dates,  recipients,  and  amounts  of  the  bounties 
allowed  during  the  next  three  years  are  as  follows : 

Oct.  15,  1839. 
Ko-ba-ga-zich  (an  Indian) $8.00 

Nov.  11,  18.39. 

Hiram  Tillotson $8.00 

Nicholas  Campbell 8.00 

Feh.  10,  1840. 

Demir  Bennett $8.00 

Samuel  S.  Haight 8.00 

Samuel  Hagar 24.00 

James  H.  Hagar 8.00 

Ju^!/  1,  1840. 

George  Nichols $16.00 

Orlando  Weed 8.00 

Ju!>/  13,  1840. 

James  H.  Hagar $8.00 

Mus-tah-nis  (an  Indian) 8.00 

Melvin  C.  Barnum 8.00 

On  the  28th  of  December,  1842,  the  board  resolved, 
"  That  an  additional  bounty  of  five  dollars  be  allowed  for 
the  killing  of  every  full-grown  wolf,  and  two  dollars  and  a 
half  on  every  wolfs  whelp,  killed  within  the  county  of 
Barry  ;"  and  in  the  October  following  the  bounty  on  wolves 
was  raised  to  $12.00,  and  on  whelps  to  $6.00.  The  whole 
county  bounty,  however,  was  soon  abolished,  and  only  the 
State  bounty  was  paid. 

In  the  supervisor  accounts  for  1843  occur  the  following 
names,  to  whom  were  granted  wolf-certificates : 

I-  Brown $16.00 

G.  B.  Manchester 32.00 

Ira  Shipman g^QQ 

D.  Smith 8^00 

N.  Lovell 8.00 

W.  Wickham 8.00 

J.  Bowerman 8.00 

E.  Drier gioO 

A.  L.  Ellis 8.00 

J-H'^ger 48.00 

W.  Hagar .-. 32.00 

C.  Brigham 48  OQ 

J.Brown 32.00 

J- Fish 32.00 

J.B.Crane 32.00 

June  25,  1845. 
Eais-o-bit  (an  Indian) $8.00 

Jan.  4,  1847. 
Peter  Downs $10.00 

Oct.  9, 1848. 
"  John  Fish  was  allowed  two  bounties  for  killing  wolves." 


CHAPTER  XIL 

OnTLIWE  OF  LATEK  YEAES. 

Population  in  1840— Condition  at  that  Time— A  Log  House  Region- 
Progress  during  the  next  ten  Years — Forerunners  of  the  Holland 
Colony— Brief  Mention  of  that  Colony — Population  in  1850 — 
Change  from  Log  Houses  to  Frame  Houses,  etc. — Population  in 
I860 A  hopeful  Future — Outbreak  of  the  War — Soldiers  of  Alle- 
gan and  Barry— Progress  after  the  War — The  Fruit  Business. 

After  the  pioneers  had  fully  begun  the  work  of  settle- 
ment, the  events  occurring  in  the  territory  under  considera- 
tion were  of  course  of  a  less  remarkable  character,  and  most 
of  them  are  sufiBciently  noticed  in  the  histories  of  the  sepa- 
rate townships,  or  in  those  chapters  of  the  general  history 
devoted  to  various  separate  organizations.  Only  a  brief 
and  cursory  survey  is  necessary  of  the  general  progress  of 
the  two  counties  during  the  past  four  decades. 

By  the  census  of  1840  the  population  of  Allegan  County 
was  seventeen  hundred  and  eighty-three,  and  that  of  Barry 
County  was  ten  hundred  and  seventy-eight.  The  people 
were  still  sorely  distressed  by  the  great  financial  disaster  of 
1837,  although  the  first  breath  of  returning  prosperity  was 
beginning  to  revive  the  country.  There  was  at  that  time 
scarcely  a  framed  house  in  the  two  counties,  except  a  few 
in  the  village  of  Allegan.  The  village  of  Hastings,  which 
had  been  designated  for  about  six  years  as  the  seat  of  jus- 
tice of  Barry  County,  and  which  had  been  settled  four 
years,  contained  in  1840  but  one  framed  house  and  four  or 
five  log  ones. 

The  settlements  were  scattered  far  apart  through  nearly 
the  whole  of  Barry  County  and  the  eastern  half  of  Allegan. 
The  western  part  of  the  latter  county  had  still  no  occu- 
pants except  the  Indians  and  wild  animals,  save  in  three 
or  four  localities,  where  saw-mills  had  been  erected  and  a 
few  laborers  had  located  around  them. 

During  the  succeeding  ten  years  immigration  went  on 
slowly  at  first,  and  then  with  increasing  rapidity.  By  the 
close  of  1842  settlements  had  been  made  in  all  the  town- 
ships of  Barry,  and  by  the  end  of  1850  all  those  of  Alle- 
gan had  been  settled  except  Salem  and  Lee.  The  older 
townships  had  also  been  filled  up  by  sturdy  emigrants,  until 
log  houses  and  clearings  of  greater  or  less  size  were  to  be 
found  on  nearly  every  section  of  Barry  County  and  of  the 
eastern  half  of  Allegan. 

In  1846,  Rev.  A.  C.  Van  Ralta  (commonly  called  Domi- 
nie Van  Ralta),  Mr.  John  Grotenhous,  and  Mr.  Harm 
Kook  arrived  at  Allegan,  looking  for  a  location  for  a  com- 
pany of  Hollanders  who  were  seeking  a  home  in  the 
West.  This  company,  numbering  from  three  to  four  hun- 
dred, had  set  out  from  Holland,  intending  to  locate  in  Penn- 
sylvania. On  arriving  in  that  State,  however,  thinking  the 
climate  too  warm  for  them  and  the  land  too  dear,°they 
determined  to  go  farther  north  and  west.  They  accord- 
ingly proceeded  to  St.  Clair,  Mich.,  whence  the  three  gen- 
tlemen before  mentioned  went  ahead  to  select  a  suitable 
location. 

On  their  arrival  at  Allegan  they  visited  Mrs.  Elisha  Ely, 
as  her  parents  were  natives  of  Holland  and  she  could  talk 
some  in  that  language.  She  advised  them  to  consult  Judge 
Kellogg,  of  Allegan,  who  was  the  agent  for  large  tracts  of 


OUTLINE  OF  LATER  YEAES. 


45 


land  in  this  part  of  Michigan.  He  recommended  them  to 
locate  at  the  head  of  Black  Bay.  They  adopted  his  recom- 
mendation and  conducted  the  colony  to  that  place,  where 
the  city  of  Holland  was  founded.  This  was  the  beginning 
of  the  large  emigration  from  Holland  which,  in  the  course 
of  a  few  years,  overflowed  a  great  portion  of  Ottawa  County 
and  several  townships  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Allegan. 
The  advent  of  the  Hollanders  in  the  latter  region  is  men- 
tioned in  the  township  histories. 

By  1850  the  population  of  Allegan  County  was  five  thou- 
sand one  hundred  and  twenty-five,  while  that  of  Barry 
County  was  -five  thousand  and  seventy-two.  The  former 
contained  nearly  three  times  as  many  as  it  had  had  in  1840, 
while  the  latter  had  almost  five  times  as  many  as  at  that 
date. 

After  1850  a  marked  change  took  place  throughout  the 
two  counties.  The  energy  and  industry  of  the  settlers  had 
furnished  a  large  part  of  them,  not,  indeed,  with  wealth,  but 
with  a  moderate  competence,  and  this  resulted  in  the  con- 
stant change  of  log  houses  for  framed  ones  throughout 
Barry  County,  the  eastern  part  of  Allegan  County,  and 
some  portions  of  the  western  part.  The  change  went  on 
rapidly  through  the  decade  between  1850  and  1860,  and 
by  the  latter  year  a  majority  of  the  residents  of  the  two 
counties  lived  in  framed  houses. 

The  picturesque  but  inconvenient  old  well-sweeps,  which 
in  the  pioneer  days  were  seen  from  afar  beside  every  farm- 
er's house,  gave  way  to  modern  pumps,  orchards  were  in 
full  fruitage  on  every  farm,  and,  in  fact,  the  greater  part  of 
the  two  counties  had  been  changed  in  less  than  thirty  years 
from  a  wilderness  to  a  land  of  pleasant  homes. 

In  1860  the  populatiop  of  Allegan  County  was  sixteen 
thousand  and  eighty-seven ;  and  that  of  Barry  was  thirteen 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-eight. 

The  financial  crisis  of  1857  had  somewhat  checked  the 
tide  of  prosperity,  but  it  was  so  trivial  in  comparison  with 
that  ofl.837  that  old  settlers  hardly  considered  it  as  worthy 
of  the  name  of  crisis.  The  country  was  rapidly  recovering 
from  it,  and  all  looked  forward  hopefully  to  a  long  era  of 
prosperity  and  improvement.  But  in  the  autumn  of  1860 
a  President  was  chosen  who  was  unfavorable  to  the  spread  of 
human  slavery  over  the  territory  previously  free,  and  at  once 
there  came  from  the  South  murmurs  of  discontent  and  anger. 
How  they  swelled  and  increased  through  all  that  fateful 
winter,  how  State  after  State  fell  away  from  its  allegiance, 
liow  the  whole  South  resounded  with  preparations  for  war, 
need  not  be  recounted  here.  It  is  a  part  of  the  nation's 
history. 

Here,  as  elsewhere  throughout  the  North,  men  looked 
on  in  amazement,  hoping  even  to  the  last  for  peace,  and 
deeming  it  impossible  that  the  lunacy  of  secession  could 
ever  ripen  into  the  open  madness  of  armed  rebellion.  Few 
made  any  preparations  for  the  event,  yet  all  were  in  that 


angry  and  excited  condition  which  needs  but  a  word  to  de- 
velop into  the  most  determined  action. 

On  the  14th  of  April,  1861,  the  spark  was  applied  to  the 
waiting  magazine,  and  the  whole  North  burst  into  a  flame 
of  patriotic  fire.  In  the  great  contest  of  the  next  four  years 
it  is  well  known  that  the  soldiers  of  Mi«higan  stood  in  the 
very  foremost  rank,  and  among  them  those  of  Allegan  and 
Barry  were  certainly  quite  equal  to  any  of  their  peninsular 
compatriots.  The  story  of  their  valor,  their  dangers,  and 
their  sufierings  is  told  in  the  last  chapters  of  the  general 
history,  which  consist  of  sketches  of  all  the  regiments  which 
contained  any  considerable  representation  from  Allegan  and 
Barry  Counties,  together  with  the  names  of  the  officers  and 
men  from  those  counties. 

For  several  years  after  the  war  the  population  increased 
with  almost  as  much  energy  as  in  the  old  pioneer  days.  By 
the  census  of  1874  the  population  of  Allegan  County  was 
eighteenthousand  eight  hundred,  and  that  of  Barry  County 
fourteen  thousand  four  hundred  and  forty-one.  When  the 
country  was  released  from  the  immediate  duty  of  preserving 
its  own  existence,  the  people  sprang  with  renewed  energy 
to  the  task  of  developing  the  magnificent  resources  com- 
mitted to  their  care.  They  swarmed  westward  almost  as 
readily  as  ever.  Many  sought  the  fertile  farming-land  of 
Allegan  and  Barry ;  many  expended  their  energies  on  the 
pine  forests  which  still  overshadowed  a  considerable  portion 
of  the  territory  in  question  ;  and  by  the  census  of  1870  the 
population  of  Allegan  County  had  increased  to  thirty-two 
thousand  one  hundred  and  five,  and  that  of  Barry  County 
to  twenty-two  thousand  two  hundred. 

Before  such  a  population  the  pines  have  gone  down  more 
rapidly  than  ever,  and  now  there  is  scarcely  a  township  in 
the  two  counties  which  has  not  been,  to  a  great  degree, 
denuded  of  those  stately  lords  of  northern  forests.  Along 
the  shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  and  for  many  miles  eastward, 
the  lumber  business  has  been  largely  replaced  by  the  cul- 
ture of  fruit,  to  which  the  soil  and  climate  (tempered,  as 
the  latter  is,  by  the  breezes  of  the  lake)  are  found  admira- 
bly adapted.  Details  regarding  this  business  will  be  found 
in  the  histories  of  some  of  the  western  townships  of  Alle- 
gan County. 

The  two  counties  which  form  the  subject  of  this  history 
of  course  suffered  a  serious  check  at  the  time  of  the  great 
financial  crisis  of  1873,  but  they  promptly  responded  to  the 
breezes  of  prosperity  which  swept  over  the  land  in  1879, 
and  all  the  probabilities  now  point  to  a  long  period  of  mate- 
rial prosperity. 

We  now  call  the  attention  of  our  readers  to  various 
sketches  describing  the  process  of  organization,  showing 
the  civil  officers  who  have  resided  in  the  county,  depicting 
the  career  of  the  Allegan  and  Barry  regiments  in  the  war 
for  the  Union,  and  setting  forth  various  other  matters 
which  are  necessarily  given  in  independent  form. 


46 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


CHAPTER    XIIL 

ORGANIZATION. 

First  Act  affecting  the  Two  Counties — Attached  to  Lenawee  County 
and  to  St.  Joseph  Township — Organization  of  St.  Joseph  and  Cass 
Counties — Part  of  Allegan  attached  to  the  Former,  and  Part  to  the 
Latter — Erection  of  Allegan  County — Its  Organization  as  Allegan 
Township — Attached  to  Kalamazoo  County — Record  of  First  Town- 
Meeting — Record  of  First  Election — Organization  of  the  County — 
Record  of  Meeting  to  nominate  County  Officers — The  OfBcers  com- 
missioned— Copy  of  the  Probate  Judge's  Commission — Notice  of 
the  First  General  Election — The  Election  at  two  Places — Contest 
over  the  County  Registership — Our  Solution — The  County  divided 
into  Four  Townships — Their  Description — Formation  of  Manlius — 
Of  Martin — Trowbridge — Watson — Wayland — Plainfield  changed 
to  Gun  Plain — Formation  of  Ganges — Dorr — Monterey — Leighton 
— Fillmore — Pine  Plains — Cheshire^—  Heath — Hopkins — Casco — 
Salem — Overisel — Laketown — Lee — Clyde  —  Newark  changed  to 
Saugatuck — Barry  County — Forming  Counties  without  People — 
Act  forming  Barry — Origin  of  Name — Organization  of  Barry 
Township — First  Town-Meeting — Officers  elected — Second  Set  of 
Township  Officers — Division  of  County  into  four  Townships — Or- 
ganization of  County — Copy  of  Law — First  County  Officers — Forma- 
tion of  Yankee  Springs — Of  Irving — Changes  relating  to  Irving 
— Formation  of  Spaulding,  and  change  to  Prairieville — Formation 
of  Castleton,  Woodland,  and  Carlton — Of  Assyria — Orangeville — 
Maple  Grove — Rutland — Change  and  Restoration  of  Yankee 
Springs — Formation  of  Baltimore  and  Hope — The  City  of  Hastings. 

The  first  enactment  which,  nominally  at  least,  brought 
the  territory  of  Allegan  and  Barry  Counties  under  civil  ju- 
risdiction was  that  passed  by  the  Legislative  Council  of  the 
Territory  of  Michigan  in  November,  1826,  which  declared 
that  all  the  country  to  which  the  Indian  title  had  been 
extinguished  by  the  treaty  of  Chicago  should  be  attached 
to  and  compose  a  part  of  the  county  of  Lenawee.  On  the 
12th  day  of  April,  1827,  another  act  formed  the  territory 
thus  annexed  to  Lenawee  County  into  the  township  of  St. 
Joseph.  That  township  must  have  contained  at  least  ten 
thousand  square  miles. 

ERECTION    AND   OEGANIZATION   OE    ALLEGAN 
COUNTY  AND    ITS  TOWNSHIPS. 

After  the  organization  of  the  whole  region  acquired  by 
the  treaty  of  Chicago  as  the  township  of  St.  Joseph,  as 
just  narrated,  the  first  change  in  the  municipal  relations  of 
the  territory  of  Allegan  County  was  made  by  the  law  passed 
by  the  territorial  council,  and  approved  on  the  4th  of  No- 
vember, 1829,  which  organized  the  counties  of  St.  Joseph 
and  Cass,  and  provided  that  Kalamazoo,  Calhoun,  Branch, 
Barry,  and  Eaton  Counties,*  and  all  the  country  north  of 
township  4,  north  of  the  base-line,  west  of  the  principal 
meridian,  south  of  the  county  of  Mackinaw  (as  then  formed) 
and  east  of  the  line  between  ranges  12  and  13,  should  be 
attached  to  and  compose  a  part  of  the  county  of  St.  Joseph. 
By  the  same  act  the  counties  of  Berrien  and  Van  Buren, 
and  all  that  tract  north  of  Van  Buren  County  and  west  of 
the  line  between  ranges  12  and  13,  should  be  attached  to 
and  compose  a  part  of  the  county  of  Cass. 

The  latter  tract  embraced  the  four  western  ranges  of 
townships  in  the  present  Allegan  County.  On  a  close  ex- 
amination of  the  statute  it  will  be  seen  that  the  first-named 
tract  did  not  include  the  two  eastern  ranges  of  Allegan 

*  These  had  been  laid  off  and  named  six  days  before,  but  the  terri- 
tory of  Allegan  had  not  then  been  mentioned. 


County,  yet  it  was  doubtless  intended  to  do  so,  and  those 
eight  survey-townships  seem  to  have  been  always  considered, 
from  that  time  till  the  organization  of  Allegan  County,  as 
a  part  first  of  St.  Joseph  and  then  of  Kalamazoo  County. 
Possibly  a  law  was  passed  which  was  not  published  (there 
were  some  such  cases)  temporarily  annexing  those  town- 
ships to  St.  Joseph  County. 

On  the  following  day  (Nov.  5,  1829)  Kalamazoo  and 
Barry  Counties,  and  all  the  country  lying  north  of  the 
same  which  was  attached  to  the  county  of  St.  Joseph,  were 
formed  by  law  into  the  township  of  Brady. 

On  the  2d  day  of  March,  1831,  a  law  was  approved 
forming  the  counties  of  Clinton,  Ionia,  Kent,  AUegan,  Ot- 
tawa, Gratiot,  Montcalm,  Oceana,  Saginaw,  Midland,  Glad- 
wyn,  Avenac,  and  Isabella.  The  fourth  section  reads  as 
follows : 

"That  the  country  included  within  the  following  limits — to  wit, 
south  of  the  base-line  and  south  of  the  line  between  townships  4  and 
5  north,  west  of  the  line  between  ranges  10  and  11  west  of  the  me- 
ridian, and  east  of  the  shore  of  Lake  Michigan — be  and  the  same  is 
hereby  set  off  into  a  separate  county  by  the  name  of  Allegan." 

The  four  western  ranges  still  remained  attached  to  the 
township  of  Penn,  in  Cass  County,  and  the  two  eastern 
ranges,  as  before  stated,  were  treated  as  a  part  of  St.  Joseph 
County  until  the  organization  of  Kalamazoo  County  (July 
30, 1830),  and  subsequently  as  a  part  of  Kalamazoo  County. 

On  the  29th  day  of  March,  1833,  a  law  was  approved 
which  enacted  "  that  all  that  district  of  country  which  has 
been  set  off  into  a  separate  county  by  the  name  of  Allegan 
shall  be  a  township  by  the  name  of  Allegan  ;"  also  "  that 
said  township  of  Allegan  shall  be  attached  to  the  county  of 
Kalamazoo  for  all  legal  purposes  whatsoever." 

As  the  township  thus  formed  comprised  the  whole  county, 
we  give  here  a  copy  of  the  record  of  the  first  town-meeting, 
taken  from  the  original  township-book,  which  was  after- 
wards used  by  the  township  of  Otsego  : 

"  The  inhabitants  of  the  Township  of  Allegan  met  on  Saturday  the 
6th  April,  1833,  at  the  house  of  Samuel  Foster,  according  to  previous 
notice,  and  proceeded  to  organize,  when  Hull  Sherwood  was  chosen 
moderator,  and  Cyrenius  Thompson  township  clerk ;  Charles  Miles, 
supervisor;  Ebenr.  Sherwood,  Calvin  White,  and  D.  A.  Plumber 
were  chosen  assessors;  Martin  W.  Rowe  was  chosen  collector;  Giles 
Scott  and  H.  C.  White,  overseers  of  the  poor;  T.  Aldrich,  Norman 
Davis,  and  R.  Sherwood  were  chosen  commissioners  of  highways  or 
roads ;  M.  W.  Rowe,  constable ;  Orlando  Weed,  Eben.  Sherwood,  U. 
Baker  were  chosen  overseers  of  roads,  and  Abijah  Chichester  also 
overseer  of  roads;  S.  Foster,  C.  Miles,  S.  Thompson  were  chosen 
school  inspectors.  The  meeting  then  adjourned,  to  be  convened  again 
at  10  O'C.  A.M.,  on  first  Monday  of  April  next. 

"  Cyrenius  Thompson,  Town  Glevh." 

The  following  records  show  the  time  of  holding  and  the 
results  of  the  first  general  election  held  in  the  county : 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  electors  of  the  town  of  Allegan,  in  the  County  of 
Allegan,  M.  T.,  the  8th  of  July,  1833,  at  the  house  of  Samuel  Foster, 
it  was  found,  after  duly  canvassing  the  votes,  that  Lucius  Lyons  had 
for  delegate  to  Congress  twenty-two  votes. 

(Signed) 

f  Samuel  Foster, 

Inspectors  of  Election,  \   ■^'""'  ^-  Shearer, 
^j  Almirin  L.  Cotton, 
[  Cyrenius  Thompson. 
"  At  a  meeting  held  by  the  electors  of  the  town  of  Allegan,  in  the 
County  of  Allegan,  M.  T.,  on  the  8th  of  July,  1833,  at  the, house  of 
Samuel  Foster,  it  was  found,  after  duly  canvassing  the  votes,  that 


ORGANIZATION. 


47 


Calvin  Briton  had  for  delegate  to  legislative  Council  twenty  votes 
and  that  H.  S.  Sherwood  had  two  votes  for  the  same  appointment. 
Samuel  Fostee, 
.ToHif  L.  Shearer, 
Almirin  L.  Cotton, 
,  Cyrenius  Thompson,  Town  Clerk." 


Inspectors  of  ElectioUj 


Township-meetings  were  likewise  held  in  Allegan  while 
it  embraced  the  whole  county  in  1834-35,  but  as  nearly  all 
the  participators  resided  in  Otsego,  and  as  the  town-book 
has  been  retained  there,  the  names  of  the  officers  elected 
are  given  in  the  history  of  that  township. 

On  the  6th  of  October,  1834,  the  Governor  of  the  Ter- 
ritory appointed  Oshea  Wilder,  Cyrus  Lovell,  and  Isaac  E. 
Crary  as  commissioners  to  locate  the  county-seat  of  Allegan 
County,  as  was  the  practice  at  that  day.  Their  report  on 
making  the  location,  and  the  Governor's  proclamation  con- 
firming the  same,  cannot  be  found  in  the  office  of  the  Sec- 
retary of  State,  but  it  is  well  known  that  the  county-seat 
was  duly  located  at  Allegan  village. 

In  1835  a  considerable  number  of  people  located  them- 
selves at  Allegan  village,  and  in  the  summer  the  people  of 
the  county  thought  themselves  strong  enough  to  have  a 
separate  county  organization.  The  matter  was  presented  to 
the  Legislative  Council,  and  an  act  was  duly  passed  organ- 
izing the  county.  It  is  not  published  with  the  other  terri- 
torial laws,  and  we  are  not  able  to  give  the  exact  date  of 
its  passage,  but  we  learn  from  the  Secretary  of  State  that 
one  of  the  sections  provided  for  the  act's  taking  effect  on 
the  1st  day  of  September,  1835.  A  meeting  was  then 
called,  to  be  held  at  Otsego  on  the  12th  of  August,  to  rec- 
ommend suitable  persons  to  the  Governor  and  council  to 
be  appointed  to  the  various  offices  of  the  county.  We  are 
greatly  indebted  to  Mr.  Martin  T.  Ryan,  of  Allegan,  for 
the  original  record  of  that  meeting,  which  we  quote  ver- 
batim. It  is  somewhat  defective  in  clearness,  yet  its 
meaning  can  easily  be  understood.  It  is  indorsed,  "  Pro- 
ceedings of  Co.  Meeting  to  organize  Co.  of  Allegan,  Augt., 
1835."     The  paper  itself  reads  as  follows: 

"The  Inhabitants  of  Allegan  met  on  Wednesday,  the  12th  inst.,  ac- 
cording to  notice.  When  on  motion  Elisha  Ely,  Esq.,  was  cald  to 
the  chair,  and  J.  L.  Shearer  was  chosen  Secretary. 

"  Jieaolced,  That  we  deem  it  expedient  for  the  organization  of  the 
said  county  of  Allegan. 

"  On  motion  Resolved,  that  we  vote  by  ballot  for  said  Nomination. 

"  On  motion  Resolved,  that  thair  shal  be  a  Majority  of  all  the  Votes 
present  to  constitute  a  choice. 

"  Voted  that  Elisha  Ely  and  John  Anderson  Ware  duly  Nominated 
as  Judges  for  said  Co.* 

"Voted  that  Alexander  L.   Ely  was  duly  Recommended  for  Co. 

Clerk. 
"  Voted  that  J.  L.  Shearer  be  duly  Recommended  for  Sherif  of  said 

Co. 

"  Voted  that  Martin  L.  Baiberbe  duly  Recommend  as  Co.  Surveyor. 

"Voted  that  0.  K.f  Town  shal  Hold  the  office  of  Judge  of  Probate. 

"  On  motion  Resolved,  that  we  chooso  a  committee  to  forward  these 
proceedings  to  the  Gov'  and  Legislative  Counsel.     When  on  motion 

Eber  Sherwood,  Daniel  A.  Plummer,  and %  Fisk  was  chosen  said 

Committee. 

"  On  Motion,  Meting  ajourned, 

"John  L.  Shearer,  Secty." 


*  Elisha  Ely,  Chairman. 


*  Meaning  associate  judges, 
t  Oka. 

%  This  space  is  left  blank  in  the  original.     The  person  referred  to 
was  Col.  Joseph  Fisk,  of  Allegan. 


The  committee  performed  the  duty  assigned  to  it,  and  on 
the  25th  of  August  the  Governor  issued  commissions  to 
the  above-named  persons  for  the  offices  to  which  they  were 
respectively  recommended.  It  will  be  observed  that  the 
meeting  did  not  recommend  any  one  for  county  register  or 
treasurer.  None  of  the  survivors  of  that  period  recollect 
with  certainty  who  were  appointed  to  those  offices,  but  from 
all  the  evidence,  of  which  more  will  be  said  farther  on,  we 
are  satisfied  that  Alexander  L.  Ely  was  appointed  register 
as  well  as  clerk,  and  that  Milo  Winslow  was  appointed 
treasurer.  By  the  favor  of  Oka  Town,  Esq.,  we  are  per- 
mitted to  give  a  copy  of  the  commission  issued  to  him, 
which  reads  as  follows : 

"STEVENS   T.   MASON, 

"  Secretary,  and  at  present  Acting  Governor  in  and  over  the  Terri- 
tory of  Michigan.  To  all  to  whom  these  Presents  may  come. 
Greeting : 

**  Know  ye,  that  reposing  special  trust  and  confidence  in  the  in- 
tegrity and  ability  of  Oka  Town,  I  have  nominated,  and  by  and  with 
the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Legislative  Council  of  the  said  Terri- 
tory, have  appointed  him  Judge  of  Probate  in  and  for  the  County  of 
Allegan,  and  I  do  hereby  authorize  and  empower  him  to  execute  and 
fulfill  the  duties  of  that  office  according  to  law ;  to  have  and  to  hold 
the  said  office,  with  all  the  rights,  privileges,  and  emoluments  there- 
unto belonging,  during  the  pleasure  of  the  Governor  of  the  Said  Ter- 
ritory for  the  time  being. 

"  In  Testimony  Whereof  I  have  Caused  these  Letters  to  be  Made 
[l.s.]         Patent,  and  the  Great  Seal  of  the  said  Territory  to  be  here- 
unto affixed. 

"  Given  under  my  hand  at  Detroit,  this  twenty-fifth  day  of  August, 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty-five, 
and  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America  the  sixtieth. 

"  By  the  Governor.  Stevens  T.  Mason, 

"Secretary  of  Michigan  Territory,  and  at  present  Acting  Governor." 

This  was  the  period  at  which  Michigan  was  passing  from 
the  condition  of  a  territory  to  that  of  a  State,  and  the  first 
election  after  the  organization  of  the  new  county  was  held  to 
choose  State  officers,  members  of  the  Legislature,  and  a  Con- 
gressman, under  the  constitution  just  formed,  and  also  to  take 
a  vote  on  the  question  of  approving  that  constitution,  as  will 
appear  from  the  following  notice,  for  which  we  are  also  in- 
debted to  Mr.  Ryan : 

"  Notice 

"  Is  hereby  given  that  a  meeting  of  the  electors  of  the  Township  of 
Allegan  and  County  of  Allegan  will  be  held  at  the  usual  place  of 
holding  Township  Meetings  in  said  township,  on  Monday,  the  5th 
day  of  October  next,  at  ten  of  the  clock,  a.m.,  and  on  Tuesday,  the 
6th  day  of  October  next,  at  the  Hous  of  A.  L.  Ely,  Esq.,  in  the  Vil- 
lage of  Allegan,  at  eleven  o'clock,  a.m.,  for  the  purpose  of  Electing 
One  Governor,  one  Lt.-Governor,  one  Representative  to  Congress,  one 
Member  of  the  Hous  of  Bepresentaves  of  Michigan  For  the  County 
of  Allegan,  and  three  Senators  for  the  third  Senatorial  District,  com- 
posing the  Counties  of  Hilsdale,  Branch,  St.  Josephs,  Cass,  Berrien, 
Calhoun,  Kalamazoo,  and  Allegan,  and  Also  to  take  into  Consider- 
ation the  Ratification  or  Rejection  of  the  Constitution  for  the  State  of- 
Michigan,  agreeable  to  the  9th  Article  Entitled  Schedule  of  said  Con- 
stitution.    Dated  at  Allegan,  Sept.  25,  1835. 

"John  L.  Shearer,   Town  Clerk." 

"  The  usual  place  of  holding  township-meetings  in  said 
township"  (which,  it  will  be  remembered,  still  embraced  the 
whole  county)  was  at  the  house  of  Samuel  Foster,  in  the 
villan-e  of  Otsego,  and  there  the  election  was  held  on  the 
5th  of  November.  At  the  close  of  that  day,  Oka  Town,  a 
justice  of  the  peace  and  one  of  the  election  board,  took  the 
ballot-box  to  his  residence.  The  next  morning  he  mounted 
his  horse,  took  the  ballot-box  under  his  arm,  and  rode 


48 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


through  the  woods  to  Allegan,  where  the  second  day's  elec- 
tion was  held.  There  was  no  contest  in  regard  to  any 
ofl5ce,  except  that  of  representative  to  the  Legislature  from 
this  county,  and  for  this  position  the  struggle  was  entirely 
sectional.  Dr.  Lintsford  B.  Coats  was  the  candidate  of  the 
settlers  of  Otsego  and  Gun  Plain,  and  that  vicinity,  while 
the  proprietors  and  workmen  who  were  making  a  begin- 
ning at  Allegan  supported  Elisha  Ely.  At  the  close  of 
the  election  it  was  found  that  Dr.  Coats  had  thirty  votes 
and  Mr.  Ely  thirty-one,  and  the  latter  was  accordingly  de- 
clared elected.  No  county  officers  were  chosen  at  this 
election. 

In  April,  1836,  a  county  treasurer  and  a  county  register 
were  elected  by  the  people.  Milo  Winslow,  the  appointee 
of  the  Governor,  was  chosen  treasurer,  and  to  the  best  of 
our  knowledge  Joseph  Fisk  was  elected  register.  Owing 
to  the  long  time  which  has  elapsed,  and  the  mass  of  import- 
ant business  which  has  occupied  his  attention.  Col.  Fisk 
himself  does  not  recollect  the  exact  date  at  which  he 
entered  on  the  office,  nor  is  there  any  one  else  now  living 
in  Allegan  County  who  is  at  all  certain  as  to  the-  facts. 
The  books  show  that  a  number  of  the  earliest  entries  were 
made  by  Mr.  Ely  or  his  deputy,  Mr.  Parkhurst,  though 
the  minute  of  the  reception  of  each  one  was  not  dated  and 
signed,  as  has  since  been  the  case.  After  that,  for  several 
months,  closing  about  the  last  of  June  of  that  year,  deeds 
and  mortgages  are  marked  as  received  for  record,  some- 
times by  Joseph  Fisk,  and  sometimes  by  A.  L.  Ely,  and, 
what  is  more  strange,  the  handwriting  of  the  records  made 
in  the  same  book  at  this  period  are  alternately  in  the  hand- 
writing of  the  respective  deputies  of  Messrs.  Fisk  and  Ely. 

Now,  that  an  election  for  treasurer  and  register  was  held 
in  April,  1836,  and  also  that  there  was  some  legal  defect  in 
the  election  or  the  method  of  conducting  it,  appear  by  the 
fact  that  in  June  of  that  year  a  law  was  passed  by  the 
State  Legislature,  legalizing  the  election  of  treasurer  and 
register  of  Allegan  County,  in  spite  of  any  illegality  in  the 
election  or  the  manner  of  canvassing  the  votes.  Immedi- 
ately after  that,  Mr.  Ely  ceased  entirely  to  act  as  register, 
all  the  records  bearing  Col.  Fisk's  name  until  the  close  of 
the  year.  Then  Mr.  Ely  again  took  the  office,  by  virtue  of 
his  election  in  November,  1836. 

From  all  this,  we  infer  that  Mr.  Ely  was  first  appointed 
register  by  the  Governor  ;  that  Col.  Fisk  was  elected  to  the 
same  office  in  April,  but  that,  on  account  of  some  legal  defect 
in  the  election,  Mr.  Ely  still  claimed  to  be  the  register  ;  that 
both  acted  from  that  time  until  the  passage  of  the  law  be- 
fore mentioned,  when  Col.  Fisk  took  entire  control.  Ap- 
parently, the  first  deeds  were  not  copied  when  received,  or 
were  copied  into  a  temporary  book,  and  when  the  contest 
was  decided,  each  of  the  contestants,  or  his  deputy,  copied 
the  deeds  he  had  received  into  the  present  book  of  records. 
There  are  some  deeds  and  mortgages  which  are  marked  as 
received  by  Col.  Fisk  before  the  1st  of  April,  but  these 
may  have  been  some  which  Mr.  Ely,  in  the  confusion  of 
that  period,  had  failed  to  record,  and  which,  when  they 
came  into  Col.  Fisk's  possession,  he  dated  back  to  the  time 
of  their  reception  by  Ely,  as  we  learn  from  other  evidence 
was  sometimes  done. 

The  whole  matter  is  involved  in  much  confusion,  as  any 


one  may  see  by  glancing  at  the  first  book  of  records ;  but 
the  above  is  the  most  plausible  solution  we  can  suggest. 

On  the  23d  day  of  March,  1836,  an  act  of  the  State 
Legislature  was  approved,  dividing  the  township  and  county 
of  Allegan  into  four  townships,  as  follows :  Plainfield  con- 
tained survey-townships  1,  2,  3,  and  4  north,  in  range  11 
west;  now  the  civil  townships  of  Gun  Plain,  Martin,  Way- 
land,  and  Leighton.  Otsego  comprised  the  same  numbered 
townships  in  range  12  ;  now  Otsego,  Watson,  Hopkins,  and 
Dorr.  Allegan  included  the  same  numbered  townships  in 
ranges  13  and  14,  being  the  present  civil  townships  of 
Trowbridge,  Allegan,  Monterey,  Salem,  Cheshire,  Pine 
Plains,  Heath,  and  Overisel.  Newark  contained  the  sur- 
vey-townships bearing  the  same  numbers  in  ranges  15 
and  16,  and  a  small  fraction  of  township  1  in  range  17, 
its  territory  being  now  divided  between  the  townships  of 
Lee,  Clyde,  Manlius,  Fillmore,  Casco,  Ganges,  Saugatuck, 
and  Laketown. 

Town-meetings  were  duly  held  in  the  four  townships  in 
April  following,  and  the  board  of  supervisors  met  for  the 
first  time  on  the  4th  day  of  the  ensuing  October.  Its  pro- 
ceedings on  that  occasion  are  given  in  Chapter  XIV. 

Since  that  time  there  have  been  twenty  new  townships 
organized  in  Allegan  County,  and  several  other  changes 
made.  Until  1852  such  organizations  and  changes  were 
directed  by  the  State  Legislature.  Prom  that  time  until 
1860  the  board  of  supervisors  had  full  authority  over  those 
subjects.  Control  over  them  was  then  resumed  by  the 
Legislature,  but  no  townships  have  been  formed  in  Allegan 
County  since  that  time.     The  following  is  the  record : 

Manlius  was  formed  from  Newark  on  the  6th  day  of 
March,  1838,  consisting  of  township  3  north,  range  15 
west, — its  present  territory.* 

Martin,  formed  from  Plainfield  March  22,  1839,  com- 
prised townships  2,  3,  and  4  (Martin,  Wayland,  and  Leigh- 
ton). 

Trowbridge,  taken  from  Allegan  Feb.  16, 1842,  included 
townships  1  in  range  13,  and  1  in  range  14  (Trowbridge 
and  Cheshire). 

Watson,  taken  from  Otsego  Feb.  16,  1842,  embraced 
townships  2,  3,  and  4  in  range  12  (Watson,  Hopkins,  and 
Dorr). 

Wayland  was  organized  on  the  9th  day  of  March,  1843, 
being  taken  from  Martin,  and  being  composed  of  townships 
3  and  4  in  range  11  (Wayland  and  Leighton). 

The  name  of  Plainfield  was  changed  to  Gun  Plain,  March 
19,  1845. 

Ganges  was  organized  on  the  16th  day  of  March,  1847, 
being  formed  from  Newark,  and  comprising  townships  1  and 
2  in  range  16,  and  a  small  fraction  of  township  1  in  range 
17  (now  Ganges  and  Casco). 

Dorr,  formed  from  Watson  on  the  16th  day  of  March, 
1847,  embraced  townships  3  and  4  in  range  12  (now  Dorr 
and  Hopkins). 

Monterey,  taken  from  Allegan  on  the  16th  day  of  March, 
1847,  was  composed  of  townships  3  and  4  in  range  13,  and 


«  Township  4,  range  U  (Fillmore),  was  taken  from  Newark  and 
annexed  to  Manlius  by  the  Legislature,  but  was  subsequently  given 
a  separate  organization,  as  mentioned  a  little  farther  on. 


ORGANIZATION. 


49 


of  township  4  in  range  14  (now  Monterey,  Salem,  and 
Overisel).* 

Leighton,  erected  on  the  9th  day  of  March,  1848,  was 
taken  from  Wayland,  and  was  composed  of  township  4  in 
range  11,  its  present  territory. 

Fillmore,  organized  on  the  15th  day  of  March,  1849, 
■was  formed  from  Manlius,  and  comprised  township  4,  range 
15, "I"  its  present  territory. 

Pine  Plains  was  formed  from  Allegan  and  Newark  on 
the  28th  day  of  March,  1850,  comprising  townships  1  and 
2  in  range  15  (now  Lee  and  Clyde),  and  all  of  township  2 
in  range  14,  west  of  the  Kalamazoo.  The  part  of  the  last- 
named  township  east  of  the  river  was  subsequently  an- 
nexed to  Pine  Plains,  the  limits  of  which  now  correspond 
to  those  of  the  survey-township  just  mentioned. 

Cheshire,  formed  from  Trowbridge  on  the  2d  day  of 
April,  1851,  consisted  of  survey-township  1,  range  14,  as 
it  does  at  the  present  time. 

Heath  was  erected  on  the  18th  day  of  March,  1851,  and 
consisted  of  all  of  survey-townships  2  and  3,  range  14,  east 
of  the  Kalamazoo.  Its  boundaries  have  since  been  made 
to  correspond  with  those  of  survey-township  3,  range  14. 

The  townships  formed  after  this  time  were  erected  and 
organized  by  the  board  of  supervisors. 

Hopkins  was  established  on  the  29th  day  of  December, 
1852,  being  taken  from  Dorr,  and  comprising  township  3, 
range  12,  as  it  still  does. 

Casco,  formed  from  Ganges  Dec.  27,  1844,  embraced 
then  as  now  township  1,  range  16,  and  fractional  township 
1  (about  three  sections)  in  range  17. 

Salem  was  erected  on  the  10th  day  of  October,  1855, 
being  formed  from  Monterey  and  comprising  township  4, 
range  13, — its  present  territory. 

Overisel  was  formed  from  Fillmore  on  the  14th  day  of 
October,  1856,  and  comprised  township  4,  range  14, — its 
present  territory. 

Laketown  came  into  existence  on  the  13th  day  of  Oc- 
tober, 1858,  being  taken  from  Newark,  and  comprising 
fractional  township  No.  4,  in  range  16  (about  twenty-two 
sections),  which  still  constitutes  its  territory. 

Lee  was  taken  from  Pine  Plains  on  the  4th  day  of  Jan- 
uary, 1859,  being  composed  of  township  1,  range  15,  as  is 
still  the  case. 

Clyde,  the  last  township  formed  in  the  county,  was  taken 
from  Pine  Plains  on  the  12th  day  of  October,  1859,  and 
was  composed  of  township  2,  range  15,  which  is  its  pres- 
ent territory. 

The  name  of  Newark  was  changed  to  Saugatuck  in 
1861.  Its  territory  had  been  reduced  to  fractional  town- 
ship No.  3,  in  range  16  (about  twenty-seven  sections),  of 
which  it  is  still  composed. 

ERECTION   AND   OEGANIZATION    OF    BAKKY 

COUNTY    AND   ITS   TOWNSHIPS. 
In  most  countries  municipal  divisions  are  formed  after  it 
is  found  that  there  are  people  who  need  them,  but  west  of 


*  Township  4,  range  14  (Overisel)  was  tiilsen  from  Monterey  and 
annexed  to  Fillmore  by  an  act  of  tho  Legislature  approved  March 
28,  1850. 

■f  The  published  session  laws  of  1849  say  "fourteen,"  but  that  is 
evidently  a  misprint. 

7 


the  Alleghanies  it  has  long  been  common  to  form  counties 
first  and  put  the  people  into  them  afterwards.  In  accord- 
ance with  this  custom,  the  Legislative  Council  of  Michigan 
passed  an  act,  which  was  approved  on  the  29th  day  of 
October,  1829,  establishing  the  counties  of  Washtenaw, 
Ingham,  Eaton,  Barry,  Jackson,  Calhoun,  Kalamazoo, 
Van  Buren,  Hillsdale,  Branch,  St.  Joseph,  Cass,  and 
Berrien.  Section  4,  with  which  alone  we  are  especially 
concerned,  reads  as  follows : 

"  That  so  much  of  the  country  as  lies  north  of  the  base-line  and 
south  of  the  line  between  townships  4  and  5  north  of  the  base-line, 
west  of  the  line  between  ranges  6  and  *J  west  of  the  meridian,  and 
east  of  the  line  between  ranges  1 1  and  12  west  of  the  meridian,  be 
and  the  same  is  hereby  set  off  into  a  separate  county,  and  the  name 
thereof  shall  be  Barry." 

Of  the  thirteen  counties  established  by  this  act,  eight 
(Jackson,  Calhoun,  Van  Buren,  Ingham,  Eaton,  Branch, 
Berrien,  and  Barry)  were  named  respectively  after  the 
President,  the  Vice-President,  and  the  six  cabinet  minis- 
ters of  that  date.  Barry  received  its  appellation  from  the 
Hon.  William  T.  Barry,  then  Postmaster-General  under 
President  Jackson. J 

By  an  act  approved  on  the  4th  day  of  November  follow- 
ing, the  newly-formed  counties  of  Branch,  Kalamazoo,  Cal- 
houn, and  Barry,  and  all  that  tract  lying  north  of  the  north 
line  of  the  townships  numbered  4  in  the  several  ranges,  west 
of  the  principal  meridian,  east  of  the  west  line  of  range  12, 
and  south  of  the  south  line  of  the  county  of  Mackinaw,  was 
temporarily  attached  to  St.  Joseph  County  for  legislative 
and  judicial  purposes. 

On  the  following  day  (Nov.  5, 1829)  a  law  was  approved 
enacting  that  Kalamazoo  and  Barry  Counties,  and  the  tract, 
belonging  to  no  county,  described  in  the  preceding  para- 
graph, should  form  a  township  by  the  name  of  Brady  ;  the 
first  town-meeting  being  directed  to  be  held  at  the  house  of 
Abram  I.  Shaver,  in  the  south  part  of  Kalamazoo  County. 

Barry  County  was  not  formed  into  a  separate  township 
until  the  24th  day  of  March,  1836,  when  an  act  of  the 
State  Legislature  was  approved,  which  contained  the  follow- 
ing sections ; 

"  Sec.  50.  The  County  of  Barry  shall  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby, 
set  off  and  organized  into  a  separate  township  by  the  name  of  Barry, 
and  the  first  township-meeting  shall  be  held  at  the  dwelling-house  of 
Nicholas  Campbell. 

"  Sec.  51.  The  inhabitants  of  the  aforesaid  township  shall  have  the 
same  rights  and  privileges,  and  be  subject  to  the  same  duties  and  re- 
strictions, as  the  inhabitants  of  other  townships  of  this  State." 

The  dwelling-house  of  Nicholas  Campbell,  mentioned  in 
the  first  section  just  quoted,  was  situated  in  the  present 
township  of  Prairieville,  and  there  the  first  town-meeting 
in  Barry  County  was  held,  in  the  fore-part  of  April,  1836. 
Charles  W.  Spaulding  was  chosen  moderator,  and  Orville 
Barnes  clerk.     A  full  list  of  officers  was  elected,  whose 


J  William  Taylor  Barry  was  born  in  Lunenburg,  Va.,  Feb.  5,  1784. 
He  removed  to  Kentucky  when  a  young  man,  and  was  a  member  of 
Congress  from  that  State  in  1810-1 1.  He  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  and 
was  a  United  States  senator  in  1814-16.  After  holding  various  other 
offices  he  was  made  Postmaster-General  by  President  Jackson,  in 
March,  1829.  He  retired  from  that  position  in  1835,  and  was  imme- 
diately appointed  minister  to  Spain.  He  died  at  Liverpool  on  the 
30th  day  of  August,  1835,  while  on  his  way  to  Madrid  to  assume  the 
duties  of  his  new  station. 


50 


HISTOHY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BAKRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


names  we  give  here,  as  they  resided  in  various  parts  of  the 
county,  and  were  not  specially  connected  with  any  of  the 
present  townships  :  Supervisor,  C.  G.  Hill ;  Town  Clerk, 
Orville  Barnes ;  Assessors,  Benjamin  Hoff,  Henry  Leon- 
ard, and  C.  W.  Spaulding ;  Commissioners  of  Highways, 
Amasa  S.  Parker,  Nicholas  Campbell,  and  Calvin  G.  Hill ; 
Justices  of  the  Peace,  Orville  Barnes,  C.  W.  Spaulding, 
Benjamin  Hoff,  and  C.  G.  Hill ;  Collector,  William  Camp- 
bell ;  School  Commissioners,  C.  W.  Spaulding,  Benjamin 
Hoff,  and  Luther  Hill ;  Directors  of  the  Poor,  Linus  Elli- 
son and  Moses  Lawrence;  Constables,  Lewis  Moreau  and 
William  Campbell. 

In  1837  the  election  was  held  at  the  house  of  Charles 
W.  Spaulding,  also  in  the  present  township  of  Prairieville, 
and  the  following  were  the  officers  elected  : 

Supervisor,  Isaac  Otis ;  Town  Clerk,  Ambrose  Mills  ; 
Assessors,  Duty  Benson,  Thomas  Bunker,  and  C.  W. 
Spaulding ;  Commissioners  of  Highways,  Ephraim  Block, 
Eli  Waite,  and  William  Lewis ;  Justices  of  the  Peace, 
George  Brown,  Henry  Leonard,  and  Isaac  Otis  ;  Collector, 
Ambrose  Mills ;  School  Commissioner,  Benjamin  Dibble ; 
Directors  of  the  Poor,  no  record  ;  Constables,  Timothy  G. 
Johnson,  Isaac  Messor,  and  Ambrose  Mills. 

By  an  act  passed  on  the  6th  ^day  of  March,  1838,  the 
county  dS  Barry  was  divided  into  four  townships,  each  com- 
prising one-fourth  of  its  territory.  Survey-townships  1 
and  2  north,  in  ranges  9  and  10  west  (now  Orangeville, 
Prairieville,  Hope,  and  Barry),  were  formed  into  the  civil 
township  of  Barry  ;  numbers  3  and  4  in  the  same  ranges 
(now  Thornapple,  Yankee  Springs,  Irving,  and  Rutland) 
were  organized  as  Thornapple  ;  1  and  2,  in  ranges  7  and  8 
(Baltimore,  Johnstown,  Maple  Grove,  and  Assyria),  re- 
ceived the  name  of  Johnstown  ;  while  townships  3  and  4 
in  the  same  ranges  (Carlton,  Hastings,  Woodland,  and  Cas- 
tleton)  became,  under  the  same  act,  the  civil  township  of 
Hastings.  These  townships  duly  held  town-meetings  under 
the  law  (accounts  of  which  will  be  found  in  the  townships 
still  bearing  the  four  names  above  given),  and  thus  entered 
on  their  organic  existence. 

It  was  not  until  the  15th  day  of  March,  1839,  one  year 
and  nine  days  after  the  formation  of  the  four  townships 
before  mentioned,  that  Barry  County  was  duly  organized  by 
an  act  of  the  Legislature. 

As  this  law  is  the  foundation  of  and  warrant  for  all 
legal  and  municipal  proceedings  in  the  county  since  that 
time,  we  give  a  copy  of  it  entire : 

"AN  ACT   TO  ORGANIZE  THE  COUNTY   OF  BARRY. 

"  Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Mepreaenta- 
tivea  of  the  State  of  Michigan^  That  the  county  of  Barry  be,  and  the 
Bume  is,  hereby  organized,  and  the  inhabitants  thereof  entitled  to  all 
the  rights  and  privileges  to  which,  by  law,  the  inhabitants  of  the  other 
counties  of  this  State  are  entitled. 

"  Sec.  2.  All  suits,  prosecutions,  and  other  matters  now  pending 
before  any  court  or  before  any  justice  of  the  peace  of  the  county  to 
which  the  said  county  of  Barry  is  now  attached  for  judicial  purposes 
[Kalamazoo]  shall  be  prosecuted  to  final  judgment  and  execution, 
and  all  the  taxes  heretofore  levied  shall  be  collected  in  the  same 
manner  as  though  this  act  had  not  been  passed. 

"  Sec.  3.  That  the  sheriff  of  the  county  of  Barry,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  commissioners  of  said  county,  shall  provide  a  convenient 
place  for  holding  courts  in  said  county,  at  or  near  the  county-seat, 
until  pn  jlic  buildings  shall  be  erected. 


"  Sec.  i.  There  shall  be  elected  in  the-said  county  of  Barry,  on  the 
first  Monday  of  April  next,  all  the  several  officers  to  which  by  law 
the  said  county  is  entitled,  and  whose  term  of  ofiice  shall  severally 
expire  at  the  time  the  same  would  have  expired  had  they  been  elected 
on  the  first  Monday  and  next  succeeding  day  of  November  in  the 
year  eighteen  hundred  and  thirty-eight;  and  said  election  shall  in  all 
respects  be  conducted  in  the  manner  prescribed  by  law  for  holding 
elections  for  county  and  State  ofBcers. 

"  Sec.  6.  The  board  of  canvassers  in  said  county,  under  this  act, 
shall  consist  of  two  of  the  presiding  inspectors  of  said  election  from 
each  township,  and  said  board  shall  meet  on  Thursday  next  after  said 
election,  at  the  county-seat  in  said  county,  at  one  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon of  said  day,  and  organize  by  the  appointment  of  one  of  their 
number  chairman,  and  another  secretary,  of  said  board,  and  shall 
thereupon  proceed  to  discharge  all  the  duties  of  a  board  of  county 
canvassers,  as  in  ordinary  eases  of  elections  for  ooUnty  officers. 

"Sec.  6.  This  act  shall  take  effect  from  and  after  the  date  of  tho 
passage  thereof. 

"Approved  March  15,  1839." 

The  election  was  duly  held  on  the  first  Monday  of  April, 
and  the  following  officers  were  duly  elected  :  Probate  Judge, 
Stephen  V.  R.  York  ;  Associate  Judges,  Nathan  Barlow  and 
Isaac  Otis ;  Sheriff,  Willard  Hayes ;  County  Clerk,  Thomas 
B.  Bunker  ;  Register,  Abner  C.  Parmelee ;  Treasurer,  Chas. 
W.  Spaulding;  County  Commissioners,  Nelson  Barnum, 
John  Bowne,  and  Calvin  G.  Hill;  County  Surveyor,  Calvin 
G.  Hill ;  Coroners,  Calvin  Brown  and  Henry  Leonard. 

Before  the  time  for  holding  the  election — namely,  on  the 
22d  day  of  March — the  number  of  townships  in  the  county 
had  been  increased  to  five  by  the  organization  of  Yankee 
Springs,  with  boundaries  embracing  survey-township  3,  in 
range  9,  and  the  same  numbered  township  in  range  10, 
being  the  south  half  of  the  old  civil  township  of  Thorn- 
apple.  Its  first  town-meeting  was  held  on  the  first  Monday 
of  April  (the  same  day  as  the  first  election  of  county 
officers),  when  the  county  of  Barry  entered  on  its  organic 
existence,  with  five  subordinate  organizations  within  its 
limits. 

About  two  weeks  later  (on  the  17th  of  April)  still  an- 
other township  was  erected  and  organized,  by  the  name  of 
Irving,  which  comprised  survey-townships  3  and  4,  in  range 
9,  being  the  west  half  of  both  Thornapple  and  Yankee 
Springs,  which  were  thus  reduced  to  their  present  limits. 
The  act  organizing  Irving  was  not  to  take  effect  until  the 
31st  day  of  March,  1840.  On  the  30th  of  March,  1840, 
the  law  was  repealed.  The  people  apparently  did  not  hear 
of  the  repeal  before  the  first  Monday  of  April,  for  on  that 
day  they  elected  a  full  set  of  township  officers,  some  of 
whom,  at  least,  proceeded  to  exercise  their  functions  as  such. 
On  the  18th  of  March,  1841,  the  original  act  establishing 
Irving  was  revived  by  law,  and  the  official  acts  of  the 
township  officers  just  mentioned  were  made  valid. 

Since  then,  besides  those  already  mentioned,  the  follow- 
ing ten  townships  and  the  city  of  Hastings  have  been  organ- 
ized, and  the  following  changes  of  name  have  been  made : 

On  the  20th  day  of  March,  1841,  the  township  of 
Spaulding  was  organized  by  the  Legislature,  being  taken 
from  Barry,  and  comprising  survey  townships  1  and  2  north, 
in  range  10  west.  Its  name  was  changed  to  Prairieville  by 
an  act  of  the  Legislature  approved  March  9,  1843. 

The  township  of  Castleton  was  formed  from  Hastings  by 
an  act  approved  Feb.  16,  1842,  being  composed  of  survey- 
township  3,  in  range  7,  which  is  its  present  territory. 


EARLY  SUPERVISORS   AND   COMMISSIONERS. 


51 


Woodland  was  also  formed  from  Hastings  on  the  same 
day  as  Castleton,  having  the  same  limits  as  now, — those  of 
survey-township  No.  4,  in  range  7. 

Carlton  was  likewise  taken  from  Hastings  (which  was 
thus  reduced  to  its  present  limits,  except  that  the  city  of 
Hastings  has  been  since  formed  from  it)  on  the  16th  of 
February,  184:2,  embracing  survey-township  No.  4,  in  range 
8,  which  is  its  present  territory. 

Assyria  was  formed  from  Johnstown  by  an  act  approved 
Feb.  29,  1844,  then  comprising  survey-townships  Nos.  1 
and  2,  in  range  7,  now  Assyria  and  Maple  Grove. 

On  the  4th  day  of  May,  1846,  the  township  of  Orange- 
ville  was  formed  from  Prairieville  (which  was  thus  reduced 
to  its  present  limits),  comprising  then  as  now  survey-town- 
ship No.  2,  in  range  10. 

Maple  Grove  was  formed  from  Assyria  by  an  act  ap- 
proved March  25,  1846,  comprising  survey-township  2,  in 
range  7  (its  present  territory),  and  reducing  Assyria  to  its 
present  size. 

Rutland  was  formed  from  Irving  by  an  act  approved  March 
16,  1847,  comprising  survey-township  No.  ,3,  in  range  9, 
both  townships  having  after  the  passage  of  the  act  the  same 
territory  as  now. 

The  name  of  the  township  of  Yankee  Springs  was  changed 
to  Gates  in  1848,  but  was  very  properly  changed  back  to  its 
original  appellation  by  an  act  approved  March  15,  1849. 

The  township  of  Baltimore  was  formed  from  Johnstown 
by  an  act  approved  March  14,  1849,  the  latter  township 
being  thus  reduced  to  its  present  boundaries,  and  those  of 
the  former  being  then  as  now  those  of  township  2,  in  range  8. 

The  last  township  organized  in  the  county  was  Hope, 
which  was  taken  from  Barry  at  the  session  of  the  Legis- 
lature in  1850.  It  comprised  the  same  territory  that  it 
now  does,  viz.,  survey-township  No.  2,  in  range  9,  while 
Barry,  which  had  once  comprised  the  whole  county,  was 
by  the  act  of  separation  reduced  to  its  present  limits,  those 
of  township  1  in  the  same  range. 

The  city  of  Hastings  was  formed  from  the  township  of 
Hastings  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature  approved  March  11, 
1871.  Although  it  is  surrounded  by  the  township,  yet  it 
is  in  a  legal  sense  entirely  separate  from  it,  and  constitutes 
the  seventeenth  of  the  distinct  organizations  comprised  in 
the  county  of  Barry. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

EAKLY  SUPEKVISOBS  AND  COMMISSIOWBHS. 

Allegan  County :  First  Record  of  Supervisors — Equalizing  Assessment 
Kolls — Sums  TOted  for  Bridges — County  Contingent  Fund — Town- 
ship Expenses — Place  to  keep  Prisoners — Poor-Fund — Votes  on 
County  Buildings — Wolf-Bounty — Establishment  of  Board  of 
Commissioners — First  Commissioners  of  Allegan  County — Re- 
establishment  of  Board  of  Supervisors— First  Board  under  new 

Law Barry   County:    its  first  Commissioners — Record  of  their 

first  Action— Second  Meeting— Equalizing  Valuation— Abstract 
of  Assessments  for  1839— Meeting  in  October,  1839— Taxes  Raised 
Apportionment  of   Taxes   to    Townships — Re-establishment  of 

Supervisors.  . 

ALLEGAN  COUNTY. 

The  first  record  of  the  proceedings  of  the  supervisors  of 

Allegan  County  is  as  follows  : 


"  State  of  Michigan, 
County  of  Allegan, 
Board  of  Supervisors. 

"  On  this  4th  day  of  October,  1836,  being  the  first  Tues- 
day of  the  said  month,  the  day  appointed  by  the  Laws  of 
this  State  for  the  Annual  meeting  of  this  Board,  the  fol- 
lowing persons.  Supervisors  of  the  several  townships  in  the 
said  county,  are  convened  in  the  village  of  Allegan — that 
is  to  say :  Hull  Sherwood,  Jr.,  Supervisor  of  the  township 
of  Otsego  ;  Alexander  L.  Ely,  Supervisor  of  the  township 
of  Allegan  ;  Daniel  A.  Plummer,  Supervisor  of  the  town- 
ship of  Newark  ;  John  Murphy,  Supervisor  of  the  town- 
ship of  Plainfield. 

"  Hull  Sherwood,  Jr.,  is  chosen  chairman  of  this  Board, 
and  Hovey  K.  Clarke,  of  the  township  of  Allegan,  is 
chosen  clerk,  and  duly  sworn." 

At  this  first  meeting  bills  were  audited  to  the  amount  of 
$28,  and  it  was  voted  that  orders  on  the  treasurer  should 
be  issued  in  favor  of  the  several  parties. 

The  supervisors  presented  the  assessment-rolls  of  their 
several  townships  for  examination,  and  the  board  proceeded 
to  ascertain  whether  the  valuations  had  been  made  in  just 
proportion  in  all  the  townships  in  the  county.  It  was  then 
ordered 

"  That  the  valuations  in  the  townships  of  Otsego  and 
Plainfield  be  confirmed  ;  that  there  be  added  to  the  valua- 
tions in  the  township  of  Allegan  twenty-two  per  centum, 
and  that  there  be  added  to  the  valuations  in  the  township  of 
Newark  fifteen  per  centum." 

The  board  then  adjourned  to  meet  on  the  following  day 
at  nine  o'clock. 

At  the  meeting  held  pursuant  to  adjournment  it  was  or- 
dered "  That  there  be  raised  by  tax  upon  the  county  the  sum 
of  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  to  be  expended  in  repairs 
on  bridges  in  the  county  as  follows :  For  the  bridge  across 
Gun  River,  $30 ;  for  the  bridge  across  Pine  Creek,  $75 ; 
for  the  bridge  across  Schrobel  Creek,  $75  ;  for  bridges 
between  Allegan  and  Newark,  $75." 

Also,  "  That  there  be  raised  by  tax  upon  the  county  the 
sum  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  a  county  contin- 
gent fund."  This  order  was  reconsidered,  and  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty-seven  dollars  was  inserted  in  the  place  of  two 
hundred  and  fifty.  Still  later,  at  the  same  meeting,  it  was 
ordered  that  four  hundred  dollars  should  be  inserted  in 
place  of  three  hundred  and  fifty-seven.  This  last  amount 
was  not  changed,  and  constituted  the  contingent  fund  of 
the  county  for  that  year. 

On  application  of  the  supervisors  of  the  several  town- 
ships, it  was  ordered  that  the  following  sums  be  assessed 
for  township  expenses:  On  the  township  of  Allegan,  one 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars;  on  the  township  of  Otsego, 
seventy-five  dollars ;  on  the  township  of  Plainfield,  fifty 
dollars ;  on  the  township  of  Newark,  seventy-five  dollars. 

A  small  amount  of  other  business  was  transacted,  and 
then  the  board  adjourned  without  day. 

A  meeting  of  the  board  of  supervisors  was  held  on  the 
7th  day  of  March,  1837,  at  the  office  of  the  county  clerk, 
in  Allegan,  at  which  the  chairman  and  clerk  were  author- 
ized to  procure  and  prepare  some  suitable  place  to  confine 
prisoners. 


52 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


At  a  meeting  held  in  November  of  the  same  year  it  was 
unanimously  resolved  that  one  hundred  dollars  should  be 
raised  to  constitute  a  poor-fund,  and  also  that  the  sheriff 
should  be  authorized  to  procure  a  suitable  place  for  the 
confinement  of  debtors  and  criminals ;  provided,  the  ex- 
pense should  not  exceed.one  hundred  dollars  for  one  year. 

At  the  same  meeting  the  clerk  was  directed  to  put  up 
public  notices  in  three  places  in  each  township,  requesting 
the  qualified  electors  at  the  next  town-meetings  to  authorize 
the  board  of  supervisors,  by  a  vote  of  said  electors,  to 
borrow  on  the  credit  of  the  county  such  sum  as  the  body 
should  deem  proper,  not  exceeding  fifteen  thousand  dollars, 
for  the  purpose  of  erecting  county  buildings,  pursuant  to 
an  act  of  the  Legislature  passed  March  20,  1837. 

A  bounty  of  five  dollars  was  authorized  to  be  paid  by 
the  county  treasurer  for  each  wolf  that  should  thereafter 
be  taken  and  killed  therein  ;  the  proof  of  the  same  to  be  a 
certificate  of  a  justice  of  the  peace,  based  upon  the  oath 
of  the  claimant  or  a  competent  witness,  and  on  the  produc- 
tion of  the  scalp. 

After  a  three  days'  session  and  the  transaction  of  con- 
siderable other  business,  the  board  adjourned  "  sine  die." 

By  the  provisions  of  a  law  passed  by  the  Legislature  in 
1838,  the  powers  and  duties  of  the  board  of  supervisors 
were  transferred  to  a  board  of  county  commissioners. 

The  first  commissioners  of  Allegan  County  were  Oshea 
Wilder,  of  Newark ;  Silas  F.  Littlejohn,  of  Allegan ;  and 
Hull  Sherwood,  of  Otsego.  These  officers  were  duly  quali- 
fied on  the  20th  of  December,  1838.  The  board  then 
organized,  with  Silas  F.  Littlejohn  as  chairman,  and  ad- 
journed to  meet  at  Allegan  on  the  15th  of  January,  1839. 

The  business  of  the  county  was  transacted  by  the  new 
board  until  the  office  of  county  commissioner  was  abolished 
and  that  of  supervisor  was  revived,  by  an  act  of  the  Legis- 
lature approved-  Feb.  10,  1842.  The  powers  which  had 
been  exercised  by  the  commissioners  were  then  resumed  by 
the  supervisors  of  the  county,  whose  first  meeting  under 
the  new  law  was  held  July  4,  1842.  As  they  were  not 
all  present,  the  board  adjourned  until  the  next  day,  when 
the  townships  were  represented  as  follows :  Lintsford  B. 
Coats,  Otsego ;  Archibald  Jameson,  Plainfield;  Joel  Brown- 
son,  Martin ;  Stephen  A.  Morrison,  Newark ;  John  H. 
Billings,  Manlius ;  Amos  D.  Dunning,  Watson ;  John 
Weare,  Trowbridge ;  Alexander  L.  Ely,  Allegan.  Alex- 
ander L.  Ely  was  elected  chairman  for  the  ensuing  year. 

From  that  time  until  the  present  the  board  has  exercised 
the  legislative  authority  of  the  county.  An  account  of  its 
action  in  regard  to  the  poor-farm  and  the  erection  of  county 
buildings  is  given  in  Chapter  XVI. 

BAEEY  COUNTY. 

When  Barry  County  was  organized  by  the  Legislature 
in  March,  1839,  county  commissioners  had  just  been  sub- 
stituted for  supervisors  throughout  the  State.  Commis- 
sioners were  accordingly  voted  for  at  the  first  election  for 
county  officers,  on  the  4th  of  April  following,  and  Calvin 
G.  Hill,  John  Bowne,  and  Nelson  Barnum  were  duly 
elected.  The  following  is  the  record  of  the  first  proceed- 
ings of  the  board : 


I 


Commissioners'  Record. 


"Barry  Codnty, 
"State  op  Michigan. 

"At  the  first  meeting  of  commissioners-elect  for  the  county  of 
Barry,  held  ot  the  county-seat,  to  wit,  the  village  of  Hastings  in  said 
county,  on  the  thirteenth  day  of  April  in  the  year  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  thirty-nine,— present,  Calvin  G.  Hill  and  John  Bowne,— 

"  Three  numbers  were  prepared  by  the  clerk,  and  the  commissioners 
present  drew  for  the  term  of  time  for  holding  their  said  office.  Where- 
upon it  was  found  that  Calvin  G.  Hill  drew  for  one  year,  John  Bowne 
for  two  years,  leaving  the  term  of  three  years  to  Nelson  Barnum,  who 
was  absent  by  reason  of  sickness. 

"  The  commissioners  present  then  took  the  oath  of  office  prescribed 
by  law,  and  organized  the  board  by  choosing  Calvin  G.  Hill  chair- 
man for  the  legal  term,  and  then  proceeded  to  business. 

"  On  motion.  Resolved,  That  John  J.  Nichols,  of  Barry,  John  W. 
Bradley,  of  Yankee  Springs,  and  William  P.  Bristol,  of  Johnstown, 
be  and  are  hereby  appointed  superintendents  of  the  poor,  in  and  for 
the  county  of  Barry,  for  the  term  of  one  year  from  the  date  of  their 
said  appointment.     On  motion,  the  board  adjourned  without  date." 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  only  business  done  at  the  first 
meeting  was  the  appointment  of  superintendents  of  the 
poor,  but  on  the  8th  of  July,  1839,  pursuant  to  public 
notice,  the  board  convened  for  the  purpose  of  examining 
the  assessment-rolls  of  the  several  townships  and  other 
business.  After  a  proper  examination  of  the  rolls  it  was 
resolved,  "  That  to  the  township  of  Yankee  Springs  twenty 
per  cent,  be  added  in  order  to  produce  an  equal  relative 
valuation  in  the  several  townships  in  the  county.'' 

The  following  is  an  abstract  of  the  assessment-rolls  in 
each  of  the  several  townships  in  the  county  of  Barry  for 
the  year  1839 : 


Townships.  AcreB, 

Hastings 69,451 

Johnstown 63,092.33 

Barry 50,581 

Yankee  Springs 31,913.72 

Thornapple 28,281.55 


At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  commissioners  on  the  15th 
of  October,  1839,  it  was  resolved  that  a  State  tax  of  two 
mills  upon  each  dollar  of  valuation  should  be  assessed  in  the 
county  of  Barry  for  the  year  1839,  and  that  there  should 
likewise  be  assessed  a  tax  of  one  and  a  half  mills  on  each 
dollar  for  county  purposes  for  the  same  year.  At  the  same 
meeting  the  following  resolution  was  also  adopted : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  amount  of  moneys  to  be  raised  in  each  town- 
ship for  different  purposes,  for  the  year  1839,  should  be  as  is  herein 
set  forth,  and  that  the  ratio  should  be  as  set  forth  in  this  exhibit." 


Valuation. 

Personal 

$241,246 

$2398 

189,829.70 

2097 

151,743 

9768 

96,888.38 

4826 

84,844.59 

2395 

YANKEE  SPRINGS  TOWNSHIP. 

State  tax $203.43 

County  tax 152.57 

Township  tax 212.21 

Highway  tax 558.09 


Total $1126.30 

Ratio  for  State,  county,  and 
township  tax,  six  and  a  half 
mills  to  the  dollar,  which  raises 
the  valuation  twenty  per  cent. 


BAEEY  TOWNSHIP. 

State  tax $323.03 

County  tax 242.27 

Township  tax 392.24 

Poor  tax 15.00 


THOENAPPLE  TOWNSHIP. 

State  tax $174.48 

County  tax 130.86 

Township  tax 170.38 

Highway  tax 666.79 

Total $1142.51 

Ratio,  five  mills  to  the  dollar 
valuation. 


JOHNSTOWN  TOWNSHIP. 

State  tax $38.1.86 

County  tax 287.89 

Township  tax 272.72 

Highway  tax 1347.86 


Total $972.54 

Ratio,  six  mills  to  the  dollar 
valuation. 


Total $2292.33 

Ratio,  five  mills  to  the  dollar 
valuation. 


EARLY  COURTS. 


53 


HASTINGS  TOWNSHIP.  Total  amount  of  State 

SUte  tax $487.29  tax  for  the  year  1839.  S1572.48 

County  tax 365.46  Total  amount  of  county.     1179.05 

Township  tax 203.49  Total  amount  of  town- 
Highway  tax 1842.64          ship 1351.98 

Total $2898.88  Total  for  1839....  $4103.52 

Katio,  four  and  a  half  mills  to 
the  dollar  valuation. 

The  commissioners  transacted  the  business  of  the  county 
until  July  4,  1842,  when  the  functions  of  the  board  of 
supervisors  were  restored.  Supervisors  from  the  townships 
of  Spaulding,  Barry,  Thornapple,  Yankee  Springs,  Irving, 
Hastings,  Johnstown,  Castl^ton,  Carlton,  and  Woodland 
constituted  the  first  board  under  the  new  arrangement. 
The  business  of  the  county  has  since  been  transacted  by 
the  supervisors.  Their  action  in  regard  to  the  county 
buildings  and  the  poor-farm  will  be  found  in  Chapter  XVI. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

EAKLY    COtTBTS. 

Allegan  County  Probate  Court — First  Letters  of  Administration — 
The  first  Circuit  in  Allegan  County — First  Day's  Record — Second 
Day's  Record — First  Grand  Jury — First  Petit  Jury — First  Admis- 
sion of  an  Attorney — First  Bill  in  Chancery — Judge  Ransom — 
Other  Judges — Allegan  County  Court — Attorneys  admitted  or 
having  practiced  in  Allegan  County — FirstCircuit  in  Barry  County 
— Copy  of  the  Record — First  Grand  Jury  in  Barry  County — First 
Petit  Jury — The  Circuit  Judges — Barry  County  Court — Attorneys 
admitted  in  the  County. 

COURTS  OF   ALLEGAN  COUNTY. 
PROBATE    COURT. 

Th^  first  session  of  a  court  held  in  this  county  was  held 
by  Oka  Town,  judge  of  probate.  The  first  business  trans- 
acted was  the  granting  of  letters  of  administration  to  Sophia 
Sherwood,  as  administratrix  upon  the  estate  of  Libbeus  Sher- 
wood, with  instructions  to  make  an  inventory  of  the  estate 
and  exhibit  the  same  to  the  register  of  probate  at  or  before  the 
28th  day  of  March  following.  These  letters  were  granted 
on  the  25th  day  of  December,  1835.  On  the  28th  of  the 
same  month,  Sophia  Sherwood,  Royal  Sherwood,  and  Hull 
Sherwood  entered  into  bonds  to  the  judge  of  probate,  in  the 
sum  of  four  thousand  dollars,  for  the  faithful  performance 
of  her  duties  as  administratrix  by  the  first-named  person. 
On  the  25th  day  of  January,  1836,  Judge  Town  appointed 
Silas  Dunham,  Eber  Sherwood,  and  Hull  Sherwood  ap- 
praisers of  the  estate,  which,  according  to  the  inventory 
made  by  them,  amounted  to  four  thousand  one  hundred  and 
fifty-two  dollars  and  eleven  cents. 

The  business  of  the  estate  was  not  closed  until  1837, 
under  the  administration  of  Ebenezer  Parkhurst,  the  second 
judge  of  probate  of  Allegan  County. 

THE   CIRCUIT   COURT  AND   ITS  JUDGES. 
The  first  Circuit  Court  for  Allegan  County  was  held  in 
November,  1836.     The  following,  from  the  records,  will 
show  its  proceedings  on  the  first  day : 

"  State  op  Michigan,  "i  ^^_ 

Allegan  Co.  J 

"Be  it  remembered  that  at  a  Session  of  the  Circuit 
Court  for  the  3d  Circuit  of  Michigan,  holden  at  the  Court- 


House  in  Allegan,  within  and  for  the  County  of  Allegan, 
on  the  2nd  Monday  after  the  4th  Monday  of  October, 
being  the  7th  day  of  November,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty-six,  neither  of  the 
judges  of  said  Circuit  Court  having  attended  on  said  day, 
being  the  first  day  of  the  said  term ;  John  L.  Shearer,  the 
Sheriff  of  said  County,  adjourned  the  said  court  to  to-mor- 
row morning  at  ten  o'clk  before  noon ;  pursuant  to  the 
Statute  in  such  case  made  and  provided. 

"  Alexander  L.  Elt,  Cleric, 
by  Elisha  Gr.  Bingham,  Dep.  Clk." 

The  following  is  a  record  of  the  proceedings  of  the  sec- 
ond day,  the  first  on  which  business  was  actually  transacted  : 

"  State  of  Michigan,  1 
Allegan  Co.        / 

"At  a  session  of  the  circuit  Court  of  the  3d  Circuit  of  Michigan, 
ivithin  and  for  the  County  of  Allegan,  holden  pursuant  to  adjourn- 
ment on  the  8th  day  of  November,  1836,  were  present:  Hon.  Epaph- 
roditus  Ransom,  Circuit  Judge ;  Elisha  Ely,  John  Anderson,  Associate 
Judges.  The  Grand  Jurors  being  called  by  the  Clerk,  the  following 
persons  appeared  and  answered  to  their  names,  viz. :  Thomas  H. 
Thomas,  Silas  F.  Littlejohn,  Elias  Streeter,  Milo  Winslow,  Ebenezer 
Parkhurst,  Eber  Sherwood,  James  Preston,  William  Finn,  Dahartus 
Willard,  Royal  Sherwood,  James  Hawks,  Martin  W.  Rowe,  Chandler 
Hollister,  Hiram  Sablns,  William  Dibble,  Samuel  Weeks,  Lloyd  Fitz- 
gerald, James  Bracelln,  and  Alfred  Mann. 

"Silas  F.  Littlejohn  was  appointed  Foreman  of  the  Grand  Jury  by 
the  Court,  and  authorized  to  issue  subpoenas  and  swear  or  affirm  wit- 
nesses. 

"The  Grand  Jury,  after  being  sworn  and  having  received  their 
charge  from  the  Court,  retired,  under  the  charge  of  Hiram  Bassett,  to 
consider  the  business  before  them. 

"  The  Petit  Jurors  being  called,  the  following  persons  appeared  and 
answered -to  their  names,  viz. ;  L.  Wilcox,  John  Sweazey,  David  D. 
Davis,  Philip  Davis,  Jason  Torry,  Alanson  Weeks,  Isaac  Dexter, 
George  Hollister,  Benjamin  Foster,  William  R.  Jenner,  James  Nelson, 
Orsamus  Eaton,  Aldrich  Atwater,  Corydon  Eaton,  Daniel  Bracelin, 
James  MoCormick,  Seneca  Peak,  John  Peabody,  and  Joseph  Rogers. 

"  George  Y.  Warner  made  application  to  the  court  to  be  admitted 
as  an  Attorney  and  Counselor-at-law,  and  having  produced  satisfac- 
tory evidence  to  the  Court  that  he  has  been  regularly  admitted  as  an 
Attorney  and  Counselor-at-Law  in  a  Court  of  Record  in  the  States  of 
Tennessee,  Georgia,  and  Virginia,  and  has  been  in  the  practice  of  law 
in  said  States  during  the  period  of  two  years  previous  to  his  applica- 
tion for  admission,  that  he  is  of  good  character,  and  has  sustained  the 
character  of  an  able  and  fair  practitioner,  and  that  he  actually  resides 
in  this  State,  was  admitted  to  an  examination,  and  the  said  applicant 
having  been  examined  by  the  Judges  of  said  court,  and,  on  such  exam- 
ination had,  the  said  Judges  being  of  opinion  that  he  is  qualified  and 
is  of  good  moral  character,  it  is  ordered  that  he  take  and  subscribe 
the  oath  of  office,  and  that  the  clerk  of  this. court  record  the  admis- 
sion of  said  George  T.  Warner.  Whereupon  the  said  George  T.  War- 
ner appeared  in  Court  and  took  and  subscribed  the  oath  prescribed 
by  Law. 

"  The  Grand  Jury  came  into  Court  and  announced  that  no  business 
had  been  submitted  to  them,  and  that  none  had  come  to  their  knowl- 
edge requiring  their  consideration,  thereupon  they  were  discharged 
from  further  attendance  upon  this  Court,  and  it  appearing  that  there 
was  no  business  for  the  Petit  Jury  they  were  discharged  by  the 
Court." 

"  Case  No.  1. 

"Isaac  Aldrich,   f  Appellee, 

va.  1 

William  Forbes,   (.  Appellant. 
"On  motion  of  Defendant's  Attorney  it  is  ordered  that  this  cause 
be  continued  to  the  next  term  of  this  court. 

"  Read,  corrected,  and  signed  in  open  court  this  8th  day  of  Novem- 
ber, 1836. 

"  Epaphboditus  Ransom,  Prem'aeiit  Judge. 


54 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


"  There  being  no  further  business,  the  court  then  adjourned  without 
day. 

"Alexander  L.  Ely,  Olerk, 
by  Elijah  G.  Bingham,  Dep'y  CVk." 

At  the  May  term  of  this  court,  in  1837,  the  grand  jury 
for  the  first  time  presented  to  the  court  sundry  indictments 
for  minor  infractions  of  the  law.  At  the  Novemher  term 
of  the  same  year  "  George  Y.  Warner  was  appointed  prose- 
cuting attorney  during  the  present  term  of  court." 

The  first  bill  in  chancery  was  filed  Sept.  29,  1849,  by 
Johnson  &  Higley,  solicitors  for  the  plaintiff  in  the  case  of 
Bela  Turner  vs.  Michael  Spencer  et  al.  An  order  to  take 
the  bill  as  confessed  was  entered  Jan.  9,  1850. 

Hon.  Epaphroditus  Ransom,  who  held  all  the  early  cir- 
cuits in  Allegan  County,  was  a  native  of  Hampshire  Co., 
Mass.  He  graduated  at  the  Northampton  law-school  in 
1825,  removed  to  Michigan  about  1833,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  at  Kalamazoo  in  1834.  In  1836  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  bench  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  became 
chief  justice  in  1843.  In  1848  here  signed  to  accept  the 
oflBce  of  Governor  of  the  State. 

He  was  succeeded  in  this  circuit  by  the  Hon.  Charles  W. 
Whipple,  who  presided,  for  the  first  time  in  this  county,  at 
the  May  term,  1849.  His  last  term  here  was  held  in  Oc- 
tober, 1851. 

The  next  circuit  judge  was  the  Hon.  Abner  Pratt,  whose 
first  term  in  this  county  was  held  in  April,  1852,  and  his 
last  one  in  May,  1856. 

Upon  the  organization  of  the  Ninth  Judicial  Circuit,  the 
Hon.  Flavins  J.  Littlejohn  was  elected  to  the  position  of 
circuit  judge.  He  first  presided  at  the  July  term,  1858. 
He  was  re-elected  for  a  full  term  in  1863,  and  served  till 
the  summer  of  1869,  when  he  resigned.  Hon.  Charles  R. 
Brown  succeeded  Judge  Littlejohn,  serving  the  remainder 
of  that  term,  and  being  re-elected  in  1870. 

Upon  the  organization  of  the  Twentieth  Circuit,  in  1873, 
Hon.  John  W.  Stone  was  elected  its  first  judge,  in  April 
of  that  year,  but  resigned  Nov.  1, 1874.  He  was  succeeded 
by  Hon.  Dan.  J.  Arnold,  who  was  appointed  Nov.  5, 1 874, 
and  was  elected  Nov.  5,  1875,  for  a  full  term.  He  still 
occupies  the  bench. 

THE   COUNTY   COURT. 

The  old  county  courts  were  abolished  in  April,  1833, 
the  circuit  courts  of  the  Territory  of  Michigan  taking  their 
business  and  jurisdiction.  It  was  re-established  in  1846, 
with  one  county  judge  and  a  second  judge,  who  officiated 
in  the  absence  of  the  former. 

The  first  session  held  in  the  county  of  Allegan  was  after 
the  re  establishment,  and  was  held  April  5,  1847,  by  Hon. 
Henry  H.  Booth,  county  judge,  in  the  Methodist  chapel 
(then  occupied  as  a  court-room)  in  the  village  of  Allegan. 
No  business  was  brought  before  the  court  at  this  session, 
and  it  was  adjourned  without  day. 

The  first  official  act  of  Judge  Booth  was  the  appointment, 
on  the  10th  of  April,  1847,  of  E.  Bourne  Bassett  as  county 
clerk,  in  place  of  N.  Manson,  Jr.,  deceased. 

During  the  continuance  of  the  county  courts.  Judges 
Henry  H.  Booth  and  Abram  J.  Dedrick  presided  over  that 
of  Allegan  County.  Those  courts  were  finally  abolished 
in  1853. 


We  close  these  remarks  on  the  courts  of  Allegan  County 
with  a  list  of  attorneys  and  counselors  admitted  to  practice 
in  that  county  (with  date  of  admission)  or  residing  and 
practicing  there.  Those  with  no  dates  attached  to  names 
were  not  admitted  here : 

George  Y.  Warner,  Nov.  8,  1835. 

F.  J.  Littlejohn  (practiced  here  from  1836). 

Hovey  K.  Clark,  April  27,  1839. 

D.  W.  C.  Chapin. 
Theodore  Chapin. 
Robert  Goble. 
Gilbert  Noyes. 
Thomas  H.  Marsh. 
Henry  C.  Stoughton. 
W.  B.  Williams. 

Joseph  Thew,  Sept.  25,  1857. 

Elisha  Belcher. 

Amos  A.  Harle,  Dee.  12,  1846. 

B.  B.  Bassett,  Nov.  14,  1849. 

George  H.  House,  July  22,  1858. 

Wilson  C.  Bdsell,  Oct.  19,  1858. 

Silas  Stafford,  March  10,  1859. 

John  N.  York,  March  10,  1859. 

James  F.  Steok,  March  20,  1860. 

Levi  M.  Comstock,  March  21,  1860. 

B.  F.  Travis,  Oct.  24,  1860. 

R.  B.  Coles,  Oct.  24,  1860. 

Henry  C.  Briggs,  March  23,  1861. 

Benjamin  D.  Pritchard,  March  23,  1861. 

Francis  X.  Ward,  March  23,  1861. 

John  W.  Stone,  Jan.  17,  1862. 

Lawrence  L.  Crosby,  March  20,  1862. 

Alfred  Wallin,  March  17,  1863. 

H.  N.  Averill,  Oct.  26,  1865. 

Johnson  Parsons,  Oct.  26,  1865. 

Alonzo  H.  Chandler,  March  13,  1866. 

Patroctus  A.  Latta,  July  10,  1866. 

John  P.  Hoyt,  Aug.  8,  1867. 

J.  Bird  Humphrey,  Jan.  16,  1868. 

Philip  Padgham. 

Frank  Braeelin,  April  8,  1868. 

Edwin  B.  Grover,  April  8,  1868. 

Albert  H.  Fenn,  April  10,  1868. 

Jacob  V.  Rogers,  April  15,  1868. 

E.  D.  Steele,  Oct.  5,  1868. 
Daniel  Earle,  Oct.  7,  1870. 
M.  D.  Wilbur,  Aug.  23,  1871. 
Wm.  W.  Warner. 

Bronson  Sohoonmaker,  May  27,  1873. 
■  John  H.  Padgham,  May  27,  1873. 
W.  A.  Woodworth,  April  14,  1874. 
Lyman  H.  Babbitt,  Sept.  26,  1874. 
Ogden  Tomlinson,  Sept.  26,  1874. 
Julius  M.  Eaton,  Feb.  14,  1876. 
Richard  L.  Newnham,  Oct.  21,  1876. 
Edward  J.  Anderson,  Nov.  27,  1876. 
Frank  S.  Donaldson. 
J.  Lee  Potts,  Deo.  4,  1876. 
Hiram  B.  Hudson,  Nov.  27,  1876. 
John  B.  Babbitt,  Dec.  22,  1876. 
George  F.  Peck,  May  4,  1877. 
Frank  B.  Lay,  June  6,  1878. 
Dion  H.  Pope,  July  19,  1879. 
Cornelius  T.  Bennett. 

BARRY    COUNTY. 

THE   CIRCUIT   COURT  AND   ITS   JUDGES. 

The  first  term  of  the  Circuit  Court  for  the  county  of 

Barry  was  held  in  May,  1840,  in  the  school-house  in  the 

village  of  Hastings,  which  was  situated  on  the  southeast 

corner  of  Jefferson  and  Court   Streets.      The   following 


EARLY  COURTS. 


55 


caption  is  taken  from  the  court  journal,  and  shows  the  oc- 
cupants of  the  bench : 

"  At  u  session  of  the  Circuit  Court,  holden  at  tlie  Court-House  in 
the  village  of  Hastings,  in  and  for  the  County  of  Barry,  on  the  6th 
of  May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
forty.  Present,  Epaphroditus  Ransom,  Circuit  Judge;  Isaac  Otis 
and  Nathan  Barlow,  Associate  Judges." 

After  the  court  had  been  duly  opened  by  the  sheriff, 
the  grand  jury  was  called,  and  the  following  persons  ap- 
peared and  were  sworn  :  John  W.  Bradley,  Nelson  Coman, 
Charles  W.  Spaulding,  George  Brown,  John  I.  Nichols, 
Samuel  Case,  Cleveland  Ellis,  Lorenzo  Mudge,  Israel  H. 
Cooper,  Phineas  Coe,  Nelson  N.  Sprague,  Jared  S.  Rogers, 
Orris  Barnum,  Frederick  Ingram,  Samuel  WoUotson,  Cal- 
vin G.  Hill,  Charles  Paul,  Stephen  Collier,  and  Hiram  F. 
Merrill.  They  retired  after  receiving  the  charge  of  the 
court. 

Three  appealed  cases  were  decided  by  the  court.  In 
two  of  them  judgments  were  entered  in  favor  of  the  re- 
spective plaintiffs,  while  one  was  decided  in  favor  of  the 
defendant,  and  one  case  was  continued  by  consent  of  both 
parties. 

The  first  case  in  which  a  petit  jury  was  called  was  that 
of  John  Patten  vs.  Lawrence  Van  De  Walker,  in  which 
the  following  persons  were  sworn  as  petit  jurors :  Demie 
Bennett,  Hiram  J.  Kenfield,  John  Hangun,  George  Fuller, 
Anson  Seely,  William  B.  Shorod,  William  M.  Paul,  Mager 
Mott,  Albert  C.  Hill,  Rufus  Cowles,  Estus  Rich,  and 
Charles  V.  Patrick.  The  jury,  having  heard  the  testimony 
and  received  the  charge  of  the  court,  and  having  retired 
and  duly  deliberated  thereon,  returned  into  court  and  ren- 
dered a  verdict  in  favor  of  the  defendant. 

There  being  no  further  business  before  the  petit  jury,  it 
was  discharged.  The  grand  jury  came  into  court  and 
presented  sundry  indictments,  and  was  also  discharged. 
The  record  of  the  court  was  read,  corrected,  and  signed  in 
open  court  on  the  6th  day  of  May,  1840,  by  Hon.  Epaphro- 
ditus Ransom,  presiding  judge.  Judge  Ransom  held  his 
last  term  of  court  in  Barry  County  in  April,  1847. 

The  next  circuit  judge  who  held  court  in  Barry  County 
was  the  Hon.  George  Martin.  He  was  elected  on  the  7th 
of  April,  1851,  and  presided  for  the  first  time  in  this 
county  at  the  August  term  of  that  year.  He  served  a  full 
term,  holding  his  last  session  here  in  October,  1857. 

The  Hon.  Louis  S.  Lovell  succeeded  Judge  Martin, 
being  elected  on  the  6th  of  April,  1857,  and  holding  his 
first  session  in  this  county  in  February,  1858.  He  was 
re-elected  in  April,  1863,  and  again  in  April,  1869,  holding 
his  last  term  of  court  in  Barry  County  in  April,  1871. 

The  Hon.  Birney  Hoyt  became  the  successor  of  Judge 
Lovell,  being  elected  in  April,  1871,  to  fill  out  the  unex- 
pired term  of  that  magistrate.  His  first  session  here  was 
held  in  May  of  that  year.  He  was  re-elected  for  a  full 
term  in  April,  1875,  and  held  his  last  court  in  this  county 
in  February,  1877.  During  this  year  a  change  was  made 
in  the  judicial  districts,  after  which  Philip  T.  Van  Tile 
presided  over  the  circuits  of  this  county,  holding  his  first 


I 


term  in  May,  1877.  He  resigned  April  1,  1878,  and  the 
Hon.  Frank  Hooker  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy.  In 
November  following  he  was  elected  by  the  people,  and  still 
presides  over  the  circuit. 

BAERY   COUNTY   COURT. 

Barry  County,  having  been  organized  after  the  old  county 
court  was  abolished,  had  no  such  tribunal  until  1847,  when 
county  courts  were  re-established  throughout  the  State,  each 
having  one  county  judge  and  one  second  judge.  The  first 
term  of  the  Barry  County  court  was  held  by  Hon.  Hiram 
Greenfield,  county  judge,  in  April,  1847.  The  following 
from  the  records  will  show  the  organization  : 

"  On  the  first  Monday  of  April,  it  being  the  fifth  day  of  said  month, 
the  county  court  for  the  county  of  Barry  convened  at  the  clerk's  oflBce, 
in  the  village  of  Hastings,  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  of  said  day, 
for  the  purpose  of  organizing  and  transacting  such  business  as  might 
come  before  the  same.  Court  was  opened  by  proclamation  of  the 
sheriff,  and  duly  organized. 

"  The  office  of  I.  A.  Holbrook,  in  the  village  of  Hastings,  had  been 
designated  by  the  board  of  supervisors  as  the  court-house. 

"  There  being  no  farther  business,  the  court  adjourned  to  meet  again 
the  first  Monday  in  May." 

The  county  court  was  finally  abolished  in  1853. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  attorneys  who  have  been 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  county  of  Barry,  with  date  of 
admission.  The  practitioners  of  the  county  are  mentioned 
in  the  respective  townships  : 

Eli  L.  Stillson,  Nov.  3,  1842. 

Fenner  Ferguson,  Nov.  8,  1844. 

Hiram  Greenfield,  Nov.  8,  1844. 

George  M.  Mills,  Nov.  7,  1845. 

John  E.  Cropsey,  April  25,  1854. 

Charles  G.  Holbrook,  Oct.  29,  1856. 

George  W.  Mills,  Feb.  24,  1859. 

Orrin  L.  Ray,  April  24,  1856. 

Asa  C.  Leonard,  July  15,  1862. 

Isaac  M.  V.  B.  Flint,  July  15,  1861. 

William  H.  Hayford,  Oct.  24,  1864. 

John  Carveth,  July  28,  1868. 

Charles  H.  Bauer,  July  26,  1869. 

Edward  A.  Holbrook,  April  27,  1870. 

Orrin  C.  Batesford,  Nov.  5,  1870. 

Dauiel  Striker,  Nov.  6,  1870.  y 

Hickson  W.  Rolfe,  Jan.  26,  1871. 

Lucius  Russell,  April  29,  1871. 

Thomas  C.  Taylor,  Nov.  27,  1871. 

William  Rowley,  Feb.  26,  1872. 

Charles  M.  Fox,  Aug.  8,  1872. 

A.  Halstead  Ellis,  Nov.  19,  1872. 

John  R.  Eastman,  Feb.  13,  1874. 

John  L.  Fish,  Feb.  6,  1875. 

James  Clarke,  Aug.  4,  1875. 

Loyal  E.  Enappen,  Aug.  5,  1875. 

Abijab  M.  Flint,  Nov.  10,  1875. 

Joseph  M.  T.  Orr,  May  21),  1876. 

Charles  M.  Knappen,  Nov.  24,  1876. 

Thomas  J.  Wilder,  Nov.  24,  1876. 

John  A.  Turner,  May  8,  1877. 

Brwin  W.  Hewitt,  Dec.  3,  1877. 

William  H.  Powers,  Nov.  30,  1873. 

Perley  P.  Cady,  Nov.  29,  1878. 

Lewis  Durkee,  Feb.  12,  1879. 

Edwin  Fallas,  May  6,  1880. 


56 


HISTORY   OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


CHAPTER    XVL 

COUNTY  BUILDINGS  AND  POOB-PAEMS. 

Attempt  to  erect  Buildings  in  Allegan  County  in  1837 — A  Resolution 
in  1839 — A  Jail  and  Jailer's  House  built — Erection  of  first  Fire- 
Proof  Building— Old  Offices  fitted  up  for  Court-Room— Vote  of 
Supervisors  to  build  Court-House  in  1852 — Not  carried  out — Tbe 
Baptist  Church  at  Allegan  bought  for  u  Court-House — New  Jail 
built  in  1861 — Report  of  Committee  in  favor  of  new  Fire-Proof 
Buildings  in  1867 — Title  to  the  Public  Square — Erection  of  new 
Fire-Proof  Building  in  1871— First  Places  of  holding  Court — De- 
scription of  first  Jail — Grading  of  Public  Square — Allegan  Poor- 
House  and  Farm — First  Poor-Tax — First  Bills  for  Support  of  Pau- 
pers— Distinction  between  Township  and  County  Poor  abolished 
— First  Superintendents  of  Poor— Sealed  Proposals  for  supporting 
Paupers — First  Step  toward  buying  Poor- Farm,  in  1849 — Nothing 
further  done  until  1864^-Farm  purchased  in  1866 — Building  of 
Part  of  Poor-House  in  1868 — Construction  of  Main  Building  in 
1870— Erection  of  Insane  Asylum  in  1874 — Erection  of  Children's 
Building  in  1877 — Expense  of  supporting  Poor  in  1879 — Barry 
County  Buildings — First  Jail  in  the  Ground — Resolution  of  Com- 
missioners to  build  Jail  and  Court-House  in  1842 — Its  Construc- 
tion— Its  Cost — Description — Destruction  by  Fire — Movements 
toward  building  a  New  Jail — A  Committee  authorized  to  buy 
Lots,  make  Contract,  etc. — Contract  for  .and  Erection  of  Present 
Jail — Erection  of  Barry  County  Court-House — Title  of  Court-House 
Square — First  Location  of  County  Ofiices — Their  Location  in  the 
old  Court-House — In  the  new  Court-House — Barry  County  Poor- 
House  and  Farm — First  Appointment  of  Superintendents  of  the 
Poor — First  Movement  to  obtain  Poor-Farm,  in  1849 — Resolution 
to  purchase  Farm,  1864 — Resolution  not  to  purchase  in  1855 — Last 
Resolution  rescinded — Farm  bought  in  1855 — Poor-House  built 
in  1878. 

ALLEGAN  COUNTY  BUILDINGS. 

The  reader  will  have  observed  in  Chapter  XIV.  that 
the  board  of  supervisors  of  Allegan  County,  at  their  meeting 
in  November,  1837,  endeavored  to  obtain  a  vote  of  the 
people  authorizing  the  sum  of  fifteen  thousand  dollars  to  be 
raised  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  public  buildings.  There 
is  no  record  to  show  whether  this  vote  was  taken  or  not, 
but,  as  nothing  further  was  done  by  the  board  in  reference 
to  it,  it  is  fair  to  presume  that  the  proposition  was  voted 
down  or  was  not  acted  upon. 

The  next  action  tending  toward  that  object  was  taken 
at  a  special  meeting  of  the  board  of  commissioners  held  on 
the  25th  day  of  April,  1839,  when  the  following  resolution 
was  adopted : 

"  RcBolved,  That  S.  F.  Llttlejohn  be  authorized  to  procure  a  plan 
for  a  convenient  jail,  to  be  constructed  of  wood,  and  a  jail  house  for 
the  jailer,  to  contain  a  convenient  room  for  county  purposes,  the  ex- 
pense of  said  buildings  not  to  exceed  $1200,  and  receive  proposals  for 
the  construction." 

On  the  7th  day  of  June,  the  same  year,  the  board  exam- 
ined the  proposals  for  a  jail  and  a  jailer's  house,  submitted 
under  the  foregoing  resolution.  Six  proposals  were  pre- 
sented, the  highest  being  for  the  sum  of  two  thousand 
and  ninety-five  dollars,  the  lowest  for  sixteen  hundred  dol- 
lars. After  due  examination  and  consultation  the  plan  and 
proposal  presented  by  S.  F.  Littlejolin  were  adopted,  and  a 
contract  for  the  erection  of  the  proposed  building  was  made 
with  him.  On  the  27th  of  February,  1840,  the  county- 
building,  then  completed,  was  examined  and  accepted,  and 
Mr.  Littlejohn  was  released  from  his  contract.  The  cost  of 
the  building  was  fifteen  hundred  and  sixty-seven  dollars 
and  ninety-eight  cents.     Some  extra  work  was  done  after 


that  time,  and  a  final  settlement  was  not  made  until  the 
16th  of  June,  1841. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  supervisors  on  the  15th 
day  of  October,  1846,  the  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars  was 
voted  to  erect  a  fire-proof  building  for  county  officers,  and 
on  the  8th  day  of  January,  1847,  the  following  resolution 
was  adopted : 

"Resolved,  That  in  accordance  with  the  appropriation  made  for 
that  purpose,  a  fire-proof  building  be  built  by  the  county  for  the  safety 
of  the  county  records.  That  said  building  be  of  the  size  of  20  feet 
by  30  feet;  to  contain  three  rooms,  with  a  hall  part  way  across  the 
building,  to  be  built  of  brick  with  tin  roof." 

Henry  H.  Booth,  Ralph  R.  Mann,  and  David  D.  Davis 
were  appointed  a  building  committee,  with  power  to  draw 
plans  and  specifications,  advertise  for  proposals,  make  a  con- 
tract, and  accept  the  building  when  completed. 

The  contract  was  let  to  Thomas  M.  Russell,  who  erected 
the  building  the  following  summer,  and  at  the  session  of 
the  board  in  October  of  that  year  the  building  committee 
reported  the  completion  of  the  structure,  which  report 
was  accepted  and  adopted.  The  total  cost  of  the  build- 
ing was  five  hundred  and  twenty-eight  dollars  and  fifty 
cents.  It  was  of  brick,  twenty  feet  by  forty  (the  original 
plan  of  twenty  by  thirty  being  found  to  be  too  small),  and 
one  story  high.  There  was  a  hall  part  way  along  the  north 
side,  the  entrance  to  which  was  at  the  west  end  of  the 
building.  The  probate  judge's  office  was  on  the  right  of 
the  entrance,  in  the  southwest  corner,  that  of  the  treasurer 
being  situated  next  east.  The  office  occupied  by  the  county 
clerk  and  the  register  extended  entirely  across  the  east  end 
of  the  building.  The  county  clerk  was  authorized  at  this 
meeting  to  fit  up  that  part  of  the  county- building  previously 
occupied  for  offices  so  as  to  be  a  convenient  room  for  holding 
courts,  etc. 

At  a  session  of  the  board  in  the  fall  of  1851,  Messrs. 
Kellogg  &  Bailey  were  appointed  a  committee  to  inquire  as 
to  the  facilities  for  effecting  a  loan,  and  as  to  the  propriety 
of  raising  a  tax  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  court-house, 
also  to  draw  a  plan  of  such  house  and  to  estimate  the  ex- 
pense of  the  same. 

At  the  next  annual  meeting,  held  on  the  14th  day  of 
October,  1852,  the  following  resolution  was  adopted  by 
eleven  yeas  to  six  nays  : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  present  board  of  supervisors  order  the  sum  of 
$2000,  to  be  assessed  upon  the  taxable  property  of  the  county  of  Al- 
legan, for  the  purpose  of  building  a  court-house  in  the  village  of  Al- 
legan ;  the  same  to  be  submitted  to  the  people  for  their  approval  or 
rejection  at  the  next  annual  township  election." 

There  is  no  record  of  any  action  of  the  people  on  this 
subject,  but  on  the  4th  day  of  January,  1853,  a  resolu- 
tion passed  the  board  directing  that  a  committee  of  three 
should  be  appointed  to  examine  the  brick  church  (Bap- 
tist), and  to  report  their  opinion  as  to  its  value  and  the 
practicability  of  purchasing  the  same  for  a  court-house. 
The  committee  appointed  consisted  of  Messrs.  McMartin, 
Day,  and  Wheeler.  At  the  same  meeting  Messrs.  Bassett, 
McMartin,  and  Field  were  appointed  a  committee  to  nego- 
tiate with  the  Baptist  society  for  the  purchase  of  their 
house  and  lot. 

On  the  30th  day  of  March,  1854,  this  last  committee  re- 


COUNTY  BUILDINGS   AND  POOR-FARMS.   - 


57 


ported  that  they  had  concluded  negotiations  with  the  Bap- 
tist society  for  the  purchase  of  their  house  and  lot,  for  the 
sum  of  two  thousand  dollars.  The  committee  on  county 
buildings  was  instructed  to  prepare  the  building  for  use, 
which  was  accomplished  at  a  cost  of  eleven  hundred  and 
six  dollars  and  sixty-three  cents. 

At  the  January  meeting  of  the  board  in  1859,  the  com- 
mittee on  county  buildings  reported  the  necessity  of  erect- 
ing a  new  county  jail,  and  four  days  later  a  resolution  was 
adopted  submitting  to  the  people  the  question  whether  the 
sum  of  five  thousand  dollars  should  be  expended  for  that 
purpose.  A  committee  was  also  appointed  to  procure  plans 
and  estimates  for  the  proposed  structure.  The  people  duly 
authorized  its  erection. 

On  the  2d  of  May,  the  same  year,  Messrs.  Jameson, 
Chichester,  Henderson,  Stronof,  and  Raplee  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  investigate  and  report  in  regard  to  a  site 
for  a  jail.  This  committee  reported  the  next  day  in  favor 
of  locating  the  edifice  on  the  lot  now  known  as  the  court- 
house lot,  and  the  location  was  duly  adopted  by  the 
board.  A  building  committee  was  then  chosen  (consist- 
ing of  Messrs.  Leonard  Bailey,  Ira  Chichester,  and  Eli  D. 
Granger),  with  instructions  to  advertise  for  proposals  for 
the  erection  of  a  brick  building  with  stone  foundations, 
forty  feet  by  fifty  in  size  and  two  stories  high.  Twenty- 
nine  feet  on  the  west  side  were  to  be  finished  as  a  jail, 
with  four  cells  below,  each  eight  feet  by  twelve,  and  six 
cells  above,  each  eight  feet  by  ten.  The  front  part  of  the 
building  was  to  be  the  jailer's  residence. 

Some  time  elapsed  before  the  work  was  commenced,  and 
there  are  few  records  of  its  progress,  but  on  the  9th  of 
January,  1862,  the  committee  reported  that  the  new  jail 
was  in  the  possession  of  the  sheriflF,  that  they  had  efiected 
a  settlement  with  the  contractor,  and  that  the  cost  of  the 
building  was  four  thousand  eight  hundred  and  ninety  dol- 
lars. 

On  the  4th  of  January,  1867,  the  committee  on  public 
buildings,  in  the  board  of  supervisors,  made  a  report,  of 
which  the  first  part  reads  as  follows  : 

"  To  THE  Board  of  Supervisors  : 

"Tour  Committee  on  County  buildings  ask  leave  to  report  That 
they  have  examined  the  buildings  occupied  for  County  offices  and 
find  the  same  inadequate  and  insufficient  for  that  purpose. 

"That  the  Building  is. not  of  sufficient  capacity  to  properly  ac- 
commodate the  several  county  officers  and  the  people  who  have  official 
business  to  transact  at  said  offices.  That  the  building  has  become 
dilapidated,  and  the  increasing  demands  and  business  of  the  several 
offices  requires  that  a  new  building  should  be  erected,  more  commo- 
dious, and  so  situated  and  arranged  as  to  afford  greater  protection 
and  security  for  the  public  records,  papers,  and  property  left  and 
deposited  therein. 

"  Your  Committee  have  also  examined  the  condition  of  the  Court- 
House,  and  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  same  is  not  what  will  soon  be 
required  for  the  growing  business  of  the  County,  and  is  not  provided 
with  proper  and  convenient  Jury  Rooms,  and  other  accommodations 
usual  and  proper  for  a  Court-House." 

Other  reasons  were  given  at  length,  and  the  committee 
recommended  that  a  court-house  should  be  built  with  rooms 
in  it  for  the  county  offices,  and  that  the  sum  of  twenty- 
four  thousand  dollars  should  be  raised  by  tax  upon  the 
county,  but  that  the  question  of  raising  such  tax  be  sub- 
mitted to  the  people. 
8 


The  proposition  was  voted  upon  at  the  next  election,  and 
was  lost. 

On  the  15th  of  January,  1869,  the  committee  of  the 
supervisors  on  county  buildings  recommended  the  erection 
of  a  fire-proof  building  for  the  county  offices,  but  nothing 
further  was  then  done  in  relation  to  the  matter. 

On  the  4th  of  January,  1870,  a  committee  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  supervisors  to  visit  the  county  buildings  of 
Kent  County,  at  Grand  Rapids,  and  then  to  report  a  plan 
for  the  county  offices  of  Allegan  County.  This  committee 
performed  its  duties,  and  on  the  7th  of  January  presented 
a  report,  which  was  duly  adopted.  It  also  presented  two 
plans  for  the  consideration  of  the  board.  The  committee 
recommended  that  the  site  of  the  court-house  should  be  in 
the  centre  of  the  public  square,  and  that  of  the  county 
offices  on  the  south  side  of  the  court-house,  twenty  feet 
from  the  line  of  Hubbard  Street. 

Ira'  Chichester,  Aianson  Case,  and  Ira  Chafiee  wore  ap- 
pointed a  building  committee  to  superintend  the  construc- 
tion of  the  proposed  building,  provided  the  electors  of  the 
county  should  vote  the  money  to  build  the  same.  The 
board  also  authorized  the  county  treasurer  to,  raise  a  tem- 
porary loan  of  five  thousand  dollars,  to  be  used  for  the 
purpose  above  mentioned,  with  the  same  proviso  regarding 
the  sanction  of  the  people. 

In  one  of  the  early  meetings  of  the  same  session  (Janu- 
ary, 1870),  Messrs.  Hardin,  Mincklin,  and  Crawford  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  request  the  prosecuting  attorney 
to  investigate  the  title  to  the  public  square.  No  detailed 
report  is  given  of  the  result  of  this  investigation,  but  a 
search  in  the  register's  office  shows  the  following  to  be  the 
facts  in  the  case:  On  the  23d  of  June,  1837,  Samuel 
Hubbard  and  Charles  C.  Trowbridge,  proprietors  of  the 
village  of  Allegan,  recorded  a  plat  of  that  village  in  the 
register's  office  of  Allegan  County.  The  Public  Square  is 
laid  out  on  that  plat.  On  the  7th  of  April,  1847,  two 
deeds  were  recorded  in  the  register's  office, — one  from 
Samuel  Hubbard  and  Charles  C.  Trowbridge  to  the  board 
of  supervisors  of  Allegan  County,  the  other  from  the 
president,  recorder,  and  trustees  of  the  village  of  Allegan 
to  the  board  of  supervisors. 

These  deeds  both  recite  that  they  dispose  of  "  all 
right,  title,  and  interest  of  as  much  of  the  public  square 
as  is  laid  out  and  applied  for  that  purpose  on  the  village- 
plat  as  may  be  wanted  or  used  for  county  buildings  and 
necessary  appurtenances,  and  this  grant  is  for  no  other 
purpose."  These  conveyances  doubtless  make  the  title  of 
the  county  to  so  much  of  the  public  square  at  Allegan- 
village  as  may  be  necessary  for  county  buildings  absolutely 
perfect. 

At  the  October  session  of  1870  the  committee  on 
county  buildings  reported  that  they  had  examined  the 
building  and  offices  in  which  the  public  records  are  kept, 
and  found  them  extremely  unsafe,  the  building  being,  in 
fact,  in  danger  of  falling  down,  and  the  records  and  maps 
being  more  or  less  damaged  by  every  heavy  storm  which 
occurred. 

During  the  same  session  a  resolution  was  adopted  direct- 
ing the  submission  to  the  people  of  Allegan  County  at  the 
next  annual  town-meeting  the  question  whether  the  sum  of 


58 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BAKRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


six  thousand  dollars  should  be  raised  in  1871  for  the  pur- 
pose of  erecting  county  oflSces.  The  question  was  so  sub- 
mitted, and  was  decided  in  the  affirmative. 

The  building  was  erected  on  the  public  square,  and  is  a 
neat  and  substantial  edifice  of  brick,  forty  feet  by  forty-two, 
and  two  stories  high.  It  contains  a  hall  through  the  centre, 
and  offices  on  each  side. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1872,  the  committee  on  county 
offices  reported  the  cost  of  the  structure  at  that  time  as 
seven  thousand  four  hundred  and  sixty-one  dollars  and 
ninety-seven  cents.  On  the  18th  of  October  the  same 
year  they  reported  the  further  amount  expended  for  work 
on  and  about  the  new  building,  and  for  furniture  and  fixtures 
in  it,  at  two  thousand  and  ninety-nine  dollars  and  twenty- 
eight  cents,  making  a  total  of  nine  thousand  five  hundred 
and  sixty-one  dollars  and  twenty-five  cents. 

The  offices  were  first  occupied  by  the  county  officers  on 
the  1st  of  January,  1872,  the  county  clerk  and  judge  of 
probate  occupying  the  upper  floor,  and  the  register  and 
treasurer  the  first  floor. 

LOCATION   OF   COURT-KOOM  AND   PUBLIC   OFFICES. 
In  the  records  of  the  board  of  supervisors  for  1838  the 
following  appropriations  are  to  be  found  : 

"To  A.  L.  Ely,  For  the  use  of  School-House  for  the  circuit  court 
of  this  County  previous  to  1837,  S4.00. 

"To  the  Dist.  Board  of  School  District  No.  1,  in  the  Township  of 
Allegan,  For  the  use  of  School-room  for  holding  courts  in  the  years 
18.S7  and  1838,  $28.00. 

"  To  Henry  Booher,  for  use  of  room  for  Grand  Jury  at  fall  term  of 
Circuit  Court,  $4.00. 

'?  To  Daniel  Emerson,  for  use  of  room  for  Petit  Jury,  $4.00." 

The  school-house  mentioned  above  was  situated  on  the 
south  side  of  Trowbridge  Street,  just  east  of  Pine  Street,  in 
the  village  of  Allegan.  Henry  Booher,  in  whose  house  the 
grand  jury  met,  was  the  landlord  of  the  Michigan  Exchange, 
which  is  still  standing.  Daniel  Emerson's  house  was  situ- 
ated on  the  north  side  of  Trowbridge  Street,  on  the  first 
lot  east  of  where  John  Askin  now  resides. 

The  records  show  that  in  January,  1844,  seven  dollars 
was  allowed  to  Spencer  Marsh  for  the  use  of  the  Methodist 
chapel  for  the  October  term  of  court,  and  on  the  15th  of 
October,  1844,  six  dollars  was  appropriated  to  pay  for  the 
use  of  the  same  building  during  the  spring  term  previous. 
Similar  payments  were  regularly  made  after  that  time  to  the 
trustees  of  the  Methodist  chapel  for  the  use  of  the  room 
for  several  years,  the  last  being  in  October,  1847.  For 
some  time  afterward  the  courts  were  held  in  the  basement 
of  the  jail,  then  standing  on  the  southwest  corner  of  the 
public  square,  on  the  north  side  of  Hubbard  Street  near 
Walnut.*  The  courts  were  also  held  for  a  time  in  the 
basement  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Allegan.  Upon  the 
purchase  of  the  property  of  the  Baptist  society,  in  1856, 
the  upper  portion  (then  unfinished)  was  fitted  up  as  a  court- 
room, since  which  time  the  courts  have  been  regularly  held 
there. 

*  The  jailer's  house  was  about  tweuty-fonr  by  thirty  feet,  one  story 
and  a  half  in  height,  with  basement  in  which  the  offices  were  kept. 
The  jail  was  built  of  hewed  timbers,  and  stood  in  therear  of  the  jailer's 
house,  being  about  twenty  feet  square  and  one  story  in  height.  The 
jailer's  house  now  stands  on  the  north  side  of  the  public  square,  and 
is  used  for  a  residence. 


The  county  offices,  previous  to  1841,  were  kept  at  either 
the  residences  or  business-places  of  the  officers.  At  that 
time  the  jail  was  completed  and  the  offices  of  the  clerk  and 
register,  judge  of  probate,  and  treasurer  were  thenceforward 
kept  in  the  basement  of  the  jailer's  house  until  the  comple- 
tion of  the  old  fire-proof  building  in  1846,  when  they  were 
removed  to  that  building. 

The  committee  on  public-buildings  of  the  board  of  super- 
visors, appointed  in  1870  to  superintend  the  erection  of  a 
building  for  the  county  offices  and  the  grading  of  the  site 
for  it,  found  the  public  square  about  eight  feet  higher  on 
the  north  side  than  at  present.  It  was  soon  after  graded 
down  to  its  present  condition,  and  now  slopes  from  the 
centre  two  or  three  feet  to  the  north  line. 

ALLEGAN  COUNTY  POOR-HOUSE  AND  FARM. 
The  board  of  supervisors,  in  November,  1837,  passed  a 
resolution  to  raise  six  hundred  dollars  by  tax,  one  hundred 
dollars  of  which  should  constitute  a  poSr-fund.  This  is  the 
first  official  action  in  reference  to  paupers.  Bill  No.  31,  of 
the  county  audits  of  1838,  debits  the  county  as  follows: 

"To  Moses  Hawks,  a  director  of  the  poor,  for  examining  a 
pauper,  $1. 

"  To  Moses  Hawks  for  the  support  of  John  Hansel,  a  county  pauper, 
from  Oct.  14  to  Nov.  10,  1838,  $19.29." 

Another  bill,  dated  December  24th,  of  the  same  year, 
makes  a  similar  charge  : 

"  To  Moses  Hawks,  for  keeping  county  pauper  from  November 
10th  to  22d,  $5  per  week,  $8.59." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  county  commissioners,  on  the  15th 
day  of  November,  1839,  a  resolution  passed  the  board  to 
abolish  the  distinction  between  township  and  county  poor, 
and  providing  that  all  the  poor  in  the  county  should  become 
a  general  charge.  At  that  time  Elisha  Ely,  of  Allegan, 
John  W.  Watson,  of  Plainfield,  and  George  Y.  Warner,  of 
Allegan,  were  appointed  superintendents  of  the  poor. 

By  the  first  annual  report  of  the  superintendents,  pre- 
sented October  27,  1840,  it  would  appear  that  but  little 
business  had  been  before  them,  as  the  report  shows  that 
only  three  dollars  and  twenty  cents  more  than  their  salaries 
had  been  expended. 

No  further  action  in  reference  to  the  county  poor  is  shown 
by  the  record  until  Jan.  3,  1849,  when  a  committee  was 
appointed  by  the  board  to  confer  with  the  superintendents 
of  the  poor  as  to  the  best  method  of  disposing  of  paupers. 
It  reported  in  favor  of  instructing  the  superintendents  to 
give  notice  publicly  for  a  reasonable  time  that  they  would 
receive  sealed  proposals  for  keeping  the  whole  of  the  county 
poor.    The  report  was  accepted  and  adopted. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  supervisors,  held  on  the  5th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1849,  the  first  step  was  taken  toward  providing  a 
farm  for  the  support  of  the  county  poor.  The  superin- 
tendents were  authorized  to  purchase  a  farm  of  from  forty 
to  one  hundred  acres,  with  suitable  buildings  thereon  for 
the  accommodation  of  the  poor,  at  an  expense  not  to  exceed 
twelve  hundred  dollars ;  the  purchase  not  to  be  concluded 
without  the  concurrence  of  the  entire  board. 

No  report  was  made  of  the  purchase  of  a  farm,  and  in 
October,  1851,  Messrs.  Kellogg,  McMartin,  and  Heath 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  inquire  and  report  to  the 


COUNTY  BUILDINGS  AND  POOR-FARMS. 


59 


board  as  to  the  propriety  of  purchasing  such  an  establish- 
ment. 

Nothing  appears  to  have  been  done,  as  thirteen  years 
elapsed  before  any  further  action  was  taken.  On  the  12th 
day  of  October,  1864,  the  superintendents  of  the  poor  earn- 
estly recommended  to  the  supervisors  to  provide  a  more  per- 
manent and  suitable  location  for  the  county  poor  than  the 
temporary  places  then  occupied. 

Two  years  later,  on  the  14th  day  of  January,  1866,  a 
committee  which  had  been  appointed  to  examine  farms  for 
county  purposes  reported  that  it  had  received  several  pro- 
posals, covering  land  valued  at  from  twenty-five  to  fifty 
dollars  per  acre,  and  that  after  due  examination  it  rec- 
ommended the  farm  of  J.  P.  Pope  as  the  best  suited  for 
the  purpose.     The  report  says  : 

"  It  contains  160  acres,  about  95  acres  improved,  an  orchard  of  100 
bearing  ap^e-trees,  a  fair  grain  and  corn  barn  and  small  dwelling, 
about  300  sap-buckets,  about  20,000  feet  of  pine  logs.  The  farm  ia 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  5,  township  2  north,  range  13  west 
(Allegan),  and  eould  be  purchased  for  $7000." 

This  report  was  accepted  and  adopted.  The  farm  was 
purchased  and  the  deed  recorded  on  the  15th  day  of  June, 
1866. 

On  the  14th  day  of  October, '1867,  the  committee  on 
county  buildings  reported  that  it  had  examined  the 
county  farm,  buildings,  and  conveniences,  and  recom- 
mended an  appropriation  of  one  thousand  dollars,  to  be 
expended  in  buildings  for  the  accommodation  of  the  poor 
and  insane ;  the  means  then  in  use  being  entirely  inadequate 
for  the  purpose.  The  next  day  Joseph  Fisk,  Ira  Chichester, 
and  Dr.  0.  D.  Goodrich  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
make,  or  cause  to  be  made,  a  plan  and  an  estimate  for  a 
poor-house  on  the  poor-farm.  This  committee  made  a 
verbal  report  Jan.  15,  1868,  and  submitted  a  plan  for  a 
buildin",  which  report  was  accepted  and  adopted. 

On  the  14th  day  of  October,  1868,  the  building  com- 
mittee reported  that  the  poor-house  was  in  course  of  con- 
struction, and  that  the  expense  thus  far  incurred  amounted 
to  twelve  hundred  and  eighty-eight  dollars  and  ninety  cents. 
On  the  13th  of  January,  1869,  the  same  committee  re- 
ported the  building  completed,  at  a  cost  of  two  thousand 
and  ninety  dollars  and  seven  cents. 

Two  days  after  the  acceptance  of  the  new  building  the 
committee  on  the  poor-farm  reported  that  a  certain  portion 
of  the  poor  were  yet  compelled  to  occupy  the  old  building, 
which  was  rapidly  falling  into  decay,  and  recommended  that 
measures  be  taken  to  secure  the  completion  of  the  main 
building,  according  to  the  plan  originally  designed,  and  that 
the  board  authorize  a  loan  of  three  thousand  dollars  for 
that  purpose. 

In  view  of  this  recommendation,  the  following  resolutions 

were  adopted : 

"  Reaolved,  By  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Allegan  County,  that 
the  Chairman  and  Clerk  of  this  Board  be  authorized  to  issue  bonds 
upon  the  credit  of  this  county  to  the  amount  of  $5000,  for  the  erection 
and  completion  of  the  buildings  for  the  reception  of  the  Poor. 

"  Reaolved,  That  in  cose  the  Legislature  of  this  State  authorize  said 
Board  to  issue  bonds  upon  the  credit  of  this  County  for  the  erection 
and  completion  of  the  building  for  the  reception  of  the  Poor  of  said 
County,  we  do  hereby  authorize  and  instruct  the  building  committee 
to  erect  and  complete  said  buildings  at  a  cost  not  to  exceed  the  sum  of 


$5000,  or  so  much  thereof  as  authorized  by  the  Legislature  of  the 
State." 

No  immediate  action  was  taken,  and  on  the  7th  day  of 
January,  1870,  the  committee  on  the  poor-farm  again  urged 
the  board  to  take  immediate  action  in  regard  to  the  com- 
pletion of  the  main  building  of  the  poor-house.  The  next 
day  the  superintendents  of  the  poor  were  instructed  by  the 
board  to  build  the  main  building  of  the  poor-house,  after  a 
plan  in  the  oflSce  of  the  county  treasurer ;  said  building  to 
be  completed  by  the  10th  day  of  October  in  that  year. 

The  work  was  pushed  rapidly  forward,  and  on  the  13th 
of  October,  1870,  the  poor-committee  reported  the  structure 
completed,  in  a  creditable  and  satisfactory  manner,  at  a  cost 
of  seven  thousand  four  hundred  and  sixty-one  dollars  and 
ninety-seven  cents. 

During  the  year  1874  a  committee  of  the  board  of  super- 
visors visited  the  insane  asylum  at  Kalamazoo,  to  obtain 
information  bearing  on  the  expediency  of  erecting  a  build- 
ing for  the  insane  of  Allegan  County.  After  a  conference 
with  the  authorities  of  the  asylum,  and  a  thorough  examin- 
ation of  the  subject,  the  committee  recommended  the  board 
to  erect  a  building  for  that  purpose. 

The  board  accordingly  authorized  the  superintendents  of 
the  poor  to  erect  such  a  structure  on  the  poor-house  farm, 
at  an  expense  not  exceeding  one  thousand  dollars. 

The  building  was  erected  during  the  summer  and  autumn 
of  that  year.  It  was  two  stories  in  height,  containing  four 
rooms  in  the  basement,  and  sixteen  above.  It  was  occupied 
on  the  1st  of  January,  1876.  The  total  cost  was  thirteen 
hundred  and  twenty-eight  dollars  and  sixty-two  cents. 

On  the  3d  day  of  January,  1877,  the  board  of  super- 
visors adopted  a  resolution  looking  towards  the  erection  of  a 
separate  building  for  children  on  the  poor-house  farm,  and 
directing  the  appointment  of  a  committee  to  examine  re- 
garding the  size  and  expense  of  such  a  work.  Two  days  later 
the  committee  appointed  under  that  resolution  recommended 
the  construction  of  a  building  thirty  by  forty-six  feet,  to  be 
divided  into  rooms,  the  cost  of  which  should  not  exceed  the 
sum  of  fifteen  hundred  dollars.  The  board  adopted  the 
report,  and  the  committee  on  county  buildings  was  placed 
in  charge  of  the  work.  On  the  11th  day  of  January,  1878, 
it  reported  the  Juvenile  Building  completed  and  occupied, 
having  been  placed  in  charge  of  the  superintendents  of  the 
poor  on  the  1st  of  December,  1877.  The  contract  price  was 
fourteen  hundred  and  forty-nine  dollars  and  forty-nine 
cents,  and  the  entire  cost  was  sixteen  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  dollars  and  thirty-nine  cents. 

The  expense  of  supporting  the  poor  for  the  year  1879, 
as  given  in  the  report  of  the  superintendents,  was 
ten  thousand  and  eight  dollars  and  thirty-six  cents. 

BAKRY  COUNTY  BUILDINGS. 
THE  FIRST  JAIL. 
The  first  place  set  apart  for  the  detention  of  prisoners 
was  located  on  the  south  side  of  the  court-house  square, 
on  the  corner  of  Broadway  and  Court  Streets. 

This  place  was  a  hole  in  the  ground,  about  six  feet  deep 
and  ten  feet  square,  covered  with  plank  about  four  feet 
above  the  surface  of  the  earth.  This  was  used  until  the 
building  of  the  jail  and  court-house,  in  1842—13. 


60 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


THE  OLD  JAIL  AND  COIIRT-HOXJSE. 
Tlie  first  record  that  appears  on  the  hooks  in  reference 
to  a  county  jail  and  court-house  is  that  of  the  proceedings 
of  the  board  of  county  commissioners  on  the  13th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1842,  which  reads  as  follows  : 

"  The  first  business  nnder  consideration  was  the  subject  of  building 
a  jail.  After  the  subject  had  been  fully  discussed,  drafts  were  made, 
together  with  estimates  upon  the  same. 

"  The  Board  resolved  that  it  is  expedient  for  the  county  at  this 
time  to  erect  a  jail  together  with  a  room  suitable  for  holding  courts. 
Therefore,  further  lieiolved,  that  we  will  adopt  a  plan  as  soon  as  may 
be,  receive  proposals,  and  let  the  job  of  erecting  the  said  building  to 
the  lowest  bidder." 

The  commissioners  commenced  the  erection  of  the  court- 
house and  jail  in  the  spring  of  1842.  Before  its  comple- 
tion the  board  of  county  commissioners  was  abolished  and 
its  powers  transferred  to  a  board  of  supervisors,  which  held 
its  first  meeting  on  the  4th  of  July,  1842.  The  contract 
for  building  the  combined  court-house  and  jail  was  awarded 
to  H.  J.  Kenfield,  and  in  the  treasurer's  account  for  1842 
appears  this  item,  "To  H.  J.  Kenfield  on  contract, 
8425.77."  The  building  was  not  finished  until  the  25th 
of  December,  1843,  and  in  the  treasurer's  report  for  1843 
appears  another  item,  "  To  H.  J.  Kenfield  on  contract, 
8788.15,"  making  the  whole  cost  of  the  court-house  and  jail 
twelve  hundred  and  thirteen  dollars  and  ninety-two  cents. 
During  the  session  of  the  board  in  the  fall  of  1843, 
Messrs.  Lacey  and  Alden  were  allowed  thirty  dollars  "  for 
doing  their  contract  better  than  it  called  for."  This  work 
was  on  the  well  and  out-buildings.  At  this  session  it  was 
likewise  voted,  "That  A.  C.  Parmelee  be  requested  to 
cause  two  slats  of  wood  to  be  properly  put  on  before  each 
window  in  the  court-room,  for  a  protection  against  damage 
of  said  windows.  Also  to  procure  and  put-up  a  suitable 
curtain  in  the  rear  of  the  judge's  bench  ;  and  further,  that 
the  table  for  the  use  of  the  bar  in  said  courtroom  be  cov- 
ered with  suitable  cloth." 

On  the  25tb  of  December,  1843,  the  court-house  and 
jail  were  reported  complete,  and  authority  was  given  to 
have  it  insured  in  the  Marshall  Mutual  Fire  Insurance 
Company,  which  was  done.  The  building  was  two  stories 
in  height,  the  court-room  being  in  the  upper  story.  The 
jail,  consisting  of  four  cells,  was  in  the  southeast  corner 
of  the  building,  on  the  lower  floor.  The  jailer's  residence 
was  in  the  southwest  corner,  while  the  county  offices  occu- 
pied the  front  part  of  the  building.  This  court-house  was 
in  use  until  18J6,  when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire,  which 
caught  near  the  chimney  in  the  jailer's  residence. 

From  this  time  until  the  completion  of  the  brick  jail,  in 
1853,  prisoners  were  taken  to  Kalamazoo. 

THE   PRESENT   BARRY   COUNTY   COURT-HOUSE. 
After  the  destruction  of  the  old  court-house  and  jail,  in 

1846,  the  supervisors,  at  their  first  meeting,  in  January 

1847,  resolved  to  build  a  court-house,  and  invited  individ- 
uals to  present  plans  and  specifications.  Flans  were  accord- 
ingly presented,  and  the  following  resolution  was  adopted 
Jan.  6,  1847 : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  county  give  the  man  who  will  build  the  court- 
house according  to  the  plan  agreed  upon  by  the  board  two  thousand 
two  hundred  dollars,  provided  that  proper  steps  (to  the  house)  be  in- 


cluded, and  the  siding,  all  the  doors  and  door-oasings,  window-casings 
on  the  outside,  corner  boards,  water  table,  etc.,  be  of  good  yellow 
pine  lumber;  further  reference  to  be  had  to  bill  drawn  by  John 
Lewis.*' 

On  the  9th  of  January  John  Lewis  was  allowed  one 
dollar  for  drawing  a  bill  of  expenses  for  building  the  court- 
house. On  the  28th  of  April,  1847,  the  board  finally 
adopted  the  plan  presented  by  Mr.  Lewis,  and  on  the  same 
date  a  contract  to  build  the  court-house  was  executed  by 
the  property  committee  and  Alvin  W.  Bailey.  The  final 
price  agreed  upon  was  two  thousand  three  hundred  and 
eighty-one  dollars  and  nine  cents,  an  addition  having  been 
made  to  pay  for  raising  the  house  and  chimneys  two  feet 
higher  than  the  original  plan.  The  time  for  completion 
was  also  extended  to  the  15th  of  March,  1848. 

On  the  30th  of  April,  1847,  it  was  resolved  by  the  board 
of  supervisors  "  that  the  court-house  to  be  built  by  A.  W. 
Bailey  be  set  directly  south  of  the  wall  on  which  the  old 
court-house  stood,  so  that  the  north  side  of  the  house  come 
within  two  feet  of  the  south  wall  of  the  old  house." 

The'  court-house  was  not  finished  at  the  date  specified, 
and  the  time  was  extended  till  October,  1848,  a  new  con- 
tract being  drawn  March  16,  1848.  On  the  19th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1849,  the  supervisors  examined  the  court-house,  then 
nearly  completed,  and  at  their  session  the  next  day  it  was 
accepted.  Settlement  was  made  with  Mr.  Bailey  the  same 
day,  on  condition  that  he  give  bonds  with  sufficient  security 
for  the  entire  completion  of  the  court-house,  in  conformity 
to  the  contract.  Later  in  the  same  session  Mr.  Bailey  pre- 
sented a  bond  agreeably  to  the  resolution,  which  was  ac- 
cepted and  approved,  and  Mr.  Bailey  was  allowed  three 
hundred  dollars  for  extra  work  over  and  above  the  amount 
he  was  to  receive  by  his  contract,  and  three  hundred  dollars 
for  furniture.  John  Lewis  was  allowed  seventy-five  dollars 
"  for  his  skill  and  attention  given  in  the  erection  of  the 
court-house."  Soon  after,  in  January,  1849,  the  offices  of 
the  county  clerk,  register,  treasurer,  and  sheriff  were  re- 
moved to  the  new  court-house,  where  they  still  remain. 

The  square  on  which  the  court-house  stands  was  deeded 
by  the  Hastings  Village  Company  to  the  supervisors  of 
Barry  County  on  the  15th  of  October,  1840,  the  deed 
being  recorded  in  Liber  B,  page  424,  Oct.  18,  1842.  Thig 
square  is  on  the  plat  that  is  designated  in  the  deed  from 
Eurotas  P.  Hastings  to  the  Hastings  Village  Company, 
dated  July  26, 1836,  as  the  "  Barry  County-Seat  Purchase." 

THE  PRESENT  JAIL. 
Nothing  was  done  toward  erecting  a  new  jail  until  the 
fall  session  of  1851,  when  H.  J.  Kenfield  was  appointed  a 
committee  by  the  board  of  supervisors  to  procure  a  plan  for 
building  a  jail,  which  he  was  to  present  at  the  next  session. 
No  mention  is  made  of  such  a  plan  being  presented  at  the 
next  meeting,  although  the  propriety  of  building  a  jail  was 
then  under  consideration.  A  resolution  was  offered  by  Mr. 
Salisbury  to  raise  two  thousand  dollars  for  the  purpose  of 
building  a  jail  and  to  lay  the  question  before  the  electors  of 
the  county  at  the  spring  election  of  1852.  This  resolution 
was  lost. 

The  subject  was  not  brought  up  for  consideration  till 
the  10th  of  October,  1853,  when  the  board  appointed 
Cleveland  Ellis,  John  Miles,  and  E.  R.  Carpenter  a  com- 


COUNTY  BUILDINGS  AND  POOR-FARMS. 


61 


mittee  to  investigate  in  regard  to  the  practicability  of  build- 
ing a  jail.  The  report  of  the  committee  was  substantially 
embodied  in  the  following  extract : 

"  That  the  county  of  Barry  proceed  to  build  a.  jail  of  the  dimen- 
sions of  the  upright  building  of  the  Calhoun  County  jail,  and  that  a 
committee  of  three  be  appointed  to  purchase  a  site  and  get  a  plan, 
and  make  an  estimate  upon  the  probable  cost,  and  lay  the  same  before 
the  board  at  their  next  session.  The  committee  also  report  favorably 
of  the  purchase  of  village  lots  Nos.  583  and  584." 

The  report  was  adopted,  and  it  was  resolved  that  the  sum 
of  one  thousand  dollars  should  be  raised  by  tax  that  year 
to  be  applied  to  the  construction  of  the  jail.  Nathan 
Barlow,  Jr.,  G.  K.  Beamer,  and  E.  R.  Carpenter  were  ap- 
pointed the  committee  for  the  purpose  mentioned  in  the 
report. 

At  the  next  session  of  the  board,  in  January,  1854,  the 
committee  on  the  jail  made  a  verbal  report,  which  was  ac- 
cepted, and  the  committee  was  discharged.  Messrs.  Barlow, 
Ellis,  and  Beamer  were  then  appointed  a  committee  to  super- 
intend the  building  of  the  jail,  to  purchase  lots  on  which  to 
place  the  same,  to  let  the  contract  for  building  it,  agreeably 
to  the  specifications  and  plans  adopted  by  the  board,  to 
draw  upon  the  county  treasurer  for  such  moneys  as  might 
become  due  to  the  contractor,  and  to  report  to  the  board  of 
supervisors  at  its  next  session.  A  contract  for  the  erection 
of  the  building  was  duly  entered  into  by  Messrs.  Ferris  and 
Edgecourt.  The  land  on  which  the  jail  was  erected  was 
purchased  of  Oliver  N.  Boltwood,  the  deed  bearing  date 
March  27,  1854,  and  being  recorded  April  13th  the  same 
year.  The  price  paid  was  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars ; 
the  premises  are  known  as  lots  729  and  730,  and  are  situ- 
ated on  the  south  side  of  Court  Street,  between  Park  and 
Washington  Streets,  in  the  village  of  Hastings.  There  the 
present  jail  was  erected  during  the  summer  of  1854. 

LOCATION  OF   OFFICIAL   QUARTERS. 

The  oflSces  of  the  county  during  the  first  year  or  two 
after  its  organization  were  kept  in  an  addition  to  the  double 
log  house  owned  by  Abner  C.  Parmelee,  situated  on  the 
north  end  of  the  lot  that  corners  on  Broadway  and  Water 
Streets,  about  fifteen  rods  south  of  the  bridge.  Upon  the 
completion  of  the  first  court-house  and  jail  they  were  re- 
moved to  that  building.  After  its  destruction  the  oflSces 
were  kept  at  the  business-places  or  residences  of  the  oflScers. 
On  the  19th  of  January,  1849,  the  officers  were  instructed 
to  remove  their  papers  to  the  offices  fitted  up  for  that  pur- 
pose in  the  new  courtrhouse.  All  the  principal  county 
officers  now  have  their  offices  in  that  building,  except  the 
probate  judge,  whose  office  is  located  on  the  north  side  of 
Broadway,  in  the  city  of  Hastings. 

BARRY   COUNTY   POOR-HOUSE   AND   FARM. 

Superintendents  of  the  poor  were  appointed  at  the  first 
session  of  the  county  commissioners  after  the  organization 
of  Barry  County,  in  1839.  From  this  time  until  1849  no 
special  mention  is  made  of  any  effiart  for  the  relief  of  pau- 
pers, whose  board  had  been  hired  by  the  superintendents 
at  the  lowest  rates  possible. 

On  the  31st  of  December  of  that  year  the  board  of 
supervisors  resolved  "  That  the  superintendents  of  the  poor 


be  requested  to  solicit  and  obtain  terms  and  information 
preparatory  to  purchasing  and  building  a  county  poor-house 
and  premises,  and  report  to  the  board  of  supervisors  at 
their  annual  session." 

The  superintendents  made  no  report  that  is  on  file  in 
reference  to  a  purchase,  and  nothing  further  is  recorded 
concerning  it  until  1853,  when  the  subject  was  again 
brought  up. 

The  superintendents  then  earnestly  recommended  the 
board  to  take  some  action  relative  to  obtaining  a  county 
poor-farm,  whereupon  W.  W.  Ralph  was  appointed  an 
agett  to  open  a  correspondence  and  elicit  such  information 
as  would  be  useful  in  obtaining  a  suitable  farm  for  that 
purpose. 

On  the  11th  of  October,  1854,  the  board  of  supervisors 
resolved  "  That  a  tax  of  eight  hundred  dollars  be  assessed 
upon  the  taxable  property  of  the  county,  to  be  applied 
towards  the  purchasing  a  county  poor-farm,  and  that  R. 
N.  Hanna,  D.  G.  Robinson,  and  Hiram  Lewis  be  appointed 
a  committee  to  select  a  proper  location  for  said  farm  and 
report  to  the  board  at  its  next  meeting."  On  the  2d  of 
January,  1855,  this  committee  made  its  report,  which 
was  not  adopted,  and  the  board  resolved  not  to  purchase  a 
poor-farm.  The  record  of  the  next  day's  proceedings  on 
this  subject  is  as  follows  : 

"  The  resolutions  passed  yesterday  not  to  purchase  a  farm  for  the 
county  poor  was  rescinded,  and  Messrs.  John  Miles,  0.  B.  Sheldon, 
and  Silas  Bowkcr  were  appointed  a  committee,  with  the  powers  con- 
ferred in  the  following  resolutions,  to  wit :  Resolved  that  the  commit- 
tee purchase  a  poor-farm  as  soon  as  practicable,  to  select  a  proper 
location,  and  to  exercise  their  own  judgment  as  they  shall  think 
proper  in  the  situation  and  purchase  of  such  farm,  and  they  shall 
have  power  to  draw  upon  the  county  treasurer  for  money  to  pay  for 
said  farm  not  exceeding  eight  hundred  dollars." 

A  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  was  purchased  of  John  L. 
MoLellan,  it  being  the  west  half  of  the  southeast  quarter 
and  the  east  twenty  acres  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 27,  in  township  3  north,  in  range  8  west  (Hastings). 
The  deed  for  this  property  bears  date  Feb.  17,  1855,  and 
is  on  record  in  Liber  M,  page  19,  of  Barry  County  deeds. 
The  price  paid  was  three  thousand  five  hundred  dollars. 
Repairs,  improvements,  and  additions  were  made  upon  and  to 
the  buildings  from  time  to  time,  until  the  October  session  of 
the  supervisors  in  1877.  The  committee  on  county  buildings 
then  reported  that  they  found  the  poor-house  entirely  unfit 
for  the  comfortable  keeping  of  the  inmates,  and  recom- 
mended the  board  to  construct  a  new  one,  containing  rooms 
for  the  comfort  of  the  insane ;  the  material  to  be  brick,  and 
the  cost  not  to  exceed  six  thousand  dollars. 

At  the  same  session  it  was  resolved  that  a  poor-house 
should  be  erected  on  the  poor-farm  at  a  cost  not  exceeding 
six  thousand  dollars.  David  G.  Robinson,'  Lewis  Durkee, 
and  Samuel  J.  Bidelman  were  appointed  a  building  com- 
mittee to  adopt  plans  and  specifications  and  advertise  for 
proposals.  The  money  for  the  purpose  was  taken  from  the 
county  contingent  fund.  The  building  was  reported  com- 
plete on  the  9th  of  January,  1879,  and  was  then  given  in 
charge  of  the  superintendent  of  the  poor. 


62 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


CHAPTER    XVIL 

LISTS  OF  OFFICERS. 

List  of  Principal  Civil  OBBeers  resident  in  Allegan  County,  with 
length  of  Term  and  Date  of  entering  on  Office — Representative 
in  Congress — Secretary  of  State — State  Treasurer — Regents  of  the 
University — Commissioner  of  the  Land-Office — Railroad  Commis- 
sioners— State  Senators — Representatives  in  Legislature — Circuit 
Judges — Associate  Judges — County  and  Second  Judges — Circuit 
Court  Commissioners — Probate  Judges — Sheriffs — County  Clerks 
— Registers — County  Treasurers — County  Commissioners — County 
Superintendents  of  Schools — County  Surveyors — Prosecuting  Attor- 
neys— Coroners — Members  of  Constitutional  Conventions — List  of 
Principal  Civil  Officers  resident  in  Barry  County — Secretary  of 
State — Regents  of  the  University — State  Senators — Representa- 
tives in  Legislature  —  Associate  Judges  —  County  and  Second 
Judges — Circuit  Court  Commissioners — Probate  Judges — ^Sheriffs 
— County  Clerk — County  Registers — County  Treasurers — County 
Commissioners — County  Superintendents  of  Schools — County  Sur- 
veyors— Prosecuting  Attorneys — County  Drain  Commissioners — 
— Coroners — Members  of  Constitutional  Conventions. 

OFFICERS  EESIDENT  IN  ALLEGAN   COUNTY. 

REPRESENTATIVE   IN   CONGRESS  (Two  Years). 

William  B.  Williams,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  3,  1873,  to  fill  vacancy 

caused  by  the  death  of  Hon.  W.  B.  Foster ;  took  his  seat  Dec.  5, 

1873;  re-elected  Nov.  4,  1874;  term  began  March  4,  1875. 

SECRETARY    OF   STATE   OF   MICHIGAN  (Two  Years). 

James  B.  Porter,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  15,  1860;  term  began  Jan. 

1, 1861;  re-elected  Nov.  4, 1862;  again  elected  Nov.  8,  1864. 

STATE    TREASURER  (Four  Years). 
Benjamin  D.  Pritchard,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  5,  1878;  term  begin- 
ning Jan.  1,  1879. 

REGENTS    OF   THE   UNIVERSITY  (Six  Years). 
Elisha  Ely,  Allegan;  elected  April  15,  1851;  John  R.  Kellogg,  elected 
Nov.  7,  1854. 

MEMBER   OF   STATE    BOARD    OF    CHARITIES. 
William  B.  Williams,  Allegan;  appointed  in  August,  1871;  reappointed 
April  5,  1873  ;  resigned  December,  1873. 

COMMISSIONER   OF   THE   LAND-OFFICE  (Two  Years). 
Benjamin  D.  Pritchard,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  6,  1866;  beginning 
term  Jan.  1,  1867;  re-elected  Nov.  3,  1868. 

RAILROAD   COMMISSIONER. 
William  B.  Williams,  Allegan;  appointed  by  the  Governor,  May  1, 
1877 ;  reappointed  May  1,  1879. 

STATE   SENATORS  (Two  Years). 
Flavius  J.  Littlejohn,  Allegan  (for  Fifth  District);  elected  Nov.  6 
and  7,  1844;  term  commenced  Jon.  1,  1845;  elected  president 

pro  tempore  of  the  Senate  Jan.  6,  1846. 
Gilbert  Moyers,  Allegan  (for  Thirteenth  District);  elected  Nov.  4, 

1856;  term  ooromeneed  Jan.  1,  1857. 
Henry  C.  Briggs,  Allegan  (for  Nineteenth  District) ;  elected  Nov.  15, 

1860;  term  commenced  Jan.  1,  1861. 
Wilson  C.  Bdsell,  Otsego  (for  Nineteenth  District) ;  elected  Nov.  8, 

1864;  term  commenced  Jan.  1,  1865. 
William  B.  Williams,  Allegan  (for  Seventeenth  District);  elected  Nov. 

6,  1866;  term  commenced  Jan.  1,  1867;  re-elected  Nov.  3   1868' 

prcsidentpro  tern,  in  1869. 
Francis  B.  Stockbridge,  Saugatuck  (for  Seventeenth  District) ;  elected 

Nov.  8,  1870  ;  term  commenced  Jan.  1,  1871. 
Mark  D.  Wilbur,  Allegan  (for  Fourteenth  District) ;  elected  Nov.  6 

1872;  term  commenced  Jan.  1,  1873. 
Henry  F.  Thomas,  Allegan  (for  Fourteenth  District) ;  elected  Nov.  3, 

1874;  term  commenced  Jan.  1,  1875. 
Wilson  C.  Edsell,  Otsego  (for  Fourteenth  District) ;  elected  Nov.  7, 

1876;  term  commenced  Jan.  1,  1877. 


Nathaniel  W.  Lewis,  Ganges  (for  Fourteenth  District) ;  elected  Nov. 
5,  1878;  term  commenced  Jan.  1,  1879. 

REPRESENTATIVES   IN   THE   LEGISLATURE  (One  Year). 

Elisha  Ely,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  4  and  8,  1836;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1837. 

John  R.  Kellogg,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  4,  1837;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1838. 

David  B.  Stout,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  5  and  6,  1838;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1839. 

Flavius  J.  Littlejohn,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  2, 1841;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1842;  re-elected  Nov.  7,  1842. 

Peter  J.  Cook,  Saugatuck;  elected  Nov.  5,  1844;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1845. 

Lintsford  B.  Coats,  Otsego;  elected  Nov.  3,  1846;  term  oommeuced 
Jan.  1,  1847. 

Flavius  J.  Littlejohn,  Allegan;   elected   Nov.  2,  1847;   term  com- 
menced July  1,  1848. 

Horace  H.  Comstock,  Otsego;  elected  Nov.  7, 1848;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1849. 

Friend  Ives,  Plainlield;  elected  Nov.  6,  1849;  term  commenced  Jan.  " 
1,  1850. 

EBPKESENTATIVES  ELECTED  FOB  TWO   TEARS. 
Oka  Town,  Otsego;  elected  Nov.  5,  1850;  term  commenced  Jan.  1, 

1851. 
John  Murphy,  Gun  Plain;   elected  Nov.  2,  1852;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1853. 
Flavius  J.  Littlejohn,  Allegan ;  elected  Nov.  7, 1854;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1855. 
Chauncey  B.Goodrich,  Ganges;    elected   Nov.  4,  1856 ;    term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1857. 
James  M.  Baldwin,  Hopkins;  elected  Nov.  2,  1858;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1859. 
Franklin  B.  Wallin,  Saugatuck;  elected  Nov.  15,  1860;  term   com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1861. 
Philetus  0.  Littlejohn,  Allegan  (First  Distriot) ;  Daniel  D.  MoMartin, 
Gun  Plain  (Second  District);  both  elected  Nov.  4,  1862;  terms 
'        commenced  Jan.  1,  1863. 

William  Packard,  Ganges  (First  District);  William  B.  White,  Way- 
land  (Second  District);  both  elected  Nov.  8,  1861;  terms  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1865. 
William  Packard,  Ganges  (First  District);  Thomas  Shepherd,  Martin 
(Second  District) ;  both  elected  Nov.  6,  1866 ;  terms  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1867. 
Francis  B.  Stockbridge,  Saugatuck  (First  District) ;  Milo  E.  Gilford, 
Gun  Plain  (Second  Distriot);  both  elected  Nov.  3,  1868;  terms 
commenced  Jan.  1,  1869. 
Richard  Ferris,  Cheshire  (First  District) ;  Charles  W.  Watkins,  Way- 
land  (Second  District) ;  both  elected  Nov.  8,  1870  ;  terms  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1871. 
Henry  F.  Thomas,  Allegan  (First  District);    Charles  W.  Watkins, 
Wayland  (Second  District);  Jan  W.  Gavelink,  Fillmore  (Third 
District);  all   elected  Nov.  2,  1872 ;    terms  commenced  Jan    1, 
1873. 
William  F.  Harden,  Martin  (Second  District);  elected  March,  1874, 

to  fill  vacancy  caused  by  resignation  of  Charles  W.  Watkins. 
James   Eggleston,  Monterey    (First    District);    William    F.  Harden, 
Martin   (Second  District) ;  David  W.  Wiley,  Saugatuck  (Third 
District);  all  elected   Nov.  3,  1874;  terms    commenced   Jan   1. 
1875. 
Crosby   Eaton,  Casco    (First   District);  Jerome   Winohell,  Plainwell 
(Second  Distriot);  both  elected  Nov.  7,  1876;  terms  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1877. 
Crosby   Eaton,  Casco  (First  District) ;    Henry  E.  Blackman,  Trow- 
bridge (Second  District);  elected  Nov.  5,  1878;  terms  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1879. 

JUDGES   OF   CIRCUIT   COURTS   (Six  Years). 
Flavius  J.  Littlejohn,  Allegan ;  elected  April  4, 1858,  upon  the  organi- 
zation of  the  Ninth   Circuit;   re-elected  in   April,  1863;   term 
commenced  Jan.  I,  1864;   resigned  in  1869,  after  holding   the 
April  term. 

John  W  Stone,  Allegan ;  elected  April  7, 1873,  upon  the  organization 
of  the  Twentieth  Circuit;  resigned  Nov.  1,  1874. 


LISTS  OF  OFFICERS. 


63 


Dan  J.  Arnold,  Allegan;  appointed  Nov.  5,  1874,  to  fill  Tacancy 
oeoasioned  by  resignation  of  John  W.  Stone;  elected  for  full  terlu 
in  April,  1876. 

ASSOCIATE   JUDGES   (Four  Years). 
Elisha  Ely,  Allegan;  John  Andersen,  Plainfield;  both  elected  Nov. 

4,  1836 ;  terms  commenced  Nov.  8,  1836. 
John  Anderson,  Plainfield;  John  R.  Kellogg,  Allegan;  both  elected 

Nov.   2,  1840;   term  commenced  Jan.  1,  1841;   both  re-elected 

Nov.  4,  1844. 

COUNTY   JUDGES  (Three  Years). 
Henry  H.  Booth,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  3,  1846;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1847. 
Abram  I.  Dedrick,  Gun  Plain;  elected  Nov.  5, 1850;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1851. 

SECOND   JUDGES. 
Bber  Sherwood,  Otsego;  elected  Nov.  3,  1846;  term  commenced  Jan. 

1,1847. 
Abram  Hoag,  Otsego ;  elected  Nov.  5,  1850 ;  term  commenced  Jan.  1, 

1851. 

CIRCUIT   COURT   COMMISSIONERS  (Two  Years). 
Henry  C.  Stoughton,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  2,  1852;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1853. 
Flaviua  J.  Littlejohn,  Allegan  ;  elected  Nov.  7, 1854;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1855. 
George  Y.  "Warner,  Allegan  ;  elected  Nov.  4,  1856 ;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1857. 
Josiah  L.  Hawes,  Allegan ;  elected  Nov.  2,  1858 ;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1859. 
Joseph  Thew,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  15,  1860;  term  commenced  Jan. 

1,  1861. 
Dan  J.  Arnold,  Allegan ;  elected  Nov.  4,  1862  ;  term  commenced  Jan. 

1,  1863. 
Joseph  Thew,  Allegan ;  elected  Nov.  8,  1864 ;  term  commenced  Jan. 

1,  1865;  re-elected  Nov.  6,  1866. 
Patroclus  A.  Latta,  Otsego;  elected  Nov.  3,1868;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1, 1869. 
Joseph  Thew,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  8,  1870;  term  commenced  Jan. 

1,  1871. 
Philip  Padgham  and  Joseph  Thew,  Allegan;  both  elected  Nov.  5, 

1872;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1873. 
Joseph  Thew,  Allegan,  and  'Warner  A.  Woodworth,  Saugatuck;  both 

elected  Nov.  3,  1874;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1875. 
Joseph  Thew  and  Frank  S.  Donaldson,  Allegan ;  both  elected  Nov.  7, 

1876;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1877. 
Joseph  Thew  and  Edward  J.  Anderson,  Allegan;  both  elected  Nor.  5, 

1878;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1879. 

PROBATE  JUDGES  (Four  Years). 
Oka  Town,  Otsego;  appointed  by  Territorial  Governor,  Aug.  25, 1835. 
Ebenezer  Parkharst,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  4,  1836;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1836. 
George  Y.  Warner,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  2,  1840;  term  began  Jan. 

1,  1841. 
Elisha  Ely,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  4,  1844;  term  began  Jan.  1,  1845. 
De  Witt  C.  Chapin,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  7, 1848;  term  began  Jan. 

I,  1849. 
Elisha  Ely,  Allegan  ;  elected  Nov.  2,  1852;  term  began  Jan.  1,  1853. 
E.  B.  Bassett,  appointed  to  fill  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  Elisha 

Ely,  in  December,  1854. 
William  B.  Williams,  Allegan ;  elected  Nov.  4, 1856;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1857;  re-elected  Nov.  15,  1860. 
Dan  J.  Arnold,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  8,  1864;  term  began  Jan.  1, 

1865;  re-elected  Nov.  3,  1868. 
James  B.  Humphrey,  Allegan ;  elected  Nov.  5, 1872 ;  term  began  Jan. 

1, 1873;  re-elected  Nov.  7,  1876. 

SHERIFFS  (Two  Years). 
John  L.  Shearer,  Otsego ;  appointed  by  the  Territorial  Governor,  Aug. 

25,  1835. 
John  Murphy,  Plainfield;   elected  Nov.  4,  1836;   term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1837 ;  re-elected  Nov.  5,  1838. 
Joseph  Fisk,  Allegan ;  elected  Nov.  2, 1 840 ;  term  began  Jan.  1, 1841. 


William  Still,  Gun  Plain  ;  elected  Nov.  7,  1842 ;  term  began  Jan.  1, 

1843;  re-elected  Nov.  4, 1844. 
Benjamin  Pratt,  Allegan  ;  elected  Nov.  3,  1846;  term  began  Jan.  1, 

1847;  re-elected  Nov.  7,  1848. 
Nelson  Chambers,  Way  land;  elected  Nov.  5, 1850;  term  began  Jan. 

1,  1851. 
Benjamin  Pratt,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  2,  1852;  term  began  Jan.  1, 

1853;  re-elected  Nov.  7,  1854. 
Willard  Higgins,  Otsego;   elected  Nov.  4,  1856;   term   commenced 

Jan.  1,  1857. 
Jacob  Grover,  Trowbridge;  elected  Nov.  2,  1858;  term  began  Jan. 

1,  1859. 
Andrew  P.  Grover,  Trowbridge;  elected  Nov.  15,  I860;  term  began 

Jan.  1, 1861 ;  re-elected  Nov.  4,  1862. 
William  B.  Hooker,  Leighton;  elected  Nov.  8, 1864;  term  began  Jan. 

1,  1865. 
Alexander  Henderson,  Trowbridge;  elected  Nov.  6, 1866;  term  began 

Jan.  1,  1867;  re-elected  Nov.  3,  1868. 
William  L.  Ripley,  Monterey;  elected  Nov.  8,  1870;  term  began  Jan. 

1,  1871. 
William  Hay,  Gun  Plain;  elected  Nov.  5,  1872;  term  began  Jan.  1, 

1873;  re-elected  Nov.  3,  1874. 
Thomas  J.  Parker,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  7,  1876;  term  began  Jan. 

1,  1877. 
William  Hay,  Gun  Plain;  elected  Nov.  5,  1878;  term  began  Jan.  1, 

1879. 

COUNTY   CLERKS  (One  Year). 
Alexander  L.  Ely,  Allegan ;  appointed  by  Territorial  Governor,  Aug. 

25,  1835 ;  elected  Nov.  4,  1836  ;  term  commenced  Jan.  1,  1837. 
Elijah  G.  Bingham,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  4, 1837  ;  term  began  Jan. 

1,  1838. 

CLERKS  ELECTED   FOR  TWO  TEAKS. 
Elijah  G.  Bingham,  Allegan;  re-elected  Nov.  4,  1838;  term  began 

Jan.  1,  1839. 
Henry  H.  Booth,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  2,  1840;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1841. 
Alexander  L.  Ely,  Allegan  ;  elected  Nov.  7,  1 842 ;  term  began  Jan. 

1,  1843. 
John  Weare,  Trowbridge  ;  elected  Nov.  4,  1844;  term  began  Jan.  1, 

1845. 
Nathan  Manson,  Jr.,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  3,  1846;  term  began  Jan. 

1,  1847. 
E.  Bourne  Bassett,  Allegan;  appointed  by  the  county  judge,  April 

10,  1847,  and  elected  Nov.  2,  1847,  to  fill  vacancy  caused  by  the 

death  of  N.  Manson,  Jr. ;   re-elected  Nov.  7,  1848,  and  again 

Nov.  5,  1850. 
James  B.  Porter,  Otsego;  elected  Nov.  2,1852;  term  commenced  Jan. 

1,  1853;  re-elected  Nov.  7,  1854. 
Henry  C.  Briggs,  Monterey;  elected  Nov.  4,  1856;  term  began  Jan. 

1,  1857;  re-elected  Nov.  2,  1858. 
John  W.  Stone,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  15,  1860;  term  began  Jan.  1, 

1861 ;  re-elected  Nov.  4,  1862. 
Ami  Whitney,*  Gun  Plain ;  elected  Nov.  8,  1864 ;  term  began  Jan. 

1,  1865. 
Hannibal  Hart,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  6,  1866;  term  began  Jan.  1, 

1867  ;  re-elected  Nov.  3,  1868. 
Almerin  E.  Calkins,  Allegan  ;  elected  Nov.  8,  1870;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1871. 
Hiram  B.  Hudson,  Clyde;  elected  Nov.  6,  1872;  term  began  Jan. 

1,  1873  ;  re-elected  Nov.  5,  1874. 
Nahum   Gilbert,  Otsego ;  elected  Nov.  7,  1876 ;  term  began  Jan.  1, 

1877;  re-elected  Nov.  5, 1878. 

COUNTY   REGISTERS  (Two  Years).' 
Alex.  L.  Ely,  Allegan ;  appointed  by  Territorial  Governor,  Aug.  25, 

]835.t 
Joseph  Fisk,  Allegan;  elected  in  April,  1836,  and  served  from  that 

time  until  Jan.  1,  1837. 
Alexander  L.  Ely,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  4,  1836;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1837. 

*  Resigned  in  1866.     Johnson  Parsons  was  appointed  in  1866  to 
fill  vacancy  caused  by  resignation  of  Ami  Whitney, 
f  See  Chapter  XIII. 


64 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Elijah  G.  Bingham,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  4,  1838;  term  began  Jan. 

1,  1839. 
Ebenezer  Parkhurst,  Allegan ;  elected  Nov.  2,  1840 ;  term  began  Jan. 

1,  1841 ;  re-elected  Nov.  7,  1842. 
Elisha  Ely,  Allegan ;  elected  Nov.  4,  1844;  term  began  Jan.  1,  1845; 

re-elected  Nov.  3,  1846;  again  Nov.  7,  1848;  and  again  Nov.  5, 

1850. 
James  B.  Porter,  Otsego;  elected  Nov.  2,  1852;  term  oommenoed  Jan. 

1,  1853;  re-elected  Nov.  7,  1854;  again  Nov.  4,  1856;  and  again 

Nov.  2,  1858. 
Jacob  B.  Bailey,  Allegan ;  elected  Nov.  15,  1860 ;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1861. 
Ralph  Pratt,  Way  land;  elected  Nov.  4,  1862;  term  began  Jan.  1, 

1863;  re-elected  Nov.  8,  1864,  and  again  Nov.  6,  1866. 
William  C.  Weeks,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  3,  1868;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1869 ;  re-elected  Nov.  8,  1870. 
Perry  J.  Davis,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  5,  1872;  term  began  Jan.  I, 

1873  ;  re-elected  Nov.  3,  1874. 
William  V.  Hoyt,  Wayland;  elected  Nov.  7,  1876;  term  began  Jan. 

1,  1877;  re-elected  Nov.  5,  1878. 

COUNTY   TREASURERS  (Two  Years). 

Milo  Winslow,  Allegan;  appointed  by  Territorial  Governor,  Aug.  25, 
1835 ;  elected  Nov.  4,  1836  ;  term  commenced  Jan.  1,  1837. 

Alvah  Puller,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  4,  1838;  term  began  Jan.  1, 
1839;  re-elected  Nov.  2,  1840. 

Lintsford  B.  Coats,  Otsego;  elected  Nov.  7,  1842;  term  began  Jan.  1, 
1843. 

Osmond  Smith,  Otsego;  elected  Nov.  4,  1844;  term  began  Jan.  1, 
1845;  re-elected  Nov.  3,  1846;  again  re-elected  Nov.  7,  1848, 
and  again  Nov.  5,  1850. 

Stephen  A.Morrison,  Saugatuok;  elected  Nov.  2,  1852;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1853. 

David  D.  Davis,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  7,  1854;  term  began  Jan.  1, 
1855. 

Duncan  A.  McMartin,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  4,  1856;  term  began 
Jan.  1,  1857;  re-elected  Nov.  2,  1858;  again  Nov.  15, 1860;  again 
Nov.  4,  1862  ;  and  again  Nov.  8, 1864. 

Ira  Chichester,  Allegan ;  elected  Nov.  6,  1866 ;  term  commenced  Jan. 
1,  1867;  re-elected  Nov.  3,  1868;  again  Nov.  8,  1870;  again 
Nov.  5,  1872;  and  again  Nov.  3,  1874. 

Duncan  A.  McMartin,  Gun  Plain;  elected  Nov.  7,  1876;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1877. 

Martin  Cook,  elected  Nov.  5,  1878;  term  commenced  Jan.  1,  1879. 

COUNTY    COMMISSIONERS  (Three  Years). 

Silas  F.  Littlejohn  and  Oshea  Wilder,  Allegan ;  both  elected  Nov.  5, 
1838;  Hull  Sherwood,  Otsego;  elected  Deo.  20, 1838  (special  elec- 
tion) ;  term  of  all  three  began  Jan.  1,  1839. 

Milo  Winslow,  Allegan,  and  Cotton  M.  Kimball,  Martin;  both  elected 
Nov.  2,  1840 ;  terms  began  Jan.  1,  1841. 

Chester  Wetmore,  Plainfield;  elected  June  17,  1841,  to  fill  vacancy 
caused  by  death  of  Milo  Winslow. 

Stephen  D.  Nichols,  Saugatuck;  elected  Nov.  1,  1841,  to  fill  vacancy. 

COUNTY  SUPERINTENDENTS   OF   SCHOOLS  (Two  Years). 
James  M.  Ballou,  Otsego;  elected  April  1,  1867. 
Patroclus  A.  Latta,  Allegan;  elected  April  5,  1869;  re-elected  April, 

1871. 
Isaac  H.  Lamoreaux,  Manlius;  elected  April  7,  1873. 

COUNTY   SURVEYORS  (Two  Years). 
William  Forbes,'Gun  Plain;  elected  Nov.  4,  1836;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1837  ;  re-elected  Nov.  4,  1838. 
John  P.  AUard,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  4,  1839;  term  began  Jan.  1, 

1840 ;  re-elected  Nov.  2,  1840. 
Edward  B.  Wilber,  Saugatuck;  elected  Nov.  7,  1842;    term  began 

Jan.  1,  1843. 
Aaron  Chichester,  Otsego ;  elected  Nov.  4,  1*44;  term  began  Jan.  1, 

1845. 
Herschel  B.  Seymour,  Gun  Plain ;  elected  Nov.  3,  1846  ;  term  began 

Jan.  1,  1847. 
Charles  E.  Watson,  Watson;  elected  Nov.  7,  1848;  term  began  Jan. 

1,  1849;  re-elected  Nov.  5,  1850. 


James  C.  Haile,  Saugatuok;  elected  Nov.  7,  1854;  term  began  Jan. 

1,  1855. 
Bliaha  Mix,  Manlius;  elected  Nov.  4,  1856;  term  began  Jan.  1, 1857 
Ira  Chichester,  Allegan ;  elected  Nov.  2,  1858 ;  term  began  Jan.  1, 

1859;  re-elected  Nov.  15,  1860;  again  Nov.  4,  1862;  again  Nov. 

8,  1864 ;  and  again  Nov.  6,  1866. 
Joseph  W.  Hicks,  Gun  Plain;  elected  Nov.  3,  1868;  term  began  Jan. 

1,  1869;  re-elected  Nov.  8,  1870,  Nov.  6,  1872,  Nov.  3,  1874,  and 

Nov.  7,  1876. 
Albro  Gardner,  Allegan ;  elected  Nov.  5,1878;  term  commenced  Jan. 

1,  1879. 

PROSECUTING    ATTORNEYS. 

TEMPORARILY  APPOINTED  TOE  KACH  TERM  BY  THE  COURT. 
George  Y.  Warner,  for  November  term,  1837. 
Flavius  J.  Littlejohn,  for  the  several  terms  in  1838. 
Mitchell  Hlnsdell,  for  one  term  in  1839. 

APPOINTED   BY  THE   GOVERNOR. 
Flavius  S.  Littlejohn,  served  during  1840,  1841,  1842,  and  1843. 
R.  B.  Goble,  appointed  June  17,  1845. 

ELECTED  FOR  TWO  YEAR?. 

Dewitt  D.  Chapin,  Allegan ;  elected  Nov.  5,  1850 ;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1851. 
Henry  C.  Stoughton,  Otsego;  elected  Nov.  2,  1852;  term  began  Jan. 

1,  1853. 
John  Murphy,  Gun  Plain;  elected  Nov.  7,  1854;  term  began  Jan.  1, 

1855. 
George  Y.  Warner,  Allegan  ;  elected  Nov.  4, 1856 ;  term  began  Jan.  1, 

1857. 
Henry  C.  Stoughton,  Otsego ;  elected  Nov.  2,  1858 ;  term  began  Jan. 

1,  1859. 
Gilbert  Moyers,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  15,  1860;  term  began  Jan.  1, 

1861. 
Silas  Stafford,  Plainwell;  elected  Nov.  4,  1862;  term  began  Jan.  1, 

1863. 
John  W.  Stone,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  8,  1864;  term  commenced  Jan. 

1,  1865  ;  re-elected  Nov.  6,  1866,  and  again  elected  Nov.  3,  1868. 
Albert  H.  Finn,  Allegan ;  elected   Nov.  8,  1870 ;  term   commenced 

Jan.  1,  1871;  re-elected  Nov.  5,  1872. 
Philip  Padgham,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  3,  1874;   term  began  Jan.  1, 

1876;  re-elected  Nov.  7,  1876.  ' 

Hiram  B.  Hudson,  Allegan;  elected  Nov.  5,  1878;  term  began  Jan. 

1,  1879. 

CORONERS   (One  Year). 

Daniel  A.  Plummer,  Newark,  and  James  Preston, ;  elected  Nov. 

4,  1836;  term  commenced  Jan.  1,  1837, 
Roswell  Crane,  Otsego;  elected  Nov.  4,  1837;  term  commenced  Jan. 

1,  1838. 

Ralph  R.  Mann,  Manlius,  and  Hull  Sherwood,  Otsego ;  elected  Nov. 

4,  1838;  term  commenced  Jan.  1,  1839. 
Ebenezer  Parkhurst,  Otsego,  and  George  Y.  Warner,  Allegan ;  elected 

Nov.  4,  1839;  terms  oommenoed  Jan.  1,  1840. 
George  Y.Warner,  Allegan,  and  Levi  Loomis,  Wayland;  elected  Nov. 

2,  1840;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1841. 

Eber  Sherwood,  Otsego;  elected  Nov.  1,  1841,  to  fill  vacancy. 

CORONERS  ELECTED  FOR  TWO  TEARS. 
Hull  Sherwood, Otsego, and  Ralph  R.Mann,  Manlius;  elected  Nov. 7, 

1842;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1843. 
Reuben  M.  Bigelow,  Otsego,  and  John  H.  Billings,  Ganges;  elected 

Nov.  4,  1844 ;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1845. 
James  C.  Haile,  Newark,  and  George  Y.  Warner,  Allegan ;  elected 

Nov.  3,  1846;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1847. 
Almerin  S.  Cotton,  Otsego,  and  George  Y.  Warner,  Allegan;  elected 

Nov.  7,  1848;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1849. 
John  H.  Billings,  Gauges,  and  Almerin  S.  Cotton,  Otsego ;  elected 

Nov.  5,  1850;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1851. 
Alexander  Henderson,  Trowbridge,  and  Jonathan  0.  Round,  Hopkins ; 

elected  Nov.  2,  1852;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1853. 
Alexander  Henderson,  Trowbridge,  and  Elias  M.  Dibble,  Newark; 

elected  Nov.  7,  1854;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1855. 
Alexander  Gilles,  Martin,  and  George  E.  Dunn,  Newark;  elected 

Nov.  4,  1856 ;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1857. 


LISTS  OF  OFFICERS. 


65 


Donald  C.Henderson,  Allegan, and  George  K.Dunn, Newark;  elected 

Nov.  2,  1858;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1859. 
Ralph  R.  Mann,  Manlius,   and   Adrian  C.  Zwemer, ;    elected 

Nov.  16,  1860;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1861. 
Thomas  Lamoreaux,  Manlius,  and  Jan  W.  Gavelink,  Fillmore ;  elected 

Nov.  4,  1862;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1863. 
Charles  W.  Hawley,  Gun  Plain,  and  James  W.  McCormick,  Clyde; 

elected  Nov.  8,  1864;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1865. 
Allan  Haggart,  Martin,  and  Randolph  Densmore,  Saugatuck;  elected 

Nov.  6,  1866;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1867. 
George  N.  Wade, ,  and  George  B.  Nichols,  Martin;  elected  Nov. 

3,  1868  ;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1869. 
George  B.  Nichols,  Martin,  and  Asa  C.  Goodrich, ;  elected  Nov. 

8,  1870;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1871. 
John  P.  Leland,  Ganges,  and  George  H.  Anderson,  Gun  Plain ;  elected 

Nov.  S,  1872  ;  terms  commenced  Jon.  1,  1873. 
Remelt  Koning,  Overisel,  and  Wm.  A.  Smith,  Dorr;  elected  Nov.  3, 

1874;  terms  cqmmcnced  Jan.  1,  1875. 
Edward  B.  Wright,  Saugatuck,  and  Benjamin  Thonipson, ;  elect- 
ed Nov.  7,  1876;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1877. 
Henry  H.  Stimson,  Saugatuck,  and  Edward  B.  Wright,  Saugatuck; 

elected  Nov.  5,  1878;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1879. 

MEMBERS  OF  CONSTITUTIONAL  CONVENTIONS. 
Richard  Weare,  Trowbridge,  member  of  Convention  of  September, 

1836. 
Silas  F.  Littlejohn,  Allegan,  and  Orsamus  Eaton, ,  members  of 

Convention  of  December,  1836. 
Oka  Town,  Otsego,  member  of  Convention  of  June,  1850. 
William  B.  Williams,  Allegan,  and  William  B.  White, ,  members 

of  Convention  of  May,  1867. 

OFFICERS  KESIDENT  IN  BARKY  COUNTY. 
SECRETARY  OF  STATE   (Two  Years). 
Daniel  Striker,  elected  Nov.  8,  1870;  term  commenced  Jan.  1,  1871; 
re-elected  Nov.  5,  1872.- 

REGENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY   (Six  Years). 
William  Upjohn,  elected  April  7, 1851 ;  term  commenced  upon  election. 
James  A.  Swcazy,  elected  April,  1867 ;  term  commenced  upon  election. 

STATE  SENATORS    (Two  Years). 
John  Bowne,  Hickory  Corners ;  elected  Nov.  6, 1849  ;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1850. 
Henry  A.  Goodyear, Hastings;  elected  Nov.  7, 1854;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1855. 
Norman    Bailey,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  6,  1860;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1861. 
John  M. Nevins,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  8,  1864;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1865. 
George  Thomas,  Gull  Lake;  elected  November,  1868 ;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1, 1869. 
George  M.  Dewey,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  5,  1872;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1873. 
David  R.  Cook,  Hastings ;  elected  Nov.  7,  1876 ;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1877. 

REPRESENTATIVES  IN  THE  STATE  LEGISLATURE  (One 
Year). 

Nathan  Barlow,  Yankee  Springs;  elected  Nov.  2  and  3,  1840;  term 
commenced  Jan,  1,  1841. 

Abner  C.  Parmelee,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  6  and  7,  1S43 ;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1844. 

William  Lewis,  Yankee  Springs ;"  elected  Nov.  4,  1845 ;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1846. 

Henry  A.  Goodyear,  Hastings;  electedNov.  1, 1846;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1847. 

Nathan  Barlow,  Yankee  Springs;  elected  Nov.  2,  1847;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1848. 

John  Bowne,  Hickory  Corners ;  elected  November,  1848 ;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1849. 

Nathan  Barlow,  Jr.,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  6, 1849 ;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1, 1850. 

Zalmon  C.  Hall,  elected  Nov.  5,  1850;  term  commenced  Jan.  1, 1851. 

9 


EEPKESEKTATI7ES  ELECTED  FOE  TWO  TEAES. 
Alvin  W.  Bailey,  Hastings ;  elected  Nov.  9,  1 852 ;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1853. 
George  W.  Brown,  Orangeville;    elected  Nov.  7,  1854;    term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1855. 
John  M.  Nevins,  Hastings ;  elected  Nov.  4,  1856 ;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1857. 
George  K.  Beamef,  Irving ;  elected  Nov.  6,  1860 ;   term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1861. 
James  A.  Sweazey,  Hastings ;  elected  Nov.  11, 1862 ;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1863. 
John  G.  Runyon,  Carlton  (First  District) ;  elected  Nov.  8, 1864;  term 

commenced  Jan.  1,  1865. 
Leander  Lapbam,  Maple  Grove  (Second  District);   elected  Nov.  8, 

1864;  term  commenced  Jan.  1,  1865. 
James  A.  Sweazey,  Hastings  (First  District) ;  elected  Nov.  6,  1866; 

term  commenced  Jan.  1,  1867. 
Richard  Jones,  Assyria  (Second  District);  elected  Nov.  6,  1866 ;  term 

commenced  Jan.  1,  1867. 
Robert  J.  Grant,  Hastings  (First  District) ;  elected  Nov.  3,  1868  ; 

term  commenced  Jan.  1,  1869. 
Adam   Elliot,   Hickory  Corners  (Second  District) ;   elected  Nov.  3, 

1868;  term  commenced  Jan.  1,  1869. 
Robert  J.  Grant,  Hastings  (First  District);  elected  Nov.  8,  1870; 

term  commenced  Jan.  1,  1871. 
Henry  P.  Cheney,  Johnstown  (Second  District) ;  elected  Nov.  8, 1870 ; 

term  commenced  Jan.  1,  1871. 
Frederick  W.  Collins,  Middleville  (First  District);   elected  Nov.  5, 

1872;  term  commenced  Jan.  1,  1873. 
Gilbert  Striker,  Hastings  (Second  District) ;  elected  Nov.  5,  1872 ; 

term  commenced  Jan.  1,  1873. 
Henry  A.  Goodyear,  Hastings;  elected  November,  1874;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1875. 
Amos  C.  Towne,  Gull  Lake ;  elected  November,  1874 ;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1875. 
Joseph  W.  Stinchcomb,  Woodland  (First  District) ;    elected  Nov.  7, 

1876;  term  commenced  Jan.  1,  1877. 
Asa  D.  Rork,  Rutland  (Second  District);  elected  Nov.  7,  1876;  term 

commenced  Jan.  1,  1877. 
Porter  Burton,  Hastings  (First  District);  elected  Nov.  5,  1878;  term 

commenced  Jan.  1,  1879. 
George  McAllister,  Barry   (Second^  District) ;  elected  Nov.  5,  1878; 
term  commenced  Jan.  1,  1878. 

ASSOCIATE   JUDGES  (Four  Years). 

Nathan  Barlow,  Yankee  Springs ;  elected  April  4,  1839 ;  Isaac  Otis, 
Prairieville ;  elected  April  4, 1839;  both  terms  commenced  upon 
election. 

Nathan  Barlow,  Yankee  Springs;  elected  Nov.  7,1843;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1844. 

William  P.  Bristol,  Johnstown ;  elected  Nov.  7  and  8, 1843 ;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1844. 

Thomas  J.  Humphrey,  Assyria;  elected  April  9,1843;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1844. 

COUNTY  JUDGES  (Four  Years). 

Hiram  Greenfield,  Hastings;  elected  November,  1846;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1, 1847;  re-elected  Nov.  5,  1850. 

SECOND    JUDGES  (Four  Years). 

David  G.  Robinson,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  7, 1846;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1847;  re-elected  Nov.  5,  1850. 

CIRCUIT   COURT    COMMISSIONERS  (Two  Years). 

Norton  S.  Palmer,  Hastings ;  elected  Nov.  9,  1852 ;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1853. 
Hiram  Greenfield,  Hastings;  eleotBd  Nov.  7,  1854;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1855. 
William  Burgher,  Hastings;  elected  Nov,  4,  1856;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1867. 
0.  L.  Ray,  Hope;  elected  Nov.  2,  1858;  term  commenced  Jan.  1, 

1859. 
Harmon  Smith,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  6,  1860;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1861. 


66 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Harvey  Wright,  MiddlevillB;  elcoted  Nov.  11,1862;  term  oommenoed 
Jan.  1,  1863  ;  re-elected  Nov.  8,  1864,  and  again  Nov.  6,  1866. 

William  L.  Cobb,  Middleville ;  elected  Nov.  3, 1868  j  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1869;  re-elected  Nov.  8,  1870;  term  oommenoed  Jan.  1, 
187X. 

George  C.  Worth,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  8,  1870;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1, 1871. 

William  H.  Hayford,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  5,1872;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1, 1873. 

Lucius  Kussell,  Hastings ;  elected  Nov.  5,  1872 ;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1873. 

William  L.  Cobb,  Middleville;  elected  Nov.  3, 1874;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1875. 

Edward  A.  Holbrook,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  3,1874;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1875. 

Alonzo  D.  Cadwallader,  Hastings ;  elected  Nov.  7,  1876 ;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1877. 

Philip  W.  Niskern,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  7,1876;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1877. 

James  M.  Martin,  Nashville;  elected  Nov.  5,  1878;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1879. 

Alonzo  D.  Cadwallader,  tie  vote;  appointed;  term  commenced  Jan. 
1,  1879. 

PROBATE  JUDGES  (Four  Years). 

Stephen  V.  R.  York,  Johnstown;  elected  April  4,  1839;  term  com- 
menced upon  election. 

Calvin  G.  Hill,  Middleville;  elected  Nov.  7,  1842;  term  oommenoed 
Jan.  1,  1843. 

Richard  N.  Hannah,  Irving  ;  elected  November,  1846  ;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1847  ;  re-elected  Nov.  6, 1850. 

Thomas  J.  Humphrey,  Assyria;  elected  Nov.  9,  1852;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1853. 

Orrin  L.  Ray,  Hope;  elected  Nov.  4,  1856;  term  commenced  Jan.  1, 
1857. 

Sherman  C.  Prindle,  Rutland;  elected  Nov.  6,  1860;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1861;  re-elected  Nov.  8,  1864;  again  Nov.  3, 
1868,  and  again  Nov.  5,  1872. 

Clement  Smith,  Nashville;  elected  Nov.  7,  1876;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1877. 

SHERIFFS  (Two  Years). 

Willard  Hays,  Hastings;  elected  April  4,  1839;  term  commenced 
upon  election. 

George  W.  Brown,  Orangeville;  elected  Nov.  2, 1840;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1841. 

Hiram  J.  Kenfield,  Hastings  ;  elected  Nov.  7,  1842;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1843. 

Victory  P.  Collier,  Johnstown;  elected  Nov.  4,  1844;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1845. 

Russell  Slade,  Jr. ;  elected  Nov.  1,1846;  term  commenced  Jan.  1, 
1847. 

John  L.  McLellan,  Hastings ;  elected  Nov.  7,  1848 ;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1849. 

Philip  Leonard,  Thornapple;  elected  Nov.  5,  1850;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1851. 

Hiram  Wood,  Woodland;  elected  Nov.  9,  1852;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1853. 

Washington  K.  Ferris,  Hastings ;  elected  Nov.  7,  1854 ;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1855  ;  re-elected  Nov.  4,  1856. 

Oliver  E.  Everts,  Castleton;  elected  Nov.  2,  1858;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1859  ;  re-elected  Nov.  6,  1860. 

Daniel  H.  Everts,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  11,  1862;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1863. 

John  E.  Hall,  Hope;  elected  Nov.  8,  1864;  term  commenced  Jan. 
1,  ISe.'i. 

Edwin  H.  Mallory,  Maple  Grove;  elected  Nov.  6,  1866;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1867;  re-elected  Nov.  3,  1868. 

Isaac  W.  Vrooman,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  8, 187tl ;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1871 ;  reelected  Nov.  5,  1872. 

John  Q.  Cressy,  Prairieville ;  elected  Nov.  3,  1874 ;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1875;  re-elected  Nov.  5,  1876. 

Henry  Houghtaling,  Baltimore;  elected  Nov.  5,  1878;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1879. 

COUNTY  CLERKS  (Two  Years). 
Thomas   S.  Banker,  Hastings;   elected   April  4,  1839;  term   com- 
menced upon  election. 


Willard  Hays,  Hastings ;  elected  Jan.  25,  1841 ;  term  commenced  on 

election. 
Nathan  Barlow,  Jr.,  Yankee  Springs  ;  elected  Nov.  7,  1842 ;  term 

commenced  Jan.  1,  1843. 
Isaac  A.  Holbrook,  Hastings  ;  elected  Nov.  4,  1844 ;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1845. 
J.  W.  Bradley,  Yankee  Springs;  elected  November,  1846  ;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1847. 
Willard  Hays,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  7,  1848;  term  commenced  Jan. 

1,  1849. 
Henry  E.  Hoyt,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  5,  1850;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1851;  re-elected  Nov.  9,  1852,  and  again  Nov.  7,  1854. 
George  W.  Mills,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  4,  1856;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1857. 
Daniel  Striker,  Hastings ;  elected  Nov.  2, 1858 ;  term  commenced  Jan. 

1,  1859  ;  re-elected  Nov.  6,  1860. 
Henry  P.  Cherry,  Johnstown ;    elected  Nov.   11,  1862 ;    term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1863. 
James  M.  Cadwallader,  Barry;  elected  Nov.  8, 1864;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1865. 
Daniel  Striker,  Hastings;    elected  Nov.  6,  1866;   term   commenced 

Jan.  1,  1867  ;  re-elected  Nov.  3,  1868. 
William  H.  Powers,  Hastings ;  elected  Nov.  8, 1870 ;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1871 ;  re-elected  Nov.  5,  1872,  and  again  Nov.  3,  1874, 

and  Nov.  7,  1876. 
Enoch'  Andrus,  Carlton ;  elected  Nov.  5,  1878. 

COUNTY  REGISTERS    (Two  Years). 

Abner  C.  Parmelee,  Hastings  ;  elected  April  4, 1839  ;  term  commenced 
on  election;  re-elected  Nov.  2,  1840,  and  again  Nov.  7,  1842. 

Salmon  C.  Hall,  Barry;  elected  Nov.  4,  1844;  term  commenced  Jan. 
1,  1845. 

0.  B.  Sheldon,  Castleton;  elected  November,  1846;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1847;  re-elected  Nov.  7,  1848. 

Charles  V.  Patrick,  Middleville ;  elected  Nov.  5,  1850  ;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1851. 

William  Upjohn,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  9,  1852;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1853. 

John  S.  Van  Brunt,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  7, 1854;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1855;  re-elected  Nov.  4,  1856. 

R.  B.  Wightman,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  2,  1858;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1859. 

Sylvanus  H.  Cook,  Prairieville;  elected  Nov.  6,  1860;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1861;  re-elected  Nov.  11,  1862;  again  Nov.  8, 
1864;  and  again  Nov.  6,  1866. 

William  H.  Jewell,  Assyria;  elected  Nov.  3,  1868;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1869;  re-elected  Nov.  8,  1870. 

John  Hotchkiss,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  5,  1872;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1873;  re-elected  Nov.  3,  1874. 

William  M.  Scudder,  Prairieville;  elected  Nov.  7,  1876;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1877;  re-elected  Nov.  6,  1878. 

COUNTY   TREASURERS    (Two  Years). 

Charles  W.  Spaulding,  Prairieville;  elcoted  April  4,  1839;  term  com- 
menced upon  election ;  re-elected  Nov.  2,  1840. 

Abner  C.  Parmelee,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  7, 1842;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1843. 

Nathan  Barlow,  Jr.,  Yankee  Springs;  elected  Nov.  i,  1844;  term 
commenced  Jan.  1,  1845. 

Salmon  C.  Hall,  Barry;  elected  November,  1846 ;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1847;  re-elected  Nov.  7,  1818. 

Orson  B.  Sheldon,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  5,  1850;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1851 ;  re-elected  Nov.  9,  1852. 

Harvey  N.  Sheldon,  Castleton ;  elected  Nov.  7, 1854;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1855;  re-elected  Nov.  4,  1866;  again  Nov.  2,  1858;  again 
Nov.  6,  1860;  again  Nov.  11,  1862;  and  again  Nov.  8,  1864. 

A.  D.  Rork,  Rutland;  elected  Nov.  6,  1866;  term  commenced  Jan.  1, 
1867 ;  re-elected  Nov.  3,  1868. 

Milo  T.  Wheeler,  Woodland ;  elected  Nov.  6,  1870  ;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1871;  re-elected  Nov.  5,  1872,  and  again  Nov.  3,  1874. 

George  H.  Wilcox,  Yankee  Springs  ;  elected  Nov.  7,  1876;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1877;  re-elected  Nov.  5,  1878. 

COUNTY   COMMISSIONERS  (One  Year). 
Nelson  Barnum,  John  Bowue,  Prairieville;   Calvin   G.  Hill,  Middle- 
ville; all  elected  April  4,  1839;  term  commenced  upon  election. 


LISTS  OF  OFFICERS. 


67 


William  Lewis,  Yankee  Springs;  elected  Nov.  4,  1839;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1840. 

Calvin  6.  Hill,  Middleville;  elected  Nov.  2, 1840;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1841. 

John  Bowne,  Prairieville;  elected  Nov.  1,  1841;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1842. 

COUNTY    SUPERINTENDENTS   OF   SCHOOLS   (One  Tear). 

John  H.  Palmer,  Nashville;  elected  April  1,  1867;  term  commenced 
upon  election;  re-elected  April  5,  1869. 

Theodore  B.  Diamond,  Orangeville;  elected  April  3,  1871;  term  com- 
menced upon  election ;  re-elected  April  7,  1873. 

COUNTY   SURVEYORS  (Two  Tears). 

Calvin  6.  Hill,  Middleville;  elected  April  4, 1839;  term  commenced 
upon  election;  re-elected  Nov.  2,  1840. 

William  Upjohn,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  7,  1842;  term  commenced 
Jon.  1,  1843. 

George  B.  Manchester,  Thornapple;  elected  Nov.  6, 1844;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1845  ;  re-elected  November,  1846 ;  again  Nov.  7, 
1848;  and  again  Nov.  5,  1850. 

Alpheus  G.  Hill,  Thornapple;  elected  Nov.  7, 1864;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1855. 

Alfred  C.Wilson,  Maple  Grove;  elected  Nov.  4,  1856;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1857. 

James  H.  Brown,  ;  elected  Nov.  2,  1858;   term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1859. 

Alfred  C.  Wilson,  Assyria;  elected  Nov.  6,  1860;  term  commenced 
Jon.  1,  1861. 

Asa  D.  Rork,  Rutland;  elected  Nov.  11,  1862;  term  commenced  Jan. 
1,  1863;  re-elected  Nov.  8,  1864. 

Alfred  C.Wilson,  Assyria;  elected  Nov.  6,  1866;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1867. 

James  W.  Houghtalin,  Maple  Grove;  elected  Nov.  3,  1868;  term 
commenced  Jan.  1,  1869. 

Russell  J.  Mershon,  Baltimore;  elected  Nov.  8,  1870;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1871. 

John  0.  Cressy,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  5,  1872;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1873. 

Frank  S.  Bowen,  Orangeville ;  elected  Nov.  3,  1874;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1, 1875 ;  re-elected  Nov.  7, 1876,  and  again  Nov.  5, 1878. 

PROSECUTING  ATTORNEYS  (Two  Years). 

Isaac  A.  Holbrook,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  5, 1850;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1, 1851 ;  re-elected  Nov.  9,  1852. 

Hiram  Greenfield,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  7,  1854;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1865. 

James  A.  Sweazey,  Hastings ;  elected  Nov.  4, 1856;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1857. 

Isaac  A.  Holbrook,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  2, 1858;  term  commenced 
Jan.  1,  1869;  re-elected  Nov.  6,  1860. 

Frank  Allen,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  8,  1862;  term  commenced  Jan. 
1,  1863. 

Charles  G.  Holbrook,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  8,  1864;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1, 1866;  re-elected  Nov.  6,  1866. 

Frank  Allen,  Hastings ;  elected  Nov.  3, 1868 ;  term  commenced  Jan. 
1,  1869. 

John  R.  Van  Velsor,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  8,  1870;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1871. 

Charles  G.  Holbrook,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  5,  1872;  term  com- 
menced Jan.  1,  1873. 


Charles  H.  Bauer,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  3,  1874;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1875;  re-elected  Nov.  5,  1876. 
Loyal  E.  Knappen,  Hastings;  elected  Nov.  5, 1878;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1, 1879. 

COUNTT  DRAIN   COMMISSIONER   (Two  Years). 

James  M.  Houghtalin,  Maple  Grove;  elected  April  5,1869;  re-elected 
April  3,  1871,  and  again  April  7,  1873. 

CORONERS  (One  Year). 

Calvin  Brown,  Orangeville;  elected. April  4,  1839;  term  commenced 

on  election. 
Henry  Leonard,  Thornapple ;  elected  April  4, 1839;  term  commenced 

on  election. 
William  P.  Bristol,  Johnstown;  elected  Nov. 4, 1839;  term  commenced 

Jan.  1,  1840. 
Henry  Leonard,  Thornapple,  and  Kufus  Cowles, ;  elected  Nov. 

2,  1840;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1841. 

Slocum  H.  Bunker,  Hastings,  and   John  J.  Nichols,  Orangeville; 

elected  Nov.  7,  1842;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1843. 
Peter  Downs,  Maple  Grove,  and  Hiram  Lewis,  Prairieville;  elected 

Nov.  4,  1844;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1845.* 
Roswell  Wilcox,  Rutland,  and  Horace  Bidwell ;  elected  Nov.  7, 1848 ; 

terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1849. 
Philander  K.  Barnum, ,  and    Nehemiah  Lovell,  Woodland; 

elected  Nov.  5,  1860;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1851. 
Henry  Leonard,  Thornapple,  and  David  Rork,  Rutland ;  elected  Nov. 

9,  1852;  terms  commenced  Jan,  1,  1853. 
Lorenzo  Mudge,  Castleton,  and  Alpheus  Hammond, ;  elected 

Nov.  7,  1864;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1855. 
Milo  T.  Wheeler,  Woodland,  and  Lorenzo  Mudge,  Castleton ;  elected 

Nov.  4,  1866;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1867. 
Peter  Cramer,  Castleton,  and  Joseph  P.  Spencer, ;  elected  Nov. 

2, 1867;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1868. 
Adam  Elliott,  Barry,  and  Carlos  0.  Scott,  Castleton ;  elected  Nov.  6, 

1860;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1861. 
John  0.  Reiley,  Rutland,  and  Isaac  Messer,  Carlton  ;  elected  Nov.  11, 

1862;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1863. 
George  P.  Stephens,  Assyria,  and  James  J.  Jackson,  Hope ;  elected 

Nov.  8,  1864;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1866. 
Samuel  J.  Bidleman,  Hastings,  and  James  S.  Sisson,  Carlton  ;  elected 

Nov.  6, 1866;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1867. 
Joseph  Cole,  Hastings,  and  Isaac  Messer,  Carlton ;  elected  Nov.  3, 

1868;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1869. 
Charles  B.   Benhom,  Hastings,  and  Isaac  Messer,  Carlton;  elected 

Nov.  8,  1870;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1871. 
Henry  H.  Ward, ,  and  Milo  S.  Williams,  Baltimore;  elected 

Nov.  6,  1872 ;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1873. 
Curtis  Perry,  Prairieville,  and  Porter  Burton,  Hastings;  elected  Nov. 

3,  1874 ;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1876. 

Joseph  Cole,  Hastings,  and  Curtis  Perry,  Prairieville;  elected  Nov. 

7,  1876 ;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1877. 
Joseph  Cole,  Hastings,  and  Milo  T.  Wheeler,  Hastings;  elected  Nov. 

6,  1878;  terms  commenced  Jan.  1,  1879. 

MEMBERS   OF   CONSTITUTIONAL   CONVENTIONS. 

Joseph  W.  T.  Orr,  Irving;  member  of  Convention  of  June,  1850. 
Harvey  Wright,  Middleville,  and  Adam  Elliot,  Barry ;  members  of 
Convention  of  May,  1867. 


*  No  record  of  election  of  coroner  in  1845, 1846,  or  1847. 


68 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


CHAPTER    XVII L 

COUNTy  SOCIETIES. 

Allegan  County  Pioneer  Society — Original  Notice— First  Meeting  and 
Officers— Object  of  the  Society — Original  Signers  of  the  Roll — Sub- 
sequent Meetings — Present  Officers — Allegan  County  Agricultural 
Society — Copy  of  the  Early  Records  as  lately  gathered — Lists  of 
Presidents  and  Secretaries — Purchase  of  Land  by  the  Supervisors — 
Legal  Organization — Buildings — Allegan  County  Pomologioal  So- 
ciety— Organization — First  Officers — Reorganization  with  State 
Society — Allegan  County  Medical  Society — First  Officers — The 
Auxiliary  Medical  Society — Farmers'  Insurance  Company  of  Alle- 
gan and  Ottawa  Counties — By  whom  organized — Its  Object — Its 
Success — Present  Officers — Barry  County  Pioneer  Association — Or- 
ganization and  First  Officers — Second  Meeting — Meeting  at  the 
Fair-Ground — Subsequent  Annual  Meetings — List  of  Members — 
Barry  County  Agricultural  Society — Defective  Records — The  Sec- 
ond Fair,  in  1853 — Officers  in  1858 — Fair  in  "  Market  Square'" — 
Title  to  Land — A  Pithy  Record — Reorganization— Grounds  in- 
creased to  Eighteen  Acres — Buildings — Care  taken  of  by  a  Resident 
Family — List  of  Presidents  and  Secretaries — Sheep-Breeders'  As- 
sociation— Organization  and  First  Officers — Barry  County  Pomona 
Grange — Copy  of  the  Secretary's  Report — Barry  County  Medical 
Society — Organization  and  First  Officers — Subsequent  Meetings — 
Hahnemann  Medical  Society — First  Meeting  and  Officers — Subse- 
quent Officers — Present  Members — Women's  Christian  Temperance 
Union — Organization  and  Objects — First  Officers — Barry  County 
Bible  Society — Farmers'  Insurance  Company  of  Barry  and  Eaton 
Counties — Orgimization  in  1863 — Limits  of  its  Business — First 
Members  and  Officers — Increase  of  Business — Present  Officers. 

ALLEGAN   COUNTY   PIONEER  SOCIETY. 

On  the  8th  day  of  September,  1875,  the  following 
notice  was  published  ia  the  Allegan  County  papers : 

"NOTICE  TO  PIONEERS  OF  ALLEGAN  COUNTY. 
**  In  pursuance  and  in  accordance  with  an  act  of  the  Legislature  of 
the  State  of  Michigan  approved  April  26,  1873,  notice  is  hereby 
given  that  there  will  be  a  meeting  of  the  Pioneers  of  Allegan  County 
at  the  fair-grounds,  in  the  village  of  Allegan,  on  Wednesday  after- 
noon, Sept.  29,  1875,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  county  pioneer 
society,  in  pursuance  with  the  act  above  specilied.  A  general  invita- 
tion is  extended  to  all  the  old  settlers  of  this  county  to  be  present  and 
join  the  society. 

"Joseph  Fisk,  F.J.  Littlejohn, 

Lyman  W.  Watkins,  John  Atkin, 

Iba  Chaffee,  Jacob  B.  Bailey, 

N.  Dickinson,  Daniel  D.  Davis." 

A  large  number  of  pioneers  met  at  the  fair-grounds  on 
the  day  mentioned,  when  Duncan  A.  McMartin,  of  Alle- 
gan, was  chosen  chairman,  and  Dr.  Lenora  Foster,  of  Otsego, 
secretary.  The  following  persons  were  then  elected  officers, 
and  were  authorized  to  prepare  a  constitution  and  by-laws 
of  a  county  pioneer  society,  to  be  auxiliary  to  the  State 
pioneer  society,  which  constitution  and  by-laws  were  to  be 
reported  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  society  :  President,  Col. 
Joseph  Fisk,  Allegan.    Vice-Presidents,  Calvin  C.  White, 

Gun  Plain  ;  FoUett,  Martin  ;  Abel  Angel,  Wayland  ; 

George  Dexter,  Leighton ;  A.  D.  Botsford,  Otsego ;  Jesse 
D.  Stone,  Watson  ;  J.  0.  Rounds,  Hopkins ;  Orrin  Good- 
speed,  Dorr ;  Henry  E.  Blackman,  Trowbridge ;  Dr.  0.  D. 
Goodrich,  Allegan ;  S.  Rumery,  Monterey ;  L.  B.  Brown, 
Salem  ;  Leander  S.  Prouty,  Cheshire  ;  Alfred  Muma,  Pine 
Plain ;  Charles  R.  Brownell,  Heath ;  J.  G.  Wolterink, 
Overisel ;  Thomas  Raplee,  Lee ;  James  W.  McCormick, 
Clyde;  Ralph  R.  Mann,  Manlius ;  Isaac  Fairbanks,  Fill- 
more ;  Timothy  McDowell,  Casco ;  Levi  Loomis,  Ganges ; 
Stephen  A.   Morrison,  Saugatuck ;    and  A.  J.  Ncerken, 


Laketown.  Recording  and  Corresponding  Secretary,  Dr. 
0.  D.  Goodrich,  Allegan ;  Treasurer,  Lyman  W.  Watkins, 
Allegan  ;  Executive  Committee,  D.  A.  McMartin,  Allegan ; 
Lenora  Foster,  Otsego ;  George  T.  Lay,  Monterey. 

Pursuant  to  a  call  of  the  executive  committee,  the  society 
met  at  the  Chaffee  House,  Allegan,  on  the  16th  day  of 
February,  1876.  The  executive  committee  presented  a 
constitution  and  by-laws,  which  were  accepted  and  adopted. 

The  third  article  of  the  constitution  declared  the  object 
of  the  association  to  be  the  collecting  and  preserving  of  his- 
torical, biographical,  or  other  information  in  relation  to  the 
county  of  Allegan  ;  and  the  eighth  article  provided  that  any 
person  not  less  than  40  years  of  age,  who  has  resided  in 
this  county  25  years,  might  become  a  member  on  sub- 
scribing to  the  articles  of  association. 

We  give  below  a  list  of  the  members  of  the  association 
who  signed  the  roll  at  that  meeting.  It  gives  the  name  of 
each,  the  place  and  date  of  birth,  the  place  and  date  of  first 
residence  in  the  county,  and  the  residence  at  the  time  of 
signing : 

Calvin  C.  White,  Grafton,  Mass.,  Feb.  10,  1803 ;  Gun  Plain,  1832 ; 

Gun  Plain. 
Asa  Morse,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  5,  1803  ;  Allegan,  June  15, 1837; 

Allegan. 
Osman  D.  Goodrich,  New  Hartford,  N.  Y.,  May  10,  1808 ;  Allegan, 

May  6,  1836;  Allegan. 
Duncan  A.  McMartin,  Amsterdam,  N.  Y.,  July  19,  1810 ;  Allegan, 

Oct.  29,  1836  ;  Allegan. 
M.  T.  McMartin,  Henrietta,  N.  Y.,  June  5, 1829  ;  Gun  Plain,  Sept.  15, 

1833;  Allegan. 
Joseph  Fisk,  Charlemont,  Mass.,  May  22,  1810 ;  Allegan,  March  7, 

1834;  Allegan.  _ 
Betsey  Fisk,  Hartford,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  22, 1810 ;  Allegan,  March  7, 1834 ; 

Allegan. 
Alby  Bossman,  Harding,  N.  Y.,  June  14,  1812 ;  Allegan,  July  20, 

1836;  Allegan. 
Electa  Rossinan,   Conquest,   N.  Y.,  May  6,  1819;  Allegan,  Oct.  21, 

1837;  Allegan. 
Ira  Chaffee,  Oswegatohie,  N.  Y.,  July  2, 18  35 ;  A  llegan,  Oct.  28, 1835 ; 

Allegan. 
Lavinda  Chaffee,  Indian  Orchard,  Pa.,  Nov.  18,  1821;  Allegan,  July 

31,  1838;  Allegan. 
Jacob  B.  Bailey,  Marlborough,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  7,  1807;  Allegan,  Nov. 

20,  1836;  Allegan. 
Mary  L.  Bailey,  New  York  City,  N.  Y.,  June  9,  1809  ;  Allegan,  June 

3,  1837 ;  Allegan. 
Spencer  Marsh,  Lansing,  N.  Y.,  March  25,   1805;  Allegan,  July  5, 

1836;  Allegan. 
Charlotte  E.  Wilkes,  Salisbury,  England;  Allegan,  1844;  Allegan. 
Daniel  Ammerman,  Mt.  Bethel,  Pa.,  June  18,  1814 ;  Allegan,  Sept. 

2,  1836  ;  Allegan. 
G.  W.  Kibby,  Winfleld,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  22,  1817;  Allegan,  June  12,1844; 

Monterey. 
S.   R.  Rumery,  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  17,  1820 ;  Allegan,  Oct.  15, 

1839;  Monterey. 
B.  R.  Fenner,  Pompey,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  9,  1814;  Martin,  Oct.  10,  1844; 

Martin. 
Henry  Dumont,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  1815 ;  Gun  Plain,  Oct.  17,  1835  j 

Allegan. 
Luvia  A.  Dumont,  Barnet,  Vt.,  May  15, 1821 ;  Allegan,  June  9, 1836 ; 

Allegan. 
H.  E.  Blackman,  Aurora,  Ohio,  Jan.  6,  1820;  Gun  Plain,  Jan.  31, 

1839;  Trowbridge. 
L.  S.  Blackman,  Otsego,  Mich.,  Aug.  8,  1836 ;  Otsego,  Aug.  8,  1836 ; 

Trowbridge. 
A.  S.  Weeks,  Wheclook,  Vt.,  Jan.  12,  1812;  Allegan,  June,  1836; 

Allegan. 
William  A.  Knapp,  Lima,  N.  Y.,  Deo.  15,  1820 ;  Allegan,  Sept.  13, 

1836;  Allegan. 


COUNTY  SOCIETIES. 


69 


E.  A.  Murray,  Charlton,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  28,  1810  ;  Allegan,  November, 

1839;  Allegan. 
J.  B.  Streeter,  llochester,  N.  Y.,  July  4,  1829  ;  Allegan,  September, 

1835;  Allegan. 
Benjamin  Eager,  Lancaster,  Mass.,  March  10,  1812;  Allegan,  March 

30,  1835 ;  Allegan. 
Julia   Ann    Eager,    Koyalton,    Vt.,    June   8,    1817;   Allegan,  1839; 

Allegan. 
H.  S.  Lay,  Cambria,  N.  Y.,  July  28, 1829 ;  Allegan,  September,  1849  ; 

Allegan. 
Ephraim  Brownell.  Ogden,  N.  Y.,  April  4,  1817;  Allegan,  May  1, 

1837;  Allegan. 
Orrin  J.  Goodspeed,  Mentor,  Ohio,  Aug.  6, 1816;  Allegan,  Oct.  16, 

1845;  Dorr. 
Warren  Jones,  Manchester,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  13, 1819;  Dorr,  November, 

1844;  Dorr. 
D.  C.  Henderson,  Thurso,  Scotland,  March  20,  1826;  Allegan,  1841; 

Allegan. 
Robert  Mabbs,  Gbathamshire,  England,  March  9, 1826;  Allegan,  May, 

1849;  Allegan. 
Lyman  W.  Watkins,  Chester,  Vt.,  March  10,  1817 ;  Allegan,  May, 

1836;  Allegan. 
Sylvira  Watkins,  Lansing,  N.  Y.,  March  14,  1823;  Allegan,  October, 

1843;  Allegan. 
Benoni  Collins,  Ira,  Vt.,  March  21,  1821;  Allegan,  Sept.  6,  1848; 

Allegan. 
William   Partridge,   Geddents,   England,  June   15,  1827;   Allegan, 

August,  1850;  Allegan. 
Sarah  Partridge,  Lampert,  England,  September,  1831 ;  Allegan,  Au- 
gust, 1850  ;  Allegan. 
Joseph  W.  Drew,  Stanbridge,  Canada,  Dec.  11,  1820 ;  Otsego,  Sep- 
tember, 1836;  Otsego. 
Sally  Drew,  Connecticut,  Feb.  15,  1800 ;  Otsego,  September,  1836 ; 

Otsego. 
Jesse  D.  Stone,  Canajoharie,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  13,  1812;  Allegan,  October, 

1836;  Watson. 
Randall  W.  Brooks,  Alabama,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  10, 1817  ;  Allegan,  March, 

1838;  Watson. 
John    Parsons,   Lyme,   Conn.,  Dee.  15,  1805;   Watson,  September, 

1840;  Hopkins. 
Z.   L.  Griswold,   Bethany,  N.  Y.,  May  11,  1814 ;  Allegan,  Sept.  1, 

1844;  Allegan. 
William  A.  Bliss,  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  17,  1828 ;  Allegan,  July  4, 

1836;  Allegan. 
Rhoda  M.  Bliss,  Westford,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  17,  1828;  Allegan. 
Levi  Loomis,   Hamilton,   N.  Y.,  Sept.  6,   1810;  Allegan,  June  25, 

1836;  Ganges. 
Sally  A.  Loomis,  Hamilton,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  6,  1806;  Allegan,  June  25, 

1837;  Ganges. 
Henry  C.  Smith,  Norfolk,  Conn.,  June  6,  1825;  Allegan,  Oct.  15, 

1844;  Allegan. 
Cynthia  Smith,  Conquest,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  8,  1834;  Allegan,  1837;  Alle- 
gan. 

F.  J.  Littlejohn,  Litchfield,  N.  Y.,  July  20,  1804 ;  Allegan,  August, 

1836;  Allegan. 

Harriet  B.  Littlejohn,  Herkimer,  N.  Y.,  1811 ;  Allegan,  1838 ;  Allegan. 

Almira  C.  Hudson,  Hudson,  Ohio,  Aug.  15, 1826;  Trowbridge,  Oc- 
tober, 1845 ;  Trowbridge. 

Alfred  Muma,  Hamilton,   Canada,  Nov.  28,  1822;   Allegan,  May, 
1846 ;  Pine  Plains. 

Ann  Muma,  Dumfries,  Canada,  Nov.   16,  1830;    Allegan,  Feb.  6, 
1837 ;  Pine  Plains. 

Charles  C.  Spear,  Charlotte,  Vt.,  Aug.  23,  1828  :  Gun  Plain,  Decem- 
ber, 1835 ;  Allegan. 

Richard  Weare,   Bolton,  Canada,  Dee.  21,  1806;    Allegan,   April, 
1834;  Trowbridge. 

Wilson  C.  Edsell,  Pike,  Pa.,  July  18,  1814;  Otsego;  Otsego. 

Jonathan  Peabody,  EUisburg,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  17,  1812;  Allegan,  Sept. 
10,  1836;  Allegan. 

E.  H.  Phetteplace,  Norwich,  N.  Y.,  April  19,  1826  ;  Allegan,  Septem- 
ber, 1846 ;  Allegan. 

Hannah  J.  Davis,  Bolton,  N.  Y.,  May  10,  1814;  Allegan,  May  19, 

1836;  Allegan. 
S.  P.  Stanley,  Brighton,  N.  Y.,  July  23,  1827 ;  Allegan,  June   10, 
1817;  Allegan. 


John    Higgins,  Sulton   Valanee,    England,  July  9,  1809;    Allegan, 

June,  1836 ;  Allegan. 
M.  C.  Sherwood,  Otsego,  Jan.  11,  1833;  Otsego,  Jan.  11,  1833;  Alle- 
gan. 
Ruth    E.   Booth,   East  Bloomfield,  N.  Y.,  April  27,  1811;  Allegan, 

Oct.  10,  1836  ;  Allegan. 
John  Askins,  Chatham,  Canada,  Sept.  15,  1815;  Allegan,  April  22, 

1835;  Allegan. 
Esther  Askins,  Indian   Orchard,  Pa.,  Sept.  13,  1819 ;  Allegan,  July 

28,  1838 ;  Allegan. 
Ira  Chicnester,  Unadilla,  N.  Y.,  March  6, 1823;  Otsego,  July  7, 1835; 

Allegan. 
Ann  Mary  Chiehestei;,  Medina,  Ohio,  June,  1817 ;  Gun  Plain  ;  Allegan. 
Ralph  Pratt,  Pembroke,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  3,  1 825  ;  Wayland,  April,  1846 ; 

Allegan. 
Almira  C.  Pratt,  present  residence,  Allegan. 
Henry  Kingsbury,   Lima,  N.  H.,  June  8,  1800;  Allegan,  Nov.  4, 

1839;  Allegan. 
H.   L.   Hurd,   Dunham,  Canada,   Sept.  18,  1833;   Allegan,  Nov.  4, 

1839;  Allegan. 
Daniel  Leggett,  Saratoga,  N.  Y.-,  Jan.  26,   1807;  Allegan,  Oct.  4, 

1837 ;  Watson. 
Joseph  H.  Wetmore,  Westford,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  27,  1826; 

Gun  Plain,  November,  1835 ;  Allegan. 
Caroline  P.  Wetmore,   Seneca  Falls,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  3,  1832;  Allegan, 

1836;  Allegan. 
Albert  D.  Wetmore,  Middlefield,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  17,  1833 ; 

Gun  Plain,  November,  1835 ;  Allegan. 

The  annual  meeting  for  1877  was  held  at  the  village  of 
Allegan.  It  was  proposed  to  hold  a  summer  meeting,  and 
the  subject  was  finally  placed  in  charge  of  the  executive 
committee,  but  no  account  of  such  a  gathering  is  given  in 
the  records.  At  the  meeting  in  January,  1878,  it  was 
resolved  to  adjourn  to  the  29th  day  of  May  following,  at 
the  fair-ground  in  the  village  of  Allegan,  and  there  hold 
a  basket-picnic.  Owing  to  the  inclemency  of  the  weather 
but  few  were  present  in  Allegan  at  the  time  specified,  and  the 
meeting  was  held  at  the  oflice  of  Warner  &  Latta.  It  was 
adjourned  to  the  26th  day  of  June  at  the  fair-grounds. 
This  last  meeting  was  a  marked  success ;  several  hundred 
were  in  attendance,  and  the  day  passed  very  pleasantly. 

The  annual  picnic  for  1879  was  held  at  Otsego,  on  the 
20th  day  of  August.  Much  interest  was  manifested,  and 
people  gathered  from  all  parts  of  the  county.  The  Hon. 
Wilson  C.  Edsell  delivered  an  address  of  welcome,  and  the 
Kev.  A.  M.  Bush  read  a  poem  prepared  for  the  occasion. 
Speeches  containing  numerous  reminiscences  of  the  olden 
time  were  made  by  many  others.  The  presidents  of  the 
society  have  been  as  follows  :  1876,  Joseph  Fisk  ;  1877, 
Flavius  J.  Littlejohn  ;  1878-79,  S.  Rumery. 

The  officers  for  1880  are  as  follows :  President,  Duncan 
A.  McMartin ;  Eecording  Secretary,  Don  C.  Henderson  ; 
Corresponding  Secretary,  Mrs.  M.  T.  McMartin  ;  Executive 
Committee,  H.  S.  Lay,  H.  E.  Blackman,  and  J.  H.  Wet- 
more. The  society  numbered  at  the  annual  meeting  in 
January,  1880,  two  hundred  and  forty-nine  members. 

ALLEGAN   COUNTY  AGEICULTUEA.L  SOCIETY. 

The  early  records  of  this  society  were  very  imperfectly 
kept,  but  considerable  information  regarding  its  history  from 
1853  to  1858  was  gathered  and  recorded  a  few  years  since. 
The  following  is  taken  from  that  record  : 

"  The  Allegan  County  Agricultural  Society  was  organized  in  1853. 
Blisha  Ely,  of  Allegan,  was  the  first  president,  and  Charles  R.  Wilkes, 
Leander  S.  Prouty,  and  Levi  Loomis  were  efficient  in  the  organization 
and  operation  of  the  society.     The  first  county  fair  was  held  at  the 


70 


IlISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND    BAERY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


court-house  in  Allegan  (then  the  Baptist  church)  in  the  fall  of  1853  j 
and  Hon.  F.  J.  Littlejohn  delivered  the  annual  address.  John  R. 
Kellogg  was  the  second  president,  and  the  second  fair  was  held  on  the 
Russell  fraction,  on  the  flat,  in  1854,  and  F.  W.  Curtenius  delivered 
the  address.  Elisha  G.  Hackley  was  the  third  president;  Henry 
Bumont,  Secretary;  James  Dawson,  Treasurer.  The  third  fair  was 
held  at  the  same  place  as  the  last,  and  the  '  Tent'  was  made.  Charles 
B.  Stuart  delivered  the  address.  Henry  H.  Booth  was  the  fourth 
president;  Levi  B.  Smith,  Secretary;  Daniel  Emerson,  Treasurer; 
John  Billings,  Charles  S.  Wilson,  and  C.  C.  White,  Executive  Com- 
mittee. The  fourth  fair  was  held  on  the  company's  grounds.  The 
Rev.  Edward  Taylor  delivered  the  address,  in  the  absence  of  Gen.  H, 
^1.  Stevens,  of  Pontiac. 

"William  Still,  of  Gun  Plain,  was  the  fifth  president;  Henry  Du- 
mont,  Secretary;  Levi  B.  Smith,  Treasurer;  William  Granger,  T.  M. 
Russell,  William  B.  Williams,  Hiram  Sabin,  and  Frederick  Day,  Ex- 
ecutive Committee.  The  fifth  county  /air  was  held  on  the  company's 
grounds,  in  October,  1857,  and  the  Hon.  Joseph  R.  Williams,  of  Lan- 
sing, delivered  the  annual  address.  B.  B.  Barrett  was  elected  and 
acted  as  corresponding  secretary  during  the  first  five  years  of  the  so- 
ciety's existence. 

"The  foregoing  memorandums  are  made  and  entered  here,  in  1858, 
from  recollection  up  to  that  time,  no  regular  records  having  been  pre- 
served." 

The  subsequent  presidents  and  secretaries  are  given  below 
as  far  as  they  can  be  ascertained  : 

PRESIDENTS. 
1857,  Levi  Loomis  ;  1858-60, no  record;  1862,  Henry  Dumont;  1863, 
Levi  Loomis;  1864,  Chester  Wetmorc;  1866-67,  F.  B.  Wallin ; 
1868,  Dr.  L.  Foster;  1875-76,  Hiram  Bailey;    1877-78,  J.  H. 
Wetmore;  1879,  Levi  Loomis;  1880,  William  F.  Hardin. 

SECRETARIES. 
1857,  Levi  B.  Smith;  1858,  David  D.  Davis;  1869,  H.  S.  Higin- 
botham;  1860,  A.  S.  Butler;  1862,  A.  S.  Butler;  1863,  John  W. 
Stone  (acting);  1864,  E.  B.  Bassett;  1866-67,  B.  D.  Pritchard ; 
1868,  H.  H.  Pope;  1875,  J.  S.  Bidwell;  1876,  S.  S.  Dryden ; 
1877,  J.  S.  Bidwell;  1878,  Edwy  C.  Reid;  1879,  Irving  F. 
Clapp;  1880,  G.  H.  La  Fleur. 

During  the  year  1856  the  supervisors  of  Allegan  County 
purchased  eight  acres  of  land  on  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  21 ,  township  2,  range  13  (Allegan),  for  the  use  of 
the  agricultural  society.  The  following  is  an  account  of 
the  grounds  and  the  buildings  erected  on  it,  so  far  as  one  can 
be  gleaned  from  the  imperfect  records  of  the  association  : 

On  the  4th  day  of  January,  1859,  a  motion  was  made 
and  adopted  "  that  a  building  thirty-six  by  one  hundred 
feet  be  built  on  the  society's  grounds  for  the  purpose  of 
exhibition  during  the  current  year."  This  building  was 
erected,  and  was  occupied  for  the  fall  exhibition. 

In  the  autumn  of  1861  an  exchange  of  land  was  made  with 
James  Dawson,  which  is  thus  described  on  the  record  : 

"  Dawson  to  have  all  of  Society  lands  on  the  east  and  south  below 
the  brow  of  first  and  second  tables,  and  the  Society  to  have  all  west 
of  the  brow  of  table  and  north  of  their  own  land." 

The  original  association  not  being  legally  organized,  the 
members,  in  January,  1866,  formed  themselves  into  "  The 
Agricultural  Society  of  Allegan  County,"  under  the  laws 
of  the  State.  A  constitution  was  adopted  and  officers 
were  elected.  The  supervisors  then  deeded  to  the  society 
the  land  previously  purchased  for  its  use.  During  the  next 
season  a  new  tract  was  laid  out  and  graded,  and  other  im- 
provements were  made. 

In  the  year  1874  the  society  purchased  by  contract 
nineteen  and  seventy-one  one-hundredths  acres  of  land  west 
of  and  adjoining  the  old  grounds,  at  a  cost  of  fifteen  hun- 
dred and  eighty-three  dollars  and  twenty-five  cents. 


A  floral  hall  was  erected  in  the  summer  of  1877,  and 
was  occupied  during  the  fall  exhibition. 

At  the  present  time  the  association  is  in  possession  of 
about  twenty-eight  acres  of  land,  well  fenced,  with  commo- 
dious and  well-arranged  buildings,  and  is  in  a  decidedly 
prosperous  condition. 

ALLEGAN   COUNTY  POMOLOGICAL   SOCIETY. 

On  the  21st  day  of  December,  1878,  a  meeting  was 
held  at  the  council-rooms  in  the  village  of  Allegan  for  the 
purpose  of  organizing  a  society  for  the  promotion  of  po- 
mology and  its  kindred  sciences.  It  was  organized  with 
H.  Dewey  as  president  and  L.  A.  Lilly  as  secretary.  A 
committee  was  appointed,  consisting  of  H.  Dewey,  L.  A. 
Lilly,  and  G.  H.  La  Fleur,  to  draw  up  a  constitution  and 
by-laws.  The  meeting  then  adjourned  until  the  18th  of 
January,  1879.  On  that  day  the  society  adopted  the 
constitution  presented  by  the  committee,  and  elected  the 
following  officers  for  the  ensuing  year  :  H.  Dewey,  Presi- 
dent ;  Rev.  John  Sailer,  Vice-President ;  Lyman  A.  Lilly, 
Secretary ;  G.  H.  La  Fleur,  Allen  "Wood,  J.  B.  Dumont, 
William  Andrus,  L.  A.  Lilly,  and  S.  C.  Campbell,  Execu- 
tive Committee. 

At  a  meeting  held  on  the  16th  day  of  March,  1880,  Mr. 
C.  W.  Garfield,  of  the  Michigan  State  Pomological  Society, 
made  an  address,  and  stated  that  he  had  come  to  propose  a 
new  plan  of  action,  viz.,  a  joint  membership  with  the  State 
society.  The  plan  had  been  under  consideration  for  some 
time,  having  been  proposed  at  the  December  meeting. 
After  the  address  Mr.  E.  C.  Reid  moved  that  the  society 
reorganize  under  this  plan,  and  become  a  part  of  the  State 
society.  An  official  reorganization  being  necessary,  the 
society  proceeded  to  hold  an  election,  with  the  following 
result :  President,  George  T.  Lay  ;  Vice-President,  H.  G. 
Buck ;  Secretary,  JSdwy  C.  Reid ;  Treasurer,  B.  D. 
Pritchard.  A  new  constitution  and  by-laws  were  adopted, 
and  meetings  were  fixed  for  the  third  Tuesday  in  each 
month. 

Discussions  are  held  at  these  meetings  on  the  diflFerent 
methods  of  cultivating  fruit,  and  essays  are  read  on  topics 
connected  with  that  subject. 

ALLEGAN   COUNTY   MEDICAL  SOCIETIES. 

Pursuant  to  a  previous  call,  Drs.  L.  B.  Coats,  E.  N.  Up- 
john, L.  Foster,  G.  W.  Hubbard,  and  A.  R.  Calkins,  physi- 
cians of  the  county,  met  at  the  town  clerk's  office  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Otsego  on  the  18th  day  of  February,  1850,  for  the 
purpose  of  forming  a  county  medical  society.  Dr.  L.  Foster 
was  appointed  chairman,  and  E.  N.  Upjohn  secretary.  It 
was  resolved  to  form  an  association  to  be  known  as  the 
Allegan  County  Medical  Society.  Permanent  officers  were 
elected  as  follows :  Dr.  L.  B.  Coats,  President ;  Dr.  E.  N. 
Upjohn,  Vice-President ;  Dr.  A.  R.  Calkins,  Secretary  ;  Dr. 
L.  Foster,  Treasurer.  A  committee  was  also  appointed  to 
draft  a  constitution  and  by-laws.  On  the  20th  day  of 
March  the  same  year  a  constitution  and  by-laws  were 
adopted,  and  a  fee-bill  was  arranged  and  accepted  by  the 
society. 

The  physicians  of  other  parts  of  the  county,  however, 
paid  but  little  attention  to  the  Otsego  organization,  and  its 


COUNTY  SOCIETIES. 


71 


meetings  were  consequently  very  thinly  attended.  On  the 
14th  of  February,  1867,  the  physicians  of  Allegan  and 
vicinity  met  at  the  Exchange  Hotel  in  that  village,  and  or- 
ganized and  resolved  to  form  an  Allegan  County  auxiliary 
medical  society,  with  the  usual  by-laws. 

Meetings  are  held  annually.  The  society  now  numbers 
thirteen  members,  and  the  officers  for  1880  are  as  follows: 
J.  J.  McConkie,  President ;  W.  H.  Bills,  Vice-President ; 
F.  M.  Calkins,  Secretary ;  Milton  Chase,  Treasurer.  Drs. 
Chase,  Thompson,  and  Thomas  are  the  ceosors. 

ALLEGAN  COUNTY  COUNCIL  OF  PATRONS  OP 
HUSBANDEY. 
This  body,  designed  to  form  a  link  between  the  State 
Grange  and  the  subordinate  granges  of  the  Order  of  Pa- 
trons of  Husbandry,  was  organized  on  the  20th  day  of 
December,  1879.  The  officers  then  elected  and  now  serv- 
ing are  as  follows :  President,  J.  Wetmore,  Allegan  ;  Vice- 
President,  W.  A.  Webster,  Casco;  Secretary,  M.  V.  B. 
MeAlpine,  Monterey  ;  Treasurer,  H.  Schultes,  Martin  ;  Lec- 
turer, 0.  G.  Lindsley,  Cheshire. 

THE  FARMERS'  MUTUAL  FIRE  INSURANCE  COM- 
PANY OP  ALLEGAN  AND  OTTAWA  COUNTIES. 

This  company  was  organized  on  the  1st  day  of  March, 
1870,  by  John  B.  Dumont,  Calvin  C.  White,  Lenora  Fos- 
ter, Horace  Wilson,  Augustus  Lilly,  Joel  Batchelor,  and 
J.  H.  Wetmore.  The  office  for  the  transaction  of  business 
was  located  at  Allegan,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.  The  object  of 
the  company  is  the  mutual  protection  of  farmers  against 
loss  or  damage  by  fire  or  lightning,  it  being  strictly  con- 
fined in  its  risks  to  farm  property,  and  in  its  territory  to 
Allegan  and  Ottawa  Counties. 

The  company  has  steadily  gained  in  the  confidence  of 
the  community,  and  its  numbers  have  increased  to  2009, 
with  a  capital  of  12,961,212.  The  losses  for  1877,  upon 
an  aggregate  risk  of  $1,711,946,  were  $515.73;  in  1878, 
with  a  total  risk  of  $2,261,651,  the  losses  were  $1163.65 ; 
in  1879,  with  a  risk  of  $2,961,212,  the  losses  summed  up 
$2388.48.  The  amount  of  expense  on  each  thousand  dol- 
lars at  risk  in  1878  was  eighty-nine  cents ;  the  amount  of 
loss  about  five  mills. 

The  company  is  now  in  a  very  flourishing  condition 
under  the  efficient  management  of  the  following  officers : 
George  E.  Jewett,  President;  Thomas  Stratton,  Vice- 
President  ;  Ira  Chichester,  Secretary  and  Treasurer ;  S.  D. 
Marvin,  A.  Names,  F.  J.  Brown,  H.  H.  French,  J.  B. 
Weber,  W.  H.  McCormick,  and  J.  B.  Dumont,  Directors. 

BARRY   COUNTY  PIONEER  ASSOCIATION. 

On  the  13th  of  January,  1873,  a  call  was  published, 
signed  by  twenty-four  of  the  old  citizens  of  Barry  County, 
requesting  all  persons  who. had  been  residents  of  the  county 
twenty-five  years  and  upwards  to  assemble  at  the  court- 
house in  the  village  of  Hastings,  on  the  26th  of  that  month, 
for  the  purpose  of  renewing  old  associations,  and  of  efiect- 
ing  an  organization  of  the  pioneers  of  the  county. 

Pursuant  to  this  call,  a  goodly  number  assembled  at  the 
time  and  place  specified.  Articles  of  association  were  pre- 
sented  by   Willard    Hays,   read,    accepted,    and   adopted. 


Speeches  were  made  by  several  of  the  pioneers  concerning 
the  trials  of  early  life,  and  contrasting  it  with  the  present 
time. 

Officers  were  elected  as  follows :  H.  A.  Goodyear,  Presi- 
dent; W.  P.  Bristol,  Vice-President;  Willard  Hays,  Sec- 
retary. After  the  business  was  concluded  refreshments  were 
served,  and  around  the  tables  filled  with  good  cheer  the  best 
of  feeling  prevailed,  friendships  were  renewed,  old  memories 
were  revived,  and  time  sped  on  to  the  "  wee  sma'  hours" 
before  the  meeting  broke  up,  all  feeling  that  the  associa- 
tion would  be  a  means  of  binding  together  those  who  came 
into  the  county  when  it  was  a  wilderness,  and  who  by  hard 
and  patient  labor  wrested  a  competence,  and  sometimes 
wealth,  from  the  most  adverse  circumstances. 

The  second  annual  meeting  of  the  society  was  held  at 
Union  Hall,  Hastings,  on  the  8th  of  January,  1874,  the 
Hon.  Henry  A.  Goodyear  presiding.  Mr.  Amasa  S. 
Parker,  of  Prairieville,  the  first  settler  in  the  county,  gave 
a  brief  but  interesting  sketch  of  the  history  of  the  county 
of  Barry  from  1830  to  1840.  Mrs.  Dr.  Burton  read  a 
poem  appropriate  to  the  occasion.  Short  speeches  were 
made  by  Mr.  Calvin  G.  Hill,  Hon.  Leander  Lapham,  Mr. 
Joseph  Davis,  Hon.  John  Koberts,  Mr.  Lorenzo  Mudge, 
Mr.  Henry  Hoyt,  Hon.  H.  A.  Goodyear,  Mr.  Albert 
Warner,  Mr.  J.  F.  Emory,  Hon.  J.  W.  T.  Orr,  and  others. 
At  this  meeting  a  register  of  the  names  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  persons  who  came  into  the  cpunty  prior  to  1849 
was  made  out.  It  was  voted  to  hold  a  meeting  at  the  fair- 
ground in  the  city  of  Hastings  on  Thursday,  June  11, 
1874.  The  following  officers  were  elected  for  the  year: 
Hon.  Henry  A.  Goodyear,  President ;  Lorenzo  Mudge, 
First  Vice-President ;  Hon.  Nathan  Barlow,  Second  Vice- 
President  ;  John  Q.-  Cressy,  Secretary ;  Hon.  David  G. 
Robinson,  Treasurer. 

On  the  11th  of  June,  1874,  pursuant  to  the  vote  just 
mentioned,  the  society  met  at  the  fair-ground  in  the  city  of 
Hastings.  Mr.  Boyington  read  a  sketch  of  early  life  in 
Barry  County  after  1837,  and  of  settlers  in  the  township 
of  Barry.  A.  C.  Towne,  Isaac  Messer,  Elijah  Barnum, 
J.  W.  T.  Orr,  A.  S.  Parker,  Hiram  Merrill,  and  others, 
followed  with  short  speeches. 

The  third  annual  meeting  was  held  in  Union  Hall  on 
the  14th  of  January,  1875,  Vice-President  Emory  pre- 
siding. Speeches  were  made  by  several  of  the  members.  The 
following  officers  were  elected  for  the  ensuing  year :  John 
F.  Emory,  President ;  J.  W.  T.  Orr,  First  Vice-President ; 
Lorenzo  Mudge,  Second  Vice-President ;  John  Q.  Cressy, 
Secretary  ;  H.  A.  Goodyear,  Treasurer ;  Rev.  Amos  Wake- 
field, Chaplain. 

The  fourth  annual  meeting  was  held  at  Union  Hall, 
Hastings,  Jan.  6,  1876.  Speeches  were  made  by  the  presi- 
dent and  others,  among  whom  was  an  old  Indian  named 
"  Eskiran,"  who  is  recorded  in  the  Barry  County  Pioneer 
Register  as  having  been  born  in  January,  1818,  on  the 
territory  now  occupied  by  the  city  of  Hastings.  The  fol- 
lowing officers  were  elected  for  1876  :  Henry  A.  Goodyear, 
President;  J.  F.  Emory,  First  Vice-President;  Lorenzo 
Mudge,  Second  Vice-President;  John  Q.  Cressy,  Secre- 
tary ;  Nathan  Barlow,  Treasurer. 

The  fifth  annual  meeting  was  held  at  Union  Hall  on 


72 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


the  4th  of  January,  1877.  The  session  was  interspersed 
with  interesting  speeches,  essays,  and  songs.  The  following 
persons  were  elected  officers  for  1877 :  Henry  A.  Good- 
year, President ;  Lorenzo  Mudge,  First  Vice-President ; 
Jonathan  Haight,  Second  Vice-President ;  John  Q.  Cressy, 
Secretary  ;  Nathan  Barlow,  Treasurer. 

On  the  10th  of  January,  1878,  the  sixth  annual  meet- 
ing was  held  in  Hastings,  and  the  following  officers  were 
chosen  for  1878  :  Henry  A.  Goodyear,  President ;  Lorenzo 
Mudge,  First  Vice-President ;  J.  F.  Emory,  Second  Vice- 
President;  John  Q.  Cressy,  Secretary;  David  R.  Cook, 
Treasurer. 

The  seventh  annual  meeting  convened  in  Hastings  on 
the  9th  of  January,  1879.  After  the  dinner  was  served, 
the  president  requested  all  the  persons  then  married  who 
lived  in  Barry  County  in  1836  to  arise.  Only  two  re- 
sponded to  the  call.  Of  the  unmarried  residents  of  that 
year  six  were  present.  Thirteen  persons  arose  who  lived  in 
the  county  in  1840.  The  officers  elected  at  this  meeting 
were  George  K.  Beamer,  President ;  H.  A.  Goodyear,  First 
Vice-President;  Lorenzo  Mudge,  Second  Vice-President; 
John  Q.  Cressy,  Secretary ;  D.  R.  Cook,  Treasurer. 

The  association  held  its  eighth  annual  meeting  in  the  city 
of  Ha.stings  on  the  8th  of  January,  1880.  The  president, 
Hon.  George  K.  Beamer,  delivered  an  address  of  welcome. 
Speeches  were  made  and  sketches  read;  among  others, 
Hon.  D.  R.  Cook  read  a  sketch  written  by  Mrs.  Lydia 
Bresee,  and  one  by  Benjamin  S.  Dibble.  The  officers 
elected  for  1880  were  Hon.  Henry  A.  Goodyear,  Presi- 
dent ;  Hon.  George  K.  Beamer,  First  Vice-President ;  Lo- 
renzo Mudge,  Second  Vice-President ;  John  Q.  Cressy,  Sec- 
retary ;  Hon.  D.  R.  Cook,  Treasurer.  The  society  has  a 
membership  of  four  hundred  and  sixty  persons,  whose  names 
are  given  below,  with  the  date  of  their  entering  the  county. 


LIST  OF 

Calvin  Hill,  Sept.  1836. 

Isaac  Messer,  July,  1836. 

Loren  Ricli,  born  in  county,  July, 
1 839. 

Levi  Holmes,  Sept.  1845. 

T.  P.  Barnum,  Sept.  1843. 

B.S.  Dibble,  Oct.  1836. 

C^W.  Bassett,  Sept.  1836. 

Henry  Marble,  Aug.  184?. 

Newell  Nichols,  Oct.  1846. 

A.  E.  Wellman,  Feb.  1843. 
A.  S.  Quick,  Nov.  1838. 
John  A.  Fuller,  April,  1836. 
Anson  Weir,  Sept.  1840. 
Willard  Hayes,  1837. 
■William  Hayt,  Aug.  1836. 
Mrs.  Abram  Quick,  1837. 
James  Hathaway,  June,  1837. 
Flavia  Van  De  Walker,  1836. 
D.  S.  Bugbee,  Jan.  1845. 
0.  P.  Wellman,  1840. 
Charles  McQueen,  Sept.  1SJ5. 
William  Green,  Sept.  1848. 
Hiram  Jones,  1845. 
George  Cline,  Feb.  1841. 
Mrs.  George  Cline,  Feb.  1837. 
John  Q.  Cressy,  Oct.  1842. 
Nelson  Coman,  1836. 
A.  Whitcomb,  Feb.  1845. 
A.  G.  Stinson  and  wife,  Oct.  1841. 


MEMBERS. 
Sarah  B.  Durkee,  1835. 
J.  G.  Gordon,  born  1845. 
J.  M.  Wood,  1845. 
W.  H.  Cressy,  Oct.  1842. 
Jacob  Rhodes,  Sept.  1837. 
W.  A.  More,  April,  1838. 
Ira  Shipman,  Feb.  1838. 
Mrs.    John    Q.    Cressy,    March, 

1844. 
A.  E.  Henjon,  born  in  Carlton, 

1838. 
H.  E.  Hoyt,  1848. 
George  Freeman,  Sept.  1843. 
Joseph  Freeman,  1843. 
Mrs.  E.  I.  Sprague,  Sept.  1840. 
William  Tinkler,  April,  1845. 
George  Ingram,  born  Dec.  1839. 
Mrs.  I.  A.  Holbrook,  1842. 
Celestia  Coman,  Sept.  1840. 
Phebe  Comnn,  July,  1844. 
Dr.  William  Upjohn,  July,  1841. 
James  Young,  1848. 
Mrs.  James  Young,  Nov.  1848. 
C.  J.  Norris,  Aug.  1849. 
Mrs.  C.  J.  Norris,  Aug.  1842. 
Leander  Lnpham,  May,  1837. 
Albert  Warner,  Oct.  1845. 
Mrs.  Albert  Warner,  June,  1835. 
Mrs.  Lucina  Hanna,  Oct.  1842. 
A.  W.  Chapin,  June,  1840. 


Mrs.  R.  K.  Mudge,  Oct.  1843. 
D.  B.  Pratt,  Aug.  15,  1845. 
Mrs.  A.  B.  Davis,  Jan.  1843. 
W.  K.  Barber,  May,  1842. 
B.  Travis,  April,  1847. 
H.  B.  Barnum,  March,  1838. 
J.  Hines,  born  Aug.  7,  1842. 
Mrs.  H.  Wood,  Nov.  15,  1843. 
S.  S.  Ingerson,  June,  1845. 
Mrs.  0.  P.  Wellman,  fall,  1838. 
David  Hoes,  Dec.  1844. 
Emeline  Trego,  fall,  1836. 
John  Barnum,  Sept.  1847. 
D.  W.  Smith,  Sept.  1842. 

B.  Shattuck,  Oct.  1844. 
J.  W.  Culler,  Oct.  1844. 

W.  P.  Wilkinson,  Jan.  4,  1836. 
Jesse  Jordan,  born  Sept.  1839. 
A.  E.  Stevens,  March,  1847. 
Charles  Galloway,  Oct.  1837. 
Jonathan  Haight,  Oct.  1837. 
S.  Haight,  Oct.  1837. 
J.  W.  Hendershott,  Oct.  1844. 

C.  W.  Young,  Sept.  1841. 
W.  Marble,  July,  1845. 
G.  W.  Knapp,  Feb.  1842. 
Mrs.  Eli  Lapham,  July,  1837. 
James  Kilpatrick,  Nov.  1847. 
Mrs.  M.  A.  Morrell,   born    Oct. 

1837. 

Amasa  S.  Parker,  Sept.  1830. 

Hiram  J.  Kenfield,  Oct.  1839. 

Mrs.  Alvin  W.  Bailey,  Deo.  1839. 

Alvin  AV.  Bailey,  1839. 

John  S.  Van  Brunt,  March,  1839. 

W.  C.  Trego,  May,  1848. 

Israel  S.  Gear,  Nov.  1847. 

Allen  Jones,  April,  1846. 

John  F.  Emory,  April,  1848. 

Luther  Bennett,  May,  1845. 

Philo  A.  Sheldon,  June,  1846. 

Mrs.  A.  D.  Cook,  Nov.  1844. 

A.  J.  Bowne,  June,  1837. 

R.  B.  Messer,  Aug.  1844. 

George  H.  Robinson,  spring,  1841. 

W.  H.  Stebbins,  June,  1845. 

W.  P.  Booram,  Oct.  1846. 

Fred  Barlow,  Feb.  1847. 

M.  Durham,  May,  1849. 

J.  D.  Wickham,  Nov.  1836. 

John  A.  Robinson,  May,  1846. 

James  Townsend,  July,  1837. 

William  Crabb,  Sept.  1847. 

W.  S.  Rogers,  March,  1848. 
Milo  T.  Wheeler,  March,  1846. 
J.  M.  Rogers,  Nov.  1836. 
P.  McOmber,  Nov.  1838. 
D.  McOmber,  Nov.  1838. 
James  B.  Carpenter,  Oct.  1847. 
Asa  Odell,  Sept.  1843. 
David  G.  Robinson,  June,  1848. 
John  J.  Hendershott,  May,  1844. 
Mrs.  Daniel  Williams,  1840. 
Mrs.  W.  A.  Moore,  Sept.  1843. 
Orin  Wellman,  June,  1841. 
Mrs.  J.  W.  Maynard,  Nov.  1846. 
Wm.  0.  Wooley,  Feb.  1837. 
Mrs.  Eliza  Wooley,  Feb.  1837. 
Mrs.  Eunice  Barnum,  Nov.  1849. 
Mrs.  Lucinda  Sprague,  Feb.  1838. 
J.  H.  Durkee,  Sept.  1844. 
Mrs.  R.  Whitcomb,  Feb.  1846. 
Estes  Rich. 

B.  W.  Johnson,  May,  1838. 
Edward  Bump,  Jan.  1841. 


Hiram  Bronson,  Nov.  1841. 
Jededinh  Grnmmond,  Feb.  1841. 
Mrs.  Ellen  Miller,  Oct.  1848. 
Mrs.  Matilda  Wheeler,  May,  1848. 
Mrs.    Sarah  A.  Robertson,  Oct. 

1844. 
Mrs.  Mary  McQueen,  May,  1845. 
Stephen  Nichols,  1844. 
Mrs.    Angela    Hitchcock,    Aug. 

1840. 
A.  J.  Walker,  Oct.  1848. 
C.  W.  Palmenter,  Feb.  1840. 
Jerome  Palmenter,  Feb.  1840. 
Manning  Dowd,  Nov.  1848. 
G.  D.  Moore,  Sept.  1848. 
Jacob  Odell,  Sept.  1843. 
Mary  Townsend,  Feb.  1839. 
Abby  A.  Whipple,  1847. 
John  A.  Jordan,  Dec.  1838. 
Mrs.  Mary  Stemhoff,  April,  1844. 
J.  H.  Jordan,  Feb.  1846. 
George  H.  Keith,  June,  1848. 
Martha  M.  Cook. 
J.  H.  Linington,  Dec.  1846. 
H.  A.  Goodyear,  Nov.  1840. 
R.  E.  Fuller,  Sept.  1838. 
Mrs.  Hannah  Hendershott,  Dee. 

1844. 
B.  J.  Hendershott,  Dec.  1844. 
Mrs.  B.  J.  Hendershott,  Oct.  1848. 
Henry  P.  Cherry,  1838. 
Sherman  C.  Prindle,  June,  1848.   • 
Mrs.  Eliza  Prindle,  June,  1848. 
Charles  Parker,  Sept.  1835. 
Samuel  W.  Murry,  Oct.  1844. 
Ruth  Bates,  Oct.  1835. 
J.  H.  Persons,  Jan.  1837. 
Hannibal  Marble,  July,  1846. 
Seymour  Andrus,  Sept.  1835. 
B.  F.  Hungerford,  Sept.  1848. 
Rachel  Haynes,  Oct.  1 837. 
Thomas  Blackman,  April,  1842. 
Mrs.  C.  J.  Blackman,  April,  1842. 
P.  P.  Wheeler,  Dec.  1846. 
Wells  Boyington,  1837. 
William  Ingram,  March,  1837. 
Jesse  Townsend,  July,  1837. 
B.  W.  Wheeler,  July,  1842. 
A.  B.  Cooper,  1837. 
A.  A.  Mead,  1844. 
Mrs.  L.  A.  Benson,  Sept.  1842. 
Clarinda  A.  Fifield,  Nov.  1843. 
Porter  C.  Freeman,  1843. 
Mary  L.  Geer,  Jan.  1847. 
Mrs.  Lucy  Bradley,  1847. 
Mrs.  Leza  Philips,  1849. 
James  N.  Coal,  1843. 
Mrs.  James  N.  Coal,  1843. 
Julia  Teeple,  1844. 
Sarah  G.  Dibble,  Oct.  1836. 
Mrs.  T.  P.  Barnum,  1848. 
D.  C.  Shendon,  Oct.  1842. 
John  H.  Norton,  Oct.  1847. 
Orrin  Jordan,  fall,  1841. 
Sanford  Otto,  Dec.  1840. 
G.  L.  Wheeler,  1845. 
David  A.  Bowker,  1845. 
Mrs.  Boardman  Cooper,  1837. 
Mrs.  Estes  A.  Jordan,  1840. 
L.  J.  Wheeler,  March,  1842. 
Samuel  Bardon,  1848. 
David  J.  Hagar,  April,  1841. 
Rachel  A.  Hagar,  Nov.  1840. 
Reuben  Barton,  fall,  1849. 
Josiah  Burge,  March,  1847. 


COUNTY   SOCIETIES. 


73 


Hervey  C.  Lewis,  1843. 

William  Lewis,  1848. 

Adam  Tinliler. 

George  Tinliler,  from  Sept.  1850 

James  W.  Hotchiiiss,  1845. 

Horace  Dodge. 

Orson  Dodge. 

Mina  Stanley. 

William  Gunn,  1846. 

Mrs.  H.  P.  Bishop. 

Andrew  A.  Young,  Oct.  1841. 

Mary  E.  Young,  1849. 

I.  A.  Holbrook,  Jan.  1844. 

H.  N.  Sheldon,  fall,  1841. 

D.  C.  Leaoh,  1838. 

Mrs.  D.  C.  Leach,  1838. 

John  L.  Fish,  Jan.  1849. 

Z.  B.  Willison,  1840. 

William  D.  Hayes,  1846. 

L.  N.  Mixer. 

Jonas  A.  Hall,  1846. 

Mary  T.  Goodyear,  1846. 

N.  Bailey,  1848. 

I.  A.  Swin,  1849. 

J.  W.  Hahnes,  1843. 

M.  J.  Lathrop,  1837. 

S.  C.  Blood,  1837. 

Moses  Durkee,  1838. 

H.  C.  Rogers,  1845. 

Slate  Sisson. 

Mrs.  Louisa  Rogers,  1836. 

Philip  Leonard,  1836. 

B.  S.  Dibble,  1836. 

T.  P.  Johnson,  1836. 

George  Jordan. 

John  Hynes,  1842. 

W.  C.  Sabasol,  1848. 

D.  C.  Warner,  1848. 

Elizabeth  Booram,  1847. 

J.  S.  Fowler,  1842. 

Isaac  N.  Keeler,  1849. 

Mrs.  Igaac  N.  Keeler,  1848. 

William  Vester,  1844. 

Chauncey  A.  Barnes;  1845. 

Henry  Jones,  Dee.  1849. 

Judge  K.  Barnum,  1845." 

Mrs.  John  Gutohers,  1837. 

William  Smith,  1837. 

Oscar  Young,  1840. 

William  B.  Hitchcock,  1847. 

Mrs.  A.  Wakefield. 

Congdon  Brown,  1836. 

George  Whitney,  1845. 

Thomas  Tinkler,  June,  1846. 

L.  C.  Gesler,  1850. 

Francis  Holden,  Deo.  1836. 

Hiram  Rogers,  Sept.  1842. 

Aaron  Durfee. 

Amanda  Durfee,  1839. 

J.  W.  Buckle,  1841. 

Eskesau  (Indian,  born  Jan.  1, 
Hastings),  1818. 

Celeste  Hayford,  1850. 

S.  Rich,  1848. 

Mrs.  B.  T.  Hagle,  1851. 

D.  C.  Sheldon,  1842. 

James  Willison,  Oct.  1842. 

Esther  J.  Willison. 

P.  N.  Baldwin,  July,  1842. 

Mrs.  Townsend. 

Mrs.  Horace  Wellman,  1838. 

Robert  S.  King,  March,  1839. 

Mrs.  Earl  Brown,  July,  1850. 

Byron  Dennis,  Jan.  1847. 

George  W.  Bump,  1844. 
10 


Mrs.  Edward  Bump,  1839. 
Mrs.  M.  P.  B.  Hendershott,  1844. 
Mrs.  Mira  E.  Bump. 
.       0.  T.  Munion,  Oct.  1844. 
Mrs.  Vashti  Munion,  1844. 
Mrs.  Sisson. 
-i.  W.  Hitchcock,  Sept.  1845. 
John  Woodman,  Jan.  1846. 
Birney  Van  Brunt,  1844. 
Mrs.  Eliza  Turner,  1840. 
Eunice  A.  Doyle,  1849. 
Dr.  A   P.  Drake,  1851. 
Mrs.  Rogers,  1831. 
Allen  Green,  1848. 
A.  E.  Durfee,  1846. 
A.  M.  Durfee,  1839. 

A.  Dodge,  1851. 
Joshua  Booram,  1849. 
Bord  Craig,  Aug.  1850. 
John  Olner,  1851. 
George  Gregory. 
Archie  McQueen,  1850. 

B.  J.  Trego,  May,  1849. 
D.  D.  Smith,  Nov.  1850. 
H.  D.  Pierce,  Dee.  1851. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Gage,  1847. 
J.  W.  Hitchcock,  1846. 
Mrs.  J.  F.  Emory. 

Mrs.  F.  Smith,  1845. 
W.  J.  Phelps,  1851. 
Jesse  Townsend,  Jr.,  1849. 
Mrs.  Harriet  E.  Barnum,  Jan. 
1846. 

C.  Center. 

Charles  Williams,  Oct.  1844. 
John  J.  Fuller,  Sept.  1849. 
Richard  Harvey,  March,  1841. 
Levi  Chase,  Nov.  1844. 
Madison  McMurray,  Jan.  1851. 
Edward  Hines,  July,  1843. 
Charles  Horton,  March,  1847. 
Nehemiah  Lovell,  1841. 
Mrs.  Dawson,  1850, 
Mrs.    Matilda    Wheeler,    April, 

1846. 
M.  J.  Lathrop,  1851. 
L.  A.  Cain,  May,  1850. 
Lester  Van  Brocklin,  April,  1849. 
Russell  Slade. 
Mrs.  Hannah  Quackenbush. 

D.  W.  Rogers,  1850. 
T.  B.  Diamond,  1847. 
M.  Willison,  Jan.  1840. 
C.S.  Dunham,  Sept.  1851. 
D.  W.  Ellis,  July,  1844. 

,   Dan  Bolinger,  July,  1847. 
Isaac  Fish,  1844. 
Mrs.  Eliza  C.  Fish,  1844. 
A.  B.  Morford,  Sept.  1846. 
Mrs.  Hannah  E.,  Morford,  1861. 
in       Mrs.  Mary  A.  Kipp,  1846. 
Orson  Sheldon,  1851. 
Mrs.  Mary  H.  Robinson,  1849. 
C.  V.  Robinson,  1846. 
William  H.  Hayford,  1850. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Haines,  1846. 
Seth  Leverwell,  March,  1844. 
J.  C.  Russell,  1849. 
Mrs.  Minnie  Hammond. 
George  Lewis,  Nov.  1850. 
Mrs.  Luoinda  Lewis,  1850. 
Mrs.  Mary  Cook,  1850. 
Delia  A.  Durham,  1850. 
T.  Houghton,  Sept.  1816. 
M.  A.  Ludlow,  March,  1845. 


C.  S.Whitcomb,  March,  1845. 
Frank  Stebbins,  born  here,  1853. 
Ezra  C.  Barnum,  born  here. 
Horace  Ludlow,  March,  1845. 
John  W.  Buckle,  Jan.  1841. 
William  Lewis,  1849. 
R.  B.  Wightman,  Oct.  1851. 
Louisa  Brown,  June,  1850. 
Moses    Shults   and   wife,   April, 

1854. 
Byron  Travis,  spring,  1846. 
Wm.  Morgan  and  wife,  1847. 
Laura  MoPherson,  1847. 
Francis  Miller,  Jan.  1850. 
Mrs.  Nellie  Wellman,  1849. 
N.  R.  Wheeler,  Dec.  1845. 
Aaron  Leonard,  Oct.  1851. 
Peter  Young,  1843. 
Isaac  Hoyt,  fall  of  1848. 
M.  W.  Blanchard,  1845. 
L.  Chamberlain,  Sept.  1850. 
J.  J.  Pease,  1836. 
Mrs.  Malvina  Barnum,  1837. 
M.  H.  Maynard,  born  Sept.  1849. 
B.  R.  Rose,  Feb.  1852. 
John  Patton,  1836. 

John  McCallum,  Dec.  1838. 

B.  C.  Cramer,  April,  1851. 

Frank  Pratt. 

Henry  Hendershott,  1844. 

James  Hines. 

Elizabeth  Irving. 

Felix  Chamberlain^  1850. 

D.  R.  Trego,  1849. 

Mrs.  L.  A.  Snyder,  1846. 

H.  S.  LaTkin,  1851. 

J.  M.  Leaoh,  1839. 

Wm.  W.  Sortwell,  1851. 

W.  A.  Sortwell,  1851. 

John  R.  Robinson,  Aug.  1848. 

B.  J.  Bottom,  1848. 

Anson  Maynard,  born  here,  1850. 


Mrs.  H.  S.  Widger,  born  here  in 

1849. 
William  Robinson,  1847. 
James  A.  Sweazey,  June  5, 1851. 
Henry  Bennett,  Jan.  1840. 
Ira  Virgil,  1852. 
Rachel  Virgil,  1852. 
Mrs.  M.  H.  Wing,  Nov.  1853. 
Elsie  Magoun,  Nov.  1853. 
P.  E.  Johnson,  Dee.  1846. 
Philura  Shaw,  April,  1852. 
James  Meeloy,  1848. 
Samuel  Garrison,  1852. 
M.  H.  Wing,  March,  1853. 
Alfred  J.  Haines,  1848. 
Simon  Matthews,  1854. 
P.  A.  Throop,  1851. 
Geo.  W.  Conkwright,  1852. 
Wm.  G.  Brown. 
Elijah  A.  Shaw,  1860. 
Isaac  Virgil,  1853. 

E.  0.  .Johnson,  Dec.  1846. 
Elam  Elliott,  Sept.  1852. 
John  M.  Nevins,  April,  1853. 
William  Peake,  Nov.  1863. 
Sarah  Peake,  Nov.  1863. 
George  H.  Robinson,  1838. 
Thomas  Burr,  1852. 

Frank  A.  PrindleJ  Nov.  1852. 
W."P.  Fifield,  Sept.  1853. 
S.  C.  Kenyon,  Nov.  1854. 

D.  F.  Fish,  Feb.  1844. 

F.  A.  Fuller,  1844. 
A.  F.  Mcintosh,  1854. 

E.  Robinson,  1853.    • 

J.  M.  Hams,  June,  1853. 
James  Dunning,  July,  1853. 
Thomas  Altoft,  July,  1863. 
Barney  Wright,  1855. 
A.  J.  Hams,  Aug.  1854. 
J.  A.  Hams,  1847. 
Milo  L.  Williams,  1850. 
Eli  Nichols,  Feb.  1837. 


BAERY  COUNTY   AGKICULTTTKAL  SOCIETY'. 

The  record-book  of  this  society  contains  on  the  first  pages 
the  constitution  and  by-laws,  accompanied  by  the  solitary 
statement  that  the  association  was  organized  on  the  29th  of 
December,  1851.  Nothing  further  is  to  be  found  in  the 
book  of  records  until  the  12th  of  July,  1858,  when  men- 
tion was  made  of  a  meeting  in  the  village  of  Hastings  for 
the  purpose  of  electing  ofiScers  and  transacting  other  bus- 
iness. 

From  the  columns  of  the  Barry  County  Pioneer,  pub- 
lished at  Hastings  in  1853,  we  learn  that  the  second  annual 
fair  of  the  society  was  held  at  the  court-house  in  October 
of  that  year,  an  address  being  delivered  by  Charles  S.  May. 
At  that  meeting  the  following  oflScers  were  elected  :  Hiram 
Lewis,  Prairieville,  President;  J.  W.  Bradley,  Yankee 
Springs,  Secretary  ;  H.  A.  Goodyear,  Ha-stings,  Treasurer ; 
R.  N.  Hanna,  D.  B.  Pratt,  C.  Balch,  T.  P.  Johnson,  and 
W.  P.  Bristol,  Executive  Committee. 

At  the  meeting  for  the  election  of  officers  held  on  the 
12th  of  July,  1858,  one  vice-president  was  appointed  from 
each  township,  as  follows :  Alonzo  Barnum,  Woodlan'd ; 
Isaac  Messer,  Carlton ;  C.  Hanna,  Irving ;  I.  N.  Keeler, 
Thornapple ;  T.  Johnson,  Yankee  Springs ;  Asa  D.  Rork, 
Rutland ;  Nathan  Barlow,  Hastings  ;  Lorenzo  Mudge,  Cas- 
tleton ;    Leander  Lapham,  Maple  Grove ;  Gilbert  Striker, 


74 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BAERY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Baltimore  ;  J.  E.  Hall,  Hope  ;  Henry  Brown,  Oranjreville  ; 
Hiram  Lewis,  Prairieville ;  Irvin  Hewitt,  Barry ;  William 
P.  Bristol,  Johnstown  ;  Cleveland  Ellis,  Assyria. 

It  was  resolved  that  the  seventh  annual  fair  be  held  at 
Hastings  on  the  13th  and  14th  of  October  next.  The 
names  of  the  oflBcers-elect  will  be  found  in  the  list  of 
officers.  The  president  and  secretary  at  that  time  were 
J.  W.  Bradley  and  R.  B.  Wightman. 

As  near  as  can  be  ascertained,  Ashman  A.  Knappen  was 
the  first  secretary  ;  the  first  fair  was  held  in  the  court-house 
and  the  surrounding  square,  the  lower  hall  being  used  for 
the  exhibition  of  articles,  and  the  court-room  above  for 
reading  reports  and  delivery  of  addresses.  Pairs  were  held 
at  the  same  place  for  several  years,  and  for  two  years  at 
Prairieville. 

In  the  year  1859  it  was  decided  to  hold  the  annual  fair 
on  the  "market  square,"  which  was  prepared  by  the  citizens 
of  Hastings  for  that  purpose.  The  square  was  leased  from 
the  corporation  of  the  village  of  Hastings.  Several  pieces 
of  land  adjoining  were  soon  after  purchased,  which,  with 
Market  Square,  included  the  blocks  bounded  by  State  Street 
on  the  north.  Market  Street  on  the  east.  Centre  Street  on 
the  south,  and  Benton  Street  on  the  west. 

The  society  received  a  quit-claim  deed  from  R.  B.  Wight- 
man,  dated  March  13,  1862,  and  one  from  N.  Barlow, 
dated  Nov.  2,  1863.  These  two  deeds  covered  the  same 
property.  On  the  21st  of  November,  1864,  Nathan  Bar- 
low deeded  to  the  society  lot  738,  it  being  the  northeast 
corner  lot  of  the  block  south  of  Market  Square. 

At  the  annual  fair  on  the  11th  of  October,  1861,  offi- 
cers were  elected  who  subsequently  declined  to  serve.  The 
following  from  the  records  will  show  the  condition  of  the 
association  in  1862  : 

"  The  Barry  County  Agricultural  Society  being  destitute  of  offioerp, 
destitute  of  funds,  and  destitute  of  credit,  and  probably  destitute  of 
an  existence,  no  fair  was  held  in  1862." 

The  members  seem  not  to  have  been  discouraged,  for  at 
a  meeting  held  on  the  8th  of  October,  1863,  new  articles 
of  association  were  drawn  up,  adopted,  and  signed  by  the 
following-named  persons:  David  Robinson,  William  S. 
Goodyear,  N.  Barlow,  D.  Striker,  J.  P.  Roberts,  Gilbert 
Striker,  R.  B.  Wightman,  S.  H.  Cook,  H.  N.  Sheldon, 
and  J.  N.  Ladow. 

Copies  of  the  articles  were  filed, — one  in  the  clerk's 
office  of  Barry  County,  and  one  in  the  office  of  the  secre- 
tary of  the  State  agricultural  society,— and  the  associa- 
tion thus  became  a  body  corporate  under  the  name  of  the 
Barry  County  Agricultural  Society.  The  title  to  its  land 
having  been  secured,  as  before  stated,  the  ground  was  put 
in  good  condition,  and  on  the  29th  of  June,  1872,  the  two 
blocks  west  of  the  old  ground  were  purchased  of  Daniel 
Striker,  making  in  all  an  area  of  eighteen  acres. 

An  exhibition-hall  about  twenty  by  thirty  feet  was  the 
first  building  erected.  It  is  now  situated  on  the  north  side 
of  the  track,  and  is  used  for  horticultural  displays.  In 
1870  a  refreshment-hall  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  dollars.  This  building  was  used  for  that 
purpose  until  1879,  when  it  was  fitted  up  for  a  dwelling. 
The  next  year  after  the  purchase  of  the  new  ground,  in 
1872,  a  new  track,  half  a  mile  in  length,  was  laid  out  and 


graded,  at  a  cost  of  three  hundred  and  sixty-two  dollars 
and  ninety-four  cents.  In  the  year  1875  the  Horse  Asso- 
ciation of  Hastings  built  a  grand  stand  one  hundred  feet  in 
length,  which  was  purchased  by  the  agricultural  society 
from  that  association  in  1879  for  four  hundred  dollars. 
Floral  Hall  was  erected  in  1878,  at  a  cost  of  six  hundred 
and  eighty-six  dollars  and  seventy-five  cents.  It  is  in  the 
form  of  a  Greek  cross,  the  central  part  being  seventeen  feet 
square,  and  each  wing  also  seventeen  feet  square. 

The  grounds  and  buildings  are  taken  care  of  throughout 
the  year  by  a  family  who  reside  in  a  dwelling-house  built 
by  the  association  within  the  inclosure.  The  amount  of 
premiums  paid  at  the  annual  fair  of  1879  was  nine  hun- 
dred and  fourteen  dollars  and  eighty  cents.  The  receipts 
from  all  sources  were  two  thousand  two  hundred  and 
seventy-two  dollars  and  forty-two  cents.  The  society  is 
now  out  of  debt  and  in  a  flourishing  condition.  The  fol- 
lowing is  a  list  of  the  presidents,  secretaries,  and  treasurers 
as  far  as  can  be  ascertained : 

PRESIDENTS. 
Hiram  Lewis,  1853;  C.  Balsch,  1858;  William  P.  Bristol,  1861;  Gil- 
bert Striker,  1863-65;  J.  C.  Hanna,  1866-67;  A.  Uyerson,  1868; 
J.  C.  Bray,  1869-70;  S.  J.  Bidleman,  1871;  Eioh.-ird  Jones, 
1872;  Thomas  Aloft,  1873;  D.  W.  Ellis,  1874;  Thomas  Aloft, 
1873;  John  Keagle,  1876;  John  Dawson,  1877;  Henry  Hough- 
talin,  1878;  Burton  W.  King,  1879;  Charles  B.  Benham,  1880. 

SECRETARIES. 
J.  W.  Bradley,  Yankee  Springs,  1852-54;  H.  A.  Goodyear,  1858;  D. 
Striker,  1859-60;  J.  M.  Nevins,  1861-65;  Charles  G.  Holbrook, 
1867;  J.  M.  Nevins,  1868-70;  M.  L.  Williams,  1871;  D.  R.  Cook, 
1872;  J.  M.  Nevins,  1873-76;  T.  Philips,  1877;  William  U. 
Merrick,  1878 ;  J.  Q.  Cressy,  1879-80. 

TREASURERS. 
H.  A.  Goodyear,  1853-54;  R.  B.  Wightman,  1858;  Sherman  C.  Prin- 
dle,  1863;  H.N.Sheldon,  1864-65;  S.  C.  Prindle,  1866-67;  D. 
G.  Robinson,  1868-69;  D.  Striker,  1870;  William  H.  Powers, 
1871 ;  David  G.  Robinson,  1872-75;  D.  Striker,  1876-77;  Porter 
Burton,  1878;  Daniel  Striker,  1879;  David  G.  Robinson,  1880. 

SHEEP-BREEDEES'   ASSOCIATION. 

Pursuant  to  a  published  call,  several  of  the  farmers  of 
Barry  County  convened  at  the  court-house  in  the  city  of 
Hastings  on  the  9th  of  March,  1880,  for  the  purpose  of 
organizing  a  sheep-breeders'  and  wool-growers'  association. 
The  Hon.  James  A.  Sweazey  was  called  to  the  chair, 
and  W.  H.  Merrick  was  chosen  secretary.  A  committee 
of  three,  consisting  of  A.  Ryerson,  L.  D.  Gardner,  and 
Harvey  Burton,  was  appointed  to  draft  a  constitution  and 
by-laws,  which  were  presented  and  adopted.  The  constitu- 
tion was  then  signed  by  those  present. 

Nine  directors  were  chosen,  as  follows :  James  A.  Swea- 
zey, A.  Ryerson,  A.  C.  Towne,  Friend  D.  Soule,  L.  D. 
Gardner,  Henry  Burton,  Albert  Kent,  William  Lee,  and 
C.  McQueen.  The  following  officers  for  1880  were  then 
elected  by  the  directory :  A.  Ryerson,  President ;  W.  H. 
Merrick,  Secretary ;  J.  A.  Sweazey,  Treasurer. 

A  festival  was  held  on  the  Barry  County  Agricultural 
Society's  fair-grounds  on  the  6th  of  May,  1880. 

BARRY   COUNTY   POMONA   GRANGE. 
The  brief  history  of  this  organization,  which  is  composed 
of  the  subordinate  granges  throughout  the  county,  is  fully 


COUNTY  SOCIETIES. 


75 


given    in    the    secretary's    report,    which    we    therefore 
quote : 

"  A  meeting  appointed  by  J.  J.  Woodman,  Master  of  the  State 
Grange  of  Michigan,  was  held  at  Union  Hall,  Hastings,  Dec.  4,  1879, 
for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  Pomona  Grange.  C.  L.  Whitney,  gen- 
eral deputy,  presided.  After  organization,  seventy-one  members 
joined. 

"An  election  was  then  held,  which  resulted  in  the  choice  of  the 
following  members  to  fill  the  several  offices  for  the  coming  year : 

"Master,  A.  Luther,  of  Rutland  Grange;  Overseer,  G.  R.  Durfee, 
of  Baltimore  Grange;  Lecturer,  M.  W.  Blanchard,  of  Johnstown 
Grange;  Steward,  B.  B.  Travis,  of  Irving  Grange;  A.  S.  Steward, 
Byron  Travis,  of  Thornapple  Grange;  Chaplain,  George  M.  Hudson, 
of  Hope  Grange;  Treasurer,  J.  J.  Hendershott,  of  Irving  Grange; 
Secretary,  J.  A.  Robertson,  of  Thornapple  Grange;  G.  Keeper,  A.  B. 
Harris,  of  Yankee  Springs  Grange;  Pomona,  Mrs.  J.  J.  Hendershott, 
of  Irving  Grange;  Ceres,  Mrs.  J.  J.  Healy,  of  Rutland  Grange;  I'lora, 
Mrs.  C.  McQueen,  of  Thornapple  Grange ;  L.  A.  Steward,  Mrs.  M. 
W.  Blanchard,  of  Johnstown  Grange;  Executive  Committee,  George 
Sheffield,  Johnstown  Grange;  Z.  B.  Hoyt,  Rutland  Grange;  C.  N. 
Youngs,  Hope  Grange,  Maister  and  Secretary. 

"After  the  election  of  officers,  C.  L.  Whitney,  the  Lecturer  of  the 
State  Grange  of  Michigan,  delivered  an  address  in  open  hall  which 
was  well  calculated  to  interest  the  community,  whether  members  of 
the  order  or  not,  and  especially  every  person  who  earns  his  living  by 
tilling  the  soil. 

"The  first  meeting  of  Barry  County  Pomona  Grange  will  be  held 
at  Middleville,  in  the  hall  of  Thornapple  Grange,  No.  38,  in  the  after- 
noon of  Wednesday  nearest  the  full  of  the  moon,  which  will  be  the 
14th  of  January. 

"J.  A.  Robertson, 
*^  Secretary  of  Pomona  Grange." 

The  meeting  called  as  above  was  not  held  until  the  28th 
of  January ;  eighteen  members  then  joined  the  society, 
raising  the  tt)tal  membership  to  eighty-nine. 

BARRY  COUNTY   MEDICAL  SOCIETY. 

Pursuant  to  a  call  signed  by  Dr.  Charles  Russell,  A.  B. 
Drake,  and  W.  B.  Upjohn,  of  the  city  of  Hastings,  the  fol- 
lowing-named physicians  of  the  county  met  on  the  23d  of 
January,  1877,  at  the  office  of  Dr.  Charles  Russell,  in 
Hastings  :  Miss  Dr.  D.  J.  Wolf,  of  Hastings ;  Dr.  Turner, 
of  Orangeville  ;  Dr.  David  B.  Kilpatrick,  of  Woodland ; 
Dr.  D.  McLeay  and  Dr.  Sackett,  of  Prairieville ;  Dr.  Ellis, 
of  Nashville ;  and  Drs.  Russell,  Drake,  and  Upjohn,  of 
Hastings.  A  constitution  was  duly  adopted,  and  the  fol- 
lowing permanent  officers  were  then  elected  :  Dr.  D.  Mc- 
Leay, President;  Dr.  A.  B.  Drake,  Vice-President;  Dr. 
W.  E.  Upjohn,  Secretary  and  Treasurer.  Meetings  for  dis- 
cussion, clinical  examinations,  and  reading  of  essays  were 
to  be  held  once  in  three  months. 

The  annual  meetings  for  1879  and  1880  were  held  in 
the  city  of  Hastings,  in  May  of  each  year.  The  officers 
of  1879  were  re-elected  in  18^0,  and  were  as  follows  :  Dr. 
A.  B.  Drake,  President ;  Dr.  Wm.  H.  Young,  Vice-Presi- 
dent ;  Dr.  Wm.  E.  Upjohn,  Secretary  and  Treasurer.  The 
present  members  of  the  society  are  W.  H.  Young,  Nash- 
ville ;  D.  McLeay,  Prairieville ;  A.  L.  Van  Horn,  Balti- 
more ;  D.  B.  Kilpatrick  and  J.  A.  Baughman,  Woodland ; 
A.  B.  Drake,  C.  Russell,  Miss  D.  J.  Wolf,  William  Up- 
john, and  William  E.  Upjohn,  Hastings. 

HAHNEMANN     MEDICAL    SOCIETY    OP    BARRY 
AND   EATON    COUNTIES. 
On  the  5th  of  March,  1879,  Dr.   C.  S.  Snell,  of  Ver- 
montville,  Eaton  Co.,  and  Drs.  I.  Dover,  E.  H.  Lathrop, 


and  C.  S.  Burton,  of  Hastings,  met  at  the  office  of  the 
last-named  gentleman  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  so- 
ciety composed  of  the  homoeopathic  physicians  of  Eaton 
and  Barry  Counties.  The  following  persons  were  elected 
officers :  Dr.  C.  S.  Burton,  of  Hastings,  President ;  Dr.  H. 
A.  Barber,  Nashville,  First  Vice-President ;  Dr.  I.  Dever, 
Hastings,  Recording  Secretary ;  Dr.  C.  S.  Snell,  Vermont- 
ville.  Corresponding  Secretary ;  Dr.  F.  L.  Snell,  Kalamo, 
Treasurer.  Drs.  Burton,  C.  S.  Snell,  and  Dever  were  ap- 
pointed censors  to  examine  candidates  for  admission.  Be- 
fore adjournment  a  constitution  and  by-laws  were  adopted. 

A  meeting  was  held  on  the  14th  of  October,  1879,  at 
the  FoUett  House,  Vermontville,  and  another  on  the  17th 
of  December  following,  at  the  Wolcott  House,  in  Nashville. 
At  these  meetings  discussions  were  held  and  essays  road 
on  subjects  pertaining  to  the  profession.  Clinics  were  also 
held,  and  other  business  was  transacted.  The  second  an- 
nual meeting  was  held  at  the  Wolcott  House,  in  Nashville, 
on  the  3d  of  March,  1880,  when  the  following  officers  were 
elected:  Dr.  C.  S.  Burton, of  Hastings,  President;  Dr.  H. 
A.  Barber,  of  Nashville,  First  Vice-President;  Dr.  L.  P. 
Hazen,  of  Olivet,  Second  Vice-President;  Dr.  E.  F.  Grant, 
of  Hastings,  Recording  Secretary;  Dr.  C.  S.  Snell,  of  Ver- 
montville, Corresponding  Secretary ;  Dr.  F.  L.  Snell,  of 
Kalamo,  Treasurer.  Mrs.  Dr.  Burton  "read  a  paper  before 
the  society  on  "  Influence  of  Mind  upon  the  Nervous 
System."  Discussions  were  held  on  clinics,  softening  of 
the  brain,  and  typhoid  fever. 

The  present  members  of  the  society  are  Drs.  C.  S.  Bur- 
ton, Hastings ;  H.  A.  Barber,  Nashville ;  L.  P.  Hazen, 
Olivet ;  E.  F.  Grant,  Hastings ;  C.  S.  Snell,  Vermontville  ; 
F.  L.  Snell,  Kalamo ;  E.  H.  Lathrop  and  I.  Dever,  Hast- 
ings ;    W.  H.  Griswold,  Nashville ;  Linkleiter, 

Carpenter,  Woodland ;    Purchess,  Vermontville ;  W. 

Polhemus  and  Henry  Miller,  Hastings. 

WOMEN'S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION  OP 
BARRY   COUNTY. 

On  the  2d  day  of  December,  1879,  pursuant  to  a  call  by 
Mrs.  N.  Bailey,  vice-president  of  the  State  Women's  Chris- 
tian Union  for  the  Third  Congressional  District,  a  number 
of  ladies  from  the  various  townships  of  the  county  assem- 
bled in  the  city  of  Hastings  to  consider  the  question  of 
organizing  a  county  union.  Mrs.  N.  Bailey  presided,  and 
Mrs.  Charles  Bentley,  of  Hastings,  was  chosen  secretary. 

After  some  remarks  by  the  president  on  the  desirability 
of  establishing  a  county  union  for  the  mutual  good  of  the 
unions  of  the  different  townships,  it  was  decided  to  estab- 
lish such  an  organization.  Mrs.  Burton  and  Mrs.  Hayes, 
of  Hastings,  and  Mrs.  Sprague,  of  Middleville,  were  chosen 
a  committee  to  draft  a  constitution,  which,  after  due  delib- 
eration, was  presented  by  the  president  and  adopted  by  the 
meeting.  Resolutions  were  then  adopted' which  embodied 
the  sentiments  of  those  present;  the  first  one,  which  relates 
substantially  the  whole  object  of  the  society,  is  as  follows : 

"  Ueeolced,  That  we,  women  of  Barry  County,  pledge  ourselves  to 
use  our  individual  and  united  eflForts  to  educate  public  sentiment  in 
behalf  of  temperance  and  all  moral  and  social  reformation  which 
shall  redound  to  the  strength,  wisdom,  and  sobriety  of  its  present  and 
future  citizens.'' 


76 


HISTOKY   OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARKY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Encouraging  reports  were  made  by  members  of  various 
township  unions ;  essays  were  also  read  by  several  ladies, 
— one  by  Mrs.  Fleming,  of  Nashville,  entitled  "  An  Appeal 
to  Mothers  and  Sisters  ;"  one  by  Mrs.  Eobinson,  of  Hast- 
ings, on  "  Sowing  the  Seed ;"  and  one  by  Mrs.  Clement 
Smith,  whose  subject  was  "  Literature  and  its  Influence  on 
our  Children."  These  subjects  were  taken  up  and  earnestly 
discussed  by  Mrs.  Turner,  Mrs.  Fleming,  Mrs.  Bailey,  and 
Mrs.  Boltwood. 

The  ladies  of  the  union,  realizing  that  much  of  the  vice 
and  moral  weakness  which  exists  in  the  country  is  caused 
by  the  immoral  and  trashy  literature  of  the  day,  determined 
to  banish  all  such  reading  from  their  own  homes,  and  to 
endeavor  earnestly  to  induce  others  to  do  the  same.  Be- 
lieving, also,  that  the  use  of  tobacco  is  a  most  objectionable 
habit,  incompatible  with  purity  and  decency,  and  gravely 
injurious  to  those  who  indulge  in  it,  they  earnestly  besought 
the  Christian  mothers,  sisters,  and  teachers  of  the  county 
to  do  all  in  their  power  to  repress  that  pernicious  custom  in 
the  young. 

The  following  officers  were  elected  for  the  ensuing  year : 
President,  Mrs.  N.  Bailey,  Hastings;  Recording  Secretary, 
Mrs.  Fleming,  Nashville ;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Mrs. 
Clement  Smith,  Hastings ;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  E.  D.  Sprague, 
Middleville  ;  Vice-Presidents  (one  from  each  township), 
Mrs.  John  Hendershott,  Irving ;  Mrs.  Henry  Barnum, 
Carlton;  Mrs.  Dr.  Carpenter,  Woodland;  Mrs.  Z.  B. 
Hoyt,  Yankee  Springs ;  Mrs.  Lucinda  Monroe,  Rutland ; 
Mrs.  H.  A.  Lathrop,  Thornapple ;  Mrs.  L.  Wing,  Orange- 
ville ;  Mrs.  Hunt,  Hope ;  Mrs.  Charles  Crothers,  Balti- 
more ;  Mrs.  Pliny  McOmber,  Maple  Grove ;  Mrs.  Wales, 
Prairieville ;  Mrs.  W.  Barber,  Barry ;  Mrs.  Jonathan 
Stevens,  Johnstown ;  Mrs.  W.  W.  Cole,  Assyria. 

The  townships  in  which  unions  are  organized  and  actively 
at  work  are  Thornapple,  Hastings,  Rutland,  Carlton,  Castle- 
ton,  Baltimore,  Irving,  and  Yankee  Springs.  Assurances 
have  been  received  that  similar  organizations  will  be  estab- 
lished in  all  the  other  townships.  The  township  unions 
are  auxiliary  to  the  county  unions,  the  county  unions  to  the 
State  union,  and  the  State  union  to  the  National  Union. 

BA.KRY   COUNTY   BIBLE  SOCIETY. 

It  is  not  known  exactly  when  this  society  was  organized  ; 
the  first  records  now  extant  are  dated  Dec.  29,  1867.  At 
that  date  Robert  J.  Grant  was  president,  and  he  has  con- 
tinued to  occupy  the  position  till  the  present  time.  Daniel 
Striker  was  then  the  secretary,  and  filled  the  position  until 
the  spring  of  1870,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  John  M. 
Nevins,  who  still  acts  in  that  capacity.  The  society  is 
auxiliary  to  the  American  Bible  Society,  to  which  an  an- 
nual report  is  made. 

FAKMERS'  MUTUAL  FIRE  INSURANCE  COMPANY 
OF  BARRY  AND  EATON  COUNTIES. 

In  the  year  186.3,  G.  K.  Beamer,  Cleveland  Ellis,  Lo- 
renzo Mudge,  Willard  Davis,  John  Dow,  R.  M.  Wheaton, 
P.  S.  Spaulding,  William  P.  Bristol,  and  A.  C.  Ells— all 
residents  of  Barry  and  Eaton  Counties — associated  them- 
selves together  as  an  incorporated  company  for  the  transac- 
tion of  the  insurance-business  under  the  above  title.     By 


its  articles  of  association  the  company  is  restricted  to  the 
insurance  of  dwelling-houses  and  barns  (with  the  personal 
property  in  them),  detached  one  hundred  feet  from  other 
buildings,  and  all  dwellings,  barns,  and  out-buildings  upon 
farms,  together  with  household  furniture,  farm-implements, 
stock,  and  grain  which  may  be  therein,  or  on  the  premises, 
against  loss  or  damage  by  fire  or  lightning.  Willard  Davis 
was  elected  president,  and  W.  A.  Nimrocks  secretary.  The 
first  policies  took  eff'ect  on  the  12th  of  April,  1864. 

The  company  has  steadily  increased  in  numbers  and  use- 
fulness, and  on  the  31st  of  December,  1879,  it  had  three 
thousand  three  hundred  and  nine  outstanding  policies,  cov- 
ering a  total  risk  of  five  million  five  hundred  and  eighty 
thousand  dollars.  From  the  date  of  its  organization  to 
May  1,  1880,  about  ninety  thousand  dollars  have  been 
paid  in  losses,  which  is  an  average  of  about  twenty  cents 
for  every  hundred  dollars  upon  the  amount  of  ri.sk. 

The  present  officers  of  the  company  are  as  follows : 
President,  D.  B.  Hale ;  Vice-President,  B.  J.  Bidleman  ; 
Secretary,  D.  W.  Rogers;  Treasurer,  C.  E.  Chappell ; 
Directors,  Z.  B.  Hoyt,  Yankee  Springs  ;  A.  C.  Towne, 
Prairieville  ;  D.  W.  Smith,  Castleton  ;  R.  K.  Stanton,  Bal- 
timore ;  Orson  Swift,  Maple  Grove  ;  S.  W.  Mapes,  Kalamo, 
Eaton  Co. ;  B.  L.  Bently,  Eaton  Rapids,  Eaton  Co. ;  J. 
W.  Ewing,  Oneida,  Eaton  Co.  ;  M.  L.  Squier,  Vermont- 
ville,  Eaton  Co. ;  S.  W.  Harmon,  Chester,  Eaton  Co. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

INTEKNAL  IMPKOVEMEWTS,  ETC 

Clinton  and  Kalamazoo  River  Canal — Provision  for  it  in  the  System 
of  1837 — Preliminary  Survey  through  Barry  and  Eaton  Counties — 
Mr.  Littlejohn's  Survey — Navigation  of  the  Kalamazoo — First 
Raft — Lumber- Vessels — The  Flatboat  Lines — First  Steamboat — ■ 
Other  Steamers  and  Schooners — Ship-building  at  Saugatuck — Al- 
legan and  Marshall  Railroad — Lawton  and  Grand  Rapids  Railroad 
— Kalamazoo,  Allegan  and  Grand  Rapids  Railroad— The  Original 
Name — First  Articles  filed — Change  of  Route — Change  of  Name 
— Road  built  to  Allegan — Road  built  to  Grand  Rapids — Statistics 
of  Traffic — The  Grand  Haven  Railroad — The  Three  Original  Or- 
ganizations— Their  Consolidation— Building  of  the  Road — Road 
in  Hands  of  a  Receiver — The  Sale — New  Company — New  Name — 
Statistics — Grand  Rapids  and  Indinna  Road — Time  of  Construction 
— Statistics— Chicago  and  West  Michigan  Road — The  Original 
Name— Construction- Given  up  to  Bondholders — Reorganization 
— New  Name — General  Information — Allegan  and  Southeastern 
Road— Quick  Construction— Part  of  Mansfield,  Coldwater  and 
Lake  Michigan  Road  sold  under  Foreclosure — Reorganization  and 
Changeof  Name— Statistics— Grand  River  Valley  Road— Chartered 
in  1836 — Long  Postponement — Proposed  Road  from  Battle  Creek 
to  Hastings— Given  up— Revival  of  the  Valley  Road— Its  Con- 
struction—  Statistics. 

THE    PROPOSED    CLINTON    AND    KALAMAZOO 
RIVER   CANAL. 

Under  the  system  of  internal  improvements  adopted  by 
the  State  in  February,  1837,  money  was  appropriated  for 
the  survey  of  a  canal  commencing  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Clinton  River,  to  terminate  at  or  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Kalamazoo  River;  and  also  for  the  survey  of  the  St. 
Joseph,  Kalamazoo,  and  Grand  Rivers,  with  a  view  to  the 
use  of  the  same  by  slack-water  navigation.     The  prelirai- 


INTERNAL  IMPEOVEMENTS,  ETC. 


77 


nary  survey  for  the  canal  was  made  by  the  State  engineer 
in  the  summer  of  1837.  The  line  started  at  the  mouth 
of  Clinton  River,  ran  through  Oakland  County,  touching 
the  northwest  corner  of  Ingham,  and  thence  through 
Eaton,  Barry,  and  Allegan  Counties  to  the  village  of 
Allegan ;  whence  it  was  intended  to  use  the  river  to  its 
mouth. 

Mr.  F.  J.  Littlejohn  was  employed  by  the  board  of  in- 
ternal improvements,  in  the  winter  of  1837-38,  to  make  a 
thorough  survey  of  that  portion  of  the  line  running  from 
a  "  bottom-peg"  placed  by  the  State  engineer  on  the  west 
side  of  Barry  County,  near  the  north  end  of  Gun  Lake, 
to  Allegan,  and  thence  to  the  mouth  of  the  Kalamazoo, 
and  to  make  the  necessary  estimates  regarding  the  same. 
The  proper  instruments  were  furnished  by  the  board,  and 
the  work  was  both  commenced  and  finished  in  February, 
1838.  When  Mr.  Littlejohn  made  his  report  to  the  State 
engineer,  it  was  found  that  the  result  reached  by  him 
dififered  but  three-tenths  of  a  foot  from  the  preliminary 
survey  of  that  official,  although  the  latter  was  made  in  the 
summer  and  Mr.  Littlejohn's  in  the  winter,  with  two  feet 
of  snow  on  the  ground.  The  point  where  the  canal,  ac- 
cording to  the  survey,  was  to  reach  the  Kalamazoo  was  in 
the  village  of  Allegan,  at  the  north  end  of  the  north 
bridge  across  that  river. 

The  only  portion  of  the  canal  which  was  ever  built  was 
sixteen  miles  at  the  eastern  end. 

UAVIGATION   ON   THE   KALAMAZOO   EIVBK. 

In  the  month  of  June,  1834,  Oka  Town  and  Abijah 
Chichester  ran  a  raft  containing  thirty  thousand  feet  of 
lumber  from  Pine  Creek  (where  the  first  saw-mill  in 
Allegan  County  was  located)  to  the  mouth  of  Kalamazoo 
River,  where  it  was  transferred  to  William  G.  Butler,  who 
had  bought  it.  They  were  obliged  to  hire  an  Indian  to 
pilot  them  back  through  the  woods.  This  was  the  first 
raft  which  was  taken  down  the  river. 

Vessels  were  soon  after  constructed  along  the  lake-shore 
for  carrying  lumber.  Among  the  first  builders  was  James 
McLaughlin,  who  built  the  "  Crook."  The  "Octavia"  was 
soon  built  by  Carter  &  Co.  at  Singapore.  In  1841,  David 
Walbridge,  from  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  came  to  Kalamazoo  and 
commenced  buying  wheat.  He  established  a  line  of  flat- 
boats,  on  which  the  grain  was  carried  down  the  river,  being 
transferred  at  Saugatuck  to  sail-vessels  bound  for  BuiFalo. 
In  the  spring  of  1842  he  leased  a  grist-mill,  and  carried 
on  an  extensive  business  in  grinding  flour,  which  followed 
the  same  course  to  the  Eastern  market. 

The  first  flatboat  of  any  size  on  the  Kalamazoo  was  the 
"  Pioneer,"  built  by  James  D.  Bush,  of  Allegan,  for  Milo 
Winslow.  This  vessel  carried  one  thousand  barrels  of 
flour,  and  twelve  men  were  necessary  to  pole  it  up  and 
down  the  river.  The  "Great  Western"  employed  ten 
men,  and  the  "Tippecanoe"  eight.  There  were  several 
others,  but  these  were  the  most  important.  These  boats 
were  in  active  operation  on  the  river  until  the  opening  of 
the  Michigan  Central  Railroad,  in  1846,  furnished  a 
quicker  and  more  convenient  means  of  transportation. 

About  1842  a  flat-bottomed  steamboat  named  "  C.  C. 
Trowbridge"  was  built  at  Singapore  by  Porter  &  Co.  for 


river-service  between  Saugatuck  and  Allegan.  It  made  but 
two  trips,  however,  and  was  then  transferred  to  the  lake 
trade. 

The  steamer  "  Adelaide"  was  built  in  the  village  of 
Allegan,  below  the  Littlejohn  bridge,  about  the  year  1847. 
The  machinery  was  that  previously  used  in  the  "  Maid  of 
the  Mist"  at  Niagara  Falls.  Captain  Elliott  was  the  com- 
mander. It  ran  from  Allegan  to  Saugatuck  one  day  and 
back  the  next,  for  about  two  years,  and  was  then  sold  at 
Chicago. 

J.  D.  Bush  built  the  "  Helen  Mar"  at  Allegan  about 
1854,  and  subsequently  ran  it  five  or  six  years  on  the 
river.  It  was  finally  dismantled.  All  its  machinery  was 
built  at  Allegan  except  the  boiler,  and  is  now  in  use  at 
Vosburg's  mill,  at  that  village.  Two  barges  were  built  at 
Allegan  about  the  same  time,  named  "  Adam"  and  "  Eve." 
They  were  intended  for  towing  on  the  lake,  and  were  the 
first  experiment  of  the  kind. 

The  schooner  "  Lavinda"  was  built  at  Allegan  in  1861, 
and  was  used  on  the  lake,  running  from  Saugatuck  to 
Chicago.  It  is  still  in  use.  The  steamer  "  Aunt  Betsey" 
was  built  for  Ira  Chafiee,  George  Stone,  and  J.  C.  McMil- 
lan. It  plied  on  the  river  for  about  five  years,  and  was 
sold  to  parties  at  St.  Paul,  Minn. 

In  the  year  1867  the  propeller  "Ira  Chaff'ee"  was  built 
at  Allegan  for  the  lake  trade.  It  was  owned  by  Ira  Chaf- 
fee, Frederick  May,  E.  B.  Costin,  and  George  Butcher. 
The  same  year  the  schooner  "  White  Oak"  was  built  at 
Allegan  for  the  lake  trade,  and  the  next  season  the  propel- 
ler "  Dunbar"  was  built.  In  1865  the  barge  "  Utell"  was 
built  at  Allegan.  It  ran  on  the  river  for  a  time,  but  was 
finally  sold  to  parties  at  Grand  Rapids. 

Ship-building  has  ceased  at  Allegan;  but  is  still  energeti- 
cally carried  on  at  Saugatuck.  Numerous  tugs  and  lumber- 
barges  have  been  built  there,  besides  several  propellers  and 
large  grain-carrying  vessels.  The  year  1879  was  an  ex- 
tremely busy  one  for  Saugatuck  ship-builders,  and  the  busi- 
ness is  still  increasing  there. 

ALLEGAN  AND  MARSHALL  KAILKOAD. 
The  Allegan  and  Marshall  Railroad  Company  was  incor- 
porated on  the  4th  day  of  March,  1836.  The  directors 
residing  in  Allegan  County  were  John  R.  Kellogg  and 
Alexander  L.  Ely.  It  was  hoped  that  the  building  of  a 
road  from  Marshall  to  Allegan  would  lead  to  a  choice  of 
this  line  to  the  lake  for  the  Central  Railroad,  the  west- 
ern terminus  of  which  had  not  then  been  determined  on. 
An  extremely  circuitous  route  was  surveyed,  which  passed 
from  Marshall  through  Battle  Creek,  Comstock,  and  Bron- 
son  (now  Kalamazoo)  to  Allegan.  Cars,  and  even  cushions 
for  the  seats,  were  purchased,  for  the  latter  of  which  suit 
was  brought  several  years  afterwards,  but  no  part  of  the 
road  was  ever  graded. 

LAWTON  AND  GRAND  RAPIDS  RAILROAD. 
The  next  projected  railroad  was  from  Lawton,  on  the 
Michigan  Central,  through  Paw  Paw  and  Allegan,  to  Grand 
Rapids,  about  1848.  F.  J.  Littlejohn  made  a  preliminary 
survey,  but  no  work  was  ever  commenced.  The  project 
was  defeated  by  the  efforts  made  at  an  early  day  to  locate 


78 


HISTOKY   OF   ALLEGAN   AND   BAERY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


the  route  of  the  Grand  Eapids  and  Indiana  road  from 
Kalamazoo  through  Allegan  to  Grand  Eapids.  This  latter 
route  was  also  surveyed,  and  followed  the  previous  line  from 
Allegan  to  Grand  Rapids.  This  project  also  failed  for  the 
time,  and  when  it  was  revived  several  years  afterwards 
a  route  was  chosen  ten  or  eleven  miles  east  of  Allegan  vil- 
lage, as  appears  in  the  sketch  of  the  Grand  Eapids  and 
Indiana  road. 

KALAMAZOO,  ALLEGAN  AND  GRAND   EAPIDS 
RAILKOAD. 

Articles  of  association  were  filed  in  the  office  of  the  Sec- 
retary of  State  of  Michigan  in  the  spring  of  1868  for  the 
organization  of  the  Kalamazoo  and  Allegan  Railroad  Com- 
pany. The  directors  belonging  to  Allegan  County  were 
Joseph  Fisk,  of  Allegan,  and  Wilson  C.  JJdsell,  of  Otsego. 
A  preliminary  survey  was  made,  which  passed  through  the 
townships  of  Gun  Plain,  Otsego,  Watson,  and  Allegan.  A 
map  of  the  line  was  filed  at  the  register's  office  on  the  7th 
of  May,  1868,  but  a  change  of  route  was  made,  and  a  new 
map  was  filed  on  the  4th  of  August  of  the  same  year. 
This  change  was  on  sections  22,  24,  27,  and  28,  in  the 
village  of  Allegan. 

During  the  summer  of  1868  the  articles  of  association 
were  amended  so  as  to  change  the  name  to  the  Kalamazoo, 
Allegan  and  Grand  Rapids  Railroad  Company,  and  pro- 
viding for  the  extension  of  the  road  from  Allegan  to  Grand 
Eapids.  The  map  of  the  survey  of  the  northern  portion 
of  the  line  is  dated  in  September,  1868,  and  was  filed 
on  the  21st  of  October  following.  The  extension  passes 
through  the  townships  of  Allegan,  Monterey,  Hopkins,  and 
Dorr.  The  tract  was  completed,  and  the  fir.st  train  of  cars 
ran  into  Allegan  on  Thanksgiving-day,  Nov.  23, 1868.  On 
the  same  day  work  was  commenced  on  the  northern  por- 
tion, and  the  first  train  of  cars  reached  Grand  Eapids  on 
the  1st  of  March,  1869.  On  the  1st  of  October  of  the 
same  year  the  road  was  leased  to  the  Michigan  Southern 
Eailroad  Company,  by  whom  it  is  still  run,  being  known 
as  the  Kalamazoo  Division  of  that  road. 

The  length  of  the  road  from  Kalamazoo  to  Allegan  is 
twenty-six  miles,  and  from  Allegan  to  Grand  Rapids  thirty- 
three  miles,  making  a  total  of  fifty-nine  miles.  The  cost 
of  construction  of  the  road  was  $1,450,000.  The  equip- 
ment is  owned  by  the  Michigan  Southern  Company.  The 
receipts  during  the  year  1878  from  transportation  of  pas- 
sengers was  $43,082.67  ;  from  "that  of  freight,  $73,436  ; 
of  mails,  $4612.85  ;  of  express  matter,  $504.66, — making 
the  total  earnings  $122,546.18.  The  expenses  of  operating 
the  road  for  the  same  time  were  $101,917.28.  The  funded 
debt  of  the  company  amounts  to  $840,000. 

THE   GRAND   HAVEN   RAILROAD. 

The  company  that  now  operates  this  road  had  its  origin 
in  three  organizations, — the  Allegan  and  Holland,  the  Hol- 
land and  Grand  Haven,  and  the  Muskegon  and  Ferrysburg 
Railroad  Companies.  The  first  two  were  organized  in  the 
spring  of  1869,  but  accomplished  little  even  in  the  pre- 
liminary work  of  location  and  survey.  The  last-named 
company  had  built  a  road  between  Muskegon  and  Ferrys- 
burg, which  was  then  in  operation.     During  the  summer  of 


1869  the  three  companies  were  consolidated  under  the  name 
of  the  Michigan  Lake  Shore  Railroad  Company.  The  stock 
was  sold  to  parties  interested  in  the  Pennsylvania  system 
of  roads,  and  who  also  controlled  the  Grand  Rapids  and 
Indiana  road.  The  survey  was  adopted  by  the  company 
on  the  19th  day  of  August,  1869,  and  was  filed  in  the 
register's  office  of  Allegan  County  on  the  7th  of  Septem- 
ber following.  The  route  passed  through  the  townships  of 
Allegan,  Heath,  Overisel,  and  Fillmore,  in  the  county  of 
Allegan. 

Upon  the  completion  of  the  Kalamazoo,  Allegan  and 
Grand  Rapids  road  the  contractors  placed  their  men  im- 
mediately upon  this  work.  It  was  prosecuted  with  great 
vigor,  and  on  the  1st  of  July,  1870,  was  opened  from 
Allegan  to  Muskegon, — a  distance  of  fifty-seven  and  a  half 
miles. 

The  company  defaulted  on  the  interest  of  its  bonds  in 
1873  and  1874,  and  the  road  passed  into  the  hands  of  D. 
P.  Clay,  of  Grand  Eapids,  as  receiver.  It  was  operated 
by  him  till  the  1st  of  October,  1878,  when  it  was  sold  on 
the  foreclosure  of  its  mortgage  bonds  and  purchased  by  the 
bondholders'  committee.  A  new  company  was  then  organ- 
ized under  the  name  of  the  Grand  Haven  Eailroad,  by 
which  the  road  has  been  operated  from  that  time  till  the 
present. 

The  cost  of  the  construction  of  the  road  and  its  equip- 
ment was  $960,000.  The  new  company,  upon  its  organiza- 
tion in  October,  1878,  owed  debts  to  the  amount  of 
$160,000.  The  receipts  for  the  carriage  of  passengers 
during  the  year  previous  to  the  last  annual  report  was 
$22,223.07 ;  for  that  of  freight,  $27,780.31 ;  of  mails, 
$3250.45;  of  express  matter,  $1565;  of  miscellaneous 
articles,  $878.47.  The  receipts  other  than  earnings  were 
$11,615,  making  a  total  of  $67,312.40. 

There  are  employed  on  the  road  three  locomotives,  weigh- 
ing over  twenty  tons  each ;  three  eight-wheel  passenger- 
cars,  one  express-  and  baggage-car,  thirty  box  freight-cars, 
and  sixty-six  platform-cars.  The  Ward  air-brake  is  used 
on  the  passenger-cars. 

The  number  of  passengers  carried  during  the  year  1878 
was  40,376.  The  total  number  of  tons  of  freight  carried 
over  the  road  was  25,223,  distributed  as  follows :  Grain  and 
flour,  1727 ;  provisions,  322 ;  other  agricultural  products, 
422  ;  lumber  and  forest  products,  19,479  ;  coal,  131 ;  plas- 
ter, 160;  petroleum,  52;  pig-  and  bloom-iron,  23 ;  other 
iron  and  castings,  1 14 ;  stone  and  brick,  82  ;  manufactures, 
873 ;  merchandise  and  other  articles  not  previously  men- 
tioned, 1830.  The  United  States  Express  Company  docs 
business  on  this  road,  paying  five  dollars  per  day  for  the 
use  of  an  apartment  in  a  car. 

GRAND  RAPIDS  AND  INDIANA  RAILROAD. 

This  road  extends  from  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.,  to  Petos- 
key,  Mich., — a  distance  of  three  hundred  and  twenty-two 
miles.  The  first  section,  from  Grand  Eapids  to  Cedar 
Springs,  was  opened  for  traffic  Dec.  23,  1867,  and  the  last 
one,  from  Fife  Lake  to  Petoskey,  in  May,  1874.  The 
portion  from  Kalamazoo  to  Grand  Eapids,  running  through 
the  county  of  Allegan,  was  first  opened  for  business  in  Octo- 


INTERNAL  IMPROVEMENTS,  ETC. 


79 


ber,  1870.     It  passes  through  the  townships  of  Gun  Plain, 
Martin,  Wayland,  Leighton,  and  Dorr. 

The  cost  of  construction  of  the  road  and  its  branches 
was  $9,877,363.99  ;  that  of  equipment,  $1,214,721.47. 
The  funded  debt  of  the  company  amounts  to  $8,000,000, 
the  unfunded  debt  to  $2,164,706.72.  The  receipts  from 
the  carriage  of  passengers  during  the  year  1878  was 
$425,882.33  ;  from  that  of  freights,  $699,557.84 ;  of  mails, 
$17,142.06  ;  of  express  matter,  $17,238.68. 

The  total  expenses  of  operating  the  road  during  that  year 
were  $958,170.80  ;  the  total  earnings  for  the  same  time, 
$1,200,629.19.  There  are  employed  on  the  road  seventeen 
locomotives  weighing  over  thirty  tons  each,  twenty  others 
which  weigh  over  twenty  tons  each,  and  one  other  which 
weighs  over  ten  tons.  There  are  ten  twelve-wheel  and  eleven 
eight-wheel  passenger-cars,  ten  express-  and  baggage-cars, 
three  hundred  and  forty-seven  box  freight-cars,  seven  hundred 
and  thirty-six  platform-cars,  and  twenty-one  conductors'  way- 
cars.  Thirteen  locomotives  and  thirty-two  passenger-cars 
are  equipped  with  the  Westinghouse  air-brake. 

The  number  of  tons  of  through  freight  was  241,962, 
and  of  local  freight  141,348,  distributed  as  follows  :  Grain, 
39,160;  flour,  5324;  provisions,  2038;  other  agricultural 
products,  13,460 ;  lumber  and  forest  products,  239,830 ; 
coal,  11,449;  plaster,  2785;  salt,  2931;  petroleum,  900; 
railroad  iron  (iron  and  steel  rails),  1993  ;  pig-  and  bloom- 
iron,  507  ;  other  iron  and  castings,  2544 ;  stone  and  brick, 
3897  ;  manufactures,  13,835  ;  merchandise  and  other  articles 
not  previously  mentioned,  42,757. 

The  United  States  Express  Company  transacts  business 
on  this  road,  paying  forty-five  dollars  and  forty-five  cents 
per  day  i'or  the  transmission  of  four  thousand  pounds  of 
freight. 

The  company  operates  the  Allegan  and  Southeastern 
road,  as  mentioned  a  little  farther  on. 

CHICAGO  AND-  WEST   MICHIGAN  RAILEOAD. 

In  May,  1869,  a  company  was  organized  at  St.  Joseph, 
Berrien  Co.,  under  the  general  law  of  the  State,  called  the 
Chicago  and  Michigan  Lake  Shore  Railroad  Company,  for 
the  purpose  of  building  a  railroad  from  New  Bufiklo  north- 
ward along  the  western  shore  of  Lake  Michigan.  The 
work  was  begun  at  St.  Joseph,  the  grading  was  rapidly 
carried  southward  from  there,  and  on  the  28th  of  January, 
1870,  the  road  was  completed  to  New  Bufialo,  and  subse- 
quently it  was  built  northward  from  St.  Joseph,  being  com- 
pleted to  Grand  Junction,  Van  Buren  Co.,  on  the  28th  of 
February,  1871,  and  to  Pentwater,  its  present  terminus, 
on  the  1st  of  January,  1872.  The  last-named  portion  runs 
through  the  townships  of  Lee,  Clyde,  Manlius,  and  Fillmore, 
in  Allegan  County.  The  distance  traversed  in  that  county 
is  twenty-six  miles. 

The  road  was  managed  by  the  original  company  until 
1874,  when  it  was  given  up  to  the  bondholders.  They 
operated  it  about  three  years,  and  then  foreclosed  their 
mortgage.  On  the  sale  most  of  the  stock  passed  into  the 
hands  of  citizens  of  Boston,  who  organized  themselves  into 
a  new  company,  by  which  the  road  has  since  been  controlled. 
The  new  company  adopted  the  name  of  the  Chicago  and 


West  Michigan  Railroad,  and  changed  the  name  of  the  road 
accordingly. 

The  cost  of  construction  was  $6,225,802,  and  that  of 
equipment  $899,220.  The  funded  debt  of  the  company 
amounts  to  $6,630,000,  the  unfunded  to  $2,517,218.  The 
receipts  from  carriage  of  passengers  during  the  year  1878 
(the  one  covered  by  the  last  report  of  the  railroad  com- 
missioners) was  $175,921 ;  from  that  of  freights,  $333,809 ; 
from  other  sources,  $28,293  ;  total,  $538,023.  The  entire 
running  expenses  for  the  same  period  were  $500,479. 

There  are  employed  on  the  road  twenty-one  locomotives 
weighing  over  thirty  tons  each,  and  five  which  weigh  under 
that  amount.  There  are  three  twelve-wheel  and  ten  eight- 
wheel  passenger-cars,  nine  express-  and  baggage-cars,  one 
hundred  and  fourteen  box  freight-cars,  three  hundred  and 
seventy-six  platform-cars,  seven  conductors'  way-cars,  and 
one  pay-car. 

The  total  number  of  tons  of  freight  carried  over  the  road 
during  the  year  1878  was  266,701,  distributed  as  follows: 
Grain,  14,055  ;  flour,  1949  ;  other  provisions,  1225  ;  other 
agricultural  products,  9673  ;  lumber  and  other  forest  prod- 
ucts, 153,563;  coal,  2585;  plaster,  12,000;  railroad  iron, 
189  ;  pig-  and  bloom-iron,  11,050  ;  ores,  19,499  ;  stone  and 
brick,  2812  ;  merchandise  and  other  articles  not  previously 
enumerated,  38,151. 

The  American  Express  Company  sends  its  freight  over 
the  road,  paying  for  the  privilege  one  and  a  half  times  the 
price  of  first-class  railroad  freight. 

ALLEGAN  AND  SOUTHEASTERN  KAILKOAD. 

This  road  was  built  in  ninety  days  by  Joseph  Fisk,  the 
contractor,  who  completed  it  in  September,  1871.  It  was 
then  a  section  eleven  and  a  half  miles  long  (from  Allegan 
to  Monteith,  in  the  township  of  Martin),  belonging  to  the 
Mansfield,  Coldwater  and  Lake  Michigan  Railroad  Com- 
pany. The  intention  of  that  company  was  to  construct  a 
road  from  Mansfield,  Ohio,  to  Allegan,  Mich.,  but  the 
portion  from  Allegan  to  Monteith  was  all  that  was  ever 
completed  in  this  State. 

The  property  and  franchises  of  the  Mansfield  company 
were  sold  under  the  foreclosure  of  its  mortgage  bonds  on 
the  28th  of  August,  1877,  and  on  the  13th  of  December 
following  the  purchasers  subscribed  to  new  articles  of  asso- 
ciation, changing  the  name  to  the  Allegan  and  Southeastern 
Railroad  Company,  and  fixing  the  amount  of  the  capital 
stock  at  $1,500,000.  These  new  articles  were  filed  in  the 
office  of  the  Secretary  of  State  of  Michigan  on  the  22d 
of  January,  1878.  The  road  has  been  operated  by  the 
Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana  Company  since  its  completion, 
and  a  formal  lease  was  made  to  that  company  on  the  5th 
of  March,  1879. 

The  cost  of  construction  and  equipment  was  $250,700. 
The  company  has  no  funded  or  unfunded  debt.  The 
revenue  received  from  passengers  during  the  year  1878 
was  $3568.99,  and  that  from  freights  $2593.27.  The  re- 
ceipts other,  than  earnings  were  $6192.11.  The  total  ex- 
penses of  operating  the  road  during  that  year  were 
$5294.89.  The  rolling-stock  is  furnished  by  the  Grand 
Rapids  and  Indiana  Railroad  Company.  The  total  num- 
ber of  tons  of  freight  carried  over  the  road  in  1878  was 


80 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


7418,  distributed  as  follows  :  Grain,  195  ;  flour,  155  ;  pro- 
visions, 36  ;  other  agricultural  products,  265  ;  lumber  and 
other  forest  products,  5730  ;  coal,  12  ;' plaster,  50  ;  salt,  24 ; 
petroleum,  2  ;  railroad  iron,  other  iron,  and  castings,  41 ; 
stone  and  brick,  2 ;  manufactures,  276  ;  merchandise  and 
other  articles  not  previously  enumerated,  618.  The  express 
business  on  this  road  is  done  by  the  United  States  Express 
Company. 

GRAND   KIVER   VALLEY   KAILEOAD. 

Through  the  exertions  of  Amos  Root,  of  Jackson,  a 
charter  for  a  company  to  build  a  railroad  from  Jackson  to 
Grand  Rapids,  to  be  known  as  the  Grand  River  Valley 
Railroad,  was  granted  by  the  State  Legislature  on  the  4th 
of  March,  1836.  The  route  was  through  the  townships  of 
Castleton,  Hastings,  Rutland,  Irving,  and  Thornapple,  in 
Barry  County,  following  the  valley  of  the  Thornapple  River 
along  its  entire  course  in  that  county.  The  capital  stock  of 
the  proposed  company  was  $1,000,000.  The  road  was  to 
be  commenced  within  three  years,  twenty  miles  were  to  be 
constructed  in  five  years,  and  the  whole  was  to  be  finished 
within  ten  years  from  the  passage  of  the  act  of  incorpora- 
tion ;  otherwise  that  act  was  to  become  void. 

No  work  was  done  during  the  prescribed  ten  years,  but 
the  charter  was  extended  from  time  to  time,  and  about 
1866  the  matter  was  again  earnestly  agitated.  At  that 
time  the  question  of  building  a  road  from  Hastings  to  Bat- 
tle Creek  was  under  discussion.  Subscriptions  had  been 
obtained  in  support  of  the  project,  and  a  preliminary  .survey 
had  been  made.  The  line  passed,  in  Barry  County,  through 
Hastings,  Castleton,  Maple  Grove,  and  Assyria.  The  citi- 
zens of  Battle  Creek  were  not  very  earnest  in  favor  of  the 
work,  however,  and  it  was  finally  given  up.  But  in  the 
mean  while  the  people  of  Barry  County  had  become  excited 
on  the  railroad  question,  and  Amos  Root,  the  original  pro- 
jector of  the  Grand  River  Valley  road,  came  into  the  county 
and  urged  the  construction  of  that  work.  Subscriptions  were 
given  to  aid  the  project,  bonds  were  issued  by  the  townships 
of  Barry  County,  and  after  the  survey  was  completed  work 
was  commenced  in  the  spring  of  1867.  On  the  26th  of 
January,  1869,  regular  trains  commenced  running  from 
Jackson  to  Nashville,  and  on  the  22d  of  February  of  the 
same  year  the  road  was  completed  to  Hastings,  when  trains 
began  to  run  regularly  to  that  place.  AVork  was  pressed 
forward  on  the  northern  portion  of  the  route,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1870  the  road  was  completed  to  Grand  Rapids. 
It  was  then  leased  to  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad  Com- 
pany, by  whom  it  was  equipped  and  has  since  been  man- 
aged. It  is  known  as  the  Grand  River  Valley'  Division  of 
that  road. 

The  cost  of  the  construction  of  the  road  was  $2,840,031 . 
The  funded  debt  of  the  company  amounts  to  $1,500,000, 
which  constitutes  their  total  liability.  The  receipts  for  the 
transportation  of  passengers  during  the  year  previous  to  the 
last  report  were  $114,722.03;  for  that  of  freight,  $147 ,462.- 
29  ;  of  mails,  $8537.40  ;  of  express  matter,  $1989.31 ;  mis- 
cellaneous, $3920.70;  total,  $276,631.73.  The  running 
expenses  for  the  same  period  were  $245,261.73.  The  num- 
ber of  passengers  carried  during  the  year  was  144,326. 
The  number  of  tons  of  freight  carried  over  the  road  was 


115,793,  distributed  as  follows :  Grain,  38,186  ;  flour,  3550  ; 
provisions,  383 ;  other  agricultural  products,  3230 ;  lumber 
and  forest  products,  28,549  ;  plaster,  10,043 ;  salt,  2431  ; 
merchandise,  29,421.  The  American  Express  Company 
send  their  freight  over  this  road. 


CHAPTER    XX. 


THE    PKESS. 


The  First  Attempt — Allegan  County  Democrat— Allegan  and  Barry 
Eeoord— rts  First  Issue— A  Whig  Proprietor  and  Democratic  Pub- 
lishers—A Venerable  Number— Motto,  Price,  etc.— Two  Months 
getting  Paper — Changing  Sizes — Printing  mixed  with  Hunting — 
A.  L.  Ely — D.  C.  Henderson — Change  to  Allegan  Record — Politics 
— Character  in  1855 — Owners  and  Editors — Allegan  Journal— Its 
Modern  Appearance — "Our  Bow" — Its  Politics — An  Editor  in  the 
Field — An  Additional  Proprietor — Increase  of  Size — Successive 
Writers— Allegan  County  Democrat  (No.  2) — Establishmentin  1857 
— Various  Changes — The  Northwestern  Bible  and  Publishing  Com- 
pany— Changes  in  1876 — Allegan  County  Democratic  Association 
— Adoption  of  Grreenbaokism— Allegan  Democrat— Allegan  Trib- 
une— Otsego  Courier — Otsego  Herald — Allegan  County  Record — 
Weekly  Union — Plainwell  Republic — Plainwell  Independent  Re- 
public— Lake  Shore  Commercial  Papers— Wayland  Papers — Barry 
County  Pioneer — An  Active  Editor — An  Early  Number — Its  De- 
scription— An  Extract — Paper  stopped  in  Harvest — Sold  to  A.  A. 
Knappen — Faltering  Democracy — A  Rival  Sheet — The  Pioneer 
returns  to  its  Founder — Depressing  Influences — Successive  Propri- 
etors— The  End  in  1866 — Hastings  Republican  Banner — Its  Estab- 
lishment in  1856  as  the  Republican  Banner — Opposition  to  Slavery 
Extension — Editorial  and  Proprietary  Changes — J.  M.  Nevins  takes 
Control — His  Administration — Name  changed  to  Hastings  Banner 
— Sale  to  G.  M.  Dewey — Change  to  Present  Name — The  Independ- 
ent— W.  R.  Young  first  Editor — Oflice  destroyed  by  Fire — Hastings 
Home  Journal — Founded  as  Barry  County  Democrat- — Change  to 
Present  Name — Democratic  in  Politics — Changes  of  Ownership — 
Adopts  Greenback  Principles  —  Barry  County  Sentinel  —  Barry 
County  Republican — Established  as  Middlcville  Plaindealer — From 
Republican  to  Greenback  Party,  and  back — The  Blade — Nashville 
Independent — The  News — Marked  Success — The  Citizen. 

ALLEGAN   COUNTY. 

The  first  movement  towards  the  establishment  of  a  news- 
paper in  Allegan  County  was  made  at  the  embryo  city  of 
New  Rochester,  which  was  laid  out  at  the  junction  of  Pine 
Creek  with  the  Kalamazoo  River,  in  the  township  of  Otsego. 
The  exact  date  at  which  the  attempt  was  made  is  unknown, 
but  it  was  probably  about  1837,  the  era  when  so  many 
promising  enterprises  had  their  birth  and  met  their  death 
in  swift  succession.  The  arrangements  were  pushed  so  far 
that  a  building  was  erected  at  the  village  just  mentioned, 
intended  for  a  newspaper  oflSce,  but  the  "  hard  times" 
which  crushed  so  many  other  schemes  also  overwhelmed 
this  one,  and  the  journalistic  history  of  New  Rochester 
came  to  an  end  just  before  the  beginning  of  its  first 
chapter. 

THE   ALLEGAN   COUNTY   DEMOCRAT. 

The  first  paper  actually  established  in  the  county  was  the 
Allegan  County  Democrat,  the  first  number  of  which  was 
issued  at  the  village  of  Otsego  on  the  12th  day  of  April, 
1842,  by  Moses  Hawks,  editor  and  publisher.*     We  have 


*  Mr.  Hawks  was  the  first  printer  in  the  county.     He  had  previ- 
ously been  foreman  of  the  Oswego  (N.  Y.)  Palladmm,  and  in  1840, 


TEIE   PRESS. 


81 


not  been  able  to  find  a  copy  of  the  Democrat,  and  doubt 
whether  there  is  one  in  existence.  It  is  known,  however, 
to  have  been  Democratic  in  its  politics,  and,  from  the  brief 
period  of  its  existence,  may  be  presumed  to  have  suffered 
from  serious  financial  difficulties.  It  was  doubtless  of  the 
same  size  as  its  successor,  the  Allegan  and  Barry  Record, 
which  had  four  pages,  each  sixteen  inches  by  twenty, — that 
is,  when  a  full  sheet  was  issued ;  but  various  exigencies  fre- 
quently compelled  the  publishers  of  those  days  to  issue  a 
half-sheet,  or  even  a  still  smaller  production.  The  Demo- 
crat was  only  published  seven  or  eight  months,  when  it 
suspended. 

THE  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  RECORD. 

On  the  suspension  of  the  Democrat,  the  press  and  type 
of  the  office  were  purchased  by  Alexander  L.  Ely,  one  of 
the  founders  and  chief  proprietors  of  the  village  of  Allegan, 
who  removed  them  to  that  village,  and  used  them  to  estab- 
lish a  new  paper  called  the  Allegan  and  Barry  Record. 
The  first  number  of  the  Record  was  issued  on  the  23d  day 
of  January,  1843.  It  was  the  only  newspaper  published 
in  the  two  counties  the  name  of  which  it  bore,  and,  like 
most  other  journals  in  new  places,  depended  largely  for  sus- 
tenance on  the  official  printing  which  might  be  done  in  the 
office. 

Now,  the  dispensers  of  official  favors  in  Michigan  in  that 
day  were  thorough-going  Democrats,  while  Mr.  Ely  was  a 
decided  Whig.  He  cared,  however,  more  for  the  interests 
of  the  village  of  Allegan  than  for  those  of  the  Whig  party, 
so  he  procured  a  succession  of  Democrats  to  publish  the 
paper  for  him,  and  it  gave  a  moderate  support  to  the  Democ- 
racy (though  it  paid  very  little  attention  to  politics  in  any 
way),  which  secured  for  it  the  coveted  official  printing. 

The  first  publisher  placed  in  possession  by  Mr.  Ely  was 
Augustine  W.  Adams,  an  intelligent  and  well-educated 
gentleman,  who  superintended  the  publication  about  a  year 
and  then  returned  to  Pontiac,  the  place  of  his  former  resi- 
dence. By  the  courtesy  of  Mr.  Henderson,  of  the  Allegan 
Journal,  we  have  been  permitted  to  examine  a  tattered 
copy  of  the  Record, — a  solitary  relic  of  early  journalism  in 
Allegan  County.  It  is  No.  46,  Volume  I.,  and  is  dated 
Dec.  5,  1843.  Beoeath  the  heading,  "  Allegan  and  Barry 
Record,"  appears  the  elaborate  motto  "Devoted  to  the 
Maintenance  of  Democratic  Principles  in  Polities,  News, 
Education,  Agriculture,  Literature,  and  Good  Morals." 

The  business  notice  in  the  upper  left-hand  corner  declares 
that  the  Record  will  be  published  for  the  proprietor  by 
Augustine  W.  Adams,  price  two  dollars  per  annum,  payable 
in  advance,  with  the  additional  statement, — very  illustrative 
of  the  condition  of  affairs  at  that  period, — "  All  kinds  of 
produce  received  in  pay  for  subscriptions."  The  price  of 
advertisements  was  announced  at  fifty  cents  per  folio  for  the 
first  insertion,  and  twenty-five  cents  for  each  subsequent  one. 

The  normal  size  of  the  Record  was  that  of  a  four-page 
sheet,  each  page  having  five  columns  and  being  sixteen 


just  before  coming  to  Allegan  County,  had  occupied  the  same  position 
in  the  office  of  the  Detroit  Adcertieer.  He  was  connected  with  the 
press  of  the  county  many  years,  as  will  be  seen  farther  on,  sergeant- 
at-arms  of  the  Legislature  of  this  Skate  in  1845,  and  died  at  Plain- 
well,  in  1872. 
11 


inches  by  twenty  in  dimensions.  But  the  number  which 
we  examined  was  only  a  half-sheet,  and  even  that  was  more 
than  sufficient  to  contain  the  news,  for  in  truth  there  was 
not  a  solitary  article  of  news  in  the  whole  paper.  The  ab- 
sence of  local  news  was  a  characteristic  of  all  the  papers  of 
that  period,  but  they  usually  contained  some  general  and 
foreign  news.  The  issue  in  question  contained  two  short 
editorials, — one  on  "  The  Balance  of  Trade,"  and  one  on  "  A 
Canal  around  the  Falls  of  St.  Mary," — a  full  list  of  the 
State  and  county  officers,  a  story  of  four  columns,  two  col- 
umns of  legal  advertisements,  about  a  column  and  a  half 
of  other  advertisements,  a  few  miscellaneous  articles,  and 
a  political  article,  copied  from  the  Detroit  Free  Press,  in  re- 
lation to  a  contest  for  the  office  of  representative  in  the  Leg- 
islature between  Hon.  P.  J.  Littlejohn,  of  Allegan,  and  A. 
C.  Parmelee,  Esq.,  of  Hastings. 

The  reason  for  the  issue  of  a  half-sheet,  as  given  in  the 
following  paragraph,  shows  very  forcibly  the  slowness  of 
business  proceedings  and  the  difficulties  of  transportation 
at  that  period : 

'*Some  time  in  September  last  we  commenced  making  preparations 
for  procuring  a  supply  of  printing-paper,  thinking  that  two  months' 
time  would  be  suflBcient  to  get  it  from  Ann  Arbor  to  this  place.  It 
seems,  however,  that  we  were  mistaken.  We  are  reduced  to  the  neces- 
sity of  issuing  but  a  half-sheet  this  week,  but  shall  endearor  to  make 
such  arrangements  as  will  secure  a  supply  of  paper  by  the  next  pub- 
lication." 

Doubtless  this  was  the  true  reason  for  the  publication  of 
a  half-sheet  on  this  occasion,  but  a  half-sheet  issue  was  no 
uncommon  occurrence  in  the  history  of  the  Record.  The 
printers  were  young  apprentices  and  their  pay  was  poor, 
while  the  hunting  and  fishing  in  the  vicinity  were  excel- 
lent. Consequently,  the  boys  often  went  fishing  and  hunt- 
ing, and  as  a  further  consequence  there  were  frequent  proc- 
lamations of  "  sickness  in  the  family,"  "  absence  of  the  edi- 
tor," or  other  valid  reasons  for  the  issue  of  half  a  sheet,  or 
even  less.  Sometimes  the  journal  bearing  the  lofty  title  of 
the  Allegan  and  Barry  Record  consisted  of  only  a  two- 
column  slip,  containing  the  legal  advertisements.  These 
must  be  printed,  for  these  brought  money,  whereas  most  of 
the  subscriptions  were  paid,  when  paid  at  all,  in  wheat,  oats, 
potatoes,  lumber,  or  such  other  articles  as  the  subscribers 
thought  they  could  spare. 

Mr.  Adams  was  succeeded  as  publisher  by  a  Sir.  Bacon, 
and  he,  after  a  short  time,  by  Moses  Hawks,  the  founder  of 
the  original  Allegan  County  Democrat.  The  first  editor  of 
the  Record  was  Hovey  K.  Clarke,  (now  of  Detroit).  He 
was  succeeded  by  Dr.  John  P.  Ely,  a  brother  of  the  pro- 
prietor. Mr.  A.  L.  Ely  continued  to  own  the  paper  until 
1846,  when  he  removed  to  Cedar  Falls,  Iowa,  of  which 
place  he  was  the  founder.* 

The  first  apprentices  who  printed  the  Record,  when  they 
were  not  hunting,  fishing,  nor  indulging  in  other  recreations 
of  the  period,  were  Boyd  Coates  and  George  H.  Foster, 
both  since  deceased,  and  Donald  C.  Henderson,  who  went 
to  New  York  in  1847  and  obtained  a  position  on  the  Tri- 
bune, becoming  one  of  the  assistant  editors  of  that  paper. 

When  Mr.  Ely  removed  to  Cedar  Falls  he  sold  the 
Record  to  the  then  publisher,  Mr.  Hawks,  who  owned  it  in 

»  He  died  there  in  1848. 


82 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


whole  or  in  part  (or  at  least  it  was  published  under  his 
name)  until  1857.  Mr.  E.  B.  Bassett  was  the  chief  editor 
during  all  of  this  period  after  1847,  though  Hon.  F.  J. 
Littlejohn  was  a  frequent  and  valued  contributor. 

Until  1851  the  Allegan  and  Barry  Record  was  the  only 
journal  published  in  the  two  counties  named  in  its  title.  In 
the  fore-part  of  that  year  the  Barry  County  Pioneer  was 
established  at  Hastings.  It  naturally  obtained  the  subscrip- 
tion, advertisements,  and  official  business  of  that  region, 
and  so  the  word  Barry  was  dropped  from  the  name  of  the 
Record,  which  became  the  Allegan  Record.  It  was  steadily 
Democratic  in  politics,  except  that  in  1848  it  supported 
Van  Buren  and  Adams,  the  Free  Democratic  or  Free-Soil 
candidates  for  the  Presidency  and  Vice-Presidency. 

We  have  examined  a  file  of  the  Record  for  1855,  which 
is  preserved  in  the  office  of  the  Allegan  Journal.  It  was 
then  a  four-page  sheet  (seven  columns  to  the  page),  the  di- 
mensions of  each  page  being  sixteen  by  twenty-two  inches. 
Hawks  &  Manson  were  the  publishers,  the  latter  gentleman 
having  purchased  a  half-interest  in  May  of  that  year.  The 
editor's  name  did  not  appear. 

This  was  at  the  time  when  the  people  of  the  North  were 
much  excited  over  the  passage  of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  act 
the  year  before,  and  when  the  Republican  party  was  in 
rapid  process  of  formation.  The  Record,  however,  staunchly 
adhered  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  its  issue  of  May  21, 
1855,  declares  that  "  The  Record  will,  as  formerly,  be  found 
doing  battle  against  all  the  isms  of  the  day,  and  knife  to 
the  hilt  to  anything  that  opposes  Democracy,  of  which  we 
know  but  one  kind." 

The  Record  of  that  day  still  retained  the  principal  char- 
acteristics of  the  old  style  of  typography,  with  numerous 
black-letter  capitals,  such  as  are  still  to  be  seen  in  English 
papers.  It  had  very  little  local  and  not  much  general 
news,  although  it  had  progressed  so  as  to  give  a  column  of 
New  York  correspondence. 

Until  1856  the  Record  was  the  sole  paper  published  in 
the  county,  and  after  its  first  struggles  were  over  enjoyed  a 
reasonable  amount  of  prosperity.  But  in  that  year  the 
Allegan  Journal  was  established  as  a  Republican  organ, 
and,  as  the  Republican  party  became  largely  predominant 
in  the  county,  that  paper  naturally  took  the  lion's  share  of 
the  patronage. 

In  1858-60  the  Record  was  owned  and  edited  by  Wil- 
liam Francis,  an  accomplished  gentleman  of  English  birth, 
who  was  the  candidate  of  the  Douglas  Democrats  for  Secre- 
tary of  State  of  Michigan  in  1860,  and  who  still  resides  in 
the  vicinity  of  Allegan.  He  was  assisted  in  his  editorial 
labors  by  Frederick  Lyman. 

In  the  fore-part  of  1861,  Mr.  Francis  disposed  of  the 
paper  to  Mr.  E.  B.  Bassett,  so  long  its  editor,  who  con- 
tinued it  for  two  years  more  as  a  thorough-going  Demo- 
cratic organ.  But  the  war  had  still  more  increased  the 
strength  of  the  Republican  party,  and  all  of  Mr.  Bassett's 
efibrts  and  ability  were  unable  to  sustain  a  Democratic 
paper  in  Allegan. 

In  August,  1862,  Mr.  Bassett  sold  the  Record  to  Mr. 
Henderson,  who  transferred  the  material  to  the  Journal 
office,  and  the  former  paper  ceased  to  exist,  after  a  varied 
life  of  between  nineteen  and  twenty  years. 


THE   ALLEGAN  JOURNAL. 

This  paper  was  established  ^n  April,  1856,  by  Donald 
C.  Henderson.  The  first  number  was  issued  on  the  30th 
day  of  that  month,  although,  owing  to  the  non-arrival  of 
the  press  in  time,  it  was  only  a  little  sheet,  ten  inches  by 
twelve,  printed  on  one  side.  The  next  week,  the  press 
having  arrived,  a  handsome  paper,  twenty-four  inches  by 
thirty-six,  was  issued.  The  Journal  was,  in  many  respects, 
the  pioneer  modern-style  newspaper  of  Allegan  County,  the 
print  having  the  light,  open  appearance  of  th^  present  day, 
in  contrast  to  the  old  "  black  letter,"  while  the  publication 
of  the  news  was  a  more  important  item  than  in  the  Record, 
and  editorial  articles  were  much  more  frequent.  The  price 
of  the  Journal  at  that  time  was  one  dollar  per  annum,  and 
the  cost  of  a  square  of  advertising  was  fifty  cents  a  week, 
or  eight  dollars  a  year. 

The  second  number  (the  first  full-sized  one)  has  not  been 
preserved,  but  Mr.  Henderson's  salutatory,  entitled  "  Our 
Bow,"  was  reprinted  in  number  three.  It  declares  that 
"  The  Journal  will  advocate  as  best  it  knows  how  the 
principles  and  policy  of  the  great  Republican  party  of  the 
nation,"  adding,  however,  that  it  will  not  be  exclusively  a 
political  paper,  but  will  devote  itself  largely  to  the  advance- 
ment of  local  interests.  It  also  claimed  that  it  already  had 
a  larger  circulation  than  any  other  paper  in  Western  Mich- 
igan, and  that  subscriptions  were  pouring  iu  from  every 
quarter. 

The  same  number  contained  an  editorial  on  Kansas 
aflFairs,  and  another  on  the  approaching  Republican  Na- 
tional Convention  of  1856,  in  which  the  editor  says: 
"  Our  first  choice  for  the  Presidency  is  that  veteran 
champion  of  Liberty  and  Reform,  William  H.  Seward, 
whose  name  alone  is  a  tower  of  strength  to  the  Republican 
cause." 

Mr.  M.  Bates  Mills  was  announced  as  one  of  the  propri- 
etors of  the  Journal,  but  remained  connected  with  it  only 
a  short  time.  Mr.  Henderson  then  carried  it  on  success- 
fully as  sole  proprietor,  publisher,  and  editor,  it  being  al- 
ways a  strong  Republican  paper.  In  August,  1862,  he 
purchased  the  Allegan  Record,  as  before  stated.  In  the 
following  year  ho  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  Third  Michi- 
gan Cavalry,*  transferring  the  Journal  to  his  brother, 
Alexander  Henderson.  The  latter  gentleman  conducted 
the  paper  throughout  the  war.  On  the  conclusion  of 
peace  Mr.  D.  C.  Henderson  returned,  and  the  Journal 
was  retransferred  to  him,  and  he  has  been  its  principal 
editorial  writer  since  that  time. 

In  August,  1872,  the  paper  was  increased  to  a  sheet 
twenty-nine  inches  by  forty-seven. 

In  1874,  Mr.  Edwy  C.  Reid,  who  had  been  the  local 
editor  of  the  Journal  during  the  previous  two  years,  be- 
came one  of  the  proprietors,  and  it  has  since  been  published 
by  the  firm  of  Henderson  &  Reid.  The  local  department 
has  been  entirely  conducted  by  Mr.  Reid.  Being  a  vigorous 
and  able  writer  and  a  capable  business-manager,  Mr.  Reid 
has  contributed  his  full  share  to  the  success  of  the  Journal 
during  the  past  six  years. 


«-  Mr.  Henderson  is  believed  to  be  the  only  Michigan  editor  who 
served  in  the  army  as  a  private.  He  was  appointed  a  lieutenant  in 
1864,  but  declined  the  position. 


THE   PRESS. 


83 


In  March,  1876,  the  Journal  was  changed  to  an  eight- 
page  sheet,  each  page  having  six  columns,  and  the  dimen- 
sions of  the  whole  being  thirty-one  inches  by  forty-four. 

The  Journal  has  now  just  passed  its  quarter  centennial, 
and  is  apparently  in  the  full  tide  of  success.  Besides  Mr. 
D.  C.  Henderson  and  Mr.  Reid,  its  editorial  writers  have 
been  James  D.  Henderson,  E.  J.  R.  Currey,  A.  C.  Wallin, 
G.  H.  House,  William  B.  WilUams,  and  Gustavus  A. 
Morgan. 

THE  ALLEGAN   COUNTY   DEMOCRAT   (No.  2). 

From  the  time  of  the  sale  of  the  Allegan  Record  to  the 
proprietor  of  the  Journal,  no  Democratic  paper  was  pub- 
lished in  Allegan  County  until  December,  1867.  On  the 
11th  day  of  that  month  Mr.  Freeman  D.  Austin  issued 
the  first  number  of  the  Allegan  County  Democrat,  a  hand- 
some four-page  sheet,  twenty-six  by  forty  inches  in  size.  It 
was  owned  and  conducted  by  Mr.  Austin  until  his  death,  in 
July,  1869. 

It  was  then  controlled  for  a  short  time  by  Mr.  Oscar 
Hare,  but  during  the  same  year  passed  into  the  hands  of 
Messrs.  Martin  T.  Ryan  and  George  C.  Furber  (composing 
the  firm  of  Ryan  &  Furber),  Mr.  Ryan  being  the  editor. 
These  gentlemen  carried  on  the  establishment  until  the 
summer  of  1874,  when  Mr.  W.  W.  Watklns  took  the 
place  of  Mr.  Furber,  and  the  firm  assumed  the  name  of 
the  Northwestern  Bible  and  Publishing  Company.  In  the 
following  year  Mr.  0.  D.  Booth  purchased  an  interest,  and 
the  proprietors  were  then  incorporated  as  a  stock-company 
under  the  same  name  which  had  previously  been  borne  by 
the  firm. 

In  1876  several  changes  were  made.  In  March  of  that 
year  the  paper  was  made  an  eight-page  sheet,  its  entire  di- 
mensions being  twenty-nine  inches  by  forty-three.  In 
July,  Mr.  D.  R.  Waters  became  the  principal  editor  of  the 
Democrat,  and  occupied  that  position  as  long  as  the  paper 
existed.  In  October,  1876,  the  Northwestern  Bible  and 
Publishing  Company  was  dissolved,  and  the  Democrat  be- 
came the  property  of  a  stock  company,  composed  of  about 
twenty  prominent  Democrats,  known  as  the  Allegan 
County  Democratic  Association.  Mr.  Waters  remained 
the  editor. 

From  this  time  the  Democrat  continued  to  advocate  the 
Democratic  principles  suggested  by  its  name  until  the  sum- 
mer of  1878.  It  then  embraced  the  cause  of  the  Green- 
back party,  though  still  under  the  same  proprietorship  and 
editorship.  It  continued  in  its  career  until  the  close  of 
the  year  1879,  when  it  was  sold  to  Messrs.  Morgan  & 
Bailey,  and  ceased  to  exist  as  a  journal.  The  last  number 
was  published  on  the  31st  day  of  December,  1879. 

THE  ALLEGAN  DEMOCRAT. 
Although  this  paper  has  the  same  politics,  the  same 
editor,  and  nearly  the  same  name  as  the  Allegan  County 
Democrat,  yet  it  is  an  entirely  new  journal.  The  material  of 
the  Allegan  County  Democrat  was  used  for  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Allegan  Tribune,  while,  immediately  after  the 
suspension  of  the  former  paper,  Mr.  George  Scales,  the 
proprietor  of  the  Plainwell  Independent  RepuUic,  pur- 
chased an  entirely  new  outfit  and  established  the  Allegan 
Democrat,  at   Allegan,   the   first   number  of  which  was 


issued  on  the  7th  day  of  January,  1880.  It  is  a  bright 
eight-paged  sheet,  its  dimensions  being  thirty  inches  by 
forty-four.  Its  editor  is  Mr.  D.  R.  Waters,  who  for  three 
years  and  a  half  held  the  same  relation  to  the  Allegan 
County  Democrat.  Mr.  Scales  is  in  charge  of  the  local 
department.  Its  politics  are  "  Greenback,  with  Democratic 
leanings."  Its  history  is  necessarily  short,  and  its  future 
of  course  cannot  be  prognosticated,  but  it  is  vigorously 
written,  well  printed,  and  full  of  news.  The  editors  aie 
able,  and  it  may  reasonably  be  expected  that  the  era  of 
prosperity  which  has  opened  before  the  country  since  the 
resumption  of  specie  payments  will  bring  prosperity  to 
this  promising  journalistic  enterprise. 

THE  ALLEGAN  TRIBUNE. 

On  the  first  day  of  January,  1880,  Messrs.  E.  R.  Morgan 
and  Frank  W.  Bailey  (the  firm  being  Morgan  &  Bailey), 
having  purchased  the  material  and  good-will  of  the  Allegan 
County  Democrat,  issued  at  Allegan  the  first  number  of  a 
new  four-page  paper,  twenty-four  inches  by  thirty-six,  called 
the  Allegan  Tribune.  It  is  Republican  in  politics,  having 
for  editor  Mr.  G.  A.  Morgan,  previously  connected  with  the 
Otsego  Herald  and  the  Allegan  Journal.  Like  its  compeers 
and  rivals  in  Allegan  journalism,  it  is  full  of  news,  and 
especially  of  local  news.  In  fact,  one  can  hardly  imagine 
a  greater  contrast  than  that  presented  by  the  papers  of  forty 
years  ago  or  more,  which  scarcely  ever  mentioned  an  event 
occurring  in  their  respective  counties,  and  those  of  the 
present  day,  which  chronicle  all  the  most  trifling  circum- 
stances in  the  whole  region  round  about. 

THE   OTSEGO    COURIER. 

In  the  year  1855  the  State  government  of  Michigan  was 
in  the  hands  of  the  newly-formed  Republican  party,  while 
the  only  newspaper  in  Allegan  County  (the  Allegan  Record) 
was  of  Democratic  politics.  There  was  a  good  chance  for 
a  Republican  paper  to  obtain  that  coveted  boon  of  those 
days,  the  State  advertising,  and  accordingly  Mr.  George 
A.  Fitch,  of  the  Kalamazoo  Telegraph,  removed  a  small 
quantity  of  type  and  other  material  from  the  office  of  that 
paper  to  Otsego,  and  established  a  little  journal  called  the 
Otsego  Courier.  It  accomplished  its  object  for  the  time, 
but  on  the  establishment  of  the  Allegan  Journal,  in  the 
spring  of  1856,  the  party  patronage  naturally  accrued  to  it, 
and  the  Courier  was  found  to  be  a  non-paying  enterprise. 
The  material  was  accordingly  moved  back  to  the  Telegraph 
office,  and  the  Otsego  Courier  ceased  to  exist. 

THE  OTSEGO  HERALD. 
Ten  years  after  the  establishment  of  the  Otsego  Courier, 
in  the  year  1865,  Mr.  George  W.  Parks  founded  the 
Otsego  Herald.  It  was  also  a  small  paper,  and  its  financial 
course  was  beset  with  difficulties,  as  may  be  seen  by  the 
number  of  proprietors  through  whose  hands  it  passed 
during  the  four  years  of  its  existence.  These  were  in 
succession,  after  Mr.  Parks,  S.  M.  Hubbard,  F.  D.  &  W. 
F.  Austin,  G.  A.  Morgan,  Morgan  &  Hart,  P.  B.  Lines, 
Geo.  Scales,  and  G.  A.  Morgan.  The  Herald  closed  its 
career  in  1869.  The  material  remained,  however,  and 
after  the  death  of  the  Allegan  County  Record  (noticed 
below)  the  Herald  was  revived  three  several  times  between 


8-1 


HISTORY  OP  ALLEGAN   AND  BAKRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


1871  and  1875  by  George  Scales,  Jerome  Michell,  and 
Thomas  T.  Talbot  successively.  In  1875  it  sank  to  rise 
no  more. 

THE  ALLELlAN  COUNTY  RECORD.  "~ 

Just  after  the  suspension  of  the  Otsego  Herald,  in  18G9, 
Mr.  H.  E.  J.  Clute  established  in  the  same  oflSce,  but  with 
an  entirely  new  outfit  of  material,  a  neat  little  Republican 
paper  called  the  Allegan  County  Record.  It  was  published 
by  Mr.  Clute  alone  until  September,  1870,  when  Mr. 
Edwy  C.  Reid  became  a  partner  with  him.  The  paper  was 
continued  until  May,  1871,  when  the  prospect  of  its  yield- 
ing any  profit  to  the  owners  became  so  poor  that  it  was 
discontinued. 

THE  WEEKLY  UNION. 

The  first  number  of  this  paper  was  issued  at  Otsego  on 
the  2d  day  of  August,  1875,  by  C.  H.  Harris  and  V.  V. 
Campbell.  Mr.  Campbell  retired  at  the  end  of  a  few 
months,  his  place  being  taken  by  Mr.  G.  A.  Morgan,  who 
remained  connected  with  the  paper  about  a  year.  Mr.  G. 
E.  Johnson  then  became  Mr.  Harris'  partner,  and  the 
paper  has  since  been  published  by  the  firm  of  Harris  & 
Johnson,  the  former  gentleman  being  the  editor.  The 
Union,  which  was  at  first  a  four-page  sheet,  was  enlarged  tff 
eight  pages  (six  columns  on  a  page)  in  1878,  and  now 
vies  in  size  and  appearance  with  almost  any  country  paper. 
A  part  of  it,  however,  is  printed  outside  of  the  county. 

THE    PLAINVVELL    EXPRESS. 

The  first  newspaper  published  in  Plainwell  was  the 
Plainwell  Express,  which  began  its  career  in  the  spring  of 
1868,  being  owned  and  edited  by  the  proprietors  of  the 
Allegan  County  Record  at  Otsego.  It  was  a  small  inde- 
pendent, four-page  paper,  and  was  discontinued  at  the  end 
of  four  months. 

THE   PLAINWELL    REPUBLIC. 

This  paper  was  established  at  Plainwell  by  Jerome 
Mitchell  in  February,  1871.  It  was  a  four-page  sheet, 
with  six  columns  on  a  page.  It  was  independent  in  poli- 
tics until  the  opening  of  the  campaign  of  1876,  when  it 
advocated  the  Republican  side  of  the  Presidential  contest. 
A  Mr.  Hickok  became  a  partner  of  Mr.  Mitchell  in  1878, 
and  remained  so  until  the  absorption  of  the  paper  by  the 
Plainwell  Independent.  The  Republic  was  twice  enlarged, 
having  in  the  latter  part  of  its  existence  eight  columns  on 
each  of  its  four  pages. 

THE    PLAINWELL   INDEPENDENT-REPUBLIC. 

The  first  number  of  the  Plainwell  Independent  was  is- 
sued on  the  25th  day  of  May,  1876,  George  Scales  being 
the  editor  and  proprietor.  In  June  following,  Mr,  Scales 
purchased  the  Plainwell  Republic,  and  the  two  papers  were 
consolidated  under  the  name  of  the  Plainwell  Independent- 
Republic.  Mr.  Scales  is  still  the  proprietor,  and  was  the 
editor  until  the  1st  of  January,  1880.  Since  that  time 
Mr.  A.  C.  Roberts  has  been  the  editor.  The  Independent- 
Republic  is  a  handsome  eight-page  sheet,  with  six  columns 
on  a  page,  and  is  devoted  to  local  interests.  It  is  partially 
printed  out  of  the  county. 


THE  LAKE-SHORE  COMMERCIAL. 
This  paper  was  established  at  Saugatuck  by  Dr.  A.  H. 
Pattee,  in  July,  1868,  under  the  name  of  the  Savgatuck 
Commercial,  the  first  number  being  issued  on  the  9th  day 
of  that  month.  Dr.  Pattee  published  the  paper  about  a 
year,  also  issuing  at  Douglas,  during  a  part  of  the  same 
time,  a  journal  called  the  Douglas  Messenger.  The  latter 
venture  soon  collapsed,  and  even  the  Commercial  was 
not  very  profitable.  Dr.  Pattee  disposed  of  it  to  a  stock 
company,  who  installed  E.  W.  Perry  as  manager.  Not  long 
afterward  the  company  sold  out  to  Myron  Tarbox,  and  he 
in  turn  transferred  the  paper  to  John  Wilson  and  Henry 
Elmeyer.  These  gentlemen  employed  Charles  M.  Winslow 
as  editor.  In  1877,  C.  F.  Wasson  &  Co.  became  the  pro- 
prietors. They  were  succeeded  in  January,  1879,  by  L. 
E.  Woodhull,  who  is  still  the  proprietor  and  publisher. 
The  paper  now  bears  the  name  of  the  Lake- Shore  Com- 
mercial. 

WAYLAND   PAPERS. 

No  less  than  three  papers  were  published  in  the  village 
of  Wayland  between  1870  and  1877,  but  none  of  them  at- 
tained much  success,  and  journalism  has  finally  been  given 
up,  at  least  for  the  present,  in  that  place.  The  Wayland 
News  was  established  in  1870  by  A.  V.  Hopkins.  It  was 
published  by  him  something  less  than  a  year,  when  he 
died.  The  News  then  passed  into  the  hands  of  0.  E. 
White,  who  conducted  it  a  little  over  a  year,  when  the 
enterprise  was  abandoned. 

A  short  time  afterward  Mr.  W.  W.  Secord  establiished 
The  Venture,  but  it  proved  to  be  an  unfortunate  one,  and 
endured  but  a  short  time. 

In  1876,  Mr.  George  L.  Miles  established  the  Wayland 
Courier,  of  which  he  was  the  editor  and  proprietor.  This, 
too,  was  unable  to  stand  the  storm,  and  went  down  at  the 
end  of  about  a  year. 

BARRY  COUNTY. 
THE  BARRY   COUNTY   PIONEER. 

This  was  the  earliest  newspaper  published  in  Barry 
County,  its  first  number  being  issued  at  Hastings  on  the 
20th  day  of  February,  1851.  The  proprietor  was  George 
A.  Smith,  who  is  said  to  have  also  been  publisher,  editor, 
typo,  and  devil, — all  in  one.* 

Through  the  courtesy  of  Mrs.  0.  N.  Boltwood,  we  have 
been  permitted  to  examine  the  tenth  number  of  this  paper, 
published  on  the  25th  of  April,  1851.  It  is  a  four-page 
sheet,  each  page  having  five  columns,  and  being  fourteen 
inches  by  twenty  in  size.  It  announces  that  the  Barry 
County  Pioneer  is  published  every  Friday  by  George  A. 
Smith  ;  office  two  doors  west  of  Barlow's,  up  stairs.  Terms, 
taken  at  the  office  or  sent  by  mail,  one  dollar  per  year;  de- 
livered by  carrier  in  the  village,  one  dollar  and  a  half. 
One  shilling  is  to  be  added  for  every  three  months  during 
which  payment  is  delayed  after  subscription.  The  charge 
for  an  advertisement  of  one  square  (ten  lines  or  less)  is 

«  We  think,  however,  he  must  have  had  the  aid  of  the  sulphurous 
personage  last  mentioned,  for  he  advertised  to  deliver  the  paper  by 
carrier,  and  it  is  fair  to  presume  that  the  duties  of  that  office  were 
discharged  by  the  gentleman  from  Tartarus,  who  is  known  to  be  a 
good  traveler. 


THE  PRESS. 


85 


fifty  cents  for  the  first  insertion,  and  twenty-five  cents  for 
each  subsequent  one.  For  a  square,  one  month,  one  dol- 
lar ;  three  months,  two  dollars ;  one  year,  six  dollars ;  for 
a  column,  one  year,  twenty  dollars.  The  number  in  ques- 
tion contains  a  six-column  story,  a  column  of  local  edito- 
rials, two  columns  of  outside  news,  five  columns  of  local 
and  legal  advertisements,  and  six  columns  of  prospectuses 
and  other  worthless  advertisements. 

The  Pioneer  was  Democratic  in  politics,  and  the  number 
of  which  we  are  speaking  complains  bitterly  of  treachery  on 
the  part  of  a  faction  of  that  party  in  this  locality. 

A  paragraph  on  local  affairs  reads  as  follows : 

"Our  village  for  a  short  time  past  lias  presented  an  uncommon 
lively  appearance.  New  buildings  are  going  up  in  various  parts  of 
it,  and  the  almost  daily  arrival  of  emigrants  from  the  East  are  con- 
clusive evidences  that  they  will  not  come  amiss.  The  improvement 
of  the  court-house  square  will  add  much  to  the  beauty  and  pleasant- 
ness of  the  place.  Our  merchants  are  bestirring  themselves  for  a 
fresh  supply  of  goods,  a  vast  amount  of  which,  we  apprehend,  will 
be  sold  here  during  the  present  season.  Judging  from  the  passengers 
we  occasionally  see  alighting  from  the  stages  at  'The  Astor  House  of 
Michigan,'  kept  by  H,  Edgcomb,  in  this  place,  they  are  also  alive 
back  north  of  us,  in  the  vicinity  of  Grand  Rapids  or  thereabouts." 

The  following  paragraph  in  the  same  number  tends  to 
show  that  there  was  some  rascality  in  the  good  old  pioneer 
times,  as  well  as  now  : 

"  We  are  informed  by  Constable  Tinkler  of  this  village  that  seven 
gentlemen,  charged  with  horse-stealing  and  other  criminal  offences, 
were,  last  week,  arrested  and  lodged  in  Kalamazoo  jail.  These,  to- 
gether with  the  railroad  haul,  makes  out  quite  a  goodly  number  for 
one  week." 

Whether  Mr.  Smith  was  possessed  of  a  devil  or  not,  it  is 
certain  that  during  that  first  year  he  had  no  other  assist- 
ance. He  had  some  farming-land  near  Hastings,  and  in 
the  middle  of  the  summer  he  published  a  notice  that,  the 
editor  being  called  upon  to  do  his  harvesting,  no  paper  would 
be  issued  until  the  completion  of  that  work ;  and  no  paper 
was  issued  for  three  weeks.  On  another  occasion  the  sus- 
pension of  the  Pioneer  for  a  week  was  excused  on  the  plea 
of  "  an  increase  in  the  editor's  family." 

In  December,  1851,  Mr.  Smith  sold  the  paper  to  Ash- 
man A.  Knappen.  That  gentleman  soon  slightly  enlarged 
it,  making  it  a  six-column  sheet,  each  of  its  four  pages  being 
sixteen  inches  by  twenty.  In  April,  1853,  it  was  consid- 
erably enlarged,  the  pages  thereafter  being  each  eighteen 
inches  by  twenty-four.  The  issue  of  April  8,  1853  (for  a 
perusal  of  which  we  are  also  indebted  to  Mrs.  Boltwood), 
announced  that  this  enlargement  would  take  place  two 
weeks  from  that  time.  Mr.  Knappen  was  still  the  editor, 
and  the  price  had  been  advanced  to  one  dollar  and  twenty- 
five  cents  per  annum.  The  paper  then  bore  the  motto, 
"  Our  Country  and  our  Country's  Good,"  and  the  editor 
evidently  thought  that  the  country's  good  required  a  strict 
repression  of  intemperance.  A  man  bad  just  been  drowned 
at  Hastings  while  under  the  influence  of  liquor,  apropos  of 
which  event  the  Pioneer  contained  a  brief  editorial  denun- 
ciation of  the  liquor  business  and  an  earnest  contributed 
article  in  favor  of  the  Maine  law. 

About  this  time  the  paper  is  said  to  have  displayed  Whig 
(perhaps  Free-Soil)  proclivities,  which  alienated  its  Demo- 
cratic supporters.  They  accordingly  induced  its  founder, 
George  A.  Smith,  to  establish  a  rival  journal  of  pronounced 


Democratic  politics,  called  the  Barry  County  Review,  which 
took  away  a  large  part  of  the  Pioneer  s  support.  A  num- 
ber of  the  latter  sheet,  dated  Oct.  7,  1853,  which  we  have 
perused,  frequently  mentions  the  Review  under  the  name  of 
the  "  court-house  organ"  in  very  bitter  terms.  In  1854, 
Mr.  Knappen  was  obliged  to  sell  his  paper  to  the  proprietor 
of  the  Review.  The  latter  consolidated  the  two  journals, 
adopting  the  original  name  of  the  Barry  County  Pioneer, 
and  retaining  the  old  series  of  volumes  and  numbers.  An 
issue  of  Jan.  17,  1855,  with  Mr.  Smith's  name  at  its  head 
as  editor  and  proprietor,  bears  the  sounding  motto  : 

"  Here  shall  the  press  the  people's  rights  maintain, 
Unawed  by  tyrants,  and  unbribed  by  gain." 

It  also  states  that  the  price  is  one  dollar  and  a  half  per 
year  if  paid  in  advance,  and  two  dollars  per  year  if  paid 
after  six  months.  It  shows  evidences  of  increased  pros- 
perity, having  seven  columns  of  local  and  legal  advertise- 
ments. 

The  Pioneer  continued  its  career  over  eleven  years  more, 
but  the  organization  and  growth  of  the  Republican  party, 
the  establishment  of  a  rival  newspaper  in  the  interest  of 
that  party,  and  the  events  of  the  war,  which  still  more  de- 
pressed the  fortunes  of  the  Democracy,  all  combined  to 
injure  the  Democratic  champion.  In  July,  1860,  Mr. 
Smith  transferred  the  paper  to  F.  D.  Ackley,  who  employed 
C.  G.  Holbrook  as  editor.  It  subsequently  passed  to  George 
W.  Mills,  from  whom  it  was  agaia  acquired  by  F.  D. 
Ackley,  in  the  summer  of  1865.  The  last-named  owner 
sold  the  paper  to  a  Mr.  Gensler  in  the  spring  of  1866. 
That  gentleman  conducted  the  paper  through  the  summer, 
but  with  constantly-decreasing  hopes,  and  when  the  returns 
from  the  autumn  elections  showed  an  overwhelming  Re- 
publican victory  he  abandoned  the  field  in  disgust,  and  the 
Barry  County  Pioneer  ceased  to  exist. 

THE    HASTINGS    REPUBLICAN    BANNER. 

In  April,  1856,  just  as  the  young  Republican  party  was 
marshaling  its  forces  for  its  first  great  conflict,  several 
prominent  members  of  that  party  in  Barry  County,  in- 
cluding John  S.  Van  Brunt,  Harvey  N.  Sheldon,  Norman 
Bailey,  A.  W.  Bailey,  John  W.  Stebbins,  and  C.  S.  Burton, 
under  the  firm-name  of  C.  S.  Burton  &  Co.,  established  a 
newspaper  at  Hastings,  called  The  Republican  Banner,  to 
advocate  the  principles  of  that  party.  It  was  placed  under 
the  charge  of  C.  S.  Burton  as  publisher,  and  of  Norman 
Bailey  as  editor,  and  the  first  number  was  issued  on  the  first 
day  of  May,  in  the  year  just  mentioned.  It  bore  quite  as 
hi<'h-sounding  a  motto  as  its  rival,  the  Pioneer,  the  legend 
reading  {apropos  of  the  journal's  name), — 

"  Long  may  it  wave 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave." 

It  was  a  four-page  sheet,  each  page  having  seven  columns 
and  being  twenty-four  by  thirty-six  inches  in  size.  By  the 
courtesy  of  Mr.  John  M.  Nevins,  we  have  examined  several 
of  the  early  numbers  of  the  Banner.  No.  4  contains  an 
editorial  on  "Slavery  and  Slavery  Extension,"  in  which 
stron"  ground  is  taken  in  favor  of  the  great  Republican 
principle,  opposition  to  the  extension  of  slavery  into  free 
territory.     The  next  issue  states  that  the  success  of  the 


86 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN   AND  BARKY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


paper  equals  the  highest  expectations  of  the  proprietors. 
In  the  number  issued  on  the  26th  of  June  there  appears  for 
the  first  time  the  Republican  national  ticket :  for  President, 
John  C.  Fremont ;  for  Vice-President,  William  L.  Dayton. 

On  the  11th  day  of  December,  1856,  the  firm-name  of 
the  proprietors  became  R.  J.  Grant  &  Co.,  when  George 
W.  Mills  appeared  as  the  editor.  Several  changes  in  the 
business  management  took  place  during  the  winter  and 
spring,  but  Mr.  Mills  continued  to  be  the  editor  until  July, 
1857.  On  the  18th  of  that  month  the  firm  of  J.  M. 
Nevins  &  Co.  (J.  M.  Nevins  and  J.  S.  Van  Brunt)  took 
possession  as  proprietors,  and  two  weeks  later  Mr.  Nevins 
assumed  the  chair"  as  sole  editor.  This  position  he  occu- 
pied nearly  nine  years,  supporting  the  Republican  and 
national  cause  with  unswerving  zeal  through  all  the  gloomy 
petiod  of  Buchanan's  administration  and  the  stormy  days 
of  the  great  rebellion.  In  May,  1859,  the  price  was  re- 
duced from  one  dollar  and  a  half  to  one  dollar  and  a  quarter 
per  year,  and  in  October,  1861,  it  was  further  reduced  to 
one  dollar  a  year. 

On  the  7th  of  May,  1862,  the  name  of  the  paper  was 
changed  to  The  Hastings  Banner. 

On  the  first  day  of  April,  1866,  Mr.  Nevins,  who  had 
become  the  sole  proprietor,  sold  the  Banner  to  George  M. 
Dewey,  who  immediately  assumed  control  as  editor  and 
proprietor.  Mr.  Dewey  gave  the  paper  the  benefit  of  both 
the  names  it  had  previously  borne,  calling  it  The  Hastings 
Republican  Banner  ;  under  which  name,  and  under  Mr. 
Dewey's  editorial  and  proprietary  management,  it  has  ever 
since  remained.  From  May  1,  1876,  to  May  1,  1877,  a 
semi-weekly  edition  was  published ;  all  the  rest  of  the  time 
the  paper  has  been  issued  once  a  week.  As  under  his 
predecessors,  so  under  Mr.  Dewey,  the  Banner  has  been  at 
all  times  a  staunch  Republican  paper,  battling  with  untiring 
energy  against  Democracy,  Greenbaokism,  and  all  other  foes 
of  the  Republican  cause. 

THE   INDEPENDENT. 

In  January,  1867,  W.  Roscoe  Young,  having  obtained 
possession  of  the  material  formerly  used  to  publish  The 
Pioneer,  issued  the  first  number  of  a  weekly  paper  called 
The  Independent,  professing  to  be  independent  in  politics, 
but  leaning  decidedly  toward  Democracy.  It  was  pub- 
lished by  Mr.  Young  until  December,  1867,  when  the 
office  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  the  career  of  The  Independ- 
ent came  to  a  sudden  end. 

THE   HASTINGS   HOME   JOURNAL. 

Until  the  autumn  of  1868  the  Democracy  of  Barry 
County  had  no  organ.  At  that  time  a  subscription  among 
leading  Democrats  assisted  in  the  establishment  of  The 
Barry  County  Democrat,  a  weekly  journal,  of  which  W. 
Roscoe  Young  was  the  editor,  the  first  number  being  issued 
on  the  20th  day  of  October,  in  that  year.  In  October, 
1869,  the  paper  was  sold  to  the  firm  of  Gibson  Brothers, 
who  changed  its  name  to  The  Hastings  Home  Journal,  but 
carried  it  on  as  a  Democratic  paper  until  the  spring  of  1870. 
Through  the  State  campaign  of  1870  they  advocated  the 
cause  of  prohibition.  On  the  5th  November,  in  that  year, 
they  transferred  the  Journal  to  Dennis,  Aiken  &  Co.,  who 


made  it  a  thorough-going  Democratic  paper  again,  Mr.  J.  H. 
Dennis  becoming  the  editor. 

In  May,  1871,  that  gentleman's  partners  sold  their  inter- 
est to  Charles  B.  Wood,  the  firm-name  becoming  Wood  & 
Dennis.  In  September,  Mr.  Wood  sold  out  to  George  C. 
Worth,  the  firm  being  then  known  as  Worth  &  Dennis.  In 
March,  1873,  Mr.  Worth  transferred  his  interest  to  W.  H. 
Holmes,  when  the  firm  of  Dennis  &  Holmes  was  formed, 
which  has  ever  since  owned  and  controlled  Tlie  Home 
Journal. 

In  1878  the  paper  became  an  advocate  of  the  Greenback 
party,  and  has  since  remained  in  that  faith. 

THE  BARRY  COUNTY  SENTINEL. 
In  April,  1878,  Philip  W.  Niskern  began  the  publica- 
tion of  a  Greenback  organ,  which  he  called  The  Barry 
County  Sentinel.  He  issued  thirty-one  numbers,  and  then 
disposed  of  it  to  E.  E.  Smith,  who  changed  its  politics  to 
Republican.  After  an  experience  of  twelve  months,  which 
convinced  him  that  the  investment  was  not  a  desirable  one, 
Mr.  Smith  sold  the  good-will  and  subscription-list  of  the 
Sentinel  to  the  proprietor  of  the  Banner. 

THE   BARRY    COUNTY    REPUBLICAN. 

The  original  name  of  this  paper  was  The  MiddleviUe 
Plaindealer.  Its  first  publishers  were  Marvin  &  Dunn, 
and  the  date  of  its  first  issue  was  April  14,  1870.  The 
Plaindealer  was  a  weekly  Republican  journal.  It  flourished 
a  short  time  under  Marvin  &  Dunn,  but  after  the  death  of 
the  latter  Mr.  Marvin  sold  out  (in  February,  1871)  to  P. 
W.  Niskern.  At  the  close  of  1871,  Mr.  Niskern  changed 
the  name  of  the  paper  to  the  one  given  above, —  Tlie  Barry 
County  Repullican, — and  thenceforward  conducted  it  with 
much  success  until  June,  1876,  when  he  disposed  of  it  to 
M.  F.  Jordan  and  William  M.  Watkins.  In  April,  1877, 
Mr.  Watkins  sold  his  interest  to  Mr.  Jordan,  who  immedi- 
ately transformed  the  Repullican  into  a  Greenback  organ, 
and  carried  it  on  as  such  until  Jan.  11,  1879.  William 
M.  Watkins,  his  former  partner,  then  repurchased  the  paper, 
returned  it  to  the  Republican  fold,  and  still  conducts  it  in 
the  interest  of  the  Republican  party. 

THE   BLADE. 

Meanwhile,  in  October,  1878,  Mr.  F.  B.  Angier  came 
to  MiddleviUe  and  established  a  weekly  Republican  paper 
called  The  Blade,  thinking  to  supply  the  place  made  vacant 
by  the  departure  of  the  older  journal  from  the  Republican 
ranks.  It  soon  became  apparent,  however,  that  two  papers 
could  not  be  sustained  in  MiddleviUe,  and  in  January, 
1879,  the  material  of  The  Blade  was  purchased  by  the 
proprietors  of  The  Repullican,  and  The  Blade  itself  cea,sed 
to  exist. 

THE   NASHVILLE   INDEPENDENT. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  growing  village  of  Nashville,  re- 
alizing the  advantages  to  be  derived  from  an  enterprising 
newspaper  in  promoting  the  interests  of  the  place,  made 
liberal  overtures  in  the  spring  of  1872  for  the  establish- 
ment of  a  weekly  publication  among  them.  These  offers 
were  accepted  by  Rev.  C.  H.  Ellis,  then'  pastor  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  of  Nashville,  and  William  S. 
O'Brien,  a  practical  printer  from  Charlotte,  Eaton  Co.    As 


STATISTICS. 


87 


a  result,  the  Nashville  Independent  came  into  existence  with 
a  flattering  list  of  cash  subscribers  and  considerable  adver- 
tising patronage.  The  paper  was  not  a  success,  however, 
and  after  a  struggling  existence  of  half  a  year  it  passed 

into  oblivion. 

THE   NEWS. 

On    the   3d  of  October,  1873,  Orno  Strong,  a  young 

printer  with  a  two  years'  editorial  experience,  began  the 

publication  of  a  seven-column  weekly  sheet  called  The  News, 

mailing  the  papers  to  a  list  of  sixty-eight  subscribers,  the 

result  of  nearly  a  month  of  energetic  canvassing.     This 

enterprise  was  begun  amid  many  discouragements,  as  may 

be  seen  by  the  following  item,  clipped  from  the  leading 

paper  of  the  county  : 

"  Report  saya  that  another  effort  is  to  be  made  to  establish  a  news- 
paper at  Nashville,  in  this  county,  this  time  by  a  gentleman  from 
Lawton.  We  trust,  for  the  sake  of  the  would-be  publisher,  the  report 
is  not  true;  for  the  investment  cannot  be  other  than  a  financial  dis- 
aster."* 

He  devoted  himself  with  especial  zeal  to  the  compilation 
of  columns  of  brief  and  spicy  locals,  realizing  that  matter  of 
this  character  is  usually  more  sought  for  than  carefully  pre- 
pared editorials  of  a  political  or  sesthetic  character.  The 
following  is  the  result  of  the  venture,  given  in  figures  de- 
noting theJ)ond  Jide  circulation  of  The  News  for  each  suc- 
ceeding year  of  its  existence:  Jan.  1,  1874,  240  copies; 
Jan.  1,1875,  384;  Jan.  1, 1876,  480  ;  Jan.  1, 1877,  624; 
Jan.  1,  1878,  768;  Jan.  1,  1879,  960;  Jan.  1,  1880, 
1248;  May  1,  1880,  1560. 

From  a  seven-column  folio  The  News  has  grown  to  a  six- 
column  quarto  (eight  pages),  and  its  printing-office  is  fully 
equipped  with  everything  needful  for  such  an  establish- 
ment. 

THE  CITIZEN. 

On  the  13th  of  June,  1879,  the  publication  of  another 
paper,  called  The  Citizen,  was  begun  in  Nashville  by  Ed- 
win E.  Smith ;  but,  the  field  not  proving  large  enough  for 
two  journals,  the  new  venture  came  to  an  end  after  a  very 
brief  existence. 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

STATISTICS. 

Population  of  Allegnn  County  at  Successive  Periods — Comparative 
Rank  in  the  State — Age  and  Sex  of  Residents — Population  by  Town- 
ships in  1874 — Votes  on  Successive  Constitutions — All  the  Presi- 
dential Votes  in  Allegan  County— Votes  in  1878  and  1879— Statis- 
tics of  Wheat,  Corn,  Potatoes,  Hay,  Wool,  Pork,  Cheese,  Butter, 
and  Sugar — Statistics  of  Barry  County — Population  at  Successive 
periods — Comparative  Rank  in  State — Age  and  Sex  of  Residents — 
Population  by  Townships  in  1874— Presidential  Votes  of  Barry 
County Votes  in  1878  and  1879 — Statistics  of  Wheat,  Corn,  Po- 
tatoes, Wool,  Pork,  Cheese,  and  Butter. 

STATISTICS   OP  ALLEGAN  COUNTY. 

TOTAL  POPULATION  AT  SUCCESSIVE  PERIODS. 

1S37 1,469         I860 16,087 


1840 1,783 

1845 2,941 

1850 5,125 

1854 7,786 


1864 18,830 

1870 32,105 

1874 32,381 


Comparative  Rank  of  Allegan  County  in  the  State,  as 
to  population.— In  1850,  No.  26;  in  1860,  No.  22;  in 
1870,  No.  12. 

Number  of  males  in  Allegan  County  in  1874,  16,976  ; 
females,  15,405 ;  total,  32,381.  Number  of  males  over 
twenty-one  years  old,  8577 ;  females  over  eighteen  years 
old,  8109. 

POPULATION   OF   ALLEGAN   COUN'IJ.Y   BY   TOWNSHIPS   IN 
1874. 


Allegan 3718 

Casco 1219' 

Cheshire 1304 

Clyde 545 

Dorr 1694 

Fillmore 1719 

Ganges 1130 

Gun  Plain 2460 

Heath 680 

Hopkins 1308 

Laketown 689 

Lee 294 


Leighton 1233 

Manlius 663 

Martin llfiO 

Monterey „..  1240 

Otsego 2118 

Overisel 1273 

Pine  Plains 360 

Salem 1172 

Saugatuck 2212 

Trowbridge 1266 

Watson 1267 

Wayland 1761 


»The  opinion  was  perfectly  justifiable,  in  view  of  the  perils  which 
environ  a  young  village  newspaper,  but  in  this  instance  Mr.  Strong's 
energy  and  skill  have  wrested  success  from  very  adverse  ciroum^ 
stances. 


POLITICAL  STATISTICS  OP  ALLEGAN  COUNTY. 
Vote  on  the  constitution  of  1835,  submitted  to  the 
people  in  the  autumn  of  that  year,  ayes  49,  noes  2.  Vote 
on  the  constitution  of  1850,  submitted  in  November,  ayes 
509,  noes  107.  Vote  on  the  constitution  submitted  in 
April,  1868,  ayes  1963,  noes  2880;  vote  for  annual 
legislative  sessions,  850 ;  for  biennial  sessions,  2484 ;  vote 
for  prohibition,  2279  ;  against,  1942. 

PEBSIDENTIAL   VOTES.  ' 

1836. — Van  Buren  (Democrat) 92 

1840. — Van  Buren  (Democrat) 174 

Harrison  (Whig) 267 

1844.— Polk  (Democrat) 299 

Clay  (Whig; 323 

1848.— Cass  (Democrat) 303 

Taylor  (Whig) 274 

Van  Buren  (Free  Soil) 175 

1852.— Pierce  (Democrat) 582 

Scott  (Whig) 547 

Hale  (Free  SoilJ 66 

1866. — Buchanan  (Democrat) 1027 

Fremont  (Republican) 1626 

Fillmore  (American) 29 

1860. — Douglas  (Democrat) 1554 

Lincoln  (Republican) 1896 

Breckenridge  (Bolting  Democrat) 11 

Bell  (Constitutional) 1 

1864.— McClellan  (Democrat) 1543 

Lincoln  (Republican) 1861 

1868.— Seymour  (Democrat) 2361 

Grant  (Republican) 3656 

1872. — Greeley  (Democrat  and  Liberal) 1696 

Grant  (Republican) 3473 

O'Conor  (Straight  Democrat) 65 

1876.— Tildcn  (Democrat) '. 3164 

Hayes  (Republican) 4281 

Cooper  (Greenback) 274 

Election  for  Governor,  November,  1878. — Democratic, 
363;  Eepublican,  3205  ;  National,  3170. 

Judicial  Election,  April,  1879. — Shipman  (Democrat 
and  National),  3151 ;  Campbell  (Republican),  3207. 

Whole  number  of  voters  (census  of  1870),  7576  ;  num- 
ber who  were  owners  of  property,  5736 ;  not  property 
owners,  1840 ;  number  who  could  not  read  nor  write,  362. 

AGRICULTURAL  STATISTICS   OF   ALLEGAN   COUNTY. 

Acres  wheat  harvested  in  1853 4,610 

Bushels         "                "               "     56,965 

Average  number  of  bushels  per  acre 12.13 

Acres  wheat  harvested  in  1863 16,291 

Bushels     "             "                "    210,464 

Average  per  acre 12.91 

Acres  wheat  harvested  in  1873 26,812 

Bushels  "            "    366,883 

Average  per  acre 13.31 


88 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Acres  corn  harvested  in  1853 7,818 

Bushels"             "              "      113,504 

Average  per  acre 14.51 

Acres  corn  harvested  in  1863 10,196 

Bushels"             "               "     241,895 

Average  per  acre 23.72 

Acres  corn  harvested  in  1873 19,045 

Bushels"             "                "     560,061 

Average  per  acre 29.42 

Bushels  potatoes  raised  in  1863 92,138 

"             "         1873 112,024 

Tons  hay  raised  in  1863 18,918 

"       "          "          1873 31,548 

Pounds  wool  sheare(f  in  1863 85,515 

"         "            "            1873 114,040 

Pounds  pork  marketed  in  1863 602,795 

"             "               1873 1,039,790 

Pounds  cheese  made  in  1863 45,907 

"          "           "           1873 34,308 

"       butter      "           1863 380,058 

"           "          "           1873 1,101,970 

"            maple-sugar  made  in  1884 289,182 

"                      "               "         1874 259,737 

Number  farms  in  Allegan  County  in  1874 4,342 

Number  acres  in  farms  in  1874 328,978 


STATISTICS  OF    BAKRY   COUNTY. 
TOTAL    POPULATION    AT  SUCCESSIVE   PERIODS. 


1837 512 

1840 1,078 

1845 2,602 

1850 5,072 

1854 7,789 


1860 13,858 

1864 14,441 

1870 22,200 

1874 22,051 


Comparative  rank  of  Barry  County  in  the  State  as  to 
population.— la  1850,  No.  28  ;  in  1860,  No.  26 ;  in  1870, 
No.  25. 

Number  of  males  in  Barry  County  in  1874,  11,646; 
females,  10,554;  total,  22,200.  Number  of  males  over 
twenty-one  years  old,  5756 ;  females  over  eighteen  years 
old,  5720. 


POPULATION    OP    BARRY 

City  of  Hastings...  2,075 
Hastings     Town- 
ship    1,046 

Assyria 1,122 

Baltimore 1,216 

Barry 1,230 

Carlton 1,089 

Castleton 1,960 

Hope 1,127 


COUNTY    BY    TOWNSHIPS 
1874. 

Irving 1,126 

Johnstown  1,139 

Maple  Grove 1,315 

Orangeville 1,051 

Prairieville 1,168 

Rutland 1,092 

Thornapple 2,005 

Woodland 1,451 

Yankee  Springs...      833 


IN 


POLITICAL  STATISTICS  OF  BARRY  COUNTY. 

Vote  on  the  constitution  of  1856,  submitted  in  Novem- 
ber, ayes,  629  ;  noes,  52. 

PKBSIDKNTIAL  VOTES. 

1840. — Van  Buren  (Democrat) 106 

Harrison  (Whig) 128 

1844. — Polk  (Democrat) 249 

Clay  (Whig) 228 

1848. — Cass  (Democrat) 3S2 

Taylor  (Whig) 243 

Van  Buren  (Free  Soil) 93 

1852. — Pierce  (Democrat) 652 

Scutt  (Whig) 478 

Hale  (Free  Soil) 107 

1858. — Buchanan  (Deuiocrat) 873 

Fremont  (Republican) 1495 

1860. — Douglas  (Democrat) 1038 

Linculu  (Republican) 1901 

1864. — MoCIellan  (Democrat) 1022 

Lincoln  (Republican) , 1652 

1868. — Seymour  (Democrat) 1857 

Grant  (Republican) 2923 

1872. — Greeley  (Democrat  and  Liberal) 1202 

Grant  (Republican) 2677 

O'Conor  (Democrat) , 48 

Black  (Prohibition) 38 

1876.— Tilden  (Democrat) 1902 

Hayes  (Repirblican) 2966 

Cooper  (Greenback) 603 


Election  for  Governor,  1878. — Democrat,  553;  Repub- 
lican, 2204 ;  National,  2386. 

Judicial  Election,  April,  1879. — Democrat  and  National, 
2632;  Republican,  2271. 

AGRICULTURAL   STATISTICS  OF  BARRY  COUNTY. 

Acres  wheat  harvested  in  1853 8,176 

Bushels     "             "             "       109,444 

Average  number  bushels  per  acre 13.38 

Acres  wheat  harvested  in  1863 25,190 

Bushels  "            "            "        272,386 

Average  per  acre , 10.81 

Acres  wheat  harvested  in  1873 39,011 

Bushels  "             "             "         555,584 

Average  per  acre 14.24 

Acres  corn  harvested  in  1853 7,026 

Bushels      "          "         "         148,879 

Average  per  acre 21.18 

Acres  corn  harvested  in  1863 10,947 

Bushels     "           "         "         214,189 

Average  peracre 19.56 

Acres  corn  harvested  in  1873 17,089 

Bushels     "           "         "         621,982 

Average  per  acre 38.39 

Bushels  potatoes  raised  in  1863 79,059 

"             "           1873 105,846 

Tons  hay  raised  in  1883 21,505 

"      "         "           1873 23,409 

Pounds  wool  sheared  in  1863 130,719 

"         "           "             1873 173,576 

Pounds  pork  marketed  in  1863 480,819 

"         "  "  1873 1,237,337 

Pounds  cheese  made  in  1863 33,019 

"           "            "          1873 4,931 

Pounds  butter  made  in  1863 352,369 

"           "            "          1873 886,969 


CHAPTER    XXIL 

SECOND  AND  THIRD  INFAlfTKy.* 

Formation  of  the  Second  Infantry — Battle  of  Bull  Run — In  Ken- 
tucky— In  Mississippi — Siege  of  Knoxville — Re-enlistment — Off  to 
Virginia — The  Campaign  of  the  Wilderness — Muster  out — Mem- 
bers from  Barry  County — Members  from  Allegan  County — The 
Third  Infantry — Representation  from  Barry  and  Allegan  Counties 
— The  Regiment  at  Bull  Run — Steadiness  of  its  Brigade — Praise 
of  the  New  York  Tribune— Winter-Quarters— Gallantry  at  Wil- 
liamsburg—  At  Fair  Oaks  —  Prince  de  Joinville's  Encomium — 
Through  the  Seven  Days'  Fight^Second  Bull  Run— At  Chaneel- 
lorsville— At  Gettysburg— Sent  to  New  York— Back  to  Virginia— 
The  Mine  Run  Campaign — In  the  Wilderness  and  Subsequent 
Fights— Non-Veterans  sent  Home— Veterans  and  Recruits  formed 
into  a  Battalion— Consolidated  with  the  Fifth  Infantry — Call  for 
Men  in  July,  1864— Raising  the  New  Third  Infantry— It  goes  to 
Alabama— Back  to  Murfreesboro'— Depots — Faulkner's  Brigade— 
The  Regiment  goes  to  Texas  in  1865— Stays  there  till  1866— Mus- 
tered out  in  May— Barry  County  Officers  and  Soldiers— Allegan 
County  Officers  and  Soldiers. 

SECOND  INFANTRY. 

The  Second  Regiment  of  Michigan  Volunteer  Infantry, 
the  first  three  years'  regiment  t^  take  the  field  from  that 

»  During  the  civil  war  Allegan  County  received  credit  for  twenty- 
one  hundred  and  seventy-five  men,  and  Barry  for  sixteen  hundred 
and  twenty-seven.  This  is  more  than  can  be  found  in  the  reporU  of 
the  adjutant-general  of  the  State,  but  the  discrepancy  is  principally 
due  to  the  fact  that  re-enlisting  veterans  were  credited  to  the  county 
twice,  while  their  names  appear  in  the  reports  but  once.  A  number 
of  men,  also,  served  in  the  navy  whose  names  do  not  appear  in  there- 
ports.  The  credits  also  include  those  drafted  men  who,  in  the  first 
months  of  the  draft,  were  allowed  to  pay  three  hundred  dollars  each 
in  lieu  of  personal  service,  though  of  course  they  are  not  represented 
on  any  rolls.  A  few  names  were  also,  doubtless,  omitted  from  the  re- 
ports, in  spite  of  the  energy  and  fidelity  of  Adjt.-Qen.  Robertson,  on 


SECOND  AND  THIRD  INFANTRY. 


State,  rendezvoused  at  Detroit,  and  was  mustered  into  the 
United  States  service  May  25,  1861.  With  an  aggregate 
force  on  its  muster-rolls  of  one  thousand  and  thirteen  men, 
commanded  by  the  brave  Col.  Israel  B.  Richardson,*  it 
left  Detroit,  June  5,  1861,  and  at  once  proceeded  to  the 
seat  of  war  on  the  Potomac. 

The  Second  participated  in  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run, 
July  21,  1861,  and  was  one  of  the  few  regiments  that  did 
not  become  thoroughly  demoralized  as  a  result  of  that  en- 
gagement (see  history  of  the  Third  Infantry).  From  that 
time  until  March,  1863,  it  shared  in  all  the  victories  and 
defeats  of  the  Union  arms  in  Virginia.  It  was  then  trans- 
ferred to  Kentucky,  where  it  remained  until  June,  when, 
with  Gen.  Parke's  division  of  the  Ninth  Army  Corps,  it 
reinforced  Gen.  Grant  at  Vicksburg.  With  Sherman  at 
Jackson,  Miss.,  it  lost  heavily.  From  Mississippi  it  re- 
returned  to  Kentucky,  and  in  September,  1863,  marched 
vid  Cumberland  Gap  to  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  where,  under 
Gen.  Burnside,  it  took  part  in  all  the  severe  fighting  inci- 
dent to  the  siege  of  Knoxville,  losing  one-half  its  efiective 
strength. 

A  large  number  of  its  remaining  men  re-enlisted  in  De- 
cember, 1863,  and  returned  home  on  furlough.  From 
Mount  Clemens,  Mich.,  the  regiment  returned  to  Virginia 
in  May,  1864,  arriving  in  time  to  plunge  into  the  Wilder- 
ness and  bear  its  share  on  that  hotly-contested  field. 
Thereafter,  at  Spottsylvania,  Bethesda  Church,  Petersburg, 
Weldon  Railroad,  and  in  all  the  other  principal  engage- 
ments which  culminated  at  Appomattox,  the  Second  was 
an  active  participant. 

It  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Delaney  House,  D.  C, 
July  28,  1865,  and  arrived  at  Detroit,  Mich.,  for  final  pay 
and  disbandment,  August  1st  of  the  same  year. 

MEMBERS   OP   THE   SECOND   INFANTBZ   FKOM    BAERT    COUNTY. 

Com^amj  B. 
Henry  D.  Thompson,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  16, 1862. 

Company  0. 
William  S.  Fox.  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  2, 1802. 
Boyal  G.  Kice,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  July  21, 1864. 

account  of  the  apathj  or  ignorance  of  the  regimental  and  company 
ofiQcers. 

In  the  preparation  of  the  sketches  of  the  services  of  the  regiments 
great  care  has  been  talien  to  make  them — although  necessarily  brief 

as    correct  and   interesting   as   possible.     The   adjutant-general's 

reports  and  the  "  Red  Book  of  Michigan"  have  been  closely  exam- 
ined, surviving  soldiers  of  the  various  regiments  have  been  consulted, 
and  in  many  cases  items  have  been  added  derived  from  the  personal 
information  of  the  gentleman  who,  under  the  direction  of  the  general 
historian,  compiled  these  military  sketches.  That  gentleman,  Mr.  J. 
S.  Schenck,  was  formerly  adjutant  of  the  Sixteenth  Illinois,  and  served 
nearly  three  years  side  by  side  with  several  of  the  Michigan  regiments 
whose  exploits  he  has  here  narrated.  It  is  intended  that  the  sketches 
of  the  various  regiments  shall  bear  some  proportion  as  to  size  to  the 
number  of  men  from  these  two  counties  in  them. 

It  may  be  proper  to  add  here  that  during  the  Mexican  war  Samnel 
Brown,  Jr.,  Henry  Starring,  Franklin  H.  Heath,  Silas  S.  Price,  and 
Chester  Boss,  of  Allegan  County,  served  in  Capt.  F.  W.  Curtenius' 
company  in  the  First  Michigan  Infantry  of  that  period;  the  two  men 
last  named  dying  in  the  service.  C.  J. 

*  Col.  Richardson  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  a,  graduate  of 
West  Point.  He  served  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  attained  the  rank  of 
major.  He  was  made  brigadier-generiil  of  volunteers  in  September, 
1S61,  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major-general  soon  after,  and  met  his 
death  at  the  battle  of  Antietam,  Sept.  17,  1862,  while  commanding  a 
division. 

12 


Charlps  J,  Bobinson,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Jan.  26, 1865. 
George  Sogers,  missing  in  action  at  Jackson,  Miss.,  July  11, 1863. 
Samuel  B.  Wilson,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  3, 1865. 

Company  D, 
William  Scudder,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Feb.  10, 1861. 

Company  K. 
Moses  Boyden,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Jan.  7, 1864. 
Thomas  M.  Ellsworth,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Nov.  16, 1863. 
Estes  Rorke,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Nov.  10, 1863. 
John  0.  Stewart,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Jan.  7, 1864. 

ALLEGAN    COUNTY   SOLDIERS  IN   THE   SECOND   INFANTBY. 
Company  I. 
David  S.  Buck,  missing  in  action  at  Savage  Station,  Va.,  June  29, 1862. 
Martin  Crane,  veteran,  Dec.  31, 1863 ;  missing  in  action  near  Petersburg,  Va., 

Oct.  27, 1864. 
James  Carruthers,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  June  22, 1864. 
Clark  Conrad,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  31, 1863. 
George  B.  Myers,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  June  22, 1864. 
Nathan  A.  Tanner,  died  of  wounds  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  Oct.  11, 1863. 
George  P.  West,  disch.  for  disability. 

Company  K. 
Alfonso  Crane,  died  of  disease  at  Jackson,  Miss.,  July  11, 1863. 

THIED   INFANTRY. 

The  Third  Regiment  of  infantry,  which  was  recruited 
during  the  month  of  May,  1861,  mainly  from  the  counties 
of  Allegan,  Barry,  Clinton,  Easton,  Gratiot,  Ionia,  Kent, 
Muskegon,  Mecosta,  Montcalm,  Newaygo,  and  Ottawa,  had 
its  rendezvous  at  Grand  Rapids. 

It  was  the  first  regiment  organized  in  this  portion  of  the 
State,  the  second  mustered  for  three  years,  and  the  third 
to  take  the  field  from  Michigan.  Barry  County  was  repre- 
sented by  about  a  hundred  and  fifty  men,f  scattered  through 
all  its  companies  except  I,  while  Allegan's  representation 
was  divided  among  companies  A,  C,  E,  F,  I,  and  K. 

Having  upon  its  muster-rolls  the  names  of  one  thousand 
and  forty  officers  and  enlisted  men,  the  regiment  left  Grand 
Rapids  on  the  13th  of  June,  1861,  and  proceeded  directly 
to  the  seat  of  war  on  the  Potomac.  It  was  soon  after  as- 
signed to  the  brigade  commanded  by  Col.  Israel  B.  Rich- 
ardson, and  first  met  the  enemy  at  Blackburn's  Ford,  Va., 
July  18,  1861.  Three  days  later  Richardson's  brigade  was 
enaasred  in  that  famous  conflict,  the  first  battle  of  Bull 
Run.  To  show  that  the  Michigan  regiments  then  and 
there  gave  evidence  of  the  material  composing  them,  we 
need  but  cite  the  New  York  Tribunes  account  of  that 
battle,  from  which  the  following  is  an  extract : 

"  I  was  told  that  a  few  regiments  besides  the  three  faithful  ones  of 
Blenker's  brigade  had  come  in  in  fair  order,  and  that  they  were  the 
Second  and  Third  Michigan  and  the  Massachusetts  First,  of  Rich- 
ardson's brigade." 

Gen.  McDowell  also  stated  that  "  Richardson's  troops 
were  the  last  to  leave  the  field."  When  the  defeated  and 
almost  disbanded  Union  army  fell  back  on  Washington, 
Richardson's  brigade  served  as  rear-guard.  It  maintained 
its  position  at  Centreville  Heights  until  the  morning  of 
July  22d,  and  when  all  detachments  and  stragglers  had 
passed  to  the  rear,  it  deliberately  took  up  the  line  of  march 
to  Washington,  where  it  arrived  in  perfect  order. 

To  this  brigade  was  then  assigned  the  duty  of  guarding 
Bailey's  Cross-Roads  and  picketing  other  highways  leading 
from  Rebeldom   to  Alexandria  and  Washington.      After 

+  This  number  represents  all  who  served  in  both  the  first  and  second 
terms  of  service. 


90 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


assisting  in  the  construction  of  the  defenses  of  Washington, 
the  Third  went  into  winter-quarters  near  Alexandria,  Va., 
where  it  remained  until  March,  1862,  when  it  moved  with 
McClellan's  army  to  the  Peninsula. 

At  the  battle  of  Williamsburg,  fought  on  the  ^  5th  of 
May,  1862,  Berry's  brigade*  of  Kearney's  division  moved, 
through  mud  and  rain,  to  the  front  at  double-quick, 
formed  line  under  fire,  and,  immediately  charging  a  supe- 
rior force  of  the  enemy,  recaptured  a  lost  position  and  ar- 
tillery, and  did  not  stop  until  the  enemy  was  dislodged  and 
beat  back  from  his  own  position  to  the  plains  below.  In 
regard  to  this  fight,  a  Tribune  correspondent  said  :  "  By 
confessions  of  rebel  prisoners,  eight  hundred  of  Berry's 
men,  mostly  of  Michigan  regiments,  drove  back  sixteen 
hundred  of  the  enemy." 

At  Fair  Oaks,  on  the  31st  of  May,  the  Third  particu- 
larly distinguished  itself.  Its  commander.  Col.  Stephen  G. 
Champlin,  was  severely  wounded,  and  the  gallant  Capt.  Sam- 
uel A.  Judd  was  killed.  The  total  losses  of  the  regiment  in 
this  action  were  thirty  men  killed,  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
four  wounded,  and  fifteen  missins. 

The  Prince  de  Joinville,  an  eye-witness  of  this  battle, 
said : 

"As  at  'Williamsburg,  Kearney  comes  to  re-establish  the  fight. 
Berry's  brigade  of  this  division,  composed  of  Michigan  regiments 
and  an  Irish  battalion,  advances  firm  as  a  wall  into  the  midst  of  the 
disordered  mass  which  wanders  over  the  battle-fleld,  and  does  more 
by  its  example  than  the  most  powerful  reinforcement." 

The  Third  was  also  engaged  at  Savage  Station  and  Peach 
Orchard,  June  29,  1862  ;  Glendale  (or  Charles  City  Cross- 
Roadis),  June  30th ;  Malvern  Hill,  July  1st ;  and  Grove- 
ton  (or  Second  Bull  Run),  Aug.  29,  1862.  In  the  latter 
battle  it  lost  twenty  men  killed,  besides  a  large  number 
wounded  and  missing.  Proceeding  from  Edward's  Ferry, 
Md.,  vid  Warrenton  and  Falmouth,  Va.,  to  Fredericks- 
burg, Va.,  the  regiment  was  engaged  at  the  latter  place 
Dec.  13,  1862,  losing  nine  men  wounded.  At  Chancel- 
lorsville,  on  the  1st,  2d,  and  3d  of  May,  1863,  it  sustained 
a  loss  of  sixty-three  men,  killed,  wounded,  and  missin"-. 

On  the  11th  of  June  the  regiment  began  a  toilsome 
march  vid  Centreville,  Va.,  Edward's  Ferry,  and  Frederick 
City,  Md.,  to  Gettysburg,  Pa.  The  roads  were  dusty,  the 
heat  was  intense,  and  the  men  sufiered  terribly.  At  Get- 
tysburg, on  the  2d  and  3d  days  of  July,  1863,  the  Third 
again  dealt  staggering  blows  to  the  cohorts  of  treason,  sus- 
taining a  loss  on  its  side  of  forty-one  men,  killed,  wounded, 
and  missing.  Having  followed  the  enemy  to  Williamsport, 
it  marched  thence  to  Harper's  Ferry,  crossed  the  Potomac 
at  that  point,  and  moved  forward  to  Manassas  Gap.  On 
the  17th  of  Augu,st,  1863,  the  regiment  proceeded  to 
Alexandria,  Va.,  and  from  there  to  New  York  City, 
whither  it  had  been  ordered  to  aid  in  the  preservation  of 
the  public  peace  and  the  keeping  down  of  a  mob  duritjo- 
the  then  pending  draft.  Remaining  there  some  days,  it 
proceeded  up  the  Hudson  to  Troy,  N.  Y.,  where  it  was  sta- 
tioned two  weeks.  It  then  returned  to  its  brigade  in  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  arriving  at  Culpepper,  Va.,  Sept. 
17,  1863. 


»  Composed  of  the  Second,  Third,  and  Fifth  Michigan,  and  a  New 
York  regiment. 


On  the  26th  of  November,  1863,  the  regiment  took  part 
in  the  Mine  Run  campaign,  engaging  the  enemy  on  the 
27th  at  Locust  Grove,  and  on  the  30th  at  Mine  Run. 
With  the  army  it  returned  to  Brandy  Station  December  2d, 
having  lost  during  the  movement  thirty-one  men  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing. 

One  hundred  and  eighty  members  of  the  regiment  re- 
enlisted  as  veterans  Dec.  23,  1863.  They  received  a  thirty 
days'  furlough,  and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  returned 
to  their  comjnand. 

From  December,  1863,  until  the  beginning  of  May,  1864, 
a  season  of  inactivity  prevailed.  On  the  4th  of  the  latter 
month  the  Third  crossed  the  Rapidan  at  Ely's  Ford,  ad- 
vanced to  Chancellorsville,  and  during  the  three  following 
days  was  in  the  midst  of  the  terrific  battle  of  the  Wilder- 
ness, sustaining  a  heavy  loss.  It  was  also  engaged  at 
Todd's  Tavern  on  the  8th  and  at  Spottsylvania  on  the  12th, 
where  it  participated  in  the  successful  charge  of  the  Second 
Army  Corps.  At  the  North  Anna  River  it  again  encoun- 
tered the  enemy.  May  23d  and  24th.  The  Pamunky  River 
was  crossed  on  the  27th,  and  the  advance  continued  toward 
Cold  Harbor.  During  this  month  of  continuous  fighting 
the  regiment  sustained  a  loss  of  thirty-one  men  killed,  one 
hundred  and  nineteen  wounded,  and  twenty-nine  missing. 

At  Cold  Harbor,  on  the  9th  of  June,  1864,  the  regiment, 
with  the  exception  of  the  re-enlisted  men  and  such  as  had 
joined  since  the  original  organization,  and  certain  desig- 
nated officers,  was  ordered  home  for  the  purpose  of  being 
discharged.  The  remaining  officers  and  men — some  three 
hundred  and  fifty  in  number — were  formed  into  a  battalion 
of  four  companies,  and  attached  to  the  Fifth  Michigan  In- 
fantry. The  order  consolidating  these  regiments  was  con- 
firmed by  the  War  Department  June  13th,  and  on  the  20th 
day  of  June,  1864,  the  old  Third,  which  had  been  one  of 
the  first  to  take  the  field  in  defense  of  the  government,  was 
formally  mustered  out  of  the  United  States  service. 

THIRD  INPANTKY  (NEW). 
In  addition  to  the  hundreds  of  thousands  gone  before,  on 
the  18th  of  July,  1864,  the  President  issued  his  proclama- 
tion calling  upon  the  loyal  States  for  five  hundred  thousand 
more  men.  Volunteers  from  the  several  States  were  to  be 
accepted  for  one,  two,  and  three  years,  as  they  elected. 
Michigan's  quota  under  this  call  was  more  than  eighteen 
thousand,  of  which  twelve  thousand  had  to  be  recruited  or 
drafted.  Governor  Blair  determined  to  raise  six  new  regi- 
ments of  infantry,  viz.,  the  Third,  Fourth,  Twenty-eighth, 
Twenty-ninth,  Thirtieth,  and  Thirty-first,  or  one  in  each  . 
Congressional  district,  and  in  pursuance  of  this  plan  issued 
his  proclamation  on  the  21st  of  July,  1864.  On  the  29th 
of  the  same  month  orders  were  issued  to  reorganize  the 
Third  Infantry,  and  to  Col.  Moses  B.  Houghton  (formerly 
lieutenant  colonel  of  the  old  organization)  was  intrusted 
the  charge  of  raising  the  new  regiment.  Grand  Rapids  was 
named  its  place  of  rendezvous,  and  the  Fourth  District  its 
field  for  recruiting. 

The  exigencies  of  the  service  did  not  permit  the  com- 
plete organization  of  all  these  regiments  before  the  enforce- 
ment of  the  impending  draft  (Sept.  5,  1864),  and  seven 
sompanies,  which  had  been  raised  for   the  Thirtieth   at 


SECOND  AND  THIRD  INFANTRY. 


91 


Pontiac,  were  distributed  between  tbe  Third  and  Fourth, 
four  companies  going  to  the  former  and  three  to  the  latter, 
and  the  organization  of  the  Thirtieth  was  abandoned. 

The  Third,  thus  reinforced,  completed  its  organization  at 
once  (October  15th),  and,  being  mustered  in  with  eight  hun- 
dred and  seventy-nine  officers  and  men,  left  camp  for  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  Oct.  20,  1864,  going  thence  to  Decatur,  Ala. 
It  remained  at  Decatur — having  meanwhile  a  skirmish  with 
the  enemy  at  that  point — until  November  25th,  when  it  was 
transferred  to  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  and  ordered  to  duty  at 
Fort  Rosecrans. 

On  the  7th  of  December,  while  Gen.  Milroy  was  engaged 
at  the  Cedars  with  the  principal  part  of  Forrest's  rebel  com- 
mand, Faulkner's  rebel  brigade  of  mounted  infantry  made 
a  dash  on  the  picket-line  at  Murfreesboro,  drove  in  the 
guard,  and  gained  possession  of  the  town.  After  a  spirited 
engagement  of  an  hour's  duration,  four  companies  of  the 
Third,  together  with  an  equal  number  of  companies  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Eighty-first  Ohio,  with  a  section  of  ar- 
tillery, repulsed  the  rebels  and  pursued  them  two  miles. 

The  regiment  remained  at  Murfreesboro  and  its  vicinity 
until  Jan.  16, 1865,  when  it  was  moved  to  Huntsville,  Ala., 
and  assigned  to  the  Fourth  Army  Corps.  On  the  31st  of 
January  it  was  ordered  to  Eastport,  Miss.,  and  proceeded 
as  far  as  Nashville,  Tenn.,  when,  the  order  being  counter- 
i^anded,  it  returned  to  Huntsville,  remaining  there  until  the 
middle  of  March.  With  its  brigade  it  then  marched  to 
East  Tennessee,  occupying  successively  positions  at  New 
Market,  Bull  Gap,  and  Jonesboro',  where  it  was  employed 
in  pursuing,  capturing,  and  driving  off  the  numerous  guer- 
rilla bands  infesting  that  region.  The  Third  was  ordered  to 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  on  the  20th  of  March,  arrived  there  the 
28th,  and  on  the  15th  of  June,  1865,  with  its  corps,  pro- 
ceeded by  rail  from  Nashville  to  Johnsville,  Tenn. ;  thence 
by.  steamers  down  the  Tennessee,  Ohio,  and  Mississippi 
Rivers  to  New  Orleans,  arriving  on  the  5th  of  July.  After 
a  short  delay  the  regiment  proceeded  in  vessels  to  Indian- 
ola,  Texas,  and  thence  it  marched  to  Green  Lake.  On  the 
12th  of  September  it  started  out  for  Westei^  Texas,  and, 
after  a  fatiguing  march  of  fourteen  days'  duration,  it 
reached  San  Antonio.  During  the  following  winter  two 
companies  were  on  duty  at  Gonzales.  Early  in  the  spring 
of  1866  the  entire  regiment  was  ordered  to  Victoria,  Texas, 
and  was  there  mustered  out  of  the  service,  May  26,  1866. 
Marching  to  Indianola,  it  took  steamers  to  New  Orleans, 
going  thence  vi&  the  Mississippi  River  to  Cairo,  111.,  whence 
it  was  transported  by  railway  to  Detroit,  Mich.  It  arrived 
there  June  10,  1866,  and  was  soon  after  paid  off  and  dis- 
charged. 

BARRY   COUNTY  OmCEES  AND   SOLDIERS  WHO   SERVED   IN    THE 

THIRD  INFANTRY  (FIRST  TERM). 

Non-CommisBioned  Skiff, 

Sergt.-MaJ.  Israel  S.  Geer,  enl.  June  10, 1861 ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.,  Co.  C,  Aug.  1, 

1861. 

Ccympany  B. 

John  Goif,  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 

Willard  Main,  must,  out  July  9, 1865. 

Robert  Strong,  must,  out  May  19, 1865. 

Company  C. 
Capt.  Israel  S.  Goer,  com.  Dec.  26, 1861 ;  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  Wil- 
derness, May  6, 1864;  must,  out  Sept.  21, 1864. 
Jacob  T.  Bipley,  died  of  disease  at  Andersonville  prison,  Ga.,  July  12, 1864. 
Jacob  Broepplie,  missing  at  Mine  Run,  Ya.,  Nov.  30, 1863. 


Christian  Fosller,  trans,  to  6th  Inf.,  June  10, 1864. 
Lewis  Buthardt,  disch.  for  disability.  May  1, 1864. 

Company  D. 
John  Winebremer,  trans,  to  6th  Inf.,  June  10, 1864. 
Company  E. 

Sergt.  Andrew  Nickerson,  Hastings;  eul.  June  10,  1861;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.,  Co. 

H,  Aug.  6, 1862. 
Musician  James  L.  Reed,  disch.  May  24, 1862. 
Mathew  Bain,  disch.  for  disability. 
George  W.  Bugbee,  disch.  for  disability.  Fob.  17, 1865. 
James  G.  Birdsall,  disch.  by  order,  Sept.  1, 1863. 
Cornelius  BarkhuflF. 

Alonzo  H.  Bennett,  must,  out  May  30, 1865. 
Thomas  Burke,  must,  out  May  27, 1866. 
Daniel  E.  Birdsall,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  23, 1863. 
Samuel  B.  Cook,  disch.  for  disability. 
George  Decker,  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Washington  Ferris,  disch.  for  disability. 
D.  W.  Foster,  died  of  wounds  at  Portland,  June  17, 1862. 
Franklin  Green,  trans,  to  6tli  Inf. 

Emmett  A.  Hamilton,  died  of  wounds  at  Groveton,  Va.,  Ang.  29, 1862. 
George  H.  Hill,  died  in  action  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6, 1864. 
Ralph  Henley,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  23, 1863. 
Andrew  J.  Jordan,  must,  out  May  17, 1866. 

John  A.  Kellogg,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  23, 1863 ;  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 
Andrew  G.  Kilpatrick,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  23, 1863. 
James  Kilpatrick,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  30, 1862. 
David  C.  Leach,  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 
Samuel  McMurray,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  23, 1863. 
Dwight  T.  Merrill,  must,  out  Aug.  23,  1865. 
John  B.  Osgood,  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 
William  Paustle,  disch.  from  Vet.  Res.  Ci)rps,  July  28, 1865. 
Merrick  D.  Reed,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  23,  1803. 
Daniel  A.  Randall,  trans,  to  5th  Mich.  Inf. 
Truman  Sawdy,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Nov.  26,  1863. 
Martin  M.  Sweet,  trans,  to  5th  Mich.  Inf. 
Joseph  E.  Sutton,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Nov.  10, 1863. 
Simeon  C,  Stanton,  rbust.  out  July  5, 1866. 
Edward  Stevens,  must,  out  July  6, 1866. 
Truman  J,  Wisner,  trans,  to  5th  Mich.  Inf. 

Company  F. 
James  R.  Dexter,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  8, 1861. 
Samuel  S.  Garrison,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  June  20, 1864. 
John  Oberly,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  14, 1863. 
Timothy  Fenders,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  12, 1863. 
Epbraim  Parsons,  must,  out  May  8, 1865. 
Owen  F.  Palmer,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  24, 1863. 
Isaac  Walker,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  7, 1863. 

Company  G. 

Capt.  Abrara  J.  Whitney,  Hastings;  com.  2d  lieut.,  Co,  I,  May  13, 1861 ;  pro,  to 

1st  lieut.  Aug,  1, 1861 ;  capt.,  June  9, 1862;  resigned  Sept, 26, 1862. 

Company  H, 

2d  Lieut,  Andrew  Nickerson,  com.  Aug.  5, 1862;  pro.  to  1st  lieut.,  Co.  K,  Oct. 

20,  1862. 
Aaron  E.  Dupee,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Nov.  10, 1863, 
James  F,  Dibble,  disch,  at  end  of  service,  Nov,  10, 1863. 
Jeremiah  Sanders,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Nov.  10, 1863. 

Company  K. 

Capt.  Andrew  Nickerson,  Hastings;  com.  Nov.  1, 1863;  1st  lieut.,  Oct.  20, 1862; 

killed  in  action  at  Wilderness,  May  6, 1864. 
Corp.  Edwin  H.  Mallory,  enl.  June  10, 1861 ;  disch.  at  end  of  service,  June  20, 

1864. 
Wagoner  Isaac  D.  Reed,  enl.  June  10, 1861 ;  disch.  at  end  of  service,  June  20, 

1864. 
Edward  Bugbee,  died  of  disease  at  Yorktown,  May  3, 1862. 
^Yilliam  Buck,  disch,  for  disability,  Dec,  4, 1862, 
Henry  H.  Bailey,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  June  20,1864, 
Austin  Dibble,  disch,  for  disability,  July  18, 1862. 
Charles  "W.  Feber,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  June  17, 1864, 
Oscar  Gaines,  disch,  to  enlist  in  regular  sei-vice,  Dec.  17, 1862, 
Jonathan  Kellogg,  trans,  to  Vet,  Res.  Corps,  Jan,  15, 1864. 
Jonathan  Kelly,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res  Corps, 
Orange  McClnre,  veteran,  enl.  Dec,  24, 1863, 
Mortimer  Millard,  dibcfa,  at  end  of  service,  June  20, 1864. 
Lorenzo  W.  Payne,  disch,  for  disability,  Jan,  9, 1863. 
Jacob  S.  Pickle,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  D,  C,  Sept.  17, 1861. 
William  Parrisb,  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 
Heman  Parrisb,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  24, 1863. 
Cody  M.  Reed,  disch.  to  enlist  in  regular  service,  Nov.  29, 1862. 
Alfred  H.  Slocum,  disch.  for  disability,  June  20, 1862. 
Charles  H.  Sanford,  died  in  action  at  Chancetlorsville,  Va.,  May  3, 1863. 
Warren  Wilkinson,  disch,  at  end  of  service,  June  20, 1864. 


92 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


ALLEGAN  COUNTT  MEMBERS  OF  THE  THIRD  INFANTRY  (FIRST 

TERM). 

Company  A. 

Capt.  MMton  Lsonarl,  com,  Ist  lieut.  Nov.  1,  lS6i;  2d  lieut.  Feb.  5, 1863;  died 

in  actiou  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6, 1864. 

Company  C. 
Musician  John  B.  Champion,  disch.  Feb.  28, 18G2. 
Theo.  Castor,  trans,  to  5th  Inf.,  June  10, 1861;  must,  out  Sept.  4, 1865. 
Christian  Pleigden,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  20, 1861. 
John  P.  Scheidt,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  20,  1861. 
Valentin  Schaeffer,  disch.  for  disability,  June  20, 1861. 
Anton  SteflBos,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  23, 1862. 
Thomas  Schneider,  died  of  disease  at  Baltimore,  July  19, 1863. 
Jos.  A.  Schuler,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  June  20, 1864. 
Peter  Wagner,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  1, 1861. 

Company  E. 
Edward  T.  Webster,  died  in  action  at  Wilderness,  May  6,  1864. 
Harvey  Wilson,  disch.  for  disability,  July  29, 1861. 
Samuel  F.  WoOlman,  died  May  30, 1864,  of  wounds. 

Company  F. 

2d  Lieut.  Milton  Leonard,  trans.  2d  lieut.  from  Co.  A,  May  1, 1863  ;  pro.  to  1st 

lieut.,  Co.  A,  Nov.  1, 1863. 
Musician' Edward  C.  Wheelock,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  24,  1863;  must,  out  July  5, 

18(!5. 
Geo.  W.  Bailey,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  June  20, 1864. 
Harvey  S.  Briggs,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  24, 1863  ;  trans,  to  5th  Inf. ;  must,  out  July 

6, 1865. 
John  Calkins,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  June  20, 1864. 
John  Hefner,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  24,  1863 ;  trans,  to  5th  Inf. ;  must,  out  July  6, 

1865. 
Martin  Jones,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  24, 1863;  trans,  to  5tb  Inf. ;  must,  out  July  5, 

1865. 
Daniel  G.  Slade,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  20, 1861. 

Company  J. 
Wm.  n.  Campion,  disch.  for  disability,  November,  1862. 
Nelson  J.  Davis,  died  in  action  at  Seven  Pines,  Va.,  May  31,1862. 
Edward  R.  Gohle,  died  in  action  at  Seven  Pines,  Va.,  May  31, 1862. 
Sylvester  Gay,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  July  1, 1864. 
Alfred  M.  Gardner,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  31, 1862. 
Perry  Goshom,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  17,1862. 
Josiah  E.  Huff,  died  of  disease,  Nov.  18, 1861. 
Lonson  Hill,  died  in  action  at  Seven  Pines,  Va.,  May  31, 1862, 
Albert  Hamlin,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  21, 1862. 
Calvin  Hall,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  24, 1863  ;  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 
Jerome  Kibbee,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  9, 1862. 
John  McDonald,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  1,  1863. 
Joseph  L.  Paney,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  June  20, 1864. 
Jas.  Reeves,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  7, 1802. 
John  Simpkins,  died  in  action  at  Seven  Pines,  Va.,  May  31, 1862. 
Willard  Sweet,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  24, 1863;  trans,  to  5th  Inf. ;  must,  out  July 
5, 1865. 

Company  K. 
John  Felton,  died  in  action  at  Wilderness,  May  6, 1864. 
Wm.  H.  Harvey,  trans,  to  5th  Inf. ;  must,  out  June  8, 1865. 
Edwin  Nickerson,  trans,  to  5th  Inf.;  must,  out  June  9, 1865. 

MEMBERS  FROM  BARRY*  COUNTY  IN  THE  REORGANIZED  THIRD 
INFANTRY. 

Field  and  Btaff  and  Nonr  Commissioned  Staff. 
Aflst.  Surg.  Philo  H.  Drake,  Hastings;  com.  Nov.  24, 1864;  res.  June  20, 1865. 
Sergt.-Miij.  Geo.  W.  Sheldon,  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  May  19, 1865  ;  must,  out  May  25, 
1866. 

Company  A. 

Francis  Rogers,  must,  out  Aug.  5, 1865. 

Company  B. 
Charles  Tichenor,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  18, 1866. 

Company  C. 
Corp.  Vine  E.  Welch,  Barry;  enl.  Sept.  3, 1864;  trans,  to  Co.  F. 
Richard  D.  Hudson,  must,  out  May  23, 1865. 

♦  Allegan  County  had  uo  credited  representatives  in  the  new  regiment.  | 


(hmpany  B. 
Capt.  Washington  K.  Ffrris,  Hastings ;  enl.  Sept.  10, 1864 ;  res.  March  12, 1865 . 
Corp.  Jacob  Rhodes,  Baltimore;  enl.  Aug.  26, 1861. 

Corp.  James  Marvin,  Johnstown ;  enl.  Aug.  17, 1861 ;  must,  out  May  25, 1866. 
Barry  Baulch,  must,  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Thomas  Boggart,  must,  out  Nov.  6, 1805.  ^ 

John  H.  D.vy,  must,  out  June  12, 1866. 
Simon  Eberly,  must,  out  Aug.  17, 1865. 
David  L.  Fereter,  must,  out  Aug.  11, 1865. 
Benjamin  G.  Foster,  must,  out  May  26, 1366. 
John  A.  Harrington,  must,  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 
Leonard  M.  Hyde,  must,  out  July  18,  1865. 

Bayliss  T.  Sweezy,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  June  1 6, 1865. 
Anthony  B.  Wisner,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  April  17,  1865. 
Philip  A.  West,  must,  out  July  11, 1865. 
William  H.  Watts,  must,  out  May  25, 1866. 

Company  E. 
Capt.  Reuben  P.  Lamb,  Prairieville ;  com.  July  28, 1864;  res.  May  12,  1865. 
1st  Lieut.  Albert  H.  Ellis,  Hastings;  com.  July  29, 1864;  hon.  disch..  May  15, 

1805. 
Sergt.  Samuel  M.  Tripp,  Prairieville;  enl.  Aug.  17,  1864;  disch.  by  order,  May 

3, 1865. 
Sergt.  Edwin  King,  Prairieville;  enl.  July  25, 1864;  must,  out  May  26, 1866. 
Sorgt.  John  T.  Shelp,  Prairieville;  enl.  Aug.  17,  1864;  disch.  by  order,  April  16, 

1866. 
Sergt.  Henry  M.  Merritt,  Hastings ;  enl.  Aug.  5,1864;  disch.  by  order,  July  3, 

1865. 
Sergt.  John  White  Prairieville;  enl.  July  25, 1864;  must,  out  May  25, 1866. 
Corp.  James  N.  Collister,  Prairieville;  enl.  Aug.  18, 1864;  disch.  July  12, 1865. 
Corp.  Samuel  Lamb,  Prairieville;  enl.  July  25, 1864;  disch.  May  17, 1865. 
Corp.  Robert  Frost,  Woodland;  enl.  Sept.  3,  1804;  disch.  by  order,  July  25, 

1865. 
Corp.  John  H.  Freeman,  Prairieville;  enl.  July  28, 1864;  disch.  by  order,  Sept. 

5, 1865. 
Corp.  William  Wickham,  Woodland  ;  enl.  Aug.  30, 1864 ;  disch.  by  order,  Sept. 

5, 1865. 
Corp.  William  Scudder,  Prairieville;  enl.  Aug.  19, 1864 ;  absent  sick  at  muster 

out. 
William  Atwood,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  June  30, 1865. 
C.  J.  Brown,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  2, 1866. 
Joseph  Barnes,  must,  out  Aug.  10, 1865. 
Eugene  A.  Beach,  must,  out  May  25, 1866. 

Lewis  S.  Campbell,  must,  out  from  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Nov.  12, 1865. . 
David  F.  Campbell,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Jan.  10, 1865. 
Fabrius  Dcplanta,  must,  out  Sept.  25, 1865. 
Jacob  Frink,  must,  out  May  25, 1866. 
Stephen  Heath,  must,  out  July  24,  1864. 
Stephen  Haight,  must,  out  Oct.  6,-1865. 
Benjamin  Haas,  must,  out  Sept.  4, 1865. 

William  N.  Haight,  died  of  disease  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  December,  1864. 
Conrad  Kehler,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  2, 1866, 
Seth  Lovfcll,  mnst.  out  July  15, 1865. 
William  J.  McArthur,  must,  out  May  25, 1866. 
John  H.  McArthur,  must,  out  May  25,  1806. 
William  Myers,  must,  out  Sept.  28, 1865. 
William  Mills,  must,  out  May  25,1866. 
Alpheus  F.  Morse,  must,  out  July  13, 1865. 
James  Myers,  must,  out  Sept.  9, 1865. 
Samuel  M.  Martin,  must,  out  June  13, 1865. 
William  McNeil,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  2  1866. 
William  Nichols,  must,  out  March  3, 1866. 
Oliver  P.  Jsichols,  must,  out  May  25, 1866. 
Nelson  H.  Orr,  must,  out  April  16,'  1866. 
Charles  W.  Pickle,  must,  out  May  25, 1866. 
Willis  Peck,  must,  out  Sept.  5, 1865. 
Samuel  A.  Phillips,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  May  2, 1866. 
Andrew  Smith,  must,  out  May  25, 1866. 
David  Sisco,  must,  out  May  25,1866. 
John  E.  Spaulding,  must,  out  Sept.  28,  1865. 

Gilbert  Van  Brunt,  died  of  disease  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  April  19, 1866. 
Sidney  J.  Wiley,  must,  out  May  25, 1866. 

Company  F. 
Corp.  George  S.  Ward,  Barry ;  enl.  March  2, 1865 ;  must,  out  March  2  1866 
Lewis  S.  Campbell,  must,  out  from  Vet.  Eea.  Corps,  Nov.  12  1865 
Philip  Eagle,  must,  out  June  18, 1865.  ' 


SIXTH   AND   SEVENTH   INFANTRY. 


93 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

SIXTH  AND  SEVENTH  IHTAWTBT. 

Formation  of  the  Sixth  Infantry — "  The  Peculiar  Regiment" — The 
Allegan  County  Company — O^n  Duty  in  Baltimore — By  Ship  to  New 
Orleans — Sickness  there — Services  in  Louisiana — Siege  of  Port 
Hudson — Converted  into  Heavy  Artillery — Re-enlistment — Ser- 
vices in  Arlsansas — Reducing  Mobile — Subsequent  Services — Mus- 
tered out — Members  from  Allegan  County — From  Barry  County — 
Organization  and  Departure  of  the  Seventh  Infantry — Ball's  Bluff 
— On  the  Peninsula — Second  Bull  Run  and  South  Mountain — Ter- 
rible Fight  at  Antietam — Gallant  Passage  of  the  Rappahannock 
at  Fredericksburg — Chancellorsville— The  March  to  Gettysburg — 
Hard  Fight  there — At  New  York — Re-enlistment — The  Great  Cam- 
paign of  1864  and  1865 — Mustered  out — The  Barry  County  Mem- 
bers. 

SIXTH   INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  formed  during  the  summer  of  1861, 
having  for  its  rendezvous  the  village  of  Kalamazoo.  It  was 
afterwards  organized  as  heavy  artillery,  and  on  account  of 
its  almost  entire  isolation  from  other  Michigan  regiments 
during  its  term  of  service,  and  of  the  fact  that  it  served  as 
both  infantry  and  artillery  as  occasion  required,  it  was  de- 
nominated at  State  headquarters  the  "  peculiar  regiment  of 
Michigan." 

Allegan  County  had  a  large  representation  in  its  ranks. 
Company  G,  which  started  for  the  front  under  the  com- 
mand of  Capt.  Chauncey  J.  Bassett,*  was  most  emphati- 
cally an  Allegan  County  company;  and  was  the  first  entire 
command  to  leave  that  county's  borders. 

Bearing  upon  its  rolls  the  names  of  nine  hundred  and 
forty-four  officens  and  enlisted  men,  and  commanded  by 
Col.  Frederick  W.  Curtenius,  of  Kalamazoo,  a  veteran  of 
the  Mexican  war,  the  regiment  left  its  rendezvous  Aug.  30, 
1861,  and  proceeded  to  Baltimore,  Md.,  where  it  remained 
on  duty  for  several  months. 

Early  in  March,  1862,  it  sailed  for  Ship  Island,  Miss., 
and  from  there  in  April  proceeded  to  New  Orleans,  and 
was  one  of  the  first  regiments  to  enter  that  city  upon  its 
surrender  to  Gen.  Butler  and  Admiral  Farragut.  On  the 
15th  of  May  it  sailed  up  the  Mississippi,  and  was  engaged 
in  the  battle  at  Baton  Rouge  on  the  5th  of  June,  and  again 
at  the  same  place  on  the  5th  of  August,  losing  on  the  latter 
day  fifty-three  men. 

From  Aug.  20,  1862,  until  December  6th,  the  regiment 
was  stationed  at  Metairie  Ridge,  guarding  one  of  the  ap- 
proaches to  New  Orleans.  This  location  was  exceedingly 
unhealthy,  and  the  command  was  so  reduced  that  on  the 
6th  of  December,  when  it  moved  to  New  Orleans,  only  one 
hundred  and  ninety-one,  out  of  an  aggregate  of  seven  hun- 
dred and  fifty-five,  were  fit  for  duty ;  but  the  men  soon 
recovered  upon  their  arrival  in  the  city. 

In  January,  1863,  the  regiment  was  with  the  expedition, 
under  Gen.  Weitzel,  to  Bayou  T^che,  which  destroyed  a 
rebel  gunboat.  In  the  early  part  of  February  it  was 
stationed  a  few  miles  out  from  New  Orleans,  and  on  the 
23d  of  the  month  accompanied  an  expedition  to  Poncha- 
toula,  where  it  had  quite  a  sharp  skirmish,  losing  two  men 


«.Capt.  Bassett  was  commisioned  major  of  a  colored  regiment  in 
October,  1862.  He  afterwards  rose  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel 
in  the  slme  regiment,  and  was  killed  while  in  command  of  it,  during 
the  disastrous  Red  River  campaign. 


wounded.  On  the  12th  of  May  it  made  a  raid  on  the 
Jackson  Railroad,  destroying  a  camp  at  Tangipahoa,  cap- 
turing sixty  prisoners,  and  destroying  property  of  the  value 
of  four  hundred  thousand  dollars.  On  the  21st  of  the 
month  it  embarked  for  Port  Hudson,  where  it  arrived  on 
the  23d. 

During  the  siege  of  this  stronghold  by  Gen.  Banks  it 
was  in  an  advanced  position,  and  participated  in  the  assaults 
of  May  27th  and  June  14th,  in  which  it  lost  severely.  On 
the  29th  of  June  a  detachment  of  thirty-five  men  formed 
the  forlorn  hope  of  an  assaulting  column  which  attacked 
the  "  citadel,"  but  were  driven  back  with  a  loss  of  eight 
killed  and  nine  wounded. 

By  an  order  of  Maj.-Gen.  Banks,  commanding  the  De- 
partment of  the  Gulf,  issued  on  the  10th  of  July,  following 
the  surrender  of  Port  Hudson,  the  Sixth  was  converted 
into  a  heavy  artillery,  regiment,  and  on  the  30th  of  the 
same  month  the  order  was  approved  by  the  Secretary  of 
War. 

The  regiment  was  stationed  at  Port  Hudson  from  the 
last-mentioned  date  until  March  11,  1864,  engaged  in  gar- 
rison duty.  At  the  latter  date,  the  men  having  mostly 
re-enlisted  as  veterans,  the  command  proceeded  to  Kala- 
mazoo, Mich.,  on  a  furlough  of  thirty  days.  On  the  11th 
of  May  it  arrived  at  Port  Hudson,  with  its  ranks  well  filled 
by  men  recruited  in  Michigan.  On  the  6th  of  June  it  was 
ordered  to  Morganza  to  serve  as  infantry,  at  which  place  it 
remained  until  the  24th,  when  it  proceeded  to  Vicksburg, 
where  it  joined  the  engineer  brigade. 

On  the  23d  of  July  it  was  sent  to  the  mouth  of  White 
River,  Arkansas,  and  thence  to  St.  Charles,  in  that  State, 
where  it  was  attached  to  a  regiment  of  infantry.  A  de- 
tachment of  the  regiment,  while  on  a  transport  en  route 
from  Vicksburg  to  White  River,  was  fired  upon  by  a  rebel 
battery,  and  lost  two  men  killed  and  several  wounded. 

It  remained  but  a  short  time  at  St.  Charles,  when  it  re- 
turned to  Morganza,  where  it  was  for  some  time  employed 
on  engineer  service,  but  subsequently  was  returned  to  duty 
as  heavy  artillery  by  the  chief  of  artillery.  It  was  present 
at  the  surrender  of  Fort  Morgan,  Alabama,  but  not  in  time 
to  participate  in  the  bombardment.  On  the  1st  of  October 
portions  of  the  regiment  were  stationed  at  Forts  Gaines  and 
Morgan,  in  Mobile  Bay. 

On  the  23d  of  December,  1864,  five  companies  were  de- 
tached for  an  expedition  under  Gen.  Gordon  Granger  against 
Mobile,  and  were  temporarily  attached  as  infantry  to  the 
brio-ade  of  Gen.  Bertram,  with  which  they  continued  until 
Jan.  27,  1865,  when  they  were  returned  to  the  regiment. 
On  the  31st  of  March,  Companies  A  and  K  were  detached 
from  the  command  at  Fort  Morgan  and  ordered  to  report  to 
Gen.  Granger  at  the  front,  each  being  equipped  with  a  bat- 
tery of  ten-inch  mortars.  On  their  arrival  they  were  placed 
in  position  under  the  guns  of  the  Spanish  Fort,  where 
they  did  fine  execution  at  fourteen  hundred  yards'  range. 
Upon  the  surrender  of  this  fort  the  two  companies  manned 
and  turned  the  captured  guns,  consisting  of  seven-inch 
Brooks  rifles  and  one-hundred-pounder  Parrotts,  on  the 
remaining  rebel  forts,  Huger  and  Tracy,  which  soon  after 
surrendered. 

April  10th,  Company  B  was  placed  on  picket  duty  at 


94 


HISTORY   OF   ALLEGAN   AND   BAKRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Navy  Cove,  and  Company  E  was  assigned  to  duty  in  gar- 
risoning Fort  Powell.  Companies  A  and  K  rejoined  the 
garrison  at  Fort  Morgan,  April  20th,  and  on  the  9th  of 
July  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Sheridan 
at  New  Orleans,  where  it  arrived  on  the  11th,  and  en- 
camped at  Greenville,  four  miles  from  the  city.  At  that 
place  it  was  furnished  with  new  camp-equipage  and  wagon- 
train,  and  placed  under  orders  for  Texas ;  but  on  the  5th 
of  August  orders  were  received  for  its  muster  out,  which 
was  completed  on  the  20th,  and  on  the  30th  it  arrived  at 
Jackson,  Mich.,  and  on  the  5th  of  September  was  paid  and 
disbanded.  Its  losses  during  the  war  were  sixty-five  men 
killed  or  died  of  wounds,  and  four  hundred  and  fifty  died 
of  disease, — the  heaviest  loss  by  disease  of  any  Michigan 
regiment  during  the  war. 

MEMBERS   OF  THE  SIXTH   INFANTRY  FKOM   ALLEGAN  COUNTY. 

Non-CommigsUmed  Staff. 
Com.-Sergt.  Leander  W.  Leighton,  enl.  Aug.  21, 1861 ;  disch.  for  disability. 
Hosp.-Stew.  Geo.  W.  Moore,  enl.  Aug.  21,  1861;  pro.  Ist  lieut.  lltU  Eegt.  Col. 

Art'y,  Aug.  6, 1863. 
Drum-Maj.  Danl.  W.  Marbell,  enl.  Aug.  21, 1861 ;  discb.  for  disability,  March 
3(1, 1862. 

Company  A. 

Wm.  B.  Ashcroft,  must,  out  Aug.  20,  1865. 

Company  B. 
Clayton  M.  Carr,  must,  out  Aug.  20, 1866. 

Company  C. 
Jefferson  Brown,  must,  out  Aug.  20, 1865. 
Wm.  Gorman,  must,  out  Sept.  5, 1865. 
Albert  Fearsall,  died  of  disease  at  New  Orleans,  La.,  Oct.  9, 1864. 

Compavy  E. 
Geo.  Nichols,  must,  out  Aug'.  20, 1865. 

Company  (?. 

Capt.  Chaunccy  J.  Bassett,  Allegan  ;  com.  Aug.  19, 1861 ;  pro.  maj.  in  Louisiana 
Eegt.  Col.  Troops,  Oct.  20,1862. 

Capt.  Henry  Stark,  Otsego;  com.  Oct.  21,  1862;  1st  lieut.  Aug.  20,1861;  mnst. 
out  Aug.  20, 1866. 

Ist  Lieut.  Win.  H.  White,  Otsego  ;  com.  July  1, 1862 ;  died  of  disease  at  Carrol- 
ton,  La.,  Oct.  16,  1862. 

Ist  Lieut.  Oscar  Haire,  Otsego;  com.  Oct.  21,  1862;  enlisted  as  sergt.  Oct.  21, 
1861 ;  res.  Jnly  19, 1864. 

2d  Lieut.  Alfred  C.  Wallin,  com.  Aug.  21, 1861 ;  res.  June  30, 1862. 

Sergt.  Wm.  H.  While,  Otsego ;  enl.  Aug.  20,  1861 ;  pro.  1st  lieut.  July  1, 1862. 

Sergt.  Jas.  E.  Garrison,  enl.  Aug.  20,  1861 ;  disch.  for  disability,  June  26, 1864. 

Jas.  Stewart,  enl.  Aug.  20, 1861 ;  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  29,  1863. 

Sergt.  Sidney  Ri.use,  Otsego  ;  enl.  Aug.  20,  1861 ;  veteran,  Feb.  1,  1864;  must, 
out  Aug.  20,  1865. 

Corp.  Richard  W.  Duncan,  enl.  Aug.  20, 1861 ;  killed  at  Port  Hudson,  June  30, 
1863. 

Corp.  Alonzo  H.  Chandler,  enl.  Aug.  20, 1861  ;  disch,  for  disability. 

Sergt.  Geo.  M.  Guest,  enl.  Aug.  20, 1861 ;  disch.  by  ordei,  Sept.  28, 1863. 

Corp.  Walter  Wood,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Aug.  23, 1864. 

Corp.  KodolphuB  Symonds,  died  of  disease  at  Port  Hudson,  July  23, 1863. 

Corp.  Geo.  H.  Harris,  disch.  Dec.  10, 1863. 

Corp.  John  E.  Hopper,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  19, 1863. 

Musician  Charles  Bassett,  died  of  disease,  Nov.  10, 1861. 

Musician  Curtis  Myers,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Aug.  23, 1864.       . 

Musician  Warren  Johnson,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  20, 1862. 

Wagoner  John  P.  Parish,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Aug.  23, 1864. 

Jas.  Austin,  died  of  disease  at  Fort  Morgan,  Ala.,  April  12, 1865. 

Wm.  Bailey,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  15,  1862. 

Daniel  Buskerk,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  20, 1862. 

John  Born,  died  in  action  at  Baton  Bouge,  Aug.  5, 1862. 

Jas.  H.  Booker,  died  in  action  at  Port  Hudson,  May  27, 1863. 

John  Bartlett,  veteran,  enl.  March  1, 1864;  must,  out  Aug.  20,  1866. 

Milo  Baker,  must,  out  Aug.  20, 1865. 

Thomas  Carey,  died  of  disease  at  New  Orleans,  Aug.  15, 1862. 

Elijah  Crane,  died  of  wounds  at  Port  Hudson,  May  28, 1863. 

Bichard  L.  Darling,  died  of  disease,  June  28, 1862. 

Frederick  Dailey,  died  of  disease  at  Port  Hudson,  Aug.  24, 18G3. 

Geo.  W.  Dailey,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Aug.  23, 1864. 

Curios  E.  Dexter,  di.^ch.  for  disability,  June  5, 1863. 

Enoch  S.  Dexter,  veteran,  enl.  March  1, 1864;  must,  out  Aug.  20, 1865. 

Jas.  W.  Edwards,  veteran,  enl.  March  1, 1864;  must,  out  Aug.  20, 1865. 

Lewis  Eggleston,  died  of  disease,  May  28, 1862. 


Terry  C.  Fuller,  died  of  disease  at  Port  Hudson,  Aug.  26, 1862. 

Geo.  W.  Frank,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Aug.  23, 1864. 

BenJ.  Fiy,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Aug.  23, 1864. 

Jami-8  Frew,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Aug  23, 1864. 

David  C.  Frew,  disch.  by  order,  April  26, 1864. 

William  Frew,  veteran,  enl.  March  1, 1864  ;  must,  out  Aug.  20,  1865. 

Joseph  W.  Fay,  missing  in  action. 

Jennings  Goring,  died  of  disease,  Nov.  18, 1861. 

Henrj'  Guest,  disch.  by  order,  Jnly  26, 1805. 

Abram  E.  Garrison,  disch.  by  order,  Oct.  8, 1863. 

Miles  Horn,  disch.  for  ditability,  June  30, 1862. 

Edward  Haumer,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Feb.  20, 1866. 

Robert  Harrison,  died  of  wounds,  July  1, 1863. 

Freeman  Hudden,  veteran,  enl.  March  1, 1864;  must,  out  Aug.  20, 1865. 

Francis  M.  Hurd,  veteran,  enl.  March  1, 1864 ;  must,  out  Aug.  20, 1865. 

Anius  J.  Jackson,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Aug.  23, 1864. 

William  Kerns,  disch.  for  disability,  Apiil  10, 1862. 

John  J.  Kennison,  disih.  for  disability,  Aug.  1, 186*. 

J.  E.  Kennison,  disch,  by  order,  Feb.  26,  1864. 

William  Kidder,  died  of  wounds  at  Port  Hudson,  May  28, 1863. 

Luke  Maloy,  died  of  wounds  at  Port  Hudson,  May  28, 1863. 

Homer  Mankus,  died  of  disease  at  Vicksburg,  July  12, 1864. 

William  Marshall,  died  of  disease,  Sept.  16, 1862. 

Henry  Marble,  died  of  disease,  Oct.  24, 1862. 

Leonard  Minard,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  10, 1861. 

John  J.  Maine,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  30, 1864. 

Solomon  McBride,  must,  out  Aug.  20, 1865. 

John  McBride,  veteran,  enl.  March  1, 1864;  must,  out  Aug.  20,1865. 

ISbenezer  G.  Murma,  veteiau,  enl.  March  1, 1864;  must,  out  Aug.  20, 1865. 

Eobert  H.  Norris,  died  of  disease  at  New  Orleans,  La.,  Jan.  5, 1863. 

George  Newton,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  3, 1863. 

Oliver  Potts,  disch.  for  disability,  Apiil  9, 1862. 

William  H.  Parish,  disch.  for  disability,  April  11, 1862. 

Curtis  Z.  Pratt,  disch.  by  order,  Oct.  8, 1863. 

Silas  Pratt,  died  of  disease. 

Charles  Parkhurst,  died  of  disease  at  Carrollton,  La.,  Feb.ll,  1863. 

Eobert  Payne,  veteran,  enl.  March  1, 1864;  must,  out  Aug.  20,  1865. 

Charles  E,  Plummer,  veteran,  enl.  March  1,  1864;  must,  out.  Aug.  20,  1865. 

William  Ross,  disch.  for  disability,' Bee.  10, 1861. 

Leander  Ross,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  1, 1862. 

Orlando  D.  Rosenburg,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Aug.  23, 1864. 

John  Rollins,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Aug.  23, 1864. 

Riley  Southwell,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  15, 1862. 

Henry  Southwell, disch.  for  disability,  Doc.  26, 1862. 

John  B.  Smith,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  1, 1862. 

Enoch  Simpson,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Aug.  23, 1864. 

Csborn  Swaney,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Aug.  23, 1864. 

Hiram  Shriver,  died  of  disease  at  Carrollton,  La.,  Sept.  30, 1862. 

George  H.  Starkweather,  died  ot  wounds,  July  1, 1863, 

Samuel  Schrickengast,  died  of  disease  at  Port  Hudson,  July  23, 1863. 

Frank  B.  Seymour,  veteran,  enl.  March  1, 1864 ;  must,  out  Aug.  20. 1865. 

Orvis  Sweetland,  veteran,  enl. March  1, 1864;  must,  out  Aug.  20, 1865. 

Charles  Symonds,  veteran,  enl.  March  1, 1864  ;  must,  out  Aug.  20,1865. 

James  C.  Symonds,  veteran,  enl.March  1,  1864;  must,  out  Aug.  20, 1865. 

Byron  Teal,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct  10, 1861. 

John  W.  Van  Lent,  disch.  for  disability. 

Peter  Wyner,  died  of  wounds  at  Baton  Rouge,  July  3, 1863. 

Henry  A.  Wiltse,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Aug.  23,  1864. 

Brown  Wynne,  veteran,  enl.  March  1, 1864;  must,  out  Aug.  20, 1865. 

Frank  Whipple,  veteran,  eiil.  March  1, 1864;  must,  out  Aug.  20, 1865. 

Theodore  Weed,  veteran,  enl.  March  1, 1864  ;  must,  out  Aug.  20, 1866. 

James  Youlden,  veteran,  enl.  March  1, 1864;  must,  out  Aug.  20, 1865. 

Company  I. 
George  M.  Pardee,  died  of  disease  at  Ticksburg,  Sept.  2.%  1864. 

Company  K. 
Henry  Hixon,  must,  out  Aug.  20, 1865. 

BAEEY  COUNTY  SOLDIERS  IN  THE  SIXTH   INFANTRY. 
NonrCommissiSn^d  Staff. 
Sergt.-Maj,  George  T,  Griswold,  Vei-montville ;  pro,  to  2d  lieut,  Co.  H. 

Company  C. 
Chauncey  Boyce,  disch.  to  enlist  in  regular  service,  Nov.  17, 1862. 
William  H.  Burgess,  disch.  by  order,  May  18, 1865. 
G.  P.  Sterling,  disch.  to  enlist  iu  regular  service,  Nov.  17, 1862. 

Company  G. 
Samuel  Bnssell,  must,  out  Aug.  20, 1865. 

Company  S. 
1st  Lieut.  Henry  C.  Baer,  Oastleton ;  com.  March  7, 1865 ;  2d  lieut.  Dec.  2, 1864 ; 

must,  out  Aug.  20, 1865. 
2d  Lieut.  George  T.  Griswold,  Hastings  ;  com.  March  7, 1865;  previously  sergt.- 

maj. ;  must,  out  Aug.  20, 1865. 
Allen  T.  Baer,  died  of  disease  at  Oak  Hall,  Va.,  Nov.  18, 1861. 
Henry  C.  Baer,  veteran,  enl.  March  1, 1864. 


SIXTH   AND  SEVENTH   INFANTRY. 


95 


Leander  CroHs,  died  of  disease  at  New  Orleans,  La.,  Dec.  2.5, 18(32. 
John  A.  Gregg,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  1, 1864  ;  must,  out  Aug.  20, 1865. 
Kly  Myers,  died  of  disease  at  Katchez,  Miss.,  May  18, 1862. 

SEVENTH  INPANTEY. 
The  Seventh  Regiment  of  Infantry  was  recruited  during 
the  summer  of  1861,  and  rendezvoused  at  Monroe.  It  was 
mustered  into  the  service  for  three  years,  August  22d,  and, 
bearing  upon  its  rolls  the  names  of  eight  hundred  and 
eighty-four  officers  and  enlisted  men,  set  out  for  Virginia, 
Sept.  5,  1861. 

Arriving  there,  it  was  stationed  on  the  upper  Potomac.  It 
was  one  of  the  regiments  detailed  to  go  to  Ball's  BluflF,  on 
the  21st  of  October,  under  Gen.  Baker,  and  shared  in  the 
losses  inflicted  by  the  sudden  and  overwhelming  attack  of 
the  enemy  on  that  disastrous  day.  In  the  spring  of  1862 
it  proceeded  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  to  the  Penin- 
sula. At  Yorktown,  West  Point,  Fair  Oaks,  and  the 
"  Seven  Days'  Fight,"  the  Seventh  was  an  active  partici- 
pant. Retiring  with  the  same  army  from  the  Peninsula, 
the  enemy  was  again  met  at  the  second  Bull  Run,  Aug. 
30, 1862,  and  at  South  Mountain,  September  14th.  Three 
days  later  it  stood  face  to  face  with  the  foe  at  Antietam. 
Here  it  was  engaged  in  one  of  the  most  terrific  struggles  of 
the  war,  and  bravely  maintained  itself  throughout,  though 
the  victory  it  assisted  to  achieve  was  purchased  at  the  cost 
of  a  list  of  killed  and  wounded  embracing  more  than  one- 
half  of  its  force  present  in  action. 

After  Antietam  the  Seventh  continued  with  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  in  its  marches  through  Northern  Virginia, 
until  the  11th  of  December,  1862,  when  that  army  stood 
on  the  north  sid'e  of  the  Rappahannock  gazing  across  at 
the  enemy's  works  at  Fredericksburg.  During  the  night 
of  the  10th  the  Union  pontoniers  had  partially  constructed 
a  pontoon-bridge  across  the  stream,  but  at  daylight  the 
rebel  sharpshooters  soon  drove  them  away.  Volunteers 
were  called  for  to  cross  the  river  and  seize  a  foothold  on 
the  opposite  shore.  Lieut.-Col.  Baxter,  then  in  command, 
called  on  the  Seventh  for  that  duty,  and  as  one  man  they 
responded  to  the  call.  Foremost  of  all  the  army,  they 
sprang  iiito  the  boats  and  pulled  for  the  opposite  side. 
The  rebel  bullets  fell  thick  and  fast  among  them  and  many 
were  slain  or  wounded,  among  the  latter  being  their  gallant 
commander,  but  still  they  held  on  their  way,  and  at  length 
made  good  their  landing.  Close  behind  them  came  a  Mas- 
sachusetts regiment.  The-two  formed  on  the  bank,  dashed 
up  to  the  heights  above,  drove  the  enemy  from  his  en- 
trenchments, and  captured  several  hundred  prisoners  at  the 
point  of  the  bayonet.  The  bridge  was  then  completed,  and 
a  portion  of  the  army  crossed  in  safety.  The  subsequent 
disasters  which  befell  the  forces  there  assembled  under 
Gen.  Burnside  cannot  dim  the  glory  gained  by  the  Sev- 
enth Michigan  Infantry  in  the  execution  of  this  brilliant 

exploit. 

On  the  3d  of  May,  1863,  the  regiment  again  (srossed  the 
Rappahannock  to  take  part  in  the  battle  of  Chancellois- 
ville,  but  was  not  seriously  engaged. 

During  the  Gettysburg  campaign  the  regiment  under- 
went more  than  the  usual  hardships  of  that  dusty  and 
torrid  period.  On  the  27th  of  June  it  marched  thirty- 
seven  miles,  six  on  the  28th,  and  on  the  29th  thirty-two 


miles,  making  seventy-five  in  three  days, — a  remarkable  ex- 
ploit when  it  is  considered  that  every  soldier  carried  a  rifle, 
bayonet,  full  cartridge-boxes,  belts,  blanket,  haversack  with 
three  days'  rations,  and  canteen,  and  that  the  marching  in 
column  in  a  cloud  of  dust  is  far  more  fatiguing  than  walk- 
ing alone. 

The  Seventh  arrived  at  Gettysburg  on  the  2d  of  July, 
and  immediately  went  into  battle  on  Cemetery  Hill.  In 
this  exposed  position  it  remained  until  the  close  of  the 
action,  meeting  and  repelling  some  of  the  fiercest  attacks 
of  the  enemy.  So  much  had  the  regiment  been  depleted 
by  its  previous  conflicts  that  only  fourteen  officers  and  one 
hundred  and  fifty-one  men  went  into  this  fight.  Of  this 
small  number  twenty-one  were  killed  (including  the  com- 
mander, Lieut.-Col.  Steele)  and  forty-four  wounded,  the 
total  casualties  being  nearly  half  of  the  whole  number 
engaged. 

Shortly  after  the  Gettysburg  victory  the  regiment  was 
ordered  to  New  York  City  to  assist  in  preserving  order 
during  the  enforcement  of  the  draft.  Returning  to  Vir- 
ginia, it  was  engaged  in  skirmishing,  marching,  etc.,  until 
December  7th,  when  it  went  into  winter-quarters  at  Barry's 
Hill.  Here  one  hundred  and  fifty-three  men  re-enlisted  as 
veterans,  and  the  regiment  was  sent  home  to  recruit.  After 
thirty  days'  furlough  it  returned  to  Barry's  Hill. 

It  remained  there  until  the  grand  advance  of  the  army 
took  place,  during  the  early  days  of  May,  1864.  From 
that  time  until  the  collapse  of  the  Rebellion  was  rendered 
certain  by  the  surrender  at  Appomattox,  the  Seventh  was 
ever  found  in  the  fore-front  of  battle.  In  the  campaign 
from  May  to  November,  1864,  it  had  lost  forty-one  men 
killed,  one  hundred  and  thirty-one  wounded,  thirty-six 
taken  prisoners,  and  thirty  reported  as  missing  in  action, 
some  of  whom  were  killed. 

After  the  review  at  Washington,  D.  C,  the  regiment 
was  ordered  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  where  it  arrived  June  23d. 
It  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Jefi"ersonville,  Ind.,  July 
5th,  and  reached  Jackson,  Mich.,  two  days  later,  where  it 
was  paid  off  and  disbanded. 

BARBY   COUNTY    SOLDIEES    WHO   SERVED    IN    THE    SEVENTH    IN- 
FANTRY. 

Company  H. 
Tiionias  Cromp,  disch.  by  order,  July  7, 1865. 

Company  I. 
Capt.  Bezaleel  W.  Lovell,  com.  Aug.  22, 1861 ;  res.  Ang.  30, 1862. 
Capt.  Elbanan  0.  Phetteplace,^om.  Sept.  2, 1862 ;  1st  lieut.,  Aug.  22, 1861;  res. 

May  11, 1863. 
Capt.  Samuel  0.  Hodgman,  com.  June  22,  1863 ;  1st  lieut.,  Sept.  2, 1862 ;  2d 

lleut.,  Aug.  25, 1862 ;  res.  March  1,  1864. 
Corp.  IrvingRose,  enl.  Aug.  22, 1861 ;  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  6, 1862. 
Musician  P.  B.  Haman,  enl.  Aug.  22, 1861 ;  disch.  April  10,  1863. 
John  B.  Ashley,  died  of  wounds  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Aug.  2, 1862. 
Orman  Armstrong,  disch.  for  disability.  May  12, 1864. 
Joshua  Boorum,  disch.  for  disability,  April  14, 1863. 
John  Chapman,  disch.  for  disability. 
Henry  Cromp,  disch.  by  order,  July  28, 1865. 
Lucius  M.  Cady,  died  at  Savage's  Station,  June  30, 1862. 
Wallace  Evans,  disch.  July  23, 1862. 
Augustus  M.  Fonts,  disch.  for  disability. 

Andrew  J.  Forber,  died  in  action  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17,1862. 
Alonzo  Pouts,  died  of  disease  at  Bolivar,  Md.,  about  Dec.  1, 1862. 
Joseph  A.  Kidder,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Benton,  Md.,  Dec.  29, 1861. 
Caleb  Kelly,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  2, 1862. 
John  H.  McClelland,  discli.  for  disability,  June  30, 1862. 
Thomas  McLeod,  disch.  for  disability,  July  9, 1862. 
Philander  Mead,  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 
James  Norton,  died  in  action  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17, 1862. 


96 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN   AND   BAREY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Charles  H.  Palmer,  died  of  disease  at  Fort  Monroe,  May  3, 1862. 

Natbanicl  S.  l^angbum,  disch.  for  disability,  Marcli  4, 1863. 

Kylar  Sweet,  disch.  Not.  15, 1862. 

Charles  Scoby,  veteran,  eTil.  Dec.  1 8, 1863 ;  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 

James  M.  Travis,  died  of  wounds  at  Frederick,  Md.,  Oct.  10, 1862. 

Henry  M.  Taylor,  disch.  May  30, 1862. 

Henry  L.  Valentine,  disch.  for  disability. 

Amos  W.  "Warner,  disch.  for  disability. 

Charles  0.  Wade,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  6, 1862. 


CHAPTER    XXTV. 

EIGHTH,   WIUTTH,   AND    TAIVELFTH    INFAWTKT. 

Forrtation  and  Departure  of  the  Bigbth  Infantry — Takes  Part  in  the 
Expedition  to  South  Carolina — Its  Services  and  Battles  there — Its 
Casualties — To  Kentucky  and  Mississippi — -Back  to  Kentucky — 
Through  Cumberland  Gap  to  East  Tennessee — Siege  of  Knoxville 
— He-enlistment — Off  to  Virginia — Services  in  the  Campaign  of 
1864 — Brilliant  closing  Services — Muster  out — Members  from  Barry 
County — From  Allegan  County — The  iNinth  Infantry  recruited, 
mustered  in,  and  ordered  to  Kentucky — "Winter-Quarters  there — 
Services  in  Tennessee — Six  Companies  attacked  at  Murfreesboro 
by  Forrest's  Division  of  Cavalry — Suffers  Heavy  Loss,  and  is  com- 
pelled to  surrender — ^Prisoners  exchanged — Regiment  detailed  as 
Provost-Guard  —  Re-enlistment  —  Continuation  of  Guard  Duty 
through  the  "War — Marches  with  Sherman's  Army  to  Atlanta — 
Services  at  Chattanooga  and  Nashville — Mustered  out — Allegan 
County  Members — Barry  County  Members — The  Twelfth  Infantry 
■ — Mustered  in  and  hurried  to  the  Front — Pittsburg  Landing — 
Battle  of  Metamora — A  Detachment  defends  a  Block-House— 
Services  in  Mississippi — In  Arkansas — Close  of  its  Services — Barry 
County  Members — Allegan  County  Members. 

EIGHTH  INrANTRY. 

This  regiment  rendezvoused  at  Detroit.  It  was  mustered 
into  the  service  Sept.  23, 1861,  and  on  the  27th  of  the  same 
month,  having  on  its  rolls  the  names  of  nine  hundred  and 
fifteen  officers  and  enlisted  men,  it  set  out  for  the  front,  led 
by  the  gallant  Col.  William  M.  Fenton,  of  Flint. 

At  Annapolis,  Md.,  on  the  19th  of  October,  1861,  it 
embarked  as  part  of  the  expedition  which  under  Gen.  T. 
W.  Sherman  was  to  operate  against  the  enemy  along  the 
South  Atlantic  coast.  From  this  time  until  the  termina- 
tion of  the  Antietam  campaign  the  regiment  was  very  ac- 
tively engaged,  participating  in  nine  battles,  occurring  in 
four  different  States,  viz. :  Hilton  Head,  S.  C,  Nov.  7, 
1861;  Port  Royal  Ferry,  S.  C,  Jan.  1,  1862;  Fort  Pu- 
laski, Ga.,  April  14,  1862;  Wilmington  Island,  Ga.,  April 
16, 1862  ;  James  Island,  S.  C,  June  16, 1862  ;  Bull  Run, 
Va.,  Aug.  29  and  30,  1862;  Chantilly,  Va.,  Sept.  1, 
1862 ;  South  Mountain,  Md.,  Sept.  14,  1862 ;  and  Antie- 
tam, Md.,  Sept.  17,  1862. 

Its  casualties  at  Wilmington  Island  were  fourteen  killed 
and  thirty  wounded ;  at  James  Island,  thirteen  killed, 
ninety-seven  wounded,  thirty-five  missing,  and  thirty-five 
taken  prisoners.  The  alterations  from  the  time  of  its  en- 
listment to  Nov.  1,  1862,  showed  the  following  astonishing 
results :  Number  of  men  discharged,*  two  hundred  and 
sixty ;  died  of  disease,  fifty-five ;  killed  in  battle  or  died  of 
wounds  received  in  action,  eighty-nine;  wounded  in  action, 
two  hundred  and  forty-three ;    deserted,  ten  ;    taken  pris- 

*  One  hundred  of  these  were  discharged  because  of  their  enlistment 
in  the  legular  army. 


oners,  forty-eight ;  joined  by  enlistment,  two  hundred  and 
seventy-three ;  ofiicers  resigned,  twenty-one. 

In  March,  1863,  it  proceeded  with  the  Ninth  Army 
Corps  to  Kentucky,  and  in  June  following  to  Vicksburg, 
Miss. ;  thence  in  August  it  proceeded,  via  Cairo,  Cincinnati, 
and  Nicholasville,  to  Crab  Orchard,  Ky.,  and  on  the  10th 
of  September  it  marched,  vi&  Cumberland  Gap,  to  Knox- 
ville, Tenn.,  where,  with  the  Ninth  Army  Corps,  under 
Gen.  Burnside,  it  participated  in  the  stirring  scenes  there 
enacted  during  the  fall  of  1 863.  During  the  siege  of  Knox- 
ville by  the  rebels  under  Longstreet  the  Eighth  occupied 
the  front  line  of  works,  and  assisted  to  repel  the  fierce 
assault  on  Fort  Sanders,  Nov.  29,  1863.  The  regiment 
during  this  period  endured  many  hardships  and  privations 
from  want  of  sufficient  food  and  clothing.  The  enemy 
were  finally  compelled  to  retire,  and  were  pursued  by  the 
Eighth  as  far  as  Rutledge. 

The  regiment  then  re-enlisted  as  veteran  volunteers,  and 
on  the  8th  of  January  commenced  its  inarch  across  the 
mountains  vid,  Cumberland  Gap.  Nicholasville,  Ky.,  was 
reached  January  19th  ;  a  march  of  two  hundred  miles, 
through  icy  passes  and  over  rough  mountain-roads,  having 
been  performed  in  ten  days.  Arriving  home,  a  large  num- 
ber of  recruits  was  obtained,  and  on  the  9th  of  March, 
1864,  the  regiment  left  its  rendezvous  at  Flint,  and  again 
proceeded  to  join  the  Ninth  Army  Corps  in  Virginia. 

Thenceforth  its  history  was  identified  with  that  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  In  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness  it 
lost  ninety-nine  men,  killed,  wounded,  and  missing;  at 
Spottsylvania,  forty-nine ;  at  Bethesda  Church,  fifty-two ; 
at  Petersburg,  June  17th  and  18th,  forty-nine  men.  At 
the  Crater,  Weldon  Railroad,  Ream's  Station,  Poplar  Grove 
Church,  Pegram  Farm,  Boydton  Road,  and  Hatcher's  Run, 
it  was  also  engaged,  losing  numerously  in  killed,  wounded, 
and  missing.  During  the  year  ending  Nov.  1,  1864,  it  had 
lost  in  killed,  or  died  of  wounds  received  in  action,  eighty- 
six  men  ;  died  of  disease,  forty ;  wounded  in  action,  two 
hundred  and  eighty-seven  ;  missing  in  action,  twenty-nine  ; 
taken  prisoners,  thirty-seven ;  while  it  had  gained  by  re- 
enlistment  of  veterans  two  hundred  and  ninety-nine, 
and  by  the  joining  of  recruits,  five  hundred  and  forty-two. 

In  the  final  campaign  in  Virginia  the  Eighth  bore  a  dis- 
tinguished part.  It  assisted  to  repulse  the  enemy  when  he 
assaulted  Fort  Steadman,  March  25,  1865,  and  on  the  2d 
of  April  was  engaged  in  the  attack  on  his  position  at  Fort 
Mahon,  when  it  carried  the  works  in  its  front,  and  was  the 
first  regiment  to  place  its  colors  on  that  rebel  stronghold. 
It  occupied  Petersburg,  April  3d,  and  soon  after  marched 
to  City  Point,  whence  it  embarked  on  transports  to  Alex- 
andria, Va.  It  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Delaney 
House,  D.  C,  July  30,  1865,  and,  arriving  in  Detroit, 
Mich.,  Aug.  3,  1865,  was  paid  in  full  and  disbanded. 

MEiaBERS  OF  THE  EIGIITH  INFANTEY  FROM  BAEEY  COUNTY. 
Non-CkymmmUmed  Staff. 
Hosp.  Stwd.  John  Michael,  Hastings;  enl.  Aug.  30, 1861 ;  disch.  at  end  of  ser. 
vice,  Sept.  23, 1864. 

Company  B. 
Sergt.  Saml.  Stowell,  enl.  Aug,  26, 1861 ;  disch.  for  disability,  March  23, 1863. 
James  II.  Black,  disch.  to  enl.  in  regular  army,  Oct.  28, 1862. 
John  C.  Black,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  29, 1863;  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 
David  C.  Lee,  disch.  to  enl.  in  regular  army,  Oct.  28, 1862. 


EIGHTH,  NINTH,  AND  TWELFTH  INFANTRY. 


97 


Company  F. 
iBt  Lient.  Travers  Fliilips,  plastings;  com.  Aug.  29, 1861 ;  res.  June  11, 1862. 
2d  Lieut,  Jacob  Maus,  Hastings;  com.  Aug.  29, 1861;  res.  Jan.  9, 1862. 
1st  Lieut.  Austin  D.  Bates,  Irving;  enl.  Jan.  9,  1862;  sergeant;  res.  Oct. 23, 

1862. 
Sergt.  Wm.  A.  Tliomas,  Prairieville;  enl.  Sept.  7,  1861;  discb.  for  disability, 

Jan.  6, 1862. 
Sergt.  Jas.  P.  Mead,  Hastings  ;  enl.  Sept.  7, 1861 ;  pro.  2d  lieut.  June  6,  1864; 

must,  out  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  23, 1864. 
Sergt.  Chas.  H.  Swartout,  Prairieville ;  enl.  Sept.7, 1861 ;  veteran,  Dec.  30,1863 

pro.  2d  lieut.  Co.  G. 
Sergt.  Chas.  Snyder,  Prairieville  ;  enl.  Sept.  13,  1861 ;  veteran,  Dec.  30, 1863 

pro.  2d  lieut. ;  must,  out  sergt.,  July  30, 1865. 
Sergt.  John  M.  Bessmer,  Hastings;  enl.  Aug.  3D,  1861 ;  disch.  for  disability, 

Dec.  31, 1863. 
Corp.  Augustus  I.  Newton,  Hastings ;  enl.  Sept.  9, 1861 ;  veteran,  Dec.  30, 1863 

mu^t.  out  July  30, 1865. 
Corp.  Edgar  A.  Nye,  Prairieville;  enl.  Sept.  12,  1861;  veteran,  Dec.  30,  1863 

died  in  action  at  Spottsylvania,  May  12, 1864. 
Corp.  Wm.  H.  H.  Powers,  Hastings;   enl.  Sept.  2,  1861;  veteran;  disch.  for 

disability,  Jan.  6, 1862. 
Corp.  John  H.  Wolfe,  Maple  Grove;  enl.  Sept.  13,  1861;  disch.  at  end  of  ser- 
vice, Sept.  23, 1864. 
Mnsioian   Wilbur  F.  Dickinson,  Hastings;    enl.  Sept.  13,  1861;  vet.  Dec.  30, 

1863  ;  disch.  by  order,  Aug.  8, 1865. 
Wagoner  JRobert  D.  Gates,  Prairieville;  enl.  Sept.  13,  1861;  disch.  by  order, 

May  3, 1863. 
Saml.  Belsom,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  27, 1862. 
Alonzo  H.  Bennett,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  13, 1863. 
Julius  Brazee,  disch.  at  end  of  service.  May  15,  1865. 
Wm.  0.  Barrett,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  22. 1864. 
Wm.  C.  Barrett,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  D.  C,  August,  1864. 
Dorrance  E.  Burdick,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  29, 1863  ;  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 
Sidney  D.  Cobb,  died  in  action  at  James  Island,  S.  C,  June  16, 1862, 
Emmett  Cole,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  18, 1862. 
Harlan  Cole,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  26, 1B62, 
Geo.  Cross,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  22, 1864, 
Alonzo  B.  Duffy,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan,  6, 1862, 

Alvan  B,  Durham,  veteran,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  D.  C,  May  4, 1865. 
John  Q.  Dowd,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  30, 1863;  must,  out  July  30, 1866. 
William  Desmond,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  30,  1863;  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 
Edward  H.  Easton,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  30, 1863 ;  must,  out  July  30,  1865. 
Henry  Grebel,  veteran,  enl,  Dec.  30, 1803 ;  must,  out  July  30, 1865, 
William  H.  Geiger,  disch.  for  disability,  March  27, 1862, 
Abraham  Guntrip,  disch.  Jan.  8, 1863. 

Joseph  Garnish,  died  of  wounds  at  Washington,  D.  C,  June  30, 1864. 
Oliver  H.  Greenfield,  veteran,  enl.  Dee.  30, 1863 ;  disch.  by  order,  July  6, 1865. 
William  H.  Holden,  veteran,  enl.  Deo.  30, 1863 ;  must,  out  July  30, 1865, 
Henry  W,  Hawes,  disch,  for  disability,  Jan.  6, 1862. 
Edward  Johnson,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  27, 1861. 
Elijah  Kibbee,  disch.  by  order,  Aug.  15, 1865. 

Herman  Knickerbocker,  died  in  actiuu  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.,  May  12, 1864. 
George  W.  Kightliner,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  30, 1863;  died  on  picket  duty  before 

Petersburg,  Va.,  Dec.  9, 1864. 
George  Lusk,  died  in  action  at  James  Island,  S.  C,  June  16, 1802. 
James  T.  McLellan,  died  of  wounds,  June  25,  1802. 
.Tohn  F.  Maile,  disch.  for  promotion,  Aug.  11, 1864. 
Daniel  McKenzie,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  27, 1865. 
John  L.  Maile,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  30, 1863 ;  disch.  by  order,  Jan.  20, 1865. 
Duncan  McBain,  veteran,  enl.  Deo.  30, 1863 ;  disch.  by  order,  June  13, 1865. 
Daniel  Pierce,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  30, 1863  ;  disch.  by  order,  Aug.  12, 1865, 
John  F.  rhillips,  died  of  disease  at  Hilton  Head,  S,  C,  Nov.  23, 1801. 
James  S.  Perry,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  22, 1864. 
James  I.  Fullmer,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  26^862, 
George  W.  Peck,  disch.  for  disability. 
Close  K.  Palmer,  disch.  for  disability. 
Charles  M.  Kunyau,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  26, 1802. 
Griden  C,  Eathbun,  died  in  action  at  James  Island,  S,  C,  June  16, 1862, 
William  Stokes,  died  of  disease  at  Hilton  Head,  S,  C,  Nov.  27, 1861. 
Benjamin  Sirebury,  disch.  for  disability. 
Henry  Sliter,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  26, 1802. 
Hirnm  Seeley,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  22, 1864. 
Edward  G.  Stoffe,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  30, 1863;  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 
Richard  C.  Smith,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  30, 1863 ;  died  of  disease  in  Michigan,  Feb. 

2, 18G4. 
John  B.  Tatro,  died  of  disease  at  Hilton  Head,  S.  C,  Dec.  6, 1861. 
William  S.  Turrell,  died  of  wounds  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  June  18, 1864. 
Harmon  Wanderlisb,  died  in  action  at  James  Island,  S.  C,  June  16, 1802. 
Luther  B,  Wilcox,  died  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.,  May  9, 1864. 
Myron  H.  Wells,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  9, 1862. 
AVilliam  B.  Wheeler,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  9, 1862, 
George  Wellman,  veteran,  enl.  Dec,  30, 1863;  must,  out  July  30, 1865, 
John  W.  Waggoner,  veteran,  enl,  Dec.  30, 1863;  disch.  by  order,  Aug.  12, 1865. 

Compavy  G. 
Ist  Lieut.  Chas.  H.  Swartout,  Prairieville;  enl.  Oct.  18, 1864;  pro.  capt,  Co.  K, 
April  25, 1865;  must,  out  July  30, 1866. 

13 


William  Carpenter,  must,  out  July  30, 1865, 
Daidimus  M,  Darling,  must,  out  July  3U,  1865, 
John  English,  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 
John  Lewis,  must,  out  July  30, 1865, 

Company  I. 
Edgar  A.  Clark,  disch.  by  order,  July  6, 1801. 
Edgar  H.  Clark,  discli.  by  order,  Aug.  9, 1865. 
Alonzo  Gilbert,  disch.  by  order,  Aug.  9, 1865. 
El  ijah  P.  Guiger,  disch.  by  order  Aug.  9, 1865. 
Pelingal  D.  Wright,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb,  4, 1865. 

ALLEGAN  COUNTY  SOLDIERS  IN  THE  EIGHTH  INFANTRY, 

Company  D. 
Quincy  C,  Lamoreaux,  died  of  disease  at  home,  April  25, 1865. 

Company  G. 
Wm.  Coleman,  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 
Nathaniel  Davis,  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 
Bobt.  Patterson,  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 
Thos.  Welch,  must,  out  July  30, 1865. 
Chas,  Wilson,  killed  on  picket  before  Petersburg,  Feb.  18, 1865. 

NINTH   INFANTET. 

This  regiment,  so  well  known  in  the  old  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland, was  recruited  during  the  summer  and  fall  of  1861, 
its  rendezvous  being  at  Fort  Wayne,  near  Detroit.  It  was 
mustered  into  the  United  States  service  for  three  years 
Oct.  15,  1861,  and  ten  days  later  proceeded  to  the  seat  of 
war  in  Kentucky,  being  the  first  regiment  from  Michigaii 
to  enter  upon  active  service  in  the  field,  west  of  the  AUegha- 
nies. 

It  reached  JeflFersonville,  Ind,,  on  the  27th,  and  the  fol- 
lowing day  embarked  for  Salt  River,  Ky.  Soon  after,  it 
constructed  a  defensive  work  on  Muldraugh's  Hill,  a  point 
on  the  Louisville  and  Nashville  Railroad,  where  it  remained 
during  the  winter  of  1861-62.  During  its  stay  at  that 
place  the  men  of  the  Ninth  were  terribly  afflicted  with 
measles  and  other  diseases,  and  as  many  as  four  hundred 
were  on  the  sick-list  at  one  time.  The  regiment  remained 
at  its  winter  cantonment  until  February,  1862. 

Immediately  after  the  capture  of  Fort  Donelson  it  was 
ordered  to  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  after  a  few  weeks  to  Mur- 
freesboro,  Tenn  ,  where  it  was  on  garrison  duty  nearly  all 
the  time  until  July  13,  1862.  During  that  period,  how- 
ever, it  formed  part  of  Gen.  Negley's  command,  which 
marched  as  far  south  as  the  Tennessee  River,  opposite 
Chattanooga,  and  then  returned  to  Murfreesboro.  Sub- 
sequently four  companies  were  detached  and  stationed  at 
TuUahoma,  Tenn. 

On  the  13th  of  July,  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the 
six  companies  stationed  at  Murfreehboro  were  attacked  by 
three  thousand  rebel  cavalry  under  Gen.  Forrest,  The 
Third  Minnesota  Infantry,  with  a  battery,  was  encamped 
two  miles  northwest  of  the  town.  The  first  attack  on  the' 
camp  of  five  companies — one  company  was  at  the  court- 
house— was  repulsed.  Gen.  Forrest  then  attacked  the 
sino-le  company  in  the  court-house.  Col.  Parkhurst  sent  to 
the  commander  of  the  Minnesota  regiment  for  aid,  which 
the  latter,  perhaps  for  good  reasons,  declined  to  give.  The 
one  company  in  the  court-house  held  the  foe  at  bay  two 
hours,  but  was  obliged  to  surrender. 

Forrest  then  returned  to  attack  the  camp.  The  men  had 
meanwhile  thrown  up  some  slight  defenses,  behind  which 
they  fought  vigorously  until  past  noon,  having  just  one 
hundred  officers  and  men  (out  of  less  than  three  hundred) 
killed  and  wounded.    Finding  themselves  outnumbered  ten 


98 


HISTORY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


to  one,  and  receiving  no  assistance,  they  finally  yielded  to 
the  inevitable,  and  surrendered. 

The  enlisted  men  were  paroled  at  McMinnville,  but  the 
oflScers  were  not  released  until  several  months  later. 

In  the  latter  part  of  December,  1862  (the  prisoners  taken 
at  Murfreesboro  having  been  exchanged  and  returned  to 
duty)  the  regiment  was  detailed  as  provost-guard  of  the 
Fourteenth  Corps,  with  Col.  (afterwards  General)  Parkhurst 
as  provost-marshal.  Gen.  Thomas  remarked,  when  he  made 
the  detail,  that  he  had  fully  acquainted  himself  with  the 
conduct  of  the  regiment  in  the  defense  of  Murfreesboro, 
and  that  he  needed  just  such  a  force  for  provost-guard. 

The  Ninth  acted  in  that  capacity  throughout  the  re- 
mainder of  the  war.  Its  services  at  the  battles  of  Stone 
River  and  Chickamauga  in  stopping  runaways  and  main- 
taining order  were  arduous  in  the  extreme,  and  were  warmly 
complimented  by  Gen.  Thomas.  When  that  gallant  officer 
assumed  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  after 
Chickamauga,  Col.  Parkhurst  was  made  provost-marshal- 
general  of  the  department,  and  the  Ninth  became  the  pro- 
vost-guard of  that  army. 

In  December,  1863,  two  hundred  and  twenty-nine  of 
the  regiment  re-enlisted  as  veterans,  and  returned  to  Mich- 
igan on  furlough.  In  the  latter  part  of  February,  1864, 
they  again  appeared  at  Chattanooga,  with  their  numbers  in- 
creased to  about  five  hundred  men.  The  regiment  was  again 
ordered  to  act  as  provost-guard  of  the  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland, and  during  the  summer  and  autumn  participated 
in  all  the  movements  of  that  army  in  Georgia  and  Tennes- 
see. It  entered  Atlanta  on  its  evacuation  by  the  enemy, 
and  was  there  engaged  in  provost  duty  until  that  city  was 
abandoned  by  the  Union  forces,  when  it  returned  to  Chat- 
tanooga. It  was  largely  recruited  during  the  season,  and, 
notwithstanding  the  muster  out  of  non-veterans  whose  terms 
had  expired,  had  eight  hundred  and  ninety-seven  enlisted 
men  on  the  1st  of  November,  1864.  It  remained  in  Chat- 
tanooga until  the  27th  of  March,  1865,  when  it  was  moved 
to  Nashville.  There  it  stayed  on  duty  at  headquarters  and 
as  guard  at  the  military  prison  until  the  15th  of  September, 
when  it  was  mustered  out  of  service.  The  following  day 
it  set  out  for  Michigan,  arriving  at  Jackson  on  the  19th, 
and  on  the  26th  day  of  September,  1865,  the  Ninth  Mich- 
igan Infantry  was  paid  oflf  and  disbanded. 

MEMBERS  TKOM  ALLEGAN  COUNTY. 

Company  E. 
John  C.  Henry,  must,  ont  June  20, 18C5. 
Loron  Hill,  must,  out  June  20, 1865. 
Geo,  H.  Kirkland,  must,  out  Juoe  20, 1865. 
Bichard  G.  Kent,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  July  2, 1865. 

Company  H. 
Mason  F.  Rose,  died  of  disease  at  Chattanooga,  March  26, 1806. 
Samuel  A.  Raplee,  mu»t.  out  June  20, 1865. 
Hiram  Saxton,  must,  out  June  20, 1866. 
As.tbel  Sprague,  must,  out  June  20, 1865. 
Jas.  W.  Scbemerhorn,  must,  out  June  20,  1865. 

Company  I. 
Christian  Sutter,  disch.  by  order,  Jan.  7, 1865. 
Eli  Shuck,  must,  out  June  20, 1865. 

Company  K, 
John  E.  Kenyon,  must,  out  Sept.  16, 1865. 
Wm.  L.  Tony,  must,  out  June  20, 1805. 
Edwin  0.  Fenny,  must,  out  June  8, 1865. 
John  Weigand,  must,  out  July  4,  1866. 


Company  B. 

Jas.  W.  Bennett,  must,  out  June  20, 1865. 
Nicholas  Barton,  must,  out  June  20, 1865. 
Wm.  Corey,  must,  out  June  20, 1865. 
Horace  Cook,  must,  out  June  20, 1865. 
Saml.  Coleman,  must,  out  June  20, 1863. 
Patiick  Colton,  must,  ont  June  20, 1865. 
Martin  J.  Darling,  must,  out  June  20, 1866. 
Miles  Woodmansee,  must,  out  June  20, 1865. 

Company  C. 
Albert  Emmons,  must,  out  June  20, 1865. 
Samuel  Fisk,  must,  out  June  20,  1866. 
Lorenzo  Lawrence,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  July  2, 1865. 

Company  D. 
Wm.  D.  Green,  must,  out  June  20, 1866. 

MEMBERS  FROM  BARKY  COUNTY. 

Company  A, 
William  W.  Ashley,  must,  out  Sept.  16, 1866. 

Company  B. 
Orrin  J.  Buck,  must,  out  June  20, 1865. 
John  H.  Crispel,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Jan.  19, 1865. 

Company  E. 
Sidney  M.  Constantine,  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1866. 
George  Gordon,  disch.  by  order,  Sept.  27, 1865. 
Levi  Kingsbury,  died  of  disease  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn,,  Jan.  7, 1865. 

Company  G. 
Samuel  A.  Owen,  disch.  by  order,  June  20, 1866. 

Company  H. 
Sheil  Pulsifer,  must,  ont  June  20, 1865. 
Orrin  Potter,  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1865. 

Company  I. 
Watson  W.  Wait,  must,  out  Sept.  15, 1866. 

Company  K. 
John  Tagle,  must,  out  Sept.  16,  1866. 

TWELFTH  INFANTRY. 

The  Twelfth  Regiment  of  Michigan  Infantry  was  mus- 
tered into  the  United  States  service  at  Niles,  March  5, 
1862,  and  on  the  18th  of  the  same  month  proceeded  to 
St.  Louis,  Mo.  From  there  it  was  hurried  forward  to  the 
Tennessee  River,  and  reached  Pittsburg  Landing  in  time 
to  take  part  in  the  battles  fought  there  on  the  6  th  and  7th 
of  April.  It  was  also  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Metamora, 
on  the  Hatchie  River,  Oct.  5,  1862.  From  the  time  of 
its  organization  to  Nov.  1,  1862,  it  had  lost  forty-seven 
men  killed,  or  died  of  wounds  received  in  action,  ninety- 
two  wounded  in  action,  one  hundred  and  six  died  of  dis- 
ease, and  one  hundred  and  six  men  taken  prisoners  at 
Shiloh. 

On  the  24th  of  December,  1862,  while  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  of  the  regiment  were  occupying  a  block-house  at 
Middleburg,  Tenn.,  they  were  attacked  by  a  force  of  the 
enemy's  cavalry  three  thousand  strong.  A  severe  engage- 
ment ensued,  ending  in  the  complete  repulse  of  the  enemy, 
with  a  loss  to  him  of  nine  killed  and  eleven  wounded,  left 
on  the  field.  Gen.  Grant  in  subsequent  orders  warmly 
congratulated  the  men  on  account  of  this  heroic  defense. 

Early  in  June,  1863,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to 
Vicksburg,  Miss.,  and  during  the  siege  was  stationed  on 
Haynes'  and  Snyder's  Bluffs.  After  the  surrender  of 
Vicksburg  it  was  ordered  into  Arkansas,  where  the  re- 
mainder of  its  service  was  performed.  It  re-enlisted  as  a 
veteran  regiment  at  Little  Rock,  in  November,  1863,  when 
it  returned  to  Niles  on  furlough.  It  again  took  the  field 
—its  ranks  swelled  by  numerous  recruits— in  March,  1864  ; 


THIRTEENTH  INFANTRY. 


99 


returning  to  Arkansas,  "where  various  duties  were  well  per- 
formed until  Feb.  15,  1866,  when  it  was  mustered  out  of 
the  service  at  Little  Rock.  It  arrived  at  Jackson,  Mich., 
February  27th,  where  its  members  received  their  final  pay 
and  their  discharge-papers,  on  the  6th  of  March,  1866. 

BABEY  COUNTT  SOLDIERS  WHO  SEBVED  IN  THE  TWELFTH 

INFANTRY. 

Field  and  Staff. 

ABSt.  Surg.  Almon  A.  Thompson,  Yennonlville;  com.  Sept.  24,1862;  res.  Jao. 

28, 1863;  asst.  Burg.  id  11th  Cav.,  Dec.  23, 186;i;  must,  out  Aug.  10, 1865. 

Ckmipany  A. 
Alfred  L.  Clyhome,  disch.  by  order,  Jan.  24, 1866. 
Hen  ry  Casselman,  diach.  by  order,  Jan.  24, 1866. 
Charles  E.  Ferguson,  disch.  by  order,  Jan.  24, 1866. 
John  Heath,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  23, 1865. 
Jay  Proctor,  died  of  disease  at  Duvall's  Bluflf,  Ark.,  Jan.  7, 1865. 

Company  O. 
Duncan  McDonald,  must,  out  Feb.  15, 1866. 

Company  E. 
Perry  Brown,  died  of  disease  at  Duvall's  Bluff,  Ark.,  April  6, 1865. 
William  Brown,  disch.  by  order,  May  27, 1865. 
Jesse  Callihan,  must,  out  Feb.  15, 1866. 
George  L^  Chandler,  must,  out  Feb.  15, 1866. 
Elijah  J.  Hale,  must,  out  Feb.  15, 1866. 
Charles  C.  Jenson,  disch.  by  order,  Sept.  14, 1865. 

Company  G. 
Joel  G.  Brown,  must,  out  Feb.  15, 1866. 
Hamilton  Brown,  must,  out  Feb.  15, 1866- 
Merritt  Everett,  must,  out  Feb.  15, 1866. 
Warren  Everett,  must,  out  Feb.  15, 1866. 

Alfred  Feighner,  died  of  disease  at  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  June  28, 1864. 
John  Rinehart,  died  of  disease  at  Duvall's  Bluff,  Ark.,  Aug.  14, 1864. 
Ansel  Towle,  must,  out  Feb.  15,1866. 

Aaron  Wright,  died  of  disease  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  Sept.  17, 1863. 
John  Walker,  died  of  disease  at  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  June  3, 1864. 

Company  I. 
John  Hartwell,  disch.  by  order,  Aug.  22, 1865. 
Solumon  Seward,  disch.  by  order,  Sept.  30, 1865. 

Company  K. 
Hiram  Johnson,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  Ark.,  July  11, 1865. 

MEMBERS  OF  THE  TWELFTH  INFANTRY  FROM  ALLEGAN  COUNTY. 

Company  B. 
Albert  "Critz,  died  of  disease  at  Camden,  Ark.,  Sept.  24, 1865. 
Edward  P.  Coots,  must,  out  Feb.  15, 1866. 

Company  E, 
Frederick  Hardy,  must,  out  Feb.  15, 1866. 
Jacob  Snyder,  disch.  by  order,  Sept.  15, 1865. 

Company  F. 

Sergt.  Columbus  Blake,  Gun  Plains ;  enl.  Dec.  10, 1861 ;  died  of  disease  at  Pitts- 
burgh, Pa. 

Stephen  Eldred,  disch.  September,  1862. 

Lawrence  B.  Green,  discli.  by  order,  May  20, 1865. 

Stephen  M.  Hamblen,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  9, 1865. 

Andrew  J.  Munger,  disch.  by  order,  June  17, 1865. 

David  S.  Reynold,  disch.  Sept.  1, 1862. 

Thomas  H.  Stubbarts,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  24, 1864;  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  19, 
1865. 

Company  G. 

Benjamin  Alexander,  disch.  by  order,  June  17, 1865. 
Isaiah  Rathbone,  must,  out  Feb.  15, 1866. 

Company  S. 
MLIton  Burnip,  died  of  disease  at  Dnvall's  Bluff,  Sept.  15, 1864. 
Alfred  Dolittle,  must,  out  Feb.  15,1866. 
Joseph  Pattengill,  must,  out  Feb.  15, 1866. 
Samuel  F.  Stainbrook,  must,  out  Feb.  15, 1866. 


CHAPTEE     XXV. 

THIKTEEWTH    INFANTHY. 

Large  Representation  from  These  Counties  in  the  Thirteenth — It  joins 
Buell  and  marches  to  Pittsburg  Landing — Siege  of  Corinth — Re- 
turns with  Buell  to  Kentucky,  and  again  advances  to  Tennessee — 
Battle  of  Stone  River — Great  Bravery  and  Heavy  Loss — Hard 
Marching — Battle  of  Cbickamanga — Ordered  to  serve  as  Engineers 
— Re-enlistment — Services  near  Chattanooga — In  Northern  Ala- 
bama— It  joins  Sherman  at  Atlanta — The  March  to  the  Sea— The 
Method  of  the  March — Through  the  Carolinas — Manner  of  Pro- 
cedure— The  Battle  of  Bentonville— A  Hard  Fight— Col.  Eaton  killed 
— Carlin's  First  Brigade  holds  its  Ground — Repulsing  the  Enemy 
— Capturing  a  Large  Force — Heavy  Loss — Subsequent  Services — 
Muster  out — Officers  and  Men  from  Allegan  County — From  Barry 
County. 

The  regiment  above  named,  recruited  during  the  fall  of 

1861,  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  for  three 
years  at  Kalamazoo,  Mich.,  Jan.  17,  1862.  Ataong  its 
ofiScers  and  enlisted  men  the  counties  of  Allegan  and  Barry 
were  largely  represented ;  the  former  by  more  than  three 
hundred  men, — its  greatest  representation  in  any  separate 
command  during  the  war.  It  contained,  too,  a  larger  num- 
ber of  the'  sons  of  Barry  County  than  any  other  regiment, 
excepting  the  Sixth  Cavalry. 

Commanded  by  Col.  Michael  Shoemaker,  the  regiment 
left  Kalamazoo  for  the  seat  of  war  in  Kentucky,  Feb.  12, 

1862,  with  nine  hundred  and  twenty-five  oflScers  and  men, 
to  which  number  seventy-four  were  added  by  enlistment 
prior  to  July,  1862.  The  Thirteenth  joined  Gen.  Buell's 
forces,  and  with  him  marched  through  Kentucky  and  Ten- 
nessee, vid  Bowling  Green  and  Nashville,  to  Pittsburg 
Landing,  which  place  it  reached,  after  a  forced  march, 
near  the  close  of  the  second  day's  battle,  too  late  to  take 
part  in  the  conflict.  From  that  time  until  the  evacuation 
of  Corinth  by  Beauregard,  the  Thirteenth  was  engaged  in 
the  arduous  picket  and  pick-and-shovel  duties  performed 
by  Gen.  Halleck's  army  during  the  siege. 

It  then  moved  with  Gen.  Buell's  forces  into  Northern 
Alabama,  and  was  the  last  of  the  command  to  leave  that 
locality  when  the  general  fell  back  towards  Louisville.  It 
shared  all  the  hardships  of  that  long  march  across  the 
States  of  Tennessee  and  Kentucky,  and  soon  after  reach- 
ing Louisville,  in  October,  1862,  retraced  its  weary  steps 
in  pursuit  of  its  old  enemy,  the  rebel  Gen.  Bragg.  It 
aided  in  chasing  him  and  his  motley  forces  out  of  Ken- 
tucky, but  was  not  present  at  any  heavy  engagement.  It 
suffered  severely  from  disease,  however ;  the  deaths  from 
this  cause  during  the  year  ending  Nov.  1, 1862,  numbering 
seventy-one,  while  the  number  discharged  for  disability 
during  the  same  time  was  one  hundred  and  twenty. 

After  a  short  stay  at  "Silver  Springs,  Tenn.,  the  regiment 
advanced  and  aided  in  driving  the  enemy  from  Lebanon. 
Proceeding  to  Nashville,  it  was  on  duty,  in  that  vicinity 
until  the  26th  of  December,  when  it  marched  with  Gen. 
Kosecrans'  army  towards  Murfreesboro.  On  the  29th  it 
was  deployed  as  skirmishers,  and  lost  several  in  killed  and 
wounded.  On  the  31st  of  December,  1862,  and  the  1st 
and  2d  of  January,  1863,  the  regiment  was  hotly  en- 
gaged in  the  battle  of  Stone  Kiver,  having  twenty-five 
killed,  sixty- two  wounded,  and  eight  missing  out  of  two 
hundred  and  twenty-four  who  entered  the  conflict.     On 


100 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


the  31st  of  December  it  recaptured  by  a  bayonet  charge 
two  Union  guns  which  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy. 

After  the  victory  at  Stone  River  the  Thirteenth  was  en- 
gaged in  building  fortifications  at  Murfreesboro,  and  in 
scouting  through  the  adjoining  parts  of  Tennessee,  until  the 
24th  of  June,  1863,  when  it  advanced  with  Gen.  Rose- 
crans  against  Bragg.  After  various  marches  and  counter- 
marches in  rear  of  the  retreating  forces  of  the  latter  general, 
the  regiment,  with  its  division,  moved  from  Hillsboro', 
Tenn.,  to  cross  the  Cumberland  Mountains.  By  a  four 
days'  march,  over  mountain  ranges  rising  three  thousand 
feet  above  the  valleys,  along  roads  so  steep  that  the  artil- 
lery and  ambulances,  and  the  baggage,  supply-  and  ammu- 
nition-wagons often  had  to  be  hauled  up  by  hand,  the  divi- 
sion reached  the  Sequatchie  Valley.  It  then  crossed  the 
Tennessee  River  at  Shell  Mound,  and,  marching  upon 
Chattanooga,  the  Thirteenth  was  one  of  the  first  regiments 
to  occupy  that  place. 

On  the  19th  and  20th  days  of  September,  1863,  the 
regiment  was  in  the  midst  of  the  hotly  contested  field  of 
Chickamauga,  where,  altliough  the  Union  troops,  being 
outnumbered,  were  forced  to  retire  from  the  field,  the 
rebel  loss  far  exceeded  their  own.  The  Thirteenth  went 
into  this  battle  with  two  hundred  and  seventeen  officers 
and  men,  and  of  that  number  lost  twenty-five  killed,  fifty- 
seven  wounded,  and  twenty-five  missing,  some  of  whom 
were  probably  killed.  The  total  number  of  those  killed 
or  mortally  wounded  in  action  during  the  year  ending  Nov. 
1,  1863,  was  fifty-one,  while  there  were  ninety-two  others 
wounded,  sixty-six  who  died  of  disease,  and  one  hundred 
and  sixty-two  who  were  discharged  for  disability. 

On  the  5th  of  November  the  Thirteenth,  together  with 
the  Twenty-First  and  Twenty-Second  Michigan  Infantry  and 
the  Eighteenth  Ohio  Infantry,  was  organized  into  a  brigade 
of  engineers  and  assigned  to  duty  at  Chattanooga,  being 
attached  to  the  headquarters  of  the  Department  of  the 
Cumberland.  It  was  present  at  the  battles  of  Mission 
Ridge  and  Lookout  Mountain,  but  was  not  seriously  en- 
gaged. During  the  months  of  December,  1863,  and  January, 
1864,  it  was  stationed  on  the  Chickamauga,  engaged  in 
picket  duty  and  in  cutting  logs  for  building  warehouses 
at  Chattanooga. 

The  Thirteenth  re-enlisted  as  a  veteran  organization  Jan- 
uary 17,  1864,  and  on  the  5th  of  February  started  home, 
arriving  at  Kalamazoo  on  the  12th.  After  the  usual  veteran 
furlough  the  regiment  returned  to  the  front  on  the  26th 
of  March,  with  its  numbers  increased  by  over  four  hundred 
new  recruits.  Chattanooga  was  again  reached  April  20, 
1864,  and  for  five  months  from  that  time  the  regiment  was 
stationed  at  Lookout  Mountain,  engaged  in  the  construction 
of  military  hospitals  and  guarding  the  sick  and  wounded 
sent  back  from  Sherman's  army. 

It  was  then  relieved  from  engineer  duty  and  assigned  to 
the  Second  Brigade,  First  Division,  Fourteenth  Army 
Corps.  After  a  severe  march  through  Northern  Alabama, 
in  pursuit  of  Forrest's  and  Roddy's  rebel  cavalry,  the  regi- 
ment joined  its  brigade  at  Rome,  Ga.,  on  the  1st  of  No- 
vember. As  the  Fourteenth  and  other  corps  retraced  their 
steps  towards  Atlanta,  the  towns  on  the  route,  bridges,  tele- 


graph lines,  and  railroads  were  all  destroyed.  And  when  the 
corps  marched  into  Atlanta,  on  the  afternoon  of  November 
15th,  the  city  was  already  in  flames,  no  more  to  be  made  a 
rebel  stronghold. 

On  the  following  morning  Gen.  Sherman's  army  set  out 
on  the  celebrated  "  march  to  the  sea"  with  one  day's  rations 
in  the  haversacks  and  none  in  the  supply-trains.  This  re- 
nowned but  comparatively  easy  achievement  was  accom- 
plished by  sixty  thousand  men,*  veterans,  all  of  them, 
and  the  flower  of  the  whole  Western  army,  who  swept  in 
a  resistless  mass  through  Georgia,  brushing  contemptuously 
aside  the  few  feeble  detachments  of  militia  and  conscripts 
which  endeavored  to  oppose  them,  without  delaying  for  a 
moment  their  own  mighty  and  majestic  advance. 

Having  reached  Savannah  on  the  10th  of  December, 
1864,  the  regiment  was  on  duty  in  the  trenches  before  that 
city  until  the  21st  of  the  same  month,  when  Hardee's  rebel 
forces  evacuated  the  place.    On  the  17th  of  January,  1865, 

^'  Tho  force  under  the  immediate  command  of  Gen.  Slierman  in  his 
march  through  Georgia  and  the  Carolinas  was  composed  of  the  Fif- 
teenth and  Seventeenth  Army  Corps,  or  "Army  of  the  Tennessee," 
under  Gen.  Howard,  as  the  right  wing,  and  the  Fourteenth  and 
Twentieth  Army  Corps,  or  "Army  of  Georgia,"  under  Gen.  Slooum, 
as  the  left  wing,  while  Kilpatriok's  division  of  cavalry  guarded  the 
front,  flanks,  and  rear. 

The  Fourteenth  and  Twentieth  Army  Corps  formed  the  major  por- 
tion of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  during  the  Atlanta  campaign  of 
1864,  but  at  the  beginning  of  Gen.  Sherman's  "  march  to  the  sea"  the 
name  of  Army  of  Georgia  was  adopted,  to  distinguish  Gen.  Slo- 
cum's  command  from  the  troops  commanded  by  Gen.  Thomas,  who 
still  remained  in  command  of  the  Army  and  Department  of  the  Cum- 
berland, with  headquarters  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 

These  four  army  corps  already  mentioned  were  composed  of  three 
divisions  each,  except  the  Fifteenth,  which  had  four  divisions,  and 
each  corps,  having  its  own  artillery,  ammunition,  ambulance,  pontoon 
and  supply  trains,  was  a  separate  and  well-equipped  army  in  itself. 
When  no  enemy  appeared  the  corps  moved  on  parallel  roads  from  ten 
to  fifteen  miles  distant  from  each  other.  In  ease  fighting  was  appre- 
hended, the  two  corps  forming  a  wing  were  massed  upon  one  road. 
The  Fourteenth  Corps,  commanded  by  Gen.  Jeff.  C.  Davis,  with 
Kilpatrick's  cavalry,  was  usually  to  be  found  on  the  extreme  left 
flank  of  the  armies.  Its  First,  Second,  and  Third  Divisions  were 
commanded  respectively  by  Gens.  Carlin,  J.  D.  Morgan,  and  Baird, 
and  their  movements  were  made  in  the  following  order :  Carlin,  with 
the  First  Division,  would  take  the  advance  for  three  days  ;  from  two 
to  five  miles  in  rear  of  him  was  Morgan,  with  the  Second ;  while  in 
the  rear  was  Baird,  encumbered  and  struggling  to  bring  forward  over 
swamps,  creeks,  and  rivers  the  corps  trains  of  six  hundred  wagons, 
to  each  of  which  was  attached  six  mules,  guided  with  single  rein  by 
a  profane  Northern  Jehu,  who  did  not  seem  to  enjoy  his  position 
unless  covered  with  mud  from  spur  to  visor.  On  the  morning  of  the 
fourth  day  Carlin  would  fall  in  in  the  rear,  taking  Baird's  position, 
Baird  would  move  in  the  centre,  while  Morgan  took  the  advance,  and 
thus  they  alternated  at  the  beginning  of  each  fourth  day. 

Meantime,  foraging-parties  of  from  fifty  to  sixty  men,  detailed 
daily  from  each  regiment,  scoured  the  country  in  front  and  on  the 
flanks  for  provisions.  Indeed,  so  anxious  were  these  foragers  to 
"  strike  a  fresh  plantation"  before  those  of  other  commands  that  they 
usually  left  camp  as  early  as  two  o'clock  a.m.,  and  throughout  the  day 
kept  in  advance  of  the  ra.in  column  of  troops  by  a  distance  of  from 
five  to  ten  miles,  very  frequently  being  found  in  advance  of  Kilpat- 
rick's cavalry.  Whether  on  foot,  on  mules,  or  mounted  on  Southern 
thoroughbreds,  jolting  along  in  a  loaded  plantation  cart,  or  riding  into 
camp  seated  in  a  sumptuous  barouche,  the  foragers  of  the  Fourteenth 
Corps  cared  little  for  Wheeler's,  Butler's,  or  Hampton's  rebel  cavalry, 
and  when  attacked  by  them,  readily  organized  their  skirmish  line 
and  reserve,  without  officers,  and,  advancing,  cleared  their  way. 

Thus  did  Sherman's  armies  bowl  "  down  to  the  sea,"  and  after  the 
proud  and  defiant  city  of  Savannah  was  within  their  grasp  the  same 
scenes  were  re-enacted  in  the  march  northwards  through  the  Carolinas. 


THIRTEENTH   INFANTRY. 


101 


the  regiment  advanced  with  the  Army  of  Georgia  up  the 
right  bank  of  the  Savannah  River  to  Sisters'  Ferry,  where, 
after  much  labor  and  delay,  it  crossed  into  South  Carolina. 

Thence  it  proceeded,  via  Barnwell  Court-House,Williston, 
and  Lexington,  to  near  Columbia,  S.  C. ;  there  it  crossed  the 
Saluda  River,  and,  moving  up  the  west  bank  of  the  Catawba, 
crossed  the  latter  river  at  Rocky  Mount,  where  rains,  mud, 
and  swollen  streams  again  hindered  the  Fourteenth  Corps 
for  more  than  a  week.  After  making  the  passage  of  the 
Catawba,  the  command  was  hurried  forward  by  forced 
marches  to  Cheraw,  where,  on  the  south  bank  of  Great  Pe- 
dee,  the  main  forces  were  overtaken.  From  there  to 
Fayetteville,  N.  C,  skirmishing  with  the  enemy's  cavalry 
was  a  daily  occurrence.  The  enemy  under  Hardee  was 
driven  out  of  the  latter  place  and  pursued  to  Averysboro', 
N.  C,  where,  on  the  16th  of  March,  a  sharp  engagement 
ensued ;  the  enemy  being  driven  from  the  field,  losing 
heavily  in  killed  and  wounded,  besides  many  prisoners, — 
among  the  latter  being  Col.  Rhett  and  his  famous  regiment 
of  young  South  Carolinians. 

The  Union  forces  operating  in  this  field  were  those  of 
the  Fourteenth  and  Twentieth  Army  Corps,  commanded 
by  Gen.  Slocum  ;  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  or  right 
wing,  being  some  twenty-five  or  thirty  miles  to  the  east- 
ward, moving  on  Goldsboro'.  One  division  of  the  Four- 
teenth Corps  and  of  the  Twentieth  were  guarding  their  re- 
spective corps-trains,  leaving  but  four  small  divisions — at 
the  most  not  more  than  twenty  thousand  men,  and  one- 
third  of  those  shoeless — to  engage  such  numbers  as  might 
oppose  them.  From  Averysboro'  the  Fourteenth  Corps 
took  the  advance,  Morgan's  Second  Division  leading,  and 
Carlin's  First  coming  next.  Baird  was  guarding  the  train, 
while  the  two  divisions  of  the  Twentieth  Corps  were  in  the 
rear  of  Carlin.  During  the  17th  and  18th  of  March, 
Morgan's  skirmishers  had  several  encounters  with  the 
enemy,  but  the  latter  rapidly  retired  whenever  his  columns 
were  seen  advancing,  until  late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  18th, 
when  the  Confederates  disputed  his  further  progress  with 
artillery,  supported  by  infantry  and  cavalry. 

Morgan's  First  Brigade,  composed  of  the  Tenth  and 
Fourteenth  Michigan  Infantry,  Sixteenth  and  Sixtieth 
Illinois  Infantry,  and  Seventeenth  New  York  Infantry,  be- 
ing in  the  advance,  immediately  formed  line  of  battle  and 
moved  forward,  when  the  enemy  again  retired.  The  regi- 
ments of  this  brigade  stacked  arms  on  their  color-lines  and 
encamped  for  the  night.  Gen.  Sherman,  with  his  staff 
and  escort,  also  established  his  headquarters  in  the  midst 
of  this  brigade  the  same  evening.  Early  on  the  morning 
of  the  19th  the  general  commanding  set  out  to  join  the 
right  wing,  and  Carlin's  First  Division  of  the  Fourteenth 
Corps  moved  to  the  front,  to  take  the  advance  for  the, 
three  succeeding  days.  By  this  time  Gen.  Joseph  E.  John- 
ston, one  of  the  best  ofiBcers  in  the  Confederate  service, 
had  collected  all  the  available  rebel  troops  in  Georgia,  North 
and  South  Carolina,  and  was  prepared  with  near  forty  thous- 
and men  to  make  one  desperate  effort  to  stop  Sherman's 
advance  toward  Richmond,  or  at  least  to  defeat  his  left 
wing.  He  accordingly  took  up  a  strong  position  near  the 
little  village  of  Bentonville,  which  gave  its  name  to  the 
battle  which  followed. 


His  presence  was  unknown  to  the  Union  troops  in  his 
front,  and  when  Carlin's  troops  moved  out  on  the  morning 
of  the  19th,  they  did  so  with  buoyant  spirits  and  the  long, 
swinging  stride  so  characteristic  of  this  army.  Johnston's 
army  and  line  of  earthworks  were  scarcely  five  miles  dis- 
tant from  the  place  where  Morgan  encamped  on  the  night 
of  the  18th.  Therefore,  Carlin  had  hardly  given  room  for 
Morgan  to  place  his  command  on  the  road  when  his  (Car- 
lin's) advance  struck  the  enemy,*  and  at  once  became  hotly 
engaged.  Morgan's  troops  hurried  forward  on  the  double- 
quick  and  took  position,  by  orders  of  Gen.  Davis,  on  Car- 
lin's right,  while  the  two  divisions  of  the  Twentieth  Corps 
came  up  with  all  possible  speed  and  went  into  line  on  his 
left. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  battle  the  First  Division  ad- 
vanced with  confident  steps  to  what  they  expected  would 
be  but  a  repetition  of  their  former  easy  victories,  and  at  one 
time  the  Thirteenth  Michigan  gained  a  position  within  six 
rods  of  the  enemy's  intrenchments,  but  the  storm  of  lead 
was  too  severe  to  be  withstood.  The  brave  Col.  Willard 
G.  Eaton,  of  Otsego,  was  shot  dead  at  the  head  of  his  men, 
and  at  length  the  whole  division  was  compelled  to  fall  back 
to  the  shelter  of  a  low  acclivity  within  easy  musket-range 
of  the  enemy's  works. 

The  battle  raged  with  wavering  fortunes  all  the  rest  of  the 
day.  Johnston,  in  the  hopes  of  destroying  before  reinforce- 
ments could  come  up  a  force  much  less  than  his  own,  forced 
the  fight,  but  the  men  who  here  represented  the  Union  arms 
were  the  surviving  heroes  of  Donelson,  Shiloh,  Island  No. 
10,  Corinth,  Perrysville,  Stone  River,  Chickamauga,  Mission- 
ary Ridge,  and  Lookout  Mountain,  besides  the  score  of  bat- 
tles fought  during  the  Atlanta  campaign ;  while  the  east- 
ern troops  of  the  Twentieth  Corps  had  breasted  the  leaden 
storm  on  the  Peninsula,  at  Chantilly,  Antietam,  Freder- 
icksburg, Chancellorsville,  and  Gettysburg  before  joining 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  They  were  men  who  had 
been  out  two  months  from  Savannah,  receiving  during  that 
time  no  mails,  letters,  or  tidings  from  home,  and  they  did 
not  piopose  to  be  balked  in  their  onward  march  now,  or  to 
assist  in  filling  rebel  prison-pens,  and  the  oft-repeated  as- 
saults of  the  enemy  were  met  by  a  withering  tire  and 
counter-charges  which  sent  them  hurrying  to  the  shelter  of 
the  woods. 

While  Carlin's  division  and  the  Twentieth  Corps  were  so 
warmly  engaged  on  the  open  ground,  Morgan  was  equally 
busy  in  the  pines  on  the  right,  and  his  First  Brigade,  under 
Gen.  Vandever,  composed  of  the  Michigan,  Illinois,  and 
New  York  Regiments  previously  mentioned,  had  the  best 
fortune  of  any  of  the  troops  in  the  battle  of  that  day.  This 
brigade  was  stationed  on  the  extreme  right,  and  its  right 
flank  was  guarded  by  an  impenetrable  swamp.  During  the 
intervals  between  the  charges  of  the  enemy,  Vandever's 
brigade  was  enabled  to  erect  log  breastworks,  the  trees  being 
felled  and  cut  into  the  required  lengths  with  hatchets,  of 
which  nearly  every  man  carried  one  in  his  waist-belt. 
Late  in  the  afternoon,  during  a  desperate  charge  on  Mor- 
gan's left,  one  of  his  brigades  gave  way,  and  a  column  of 

»  The  rebels  occupied  low,  swampy  ground.  Their  position  was 
screened  by  a  dense  pine  forest,  and  was  approached  by  the  Union 
forces  over  cleared  fields. 


102 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


th«  enemy  passed  through  the  gap.  Wheeling  to  the  left, 
they  moved  down  in  rear  of  Vandever's  brigade,  making  it 
necessary  for  the  Union  troops  to  occupy  the  front  side  of 
their  own  works,  from  before  which  their  immediate  oppo- 
nents had  happily  retired.  Here  a  short  sharp  fight  of  a 
few  moments'  duration  was  ended  by  Vandever's  men  leap- 
ing forward  in  a  charge,  and  compelling  the  surrender  of 
several  hundred  rebels.  In  this  battle  the  Thirteenth  Mich- 
igan Infantry  lost  one  hundred  and  ten  officers  and  men, 
killed,  wounded,  and  captured.  During  the  long  night 
which  succeeded.  Gen.  Sherman  was  marching  the  Army 
of  the  Tennessee  to  the  reinforcement  of  the  almost  over- 
whelmed, but  not  defeated.  Army  of  Georgia.  He  arrived 
at  daylight  of  the  20th,  and  a  day  or  so  later  Johnston  was 
driven  from  the  field. 

After  his  surrender  the  Thirteenth  proceeded  with  its 
command  to  Washington,  D.C.,  and  participated  in  the  grand 
review  of  Gen.  Sherman's  army,  May  24, 1864  ;  left  that  city 
on  the  9th  of  June,  reaching  Louisville,  Ky.,  on  the  15th  of 
the  latter  month.  It  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Louis- 
ville, July  25th,  and  on  the  27th  of  July,  1865,  arrived  at 
Jackson,  Mich.,  where  it  was  paid  off  and  disbanded. 

OFFICERS  AND   SOLDIERS   FROM  ALLEGAN   COUNTY   WHO  SERVED 
IN   THE   THIRTEENTH   INFANTRY. 

Meld  and  Staff. 
Col.  Willnrd  6.  Eaton,  Otsego;  com.  Feb.  23,  1865;  maj..  May  26,1863;  cnpt. 
Co.  I,  Oct.  20, 1862 ;  1st  lieiit.  Co.  I,  Oct.  3, 1861 ;  killed  ic  action  at  Ben- 
tonTille,  N.  C,  March  19, 1865. 
Lieut.-Col.  P.  Van  Arsdate,  Saugatuck  ;  com.  May  12, 1865;  maj.,  April  25, 1865; 

must,  out  July  25, 1865.    (See  Co.  A.) 
Adj.  Alanson  B.  Case,  Otsego ;  com.  Jan.  20, 1863  ;  must,  out  at  end  of  service 
Jan.  16, 1865. 

NoTt'Commismoned  Staff. 

Sergt.-Maj.  Alanson  B.  Case,  Otsego;  enl.  Oct.  17, 1861 ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  Co.  B. 
Sergt.  Maj.  Clark  D.  Fox,  Otsego ;  pro.  to  Ist  lient,  Co.  I. 

Q.-M.  Sergt.  Kilburn  W.  Mansfield,  Otsego;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  Co.  A,  July  4, 1862. 
Com.  Sergt.  John  Kirby,  Allegan ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  Co.  A,  April  25, 1865. 

Cmnpany  A. 
Capt.  P.  Van  Arsdale,  Saugatuck ;  com.  Feb.  28, 1863 ;  1st  lieut.,  July  13, 1862 ; 

pro.  to  maj.,  April  25, 1865.    (See  Field  and  Staff.) 
1st  Lieut.  Kilburn  W.  Mansfield,  ptsego ;  com.  Feb.  28, 1863 ;  2d  lieut.,  July  4, 

1862 ;  pro.  to  capt.  Co.  I. 
2d  Lieut.  John  Kirby,  Allegan ;  com.  April  25, 1865 ;  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Carlton  Barton,  discb.  for  disability,  April  30, 1865. 
Edgar  Barton,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Clark  B.  Brewster,  disch,  by  order,  Sept.  8, 1865. 
Henry  Carmody,  died  of  disease  in  New  York  City,  Jan.  12, 1865. 
Edwin  Chamberlain,  must,  out  .July  25,  1865. 
Jolm  E.  Case,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
James  Delevan,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Bussell  Dyer,  died  of  disease  in  Allegan,  Oct.  1, 1862. 
Abial  Emmons,  disch,  for  disability,  June  25, 1862. 
'William  Emmons,  disch.  for  disability,  June  23, 1862. 
Philander  J.  Edson,  must,  out  July  25,  1865. 
Myron  C.  Finch,  disch.  by  order,  July  14, 18G5. 
Henry  Gillespie,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Joseph  W.  Hershaw,  must,  out  July  20, 1865. 
Edward  Howe,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Martin  Barter,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Amasa  Jones,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Cbauncey  Jones,  must,  out  July  25,  1865. 
Joseph  Kipp,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
James H.  Lewis, must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Clark  H,  Lyman,  must,  out  Aug.  4, 1865. 
Alvin  W.  Morley,  disch.  by  order.  May  20, 1865. 
Henry  Merchant,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Amos  C.  Root,  died  of  disease  on  government  steamer.  May  7, 1865. 
Jacob  Schweikert,  disch.  by  order,  June  7, 1865. 
Alexander  W.  Sprague,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Abel  Stearns,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Samuel  Shepard,  must,  out  July  2.5,  1865. 
Calvin  Underwood,  disch.  for  disability.  May  16, 1862. 
Job  Underwood,  died  of  disease  at  Louisville,  July  6, 1862. 
George  B.  Van  Arsdale,  died  of  disease  at  Pittsburgh,  May  30, 1865. 


Walter  Wood,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  17, 1862. 
Milton  B.  Williams,  disch.  by  order,  June  13, 1865. 

Company  B. 
Capt.  George  B.  Force,  Gun  Plains ;  com.  Sept.  23, 1861 ;  res.  May  31, 1862. 
Capt.  DowittC.Kenyon, Ganges;  com.  March  19,1864;  Ist  lieut.,  Jan.  31, 1863  ; 

must.out  July  25, 1865. 
1st  Lieut.  Jacob  G.  Fry,  Ganges  ;  com.  May  31, 1862;  2d  lieut.,  Oct.  3, 1861;  res. 

for  disability,  Jan.  31,  1863. 
1st  Lieut.  John  H.  Baldwin,  Ganges;  com.  May  12,1865;  2d  lieut.,  Aug.  26,1864  ; 

must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
2d  Lieut.  Alanson  B.  Case,  Otsego;  com.  May  31,1862;  pro.  to  1st  lieut.  and 

adj.    (See  Field  and  Staff.) 
2d  Lieut.  Howell  H.  Trask,  Gun  Plains ;  com.  Jan.  20, 1863 ;  pro.  to  1st  lieut. ; 

res.  as  2d  lieut. 
2d  Lieut.  Leonard  E.  Perry,  Gun  Plains;  com.  April  25,  1865  ;  must,  out  July 

25,  1865. 
Sergt.  Spencer  H.Banks,  Ganges;  enl.  Oct.  9, 1861;  died  at  Corinth,  Miss.,  June 

12,  1862. 
Sergt.  Howell  H.  Trask,  Ganges ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut. 

Sergt.  Dewitt  C.  Kenyon,  Allegan  ;  enl.  Oct.  10, 1861 ;  pro.  to  1st  lieut. 
Sergt.  William  0.  Allen,  Ganges ;  enl,  Oct.  2, 1861 ;  missing  in  action  at  Chick- 

amauga,  Sept.  19, 1863. 
Sergt.  John  H.  Baldwin,  Ganges;  enl.  Oct.  1, 1861 ;  veteran,  Feb.  11, 1864  ;  pro. 

to  2d  lieut.  Co.  G. 
Corp.  Jaseph  Miller,  Ganges ;  enl.  Oct.  4, 1861 ;  veteran,  Jan.  18, 1864 ;  must,  out 

July  25,  1865. 
Corp.  William  H.Sherman,  Gun  Plains;  enl.  Oct.  1,1861;  died  of  disease  at 

St.  Louis,  March  16, 1862. 
Musician  Edward  Breen,  Ganges;  enl.  Oct.  17,1861;  veteran,  Jan.  18,  1864; 

must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Musician  William  Martin,  Ganges;  enl.  Dec.  10, 1861;  discb.  for  disability.  May 

27, 1862. 
Elias  Anway,  discb'.  at  end  of  service,  Jan.  16, 1865. 
Edsou  Amidon,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
James  Briggs,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Noah  Briggs,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Linus  Bathrick,  disch.  for  disability,  July  19, 1862. 
William  Burns,  disch.  Aug.  8, 1862. 
Lewis  Bell,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  22, 1865. 
Horace  S.  Beach,  disch.  by  order,  June  8, 1865. 
William  H.  Barnes,  disch.  by  order,  June  9, 1865. 
William  II.  Briggs,  died  of  disease  at  Savannah,  6a.,  Dec.  21, 1864. 
Jamr>s  W.  Billings,  trans,  to  Signal  Corps,  Jan.  13, 1864. 
Wm.  B.  Chase,  disch.  for  disability,  April  28,  1802. 
Henry  C.  Curtis,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  15, 1864. 
Geo.  Curtis,  disch.  by  order,  June  15, 1865. 

John  Curtis,  veteran,  enl.  .Tan.  18, 1864 ;  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Warren  Cushman,  disch,  by  order,  June  21,1865. 
John  Crow,  must,  out  ,Tuly  25, 1865. 
L,  Y,  Cady,must,  out  July  25,  1865. 
Henry  Cheney,  must,  out  July  25, 1865, 
John  Claffy,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Orson  W.  Davis,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Luzerne  Durand,  disch.  by  order,  July  11, 1805. 

Freeman  H.  Day,  died  of  disease  at  Lookout  Mountain,  June  30, 1861. 
James  Eggleston,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Herman  P.  Fisher,  discli.  for  disability,  Aug.  28, 1862. 
Austin  Foot,  died  of  disease  at  Shiloh,  Tenn. 
Freeland  Gray,  disch,  for  disability,  June  22, 1864, 
Wm,  Gould,  veteran  ;  enl,  Jan.  18, 1864 ;  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Wallace  Goodsell,  must,  out  July  25, 1865, 
Thos,  A,  Hubbard,  must,  out  July  25, 1866. 
Frank  Hapgood,  must,  out  July  25,  1865, 
Jas,  Huddlestone,  must,  out  July  25, 1S65. 
Elijah  Howard,  died  of  disease  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  Jan.  17, 1864. 
Geo,  Hamilton,  disch,  for  disability.  Sept,  12, 1862. 
Pembroke  Hazen, disch.  by  order,  June  8, 1865, 
Morris  A,  James,  must,  out  July  25, 1865, 
John  Knowlton,  must,  out  July  25, 1865, 
Daniel  Lee,  died  of  wounds  received  in  action,  Dec.  24, 1863, 
Cyrille  Le  Due,  trans,  to  Vet,  Res,  Corps,  Jan,  15, 1864,  " 

Frank  May,  disch,  for  disability.  May  21, 1863. 
Sylvester  Munger,  disch.  for  disability,  April  2, 1863. 
Wirt  J.  Morris,  discli.  for  disability,  Feb.  28,  1863. 
Chas  E.  McCarty,  disch.  for  disability.  May  22, 1862. 
Geo,  A,  Miller,  disch,  for  disability.  May  20,1862, 
Wm.  B.  Miller,died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  March  14, 1862, 
Adam  Mil  er,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Elliott  McRae,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  18, 1864;  must,  out  July  25,  1865. 
Robert  Meldrum,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Geo.  H.  Newcomb,  trans,  to  Vet.Res,  Corps,  April  10, 1864. 
Ruloff  P,  Ockford,  disch,  for  disability,  July  9, 1862, 
Henry  B.  Oliver,  veteran,  enl,  Jan,  18, 1864;  must,  out  July  25, 1865, 
Lemuel  W.  Osborn,  must,  out  July  25, 1865, 
Edson  M,  Porter,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
John  D.  Patterson,  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 


THIRTEENTH  INFANTRY. 


103 


Stephen  G.  Parker,  must,  out  July  25,  1865, 

Edward  Penfold,  must,  out  July  25, 18G5. 

Henry  Penfold,  died  of  disease  at  Murfreeaboro,  Tenn.,  June  12, 1863. 

Milton  Pratt,  died  of  diseaae  at  Sarannali,  Oa.,  Feb.  15,  1865. 

James  Pierce,  died  of  disease  in  New  York  Harbor,  April  8, 1865. 

Geo.  W.  Russell,  trans,  to  Yet.  Res.  Corps,  Sept.  30,  1863 . 

Irwin  L.  Ross,  disch.  for  disability,  June  2, 18G3. 

Wm.  H.  Ross,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Jan.  18, 1865. 

Leroy  Root,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Melvin  Reed,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

James  Seringer,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  18, 1864 ;  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Samuel  E.  Stillson,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  8, 1861;  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Albertus  Simons,  disch,  by  order,  Jul,v  19, 1865. 

Jos.  Sinclair,  disch.  by  order,  June  8, 1865. 

Orletus  C.  Thayer,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  April  28, 1865. 

Ormenus  Thayer,  disch.  for  disability,  May  21, 1862. 

Chas.  T.  Wilson,  disch.  for  disability.  May  21, 1862. 

Geo.  F.  Warner,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  8, 1864 ;  must,  out  July  23, 1865. 

Wm.  White,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

David  Woodbeck,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Company  C. 
Sergt.  Albert  G.  Wetmore,  Allegan;  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  18, 1864 ;  pro.  2d  lieut. 

Co.  r. 
Jos,  W,  Buttrick,  died  of  disease,  Jan,  15, 1864, 
Lewis  M,  Bennett,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Jan,  20, 1865. 
Geo.  Cook,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Jan.  16, 1865. 
Geo.  Delabarre,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  -21, 1865. 
Leander  Fox,  killed  in  action  in  North  Carolina,  March  19, 1865. 
Alden  C.  Hand,  killed  in  action  at  Stone  River. 
Abram  Hofmeister,  must,  out  July  25,  1865. 
Isaac  Hofmeister,  must,  out  July  25, 13G5. 
^  John  Hofmeister,  must,  out  June  8, 1865. 
Saml.  Mosier,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Isaac  £.  Morse,  died  of  diseaae  at  Kalamiizoo,  Feb.  15, 1862. 
Chas.  W.  Morse,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Jan.  16, 1865. 
Francis  Murray,  disch.  by  order,  Jan.  14, 1864. 
Andrew  McGaw,  disch.  for  disability,  June  2, 1862. 
Xliphalet  Porter,  disch.  for  disability,  April  10, 1862. 
Walter  Pullman,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  18, 1864 ;  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Burtia  Rutgers,  veteran,  enl.  Jan,  18, 1864;  must,  out  July  25,  1865  , 
John  Sweezy,  must,  out  July  25, 1865, 
John  Staring,  disch,  by  order,  June  2, 1865, 
J,  H,  Tanner,  died  of  disease  at  Corinth.  Mis3,,  June  7, 1862, 
Salem  True,  must,  out  July  25, 1865, 
Chas,  Tyler,  must,  out  July  25, 1865, 
Geo,  Tyler,  must,  out  July  25, 1665. 

Nathan  G.  Wilson,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Sept.  19, 1862. 
Warren  W,  Wilcox,  veteran,  enl.  Jan,  18,  1864;  died  of  disease  at    Jackson, 

Mich,,  April  24, 1864, 
Samuel  Winger,  disch,  for  disability,  Nov,  7, 1862. 
John  Wynn,  veteran,  enl,  Jan,  18, 1864 ;  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Joel  Yerton,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Ckmtpany  D. 
Lee  J.  Bishop,  disch.  for  disability,  May  1, 1862. 
Chas.  ButterUeld,  disch.  Aug.  1, 1865. 
Harvey  D.  Culver,  disch.  for  disability,  March  27, 1863. 
Wm.  Sloan,  disch.  July  5, 1862. 

Company  E. 
Chauncey  E.  Blossom,  must,  out  July  25,  1865. 
Samuel  Caruthers,  died  of  disease,  Dec.  12, 1863. 
Peter  Lahman,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
David  Lowe,  disch.  May  15, 1865. 
Jabez  McClelland,  disch.  for  disability,  July  7, 1865. 
Joseph  Misner,  must,  out  June  26, 1865. 
Bela  G.  Moulton,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Philander  Palmer,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Jan.  16, 1865. 
Ebenezer  E,  Ross,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  Oct.  26, 1862. 
Alfred  W.  Sliter,  disch.  for  disaljility,  Sept.  14, 1862. 
Thos.  J,  Shellman,  veteran,  enl,  Jan,  18, 1864;  most,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Caleb  Van  Vrain,  died  of  disease  at  Alexandria,  Ya,,  May  30, 1865. 
James  Wood,  must,  out  July  25, 1865, 

Company  F. 
2d  Lieut,  Albert  G,  Wetmore,  Allegan,  May  26, 1864 ;  pro,  1st  lieut,  July  5, 1865 ; 

must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
James  Cisnee,  must,  out  May  15, 1865. 
Wm.  H.  Drake,  disch.  by  order.  May  30, 1865. 

Company  G. 
Capt.  George  M.  Rowe,  Saugatuck ;  com.  March  9, 1865 ;  1st  lieut.  Feb.  13, 1863 ; 
com.  maj.  July  6, 1865,  but  not  mustered ;  must,  out  as  capt.  July  25, 1865. 
Sergt.  John  H.  Baldwin,  Ganges;  pro.  2d  lieut.  Co.  B. 

Corp.  Fredk.  Severance,  enl.  Nov.  18, 1861 ;  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  15, 1862. 
Wagoner-Wm.  H.  Meade,  enl.  Oct.  23, 1861;  disch.  May  30, 1863. 
John  S.  Black,  disch.  for  disability,  July  10, 1861i. 


Wm.  A.  Babbitt,  must,  out  July  25, 1865  . 

Edwin  P.  Case,  died  of  wounds,  Sept.  24, 1863. 

David  Cornelius,  died  of  disease  in  Indiana,  Jan.  22, 1865. 

Edward  Germond,  died  in  AndeiBonville  prison,  .May  16, 1864. 

Henry  Hinds,  died  of  wounds  at  Chattanooga,  Nov.  26, 1863. 

Cliillon  Runnels,  died  of  disease,  Jan.  15, 1864. 

Wm.  Starr,  died  of  disease,  Feb,  15, 1861. 

Byron  Teal,  disch,  for  disability,  Oct,  20, 1862, 

Jeptha  Waterman,  disch,  for  disability,  July  10, 1862. 

Randall  C.  M^aterman,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  18, 1864;  must  out  July  25, 1865. 

Company  S. 
David  Barrington,  disch.  by  order,  July  18, 1865. 
Wm.  H.  Cronk,  disch.  by  order,  June  8, 1865. 
Elisha  W.  Call,  disch.  for  disability,  Jim.  3, 1863. 
Albert  M.  DusUn,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Isaac  Fisher,  must,  out  July  29, 1865. 
Henry  Germond,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Jan.  17, 1865. 
Seth  Loveridge,  disch.  by  order,  June  8, 1865. 
James  Orr,  disch.  by  order.  May  27, 1865. 
John  M.  Pinuey,  disch.  for  disability. 
Wm.  H.  Rumsey,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Sept.  1, 1863. 
James  Shattnck,  disch.  for  disability,  July  13, 1862. 
OrviUe  Whitlock,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  22, 1862. 

Company  L 
Capt.  Henry  C.  Stougliton,  Otsego ;  com.  Oct.  3, 1861 ;  res.  Oct.  20, 1862. 
Capt.  Willard  G.  Eaton,  Otsego;  com.  Oct.  20, 1862  ;  1st  lieut.  Oct.  3, 1861 ;  pro. 

to  maj.  May  26, 18G3. 
Capt.  Clark  D.  Fox,  Otsego;  com.  June  13, 1863 ;  1st  lieut.  Oct.  20,1862;  sergt- 

maj.;  killed  in  action  at  Chickamauga,  Tenn.,  Sept.  19, 1863. 
Capt.  K.  W.  Mansfield,  Otsego  ;  com.  March  19, 1864;  1st  lieut.  Feb.  28, 1863  ; 

must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
2d  Lieut.  P.  Van  Arsdale,  Saugatuck ;  com.  Oct.  3, 1861;  pro.  to  1st  lieut.,  Co.  A, 

July  13, 1862. 
2d  Lieut. Geo.  M.  Rowe,  Saugatuck;  com.  July  13, 1862;  pro.  to  1st  lieut.,  Co. 

G,  July  13,  1863, 
2d  Lieut,  Geo,  Nelson,  Otsego ;  com,  June  13,1863;  wounded,  and  disch,  June  1, 

1864, 
2d  Lieut.  John  H.  Stephens,  com.  April  25, 1865 ;  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Sergt.  Isaiah  Beard,  Otsego ;  enl.  Oct.  7, 1861 ;  disch. for  disability,  Jan.  25, 1862. 
Sergt.  Clark  D.  Fox,  Otsego ;  enl.  Oct.  16, 1861 ;  appointed  sergt.-maj. 
Sergt.  K.  W.  Mansfield,  Otsego;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.,  Co.  A. 
Sergt.  Geo.  M.  Rowe,  Saugatuck;  enl.  Nov.  1, 1861 ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  Co.  I. 
Sergt.  Geo.  Nelson,  Otsego ;  enl.  Oct.  21, 1861 ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  Co.  I. 
Sergt.  John  W.  Travis,  Otsego;  enl.  Oct.  7, 1861;-died  of  disease  at  Nashville, 

April  20,  1862. 
Sergt.  John  H.  Stephens,  Allegan ;  enl.  Oct.  26, 1861 ;  veteran,  Jan,  18, 1864 ;  pro . 

to  2d  lieut. 
Corp.  Amos.  Dunning,  Saugatuck ;  enl.  Nov.  1, 1861 ;  died  of  disease  in  Alabama. 
Corp.  Hugh  W.  Dixon,  Manlius;  enl,  Oct,  26, 18G1;  trans,  to  Co,  A, 
Corp,  G,  H,  Slotman,  Overisel ;  enl.  Nov.  12, 1861 ;  disch,  at  end  of  service.  May 

22, 18G5, 
Corp,  Edward  M,  Bissel,  Otsego;  enl,  Oct.  23,  1861;  trans,  to  Invalid  Corps; 

disch,  at  end  of  service,  Jan,  16, 1865, 
Corp,  Edward  Stowe,  Manlius;  enl,  Oct,  23, 1861;  trans,  to  Invalid  Corps,  Aug, 

1, 1863. 
Corp,  Jacob  M.  Chapman,  Manlius ;  enl,  Jan,  9,  1862 ;  died  at  St,  Louis,  May 

25, 1862. 
Musician  Clark  C.  Bailey,  Fillmore ;  enl.  Dec.  3, 1861 ;  veteran,  Jan.  18, 1864 ; 

must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Musician  Herbert  Day,  Otsego;  enl.  Nov,  12, 1861 ;  veteran,  Jan,  18, 1864;  must, 

out  July  26, 18G5. 
Wagoner  John  A.  McClaire,  Saugatuck;  enl.  Doc,  16, 1861;  veteran,  Jan,  18, 

18G4;  must,  out  July  25, 1865, 
Cyrus  E,  Ames,  shot  in  a  quarrel.  Sept,  20, 1863, 

Samuel  Agan,  must,  out  July  25, 1865,  ' 

-  Benjamin  T,  Binn,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Charles  Barry,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Charles  L,  Bard,  veteran,  enl,  Jan,  18, 1864 ;  must,  out  July  25, 1865, 
Benjamin  B,  Brush,  veteran,  enl,  Jan,  18, 1864;  must,  out  July  25,  1865, 
Boswell  R,  Burlinghame,  died  of  diseaae  at  Otsego,  Mich, 
Isaac  Brundage,  died  of  disease  at  New  Albany,  Ind, 
Erritt  Brockman,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn,,  Sept,  24, 1862, 
Oscar  Bissell,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn,,  Aug,  3, 1863, 
Martin  S,  Brown,  died  of  disease  at  Salina,  Mich,,  April  17, 1863. 
William  C,  Brundage,  disch,  for  disability,  Jan,  25, 1862, 
Peter  H.  Billings,  disch,  for  disability,  Nov,  6, 1862, 
Edward  Bissell,  disch,  by  order,  Aug,  26, 1863. 
Leander  Ballard,  disch,  for  disability,  Dec,  5, 1863, 
Henry  L,  Beach,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  March  15, 1864. 
Thomas  Cooper,  must. out  July  25, 1865. 
Jan.  Dannenborg,  died  of  disease,  April  28,  1862. 
William  W.  Dormer,  disch.  for  disability.  May  13, 1863. 
James  K.  Dole,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  4, 1862. 
William  Dusenbury,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  15, 1862 . 
Charles  0.  Edwards,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Dec.  1, 1863, 


104 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BAEllY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Daniel  Eaton,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Miles  B.  Eaton,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Chiirles  Francisco,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

William  E.  Fields,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

James  L.  Faiibanka,  -veteran,  enl.  Jan.  18, 1864;  must,  out  July  25,1865. 

Frederick  11.  Fuller,  died  of  disease  at  Louisville,  Oct.  1, 1862. 

Charles  Garlock,  disch.  liy  order,  July  20, 1865. 

Henry  Holt,  disch.  for  disability,  May  13, 1863. 

David  Hammoud,  disch.  fur  disability,  June  1, 1863. 

John  Hackhouse,  disch.  for  disubilily.  May  4, 1864. 

Charlea  Hogle,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Jacob  Hazen,  mut>t.  out  July  25, 1865. 

John  Inmau,  must,  out  July  IS,  1865. 

John  P.  Jones,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

George  N.  Jonlyn,  disch.  by  order,  June  8, 1865. 

William  Joslyn,  discli.  for  djsabiliiy,  Aug.  1, 1863. 

James  C.  Jones,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  2S,  1863. 

0.  P.  Kingsbury,  died  of  disease  at  Kushville,  Tenn. 

Mai'tin  Kramer,  died  of  dise  ise  at  Lookout  Muuntain,  Aug.  2, 1864. 

John  Kramer,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

John  Knight,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  18, 1864;  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Smith  Larkin,  disch.  for  disability.  May  2, 1862. 

Jasper  Lnsk,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  11, 1862. 

Jacob  Mooney,  died  of  disease  at  Danville,  Va.,  May  14, 1802. 

William  McKee,  died  of  disease,  April  16, 1862. 

George  C.  Miner,  died  of  disease  at  Muifreesboro,  Tenn.,  April  4, 1863. 

■William  Miner,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Andrew  J.  Myers,  must,  out  July  25, 18G5. 

George  A.  Myers,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  18, 1864 ;  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Joseph  Mastersun,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

John  McQueen,  veterau,  enl  Jan.  18, 1864;  died  in  action  at  Bentonville,  March 
19, 1865. 

Kobei't  Nelson,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  18, 1864;  must,  out  July  25,1865. 

Heury  Newton,  veteran,  enl.  Jan,  18, 1864;  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Hezekiah  B.  Niles,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  28,  1862. 

Stephen  Pratt,  disch.  for  disability. 

Sylvanus  S.  Palmer,  died  of  disease,  Mny  15, 1862. 

Philander  Palmer,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  April  10, 1864. 

John  W.  Puidy,  died  of  wounds,  April  22, 1865. 

Thomas  L.  Parker,  must,  out  July  25, 1805. 

George  £.  Keynolds,  died  of  disease,  July  13, 1862. 

Aloiizo  House,  died  of  wounds,  Sept.  26, 1863. 

Stephen  Rowe,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  18, 1864;  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Peter  Rauf,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Jan.  16, 1866. 

Allen  Smith,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  11, 1862. 

Ward  P.  Smith,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Nov.  1, 1863. 

James  Smith,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

William  Simmons,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  18, 1864;  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

David  Simmonds,  disch.  by  order,  July  14,1865. 

Perry  Shaw,  died  of  disease.  May  22,  1862. 

Harvey  H.  Sqnier,  died  of  disease  at  Savannah,  Ga.,  Dec.  31, 1864. 

Norton  Scheimerhorn,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

John  H.  Slotman,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  18, 1865 ;  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Wra.  A.  Upson,  disfh.  at  end  of  service,  Jan.  16, 1865. 

Burd  Vanderhoop,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Jan.  16, 1865. 

John  11.  Ward,  disch.  by  order,  Aug.  14, 1865. 

Diinl.  Warne,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  18, 1864;  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Henry  Wilson,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  18, 1864;  must,  rffit  July  26, 1865. 

Eldridge  Wilson,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Levi  Wilson,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Euos  Warner,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Geo.  W.  Wise,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Itba  Xocum,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Company  K. 
Frank  A.  Beardsley,  disch.  by  order,  June  8, 1865. 

Wm.  Gibson,  died  of  disease  at  David's  Island,  New  York  Harbor,  June  28, 1865. 
Robert  Nelson,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  28, 1862. 

BARRY  COUNTY  MEMBERS  OF  THE  THIRTEENTH  INFANTRY. 

Field  and  Staff  and  Non-Oommissioned  Siajf. 
Ist  Lieut,  and  Q.-M.  Charles  H.  Buggies,  Prairieville  ;  com.  March  19, 1864  ;  2d 

lieut. ;  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Q.-M.  Sergt.  Daniel  B.  Hosmer,  Castleton ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut,  Co.  D,  Sept.  17, 

1862. 
Com.  Sergt.  Fitz  Allen  Blackman,  Prairieville  ;  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Company  A. 

2d  Lieut.  Charles  H.  Ruggles,  Prairieville ;  com.  Feb.  28, 1863 ;  pro.  to  1st  lieut. 
and  quartermaster. 

Sergt.  Thos.  B.Dunn,  Prairieville;  enl.  Dec.  25, 1861 ;  died  at  Murfreesboro, 
Tenn.,  July  6, 1863. 

Sergt.  Nathaniel  P.  Bunnell,  Barry;  enl.  Dec.  18, 1861 ;  veteran,  Jan.  18, 1864; 
must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Corp.  Wm.  L.  Guuton,  Thornapple ;  enl.  Dec.  13, 1861 ;  disch.  July  25, 1862. 

Corp.  Dyer  Russell,  Maple  Grove;  enl.  Dec.  14,  1861 ;  died  of  disease  at  Alle- 
gan, Oct.  1, 1862. 


Corp.  Wm.  J.  Storms  Prairieville;  enl.  Oct.  23,  1861;  veteran.  Jan.  18,  1864; 

absent  sick  at  muster  out. 
Musician  Anson  G.  Philips,  Prairieville ;  enl.  Nov.  1, 1861 ;  disch.  at  end  of  ser- 

vice,  Jan.  16,  1S65. 
Kobert  Allen,  disch.  for  disability,  June  23, 1862. 
Noah  J.  Bowker,  disch.  for  disability,  April  30, 186 1. 
Aaron  Borio,  disch.  July  4,  1802. 

Jacob  Bennett,  died  of  disease  at  Inka,  Ala.,  June  11,  1862. 
James  Brew,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  18, 1864. 
James  Cook,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  18, 1864. 

Lyman  A.  Cross,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  April  29, 1862. 
Horace  Castle,  died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Oct.  21, 1802. 
Elnathan  H.  Case,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  16, 1802. 
Benjamin  T.  Cobb,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Jan.  10, 1865. 
William  Campbell,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  18, 1862. 
Marcine  C.  Chamberlain,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  29, 1862. 
Edward  C.  Cole,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  21, 1862. 
Warren  Easton,  disch.  by  order,  June  8,  1866. 

Horace  J.  Easton,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  18, 1864 ;  must,  out  July  25,  1865. 
Levi  Gilespie,  trans,  to  Vet.  Ees.  Corps,  Nov.  1, 1863. 
Joshua  P.  Hart,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  March  30, 1862. 
William  S  Harris,  died  of  disease,  Dec.  31, 1802. 
Harvey  A,  Havens,  disch.  by  order,  June  30, 1865. 

Benjamin  L.  Harper,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  18, 1864  ;  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
John  P.  Hart,  must,  out  July  25, 1866. 

Jay  R.  Lathrop,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  March  31, 1862. 
Theodore  V.  Linderman,  disch.  at  end  uf  service,  Jan.  16, 1865. 
Sanjuel  Lightner,  disch.  by  order,  June  8,  1866. 
James  B.  Miller,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  26, 1862. 
George  Nickols,  died  of  disease  near  Corinth,  Miss.,  May  26, 1862. 
Samuel  A.  Owen,  disch.  for  disability,  May  13, 1862. 
David  A.  Randall,  disch.  lor  disability,  July  18, 1802. 
EbenezerBathbone,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  April  26, 1862. 
Ira  Smith,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Jan.  16, 1866. 
Aaron  D.  Staley,  disch.  by  order,  June  8, 1865. 
Samuel  S.  Tyler,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  April  20, 1862. 
Geo.  W.  Tuttle,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Jan.  15, 1S64. 
George  S.  Tuft,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  18,  1864. 

George  W,  Willior,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  18, 1864  ;  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Cornelius  S.  Wliitcomb,  must,  out  July  25, 1866. 
Frederick  W.  Williams,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Jan.  16, 1865. 

Company  B, 
Sergt.  Calvin  Hill,  Yankee  Springs;  enl.  Oct.  2, 1801 ;  disch.  Sept.  8, 1862. 
Corp.  Geo.  W.  Knickerbocker,  Yankee  Springs;  enl.  Oct.  8, 1801 ;  veteran,  Jan. 

18,  1864  ;  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Corp.  Leander  B.  Pryor,  Yankee  Springs ;  enl.  Oct.  8, 1861 ;  must,  out  July  25, 

1866. 
Corp.  Irwin  L.  Ross,  Trowbridge ;  enl.  Oct.  7, 1861 ;  disch.  July  24, 1862. 
Corp.  Lewis  Slater,  Yankee  Springs;  enl.  Oct.  8, 1861 ;  disch.  Feb.  Il,.1863. 
RoUo  Bishop,  died  of  disease  at  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  May  9, 1803. 
Charles  Bishop,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  18, 1861 ;  must,  out  July  25,  1865. 
Littlejohn  Baker,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  13, 1864;  must,  out  July  25, 1805. 
John  D.  Bishop,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Rockwell  D.  Corwin,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Joseph  Case,  died  of  disease  at  Bardstown,  Ky.,  April  20, 1802. 
Andrew  J.  Case,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  24, 1865. 
John  B.  Crandall,  disch.  by  order,  June  15, 1865. 

William  P.  Edgilt,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  18, 1864 ;  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Thomas  A.  Hubbard,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  18, 1804;  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Richard  Hecox,  died  of  disease  at  Prairieville,  Mich.,  Jan.  18, 1862. 
John  C.  Henry,  died  of  disease  at  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  March  18, 1863. 
Newton  Hubbard,  disch.  for  disability.  May  23, 1862. 
Henry  W.  Knickerbocker,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Alva  J.  Morehouse,  died  of  disease  at  Illinois,  Nov.  18, 1862. 
Squire  M.  Nichols,  must,  out  June  8, 1865. 

Edward  Pi*yor,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  April  5, 1862. 
Orville  J.  Pryor,  died  of  disease  at  Detroit,  Mich.,  Feb.  17, 1805. 
Robert  E.  Pryor,  must,  out  June  8, 1865. 
Leonard  E.  Perry,  veteran, *enl.  Jan.  18, 1864. 
Leander  B.  Pryor,  disch.  for  disability,  March  7, 1803. 
Orwin  Potter,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  22, 1P02. 
John  W.  Rodgers,  disch.  by  order,  June  8, 1865. 
Charles  H.  Rodgers,  must,  out  July  25, 1805. 
Orvis  Stater,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  March  14, 1865. 
Winton  Smith,  disch.  May  27, 1862. 
Henry  Smith,  disch.  for  disability.  May  21, 1862. 
William  B.  Williams,  disch.  for  disability.  May  21, 1862. 
Joseph  J.  Wrist,  disch.  for  disability.  May  21, 1862. 
Harrison  C.  Wrist,  disch.  for  disiibility.  May  21, 1862. 
John  Withey,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  1, 1863. 
Francis  Withey,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

William  Withey,  killed  iu  action  at  Stone  Kiver,  Tenn.,  Deo.  31, 1862. 
Francis  Young,  died  of  disease  at  Kalamazoo,  Mich.,  Feb.  14, 1802. 

Company  C. 
Eilo  Bunce,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Isaac  Burget,  disch.  by  order,  June  8, 1865. 


FOURTEENTH,  SEVENTEENTH,  AND  NINETEENTH  INFANTRY. 


105 


James  H.  Durkee,  disch.  by  order,  June  8, 1865. 

Franklin  A.  Durfee,  disch.  by  order,  June  8, 1865. 

William  0.  Hurd,  discli.  by  order.  May  26, 1S65. 

Jacob  Hfaton,  diech.  by  order,  June  22, 1865. 

George  Hindmarch,  died  of  disease  at  Gallatin,  Dec.  19, 1862. 

Horace  E.  Ludlow,  disch.  by  order,  June  8, 1865. 

John  W.  Pryor,  died  of  disease,  Jane  26, 1865. 

Stephen  V.  Wheaton,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Company  D. 
Capt.  Daniel  B.  Hosmer,  Castleton  ;  onl.  June  19, 1863 ;  2d  lieut.,  Sept.  17, 1862  ; 

sergt. ;  killed  in  action  at  Chickamauga,  Tenn.,  Sept.  19, 1863. 
Bobert  E.  Ferguson,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  18, 1864.  * 

Company  E. 
George  H.  Durkee,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Cyrus  A.  Morse,  disch.  May  15, 1865. 
William  McOonley,  disch.  by  order.  May  19, 1865. 
Henry  P.  Kalston,  disch.  by  order,  Jan.  16, 1865. 

Company  F. 
Dewltt  0.  Dye,  disch.  Feb.  21,1863. 

Company  G. 
Calvin  P.  AngoU,  disch.  by  order,  June  8,  1866. 
Lyman  C.  Angell,  died  of  disease,  Dec.  2, 1864. 
Bicbard  Blucher,  died  of  disease  at  Huntsville,  Ala.,  Aug.  27, 1862. 
Tliomas  Besinger,  disch.  for  disability,  July  18, 1862. 
William  H.  Mead,  diach.  for  disability.  May  30, 1863, 
Justice  Mudge,  died  of  disease  at  MlUedgeville,  Ga.,  Deo.  4, 1864. 
George  A.  Willard,  died  of  wounds  at  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  Jan.  4, 1863. 

Company  H. 

Corp.  Geo.  P.  Coon,  Orangeville;  enl.  Dec.  20,1861 ;  disch.  April  8,  1863. 

Celo  C.  Colley,  discb.  for  disability,  Aug.  7, 1865. 

Jehiel  Chalker,  disch.  by  order,  June  8, 1865. 

John  Daggett,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  April  12, 1862. 

GeorKe  H.  Ford,  trans,  to  Vet.  Bes.  Corps,  May  1, 1864. 

William  H.  Gilbert,  trans,  to  Yet.  Bes.  Corps. 

Jesse  McVane,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Benjamin  Smith,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  April  7, 1865. 

James  H.  Smith,  veteran,  enl.  January,  1864. 

Company  I. 
Benjamin  Jones,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Nov.  28, 1864. 

Company  K. 
George  W.  Boen,  died  of  disease  at  Savannah,  Ga.,  Feb.  2, 1865. 
Wallace  Coryden,  disch.  by  order,  June  9, 1865. 
William  P.  Sidman,  disch.  by  order.  May  6, 1865. 
Jacob  Young,  died  of  disease  at  Savannah,  Ga.,  Feb.  7, 1865. 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

FOUETEENTH,   SBVEBTTEEIirTn,  AND  ITINB- 
TEEWTH  IWEAWTET. 

The  Fourteenth  goes  to  Northern  Mississippi— Brigaded  for  the  War 
—Arduous  Service  in  Tennessee— The  Long  Combat  from  Dallas 
to  Atlanta— The  March  to  the  Sea— Throigh  the  Carolinas— Muster 
out— Allegan  County  Members— Barry  County  Members— The  Gal- 
lant Seventeenth— Company  D,  from  Allegan  and  Barry— Off  to  the 
War— Attacking  the  Enemy— Brilliant  Success-Heavy  Loss— Bat- 
tle of  Antietam— Through  the  Winter  in  Virginia— Under  Grant  in 
Mississippi-Back  to  Kentucky— With  Burnside  to  East  Tennessee 
—The  Campaign  of  the  Wilderness— Hard  Fight  at  Spott.sylvania 
-Engineer  Duty— Subsequent  Services— Muster  out— Members 
from  Allegan  County— Members  from  Barry  County— Organization 
and  Departure  of  the  Nineteenth  Infantry— On  Duty  in  Kentucky- 
Transferred  to  Army  of  the  Cumberland-Ordered  to  Franklin, 
Tenn.— The  Brigade  on  a  Reconnoissance— Attacked  by  Seven 
Brigades  of  Cavalry-A  Long  and  Desperate  Fight-The  Enemy 
again  and  again  repulsed— Ammunition  exhausted— New  Rebel 
Forces  appear— Unionists  compelled  to  surrender— Exchanged  and 
Reorganized- Services  in  Tennessee— Captures  a  Battery  at  Resaoa 
—Its  Colonel  killed— Averysboro'  and  Bentonville— The  Close— 
Allegan  County  Officers  and  Men— Members  from  Barry  County. 

FOURTEENTH  INFANTRY. 
The  Fourteenth  Infantry,  which  "represented  many  por- 
tions of  the  State,  was  mustered  into  service  at  Ypsilanti, 
14 


Feb.  13,  1862,  and  left  for  the  seat  of  war  in  Northern 
Mississippi  on  the  17th  of  April  following.  At  Hamburg 
Landing,  Miss.,  it  was  assigned  to  Gen.  Pope's  Army  of  the 
Mississippi,  and  joined  a  brigade  made  up  of  the  Tenth, 
Sixteenth,  and  Sixtieth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  the  Tenth  and 
Fourteenth  Michigan  Infantry,  of  which  it  was  composed 
during  the  remainder  of  the  war,  except  that  the  Tenth  Il- 
linois gave  place,  in  July,  1864,  to  the  Seventeenth  New 
York. 

After  the  retreat  of  Beauregard  from  Corinth  the  bri- 
gade was  employed  in  various  duties  in  Northern  Alabama 
and  Mississippi  until  ^September,  1862,  when,  with  Gen. 
J.  M.  Palmer's  division,  it  marched  to  Nashville,  Tenn., 
and  assisted  to  hold  that  place  while  Buell  was  advancing 
toward  Louisville,  Ky.    After  Gen.  Rosecrans  assumed  com- 
mand of  the  Department  of  the  Cumberland,  and  marched 
his  forces  from  Kentucky  to  the  relief  of  Nashville,  Palmer's 
division  was  transferred  from  the  Army  of  the  Mississippi  to 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  thereafter  the  regiments 
composing  it  operated  in  the  Department  of  the  Cumberland. 
The  Fourteenth  performed  arduous  service  until  the  close 
of  the  war.    It  served  as  mounted  infantry  in  Tennessee  from 
September,  1863,  until  the  spring  of  1864,  when  it  re-en- 
enlisted,  and  after  the  usual  veteran  furlough  rejoined  its 
brigade  at  Dallas,  Ga.,  June  4,  1864.     It  then  participated 
in  all  the  movements  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  until 
the  fall  of  Atlanta.     On  the  16th  of  November,  with  the 
brigade,  it  moved  southward  from  Atlanta  on  the  march 
"  through   Georgia,"  assisted  in  the  capture  of  Savannah, 
and  thence,  in  January,  1865,  with  its  command, — viz., 
First  Brigade,  Second  Division,  Fourteenth  Army  Corps, — 
proceeded  northward  through  the  Carolinas.     At  Averys- 
boro' and  Bentonville,  N.  C,  the  brigade  particularly  distin- 
guished itself.    (See  history  of  Thirteenth  Infantry.)    After 
the  surrender  of  Johnston  the  command  marched  to  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  via,  Raleigh  and  Richmond.     It  passed  in 
review  at  the  National  capital,  May  14th,  and  on  the  13th 
of  June  proceeded,  vid  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  to 
Parkersburg,  W.  Va. ;  going  thence  by  steamer  to  Louisville, 
Ky.,  where  it  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  on  the  18th 
of  July,  1865.     It  arrived  at  Jackson,  Mich.,  on  the  21st, 
and  on  the  29th  of  the  same  month  was  paid  off  and  dis- 
banded. 

MEMBEES  OF  THE  FOUBTEENTH  INFANTRY  FBOM  ALLEGAN 
CODNTY. 
Company  A. 
M.  D.  Hulenberg,  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 
Eli  P.  Spaulding,  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 

Company  B. 

Nathaniel  0.  Austin,  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 
James  Conlan,  disch.  for  wounds,  June  5, 1865. 
Moses  Green,  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 
Judson  Kitchen,  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 
John  McCreery,  must,  out  July  8, 1865. 

Company  D. 

Erastns  N.  Bates,  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 

Ashel  S.  Carr,  died  of  disease  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  July  18, 1865. 

Company  E. 
Nicholas  Mateen,  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 

Company  F. 
.Sylvester  Anway,  mnst.  out  July  18, 1866. 
Geo.  H.  Leavitt,  must,  out  July  18,  1865. 
Chas.  H.  White,  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 


106 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Compnmj  G. 
Fred.  Hoffer,  disch.  by  order,  June  6,  1865. 
Lambert  Van  Valkenberg,  disch,  by  order,  Juno  27, 1865, 

Company  I, 
Jerry  Monroe,  disch,  by  order,  May  30, 1865. 

BAKRT   COUNTY  MEMBERS  OF   THE   FOUKTBENTH  INFANTKY, 
Company  B, 
Harvey  H.  Austin,  disch,  by  order,  July  20, 1865. 

Company  D, 
Thnnias  B,  Luce,  must,  out  July  18, 18G5, 
Michael  Roush,  must,  out  July  18, 1865, 
Nelson  Vanevery,  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 

Company  E. 
Charles  W.  H.  Cassady,  must,  out  July  18,  I860, 

William  S,  Gibbs,  must  out  July  18, 1865.  ^ 

David  Roush,  must,  out  July  18, 1865, 

SEVENTEENTH    INFANTRY. 

This  gallant  command,  celebrated  as  the  "  Stonewall" 
regiment  of  Gen.  Wilcox's  division  of  the  Ninth  Army 
Corps,  was  organized  at  Detroit  Barracks,  in  the  summer 
of  1862,  by  State  Inspector-General  James  E.  Pittman,  Its 
original  commanding  officer.  Col.  William  H,  Withington, 
was  commissioned  Aug.  11,  1862,  and  on  the  21st  of  the 
same  month  the  regiment  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service  for  three  years.  Company  D  embraced  a 
large  majority  of  the  members  of  the  regiment  fron)  Allegan 
and  Barry  Counties. 

Under  the  command  of  Col.  Withington,  the  regiment 
left  its  rendezvous  on  the  2'7th  of  August,  1862,  and  pro- 
ceeded directly  to  Washington.  Scarcely  had  it  arrived  at 
that  place  when  it  was  assigned  to  Gen,  Wilcox's  division, 
and  in  less  than  three  weeks  from  the  time  of  leaving  Michi- 
gan its  members  were  gallantly  battling  for  their  country  at 
South  Mountain. 

On  the  evening  of  the  13th  of  September  the  regiment 
marched  from  Frederick  City,  Md,, — where  it  had  bi- 
vouacked the  night  before  with  the  rest  of  the  Ninth  Army 
Corps, — over  the  National  turnpike  in  the  direction  of 
South  Mountain,  and  about  midnight  rested  for  a  few  hours 
not  far  from  Middletown.  Before  daybreak  of  the  14th 
Middletown  was  passed ;  the  base  of  the  mountain  being 
reached  about  nine  o'clock  a.m.  The  enemy  was  found  in 
force  on  each  side  of  a  gap,  holding  each  crest  of  the  moun- 
tain, and  strongly  posted  behind  stone  fences  and  other 
available  shelter,  with  his  batteries  in  commanding  posi- 
tions enfilading  the  main  road.  The  regiment  was  then 
ordered  to  advance  up  the  Sharpsburg  road. 

This  movement  was  executed  in  common  by  the  whole 
of  Wilcox's  division,  which  proceeded  far  up  towards  the 
crest  of  the  mountain  and  moved  to  the  support  of  a  sec- 
tion of  Cook's  battery,  which  had  been  sent  up  to  open  on 
the  enemy's  guns  on  the  right  of  the  gap.  The  division 
was  about  to  deploy,  when  the  rebels  suddenly  opened  at 
two  hundred  yards  with  a  battery,  throwing  shot  and  shell, 
killing  several  in  the  regiment,  and  driving  back  the  bat- 
tery ;  the  cannoniers  of  which,  with  their  horses  and  lim- 
bers, rushed  back  through  the  ranks  of  the  infantry,  causing 
a  temporary  panic  among  some  of  the  troops,  that  might 
have  resulted  in  the  loss  of  the  guns  had  the  enemy  taken 
advantage  of  it. 


The  Seventeenth  promptly  changed  front  under  a  heavy 
fire,  and  moved  out  with  the  Seventy-Ninth  New  York  to 
protect  the  battery,  lying  in  line  of  battle  until  nearly  four 
P.M.,  exposed  to  a  severe  fire  from  Drayton's  brigade  of 
South  Carolina  infantry,  posted  in  its  immediate  front. 
Being  unable  to  reply  to  this  fire,  and  having  become  im- 
patient and  anxious  to  advance,  the  order  to  charge  upon 
the  enemy  was  received  with  enthusiastic  cheers.  The 
regiment,  being  on  the  extreme  right  of  Wilcox's  division, 
moved  rapidly  forward  through  an  open  field  upon  the 
enemy's  position,  under  a  terrific  storm  of  lead  and  iron 
from  the  stone  fences  in  front  and  the  batteries  on  the 
right ;  then,  with  cheer  after  cheer,  sent  up  in  defiant  an- 
swer to  the  peculiar  rebel  yell,  the  Seventeenth  gallantly 
advanced  to  within  easy  musket-range  without  firing  a 
shot.  It  then  opened  a  murderous  fire  upon  the  enemy, 
and,  steadily  advancing  the  extreme  right  of  the  regiment, 
it  swung  round,  obtaining  an  enfilading  fire  upon  the  rebels 
intrenched  behind  the  stone  walls.  Unable  to  withstand 
this  destructive  fire,  the  enemy  broke  in  confusion,  and  the 
left  of  the  regiment  charged  over  the  walls  with  shouts  of 
triumph,  pursuing  the  fleeing  remnants  of  Drayton's  com- 
mand over  the  crest  and  far  down  the  mountain  slope, 
gaining  and  holding  the  key-point  of  the  battle-field.  The 
splendid  valor  and  extraordinary  coolness  of  the  raw  recruits 
of  the  Seventeenth  in  this  engagement  gave  the  regiment 
much  celebrity,  and  this  conflict  has  since  been  mentioned 
in  history  as  one  of  the  most  brilliant  achi'evements  of  the 
war.  The  regiment  sufi"ered  severely  at  South  Mountain, 
having  twenty-seven  officers  and  men  killed  and  one  hun- 
dred and  fourteen  wounded.  Three  days  later,  at  Antietam, 
it  was  again  hotly  engaged,  sustaining  a  loss  of  eighteen 
killed  and  eighty-seven  wounded. 

Afler  following  Lee's  defeated  army  through  Northern 
Virginia,  and  campipg  for  a  while  at  Falmouth,  the  regi- 
ment crossed  the  Rappahannock  at  Fredericksburg,  but  did 
not  participate  in  the  battle  of  that  place.  It  remained  in 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  through  the  winter,  but  in  the 
spring  was  ordered  to  Kentucky.  After  a  short  stay  in 
that  State,  it  proceeded  with  the  Ninth  Army  Corps  to 
Mississippi,  and  joined  Gen.  Grant.  It  was  stationed  at 
Haynes'  Blufi"  and  Milldale,  and  was  slightly  engaged 
before  Jackson  on  the  10th  of  June. 

It  soon  returned  to  Kentucky,  and  moved  thence  with 
Burnside's  army  into  East  Tennessee.  It  took  part  in 
numerous  movements  and  counter-movements  for  which 
tlie  forces  in  East  Tennessee  became  famous,  and  on  the 
16th  of  November  was  acting  as  the  rear-guard  of  the 
army,  which  was  falling  back  towards  Knoxville.  While  it 
was  crossing  Turkey  Creek,  near  Campbell's  Station,  the 
enemy  attacked  in  force,  and  a  sharp  engagement  followed. 
The  Seventeenth,  with  its  brigade,  steadily  covered  the  rear 
of  the  army,  having  twenty-six  officers  and  men  killed  and 
wounded  during  the  fight. 

That  night  the  whole  Union  force  moved  into  Knoxville, 
and  from  then  until  the  retreat  of  the  enemy,  on  the  4th  of 
December,  the  regiment  was  busily  engaged  in  the  defense 
of  that  place,  sufi'ering  greatly  from  want  of  rations,  but 
gallantly  performing  its  duty.  After  the  defeat  of  the  Con- 
federates, the  marching  up  and  down  the  Tennessee  Valley 


FOURTEENTH,  SEVENTEENTH,  AND  NINETEENTH  INFANTRY. 


107 


was  resumed,  and  was  kept  up,  with  some  intervals  of  rest, 
throughout  the  winter. 

On  the  20th  of  March,  1864,  the  regiment  set  out  with 
the  Ninth  Corps  from  Knoxville,  and  marched  over  the 
Cumberland  Mountains  to  Nicholasville,  Ky.,  whence  it 
moved  at  once  to  Maryland. 

With  the  same  corps  the  Seventeenth  passed  through  the 
great  campaign  of  1864.  It  was  sharply  engaged  in  the 
Wilderness  on  the  6th  of  May,  having  forty-siK  men  killed 
and  wounded.  At  Spottsylvania,  on  the  12th  of  May,  the 
regiment  charged  gallantly  on  the  rebel  works,  but  was 
surrounded  by  a  superior  force  in  the  dense  woods,  and  had 
twenty-three  killed,  seventy-three  wounded,  and  ninety- 
three  taken  prisoners,  out  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-five 
engaged.  So  small  a  squad  remained  for  duty  that  on  the 
16th  of  May  it  was  detailed  for  engineer  service,  though 
still  retaining  its  regimental  number. 

It  served  throughout  the  winter  of  1864-65  either  in 
this  capacity  or  as  provost-guard.  During  the  Confederate 
attack  on  Fort  Steadman,  however  (March  25,  1865),  the 
Seventeenth  advanced  as  skirmishers,  drove  back  the 
enemy's  skirmishers,  and  captured  sixty-five  prisoners. 
After  the  capture  of  Petersburg  and  the  surrender  of  Lee 
the  regiment  moved  north  to  Washington,  set  out  for  Mich- 
igan on  the  4th  of  June,  1865,  reached  Detroit  on  the  7th, 
and  Was  forthwith  paid  ofi'  and  discharged  at  the  latter 
place. 

MEMBERS  or  THE   SEVENTEENTH   INFANTRY  FROM   ALLEGAN 
COUNTY. 
Fldd  and  Staff. 
Surg.  Abram  R.  Calkins,  Allegan  ;  com.  June  26, 1862;  reu.  Oct.  14, 1862. 

Company  D. 
1st  Lieut.  Wm.  H.  White,  Wayland;  com.  June  17, 1862;  ros.  March  20, 1863. 
Corp.  Chas.  Parsons.  Wayland;  enl.  July  31, 1862;  died  of  disease  at  Lebanon, 

Ky.,  April  25,  1863. 
Corp.  Peter  J.  Murpliy,  Wayland ;  enl.  July  31, 1862  ;  must,  out  June  3, 1865. 
Orville  Slade,  Wayland  ;  enl.  Aug.  7,  1862  ;  killed  in  action  at  Antietum,  Md., 

Sept.  17,  1862. 
Daniel  Ball,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  30, 1863. 
Calvin  Ball,  disch.  for  disability,  April  28, 1863. 
Chas.  L.  Burrell,  pro.  1b  U.  S.  C.  T.,  Nov.  3, 1863. 
Myron  Burrell,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  March  15, 1864. 
Wm.  M.  Coleman,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  25, 1864. 
Cornelius  Devenwater,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  4, 1863. 
Richard  Dennis,  died  at  Weverton,  Md.,  Nov.  4, 1862. 
Lutbor  E.  Ellis,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  15, 1863. 
Joseph  G.  Fenncr,  disch. /or  disability,  Jan.  11,  1863. 
Saml.  Potter,  died  of  wounds  near  Jackson,  Miss.,  Oct.  28, 1862. 
Wm.  Parker,  must,  out  June  3, 1865. 
Stephen  Springer,  must,  out  June  3, 1865. 
Edward  H.  Schofield,  disch.  for  disability,  Deo.  7, 1862. 
John  Truax,  discli.  by  order.  May  10, 1865. 

Henry  Xomlinson,  killed  in  action  at  South  Mountain,  Sept.  14, 1862. 
Benj.  Ward,  killed  in  action  at  South  Mountain,  Sept.  14, 1862. 
Martin  White,  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 

Company  E. 
Sergt.  Philo  M.  Lonsbury,  Allegan;  enl.  Aug.  1,  1862;  absent  sick  at  muster 

out. 
Musician  Jas.  C.  Leggett,  Allegan;  enl.  Aug.  9, 1862;  must,  out  June  3, 1865. 
Herbert  W.  Lonsbury,  Allegan  ;  killed  in  action  at  Spottsylvania,  May  12, 1864. 

Company  I. 
Hiram  Bushnell,  died  of  wounds. 
Samuel  Buchanan,  must,  out  June  3, 1865. 
Alfred  Cook,  must,  out  June  3, 1865. 
Oliver  P.  Carmen,  mu-t.  out  June  3, 1865. 
Levi  B.  Davis,  must,  out  June  3, 1865. 
Jas.  Hibberdine,  must,  out  June  3, 1865. 
Geo.  Kitchen,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  3, 1862. 
David  V.  Lily,  died  in  action  at  South  Monutain,  Sept.  14,  1862. 
Frederick  Leonard,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  1, 1S63. 
James  V.  Orton,  must,  out  June  3, 1865. 


Samuel  Parker,  died  of  disease  at  Covington,  Ky.,  April  9, 1865. 

Daniel  Polk,  disch.  by  order.  May  12, 1865. 

Penter  Boss,  must,  out  June  3, 1865. 

Nahum  Snow,  must,  out  June  3, 1865. 

Alvin  H.  Stillson,  must,  out  June  3,1865. 

Simon  Starring,  mtist.  out  June  3, 1865, 

M.  V.  B.  Smith,  died  of  disease  at  Memphis,  June  24, 1863. 

BARRY   COUNTY   MEMBERS   OF   THE  SEVENTEENTH   INFANTRY. 

Onnpany  D. 
2d  Lieut.  David  L.  Morthland,  Barry ;  must,  out  as  sergt.,  June  3, 1865. 
Sergt.  Wallace  H.  Scovllle,  Johnston ;  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  26, 1863. 
Musician  James  Goodman,  Hastings;  disch.  by  order,  Sept.  16,1862. 
Andrew  E.  Breese,  disch.  for  disability. 
David  Brotherton,  must,  out  June  3, 1865. 
.Talo  W.  Convin,  must,  out  June  3, 1865. 
Charles  W.  Convin,  must,  out  June  3, 1865. 

Zenas  S.  Clark,  died  of  disease  at  Newport  News,  Va.,  March  17, 1865. 
Charles  D.  Cowles,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  30, 1865. 
Charles  Dickinson,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  25, 1864 
Hector  M.  Dodge,  must,  out  June  3, 1865. 

David  Eldridge,  died  in  action  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.,  May  12, 1865. 
W.  S.  Hinckley,  disch.  for  disability,  April  10, 1863. 
Daniel  Hoffman,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  6, 1863. 

William  H.  Hoffman,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  D.  C,  Nov.  28, 1862. 
Martin  Moore,  killed  in  action  at  South  Mountain,  Sept.  14, 1862. 
Herman  W.  Manford,  trans,  to  navy. 
John  P.  Manning,  must,  out  June  3, 1865. 

A.  Palmatier,  killed  in  action  at  South  Mountain,  Md.,  Sept.  14, 1862. 
Nathan  F.  Powers,  died  of  disease  at  Big  Spring  Hospital,  Oct.  28, 1862. 
Harlan  A.  Poor,  killed  in  action  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.,  May  12, 1864. 
William  W.  Seebore,  disch.  for  wounds  received,  Sept.  14, 1862. 
Charles  Shoemaker,  must,  out  June  3, 1865. 

Compdny  H. 
William  H.  Godsmark,  disch.  Deo.  31, 1862. 
Jerome  M.  Lampman,  disch.  for  disability.  May  17, 1864. 
Martin  Mallet,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  4, 1865. 
Isaac  Vantyle,  must,  out  July  3, 1865. 

NINETEENTH   INFANTRY. 

The  Nineteenth  Regiment  of  infantry  was  recruited  during 
the  summer  of  1862  from  the  counties  of  Branch,  St. 
Joseph,  Cass,  Berrien,  Kalamazoo,  Van  Buren,  and  Alle- 
gan, Company  B  including  within  its  ranks  a  large  majority 
of  those  from  the  latter  county.  The  regimental  rendezvous 
was  at  Dowagiac,  Cass  Co.,  where  the  regiment  was  mus- 
tered into  the  United  States  service  on  the  25th  of  August, 
1862. 

On  the  14th  of  September  following,  under  the  command 
of  Col.  Henry  C.  Gilbert,  the  Nineteenth  proceeded  to  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  thence  to  Nicholasville,  Ky.,  and  later,  to- 
wards the  close  of  the  year,  to  Danville,  Ky.  It  was  first 
assigned  to  duty  with  the  Fourth  Brigade,  First  Division, 
Army  of  the  Ohio,  which  brigade,  on  the  formation  of  the 
Department  and  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  was  transferred 
to  that  army  as  part  of  the  Reserve  Corps.  The  regiment 
moved  from  Danville  early  in  February,  1863,  and  reached 
Nashville  on  the  7th,  proceeding  thence  to  Franklin,  Tenn. 

Immediately  after,  Col.  Coburn's  brigade,  consisting  of 
the  Nineteenth  Michigan,  Thirty-Third  and  Eighty-Fifth 
Indiana,  and  the  Twenty-Second  Wisconsin  Regiments  of 
infantry,  numbering  fifteen  hundred  and  eighty-seven  men, 
strengthened  by  two  hundred  men  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-Fourth  Ohio  Infantry,  with  detachments  of  three 
regiments  of  cavalry,  about  six  hundred  strong,  and  a  full 
battery  of  artillery,  moved  out  from  Franklin  on  a  recon- 
noissance  in  force.  After  a  march  of  about  four  miles  the 
enemy's  outposts  were  encountered,  but  they  retired  before 
the  Union  skirmishers,  and  the  brigade  bivouacked  there 
for  the  night. 

Resuming  the  march  on  the  following  day,  the  Union 


103 


HISTORY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


column  found  the  enemy  in  force  and  strongly  posted,  at 
Thompson's  Station,  nine  miles  from  Franklin.  At  the 
point  where  the  railroad  crosses  the  turnpike  the  rebels 
opened  fire  on  the  forces  of  Col.  Coburn,  who  immediately 
formed  his  men,  and  ordered  a  section  of  the  battery  to 
occupy  a  biH  on  the  left  of  the  road,  sending  the  Nineteenth 
Michigan  and  the  Twenty-Second  Wisconsin  to  support  it. 
The  Thirty-Third  and  Eighty-Fifth  Indiana,  with  the  other 
guns  of  the  battery,  took  position  on  a  hill  at  the  right. 
The  enemy  had  two  batteries  posted  on  a  range  of  hills 
three-fourths  of  a  mile  in  front  and  south  of  the  position 
occupied  by  Coburn 's  troops.  The  Indiana  regiments  made 
a  demonstration  on  the  left  of  the  enemy,  to  draw  him  out 
or  charge  his  batteries,  as  circumstances  might  dictate. 
This  movement  was  made  under  a  most  galling  fire  from 
the  enemy's  batteries,  and  when  the  position  was  reached 
two  entire  brigades  of  dismounted  rebel  cavalry  were  dis- 
closed strongly  posted  behind  stone  walls  and  other  de- 
fenses. 

As  it  was  found  impossible  to  advance  farther  under  the 
severe  and  incessant  fire,  these  regiments  were  ordered  to 
return  to  their  former  position  on  the  hill,  supported  by  a 
squadron  of  cavalry  ;  but  for  some  unexplained  reason  the 
cavalry  failed  to  occupy  the  supporting  position,  as  in- 
tended. No  sooner  had  the  two  regiments  commenced  to 
fall  back  than  they  were  pursued  by  two  rebel  regiments, 
firing  rapid  volleys  into  the  retiring  Union  force,  which 
was  at  the  same  time  under  fire  from  the  enemy's  artillery. 

But  as  soon  as  they  reached  the  hill  the  Indianians  turned 
upon  their  rebel  pursuers  and  drove  them  back  on  the  run ; 
killing  Col.  Earlc,  of  Arkansas.  The  enemy  rallied,  charged 
desperately,  and  was  again  handsomely  repulsed  ;  but  it 
soon  became  evident  that  Col.  Coburn's  command  had  here 
encountered  the  entire  cavalry  force  of  Bragg's  army, 
eighteen  thousand  strong,  consisting  of  brigades  com- 
manded respectively  by  Gens..  Forrest,  Wheeler,  French, 
Armstrong,  Jackson,  Crosby,  and  Martin,  all  under  the 
command  of  Gen.  Van  Dorn. 

The  enemy,  under  Forrest,  then  advanced  on  the  posi- 
tion occupied  by  the  Nineteenth  Michigan  and  its  com- 
panion regiment,  the  Twenty-Second  Wisconsin.  At  the 
time  the  attack  was  made  the  section  of  artillery  posted 
with  these  regiments  hurriedly  left  its  position,  and  at  the 
same  time  three  companies  of  the  Wisconsin  regiment, 
with  their  lieutenant-colonel  (Bloodgood),  abandoned  the 
field  without  orders,  moving  ofi'  by  the  left  flank,  and  join- 
ing the  retreating  Union  cavalry  and  artillery.  The  Nine- 
teenth Michigan  and  the  remainder  of  the  Twenty-Second 
Wisconsin,  however,  bravely  poured  in  their  fire,  and  held 
their  assailants  at  bay  fully  twenty  minutes. 

Forrest,  checked  in  his  advance,  made  a  circuit  to  the 
east  with  his  whole  force,  beyond  the  ground  occupied  by 
Col.  Coburn,  with  the  intention  of  turning  his  (Coburn's) 
left  flank.  The  Nineteenth  and  Twenty-Second  were  then 
moved  to  the  west  side  of  the  turnpike,  leaving  the 
Thirty-Third  and  Eighty- Fifth  Indiana  to  protect  the  south- 
ern acclivity  of  the  hill.  The  four  regiments  had  scarcely 
formed  in  line  behind  the  crest  when  Armstrong's  rebel 
brigade  charged  from  the  east  and  the  Texans  from  the 
south.      The   battle  now  became   terrific.      Three   times 


the  enemy  charged  gallantly  up  the  hill,  and  thrice  was  he 
forced  back  with  severe  loss.  In  one  of  these  charges  the 
colors  of  the  Fourth  Mississippi  were  captured  by  the 
Nineteenth  Michigan. 

The  fighting  became  still  more  desperate.  The  enemy, 
having  gained  possession  of  the  hill  on  the  east  of  the  road, 
was  sweeping  the  Northern  ranks  with  canister,  and,  bravely 
as  the  Union  troops  fought,  it  soon  became  evident  that  the 
struggle  was  hopeless.  Their  ammunition  was  nearly  ex- 
hausted, and  Forrest,  who  had  already  cut  them  ofif  from 
Franklin,  was  advancing  on  their  rear.  Col.  Coburn  faced 
his  command  to  the  north  to  repel  this  new  danger,  and 
thus  Forrest  was  held  in  check  until  the  Union  men  had 
expended  their  last  round  of  ammunition.  Then  the  brave 
band  fixed  bayonets,  determined  to  charge  through  the 
enemy's  lines  and  escape;  but  just  then  it  was  discovered 
that  still  another  line  lay  in  reserve,  and  still  another  bat- 
tery opened  on  them  from  an  unexpected  quarter.  Escape 
was  now  hopeless,  and  to  avoid  a  further  and  useless  loss  of 
life  the  command  surrendered.  Col.  Gilbert  had  had  his 
horse  shot  under  him  in  the  early  part  of  the  fight,  and 
throughout  all  the  fierce  engagement  had  borne  himself 
most  gallantly.  When  he  offered  his  sword  to  the  Confed- 
erate commander  the  latter  declined  to  receive  it,  with  the 
remark  that  "  so  brave  an  officer,  commanding  so  gallant  a 
regiment,*  deserves  to  retain  his  arms." 

A  part  of  the  Nineteenth  had  escaped  capture  at  Thomp- 
son's Station.  This  small  body,  with  those  who  had  been 
left  in  camp  at  Franklin,  were  sent  to  Brentwood,  organized 
with  the  remaining  fragments  of  the  brigade,  and  placed 
under  command  of  an  officer  of  another  regiment.  This 
force  was  surrendered  to  the  rebel  general  Forrest  on  the 
25th  of  March,  1863,  without  the  firing  of  a  gun.  The 
enlisted  men  were  soon  paroled  and  sent  North  ;  the  com- 
missioned officers  were  exchanged  on  the  25th  of  May 
following. 

The  regiment  was  reorganized  at  Camj)  Chase,  Ohio,  and 
on  the  8th  of  June,  1863,  left  Columbus  to  engage  once 
more  in  service  at  the  front.  It  reached  Nashville  on  the 
11th,  and  fronf  that  time  was  employed  in  ordinary  camp 
and  picket  duty  until  July,  when  it  formed  a  part  of  Rose- 
crans'  column  advancing  on  Tullahoma.  The  regiment 
was  ordered  back  to  Murfrecsboro  on  the  23d  of  July,  to 
do  garrison  duty  in  the  fortifications  at  that  point  and  along 
Stone  River,  where  Company  D  was  captured  on  the  5th 
of  October  by  a  rebel  cavalry  force,  under  Gen.  Wheeler. 
After  having  been  plundered,  the  men  were  released  on 
parole. 

About  the  last  of  October  the  Nineteenth  was  ordered 
to  McMinnville,  Tenn.,  where  it  remained  engaged  in  the 
construction  of  fortifications  and  similar  duty  until  the  21st 
of  April,  1864,  when  it  was  ordered  to  join  its  division 
and  march  with  the  strong  columns  of  Sherman  into 
Georgia.  It  reached  Lookout  Valley  on  the  30th,  and 
moved  forward  with  the  army  on  the  3d  of  May,  being 
then  in  the  Twentieth  Army  Corps.  Moving  by  way  of 
Buzzard  Roost  and  Snake  Creek  Gap  to  Resaca,  it  was, 


^  »  Of  five  hundred  and  twelve  officers  and  men  who  went  into  ac- 
tion, one  hundred  and  thirteen  were  killed  and  wounded. 


FOURTEENTH,  SEVENTEENTH,  AND  NINETEENTH  INFANTRY. 


109 


with  its  brigade,  desperately  engaged  in  the  battle  at  that 
place  on  the  15th  ;  on  which  occasion  it  gallantly  charged 
and  captured  a  battery  of  the  enemy,  afterwards  holding 
the  position  against  all  efforts  to  retake  it.  It  was  in  that 
charge  that  Col.  Gilbert  received  the  wound  from  which  he 
died  at  Chattanooga,  on  the  24th  of  May.  The  total  loss 
of  the  Nineteenth  in  killed  and  wounded  was  eighty-one. 

The  regiment  was  also  engaged  at  Cassville,  Ga.,  on  the 
19th  of  May,  at  New  Hope  Church  on  the  25th,  at  Gol- 
gotha on  the  15th  of  June,  and  at  Gulp's  Farm  on  the 
22d  of  June ;  having  in  these  engagements  eighty-three 
officers  and  men  killed  and  wounded.  Joining  in  the  pur- 
suit of  the  enemy  after  his  evacuation  of  the  position  and 
works  at  Kenesaw  Mountain,  the  Nineteenth,  then  under 
command  of  Maj.  John  J.  Baker,  crossed  the  Chattahoo- 
chie  and  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Peach-Tree  Creek,  on 
the  20th  of  July,  in  which  its  loss  was  thirty-nine  killed, 
among  the  latter  being  its  commander,  Maj.  Baker.  Dur- 
ing the  remainder  of  the  siege  of  Atlanta  the  regiment  was 
constantly  on  duty,  much  of  the  time  under  artillery-fire ; 
its  loss  during  that  time  being  eight  killed  and  wounded. 

In  the  early  days  of  November,  1864,  the  Nineteenth 
was  quartered  ia  the  city  of  Atlanta,  and  on  the  15th  of 
that  month  moved  with  its  brigade  (the  Second  of  the 
Third  Division,  Twentieth  Corps)  on  the  storied  march  to 
Savannah  ;  taking  an  active  part  in  the  siege  of  that  city, 
until  its  evacuation  on  the  21st  of  December.  It  remained 
near  Savannah  until  Jan.  1,  1865,  when,  with  the  compan- 
ion regiments  of  its  command,  it  moved  across  the  Savan- 
nah River  into  South  Carolina.  It  crossed  the  Pedee 
River  at  Cheraw  on  the  .2d  of  February,  arrived  at  Fay- 
etteville  March  11th,  assisted  to  destroy  the  arsenal  and  other 
public  buildings  at  that  place,  and  moved  thence  toward 
Raleigh.  On  the  16th  the  enemy  was  found  in  heavy  force 
at  Averysboro'.  Here  the  Second  Brigade  was  ordered  to 
assault  the  works,  and  carried  them  with  great  gallantry, 
capturing  the  guns  and  a  large  number  of  prisoners,  the 
loss  of  the  Nineteenth  being  nineteen  in  killed  and  wounded. 
During  the  battle  of  Bentonville,  on  the  19th  of  March, 
the  regiment  stood  in  line  of  battle,  but  was  not  engaged. 

From  Bentonville  the  regiment  moved  to  Goldsboro', 
arriving  there  on  the  24th  of  March,  and  then  marched  to 
Raleigh.  Here  it  remained  until  the  war  was  virtually 
closed  by  the  surrender  of  Johnston's  army.  Then,  with 
its  corps,  it  faced  northward  and  marched  through  Virginia 
to  Alexandria,  where  it  arrived  on  the  18th  of  May.  Six 
days  later  it  marched  with  the  bronzed  and  battered  vete- 
ran's of  Sherman's  army,  on  the  24th  of  May,  through  the 
streets  of  the  national  capital.  From  that  time  it  remained 
in  camp  near  Washington  till  June  10th,  when  it  was  mus- 
tered out  of  the  service  and  ordered  to  Michigan.  Cov- 
ered with  honor,  the  men  of  the  Nineteenth  returned  to 
Jackson,  and  were  there  paid  off  and  discharged,  on  or 
about  the  15th  of  June,  1865. 

ALLEGAN  COUNTY  OFFICEKS  AND  MEN. 
Non-Commissioned  Staff. 
Q.M.-S6rgt.  George  L.  Clark,  Allegan;  enl.  June  1,  1863;  pro.  in  U.  S.  C.T. 
June  W,  1861. 

Company  A. 

Capt.  Joel  n.  Smith,  Allegan;  com.  July  US,  1862;  res.  July  11, 1864. 
Herman  F.  Dibble,  died  in  action  at  Keaaca,  Ga.,  May  15, 1864. 


Company  B, 
Capt.  Samuel  M.  Hubbard,  OtEego;  com.  June  24,  1863;  let  lieut..  May  1,  1863; 

2d  lieut.,  Aug.  11, 1862  ;  wounded  in  action  May  28, 1864 ;  hon.  disch.  Nov. 

30, 1864. 
1st  Lieut.  William  T.  Darrow,  Allegan ;  com.  July  28, 1862 ;  res.  Feb.  6, 1863. 
let  Lieut.  John  W.  Duel,  Allegan  ;  com.  May  8, 1865 ;  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
2d  Lieut.  Augustus  Lily,  Allegan ;  com.  May  1, 1863 ;  pro.  to  1st  lieut.  May  15, 

1864;  disch.  2d  lieut.,  April  9, 1865. 
2d  Lieut.  Bobert  Mabbs,  Allegan  ;  must,  out  as  sergt.,  June  10, 1865. 
Sergt.  Jeremiah  Dugan,  Martin  ;  enl,  Aug,  6, 186'2;  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Sergt.  Phineas  A.  Hager,  Otsego;  enl,  Aug.  9, 1862;  died  of  wounds,  Aug.  8, 

1864, 
Sergt,  George  L,  Clark,  Allegan ;  enl,  Aug,  11, 1862 ;  appointed  q.m  -sergt,,  June 

1, 1863. 
Sergt,  Julius  E,  Bigsby,  Heath  ;  enl,  Aug,  9, 1862  ;  disch.  for  disability,  June  22, 

1863. 
Sergt.  John  W,  Duel,  Otsego;  enl,  Aug.  9, 1862;  pro.  to  1st  lieut. 
Corp,  Kobert  A.  Patterson,  Martin ;  enl.  Aug.  8, 1862 ;  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Corp.  David  K.  Anderson,  Otsego ;  enl,  Aug.  9, 1862 ;  disch,  for  disability,  Aug. 

9,1864. 
Corp.  PaBciil  A.  Pullman,  Allegan ;  enl.  Aug.  4, 1862;  died  in  action  in  Georgia, 

July  20, 1864. 
Corp.  George  L,  Baird,  Otsego ;  enl.  Aug,  11,  1862 ;  disch,  for  disability,  Oct,  6, 

1864, 
Corp,  David  0.  Brown,  Martin ;  enl.  Aug,  6, 1862  ;  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Corp.  Joseph  W,  Ely,  Allegan ;  enl,  Aug.  8, 1862 ;  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Corp.  John  J.  Young,  Allegan ;  enl.  Aug.  9, 1862 ;  muet.  out  June  10, 1865. 
Musician  Benjamin  F.  Chapiu,  Cheshire ;  enl.  Aug.  7, 1862  ;  absent  sick. 
Musician  James  J.  Bachelder,  Martin;  enl.  Aug.  8, 1862;  must,  out  June  10, 

1865. 
Musician  Martin  K.  Parkhurst,  Heath ;  enl.  Aug.  9, 1862;  must,  out  June  10, 

1865. 
John  Ailes,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Emei-son  Allen,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Judson  L.  Austin,  must,  out  May  26, 1865. 

Pascal  L.  Austin,  died  in  action  at  Thompson's  Station,  Tenn.,  March  5, 1863. 
William  Anderson',  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  10, 1865. 
James  Billings,  disch,  for  disability,  March,  1863, 
Hurvey  Bell,  disch.  for  disability,  Juno  22, 1863. 

Henry  L.  Blakeslee,died  in  action  at  Thompson's  Station,  Tenn.,  March  5, 1863, 
John  H.  Biinkman,  died  of  disease  at  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  Dec.  26, 1863. 
Ansel  T.  Baird,  must,  out  June  30, 18G5. 
Edward  A.  Baird,  must,  out  July  10, 1865. 
Milo  H.  Barker,  must,  out  June  10, 1865, 
David  Bellinger,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Horace  C.  Beverly,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Alpbeus  G,  Bradley,  must,  out  Jnne  10, 1865. 
Henry  W.  Browri,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Sidney  Biundage,  must,  out  June  10,  1865. 
Carlos  Baker,  must,  out  July  10, 1866. 
Todorus  Botren,  nmst.out  July  14, 1865. 

Guilford  D.  Case,  died  of  disease  at  Nicholasville,  Ky.,  Dec.  27, 1862.  ..^ 

Frederick  Campbell,  died  in  action  at  Altoona,  Ga.,  May  26, 1864. 
Timothy  Dygert,  must,  out  June  30, 1866. 
Henry  W.  Durand,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Albert  French,  nmst.  out  June  10,1865. 
Edwin  Griffin,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Jacob  Gunsaul,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 

Jerome  Green,  died  of  disease  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  March  3, 1863. 
Leander  S.  Goff,  died  in  prison  at  Richmond,  Ya.,  March  3,  1863. 
John  H.  Howard,  died  of  disease  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  November,  1862. 
John'Hogle,  must,  out  June  15, 1865. 
Charles  H.  Hogeboom,  must,  out  June  15, 1865. 
Martin  M.  Jones,  died  of  wounds  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  July  18, 1864. 
Isaac  M.  Kinney,  died  of  disease  at  Danville,  Ky.,  Feb.  10, 1863. 
Joel  R.  Kuper,  died  of  disease  at  Nasliville,  Tenn.,  March,  1863. 
Stephen  Knapp,  disch.  for  disability,  March  27, 1865. 
Thomas  R,  Kincaid,  must,  out  June  10, 1865, 
Egbert  KlufTman,  must,  out  June  15, 1865. 
Neil  Livingston,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Garrett  Lohies,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Alfred  Leonard,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  March,  1863. 
W.  Merchant,  died  of  disease  at  Annapolis,  March,  1863. 
James  Mclntee,  died  of  wounds  at  Columbia,  Tenn.,  April  20, 1863. 
Donald  McLeod,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  6, 1864. 
William  Manchester,  trans,  to  10th  Inf. 
James  H.  Martin,  must,  out  June  15, 1865. 
George  A.  Martin,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Lawrence  Montague,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Eldridge  Morris,  must,  out  June  10, 1866. 
Thomas  McCormick,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Carlton  Norton,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Henry  Noble,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Francis  C.  Newton,  trans,  to  luth  Inf. 

John  B.  Nelson,  died  of  disease  at  McMinnville,  Tenn.,  March  20, 1864, 
Stephen  Ostrander,  must,  out  June  22, 1865. 
Harvey  Pullman,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 


110 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Erastns  Piirdy,  must,  out  June  23, 1865. 

Cburles  H.  Prentiss,  must,  out  June  3, 1865. 

George  W.  Piatt,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 

Elisha  Piatt,  must,  out  May  26, 1865. 

Comstock  H.  Piatt,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  28, 1865. 

N.  S.  Peabody,  died  of  disease  at  Danville,  Ky.,  Feb.  1, 1863. 

"Vernon  A.  Hose,  died  of  disense  in  Indiana,  June  18, 1864. 

John  Rutgers,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 

Peter  Starring,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 

Stephen  Sampson,  must,  out  Juno  10, 1865. 

Benjamin  Stephens,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 

S.  B.  Stephens,  died  of  disease  in  Indiana,  Feb.  13, 1863. 

Charles  South  worth,  died  of  disease  at  Chattanooga,  Teun.,  Nov.  17, 1864. 

John  Southwell,  disch.  for  disability,  June  22, 1863. 

Solomon  Springer,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  4, 1863. 

Andrew  Schoener,  disch.  for  disability,  June  22, 1863. 

Joseph  A.  Trutsch,  must,  out  May  24, 1865. 

Charles  L.  Vahen,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 

Norman  Wilson,  died  of  disease  at  Lexington,  Ky.,  Dec.  20, 1862. 

"William  Wataon,  died  of  disease  in  Michigan,  July  18, 1863. 

Cyrus  B.  Wheeler,  died  of  wounds,  Aug.  3, 1864. 

Henry  W.  Wilcox,  tirans.  to  Mississippi  niarjnes. 

Chmpany  F. 
Musician  Charles  W.  Owen,  Martin  ;  enl.  Ang.  14, 1862;  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 

Company  G. 
Eli  B.  Baker,  trans,  to  10th  Inf. 
Benjamin  Brown,  trans,  to  10th  Inf. 
William  C.McLeod,  trans,  to  10th  Inf. 

Company  K. 
A.  J.  Myers,  disch.  for  disability,  March  31, 1863. 

MEMBERS    FROM   BARRY   COUNTV. 
Company  E, 
William  Henry,  trans,  to  10th  Mich.  Inf. 
George  H.  Martin,  trans,  to  10th  Mich.  Inf. 

Hiram  Rodgers,  died  of  wounds  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  July  21, 1864. 
George  H.  Snyder,  trans,  to  Vet.  Rpb.  Corps. 
John  W.  Snyder,  trans,  to  lOtli  Mich.  Inf. 
Henry  Smith,  trans,  to  10th  Mich.  Inf. 
Walter  Searles,  must,  out  July  15, 1865. 

Company  F. 
William  H.  Allen,  died  July  20, 1864. 
Mylon  Angel,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
David  N.  Griffith,  must,  out  June  Id,  1865. 
John  B.  Nichols,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Thomas  Pennock,  disch.  for  disability,  July  1, 1863. 
Austin  Smith,  died  of  disease  at  Annapolis,  Mi.,  April  1, 1863. 
David  Searles,  trans,  to  10th  Mich.  Inf. 
James  Searles,  must,  out  June  10, 1805. 
Otis  P.  Taller,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 

Company  G. 
Alonzo  P.  Beaman,  trans,  to  10th  Mich.  Inf. 
George  H.  Clark,  trans,  to  10th  Mich.  Inf. 

Company  K, 
William  Harvey,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 


CHAPTER    XXVIL 

TWENTY-FIRST,    TWENTY-EIGHTH,    AND    THIR- 
TIETH   INPANTEY. 

The  Big  District  which  sent  out  the  Twenty-First  Infantry — Com- 
pany C  from  Barry  County — The  Regiment  joins  Buell — Battle  of 
Perryville — Battle  of  Stone  River — Death  of  Capt.  Fitzgerald  — 
Gallantry  of  Sheridan's  Division — The  Advance  through  Tennessee 
— Battle  of  Chickamauga — Subsequent  Service  in  Company  with  the 
Thirteenth  Infantry — Battle  of  Bentonville — Officers  and  Soldiers 
from   Barry  County — The  Twenty-Eighth  Infantry   goes  to    the 

Front  in  1864 — Battle  of  Nashville — Ordered  to  North  Carolina 

Fight  at  Wise's  Forks — Subsequent  Services — Muster  out — Mem- 
bers _from  Allegan  County — Members  from  Barry  County — Thir- 
tieth Infantry  raised  to  protect  Frontier — Its  Services — Members 
from  Allegan  County — Members  from  Barry  County. 

TWENTY-FIRST  INPANTEY. 
This  regiment,  which  so  nobly  distinguished  itself  on 
several  hard-fought  fields  during  the  war  for  the  Union, 


was  recruited  in  the  summer  of  1862  from  the  Fourth 
Congressional  District,  a  very  large  one,  comprising  the 
counties  of  Barry,  Ionia,  Montcalm,  Kent,  Ottawa,  Mus- 
kegon, Oceana,  Newaygo,  Mecosta,  Mason,  Manistee,  Grand 
Traverse,  Leelenaw,  Manltou,  Oceola,  Emmet,  Mackinac, 
Delta,  and  Cheboygan.  Ionia  was  the  place  of  rendezvous, 
and,  until  the  regiment  was  organized,  J.  B.  Welch,  Esq., 
was  the  commandant  of  the  camp. 

Company  C,  which  was  led  into  the  field  by  the  brave 
Capt.  Leonard  0.  Fitzgerald,  of  Hastings,  was  Barry's 
representation  in  the  Twenty-First.  The  regiment  was 
mustered  into  the  United  States  service  Sept.  4,  1862,  and 
eight  days  later,  with  one  thousand  and  eight  officers  and 
enlisted  men,  commanded  by  Col.  Ambrose  A.  Stevens,  left 
Ionia,  with  orders  to  report  at  Cincinnati.  It  was  imme- 
diately pushed  forward  to  join  Gen.  Buell's  forces  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  on  the  8th  of  October,  as  part  of  Gen.  Sher- 
idan's division,  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Perryville, 
where  it  suffered  a  loss  of  twenty-seven  men  killed,  wounded, 
and  missing.  With  other  troops  of  Gen.  Rosecrans'  com- 
mand it  then  marched  forward  to  Nashville,  Tenn.,  where 
it  arrived  Nov.  10,  1862. 

On  the  26th  of  December,  as  part  of  Gen.  Sill's  brigade, 
of  Sheridan's  division,  it  moved  forward  with  Gen.  Rose- 
crans' army  to  attack  Bragg,  then  lying  in  front  of  Murfrees- 
boro.  In  the  great  battle  of  three  days'  duration  which 
ensued  on  the  banks  of  Stone  River,  during  the  last  day 
of  December,  1862,  and  the  1st  and  2d  of  January,  1863, 
the  Twenty-First  covered  itself  with  glory ;  suffering  a  loss, 
however,  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-nine  brave  men,  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing.  Among  those  who  relinquished 
their  command  on  that  field  and  joined  the  battalions  gone 
before  was  Capt.  Fitzgerald,  of  Company  C,  who  was  mor- 
tally wounded  on  the  31st  of  December,  and  died  at  Nash- 
ville on  the  8th  of  January  following. 

In  the  terrific  engagement  fought  on  the  morning  of  De- 
cember 31st,  which  was  commenced  by  Cheatham's,  Cle- 
burn's,  and  McGown's  rebel  divisions  of  Hardee's  corps, 
which  fell  unexpectedly  on  McCook,  who  commanded  the 
right  wing  of  the  national  forces,  first  Johnson's  and  then 
Davis'  division  was  driven  back  in  inextricable  disorder. 
Their  defeat  was  almost  simultaneous  with  the  attack,  and 
upon  Sheridan's  division  of  McCook's  corps — composed  of 
Sill's,  Roberts',  and  Shaefer's  brigades — devolved  the  task  of 
checking  the  impetuous  onset  of  the  victorious  foe.  This 
single  division,  outflanked  and  surrounded  by  panic-stricken 
fugitives,  must  give  battle  to  three  divisions  of  a  triumphant 
and  exultant  enemy,  and  must  at  least  hold  them  in  check 
until  the  general  in  command  could  make  dispositions  to 
meet  the  terrible  emergency. 

Most  nobly  did  Gen.  Sheridan  and  his  division  fulfill 
their  task.  Four  times  they  repulsed  the  rebel  host.  Sur- 
rounded, outflanked,  outnumbered,  in  danger  of  utter  de- 
struction, and  pressed  back  into  the  cedar  thickets  in  their 
rear,  they  fought  on  till  one-fourth  of  their  number  lay 
bleeding  and  dying  upon  the  field, — till  two  out  of  three  of 
their  brigade  commanders  were  killed, — till  every  gun  and 
cartridge-box  was  empty,  and  then  they  retired  slowly, 
steadily,  and  in  good  order. 

As  they  passed  Gen.  Rosecrans,  while  deliberately  falling 


TWENTY-FIRST,  TWENTY-EIGHTH,  AND  THIRTIETH  INFANTRY. 


Ill 


back  to  make  way  for  reinforcements,  Gen.  Sheridan  was 
heard  to  say  to  his  commauding  general,  with  touching 
pathos,  "  Here  is  all  that  is  left  of  us,  general."  His  men 
were  even  then  clamoring  for  ammunition,  and  an  hour 
later  were  again  in  line  of  battle.  His  division  consisted 
of  six  thousand  four  hundred  and  ninety-five  men.  They 
lost  in  that  fearful  conflict  among  the  cedars  seventeen 
hundred  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  including  seventy 
oflicers,  two  of  whom  were  brigadiers,  and  the  only  remain- 
ing brigadier  fell  before  nightfall. 

After  the  defeat  of  Bragg's  army  at  Stone  River,  the 
Twenty-First  remained  in  the  vicinity  of  Murfreesboro, 
employed  on  picket  duty  and  as  guard  for  forage-trains, 
until  June  24th,  when,  commanded  by  Col.  William  B. 
McCreery,  it  advanced  with  Rosecrans  on  TuUahoma. 
During  July  it  was  located  at  Cowan  and  Anderson,  sta- 
tions on  the  line  of  the  Nashville  and  Chattanooga  Railroad. 
Subsequently  it  occupied  Bridgeport,  Ala.,  under  Gen. 
Lytle,  who  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  brigade  after 
the  death  of  Gen.  Sill  at  Stone  River.  On  the  2d  of 
September  the  command  crossed  the  Tennessee  River,  and 
advanced  with  the  corps  of  Maj.-Gen.  McCook  to  Trenton, 
Ga.,  whence  it  crossed  the  mountains  to  Alpine,  thence 
made  a  forced  march  between  mountain  ranges  towards 
Chattanooga,  and  on  the  19th  of  September  the  regiment 
was  formed  in  line  of  battle  at  Chickamauga. 

During  the  succeeding  day  the  Twenty-First,  with  other 
regiments  of  Sheridan's  division,  stubbornly  contested  the 
rebel  advance  on  the  field  of  Chickamauga,  but  with  its 
shattered  corps  was  finally  compelled  to  fall  back  to  Chatta- 
nooga, after  sustaining  a  loss  of  one  hundred  and  seven 
oflScers  and  men  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  Of  the 
thirty-five  missing,  twenty-one  were  known  to  be  wounded. 
Among  the  wounded  and  captured  was  Col.  McCreery, 
while  Lieut.-Col.  Morris  B.  Wells  was  left  dead  on  the 
field!  Gen.  Lytle,  the  brigade  commander,  was  also  killed. 
On  the  5th  of  November  this  regiment,  the  Thirteenth 
and  Twenty-Second  Michigan  Infantry,  and  the  Eighteenth 
Ohio  Infantry  were  organized  as  an  engineer  brigade,  and 
from  that  time  until  Sherman's  victorious  armies  marched 
into  the  national  capital,  in  May,  1865,  the  field-services  of 
the  Thirteenth  and  Twenty-First  Michigan  Infantry  were 
performed  side  by  side,  bo,th  regiments  performing  engineer 
duty  for  a  period  of  five  months,  and  both  being  assigned 
to  the  Second  Brigade,  First  Division,  Fourteenth  Army 
Corps,  early  in  November,  1864.  (See  history  of  the 
Thirteenth  Infahtry.)  At  Bentonville,  N.  C,  on  the  19th 
of  March,  1865,  the  regiment  was  heavily  engaged,  losing 
six  commissioned  officers  and  eighty-six  enlisted  men  killed 
and  wounded,  out  of  two  hundred  and  thirty  present  in 

action. 

The  Twenty-First  participated  in  the  grand  review  at 
Washington,  D.  C,  May  24,  1865.  It  was  there  mustered 
out  of  service  June  8th,  arrived  at  Detroit,  Mich.,  on  the 
13th,  and  on  the  22d  of  the  same  month  was  paid  and 
disbanded. 

OrFICEES   AND   SOLDIERS  FROM  BARBT   COUNTY. 
Field  and  Staff  and  Non-Commisaioned  Slaff. 
Chaplain  Theo.  Pillsbury,  Hastings ;  com.  Aug.  29, 1862;  res.  Dec.  15, 1862. 
Com.  Sergt.  Horatio  G.  Steadman,  Thoruapple ;  enl.  Nov.  1, 1864 ;  must,  out  June 
8, 1866. 


Company  A. 
George  Adgate,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Ricliard  Benjamin,  must,  out  June  8, 1865. 
Albert  W.  Dillenbeck,  must,  out  June  8, 1865. 
Newell  HotchkisB,  must,  out  June  8, 1865. 
Wallace  Lovewell,  diBch.  for  disability.  May  30, 1863. 
John  Rowleader,  discb.  for  disability.  May  13, 1863. 

Company  C. 
Capt.  L.  C.  Fitzgerald,  Hastings;  com.  July  30, 1862;  killed  in  action  at  Stone 

Biver,  Dec.  31, 1862. 
1st  Lieut.  Perry  Chance,  Hastings;  com.  July  30, 1862;  res.  Jan.  17, 1863. 
2d  Lieut.  Marion  C.  Eussell,  Hastings ;  com.  July  30, 1862 ;  res.  Feb.  25, 1863. 
2d  Lieut.  James  Houghtalin,  Hastings ;  com.  Jan.  17, 1863 ;  res.  June  11,  1864. 
Sergt.  Henry  H.  Striker,  Baltimore;  enl.  July  21, 1862;  died  at  Danville,  Ky., 

Oct.  28, 1862. 
Sergt.  Wm.  H.  H.  Powers,  Bastings ;  enl.  July  21,  1862  ;  disch.  for  disability, 

May  1, 1863. 
Sergt.  Jas.  Houghtalin,  enl.  July  21, 1862;  pro.  to  2d  lieut. 
Sergt.  Geo.  Miller,  Hastings;  eiil.  July  26, 1862;  died  of  disease  at  Cincinnati, 

Ohio,  Nov.  25, 1863. 
Sergt.  Hor.  G.  Steadman,  Thornapple;  enl.  July  13, 1862 ;  pro.  to  coin,  sergt., 

Nov.  1, 1864 
Corp.  Jas.  H.  Smith,  Woodland;  enl.  Aug. 5, 1862;  died  of  disease.  May  6, 1863. 
Corp.  Chas.  Miller,  Castleton;  enl.  July  26,  1862;  disch.  for  disability,  March 

31, 1863. 
Corp.  Jas.  H.  Footo,  Thornapple;  enl.  Aug.  9,  1862;  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 

Jan. 28, 1863. 
Corp.  Jolin  H.  Mills,  Woodland;  en).  Ang.l,  1862;  must,  out  June  8, 1865. 
Corp.  Justus  Mmlge,  Castleton;  enl.  Aug.  8, 1862;  disch.  by  order,  Oct.  2, 1862. 
Corp.  Wallace  W.  Stillson,  Hastings;  enl.  July  26,  1862;  must,  out  May  31, 

1866. 
Musician  Eobt.  D.  Searlcs,  Thornapple;  enl.  Aug.  9, 1862;  disch  for  disability, 

April  23,  1863. 
Musician  LPslie  T.  Mosely,  Thornapple;  enl.  Aug.  9, 1862;  must,  out  .Tune  '8, 

1865. 
Wagoner  Chas.  Loomis,  Thornapple ;  enl.  Aug.  9, 1862  ;  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 

June  8,  1863. 
Gdson  Andrus,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Jan.  8, 1863. 
W.  H.  Bennett,  died  of  disease. 

Tracy  Baldwin,  died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Dec.  8, 1862. 
Alfred  Baldwin,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Jan.  30, 1864. 
Daniel  D.  Brown,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  29, 1862. 
Henry  C.  Broneon,  disch.  for  disability,  March  11, 1863. 
Nathaniel  Barbour,  disch.  to  enl.  in  marine  service,  March  11, 1863. 
Geftrge  Brown,  missing  at  Chickamauga,  Tenn.,  Sept.  20, 1863. 
Americus  Barnum,  must,  out  July  6, 1866. 
John  Bolton,  must,  out  June  8, 1866. 
David  C.  Bussell,  trans,  to  Vet.  Kes.  Corps,  Aug.  1,  1863;  must,  out  Aug.  2, 

1866. 
James  B.  Chase,  must,  out  June  8, 1866. 
Alexander  T.  Cramer,  must,  out  June  8, 1866. 
Harrison  Carpenter,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  8,  1862. 
William  J.  Crabb,  died  of  wounds  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Feb.  9,  1863. 
Andrew  M.  Cure,  died  of  disease  at  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  April  19, 1863. 
Henry  Demund,  died  of  dispase  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Dec.  31, 1862. 
Vinal  Dean,  died  of  wounds  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  Oct.  10, 1863. 
Philander  Durkee,  trans,  to  Vet.  Bes.  Corps,  Sept.  1, 1863. 
Asa  B.  Durkee,  must,  out  June  8, 1805. 
Silas  Fr)Ster,  must,  out  June  8, 1865. 
John  Fisher,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  11, 1863. 
Benjamin  L.  Franrisco,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  18, 1862. 
Leon  Fry,  disch.  to  enl.  in  marine  service,  Jan.  3, 1863. 
David  W.  Fry,  killed  in  action  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  Sept.  30, 1863. 
Augustus  M.  Pontes,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  March  29, 1865. 
James  Gibson,  died  of  disease  at  New  York  Harbor,  April •25, 1865. 
Eli  Gleason,  missing  in  action  at  Stone  Biver,  Tenn.,  Dec.  31, 1862. 
Alfred  Gibbs,  must,  out  June  8, 1865. 
James  B.  Holis,  must,  out  June  27, 1665. 
John  H.  Hall,  must,  out  June  8, 1806. 
Hoel  P.  Hosier,  must,  out  June  23, 1865. 
Frederick  W.  Harris,  must,  out  July  3, 1866. 
Schuyler  Heath,  died  of  disease  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  Feb.  13, 1865. 
Myron  Heath,  died  of  disease  at  Andersonville  prison,  July  31, 1864. 
David  D.  Hall,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  June  26, 1863. 
Thomas  J.  Hallock,  died  of  disease  at  Crab  Orchard,  Ky. 
Lester  M.  Jones,  died  of  wounds,  Jan.  2, 1863. 
David  Jordan,  must,  out  June  8, 1865. 
Ni-lson  Kilmer,  must,  out  June  8,  1806. 

Peter  Kilmer,  killed  in  action  at  Bentonville,  N.  C,  March  19, 1865. 
John  A.  Kelly,  died  of  wounds  at  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  March  23, 1863. 
Edgar  C.  Leonard,  disch.  for  disability,  April  27, 1863. 
Francis  Mead,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  12, 1863. 
James  Moulton,  disch.  for  disability,  April  7,  1863. 
Francis  W.  Maynard,  disch.  for  disability,  June  18, 1863. 
Alexander  McArthur,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Nov.  25,  1862. 
Eber  C.  Moffitt,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Nov.  25, 1862. 


112 


HISTORY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


John  Mead,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Nov.  17, 1862. 

Byron  H.  Melroy,  died  of  disease  at  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  May  19, 1863. 

Leonard  Mauoh,  killed  in  action  at  Bentonville,  N.  C,  March  19, 1865. 

Lewis  Massacar,  killed  in  action  at  Bentonville,  N.  0.,  March  19, 1865. 

Eubert  Mitchell,  killed  in  action  at  Bentonville,  N.  C,  March  19, 1865. 

James  D.  Miller,  trans,  to  Vet.  Ees.  Corps,  Sept.  1,  1863 ;  must,  out  June  8, 
1865. 

William  Miller,  must,  out  Jiine  8, 1865. 

Nelson  J.  Millard,  must,  out  July  7, 1865. 

John  Osborn,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps. 

Joseph  Osborn,  must,  out  June  8, 1865. 

Henry  G.  Orwing,  disoh.  for  disability,  Feb.  10, 1863. 

Adam  Pratt,  disch.  for  disability,  July  7, 1863. 

Henry  D.  Pierce,  mnst.  out  Juno  8,  1865. 

Calvin  H.  Palmer,  mast,  out  June  8, 1865. 

Allen  Boush,  must,  out  June  8, 1865. 

Thomas  Vf.  Roush,  must  out  June  8, 1865. 

George  M.  Boed,  must,  out  June  8, 1865. 

Frederick  Bickle,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  26, 1863. 

Horatio  N,  Sackett,  died  of  di-iease  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  Oct.  28, 1882. 

Daniel  P.  Sixberry,  died  of  disease,  March  3, 1865. 

John  Smith,  died  of  wounds  at  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  Feb.  16, 1863. 

John  r.  Swaine,  missing  in  action  at  Stone  River,  Tenn.,  Dec.  31, 1862. 

Silas  W.  Steelman,  disch.  for  disability,  July  22, 1863. 

George  P.  Sweet,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  16, 1863. 

W.  H.  S.  Smoke,  must,  out  June  12, 1865. 

James  H.  Sawdy,  must,  out  June  23, 1865. 

John  C.  Spencer,  must,  out  June  26, 1865. 

John  StroHse,  must,  out  June  8, 1865. 

Anthony  Thompson,  must,  out  June  8,  1866. 

Byron  W.  Tomlinson,  must,  out  June  in,  1865. 

Ansel  S.  Thrasher,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Deo.  6, 1862. 

Elisha  Tracy,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Deo.  15,  1863. 

■William  Varney,  must,  out  June  8, 1865. 

George  Varney,  must,  out  June  8, 1865. 

Michael  Vanderhoof,  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 

William  B.  Warner,  must,  out  June  8, 1866. 

James  Williams,  must,  out  June  8, 1865. 

Isaac  B.  Wooley,  must,  out  May  30, 1866. 

Compamj  D. 
Joseph  Kilmer,  died  of  disease  at  Bardstown,  N.  Y. 
Jacob  Young,  must,  out  June  8, 1866. 

Company  E. 
2d  Lieut.  Selden  E.  Turner,  Hastings;  com.  July  30, 1862;  res.  Jan.  13, 1863. 
Mmician  George  Croninger,  Thornapple;  enl.  Aug.  11,  1862;  trans,   to  Inv 

Corps,  Feb.  1-5, 186t. 
William  E.  McConnell,  must,  out  June  8, 1865. 
Benjamin  E.  Ogden,  must,  out  June  8, 1866. 

Samuel  F.  Eosenorans,  died  of  disease  at  Stone  Kiver,  Tenn.,  March,  1862. 
Compant/  I, 

1st  Lieut.  Herman  Hunt,  Hastings  ;  com.  July  30,  1862 ;  died  of  disease   Dec 

16, 1862. 
Robert  M.  Gamble,  must,  out  June  8, 1865. 
James  M.  Hale,  disch.  by  order,  April  15, 1863. 
Cliai'les  D.  Kellogg,  died  of  disease  at  Lancaster,  Pa.,  Feb.  3, 1862. 

MEMBERS    OF   THE   TWENTY-FIRST   INFANTRY   FROM   ALLEGAN 
COUNTY. 

Company  C. 
Almon  D.  Bishee,  must,  out  June  16, 1865. 
Reuben  Fisher,  died  of  disease  in  New  York  Harbor. 
Frederick  Leonard,  died  of  disease  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  Feb.  12, 1865. 

Company  E. 
William  H.  French,  must,  out  May  26,  1865. 

TWENTY-EIGHTH  INPANTKY. 

This  regiment  was  recruited  during  the  summer  and 
early  autumn  of  1864,  and  finally  completed  its  organiza- 
tion by  the  consolidation  of  several  partially-formed  com- 
panies intended  for  the  Twenty-Ninth  Infantry. 

It  left  Kalamazoo,  under  the  command  of  Lieut.-Col. 
Delos  Phillips,  October  26th,  and  arrived  in  Louisville 
Ky.,  on  the  29th.  On  the  10th  of  November  it  was  or- 
dered to  Camp  Nelson  to  guard  a  wagon-train  from  that 
point  to  Nashville,  Tenn.,  where  it  arrived  on  the  5th  of 
December.  The  advance  of  Hood's  rebel  army  on  Nash- 
ville soon  brought  the  regiment  to  face  the  realities  of 


war,  and,  under  the  command  of  Col.  William  W.  Wheeler, 
it  participated  in  the  defense  of  that  city  by  Gen.  Thomas, 
from  the  12th  to  the  16th  of  December,  1864,  fully 
establishing  its  reputation  as  a  gallant  command,  and 
reaching  the  uniform  high  standard  of  Michigan  troop's. 

After  the  battle  of  Nashville  the  regiment  was  attached 
to  the  Twenty-Third  Army  Corps,  which  was  sent  to  the 
Atlantic  seaboard  to  constitute  a  part  of  the  force  con- 
centrating in  the  vicinity  of  Wilmington,  N.  C,  to  co- 
operate with  Gen.  Sherman's  army  on  its  approach  to  the 
coast.  The  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Second  Brigade, 
First  Division  (Ruger's),  and  arrived  at  Morehead  City 
Feb.  24,  1865,  and  on  the  2d  of  March  marched  with  its 
division  towards  Kinston,  joining  Gen.  Cox.  Meeting  the 
enemy  at  Wise's  Forks,  the  Twenty-Eighth,  commanded  by 
Col.  Wheeler,  took  an  active  part  in  the  battles  of  the  8th, 
9th,  and  10th  of  March  at  that  point. 

On  the  8th  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  heavy  skir- 
mishing during  the  entire  day  and  night.  On  the  suc- 
ceeding day  the  enemy  pressed  Cox's  lines  strongly  without 
making  an  assault,  and  at  the  same  time  attempted  to  turn 
his  right,  but  failed  on  account  of  a  prompt  reinforcement, 
of  which  the  Twenty-Eighth  formed  a  part.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  10th  the  rebels  made  a  fierce  and  determiijed 
charge  upon  the  left,  breaking  the  lines,  but  were  finally 
repulsed.  The  Second  Brigade  charged  the  rebels  on  the 
double-quick,  driving  them  back,  and  taking  over  three 
hundred  prisoners,  among  whom  were  several  field-ofiicers. 
About  two  P.M.  the  enemy  made  a  heavy  and  desperate 
onset  on  the  left  and  centre  of  Gen.  Cox's  lines,  but  again 
most  signally  failed  by  reason  of  reinforcements  coming 
up  so  promptly  from  the  right.  The  Second  Brigade, 
among  the  first  to  arrive,  fought  most  gallantly  for  about 
two  hours,  when  the  enemy  retired  from  the  field,  leaving 
his  dead  and  wounded  and  a  large  number  of  prisoners. 
In  this  spirited  engagement  the  regiment  lost  seven  men 
killed  and  thirteen  wounded. 

Continuing  the  march,  the  regiment  reached  Kinston 
on  the  14th,  and  Goldsboro'  on  the  21st.  It  was  then 
placed  on  guard  duty  along  the  line  of  the  Atlanta  and 
North  Carolina  Railroad.  On  the  9th  of  April  it  marched 
again  to  Goldsboro',  and  on  the  13th  arrived  in  Raleigh. 
After  the  cessation  of  hostilities  it  was  on  duty  at  Golds- 
boro', Raleigh,  Charlotte,  Lincolnton,  Wilmington,  and 
Newbern,  N.  C,  until  June  5,  1866,  when  it  was  mustered 
out  of  service. 

MEMBERS  FROM  ALLEGAN  CODNTY. 

Field  and  Staff. 

Adj.  Hiram  K.  Ellis,  Saugatuck ;  com.  Sept.  10, 1861;  must,  out  June  6, 1866. 

Non-commisaioned  Staff 

'"^'■^1866.°'"'  ""■  "'  '"'™"'  ^"'^''"'  ■  '"'■  ^"^-  ^O-  '«^*  ■'  ■"»»'•  "»'  ■"■"» 

Company  D. 
B.  A.  Lindley,  died  by  suicide,  March  6, 1865 
Henry  C.  Meeker,  died  of  disease  at  Alexandria,  Feb.  11, 1865. 

Capt^ Samuel  S.  Thomas,  Allegan,  ZT.g.  15, 1864;  res.  May  16, 1865. 
Corf  wr Tt."""'";  ^"'^'"'=  '■"■  *"^-  '^'  l^"*'  '^'-'--  N-  1. 1««5- 

i»eorge  w.  Cummmgs,  must,  out  June  6,  1866 

W,  ham  Eggleston,  disch.  for  wounds,  Aug.  17, 1865. 

William  French,  disch.  for  wounds,  June  16, 1865 


FIRST  ENGINEEES  AND   MECHANICS. 


113 


John  Hamilton,  disch.  by  order,  Sept.  3, 1865. 

Jacob  Kilbim,  must,  out  Not.  17, 186.") . 

Lyman  Lamoreaux,  must,  out  June  5, 1866. 

John  Moore,  must,  out  June  5, 1866. 

Asblf  y  R.  Nichols,  must,  out  June  5, 1866. 

Alva  L.  Pierce,  must,  out  June  5, 1866. 

Herman  H.  Palmer,  must,  out  June  5, 1866. 

Frederick  Porter,  must,  out  Jnne  5, 1866. 

James  B.  Paul,  must,  out  June  5, 1866. 

Peter  Sergeant,  disch.  for  disability,  April  26,  1865. 

Aaron  Van  Patten,  must,  out  June  5, 1866. 

Allen  N.  Wait,  must,  out  June  5, 1866. 

Ira  Woodstock,  died  of  disease  at  Alexandria,  February,  1865. 

Company  S. 
James  G.  liindsley,  died  of  disease  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  Feb.  19, 1865. 

Comjpany  I. 
Sergt.  Charles  W.  Hoskins,  Hopkins ;  enl.  Sept.  12, 1864 ;  disch.  by  order,  April 

7,  1865. 
Corp.  Lewis  H.  Fountain,  Hopkins ;  enl.  Sept.  10, 1864 ;  must,  out  June  5, 1866. 
Henry  Bryant,  must,  out  Oct.  24, 1865. 

Company  K. 
1st  Lieut.  Jeremiah  B.  Haney,  Leighton  ;  com.  Oct.  18, 1864;  res.  Nov.  8, 1865. 
2d  Lieut.  William  Duiyea,  Lee ;  com.  Oct.  18, 1864 ;  res.  July  6, 1865. 

MEMBERS  FROM  BARRY  COUNTY. 

Cffmpany  B. 

Sergt.  Isaac  J.  Brooks,  Maple  Grove ;  enl.  Sept.  2, 1864;  must,  out  June  5, 1866. 

Corp.  Charles  f.  Hanley, Maple  Grove;  enl.  Sept.  10,1864;  died  of  disease  at 

Nashville,  Jan.  8, 1865. 
Emanuel  Briggs,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Jan.  14, 1865. 
Levi  Briggs,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Nelson,  Ky.,  Nov.  12, 1864. 
Charl^  Edwards,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  13, 1865. 
Isaac  Green,  must,  out  April  4, 1865. 
William  S.  Hyde,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Feb.  21, 1866. 
S.  T.  Lazarus,  must,  out  June  5, 1866. 
C.  R.  Palmer,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Feb.  21, 1866. 
Ephraim  Trimm,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Jan.  13, 1865. 
John  E.  Wilcox,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Feb.  21, 1866. 

Company  C. 
Theodore  Steinkram,  must,  out  June  5, 1866. 
George  W.  Howell,  must,  out  June  5, 1866. 
F.  Havens,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  April  12, 1866. 

Company  D. 
Dallas  Downs,  must,  out  June  5, 1866, 

Oympany  E. 
John  Sell,  must,  out  June  6, 1866. 


David  Pott,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  July  10, 1866. 

THIKTIBTH   INFANTKT. 

On  account  of  the  numerous  attempts  made  by  the 
enemy  in  Cailada  to  organize  plundering  raids  against  our 
northern  border,  authority  was  given  by  the  War  Depart- 
ment to  the  Governor  of  Michigan,  in  the  autumn  of  1864, 
to  raise  a  regiment  of  infantry  for  one  year's  service, 
especially  designed  to  guard  the  Michigan  frontier.  Its 
formation,  under  the  name  of  the  Thirtieth  Michigan  In- 
fantry, was  begun  at  Jackson  in  November,  1864,  and  was 
completed  at  Detroit  on  the  9th  of  January,  1865.  To 
this  regiment  Allegan  and  Barry  Counties  furnished  be- 
tween sixty  and  seventy  men,  who  were  scattered  among 
various  companies. 

When  the  organization  was  completed,  the  companies 
were  detached  and  stationed  at  diflferent  points  along  the 
Detroit  and  St.  Clair  Rivers,— at  Fort  Gratiot,  St.  Clair, 
Wyandotte,  Jackson,  Fenton,  Detroit,  and  Detroit  Bar- 
racks. But  the  speedy  collapse  of  the  Rebellion  put  an 
end  to  Canadian  raids,  and  the  regiment,  although  the  men 
were  ready  for  service,  had  no  active  duty  to  perform.  It 
remained  on  duty  until  the  30th  of  June,  1865,  and  was 
then  mustered  out. 
15 


MEMBERS  FROM  ALLEGAN  COUNTY. 
Nonrcommissioned  Staff. 
Principal  Musician  Chas.  B.irton,  Gun  Plain;  enl.  Dec.  21,  1864;  must,  out 
June  30, 1865. 

Company  A. 

Corp.  Oliver  Westfall,  Otsego;  enl.  Ifov.  30, 1864;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 

Corp.  Henry  H.  Saunders,  Otsego;  enl.  Nov.  30, 1864;  must,  out  June  .30, 1865. 

Corp.  Addison Childs,  Otsego;  enl.  Dec. 5, 1861;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 

Thos.  Baxter,  Wm.  F.  Cole,  Chas.  Davey,  Thos.  Jackson,  Samuel  G.  Mills,  Wm. 
G.  Stearns,  Michael  Shaughnessy,  Harvey  Sutton,  John  Shea,  Ebenezer 
Warren,  Chas.  W.  Wood,  Wm.  E.  Yale,  Merrick  Zautz,  must,  out  Juno 
30, 1865. 

Company  B. 

Anson  A.  Culver,  Daniel  Wasker,  Doctor  M.  Wasker,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 

Company  C. 
Mathew  J.  Allegan,  Chas.  K.  Bowlin,  Melvin  Eastwood,  Harvey  McDonald, 
Jesse  Van  Camp,  Sr.,  Jesse  Van  Camp,  Jr.,  L.  Van  Camp,  must,  out  June 

30, 1865. 

Company  E. 

Wm.  Curry,  Birney  Hathaway,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 

Company  F. 

Wm.  ,1.  Durand,  Wm.  W.  Freese,  John  McEwen,  Edward  Norman,  must,  out 

June  30, 1865. 

Company  G. 

Leander  Fuller,  Milford  Roosa,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 


Sergt.  Saml.  P.  Spaulding,  Gun  Plain  ;  enl.  Dec.  19, 1864  ;  must,  out  Juno  30, 
1865. 

Sergt.  James  R.  Londray,  Gun  Plain;  eni.  Nov.  26, 1864  ;  must,  out  June  30, 
1865. 

Corp.  E.  M.  T.  Sniiman,  Gun  Plain ;  enl.  Dec.  19, 1861 ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 

Corp.  Jacob  Hildebrand,  Martin  ;  eni.  Dec.  28, 1864 ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 

Wm.  A.  Bratt,  Frederick  Bless,  Franklin  Burlingame,  Thos.  Carroll,  Ralph  B. 
Clark,  Nelson  DegratT,  Marshall  H.  Ensign,  Frederick  Green,  Gregory 
Navarre,  Sylvester  D.  Randall,  Sylvanus  H.  Randall,  Orlando  Ryan, 
Chas.  Williams,  Patrick  Walch,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 

Company  K. 
Sergt.  .Tames  Shippie,  Overisel ;  enl.  Deo.  24, 1864;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Wm.  P.  Hunter,  Chas.  Maxon,  Andrew  J.  Parsons,  must,  out  June  30,  1865. 

MEMBERS  FROM   BARRY  COUNTY. 
Company  F. 
William  P.  FlBeld,  Theodore  A.  Healey,  Silas  N.  Miller,  John  H.  Book,  Asa  D. 
Rook,  must,  out  .Tune  30, 1865. 

Company  I. 
Ist  Lieut.  Geo.  M.  Brooks,  Orangeville;  com.  Jan.  9, 1865  ;  must,  out  June  30, 
1865. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

PIBST  ENGINEERS  AND  MECHANICS. 

Organization  of  the  Regiment — Dfiparlure  for  the  Front — Service  by 
Detachments— Building  Bridges,  etc.— Difficulties  regarding  Pay 
^Fight  at  Lavergne — The  Regiment  defeats  Wheeler's  and 
Wharton's  Brigades — Service  in  the  Summer  of  1863 — Placed  on  a 
Footing  with  Regular  Engineers— Building  Bridges  in  the  Winter 
— Erecting  Block-Houses — Importance  of  the  Engineers'  Services 
—Close  of  Original  Term— The  March  through  Georgia— Through 
the  Carolinas— A  Detachment  left  in  Tennessee— It  rejoins  the 
Regiment — Closing  Services — Allegan  County  Members — Barry 
County  Members. 

This  regiment,  every  company  of  which  contained  men 
from  Allegan  and  Barry  Counties,  was  organized  under  the 
law  of  Aug.  3,  1861,  authorizing  the  President  to  receive 
into  service  five  hundred  thousand  volunteers.  Its  original 
members  rendezvoused  at  Marshall  during  the  months  of 
August  and  September,  1861,  remaining  there  in  camp  of 
instruction,  busily  preparing  for  their  duties  in  the  field, 
until  the  17th  of  December,  1861. 

It  was  then,  with  an  aggregate  force  of  one  thousand 
and  thirty-two  men  and  officers,  commanded  by  Col.  Wil- 


114 


HISTORY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


liam  P.  Innes,  transferred  by  rail  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  joining 
there  the  army  commanded  by  Slaj.-Gen.  Buell.  From 
this  time  it  began  a  series  of  varied  services,  principally  by 
detachments.  One  of  these  detachmenis,  then  under  Gen. 
0.  M.  Mitchell,  was  the  first  Union  force  to  enter  Bowling 
Green,  Ky.,  after  its  evacuation  by  the  enemy,  and  another 
was  at  the  battle  of  Chaplain  Hills. 

During  the  spring  and  summer  of  1862  the  regiment 
was  mostly  employed  in  the  repair  or  reopening  of  the  rail- 
roads between  Nashville  and  Chattanooga,  Nashville  and 
Columbia,  Corinth  and  Decatur,  Huntsville  and  Stevenson, 
and  Memphis  and  Corinth,  and  twice  assisted  in  reopening 
the  road  between  Louisville  and  Nashville.  In  the  month 
of  June,  1862,  alone,  it  built  seven  bridges  on  the  Mem- 
phis and  Charleston  Railroad,  each  from  eighty-four  to 
three  hundred  and  forty  feet  in  length — in  the  aggregate 
nearly  three  thousand  feet — and  from  twelve  to  sixty  feet 
in  height.  After  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing  it  was 
engaged  at  that  point  eight  weeks  in  the  construction  of 
steamboat-landings,  etc.,  with  only  one  day's  rest. 

Serious  difilculties  existed  in  the  regiment  during  the 
first  months  of  its  service,  owing  to  a  misunderstanding  as 
to  the  pay  the  men  were  to  receive,  it  having  been  found 
after  their  organization  that  there  was  no  law  by  which 
they  could  receive  the  pay  expected.  This  trouble  was 
finally  remedied  by  an  act  of  Congress,  which  act  also  pro- 
posed to  increase  the  regiment's  strength  from  ten  to  twelve 
companies  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  each,  formin" 
three  battalions,  each  commanded  by  a  major.  Half  the 
men,  as  artificers,  drew  seventeen  dollars  per  month,  and 
the  others  thirteen  dollars  per  month. 

On  the  1st  of  November,  1862,  the  regiment  was  en- 
camped at  Edgefield,  Tenu.,  when  the  alterations  and  cas- 
ualties to  that  date  aggregated  as  follows  :  Died  of  disease, 
seventy-five;  died  of  wounds  received  in  action,  two  ;  killed 
in  action,  one  ;  wounded  in  action,  seventeen  ;  discharged, 
one  hundred  and  twenty-four;  taken  prisoners,  fifteen; 
deserted,  twenty ;  recruits  received,  sixty-seven. 

Until  June  29,  1863,  the  regiment  was  stationed  at 
Edgefield  and  Mill  Creek,  near  Nashville,  at  Lavergne,  Mur- 
freesboro,  and  Smyrna,  and  at  a  point  near  Nashville  on  the 
Tennessee  and  Alabama  Railroad.  During  this  time  the 
regiment  built  nine  bridges,  besides  a  number  of  magazines 
and  buildings  for  commissary,  quartermaster,  and  ordnance 
stores,  and  also  repaired  and  relaid  a  large  amount  of  rail- 
road track. 

At  Lavergne,  Tenn.,  on  the  1st  of  January,  1863,  it 
was  attacked  by  the  rebel  Gens.  Wheeler  and  Wharton,  who, 
with  a  force  of  over  three  thousand  cavalry  and  two  pieces 
of  artillery,  were  compelled  to  retire  with  loss,  the  loss 
of  the  regiment  in  this  action  being  but  one  man  killed  and 
six  wounded. 

On  the  29th  of  June,  1863,  the  regiment  moved  south 
from  Murfreesboro,  and  during  the  two  succeeding  months 
was  engaged  repairing  and  opening  the  railroad  from  Mur- 
freesboro, Tenn.,  to  Bridgeport,  Ala.  Of  five  bridges  com- 
pleted in  July,  the  one  over  Elk  River  was  four  hundred 
and  sixty  feet  in  length ;  that  over  Duck  River,  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty  feet  long.  During  September  and  October 
detached  companies  were  employed  in  building  an  immense 


bridge  over  the  Tennessee  River  at  Bridgeport,  Ala.,  con- 
structing commissary  buildings  at  Stevenson,  Ala.,  and  build- 
ing and  repairing  bridges,  etc.,  on  the  lines  of  the  Nashville 
and  Chattanooga  and  the  Nashville  and  Northwestern  Rail- 
roads ;  the  headquarters  of  the  regiment  being  at  Elk  River 
Bridge,  Tenn. 

By  an  act  of  Congress  passed  in  1862,  regiments  and 
independent  companies  which  had  been  "  mustered  into  the 
service  of  the  United  States  as  volunteer  engineers,  pio- 
neers, or  sappers  and  miners"  were  "  recognized  and 
accepted  as  volunteer  engineers,  on  the  same  footing,  in  all 
respects,  in  regard  to  their  organization,  pay,  and  emolu- 
ments, as  the  corps  of  engineers  of  the  regular  army  of  the 
United  States."  The  standard  of  organization  thus  estab- 
lished allowed  the  regiment  twelve  companies  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  enlisted  men  each,  viz.,  two  musicians,  ten 
sergeants,  ten  corporals,  sixty-four  artificers,  and  sixty-four 
privates. 

The  alterations  and  casualties  for  the  year,  to  Nov.  1, 
1863,  were:  Died  in  action  or  of  wounds,  six;  died  of  dis- 
ease, fifty-eight ;  discharged  for  disability,  one  hundred  and 
eighty-nine ;  discharged  for  other  causes,  fourteen  ;  deserted, 
twenty-seven  ;  oflBcers  resigned,  ten  ;  joined  as  recruits, 
three  hundred  and  seventy-two ;  aggregate  strength,  nine 
hundred  and  sixty-five.  In  the  months  of  November  and 
December,  1863,  and  January  and  February,  1864,  the 
regiment  was  engaged  in  building  trestle-work  and  bridges 
on  the  line  of  the  Nashville  and  Northwestern  Railroad, 
and  in  the  construction  of  store  houses  and  other  buildings 
at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  and  Bridgeport,  Ala.,  for  the  quar- 
termaster, ordnance,  and  other  departments  of  the  army. 
At  the  same  time  one  battalion  was  engaged  at  Chattanooga 
in  refitting  saw-mills,  where  it  continued  during  the  months 
of  March,  April,  and  May,  employed  in  running  saw-mills, 
getting  out  railroad-ties,  building  hospital  accommodations, 
and  working  on  the  defenses. 

Detachments  from  the  other  battalions  were  engaged 
erecting  block-houses  on  the  lines  of  the  Tennessee  and  Ala- 
bama, the  Nashville  and  Chattanooga,  and  the  Memphis  and 
Charleston  Railroads.  Two  companies  were  at  Bridgeport, 
Ala.,  building  artillery  block -houses.  Two  companies  were 
at  Stevenson,  Ala.,  completing  its  defenses,  while  another 
battalion  was  stationed  on  the  Memphis  and  Charleston 
Railroad,  building  block-houses  at  various  points  between 
Decatur^  and  Stevenson.  The  major  portion  of  the  regi- 
ment was  finally  concentrated  upon  the  line  of  the  Atlantic 
and  Western  Railroad  during  the  summer  months  of  1864, 
where  it  built  and  repaired  railroads,  block-houses,  etc.  The 
task  allotted  to  this  regiment  during  the  fierce  campaign  of 
Sherman's  army,  in  1864,  was  one  of  great  magnitude, 
and  most  nobly  did  its  members  fulfill  their  duty.  But  for 
such  men  as  composed  the  Michigan  Engineers  and  Me- 
chanics, and  the  rapidity  with  which  they  repaired  the  rail- 
road right  up  to  the  enemy's  skirmish-line,*  the  more  than 


■  As  Johnston's  army  fell  back  from  one  chosen  position  to  another 
before  the  fierce  attacks  and  flank  movements  of  Sherman's  veterans, 
the  railroad  was  invariably  destroyed  by  the  enemy,  and  in  a  man- 
ner, too,  that  would  seem  to  require  days  to  repair  it.  Imagine,  then, 
the  surprise  and  chagrin  of  the  "  Johnnies,"  when,  in  the  course  of 
a  very  few  hours,  ,.  locomotive  bearing  the  legend  "  United  States 


FIRST  ENGINEERS  AND   MECHANICS. 


115 


one  hundred  thousand  Union  soldiers  in  front  would  many 
times  have  gone  to  sleep  without  their  usual  rations  of 
"  hard  tack,  sow  belly,  and  cofiFee." 

At  the  close  of  the  Atlanta  campaign,  headquarters  of 
the  regiment  were  established  in  the  latter  city.  The  al- 
terations and  casualties  for  the  year  were  reported  as  fol- 
lows :  Died  of  disease,  one  hundred  and  twelve ;  trans- 
ferred, thirty-six;  discharged  for  disability,  etc.,  fifty; 
re-enlisted  as  veterans,  one  hundred  and  forty-eight. 

On  the  31st  of  October,  1864,  the  original  term  of  the 
regiment  expired,  and  such  officers  as  desired  to  leave  the 
service  were  mustered  out,  as  were  also  the  enlisted  men 
whose  terms  had  expired.  The  re-enlisted  veterans,  together 
with  the  recruits  who  had  joined  the  regiment,  enabled  it 
to  maintain  its  organization  entire  and  nearly  its  full 
strength. 

From  the  1st  to  the  15th  of  November,  1864,  the  regi- 
ment, with  the  exception  of  Companies  L  and  M,  was 
stationed  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  being  employed  in  constructing 
defenses,  destroying  rebel  works,  depots,  rolling-mills,  foun- 
dries, gas-works,  and  other  rebel  property,  and  in  tearing 
up  and  rendering  useless  the  various  railroad-tracks  in  the 
vicinity. 

After  the  complete  destruction  of  Atlanta,*  the  regiment 
set  out  on  the  morning  of  November  16,  with  the  Four- 
teenth Army  Corps,  as  part  of  the  engineer  force  of  Gen. 
Sherman's  army ;  going  to  Sandersville,  Ga.,  and  thence 
with  the  Twentieth  Army  Corps,  to  Horse  Creek,  where  it 
received  orders  to  join  the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps,  with 
which  it  continued  on  to  Savannah,  Ga.,  reaching  there 
Dec.  10,  1864.  During  this  march  the  regiment  was 
required  to  keep  pace  with  the  movements  of  the  army, 
traveling  over  twenty  miles  a  day,  and  meanwhile  was  en- 
gaged tearing  up  railroad-tracks,  twisting  rails,  destroying 
bridges,  repairing  and  making  roads,  building  and  repairing 
wagon-bridges,  etc.  On  the  10th  and  11th  of  Decem- 
ber the  regiment  built  a  dam  across  the  Ogechee  Canal 
under  the  fire  of  rebel  batteries. 

From  that  time  until  after  the  evacuation  of  Savannah  by 
the  enemy,  the  regiment  was  constantly  at  work  tearing  up 
rail  road- track  and  destroying  the  rails  of  the  several  rail- 
roads leading  out  of  the  city,  and  in  constructing  long 
stretches  of  corduroy-road  for  the  passage  of  army-trains. 
On  the  23d  of  December  it  moved  into  the  city,  and  five 
days  later  commenced  work  on  the  fortifications  laid  out  by 
direction  of  Gen.  Sherman.  These  works,  constructed  by 
and  under  the  supervision  of  this  regiment,  were  over  two 
miles  in  length,  and  included  several  strong  battery-positions 
and  lunettes. 

The  regiment  was  again  put  in  motion  on  the  3d  of  Jan- 
uary, 1865  ;  marching  to  Pooler  Station,  converting  the  rail- 
road into  a  wagon-road,  and  then  returning  to  Savannah. 

It  embarked  on  board  transports  for  Beaufort,  S.  C,  Jan- 
uary 26,  1865,  and  on  the  31st  started  with  the  victorious 

Military  Railroad,"  driven  by  a  greasy  Northern  mechanic,  would 
dash  up  in  their  very  midst,  as  it  were,  saluting  them  with  several 
toots,  and  then  a  prolonged  shrill  whistle.  The  salute,  however,  as 
well  as  the  cheers  from  the  "Yanks,"  usually,  and  very  quickly,  too, 
received  a  response  in  the  shape  of  shells  from  a  rebel  battery. 
»  Afternoon  and  night  of  Nov.  15,  1864. 


army  on  its  march  to  Goldsboro',  N.  C.  It  moved  with 
the  Fifteenth  Army  Corps  to  Banbury,  S.  C,  thence  with 
the  Twentieth  Army  Corps  to  Columbia,  S.  C,  thence 
with  the  Seventeenth  Corps  to  Fayetteville,  N.  C.,  and 
thence  with  the  Twentieth  Army  Corps  to  Goldsboro', 
N.  C,  where  it  arrived  March  23,  1865.  It  is  estimated 
that  during  this  campaign,  besides  making  and  repairing  a 
great  distance  of  corduroy-road,  the  regiment  destroyed  and 
twisted  the  rails  of  thirty  miles  of  railroad-track  and  built 
eight  or  ten  important  bridges  and  crossings.  At  Edisto 
the  bridge  was  constructed  under  fire  from  the  enemy's 
sharpshooters.  At  Hughes  Creek  and  at  Little  and  Big 
Lynch  Creeks  the  bridges  and  approaches  were  built  at 
night.  At  the  last-named  stream  the  men  worked  in  water 
waist-deep.  A  foot-crossing  was  made  there  in  one  night, 
nearly  a  mile  in  length,  and  the  next  day  the  space  was 
corduroyed  for  the  heavy  army-trains  and  artillery  to  pass 
over.  The  regiment  destroyed  factories  and  rebel  army 
supplies  at  Columbia,  rebel  ordnance  and  stores  at  Cheraw, 
and  the  old  United  States  arsenal  at  Fayetteville,  N.  C,  etc. 

Companies  L  and  M,  which  had  been  detached  from  the 
regiment  early  in  the  summer  of  1864  and  placed  upon 
the  defenses  at  Stevenson,  Ala.,  having  completed  those 
works,  which  consisted  of  a  system  of  eight  block-houses, 
were  retained  in  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  They  as- 
sisted to  fortify  and  defend  the  line  of  the  Nashville  and 
Chattanooga  Railroad  for  some  weeks,  and  on  the  28th  of 
November,  1864,  were  moved  to  Elk  River  Bridge.  For 
some  time  after  that,  when  not  interrupted  by  Hood's  lebel 
army,  they  were  engaged  in  building  block-hnuses  between 
that  bridge  and  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.  During  the  most  of 
the  month  of  December  a  portion  of  the  Engineers  and 
Mechanics  was  engaged  in  completing  and  repairing  Fort 
Rosecrans,  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  while  the  rebels,  under 
Hood,  were  investing  Nashville. 

A  detachment,  consisting  of  Company  L  of  this  regi- 
ment, with  several  companies  of  an  Illinois  regiment  which 
had  been  sent  out  to  bring  through  from  Stevenson,  Ala., 
a  railroad-train  of  supplies,  was  captured  Dec.  15,  1864, 
after  several  hours'  hard  fighting. 

On  the  1st  of  March,  1865,  Companies  L  and  M  left 
Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  to  rejoin  their  regiment,  and  pro- 
ceeding by  rail,  vid  Louisville,  Indianapolis,  Crestline,  Pitts- 
burgh, and  Philadelphia,  to  New  York,  they  then  took 
steamer  to  Beaufort,  N.  C,  thence  by  rail  to  Newbern,  and 
finally  joined  their  comrades  at  Goldsboro',  N.  C,  March  25, 
1865. 

Gen.  Sherman's  army  began  its  last  campaign  April  10, 
1865.  By  breaking  camp  at  Goldsboro'  and  moving 
rapidly  to  the  northward,  Johnston's  fleeing  forces  were 
pursued  to,  through,  and  beyond  Ealeigh.  The  Engineers 
and  Mechanics  marched  with  the  Twentieth  Army  Corps, 
but  proceeded  no  farther  than  Ealeigh,  where  they  remained 
until  after  Johnston^s'  surrender.f  On  the  30th  April  the 
resiment  moved  out  on  its  homeward  march  with  the  Sev- 
enteenth  Army  Corps.  It  crossed  the  Roanoke  River  at 
Monroe,  and,  passing  through  the  cities  of  Petersburg, 
Richmond,  and  Alexandria,  Va.,  arrived  at  Washington, 

t  April  26,  1865. 


116 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


D.  C,  during  the  latter  part  of  May,  1865.  It  partici- 
pated in  the  grand  review  of  two  hundred  thousand  vet- 
eran soldiery  held  at  the  nation's  capital,  May  23  and  24, 
1865,  and  then  went  into  camp  near  Georgetown,  D.  C. 
Early  in  June  the  reginaent  was  ordered  to  Louisville,  Ky., 
thence  to  Nashville,  Tenn.,  where  it  was  employed  upon 
the  defenses  until  September  22d,  when  it  was  mustered  out 
of  the  United  States  service.  It  arrived  at  the  designated 
rendezvous,  Jackson,  Mich.,  September  25th,  and  on  the 
1st  day  of  October,  1865,  was  paid  off  and  disbanded. 

The  battles  and  skirmishes  which  by  general  orders  it 
was  entitled  to  have  inscribed  upon  its  colors  were  those  of 
Mill  Springs,  Ky.,  Jan.  19, 1862  ;  Parmington,  Miss.,  May 
9,  1862;  siege  of  Corinth,  Miss.,  May  10  to  31,  1862; 
Perry ville,  Ky.,  Oct.  8,  1862;  Lavergne,  Tenn.,  Jan.  1, 
1863  ;  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  Oct.  6,  1863  ;  siege  of  Atlanta, 
Ga.,  July  22  to  Sept.  2,  1864  ;  Savannah,  Ga.,  Dec.  11 
to  23,  1864;  Bentonville,  N.  C,  March  19,  1865. 

MEMBERS  TKOM  ALLEGAN  COUNTY. 
Company  A. 

Charles  K.  ATerill,  disrh.  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 

Edward  Averill,  disch.  by  order,  July  18, 1866. 

Cyrus  B.  Babbitt,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 

Hiram  Bisby,  died  of  disease  at  Willets'  Point,  N.  Y.,  May  14, 1865. 

Theodore  Crapey,  disch.  by  order  Juno  6, 1865. 

William  Degoit,  disch,  by  order,  Juno  6, 1865. 

DaTid  Frank,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 

Henry  Frank,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 

Samuel  Frank,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 

0.  L.  GleasoD,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 

torus  E.  Goodspeed,  disch.  by  order,  July  21, 1865. 

George  H.  Goodspeed,  died  of  disease  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  Jan.  9, 1865. 

Eussell  H.  Jones,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 

Hugh  Johnson,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 

Eiley  Miller,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 

Jefferson  Eeed,  died  of  disease  at  Goldsboro',  N.  C,  March  28, 1865. 

William  M.  Shepherd,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1865, 

J,  M,  Sterling,  disch.  by  order,  June  0, 1865. 

Malhias  Van  Taesell,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 

Company  B. 
Philip  Bovee,  disch.  by  older,  June  6, 1865. 
Walter  Curtis,  died  of  disease  at  Alexandria,  Va,,  July  8, 1865, 
Lyman  M.  Henderson,  died  of  disease  at  Annapolis,  Md,,  April  4, 1865. 
Myron  Heffron,  disch,  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 
Elisha  Poland,  disch,  by  order,  June  6, 1865, 
George  B,  Koach,  disch,  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 
Myron  Sullivan,  disch  by  order,  June  6, 1865, 
Michael  Strayer,  disch,  by  order.  May  22, 1865. 
William  E.  Ticknor,  died  of  disease  in  Indiana,  May  17,  1864, 

Company  C. 
Augustus  P.  Howe,  disch.  by  order.  May  30, 1865. 
William  H.  Wallace,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1866. 

Company  D, 
Corp,  George  H,  Fausler,  died  of  disease  in  Kentucky,  Feb.  7, 1863. 
David  F.  Ayers,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1866. 
Theodore  M,  Ayers,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 
Kichard  Boyle,  died  of  disease  at  Savannah,  Ga.,  Jan.  26, 1866. 
Leauder  Brewer,  disch,  for  disability,  Dec.  11, 1865. 
Audrew  E,  Bates,  veteran,  enl,  Jan.  3, 1864 ;  must,  out  Sept.  22  1865. 
Joseph  Douglass,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  18, 1863. 
William  Everhardt,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  March  28, 1863. 
Moses  H,  Fausler,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  May  3, 1862, 
Samuel  Hunter,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 
John  C,  Hirspool,  disch,  by  order,  June  6, 1865, 
Leonard  T,  Kinner,  died  of  disease,  March  11, 1862, 
Henry  Leslie,  must,  out  Sept,  22, 1865, 
Hezekiah  Mai^on,  disch  by  order,  June  6,  1865. 
Lyman  Mathews,  disch,  by  order.  May  29, 1865. 
Leroy  Root,  disch.  for  disability,  July  8, 1862. 
Andrew  J.  Boss,  must,  out  Sept,  22, 1885, 
John  Parsons,  disch.  for  disability,  March  9, 1863. 

Edgar  A.  Thompson,  veteran,  enl,  Jan,  3, 1864;  must,  out  Sept,  22, 1866. 
William  Witherell,  disch,  for  disability,  Juno  2Cr,  1865, 


Cvmpany  E. 
1st  Lieut,  John  W,  Spoor,  Allegan  ;  com,  Nov,  3, 1864;  2d  lieut,,  Jan.  1,  1864; 

sergt. ;  must,  out  Sept,  22, 1865. 
Corp,  Philip  J,  Coon,  Wayland;  enl.  Sept,  11,1861;  disch.  at  end  of  service, 

Oct,  31,1864. 
Amasa  B.  Carpenter,  died  of  disease,  Feb.  25, 1863. 
Marshall  Darrow,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  31, 1864. 
Fi-ancis  M,  Filkins,  disch,  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  31, 1864, 
James  Goodspeed,  died  of  disease  at  Alexandria,  May  ^,  1865. 
Cyrus  E.  Hollister,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct,  31, 1864. 
Lucius  F.  Hill,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  31, 1864. 
Minot  Hoyt,  disch.  by  order,  June  6,  1865. 
Isaac  N,  Hoyt,  disch,  by  order,  June  6, 1865, 
Charles  W,  King,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 
Curtis  Murray,  disch.  by  order,  Juno  6, 1865. 
Chester  D.  Walcli,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 

Company  F. 
Ambrose  Mudge,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 
Jacob  W.  Bidgely,  died  of  disease  in  Tennessee,  March  11, 1865. 

Company  G. 
Gilbert  Eagle,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  31, 1864. 
Henry  H.  Jennings,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 
Albert  H,  Lillie,  disch,  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 
William  Osman,  disch,  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 
Frank  F,  Bussell,  disch,  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 
Henry  Starring,  disch.  for  disability,  June  23, 1862. 
Charles  Stratton,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  31, 1864. 

Company  S. 
2d  Lieut.  Osmer  Eaton,  Otsego ;  com.  Jan.  1,1864;  disch.  at  end  of  service, 

Oct,  26, 1864. 
Albert  Brundage,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1866. 
David  Fargo,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Perly  Mann,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  31, 1864. 
George  Bobbins,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct,  31, 1864. 
Parker  Truax,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct,  31, 1864. 
Aaron  Wing,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  31, 1864. 

Company  I. 
Ephraim  Prindle,  disch.  by  order,  June  27, 1865, 
James  B.  Yeamans,  disch.  by  order,  June  29, 1865. 

Company  K. 
Clement  C.  Bement,  died  of  disease  at  Chattanooga,  March  10, 1864. 
John  Dean,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Ira  S.  Harriman,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1866. 
John  B,  King,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Fi-ancis  P,  Williams,  disch.  for  disability,  June  18, 1862. 
Bobert  Williams,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1866. 

Company  L. 
Sergt.  Cornelius  Engles,  Otsego;  enl.  Jan.  1, 1863; 
Augustus  Dean,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1866. 
William  Heydenberg,  must,  out  Sept,  22, 1865. 
Sanford  Scott,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 

Company  M, 
John  W,  Leoply,  must,  out  Sept,  22, 1865. 
William  F.  Leoply,  must,  out  Sept,  22, 1866. 


must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 


BAEKY  COUNTY  MEMBEES. 
Company  A. 
William  Scott,  disch.  by  order,  July  21, 1865. 

Cmrvpany  B, 
Charles  Dowse,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  June  24, 1862. 
William  C,  Goodyear,  disch,  for  disability,  Dec,  19, 1863. 

Company  O. 

Sergt,  Zophar  Sidraore,  Hastings;   enl.  Sept.  14,  1861;  disch.  for  disability, 

April  17,  1863. 
Sergt.  Andrew  J.  Beers,  Irving;  enl.  Sept.  12, 1861 ;  veteran,  Jan.  1, 1864;  pro. 

to  1st  lieut.  Co.  L. 

Corp.  Joseph  L.  Hewett,  Irving ;  enl.  Sept.  17, 1861 ;  disch.  by  order,  July  14, 
1863,  J  I       J      < 

Musician  Jonathan  E.  Eussell,  Thornapple ;  enl.  Oct.  9, 1861;  disch.  for  dis- 
ability, Sept.  2, 1862, 
George  H,  Brownson,  disch,  for  disability,  Oct.  8, 1863. 
Nathaniel  Birdsall,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 
William  H.  Bayless,  disch.  by  order.  May  29, 1865. 
Eliphalet  B,  Cartwright,  disch,  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 
James  Curtis,  disch.  for  disability.  Sept,  9,1862. 
Benona  A,  Cotant,  trans,  to  Vet.  Bes,  Corps,  Deo.  15, 1863. 
James  Clark,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1866. 
Jiimes  W.  Cutler,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Oliver  Cheeney,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 


FIRST,  SECOND,  AND  THIRD   CAVALRY. 


117 


Williani  Clark,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

George  II.  Darmat,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1866. 

Frederick  A.  Fuller,  discli.  at  NnehvjUe,  Tenn. 

James  M.  rianigan,  veteran,  eul,  Jan.  1, 1864;  muet.  out  Sept.  22,1865, 

Alson  Gray,  disch.  for  disability,  April  24, 1862. 

Oliver  P.  Hewitt,  disch.  for  disability,  March  7, 1862. 

'William  Hazen,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 

Abner  Hall,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  March  29, 1864. 

Solomon  Hardenburgh,  died  of  disease  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  March  15, 1864. 

Thomas  Haney,  must,  out;  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Hiram  Jones,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Horatio  Morgridge,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Johu  McOmber,  died  of  disease  at  Chattanooga,  Tenii.,  March  15, 1864. 

Orson  Myers,  died  of  disease  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  March  17, 1864. 

Daniel  S.  Mead,  died  of  disease  at  Hastings,  Mich.,  Feb.  5, 1864. 

Liberty  Marble,  disch.  for  disability,  March  3, 1863. 

William  Morgan,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  28, 1863. 

John  H.  McLellan,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 

Theodore  B.  Mattison,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 

Francis  Nye,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  1, 1864;  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

George  W.  Osborn,  disch.  for  disability,  July  25,1862. 

William  Eoberts,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 

Walter  Bobinson,  disch.  by  order,  June  27, 1865. 

Mathias  Beiser,  died  of  wounds  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  Jan,  25, 1863. 

David  H.  Sanford,  disch.  for  disability,  April  30, 1862. 

Samuel  Sweet,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  6, 1862, 

Norman  Seaver,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  4, 1862. 

Ezra  Sweet,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  31, 1864. 

Charles  W,  Sheldon,  disch,  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  31, 1864. 

Edwin  B.  Sidmore,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  2, 1864;  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Abel  Sbepard,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

diaries  H.  Stone,  must,  out  Sept,  22, 1865, 

Washington  Topping,  must,  out  Sept,  22, 1865, 

Jefferson  Turner,  disch,  by  order,  June  6, 1865, 

Alonzo  Van  Horn,  disch.  by  order,  June  6, 1865, 

William  D,  Vaughan,  disch,  for  disability,  July  28, 1862, 

William  Tester,  disch,  for  disability,  Jan,  25, 1863, 

John  Vredenburgh,  disch,  for  disability,  Oct,  29, 1862, 

Watson  B,  Woodruff,  disch,  for  disability,  June  3, 1863, 

Amos  W,  Warner,  disch,  by  orrler,  June  6, 1865, 

James  0,  Woodruff,  disch,  by  order,  Juno  6, 1865, 

John  Weisert,  disch,  by  order,  June  6, 1865, 

Oscar  H.  Young,  disch.  by  order' June  6,1865. 
» 

Company  D. 

James  H.  Gault,  died  of  disease  at  Ypsilanti,  Mich.,  May  25, 1862. 
Matthew  A.  Patrick,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  8, 1865. 
Eoswell  Webster,  disch,  for  disability,  Jan,  31, 1863. 

Company  F. 
Samuel  Gibbs,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865.  • 

Bobert  IloUiday,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
William  H.  Johnson,  disch.  by  order,  Aug.  4, 1866. 
Albert  B.  Sayles,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865, 

Company  G. 
Edwin  M,  Bowman,  died  of  disease  at  Town  Creek,  Ga.,  Nov,  24, 1864, 
Lewis  C,  Bugby,  died  of  disease  at  Savannah,  Ga,,  Feb,  16, 1866, 
Andrew  E.  Breese,  disch,  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 
Stephen  E,  Crandall,  must,  out  Sept.  22,  1865, 
Henry  Hangh,  disch,  by  order,  ,Tuno  6, 1865, 
Wilson  F,  Hart,  disch,  by  order,  June  6, 1865, 
Southern  Monroe,  disch,  by  order,  June  6, 1865, 
Levi  Palmatier,  disoh,  by  order,  June  6, 1865. 

Company  H. 
Stephen  Downs,  disch,  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  31, 1864. 
Lewis  Ives,  disch.  for  disability,  April  26, 1862. 

Company  K. 
John  Jacobs,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  31, 1863 ;  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
William  H.  H.  Miller,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.18, 1863. 
John  Vandermere,  died  of  disease  at  New  York  Harbor,  May  4, 1865. 

Company  L. 
Andrew  J.  Beers,  1st  lieut,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

FIEST,  SECOND,    AND  THIED  CAVALBT. 

The  First  Cavalry  goes  to  Virginia  in  October,  1861 — Winters  in 
Maryland — Its  Battles  in  1862 — Assigned  to  the  "  Michigan  Bri- 
gade"— Defeats  Hampton's  Legion — The  New  Battalion — Loss  in 
the  Wilderness — At  Trevillian — At  Front  Eoyal,  Winchester,  and 
Cedar  Creek — In  at  the  Death  of  the  Uebellion — Ordered  to  the 
Rocky  Mountains — Disbanded  in  March,  1866 — Allegan  County 
Soldiers — Barry  County  Soldiers — The  Second  Cavalry  goes  to  St. 
Louis — Operates  on  the  Mississippi — Services  around  Corinth — 
Philip  H.  Sheridan  its  Colonel — Ordered  to  Kentucky — A  March  to 
East  Tennessee — Then  to  Middle  Tennessee — A  Fight  with  Forrest 
— More  Fighting  in  Middle  and  East  Tennessee — Re-enlistment— 
Resisting  Hood's  Advance  in  the  Fall  of  1864 — Closing  Services — 
Officers  and  Soldiers  from  Barry  County — From  Allegan  County — 
Allegan  County's  Representation  in  the  Third  Cavalry — Operations 
on  the  Mississippi  and  around  Corinth — A  Gallant  Achievement — 
Battle  of  luka— Fights  in  the  Winter  of  1862-63— Fighting  Guer- 
rillas in  1863 — Description  of  that  Kind  of  Warfare — Re-enlistment 
— Subsequent  Services — Ordered  to  Texas— Mustered  out — Officers 
and  Men  from  Allegan  County — Soldiers  from  Barry  County. 

PIEST    CAVALRY. 

The  First  Regiment  of  Michigan  Cavalry  was  organized 
during  the  summer  of  1861,  and  left  its  rendezvous  at 
Detroit  for  the  seat  of  war  in  Virginia,  under  the  command 
of  Col.  T.  F.  Brodhead,  on  the  29th  of  September  of  the 
same  year. 

Among  its  original  members  were  several  from  Allegan 
County,  and  before  the  close  of  the  war  some  fifty  men 
had  joined  its  ranks  from  the  counties  of  Barry  and  Alle- 
gan. 

The  regiment  passed  the  winter  of  1861-62  in  camp 
near  Frederick,  Md.,  and  in  the  following  spring  entered 
upon  active  service  on  the  Upper  Potomac,  in  the  Shenan- 
doah Valley,  and  near  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Blue  Ridge. 
It  was  in  battle  at  Winchester,  Va.,  March  23,  1862;  at 
Middletown,  Va.,  March  15th  ;  at  Strasburg,  March  27th ;  at 
Harrisonburg,  April  22d ;  at  Winchester  again.  May  24th  ; 
at  Orange  Court-House,  July  16th ;  at  Cedar  Mountain, 
August  9th ;  and  at  Bull  Run,  Aug.  30,  1862. 

In  the  last-named  battle  Col.  Brodhead  was  mortally 
wounded,  and  the  regiment  lost  twenty  men  killed  and 
wounded,  seven  prisoners,  and  one  hundred  and  six  miss- 
ing. To  Nov.  1,  1862,  ten  others  had  died  of  wounds 
received  in  action,  and  sixty  of  disease. 

After  passing  another  winter  near  Frederick,  Md.,  the 
regiment  again  entered  the  field,  and  during  the  early  part 
of  1863  performed  picket  duty  along  the  line  of  Union 
defenses  extending  from  Edward's  Ferry  to  the  mouth  of 
the  Occoquan.  On  the  27th  June  it  moved  northward  in 
the  Gettysburg  campaign,  and  for  fifteen  days  it  was  almost 
constantly  engaged  in  conflicts  with  the  enemy.  The  First 
formed  part  of  the  celebrated  "  Michigan  Cavalry  Brigade,"* 
of  which  Gen.  Custer  was  so  long  the  commander,  and 
which  contributed  very  largely  to  the  renown  of  that  dis- 
tinguished cavalry  leader. 

At  Gettysburg,  on  the  3d  of  July,  1863,  the  First 
met  and  charged  Hampton's  Legion,  consisting  of  three 
regiments  of  rebel  cavalry,  and  defeated  it  in  six  minutes, 

*  A  more  detailed  account  of  that  brigade  is  given  in  Chapter 
XXXI.,  to  which  the  reader  is  referred. 


118 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


having  eleven  officers  and  eighty  men  killed  and  wounded 
out  of  three  hundred  who  went  into  the  action. 

In  September,  1863,  the  War  Department  authorized 
the  consolidation  of  the  twelve  companies  into  eight  and 
the  raising  of  a  new  battalion  of  four  companies.  These 
were  speedily  raised,  and  the  new  battalion  was  mustered 
into  service  at  Mount  Clemens,  in  December,  1863.  This 
battalion  went  to  Camp  Stoneman,  near  Washington,  in 
December,  1863,  and  remained  there  until  the  spring  of 
1864.  Meanwhile,  the  two  old  battalions  re-enlisted,  came 
home  on  veteran  furlough,  and  joined  the  new  levies  at 
Camp  Stoneman. 

The  three  battalions  went  to  the  front  together,  and  in 
the  latter  part  of  March,  1864,  joined  Gen.  Sheridan's  cav- 
alry corps  at  Culpeper,  Va.,  being  still  a  part  of  the  "  Michi- 
gan Cavalry  Brigade."  The  regiment  had  ten  men  killed 
and  twenty  wounded  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness.  It 
was  engaged  at  Hanovertown,  on  the  27th  of  May,  and 
at  Hawes'  Shop  on  the  28th,  where  fifteen  of  its  members 
were  killed  and  wounded,  and  at  Old  Church  on  the  30th, 
where  fifteen  were  killed  and  wounded.  On  the  31st  of 
May  and  1st  of  June  it  was  engaged,  together  with  other 
cavalry  regiments,  at  Cold  Harbor,  where  it  fought,  dis- 
mounted, in  advance  of  the  infantry ;  having  eighteen  men 
killed  and  wounded.  It  shared  the  fortunes  of  the  brigade 
throughout  the  summer ;  having  fifty-one  men  killed  and 
wounded  at  Trevillian  Station  (where  six  commissioned 
officers  were  killed),  eleven  killed  and  wounded  at  Front 
Royal  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  thirty-two  at  Manches- 
ter, and  twenty-seven  at  Cedar  Creek. 

During  the  six  months  closing  on  the  1st  of  November, 
1864,  the  regiment  had  eighty-two  men  killed  or  mortally 
wounded  in  action,  and  one  hundred  and  two  less  seriously 
wounded,  while  only  thirty-three  died  of  disease. 

After  being  in  quarters  with  the  brigade  near  Winches- 
ter through  the  winter,  the  First  went  with  it  in  Sheridan's 
great  raid  in  March,  1865,  and  was  warmly  engaged  in  the 
closing  scenes  of  the  Rebellion. 

After  this  the  regiment  moved  into  the  edge  of  North 
Carolina,  then  returned  to  Washington,  and  immediately 
after  the.review  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  on  the  23d 
of  May,  1865,  was  sent  by  rail  and  steamer  to  Fort  Leav- 
enworth, Kan.,  whence  it  was  ordered  across  the  Plains. 
There  was  much  dissatisfaction,  but  most  of  the  regiment 
set  out  on  the  march  ;  reaching  Camp  Collins,  at  the  foot  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  on  the  26th  of  July.  Its  head- 
quarters remained  there  until  about  the  1st  of  November, 
when  it  was  moved  to  Fort  Bridger.  There  it  was  consoli- 
dated with  those  men  of  the  Sixth  and  Seventh  Michigan 
Cavalry  who  had  the  longest  time  to  serve ;  forming  an 
organization  known  as  the  First  Michigan  Veteran  Cavalry. 
Company  K  was  distributed  among  several  other  compa- 
nies. After  the  consolidation  eight  companies  were  sent  to 
Camp  Douglas,  near  Salt  Lake  City,  while  four  remained 
at  Fort  Bridger.  The  regiment  garrisoned  those  two  sta- 
tions until  the  10th  of  March,  1866,  when  it  was  mustered 
out,  paid  off,  and  disbanded.  The  men  were  given  their 
choice, — to  be  disbanded  in  Utah  then,  or  to  remain  till 
June  and  then  be  marched  to  Fort  Leavenworth,  without 
horses  or  tents.     All  but  about  seventy  made  the  former 


choice.  The  commutation  paid  them  in  lieu  of  transporta- 
tion, however,  was  not  enough  to  carry  them  home,  and,  on 
representation  of  the  injustice  to  Congress,  that  body  voted 
three  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  to  each  member  of  the 
reo-iment,  minus  the  amount  already  paid  as  commutation 
money.  This  gave  each  member  about  two  hundred  and 
ten  dollars  extra,  which  was  duly  paid  them  by  the  govern- 
ment. 

ALLEGAN  COUNTY  SOLDIERS. 

Company  A. 
John  Butan,  died  of  disease  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  June  10, 1862. 

Convpcmy  B. 
Robert  W.  Martin,  must,  out  May  14, 1866. 
Amos  Kuland,  must,  out  Dec.  5, 1865. 

Company  C. 
Miles  Wright,  must,  out  Dec.  5, 1865, 

Company  E. 
George  Brown,  must,  out  March  10, 1866, 
Aretus  E.  Black,  must,  out  March  10, 1866. 
James  H.  Birkhead,  must,  out  March  10, 1866. 
Henry  L.  Monteith,  must,  out  March  10, 1866. 
Florence  Sullivan,  must,  out  Dec.  5. 1865. 

Company  F. 
Hiram  0.  Miller,  must,  out  March  25, 1866. 

Company  G. 
Darins  J,  Cuahman,  must,  out  March  10, 1866. 
Darwin  E.  White,  must,  out  March  10, 1866. 

Cojnpany  H. 
Thomas  Hoagland,  mustered  out. 
Origen  Hamilton,  mustered  out. 

Chmpany  I. 
2d  Lieut.  Orrin  M.  Bartlett,  Gun  Plain ;  com.  March  7, 1865 ;  killed  in  action 

at  Five  Forks,  Va.,  April  1, 1865. 
1st  Sergt.  Nahum  Gilbert,  Otsego;  enl.  Aug.  21, 1861;  diach.  for  disability,  July 

14, 1863. 
Corp,  Charles  W,  Belcher,  Otsego;  onl.  Aug.  21,  1861;  missing  in  action  at 

Brandy  Station,  Oct.  11,1863. 
Corp.  Otis  A.  Cackler,  Otsego;  enl,  Aug.  21, 1861;  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  7, 

1862. 
Musician  Thomas  Jeffs,  Allegan;  enl.  Aug,  21,  1861;  veteran,  Dec,  21,  1863; 

trans,  to  Co.  L  ;  disch.  by  order,  July  1, 1865, 
Saddler  William  J,  Monteith,  Allegan;  enl.  Aug.  21,  1861;  veterttn,  Dec,  21, 

1863;  trans,  to  Co,  L;  disch.  by  order,  July  1, 1865. 

Company  K. 
Franklin  J.  Church,  mustered  out. 

Company  L. 
Jefferson  Brown,  must,  out  Dec.  5, 1865. 
William  Brown,  must,  out  by  order,  June  7, 1865, 
Horace  Dunning,  disch.  by  order,  Sept.  12, 1864. 
Isaac  Furgeson,  must,  out  Dec.  5, 1865. 
Nelson  Buss,  must  out  Nov.  14, 1865, 
Friend  Beed,  must,  out  Dec.  5, 1865. 
Thomas  Schlayer,  disch.  by  order,  June  26, 1865. 
David  C.  Smith,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Aug,  22, 1865. 

Company  M. 
Barzillni  Houston,  must,  out  June  30, 1866, 
Johnson  Mellott,  must,  out  July  24, 1865, 

MEMBERS  FROM  BARRY  COUNTY. 

Company  D. 
Andrew  L.  Bamum,  died  in  action  at  Winchester,  Va.,  Sept,  19, 1864, 

Company  E. 
William  D.  Mathews,  must,  out  March  2, 1865. 
Rollin  C.  Norton,  must,  out  March  10, 1866, 

Company  F. . 
Grant  H.  Van  Voorhies,  must,  out  June  30, 1866. 

Company  G. 
William  M.  Davis,  must,  out  Dec.  5, 1866. 

Company  K. 
Alfred  Train,  must,  out  March  26, 1866. 

Company  L. 
Clinton  J.  Williamson,  died  of  disease  at  Fort  Kearney,  July  23, 1865. 


FIKST,  SECOND,  AND  THIRD  CAVALRY. 


119 


SECOND  CAVALRY. 
Allegan  and  Barry  Counties  were  both  represented  by 
good  men  in  the  Second  Cavalry.  The  companies  com- 
prising this  fine  regiment  rendezvoused  at  Grand  Rapids 
early  in  the  fall  of  1861.  On  the  28th  of  November,  1861, 
the  Second  proceeded  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  vrhere  it  was  en- 
camped at  Benton  Barracks  until  early  in  the  spring  of 
1862,  when  it  joined  the  forces  organizing  under  Gen. 
John  Pope  to  operate  against  New  Madrid  and  Island 
No.  10. 

After  the  capture  of  those  rebel  strongholds  the  regiment 
proceeded  with  Pope's  "  Army  of  the  Mississippi,"  via  the 
Mississippi,  Ohio,  and  Tennessee  Rivers,  to  Hamburg 
Landing,  Tenn.  It  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Farming- 
ton,  Miss,  May  5,  1862,  and  in  the  subsequent  siege  of 
Corinth  during  the  remainder  of  that  month.  It  pressed 
closely  upon  Beauregard's  retreating  columns  when  they 
fled  south  from  Corinth,  and  fought  them  at  Boonville, 
Blackland,  and  Baldwin,  Miss.  Thereafter,  throughout 
the  summer  of  1862,  the  regiment  was  actively  employed 
on  various  duties  in  Northern  Mississippi  and  Western 
Tennessee.  Its  colonel  was  then  Philip  H.  Sheridan,  now 
lieutenant-general,  who  had  recently  been  detailed  from 
duty  as  a  captain  in  the  regular  army  to  receive  the  colonelcy 
lately  vacated  by  the  promotion  of  Gen.  Gordon  Granger. 
Col.  Sheridan  commanded  a  brigade,  consisting  of  the 
Second  Michigan,  Second  Iowa,  and  Seventh  Kansas  Cav- 
alry, and  at  its  head  made  numerous  excursions  through 
the  country  around  Corinth,  to  keep  down  guerrillas  and 
learn  the  movements  of  the  -enemy. 

Early  in  the  autumn,  however.  Col.  Sheridan  was  made 
a  brigadier-general  of  volunteers  and  transferred  to  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  about  the  same  time  the 
Second  Cavalry  was  sent  to  Kentucky.  In  December,  1862, 
and  January,  1863,  it  was  engaged  in  a  movement  into 
East  Tennessee,  the  men  being  in  the  saddle  twenty-two 
days  and  taking  part  in  several  sharp  skirmishes.  Soon 
afterward  it  moved  into  Middle  Tennessee,  and  for  several 
months  its  headquarters  were  at  or  near  Murfreesboro, 
while  it  was  almost  constantly  engaged  in  scouts  and  raids 
through  that  region. 

'  On  the  25th  of  March,  1863,  it  had  a  sharp  encounter 
with  a  large  rebel  force  under  Gen.  N.  B.  Forrest,  killing 
and  wounding  many  and  capturing  fifty-two  prisoners. 
The  Second  had  seven  men  killed  and  wounded.  On  the 
4th  of  June  it  had  another  brisk  skirmish  between  Frank- 
lin and  Triune,  Tenn.,  five  of  its  men  being  killed  and 
wounded. 

When  the  army  advanced  from  Murfreesboro  in  June, 
1863,  the  Second  accompanied  it  in  the  cavalry  division, 
driving  the  enemy  from  Shelbyville,  Middletown,  and  other 
points.  In  the  autumn  it  was  engaged  in  scouting  around 
Chattanooga,  at  one  time  being  part  of  a  force  which  chased 
Gen.  Wheeler's  cavalry  one  hundred  and  ninety-one  miFes 
in  six  days  (October  3d  to  8th,  inclusive).  In  November 
it  marched  into  East  Tennessee,  and  on  the  24th  of  Decem- 
ber it  participated  in  an  attack  on  a  large  force  of  the 
enemy  at  Dandridge,  Tenn.,  having  ten  men  killed  and 
wounded.  On  the  26th  of  January,  1864,  the  Second  with 
other  forces  attacked  a  brigade  of  rebel  cavalry  on  Pigeon 


River,  capturing  three  pieces  of  artillery  and  seventy-five 
prisoners,  and  having  eleven  of  its  own  men  wounded. 

Three  hundred  and  twenty-eight  of  the  men  re-enlisted 
as  veterans,  and  in  April  went  home  on  veteran  furlough. 
The  rest  of  the  regiment  accompanied  Gen.  Sherman  in 
his  Atlanta  campaign,  having  several  sharp  skirmishes  with 
the  enemy,  but  being  ordered  back  from  Lost  Mountain  to 
Franklin,  Tenn.,  where  it  was  rejoined  by  the  veterans  in 
July.  During  the  summer  and  autumn  the  Second  was 
busily  engaged  in  marching  through  Middle  Tennessee, 
fighting  with  the  horsemen  of  Forrest  and  other  rebel 
generals. 

On  the  5th  of  November,  1864,  the  regiment  was  at- 
tacked at  Shoal  Creek,  Ala.,  by  a  large  Confederate  force 
(a  part  of  Hood's  army,  then  advancing  against  Nashville), 
and  was  forced  back  with  heavy  loss.  It  steadily  fell  back, 
skirmishing  almost  constantly  with  the  enemy,  and  at 
Franklip,  on  the  30th  of  November,  it  resisted  his  ad- 
vance all  day,  having  eighteen  officers  and  men  killed  and 
wounded. 

After  Hood's  defeat  before  Nashville,  the  Second  pressed 
hard  on  his  rear,  and  at  Richland  Creek,  on  the  24th  of 
December,  charged  repeatedly,  driving  the  foe  sixteen  miles, 
and  having  seven  men  killed  and  wounded.  After  Hood's 
final  retreat  from  the  State  the  regiment  remained  mostly 
in  Middle  Tennessee  until  March  11, 1865,  when  it  set  out 
on  a  long  raid  through  Northern  Alabama  to  Tuscaloosa, 
and  thence  through  Talladega  to  Macon,  Ga.,  where  it 
arrived  on  the  1st  day  of  May,  1865. 

After  remaining  in  Georgia  on  garrison  duty  until  the 
17th  of  August,  the  regiment  was  mustered  out  and  sent 
home,  arriving  at  Jackson  on  the  25th  of  August,  1865, 
where  it  was  paid  ofiF  and  disbanded. 

OFFIOEKS   AND  SOLDIEKS  FROM   BAEBY   COUNTY. 
Field  and  Staff. 
Lieut.-Col.  MarBhall  J.  Dickenson,  Vermontvillo  ;*  c^m.  July  31, 1865,  but  not 
mustered ;  maj.  Sept.  13, 1803 ;  capt.  Co.  B,  May  17, 1862 ;  2d  lieut.  Sept. 
2, 1861 ;  must,  out  as  major,  Aug.  17, 1865. 
Company  B. 
Capt.  Marshall  J.  Dickenson.    (See  Field  and  Staff.) 

Capt.  Isaac  Griswold,  Vermontville;*  com.  Jan.  31, 1865,  but  not  mustered;  let 
lleut.  Oct.  1, 1864  J  must,  out  as  1st  lieut.  Aug.  17, 1866. 

Company  C. 
Capt.  Martin  L.  Squier,  Vermontville*;  com.  Oct.  22, 1864;  let  lieut.  March  1, 

1864 ;  2d  lieut.  April  16, 1863 ;  sergeant ;  must,  out  Aug.  17, 1865. 
Musician  Augustus  Atkins,  died  of  disease  in  Iowa,  July  26, 1862. 
James  W.  Hotohkiss,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  11, 1862. 
James  B.  Shadden,  must,  out  July  26, 1866. 
Herman  E.  Wood,  disch.  for  disability.  May  2, 1862. 

Company  F. 
Philip  Arthur,  must,  out  June  21, 1865. 
Lorenzo  Livingston,  must,  out  Aug.  17, 1865. 
Cliarles  I.  McMurray,  disch.  for  disability. 
Julius  Otto,  must,  out  June  21, 1865. 

Company  G. 
James  Hcaton,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  5, 1864. 

Company  S. 
Henry  Parker,  must,  out  July  25, 1866. 

Company  I. 
Franklin  Austin,  trans,  to  Vet.  Ees.  Corps,  Nov.  15, 1863. 
Myron  S.  Cook,  traus.  to  Vet.  Bes.  Corps,  April  10, 1864. 


«  Vermontville  is  in  Ingham  County,  near  the  Barry  County  line, 
and  was  evidently  the  post-office  address  of  these  Barry  County 
officers. 


120 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Highland  Honeywell,  diach.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  22, 1864. 

George  Henshaw,  diach.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  22, 1864, 

Bicbiird  Hoffenden,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  6, 1864 ;  must,  out  Aug.  17, 1865. 

Frank  M.  Osgood,  disch.  by  order,  May  23,  1865. 

Samuel  N.  Woodman,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  5, 1864. 

Company  L. 
John  Lamaure,  must,  out  Aug.  17, 1865. 

ALLEGAN  COUNTY  MEMBERS  OF  THE  SECOND  CAVALBT. 

Company  I. 

Corp.  Alonzo  Mapes,  Martin ;  enl.  Sept.  3, 1861 ;  veteran,  Jan.  5, 1864 ;  siclt  in 

hospital. 
Corp.  Joseph  Lindsley,  Otsego ;  enl.  Sept.  15,1861;  disch.  for  disahility,  July 

31, 1862. 
Albert  Brewer,  disch.  for  disability,  March  22, 1862. 
John  C.  Bugbee,  died  of  disease  at  Benton  Barracks,  Fob.  13, 1862. 
Leonard  Camhout,  disch.  for  disability,  July  31, 1862. 
Willijim  Fessenden,  died  of  disease  at  Stevenson,  Ala.,  Nov.  22, 1863. 
Elick  Elickson,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  5, 1864;  must,  out  Aug.  17, 1865. 
Seward  Harrington,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  5, 1864;  must,  out  Aug.  17, 1865, 
Stillman  Shepherd,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  5, 1864;  must,  out  Aug.  17, 1865. 


THIRD  CAVALEY. 

This  regiment  rendezvoused  at  Grand  Rapids  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1861,  and  was  there  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service,  November  1st  of  the  same  year.  Company 
A,  which  proceeded  to  the  front  under  the  command  of 
Capt,  Gilbert  Moyers,  was  an  Allegan  County  company, 
and  the  same  county  was  also  represented  in  every  other 
company  of  the  Third.  Barry  had  but  few  men  in  the 
regiment,  and  they  were  scattered  among  Companies  E,  K, 
L,  and  M. 

Under  the  command  of  Lieut  -Col,  Robert  H,  G.  Minty, 
previously  major  of  the  Second  Michigan  Cavalry,  the 
regiment  left  its  rendezvous  Nov,  28,  1861,  and  proceeded 
to  Benton  Barracks,  Mo.,  where  Col.  John  K.  Mizner  soon 
after  assumed  command.  It  remained  at  St.  Louis  until 
early  in  the  spring  of  1862,  when  it  joined  Gen.  John 
Pope's  •'  Army  of  the  Mississippi,"  and  actively  participated 
in  the  operations  which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  the  rebel 
strongholds  Island  No.  10  and  New  Madrid.  With  Gen. 
Pope's  army  it  then  proceeded,  viO,  the  Mississippi,  Ohio, 
and  Tennessee  Rivers,  to  Pittsburg  Landing,  where  it  ar- 
rived soon  after  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  took  an  active  part 
in  the  advance  of  Gen.  Halleck's  army  upon  Corinth,  Miss. 
Immediately  after  the  evacuation  of  Corinth  by  Beaure- 
gard the  Third  was  ordered  to  Booneville,  Miss.,  to  ascer- 
tain the  position  and  strength  of  the  enemy.  While  in  the 
performance  of  this  duty  a  small  detachment  of  the  rci- 
ment  was  sent  out  in  advance,  under  Capt.  Botham.  It 
ran  on  to  a  rebel  force  of  all  arms,  drove  them  from  their 
position,  halted,  and  bivouacked  for  the  night.  The  fol- 
lowing morning,  while  eating  breakfast,  a  Union  scout  dis- 
covered the  enemy  in  the  vicinity.  The  men  left  their 
breakfast  half  eaten,  mounted,  and  hurried  forward.  They 
soon  found  a  small  body  of  rebel  cavalry,  who  fled  before 
them.  The  Union  horsemen  advanced  at  a  rapid  pace, 
and  soon  came  upon  an  entire  regiment  of  rebel  cavalry 
drawn  up  to  dispute  their  further  progress.  There  was 
no  time  for  consideration.  If  the  little  command  had  then 
retreated,  it  would  have  been  attacked  and  crushed  by  the 
elated  Confederates.  Capt.  Botham  knew  it  was  essential 
for  cavalry  to  get  the  advantage  of  its  own  momentum 
in  a  combat,  and  accordingly  shouted  the  order  to  charge. 
The  detachment  dashed  forward  at  the  top  of  its  speed, 


burst  through  the  Confederate  lines,  and  then  turned  and 
charged  back.  The  enemy  was  so  demoralized  by  these 
movements  that  no  attempt  was  made  to  follow.  How 
many  of  the  foe  were  killed  and  wounded  was  not  known, 
but  it  was  certain  that  at  least  eleven  were  dismounted,  for 
eleven  of  their  horses  accompanied  the  Union  force  on  its 
returning  charge.  After  retreating  » short  distance,  Capt. 
Botham  halted  and  sent  a  dispatch  to  camp.  About  four 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  he  was  relieved  by  the  Second 
Michigan  Cavalry,  under  the  command  of  Col.  Philip  H. 
Sheridan.  The  latter  drove  back  the  enemy  four  or  five 
miles,  and  then  rejoined  the  main  army. 

The  regiment  was  actively  engaged  in  the  usual  cavalry 
duty  of  picketing  and  scouting  throughout  the  whole  sea- 
son. Through  the  month  of  August  it  was  at  Tuscumbia 
and  Russellville,  Ala,  On  the  approach  of  Price's  rebel 
cavalry  it  returned  to  the  vicinity  of  Corinth.  At  luka. 
Miss.,  on  the  19th  of  September,  1862,  while  in  command 
of  Capt.  L.  G.  Wilcox, — Col.  Mizner  being  chief  of  cav- 
alry,— the  regiment  was  actively  engaged,  and  was  specially 
mentioned  in  Gen.  Rosecrans'  report  of  that  battle.  When 
Price  and  his  defeated  rebel  army  retired  from  the  field 
the  Third  hung  on  his  flanks  and  rear  for  many  miles ; 
becoming  several  times  hotly  engaged,  and  causing  him  re- 
peatedly to  form  line  of  battle  to  check  the  Union  advance. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  ending  Nov.  1,  1862,  the  regi- 
ment had  lost  one  hundred  and  four  men  who  died  of  dis- 
ease, seven  killed  in  action,  forty-five  wounded  in  action, 
and  fifty-nine  taken  prisoners.  Its  battles  and  skirmishes  to 
that  date  were  New  Madrid,  Mo.,  March  13,  1862 ;  siege 
of  Island  No.  10,  Mo.,  March  14th  to  April  7th ;  Farm- 
ington.  Miss.,  May  5th  ;  siege  of  Corinth,  Miss.,  May  10th 
to  31st ;  Spangler's  Mills,  Miss.,  July  26th  ;  Bay  Springs, 
Miss.,  September  10th;  luka,  Miss.,  September  19th; 
Corinth,  Miss.,  October  3d  and  4th  ;  and  Hatchie,  Miss., 
October  6th.  It  advanced  with  Gen.  Grant's  army  into 
Mississippi  in  November  and  December,  1862,  and  en- 
gaged the  enemy  at  Holly  Springs,  November  7th;  at 
Hudsonville,  November  14th,  where  it  captured  an  en- 
tire rebel  company ;  at  Lumkin's  Mill,  November  29th ; 
and  at  Oxford,  December  2d  ;  and  shared  in  the  defeat  of 
the  Union  cavalry  at  Coffeeville,  December  5th.  The  fol- 
lowing winter  it  was  on  active  duty  in  North  Mississippi 
and  West  Tennessee. 

During  the  year  1863  the  Third  Cavalry  was  principally 
engaged  in  the  arduous  service  of  driving  out  the  numerous 
bands  of  guerrillas  which  infested  Western  Tennessee  and 
Northern  Mississippi,  and  repelling  the  incursions  of  Con- 
federate forces  from  other  quarters;  its  camp  being  most  of 
the  time  at  Corinth,  Miss.  There  were  few  very  severe 
battles  in  this  kind  of  warfare,  and  few  opportunities  for 
winning  martial  glory  amid  the  shock  of  charging  squad- 
rons, but  it  tested  to  the  utmost  the  endurance,  the  forti- 
tude, and  the  patriotism  of  the  hardy  sons  of  the  West. 
Day  and  night,  in  sun  and  rain,  the  cavalry  was  kept  in 
motion.  Often,  when  all  the  camp  lay  locked  in  the  deep 
slumbers  of  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  silence  would 
suddenly  be  broken  by  the  stirring  sounds  of  the  bugle, 
and  a  moment  later  the  officers  would  be  heard  going  from 
tent  to  tent,  arousing  the  half-awakened  men  with  the 


FIRST,  SECOND,  AND  THIRD  CAVALRY. 


121 


orders,  "  Turn  out  here,  Company  B."  "  Turn  out,  Com- 
pany F."  "  Get  ready  to  march  with  three  days'  rations." 
"  Lively  now ;  lively,  I  say." 

Then  would  follow  a  hurried  drawing  of  rations,  the 
filling  of  haversacks  and  saddle-bags  with  coffee,  pork,  and 
"  hard  tack,"  and  perhaps  the  cooking  of  a  hasty  meal  for 
immediate  consumption.  Presently  the  bugles  would  sound 
'■  Boot  and  Saddle,"  the  horses  would  be  speedily  equipped, 
mounted,  and  ridden  into  line,  the  voices  of  a  dozen  cap- 
tains would  be  heard  in  succession  commanding  "  Fours 
Right — Column  Right — March  I"  and  away  into  the  dark- 
ness would  go  the  Third  Michigan,  or  the  Seventh  Kansas, 
or  the  Third  Iowa,  or  any  two  of  them,  or  all  of  them,  as 
the  occasion  might  seem  to  require. 

Nobody  would  know  where  they  were  going  except  the 
field-ofiBcers,  and  very  frequently  they  didn't ;  but  all  sorts 
of  rumors  would  pass  rapidly  among  the  boys :  "  Forrest 
is  coming  to  attack  the  camp ;"  "  Roddy  is  out  here  ten 
miles ;"  "  Chalmers  is  raising  the  devil  over  at  Holly 
Springs,"  etc.  A  ride  would  follow,  perhaps  lasting  two 
or  three  hours,  perhaps  extending  through  three  or  four 
days  and  half  as  many  nights,  and  sometimes  embracing 
a  period  of  one,  two,  or  three  weeks,  during  which  the 
bold  riders  were  generally  compelled  to  live  upon  the  coun- 
try they  traversed.  In  that  half-cleared  country  there  was 
seldom  an  opportunity  for  the  dashing  charge  which  one 
naturally  associates  with  the  idea  of  cavalry  service ;  but 
whenever  they  met  the  foe,  which  was  quite  frequently, 
both  sides  dismounted,  and  a  lively  skirmish  with  carbines 
against  shot-guns  ensued,  which  lasted  until  one  party  or 
the  other  retreated.  The  retreating  party  was  usually, 
though  not  always,  the  rebels,  for  notwithstanding  the  best 
Confederate  troops,  after  the  battle  of  Corinth,  in  October, 
1862,  were  taken  away  to  other  sections,  leaving  only  un- 
disciplined bands  of  what  was  called  "  shot-gun  cavalry"  in 
Northern  Mississippi  and  Western  Tennessee,  the  "  chiv- 
alry" fought  well. 

In  such  tasks  the  Third  Michigan  Cavalry  was  engaged 
throughout  1863,  taking  part  in  sharp  fights  (and  generally 
defeating  the  enemy)  at  Clifton  on  the  20th  of  February  ; 
at  Panola,  Miss.,  on  the  20th  of  July ;  at  Byhalia,  Miss., 
on  the  12th  of  October ;  at  Wyatt's  Ford,  Miss.,  on  the 
13th  of  October.  At  Grenada,  Miss.,  also,  on  the  14th 
of  August,  the  Third  led  the  Union  advance,  and,  after  a 
vigorous  fight,  drove  back  the  enemy,  captured  the  town, 
and  destroyed  more  than  sixty  locomotives  and  four  hun- 
dred cars,  gathered  there  by  the  Confederate  authorities. 

In  the  latter  part  of  January,  1864,  the  regiment  being 
then  in  winter-quarters  at  Lagrange,  Tenn.,  three-fourths 
of  the  men  re-enlisted,  and  the  command  became  the  Third 
Michigan  Veteran  Cavalry.  After  the  men  had  enjoyed 
their  veteran  furlough  the  command  went  to  St.  Louis  in 
March,  1864,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  May  proceeded,  dis- 
mounted, to  Little  Rock,  Ark.  It  was  not  mounted  until 
the  1st  of  August,  when  it  resumed  the  work  of  chasing 
guerrillas,  scouting  for  information,  etc.,  with  an  experience 
similar  to  that  already  described. 

S  From  November,  1864,  to  February,  1865,  the  Third 
was  in  garrison  at  Brownsville  Station,  on  the  Memphis 
and  Little  Rock  Railroad,  where  the  men  built  such  a  fine- 
16 


appearing  set  of  quarters  and  stables  that  the  place  was  com- 
monly called  Michigan  City,  instead  of  Brownsville  Station. 
In  March,  1865,  the  regiment,  as  a  part  of  the  First 
Brigade,  First  Division,  Seventh  Army  Corps,  proceeded 
to  New  Orleans,  and  in  April  continued  its  course  to  Mobile. 
After  the  capture  of  that  place  the  Third  was  on  outpost 
duty  in  that  vicinity  until  the  8th  day  of  May,  when  it 
marched  across  the  country  to  Baton  Rouge,  La.  In  June 
it  set  out  for  Texas  by  the  way  of  Shreveport,  and  on  the  2d 
of  August  arrived  at  San  Antonio,  in  that  State.  Its  head- 
quarters remained  at  San  Antonio  until  the  15th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1866,  while  successive  detachments  were  scouting 
the  country,  protecting  the  frontier  against  Mexicans  and 
Indians. 

In  February,  1866,  the  regiment  was  dismounted,  mus- 
tered out,  and  sent  home ;  being  paid  off  and  disbanded  at 
Jackson,  Mich.,  on  the  15th  of  March,  1866,  after  a  ser- 
vice of  four  years  and  a  half  unsurpassed  as  to  hardship  and 
fidelity  by  that  of  any  other  regiment  in  the  army.  It  is 
claimed  to  have  captured  during  the  time  over  two  thou- 
sand five  hundred  prisoners,  besides  those  taken  in  co-oper- 
ation with  other  regiments. 

OrFICEBS  AND  ENLISTED  MEN  TKOM  ALLEGAN  COUNTY. 

Field  and  Staff. 

Lieut.-CoI.  Gilbert  Mojers,  Allegan ;  com.  Aug.  13,  1862;  m^j.,  Feb.  27,1862; 

res.  Dec.  2,  1864.    (See  Co.  A.) 
MaJ.  James  G.Butler,  Allegan;  com.  July  4,  1865;  capt.,  Sept.  7,  1864;  1st 
lieut.  and  q.m.,  Sept.  15, 1862 ;  2d  lieut.,  May  25, 1862 ;  com.  sergt.,  Sept. 
2, 1862  ;  must,  out  Eeb.  12, 1866. 

Compawj  A. 
Capt.  Gilbert  Moyeia,  Allegan ;  com.  Aug.  28, 1861 ;  pro.  to  maj.,  Feb.  27, 1862. 

(See  Field  and  StaflT.) 
Capt.  Thomas  Dean,  Allegan  ;  com.  Oct.  26,  1864 ;  1st  lieut.,  Feb.  16, 1863  ;  2d 

lieut.,  Oct.  1, 1862;  enl.  Sept.  1,  1861 ;  res.  Oct.  17, 1865. 
1st  Lieut.  Horace  H.  Pope,  Allegan  ;  com.  Aug.  28, 1861 ;  trans.  Ist  lieut.  to  Co. 

I,  Feb.  27, 1862. 
1st  Lieut.  Isaac  Wilson,  Sangatuck;  com.  Feb.  27, 1862  ;  2d  lieut.  Sept.  7, 1861 ; 

pro.  to  capt.  Co.  K,  Oct.  1, 1863. 
Ist  Lieut.  Nathan  V.  Buck,  Allegan;  com.  Oct.  26,  1864;  24  lieut.,  Sept.  13, 

1864;  res.  June  2, 1865. 
1st  Sergt.  Frank  W.  Mix,  Sangatuck  ;  enl.  Sept.  1, 1861;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  Co.  G, 

March  26, 1862. 
(l.M.-Sergt.  George  K.  Stone,  Allegan;  enl.  Sept.  6, 1861;  disch.  by  order,  Jan. 

16,  1863,  for  pro.  in  4th  CaT. 
Sergt.  Nelson  0.  Moon,  Allegan  ;  enl.  Sept.  3, 1861 ;  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  18, 

1862. 
Sergt.  Kobert  W.  Helmer,  Saugatuck;  enl.  Sept.  12, 1861 ;  disch;  for  pro.  June 

27, 1863. 
Corp.  Martin  C.  Garrer,  Allegan  ;  enl.  Sept.  3,  1861 ;  died  in  Tennessee  of  ac- 
cidental wounds. 
Corp.  Nathan  V.  Buck,  Allegan ;  enl.  Aug.  28, 1861 ;  Toteran,  Jan.  19,  1864, 

sergt. ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut. 
Corp.  William  W.PuUen,  Allegan;  enl  Sept.  2, 1861;  disch.  for  disability,  July 

14, 1862. 
Corp.  Stephen  Odell,  Allegan  ;  enl.  Sept.  9, 1861 ;  veteran,  Jan.  19, 1864;  sergt. ; 

must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
Corp.  William  Lawrie,  Allegan  ;  enl.  Sept.  2, 1861 ;  disch.  for  disability,  July  24, 

1863. 
Musician  Osteen  G.  Pike,  Allegan  ;  enl.  Sept.  3, 1861 ;  disch.  for  disability,  June 

14, 1862. 
Farrier  Solomon  Stanton,  Sangatuck;  enl.  Sept.  4,  1861;  disch.  for  disability, 

Oct.  28, 1862.  ^ 

Wagoner  William  Fisher,  Allegan ;  enl.  Aug.  28,  1861;  disch.  for  disability. 

Not.  10, 1862. 
Joseph  Agan,  died  of  disease  in  Tennessee. 
Samuel  Andrews,  must,  out  Aug.  25, 1365. 

James  Alger,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19,  1864';  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
George  D.  Bronson,  died  of  disease  in  Arkansas,  March  8, 1862. 
William  Bignall,  died  of  disease  in  Arkansas,  Nov.  23, 1864. 
Charles  Billings,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  24,  1864. 
Lewis  Blaisdell,  disch.  by  order,  June  2, 1865. 
Edgar  Blaisdell,  must,  out  June  7, 1865. 
Lorenzo  Brown,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

Elijah  Brown,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1864  ;  must,  ont  Feb.  12, 1866. 
Morris  Burr,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1864 ;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 


122 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHLGAN. 


George  Bowman,  Teteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1864;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

Benjamin  F.  Briggs,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1804  ;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

Reuben  D.  Barker,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1864;  must,  out  Feb.  12,  1866. 

Daniel  Collins,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1864 ;  must,  out  Feb.  12,  1806. 

George  Cody,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1864;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

Joshua  Cornwell,  discli.  for  disability,  Aug.  25,  1862. 

Lucius  T.  Cobb,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  23, 1863. 

John  Cummins,  disch.  for  disability,  March  28, 1864. 

William  A.  Cheney,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  24, 18G4. 

Salph  Cass,  died  of  disease  at  Cairo,  111,,  July  20, 1864.    ^ 

William  Colon,  died  of  disease  at  Austin,  Texas,  July  29, 1865. 

Warren  K.  Carman,  died  of  disease  at  San  Antonio,  Texas,  Oct.  4, 1865. 

Andrew  Cochrane,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

James  K.  Dale,  must,  out  Feb.  12,  1806. 

Seymour  Dye,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

Horatio  E.  Emery,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  1, 1861 ;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

Frederick  Edwards,  died  of  disease  at  Eienzi,  Miss.,  July  25, 1862. 

A.  H.  Esterbrook,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  24, 1864. 

Albert  Fenn,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  24, 1864. 

Theo.  Flitcrart,  must,  out  July  14,  1865. 

Joseph  Gray,  must,  out  June  7, 1865. 

John  Gariison,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19,  1864 ;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

Hiram  N.  Goodell,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19,  1864;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

Kneeland  Graves,  died  of  wounds,  April  25, 1863. 

Horace  P.  Haight,  died  of  disease,  March  2, 1862. 

Washington  Howe,  died  of  disease  on  steamer,  June  15, 1865. 

Wesley  E.  Howe,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

Jacob  Herringer,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1864  ;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

Henry  Hoak,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1864;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

Charles  H.  Jones,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

Morris  Kent,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

Tlieo.  Kleeman,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  9, 1862. 

Bertrand  Loomis,  died  of  disease  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  March  27, 1864. 

Isaac  Laws,  died  of  disease  at  Duvall's  Bluff,  Ark.,  July  15, 1864. 

Oliver  Martin,  died  of  disease  at  Monterey,  Mich.,  Sept.  12, 1864.  ^ 

William  H.  McCormick,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  24,  1864. 

William  McMillan,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  24, 1864. 

Christopher  Martin,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1864;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

William  E.  Martin,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19,  1864  ;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

John  Mocklencute,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19,  1864;  disch.  for  promotion,  March  21 

1865. 
Morgan  Maybee,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1864;  disch  for  promotion,  June  5, 1865. 
Thomas  McQueeny,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
Martin  Millis,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  16, 1865. 
Bernard  McKerncy,  died  of  disease  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  Feb.  6, 1863. 
John  Pangburn,  died  of  disease,  Sept.  24, 1862. 
Alonzo  Prentiss,  died  of  disease  at  Duvall's  Bluff,  July  6, 1864. 
Edward  Phelan,  disch,  for  disability,  March  28, 1864. 
Goorgo  Pierce,  disch.  fordisabilily,  Dec.  24,  1862. 
Benjamin  C.  Palmer,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  24, 1864. 
Benjamin  F.  Parker,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1864;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1865. 
John  Priest,  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  27,  1864;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
Charles  F.  Peck,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
Washington  Pound,  must,  out  Feb,  12, 1866. 
John  Piersons,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

Freeman  Boss,  veteran,  enl.  Jan,  19, 1864;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
Martin  V.  Keed,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1666. 
Lyman  Eeed,  disch,  for  disability,  Aug.  26,  1862. 
Miles  Reed,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  20, 1862. 
William  Roll,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  20,  1862. 
Cliarles  Ruber,  died  of  wounds  at  Memphis,  Feb.  15  1864. 
Stephen  D.  Stone,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  12, 1862. 
Edward  Slocum,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  24, 1864. 
Seely  Squires,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1864;  disch.  by  order,  Oct.  22, 1865. 
John  Stone,  must,  out  Fob.  12, 1806. 
William  L.  Staunard,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
John  H.  Sage,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
Henry  Starring,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

Edmnnd  Starling,  died  of  disease  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  April  13, 1864. 
Thomas  J.  Stilson,  died  of  disease  at  Cairo,  111.,  Aug.  8, 1864. 
Charles  Tiefenthal,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  24, 1864. 
Frederic  Wiseman,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Oct.  24, 1864. 
Selh  H.  Winn,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  10, 1862. 
Ralph  Winn,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  10, 1864 ;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
David  White,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19,  1864  ;  2d  lieut;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
Alonzo  Wilcox,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19,  1864;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
Emmett  Ward,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
Edward  Warren, must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
Albert  Wilson,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
Joshua  C.  Young,  died  of  disease  at  New  Madrid,  Mo.,  March  8, 1862. 

Company  B. 
2d  Lieut.  David  White,  Saugatuck  ;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

Covtpany  C. 
Ist  Lieut.  Frank  W.  Mix,  Saugatuck  ;  com.  May  25, 1862  ;  pro.  to  capt.  in  4th 
Cav.,  Aug.  13, 1862.    (See  Co.  G.) 
/ 


Company  D. 
Chas.  Hartwell,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

Company  E. 
2d  Lieut.  .Tas.  G.  Butler,  com.  May  25, 1862 ;  pro.  to  1st  lieut.  and  q.m.,  Sept.  16, 

1862. 
Chas.  H.  Allen,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
Wm.  Ballinger,  must,  out  Feb.  12,  1866. 

Almon  J.  Boyles,  died  of  disease  at  Duvall's  Bluff,  Aug.  2, 1864. 
Mortimer  Culver,  must,  out  Feb.  12,  1866. 
Columbus  Greenman,  disch.  by  order.  May  3,  1865. 
Wm.  Orr,  disch.  by  order,  Jan.  8, 1865. 
John  H.  Bhodes,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
Solomon  Staunton,  must,  out  Sept.  23, 1865. 

Company  F, 
Capt.  Jas.  G.  Butler,  com.  Sept.  7, 1864;  pro.  to  maj.,  Jnly  4, 1865. 
Dennis  Considinc,  must,  ont  Feb.  12, 1806. 
Chas.  Deval,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  1, 1864. 
Spencer  Deval,  died  of  disease  at  Duvall's  Bluff,  Aug.  16, 1864. 
Chas.  Gleason,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
John  L.  Simpkins,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  31, 1863. 

Company  G. 
1st  Lieut.  Wm.  H.  Campion,  Allegan ;  com.  Nov.  17, 1864  ;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 

1866. 
2d  Lieut.  Frank  W.  Mix,  pro.  to  1st  lieut.,  Co.  C,  May  25,  1862. 

Company  S. 
James  Burnham,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
Ephraim  Gleason,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
Adolphus  Haire,  died  of  disease  at  Duvall's  Bluff,  July  24, 1864. 
John  Monger,  must,  out  Sept.  2.3, 1865. 
Geo.  G.  Manning,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
Harmon  Vosburgh,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

Company  I. 
Capt.  Horace  H.  Pope,  com.  June  11, 1862 ;  Ist  lieut.,  Feb.  27, 1862;  resigned 

Nov.  7, 1864. 
John  Frank,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  18, 1862. 
Israel  McCall,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  19, 1864. 

Oompam/  K. 

Capt.  Isaac  Wilson,  Saugatuck;  com.  Oct.  1, 1863 ;  honorably  disch.  June  6, 

1865. 
Ist  Lieut.  Chas.  W.  Tenny,  Allegan;  com.  Nov.  8, 1865;  2d  lieut.,  Jan.  2, 1865 ; 

sergeant;  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1806. 
Stephen  M.  Finch,  died  of  disease  at  Chicago,  Dec.  18, 1864. 

Company  L. 
Nelson  Beer,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
Thos.  0.  McGinley,  must,  ont  Aug.  11, 1865. 

Company  M. 
Ezra  D.  Barlow,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
David  Barney,  must,  out  May  25, 1865. 
Robert  Buchan,  must,  out  Feb.  12,  1866. 
Henry  Earl,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
David  Fox,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1806. 
Albro  Gardner,  muit.  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
James  Jones,  died  of  disease  in  Arkansas,  Ang.  29, 1864. 
Myron  Lightheart,  discharged  by  order,  Sept.  1, 1865. 
Silas  B.  Pike,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 18C6. 
Samuel  Reed,  must,  out  Feb.  12;  1866. 
William  Shoemaker,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 
Absalom  Walker,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

SOLDIERS  FROM  BARRY  COUNTY. 
Company  E. 
Francis  A.  Benson,  died. of  disease  at  Memphis,  Tenti.,  June  28,  1804. 
William  F.  Benson,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

Company  K, 
James  Ward,  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  20, 1864;  must,  out  June  2, 1865. 

Compam/  L. 
William  Ransom,  must,  out  Feb.  12, 1866. 

Company  M. 
Leonidas  Wright,  died  of  disease  at  Rieuzi,  Miss.,  July  2, 1862. 


FOURTH   CAVALRY. 


123 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

FOURTH  CAVALKY. 

The  Regiment  recruited  by  Col.  Minty — Company  L,  under  Cnpt. 
Pritchard,  from  Allegan — Other  Allegan  and  Barry  Men — Fighting 
Qualities  of  the  Fourth — It  moves  to  Kentucky  in  September,  1862 
— Chasing  John  Morgan — Capture  of  Franklin,  Tenn — Battle  of 
Stone  River — Expedition  to  Harpeth  Shoals — Charging  and  rout- 
ing a  Confederate  Brigade — The  Battle  of  Shelbyville — Col.  Minty's 
Report — In  Advance  of  Rosecrans'  Army — The  Battle  in  Lookout 
Valley — -Seven  thousand  Infantry  and  Cavalry  fought  all  Day  by 
Minty's  Brigade — Full  Report  by  Col.  Minty — Covering  the  Retreat 
from  Chickamauga — Fighting  Wheeler's  Cavalry — All  but  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twenty-Eight  Horses  worn  out  by  Service— The  Regiment 
remounted  at  Nashville — Forward  to  Atlanta — Fight  at  Tanner's 
Bridge — Gallant  Service  near  Kingston — -Continuous  fighting — 
Brilliant  Conflict  at  Lattimore's  Mill — Repulsing  an  Overwhelming 
Force — A  Rebel  Correspondent  praises  Yankee  Valor — Minty's  Re- 
ports— Advancing  and  Fighting — In  the  Trenches  as  Infantry — 
Mounted  and  off  under  Kilpatrick — Defeating  the  Rebel  Horse  at 
Fairburn — March  to  Lovejoy's — Surrounded  by  Confederates  of  all 
Arms — Cutting  out — Minty's  Brigade  on  the  Advance — A  Splendid 
Charge — The  Cincinnati  Commercials  Report — In  Pursuit  of  Hood 
— Routing  the  Enemy  at  Rome — A  Corporal's  Gallant  Defense  of  a 
Block-House — The  Regiment  remounted  at  Louisville — Once  more 
to  the  Front — Wilson's  Great  Raid  through  Alabama — Dangers  of 
the  March — Arriving  at  Selma — Its  Strong  Defenses — The  Fierce 
Attack — Splendid  Success — Forward  into  Georgia — Capture  of  Ma- 
con— Pursuit  of  Jefferson  Davis — Surprising  his  Camp — Particulars 
of  his  Capture — A  Stalwart  Mother-in-law — "Don't  shoot  him" — 
An  Unfortunate  Rencontre — A  Lucky  Scamp — A  Special  Escort  to 
Washington — The  Regiment  disbanded — Officers  and  Soldiers  from 
Allegan  County — From  Barry  County. 

The  Fourth  Micbigan  Cavalry,  which  gained  such  re- 
nown in  the  Department  of  the  Cumberland  during  the 
war  for  the  Union,  was  recruited  and  organized  during  the 
summer  of  1862  by  Col.  Robert  H.  G.  Minty,  previously 
lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Third  Cavalry.  It  rendezvoused 
at  Detroit,  and  was  there  mustered  into  the  United  States 
service,  Aug.  29,  1862.  Of  its  twelve  companies,  of  one 
hundred  men  each,  Company  L,  which  took  the  field  under 
the  command  of  Capt.  Benjamin  D.  Pritchard,*  was  re- 
cruited almost  entirely  from  Allegan  County,  while  the 
same  county  was  also  represented  in  the  field  and  staff, 
non-commissioned  staff,  and  Companies  A,  C,  D,  E,  F,  and 

*  Gen.  Benjamin  D.  Pritchard  was  born  in  Nelson,  Portage  Co., 
Ohio,  in  1835.  He  received  an  academical  course  of  instruction  in 
the  public  schools,  and  at  the  Western  Reserve  College,  in  his  native 
State,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  1856,  when  he  became  a 
resident  of  Allegan,  Mich.  Engaging  in  the  study  of  law,  he  com- 
pleted his  course  in  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Michigan 
in  1860,  and  soon  after  formed  a  law-partnership  with  Hon.  William 
B.  Williams,  late  member  of  Congress,  and  now  commissioner  of  rail- 
roads. He  recruited  Company  L  of  the  Fourth  Michigan  Cavalry 
in  the  summer  of  1862,  and  was  commissioned  its  captain  August  13th 
of  the  same  year.  From  that  time  until  the  close  of  the  war  he  per- 
formed most  gallant  and  efficient  service,  which  is  described  at  length 
in  the  accompanying  history  of  his  regiment.  He  was  brevetted  a 
brigadier-general  of  United  States  Volunteers,  to  rank  from  May  10, 
1865,  for  faithful  and  meritorious  services  in  the  capture  of  Jeff  Davis, 
and  was  mustered  out  of  service  with  his  regiment  July  1,  1865. 

Ho  again  resumed  his  law-practice  with  Mr.  Williams,  and  in  1866 
was  elected,  on  the  Republican  ticket,  commissioner  of  the  land-office 
of  the  State,  and  was  re-elected  in  1868. 

In  1878  he  was  elected  State  treasurer  by  the  Republicans,  over 
Alex.  McFarlan,  Democrat,  and  Herman  Goeschel,  National.  Gen. 
Pritchard  is  still  a  resident  of  Allegan,  and,  besides  attending  to  his 
professional  duties,  is  president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  that 
village. 


G.  Barry's  representation  of  less  than  thirty  men  was 
distributed  among  eight  companies. 

During  its  whole  term  of  service  it  proved  a  most  reli- 
able and  gallant  regiment.  It  was  justly  proud  of  its 
fighting  reputation,  and  accomplished  an  unusual  amount 
of  duty.  In  fact,  the  fighting  of  the  Fourth  seems  to  have 
been  so  uniformly  vigorous  and  effective  that  much  diffi- 
culty is  found  in  particularizing  those  engagements  in 
which  it  was  most  distinguished. 

On  the  26th  of  September,  1862,  the  regiment  left 
Detroit  for  the  seat  of  war  in  Kentucky,  receiving  its 
arms  at  Jeffersonville,  Ind.  It  at  once  crossed  the  Ohio 
River,  and  was  soon  engaged  with  the  redoubtable  guerrilla 
Gen.  John  H.  Morgan.  It  was  in  the  advance  on  the  attack 
on  Morgan  at  Stanford,  Ky.,  Oct.  14,  1862,  and  pursued 
him  as  far  as  Crab  Orchard.  It  also  led  in  the  attack  on 
Lebanon,  Ky.,  on  the  9th  of  November,  five  hundred  and 
forty-three  of  its  men  pushing  in  Morgan's  pickets  at  a 
gallop,  entering  the  town  two  miles  in  advance  of  the  infan- 
try, and  driving  out  the  guerrilla  leader  with  seven  hundred 
and  sixty  followers. 

After  a  short  stay  at  Nashville  the  regiment  marched, 
on  the  13th  of  December,  to  Franklin,  Tenn.,  drove  out 
the  rebels,  thirteen  hundred  strong,  killed,  wounded,  and 
captured  a  number  of  them,  and  also  captured  their  colors. 
On  the  26th  of  December  it  moved  in  advance  of  the 
army  towards  Murfreesboro,  and  began  the  fighting  at 
Lavergne.  At  Stone  River,  on  the  31st,  it  charged  the 
enemy  three  times,  each  time  driving  a  brigade  of  rebel 
cavalry  from  the  field,  and  having  ten  of  its  own  men  killed 
and  wounded. 

The  Fourth  was  the  first  regiment  to  enter  Murfrees- 
boro on  the  morning  of  Jan.  5,  1863,  and  from  the  9th 
to  the  19th  of  the  same  month  it  was  engaged  in  an  im- 
portant cavalry  expedition  to  Harpeth  Shoals,  by  which 
Wheeler's,  Forrest's,  and  Wharton's  mounted  rebels  were 
driven  beyond  Harpeth  River.  In  this  movement  the 
men  suffered  terribly  from  lack  of  supplies,  cold  weather, 
and  constantly  wet  garments. 

During  the  month  of  February  the  regiment  was  con- 
stantly on  the  move,  and  captured  one  hundred  and  forty- 
five  prisoners,  including  two  colonels  and  fourteen  other 
commissioned  officers. 

Numerous  other  expeditions  were  made  from  Murfrees- 
boro during  the  spring  of  1863,  ia  all  of  which  more  or 
less  prisoners  were  taken  and  stores  destroyed.  On  the  22d 
of  May  following,  the  regiinent,  with  two  companies  of 
United  States  cavalry,  charged  into  the  camp  of  the  Eighth 
Confederate,  First  Alabama,  and  Second  Georgia  Cavalry, 
at  Middleton,  Tenn.,  and  after  a  sharp  engagement  routed 
them,  taking  fifty-five  prisoners  and  destroying  their  camp. 
The  colors  of  the  First  Alabama  were  captured  by  the 
Fourth  Michigan,  and  are  now  in  the  office  of  the  State 
adjutant-general. 

At  Shelbyville,  Tenn.,  on  the  27th  of  June,  1863,  the 
success  attending  the  brigade  commanded  by  Col.  Minty 
was  mainly  accomplished  by  the  brilliant  and  tenacious 
fighting  of  the  Fourth  Michigan  Cavalry,  then  commanded 
by  Maj.  Frank  W.  Mix.  Col.  Minty,  in  his  report  of  this 
battle,  says: 


12i 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


"At  Shelby ville  I  found  myself,  with  u,  force  of  fifteen  hundred 
men,  in  front  of  formidable  breastworks,  with  an  abatis  of  over  one- 
fourth  of  a  mile  in  width  in  front  of  them,  behind  which  Sens. 
Wheeler  and  Martin  had  an  opposing  force  of  four  thousand  men  and 
three  pieces  of  artillery.  I  detached  the  Fourth  Michigan,  in  com- 
mand of  Maj.  Mix,  well  to  the  right,  with  orders  to  force  their  way 
through  the  abatis,*  and  assault  the  works,  and  if  successful  to  turn 
to  the  left  and  sweep  up  the  intrenchments,  promising  that  so  soon  as 
I  heard  their  rifles  speaking  I  would  make  the  direct  assault  on  the 
Murfreesboro  and  Shelbyville  pike.  They  did  their  work  so  well  that 
as  I  entered  the  works  on  the  main  road  they  joined  me  from  the 
right,  having  carried  the  works  and  taken  prisoners  from  six  different 
regiments.  The  fruits  of  that  day's  work  were  the  whole  of  the 
enemy's  artillery  and  six  huudred  prisoners,  while  over  two  hundred 
dead  bodies  were  afterwards  taken  out  of  Duck  River,  into  which  I 
had  driven  Wheeler  and  his  entire  command." 

After  two  or  three  minor  skirmishes  the  regiment  entered 
Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  on  the  11th  of  September,  1863.  On 
the  13th,  Col.  Minty's  command — viz.,  the  Fourth  United 
States,  Fourth  Michigan,  and  Seventh  Pennsylvania  Cav- 
alry regiments,  and  one  section  of  the  Chicago  Board  of 
Trade  battery — marched  from  Chattanooga  and  reported  to 
Maj. -Gen.  Crittenden,  commanding  the  Twenty-First  Army 
Corps,  at  Gordon's  Mills.  The  brigade  was  ordered  to  cross 
Mifssion  Ridge  into  Lookout  Valley  on  the  14th,  and  on 
the  three  succeeding  days  was  employed  in  learnin<'  the 
enemy's  whereabouts.  On  the  18th  it  was  warmly  engaged 
with  a  large  force  of  the  enemy's  infantry,  the  combat  being 
thus  described  in  Col.  Minty's  report : 

"At  six  A.M.  of  September  18th  I  sent  one  hundred  of  the  Fourth 
United  States  Cavalry  towards  Leefs,  and  one  hundred  from  the 
Fourth  Michigan  and  Seventh  Pennsylvania  towards  Ringgold.  At 
about  seven  a.m.  couriers  arrived  from  both  scouts,  with  information 
that  the  enemy  was  advancing  in  force.  I  immediately  strengthened 
my  pickets  on  the  Lafayette  road,  and  moved  forward  with  the 
Fourth  Michigan  and  one  battalion  of  the  Fourth  Regulars  and  the 
section  of  artillery,  and  took  up  a  position  on  the  eastern  slope  of  Pea 
Vina  Ridge,  and  despatched  couriers  to  Maj.-Qen.  Granger,  at  Ross- 
ville;  Col.  Wilder,  at  Alexander's  Bridge;  Gen.  Wood,  at  Gordon's 
Mill ;  and  Gen.  Crittenden,  at  Crawfish  Springs.  The  enemy's  in- 
fantry in  force,  with  about  two  hundred  cavalry,  advanced  steadily 
driving  my  skirmish-line  back  to  my  position  on  the  side  of  the  ridge. 
The  head  of  a  column  getting  into  good  range,  I  opened  on  them  with 
the  artillery,  when  they  immediately  deployed  and  advanced  a  strong 
skirmish-line.  At  this  moment  I  observed  a  heavy  column  of  dust 
moving  from  the  direction  of  Graysville  towards  Dyer's  Ford. 

"  I  sent  a  courier  to  Col.  Wilder,  asking  him  to  send  a  force  to  hold 
the  ford  and  cover  my  left,  and  sent  my  train  across  the  creek.  As 
the  force  from  Graysville  advanced  I  fell  back  until  I  arrived  on  the 
ground  I  had  occupied  in  the  morning.  Here  Col.  Miller,  with  two 
regiments  and  two  mountain  howitzers,  reported  to  me  from  Col.  Wil- 
der's  brigade.  I  directed  Col.  Miller  to  take  possession  of  the  ford 
and  again  advanced  and  drove  the  rebel  skirmish-line  over  the  ridge 
and  back  on  their  line  of  battle  in  the  valley,  where  a  force  was  in 
position  which  I  estimated  at  seven  thousand  men;  thirteen  sets  of 
regimental  colors  being  visible. 

"The  rebel  line  advanced,  and  I  was  steadily  driven  back  across 
the  ridge.  My  only  means  of  crossing  the  creek  was  Reed's  bridce, 
a  narrow,  frail  structure,  which  was  covered  with  loose  boards  and 
fence-rails,  and  a  bad  ford  about  three  hundred  yards  higher  up.  I 
masked  my  artillery  behind  some  shrubs  near  the  ford,  Jeavin"  one 
battalion  of  the  Fourth  United  States  to  support  it,  and  ordered  the 
remainder  of  that  regiment  to  cross  the  bridge,  holding  the  Fourth 
Michigan  and  Seventh  Penn.«ylvania  in  line  to  cover  the  movement. 

"Before  the  first  squadron  had  time  to  cross,  the  head  of  a  rebel 
column  carrying  their  arms  at  'right  shoulder  shift,'  and  moving  at 
the  double-quick,  as  steadily  as  if  at  drill,  came  through  the  gap  not 
five  hundred  yards  from  the  bridge.  The  artillery  opening  on  them 
from  an  unsuspected  quarter  evidently  took  them  by  surprise,  and 

»  Capt.  Pritchard  led  the  advance  battalion  in  this  assault. 


immediately  checked  their  advance,  again  causing  them  to  deploy. 
The  Fourth  Michigan  followed  the  Fourth  United  States,  and  the 
Seventh  Pennsylvania  the  Fourth  Michigan,  one  squadron  of  the 
Fourth  United  States,  under  Lieut.  Davis,  most  gallantly  covering 
the  crossing  of  the  Seventh  Pennsylvania.  One  squadron  of  the 
Fourth  Michigan,  under  Lieut.  J.  H.  Simpson,  on  picket  on  the  Har- 
rison road,  was  cut  off  by  the  rapid  advance  of  the  enemy.  They 
made  a  gallant  resistance,  and  eventually  swam  the  creek  without  the 
loss  of  a  man.  The  artillery  crossed  the  ford  in  safety,  and  I  placed 
it  in  position  to  dispute  the  crossing  of  the  bridge,  from  which  Lieut. 
Davis'  men  had  thrown  most  of  the  loose  planking. 

"  Here  I  was  soon  hotly  engaged,  and  was  holding  the  rebels  in 
check,  when  I  received  a  note  from  the  officer  in  charge  of  my 
wagon-train  (which  I  had  sent  back  to  Gordon's  Mill),  stating,  '  Col. 
Wilder  has  fallen  back  from  Alexander's  Bridge;  he  is  retreating 
towards  Gordon's  Mill,  and  the  enemy  is  crossing  the  river  in  force  at 
all  points.'  I  sent  an  order  to  Col.  Miller  to  join'Mne  without  delay, 
and  on  his  arrival  I  fell  back  to  Gordon's  Mill,  skirmishing  with  the 
enemy,  who  followed  me  closely. 

"  With  less  than  one  thousand  men,  the  old  '  First  Brigade'  had  dis- 
puted the  advance  of  seven  thousand  from  seven  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing until  five  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  during  that  time  fell  back 
only  five  miles. 

"  On  arriving  at  Gordon's  Mill  my  men  were  dismounted,  and  with 
Col.  Wildcr's  brigade  of  mounted  infantry,  and  a  brigade  from  Gen. 
Van  Cleve's  division,  repulsed  a  heavy  attack  about  eight  o'clock  p.m. 
We  lay  in  position  all  night  within  hearing  of  the  enemy,  and  were 
without  fires,  although  the  night  was  bitterly  cold.  At  break  of  day 
Gen.  Palmer's  division  relieved  us.  I  then  moved  to  the  rear  and 
procured  forage  for  our  horses  and  rations  for  the  men,  who  had  been 
entirely  without  since  the  pr.evious  mornin*." 

During  the  18th  the  regiment  lost  fourteen  men,  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing.  Among  the  wounded  was  Capt. 
Pritchard,  then  in  command  of  a  battalion.  The  next  day 
it  fired  the  first  shots  in  the  disastrous  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga,  and  subsequently  protected  the  left  and  rear  of 
Rosecrans'  army  and  the  trains  moving  to  Chattanooga. 
On  the  20th,  while  assisting  to  hold  the  enemy  in  check 
until  the  shattered  Union  forces  could  retire  from  the  field, 
Minty's  brigade  attacked  and  defeated  Scott's  rebel  brigade 
of  cavalry  and  mounted  infantry,  driving  it  back  across 
the  creek.  The  regiment  bivouacked  on  the  ground  it  had 
held,  but  the  next  day  was  compelled  to  share  in  the  gen- 
eral retreat. 

On  the  30th  of  September  it  was  driven  by  Wheeler's 
rebel  cavalry  near  Cotton's  Ferry,  on  the  Tennessee  ;  but 
from  the  1st  to  the  3d  of  October  the  tables  were  turned, 
and  the  Fourth  had  the  pleasure  of  following  its  late  pur- 
suers with  ardor  and  success.     By  the  1st  of  November, 

1863,  the  service  of  the  regiment  had  been  so  severe  that 
only  three  hundred  of  the  men  were  mounted.  This  bat- 
talion was  actively  engaged  on  picket  and  scout  duty  in 
Southeastern  Tennessee  and  Northern  Georgia  and  Ala- 
bama throughout  the  winter  ;  the  number  of  mounted  men 
being  reduced  by  the  latter  part  of  March,  1864,  to  one 
hundred  and  twenty-eight.  Meanwhile,  the  dismounted  men 
had  been  employed  in  various  duties  in  the  same  locality, 
and  also  in  Middle  Tennessee. 

The  regiment,  except  the  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight 
mounted  men,  set  out  for  Nashville  on  the  28th  of  March, 

1864,  where,  under  the  supervision  of  Capt.  Pritchard,  the  '' 
men  received  new  horses  and  equipments,  and  were  armed 
with  Spencer  carbines.  On  the  14th  of  April,  under  the 
command  of  Maj.  F.  W.  Mix,  the  regiment  joined  the  Sec- 
ond Cavalry  Division  at  Columbia,  Tenn.  Thence  it  ad- 
vanced with  eight   hundred  and  seventy-eight  men  into 


FOURTH   CAVALRY. 


125 


Georgia,  where  the  cavalry  began  its  arduous  and  danger- 
ous labors  in  co-operation  with  Gen.  Sherman's  army,  which 
was  then  advancing  on  Atlanta. 

On  the  15th  of  May  the  command  attacked  the  enemy's 
cavalry  at  Tanner's  Bridge,  nine  miles  from  Rome,  Ga., 
routing  and  pursuing  them  seven  miles,  when,  meeting  a 
superior  force  with  artillery,  it  retired  ;  this  regiment  having 
lost  in  the  affair  ten  wounded  and  missing. 

From  Woodland,  on  the  18th,  seven  companies,  under 
Capt.  Pritchard,  were  sent  toward  Kingston  on  a  recon- 
noissance.  Meeting  the  enemy's  cavalry,  the  detachment 
drove  them  several  miles,  until  at  length  it  was  stopped  by 
the  rebel  infantry.  The  opposing  horsemen  then  threw 
themselves  on  the  flanks  and  rear  of  the  Michigan  men, 
but  the  latter  drew  their  sabres  and  cut  their  way  out,  with 
a  loss  of  twenty-four  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 

Crossing  the  AUatoona  Mountains  and  Etowah  River,  Col. 
Minty's  command  moved  on  to  Dallas,  where  it  was  warmly 
engaged,  and  captured  many  prisoners.  It  also  participated 
in  all  the  flank  movements  which  forced  Gen.  Johnston's 
rebel  army  back  from  one  stronghold  to  another,  resulting 
in  the  engagements  at  New  Hope  Church  and  Big  Shanty. 
On  the  9th  of  June  the  regiment  assisted  in  driving  the 
enemy's  cavalry,  supported  by  infantry,  to  the  base  of 
Konesaw  Mountain,  capturing  a  number  of  prisoners,  and 
on  the  12th  again  encountered  the  enemy  at  McAfee's 
Cross-Roads,  where  a  line  of  rebel  intrenchments  was  car- 
ried. 

Skirmishing  with  the  enemy's  cavalry  was  daily  con- 
tinued until  the  20th  of  June,  1864,  on  which  day,  at 
Lattimore's  Mill,  on  Noonday  Creek,  two  battalions  of  the 
Fourth  performed  one  of  the  most  brilliant  feats  of  the 
war.  A  small  detachment  of  the  Seventh  Pennsylvania 
cavalry  had  crossed  the  creek,  and,  becoming  hotly  en- 
gaged with  a  superior  force  of  the  enemy,  Capt.  Pritchard, 
with  two  battalions  of  the  Fourth  Michigan,  was  ordered 
across  to  its  support.  This  force  had  scarcely  reached  the 
position  assigned  it  when  a  whole  rebel  division,  eight  times 
their  own  number,  swept  down  upon  the  Pennsylvania 
and  Michigan  men,  with  the  evident  purpose  of  driving 
them  back  across  the  creek.  -  They  did  not,  however,  pro- 
pose to  go  immediately,  so,  dismounting  and  availing  them- 
selves of  the  protection  afforded  by  the  inequalities  of  the 
ground,  they  met  their  assailants  with  terrific  and  con- 
tinuous volleys  from  their  Spencer  carbines.  Again  and 
again  did  the  rebels  bear  down  upon  them,  making  des- 
perate efforts  to  destroy  the  little  force  of  Unionists,  but 
being  as  often  repulsed.  At  length,  after  holding  their 
ground  against  the  repeated  assaults  of  the  enemy  for  more 
than  two  hours,  they  retired  slowly  and  in  good  order  at  the 
command  of  Col.  Minty. 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter  published  in  the 
Memphis  Appeal,  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,*  June  25,  1864,  gives 
the  rebel  version  of  this  fight,  and  shows  very  plainly  the 
gallantry  of  Minty's  brigade  and  the  immense  preponder- 
ance of  the  rebel  force  : 

"  On  the  20th  instant  two  divisions,  Kelly's  and  Martin's,  and  one 
brigade,  Williams',  of  onr  cavalp-,  went  round  to  the  left  flank  and 

'      *  The  Memph.;>  Appeal  was   published  at  half  a  dozen  difl-erent 
places,  to  which  it  was  successively  driven  by  the  victorious  Unionists. 


rear  of  Sherman's  army, — it  was  said  to  capture  a  brigade  of  Yankee 
cavalry  situated  at  McAfee's.  We  succeeded  in  getting  to  the  right 
place,  where  the  enemy,  Minty's  brigade,  was  vigorously  attacked  by 
Williams'  and  a  portion  of  Anderson's  brigade.  After  a  sharp  con- 
flict the  enemy  were  driven  from  the  field,  Hannon's  brigade  having 
come  up  and  attacked  them  on  the  flank.  The  Yankees  fought  des- 
perately and  fell  back  slowly,  with  what  loss  we  are  nnable  to  ascer- 
tain, as  they  carried  off  their  wounded  and  most  of  their  dead.  To 
one  who  was  an  eye-witness,  but  not  on  adept  in  the  '  art  of  war,'  it 
seemed  very  strange  that  the  whole  Yankee  force  was  not  surrounded 
and  captured.  Dibrell's  brigade  was  drawn  up  a  few  hundred  yards 
from  and  in  full  view  of  the  battle-ground,  with  Martin's  whole 
division  immediately  in  the  rear.  This  is  one  of  the  best  fighting 
brigades  the  Yankees  have,  and  to  have  captured  or  routed  it  would 
have  added  a  bright  feather  to  the  plume  of  the  successful  hero  ac- 
complishing the  feat.  After  he  (Minty)  had  been  driven  from  his 
first  position,  Martin's  whole  division  was  brought  up,  and  lost  several 
men  of  Allen's  brigade.  Brig.-Gen.  Allen  had  his  horse  shot.  The 
Eighth  Confederate  and  Fifth  Georgia  of  Anderson's  brigade  lost 
several  killed  and  wounded.  Williams'  Kentucky  brigade  also  lost 
several  good  soldiers." 

Col.  Minty,  in  his  report,  after  quoting  this  statement, 
added : 

"  According  to  the  above,  there  was  the  following  rebel  force  in  the 
field :  Kelly's  and  Martin's  divisions,  consisting  of  the  brigades  of 
Anderson,  six  regiments;  Hannon's,  five  regiments;  Allen's,  five 
regiments;  and  Johnson's,  five  regiments;  and  the  independent  bri- 
gades of  Williams  and  Dibrell,  composed  of  five  regiments  each;  say 
in  all,  thirty-one  regiments,  of  which  the  Fifth  Georgia  numbered 
over  eight  hundred.  The  entire  force  I  had  engaged  was,  of  the 
Seventh  Pennsylvania  one  hundred  and  seventy  men,  and  of  the 
Fourth  Michigan  two  hundred  and  eighty-three;  in  all,  four  hun- 
dred and  fifty-three.  These  few  men  held  their  ground  against  the 
repeated  assaults  of  the  enemy  for  over  two  hours,  and  when  I  ordered 
them  to  fall  back,  they  retired  slowly,  in  good  order.  I  beg  to  call 
the  attention  of  the  general  commanding  to  the  heavy  loss  sustained 
by  this  small  force.  In  a  loss  of  over  twelve  per  cent.,  the  very  small 
proportion  reported  missing  shows  how  steadily  and  stubbornly  they 
fought." 

In  a  note  appended  to  this  report.  Col.  Minty  said  : 

"  My  loss  in  this  engagement  was  two  ofl5oers  and  sixty-five  men. 
The  Marietta  (Ga.)  papers  acknowledge  a  loss  of  ninety-four  killed 
and  three  hundred  and  fifty-one  wounded.  Two  battalions  of  the 
Fourth  Michigan  repulsed  three  sabre  charges  made  by  the  Eighth 
Confederate  and  Fifth  Georgia,  numbering  over  one  thousand  men, 
and  one  battalion  led  by  Capt.  Hathaway  repulsed  a  charge  made  by 
Williams'  Kentucky  brigade  by  a  counter-charge." 

Of  the  two  hundred  and  eighty  three  oflBcers  and  men 
of  the  Fourth  engaged  at  Lattimore's  mill,  thirty-seven  were 
killed  and  wounded,  and  three  were  reported  missing,  Lieut. 
T.  W.  Sutton  being  among  the  killed. 

Having  crossed  the  Chattahoochee  River,  the  regiment, 
under  the  command  of  Maj .  F.  W.  Mix,  participated  in  a 
constant  succession  of  raids  and  fights  until  the  1st  of 
August,  1864,  during  which  many  miles  of  railroad-track 
and  many  bridges  were  destroyed,  thus  impeding  the  oper- 
ations of  the  enemy  and  facilitating  those  of  Gen.  Sher- 
man, who  had  steadily  advanced  to  the  front  of  Atlanta. 
From  the  1st  to  the  14th  of  August  it  was  employed  as 
infantry,  occupying  a  portion  of  the  trenches  before  the 
besieged  city. 

Col.  Minty's  brigade  then  received  orders  to  report  to 
Gen.  Kilpatrick.  At  one  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 
18th  the  command  broke  camp,  and  quietly  moved  out  to 
the  rendezvous  of  the  expedition  at  Sandtown,  arriving 
there  at  six  A.M.  The  movement  was  commenced  under 
cover  of  darkness,  to  prevent,  if  possible,  any  information 


126 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


being  obtained  by  the  enemy,  yet  a  rebel  letter  captured  on 
the  20th,  dated  at  Atlanta  on  the  18th,  gave  the  number 
of  Minty's  command  and  the  destination  of  the  raiders. 
Gen.  Kilpatrick's  force  consisted  of  the  Third  Cavalry 
Division,  commanded  by  himself  in  person,  and  Minty's 
and  Long's  brigades  of  the  Second  Cavalry  Division,  in  all 
some  five  thousand  men,  with  two  sections  of  the  Chicago 
Board  of  Trade  Battery. 

On  the  evening  of  the  19th  the  combined  forces  moved 
out  toward  the  West  Point  Railroad,  which  was  reached 
near  Fairburn,  where  the  first  rebel  assault  wa.s  made.  Ross' 
and  Ferguson's  brigades  of  rebel  cavalry  struck  the  Union 
column  on  the  left  flank  with  so  much  force  as  to  cut  the 
Seventh  Pennsylvania  in  two,  but  it  was  immediately  rein- 
forced by  the  Fourth  Michigan,  when  a  vigorous  and  irre- 
sistible attack  was  made  on  the  enemy,  driving  him  from 
the  ground  in  great  disorder.  The  rebels  were  pursued  to 
Flint  River,  and  finally  into  the  town  of  Jonesboro',  two- 
thirds  of  the  town  being  destroyed  by  fire.  While  this  was 
being  done  the  rebel  cavalry  was  reinforced  by  a  brigade  of 
infantry. 

Kilpatrick's  main  object  being  to  destroy  the  railroad 
rather  than  to  whip  the  enemy,  except  when  necessary  in  the 
execution  of  his  purpose,  he  left  Jonesboro'  and  marched 
directly  toward  Lovejoy's  Station,  on  the  Macon  road.  At  a 
point  one  and  one-half  miles  from  the  station  the  command 
began  destroying  the  railroad.  In  the  mean  time  the  enemy 
was  hurrying  forward  heavy  bodies  of  troops  by  rail  from 
Atlanta  and  Macon,  and  ere  much  time  had  elapsed  Kilpat- 
rick  was  surrounded  by  from  eighteen  to  twenty  thousand 
rebel  troops  of  all  arms,  commanded  by  Gens.  Cleburn, 
Reynolds,  Jackson,  Armstrong,  Ferguson,  and  Ross.  The 
position  of  Gen.  Kilpatrick's  force  and  the  overpowering 
numbers  opposing  him  rendered  his  condition  most  critical, 
leaving  him  to  choose  between  surrender  and  the  imminent 
prospect  of  destruction  in  the  eifort  to  extricate  himself 

He  chose  the  latter  alternative,  and  Minty's  brigade  was 
instantly  formed  in  a  line  of  regimental  columns  to  lead  the 
charge.  The  Seventh  Pennsylvania  was  on  the  right,  the 
Fourth  Michigan  in  the  centre,  and  the  Fourth  United  States 
on  the  left,  with  Long's  brigade  in  the  rear,  and  the  Third 
Division,  under  Kilpatrick,  on  the  left  of  the  road.  The 
advancing  enemy  wa.s  immediately  charged  upon  by  Minty's 
men,  who,  with  drawn  sabres,  burst  through  the  ranks  of  the 
rebels  like  a  whirlwind,  chasing  them  ofi'  the  field,  opening 
the  way  for  the  safe  passage  of  other  commands  and  the 
accomplishment  of  the  objects  of  the  expedition.  A  cor- 
respondent of  the  Cincinnati  Commercial  described  this 
charge  of  Minty's  brigade  as  follows  : 

"While  the  various  regiments  were  being  manoeuvred  into  position 
to  meet  the  onslaught  of  the  rebels,  who  were  sweeping  down  upon 
them,  the  men  had  time  to  comprehend  the  danger  that  surrounded 
them, — rebels  to  the  right  of  them,  rebels  to  the  left  of  them,  rebels 
in  rear  of  them,  rebels  in  front  of  them ;  surrounded,  there  was  no 
salvation  but  to  out  their  way  out.  Visions  of  Libby  prison,  Ander- 
sonville,  and  starvation  flitted  through  their  imagination,  and  they 
saw  that  the  deadly  conflict  could  not  be  avoided.  Placing  himself 
at  the  head  of  his  brigade,  the  gallant  and  fearless  Minty  drew  his 
sabre,  and  his  voice  rang  out  clear  and  loud:  'Attention,  column! 
forward,  regulate  by  the  centre  regiment,  trot,  march ! — gallop, 
march !'  and  away  the  brigade  went  with  a  yell  that  echoed  away 
across  the  valleys. 


"The  ground  from  which  the  start  was  made,  and  over  which  they 
charged,  was  a  plantation  of  about  two  square  miles,  thickly  strewn 
with  patches  of  woods,  deep  water-cuts,  fences,  ditches,  and  morasses. 
At  the  word  away  went  the  bold  dragoons  at  the  height  of  their  speed. 
Fences  were  jumped,  and  ditches  were  no  impediment.  The  rattle  of 
the  sabres  mingled  with  that  of  the  mess-kettles  and  frying-pans 
that  jingled  at  the  side  of  the  pack-mule  brigade,  which  was  madly 
urged  forward  by  the  frightened  darkies  who  straddled  the  animals. 
Charging  for  their  lives  and  yelling  like  devils,  Minty  and  his  troopers 
encountered  the  rebels  behind  a  hastily  constructed  barricade  of  rails. 
Pressing  their  rowels  deep  into  their  horses'  flanks,  and  raising  their 
sabres  aloft,  on,  on,  on,  nearer  and  nearer  to  the  rebels  they  plunged. 
The  terror-stricken  enemy  could  not  withstand  the  thunderous  wave 
of  men  and  horse  that  threatened  to  engulf  them.  They  broke  and 
ran  just  as  Minty  and  his  men  were  urging  their  horses  for  the  deci- 
sive blow.  In  an  instant  all  was  confusion.  The  yells  of  the  horse- 
men were  drowned  in  the  clashing  of  steel  and  the  groans  of  the 
dying.  On  pressed  Minty  in  pursuit,  his  men's  sabres  striking  right 
and  left,  and  cutting  down  everything  in  their  path.  The  rebel 
horsemen  were  seen  to  reel  and  pitch  headlong  to  the  earth,  while 
their  frightened  steeds  rushed  pell-mell  over  their  bodies.  Many  of 
the  rebels  defended  themselves  with  almost  superhuman  strength; 
but  it  was  all  in  vain.  The  charge  of  Federal  steel  was  irresistible. 
The  heads  and  limbs  of  some  of  the  rebels  were  actually  severed  from 
their  bodies.  It  was,  all  admit,  one  of  the  finest  charges  of  the  war. 
The'  individual  instances  of  heroism  were  many.  Hardly  it  man 
flinched,  and  when  the  brigade  came  out  more  than  half  the  sabres 
were  stained  with  human  blood." 

The  command  reached  Lithonia  on  the  21st;  having  made 
a  circuit  around  Atlanta  and  the  rebel  armies,  and  having 
be'in  in  the  saddle,  and  almost  constantly  engaged,  since  early 
in  the  morning  of  the  18th.  After  the  fall  of  Atlanta  the 
regiment  moved  northward,  and  on  the  4th  of  October, 
1864,  joined  its  division — the  Second — at  Marietta,  Ga., 
with  which  it  started  in  pursuit  of  Hood's  rebel  army, 
then  on  its  way  into  Middle  Tennessee;  having  had  numerous 
skirmishes  with  its  rear-guard. 

One  of  the  sharpest  of  these  encounters  occurred  near 
Rome,  Ga.,  on  the  13th  of  October.  A  body  of  Union 
troops  was  occupying  Rome,  and  a  force  of  mounted  rebels 
undertook  to  drive  it  out.  While  a  brisk  skirmish  was 
going  on,  ftlinty's  brigade  crossed  the  Oostenaula  River 
and  made  a  sabre  charge  on  the  flank  of  the  Confederates. 
The  latter  fled  in  the  utmost  confusion.  The  Unionists 
rode  over  a  rebel  battery,  captured  it  in  an  instant,  and 
then  pursued  the  enemy  several  miles,  capturing  many 
prisoners,  and  sabring  those  who  resisted.  The  Fourth 
Michigan  alone  took  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  pris- 
oners, which  was  about  the  number  of  the  mounted  men 
in  the  regiment ;  nearly  all  the  horses  having  been  worn  out 
by  the  severity  of  the  service.  The  regiment,  in  pursuit  of 
Hood's  forces,  then  recrpssed  the  Oostenaula  and  marched, 
vi&  Rome,  Kingston,  Adairsville,  Resaca,  Summersville,  and 
Galesville,  Ala.,  to  Little  River,  where,  on  the  20th,  it  en- 
gaged Wheeler's  cavalry;  forcing  the  enemy  to  retire. 

Meanwhile  the  dismounted  men,  whose  horses  had  been 
killed  and  worn  out  by  the  arduous  service  of  the  past  six 
months,  were  sent  to  the  rear  from  time  to  time,  and  em- 
ployed in  garrisoning  block-houses  on  the  line  of  the  Nash- 
ville and  Huntsville  Railroad.  On  the  17th  of  September', 
1864,  Corp.  Charles  M.  Bickford  and  seventeen  men  of  the 
regiment,  stationed  in  a  block-house,  were  attacked  by 
Wheeler's  rebel  cavalry,  a  force  of  several  thousand,  with 
artillery,  but,  although  the  assailants  shelled  the  block- 
house for  over  five  hours,  they  could  not  compel  the  gallant 


FOURTH  CAVALRY. 


127 


little  squad  to  surrender,  and  finally  retired,  after  having 
eight  men  killed  and  sixty  wounded.  The  corporal  was 
promoted  to  be  a  commissioned  officer,  and  the  names  of 
his  men  were  honorably  mentioned  in  general  orders. 

After  the  fight  at  Little  River,  before  mentioned,  the 
mounted  men  of  the  regiment,  then  numbering  but  about 
one  hundred,  transferred  their  horses  to  the  Third  Brigade, 
and  proceeded  to  Louisville,  Ky.  The  dismounted  men 
also  concentrated  at  the  eame  point.  They  remained  there 
until  the  latter  part  of  December,  1864,  being  in  the  mean 
time  remounted  and  furnished  with  new  Spencer  seven- 
shooting  carbines. 

On  the  28th  of  December,  commanded  by  Lieut.-Col. 
Benjamin  D.  Pritchard,  the  Fourth  again  moved  south- 
ward, with  twenty-six  officers  and  six  hundred  and  ninety- 
six  enlisted  men.  It  proceeded  by  way  of  Nashville  to 
Gravelly  Springs,  Ala.,  where  it  remained  until  the  12th 
of  March,  1865.  Here  its  members  sufiered  severely  for 
want  of  rations,  and  were  obliged  to  live  on  parched  corn 
for  several  days. 

On  the  latter  day  the  regiment  broke  camp,  and  set  out 
on  Gen.  Wilson's  great  cavalry  movement  through  Alabama 
and  Georgia.  Four  divisions  of  cavalry  stretched  in  an 
almost  interminable  line  as  the  command  made  its  way 
southward  over  mountains,  rivers,  creeks,  and  swamps, 
building  miles  of  corduroy-roads,  etc.  It  crossed  the  Black 
Warrior  River  on  the  29th  of  March  by  swimming  the 
horses,  losing  one  man  and  from  thirty  to  forty  horses. 
During  the  night  the  Locust  was  crossed  in  the  same  man- 
ner, and  on  the  31st  Shades  Creek  and  the  Cahawba  River 
were  crossed  by  passing  the  accompanying  battery  over  the 
railroad  bridge,  which  was  temporarily  floored  with  ties ; 
five  or  six  horses  and  mules  being  killed  by  falling  nearly  a 
hundred  feet  from  the  bridge  to  the  river. 

The  enemy's  cavalry  under  Forrest  was  encountered  and 
defeated  at  Mulberry  Creek  on  the  1st  of  April,  and  on  the 
2d,  Minty's  brigade,  being  in  the  advance,  started  at  four 
A.M.  on  the  direct  road  to  Selma;  arriving  in  front  of  that 
place  at  two  o'clock  p.m.  This,  the  chief  city  of  Central 
Alabama,  was  surrounded  by  two  lines  of  bastioned  in- 
trenchments.  The  works  were  found  to  be  stronger  and 
more  perfect  than  those  at  Atlanta ;  consisting  of  an  inner 
line  of  redans  and  redoubts,  mounted  with  12-pounder 
howitzers  and  20-pounder  Parrots.  The  main  and  outer 
line,  which  extended  entirely  around  the  city  from  river  to 
river,  consisted  of  twenty-five  redoubts  or  bastions  con- 
nected by  curtains,  the  parapet  being  about  twelve  feet*  high 
and  surrounded  by  a  ditch  and  well-built  palisade,  in  front 
of  which  was  swampy  ground,  partially  covered  with  abatis. 
These  works  were  defended  by  Gen.  Forrest  with  a  force 
estimated  at  nine  thousand. 

The  Second  Division,  in  which  was  the  Fourth  Michigan, 
was  ordered  to  assault  the  works  on  the  Summerville  road, 
and  the  Fourth  Division  those  on  the  Plantersville  road. 
About  the  time  the  assault  was  to  take  place,  the  rebel 
Gen.  Chalmers  attacked  the  rear  of  the  Second  Division. 
Three  regiments  were  detached  to  oppose  him  ;  the  re- 
mainder, including  the  Fourth  Michigan,  swept  forward  to 
the  assault.  Besides  the  men  holding  the  horses,  the  force 
resisting  Chalmers,  and  other  detachments,  there  were  about 


fifteen  hundred  men  of  the  Second  Division  in  the  assault- 
ing column.  These  moved  forward  under  a  terrific  fire 
from  the  breastworks,  which  was  followed  by  a  swift  suc- 
cession of  volleys  from  the  Spencer  carbines  of  the  Unionists 
steadily  aimed  at  the  top  of  the  parapet. 

Col.  Long,  the  division  commander,  was  shot  in  the  head 
at  the  beginning  of  the  assault,  and  Col.  Minty,*  of  the 
Fourth  Michigan,  assuming  command,  led  the  division 
against  the  works.  Increasing  their  pace,  the  Unionistsf 
dashed  forward  with  resounding  cheers,  swarmed  into  the 
ditch  and  over  the  breastworks,  killed,  captured,  or  drove 
away  the  rebels  almost  in  an  instant,  and  took  possession  of 
the  enemy's  main  line  in  twenty  minutes  after  the  first  ad- 
vance. Three  hundred  and  twenty-four  out  of  the  fifteen 
hundred  assailants  were  killed  and  wounded  in  this  brief 
period.  The  inner  line  of  works  was  also  taken  by  the 
Second  Division  by  the  time  the  Fourth  Division  arrived 
at  the  outer  line.  The  result  of  the  whole  operation  was 
the  capture  of  one  hundred  pieces  of  artillery,  two  thousand 
eight  hundred  prisoners,  and  an  immense  amount  of  am- 
munition and  stores. 

On  the  7th  of  April  the  command  moved  eastward ; 
passing  through  Montgomery  and  Columbus  into  Georgia. 
A  portion  of  Minty's  brigade, — the  Fourth  Michigan 
and  Third  Ohio, — commanded  by  Lieut.-Col.  Pritchard, 
marched  all  the  night  of  the  17th  of  April  to  save  the 
double  bridges  over  the  Flint  River,  reaching  them  early 
in  the  morning  of  the  18th,  when  a  gallant  sabre  charge 
was  made  by  one  battalion  of  the  Fourth  Michigan,  which 
carried  the  bridges  and  captured  every  man  of  the  rebel 
force  left  to  destroy  them. 

The  Second  Division,  which  was  in  the  advance,  after  a 
rapid  march  of  twenty- seven  miles  on  the  20th  of  April, 
was  met  some  twelve  or  fifteen  miles  from  Macon,  Ga.,  by 
a  rebel  officer  with  a  flag  of  truce,  who  informed  Col. 
Minty  that  an  armistice  had  been  stipulated  between  the 
contending  armies,  and  requested  him  not  to  enter  Macon. 
Col.  Minty  immediately  reported  the  matter  to  Gen.  Wil- 
son, and  awaited  orders.  The  general  replied  that  he  had 
no  notification  of  any  armistice  existing,  and  that  he  should 
not  stay  out  of  Macon ;  and  ordered  Col.  Minty  to  move 
forward. 

Thereupon  Col.  Minty  said  to  the  rebel  officer,  "  I  will 
give  you  five  minutes  start  (taking  out  his  watch)  in  return- 
ing to  Macon,  and  you  had  better  make  good  use  of  it." 

The  officer  and  his  escort  set  out  on  the  gallop.  Col. 
Minty  sat  on  his  horse,  watch  in  hand,  until  the  five 
minutes  had  elapsed,  when  he  returned  the  watch  and  gave 
the  order : 

"  Forward  !  gallop,  march  I" 

The  division  dashed  forward,  in  thundering  column, 
toward  Macon.  Over  hill  and  down  dale  it  pursued  its  head- 
long course.  The  flag-bearers  were  run  down  and  passed  ; 
some  small  detachments  stationed  along  the  road  were 
swept  away  like  chafi',  and  at  six  p.m.  the  division  dashed 

*  It  is  reported  that  Col.  Minty  was  the  first  man  to  get  inside  the 
enemy's  works  alive. 

■f  In  this  charge  the  Fourth  United  States  and  Third  Ohio  were  at 
first  repulsed,  but  the  Fourth  Michigan,  under  Lt.-Col.  Pritchard, 
pressed  steadily  onward,  and  were  the  first  to  leap  over  the  works. 


128 


HISTORY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


into  Macon,  where  it  received  the  unconditional  surrender 
of  Gen.  Howell  Cobb  and  about  two  thousand  men,  with 
sixty-two  pieces  of  artillery.  Being  there  officially  notified 
of  the  surrender  of  the  rebel  armies  under  Lee  and  John- 
ston, Gen.  Wilson  stayed  the  farther  advance  of  his  corps. 

Gen.  Cobb  was  highly  indignant  at  the  unceremonious 
manner  in  which  the  Union  officers  possessed  themselves 
of  Macon,  and  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  when  the  matter 
was  referred  to  the  proper  headquarters  the  Union  troops 
would  be  ordered  to  withdraw.  On  the  other  hand.  Gen. 
Wilson  replied  in  most  emphatic  language  that  when  his 
troops  left  the  city,  under  such  circumstances,  there  would 
not  remain  one  brick  upon  another. 

On  the  7th  of  May  the  Fourth  Michigan,  four  hundred 
and  forty  strong,  under  Lieut.-Col.  Pritchard,  left  Macon 
for  the  purpose  of  capturing  Jefferson  Davis  and  his  party, 
who  were  known  to  be  making  their  way  toward  the  coast. 
Having  struck  the  trail  of  the  fugitives  at  Abbeville  on 
the  9th  of  May,  Col.  Pritchard  selected  one  hundred  and 
fifty-three  of  his  best-mounted  officers  and  men,  and  moved 
rapidly  by  a  circuitous  route  to  intercept  them.  At  Irwins- 
ville,  at  one  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  10th  of  May, 
the  colonel  learned  that  a  train,  which  probably  belonged 
to  Davis,  was  encamped  a  mile  and  a  half  distant. 

Moving  out  into  the  vicinity  of  the  camp,  he  sent  Lieut. 
Purinton,  with  twenty-five  men,  to  wait  on  the  other  side 
of  it.  At  daybreak  Col.  Pritchard  and  his  men  advanc"ed 
silently,  and  without  being  observed,  to  within  a  few  rods 
of  the  camp,  then  dashed  forward  and  secured  the  whole 
camp  before  the  astonished  inmates  could  grasp  their 
weapons,  or  even  fairly  arouse  themselves  from  their  slum- 
bers. A  chain  of  mounted  guards  was  immediately  placed 
around  the  camp,  and  dismounted  sentries  were  stationed 
at  the  tents  and  wagons. 

While  this  was  going  on.  Corporal  George  M.  Munger, 
of  Company  C,  and  Private  Andrew  Bee,  of  Company  L, 
observed  two  persons  in  women's  dress  moving  rapidly  away 
from  one  of  the  tents. 

"That  ought  to  be  attended  to,"  said  one  of  the  sol- 
diers. 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  other ;  and  Munger  immediately  rode 
around  in  front  of  the  two  persons  and  ordered  a  "  Halt !" 

"  This  is  my  mother-in-law,"  said  one  of  them  ;  "  she  is 
going  after  some  water;  can't  you  let  her  pass?" 

Her  companion,  a  tall  person,  much  bent,  wrapped  in  a 
woman's  "  water-proof,"  with  a  shawl  over  the  head  and  a 
pail  in  one  hand,  remained  silent. 

"  No,  you  can't  pass,"  replied  Munger. 

At  that  moment  other  soldiers  rode  up,  and  the  hitherto 
silent  personage,  seeing  that  further  disguise  was  useless, 
straightened  up,  dropped  the  pail,  threw  off  the  water-proof 
and  shawl,  and  disclosed  a  tall,  thin,  sharp- faced,  sour-look- 
ing man,  with  gray  hair,  gray  whiskers  under  his  chin,  and 
one  blind  eye.  No  one  at  first  seemed  to  recognize  in  this 
forlorn  fugitive  the  renowned  chief  of  the  defunct  Confed- 
eracy. Mrs.  Davis,  however  (for  she  was  his  companion), 
had  her  wifely  fears  aroused  by  the  grim  faces  and  clanking, 
arms  around  her,  and  threw  her  arms  around  her  husband's 
neck,  exclaiming, — 

"  Don't  shoot  him  !  don't  shoot  him  !" 


"  Let  them  shoot,"  said  Davis,  "  if  they  choose ;  I  may 
as  well  die  here  as  anywhere." 

But  no  one  was  inclined  to  be  his  executioner,  and  the 
squad,  with  the  two  prisoners,  moved  back  toward  the  tents. 
Mrs.  Davis,  when  questioned,  admitted  that  her  companion 
was  the  ex- President  of  the  Confederacy. 

Meanwhile  Col.  Pritchard  had  taken  the  greater  part  of 
the  force  and  gone  to  the  assistance  of  Lieut.  Purinton,  in 
whose  front  heavy  firing  was  heard.  It  proved  to  come 
from  a  most  unfortunate  rencontre  with  a  detachment  of 
the  First  Wisconsin  Cavalry,  which  was  also  in  pursuit  of 
Davis,  and  the  advance-guard  of  which  began  firing  on 
Purinton's  men  before  ascertaining  who  they  were.  After 
this  error  was  discovered  (which  was  not  until  several  men 
had  been  killed  and  wounded).  Col.  Pritchard  returned  to 
camp  and  discovered  that,  besides  Davis,  his  wife,  and  four 
children,  his  command  had  also  captured  two  of  his  aides- 
de-camp,  his  private  secretary,  several  other  Confederate 
officers,  thirteen  private  servants,  waiting-maids,  etc.,  mak- 
ing a  total  of  about  thirty  persons.  As  he  rode  up,  Col._ 
Pritchard  was  accosted  by  Davis,  who  asked  if  he  was  the 
officer  in  command.  The  colonel  said  he  was,  and  asked 
how  he  should  address  his  interlocutor. 

"  Call  me  what  or  whoever  you  please,"  said  the  rebel 
chieftain. 

"  Then  I  shall  call  you  Davis,"  replied  Pritchard.  After 
a  moment's  hesitation  the  former  admitted  that  that  was 
his  name.  He  then  suddenly  drew  himself  up  with  great 
dignity  and  eSclaimed, — 

"  I  suppose  you  consider  it  bravery  to  charge  a  train  of 
defenseless  women  and  children  ;  but  it  is  theft ;  it  is  van- 
dalism." 

Without  stopping  to  inquire  whether  the  distinguished 
prisoner  considered  himself  a  woman  or  a  child,  the  colonel 
set  out  with  his  command  for  Macon,  joining  the  rest  of 
the  regiment  on  the  way. 

The  lucky  man  of  the  expedition  was  one  Slichael 
Lynch,*  a  deserter  from  the  Confederate  army,  who  had 
enlisted  in  the  Fourth  Michigan.  He  secured  a  pair  of 
saddle-bags  containing  five  thousand  dollars  in  Confederate 
gold.  Although  vigilant  search  was  made  for  it  by  the 
officers,  he  managed  to  conceal  it,  got  out  of  camp  with  it, 
and  buried  it.  He  was  strongly  suspected  from  various 
circumstances  of  being  the  person  who  had  it,  and  the  act- 
ing adjutant-gengral  of  the  brigade  endeavored  to  persuade 
him  to  give  it  up,  saying  it  would  certainly  be  found,  and 
then  he  would  lose  it,  but  if  he  would  give  it  up  he  (the 
officer)  would  use  his  influence  to  have  it,  or  a  part  of  it, 
given  back  to  him. 

"  Well  now,  captain,"  said  Lynch,  with  great  apparent 
frankness,  "I  haven't  got  that  money,  but  if  had  it  I 
shouldn't  be  green  enough  to  give  it  up." 

"  Why,  what  could  you  do  with  it?"  queried  the  officer. 

"  What  could  I  do  with  it  ?"  replied  Lynch  ;  "  why,  I 
would  bury  it,  and  after  I  was  discharged  I  would  come 
back  and  dig  it  up.     But  then  I  haven't  got  it." 

And  this  was  precisely  what  he  had  done,  and  what  after 
his  discharge  he  did  do. 

*  A  worthless,  quarrelsome,  unprincipled  fellow. 


FOURTH   CAVALRY. 


129 


From  Macon,  Col.  Pritchard,  with  twenty-five  officers 
and  men,  was  ordered  to  Washington,  as  a  special  escort 
for  Davis  and  his  party.  While  this  party  went  to  Wash- 
ington (giving  Mr.  Davis  into  the  custody  of  the  com- 
mandant at  Fortress  Monroe),  the  rest  of  the  regiment  re- 
turned, by  way  of  Atlanta  and  Chattanooga,  to  Nashville, 
where  it  was  mustered  out  and  paid  off  on  the  1st  of 
July,  1865.  It  reached  Detroit  on  the  10th  of  the  same 
month. 

OFFICEKS  AND  SOLDIEES  FEOM  ALLEGAN  COUNTY. 

Those  marked  with  an  asterisk  -were  present  at  the  capture  of  DaviB. 

FiM  and  Stag. 

Lieut.-Col.  BeDJ.  D.  Pritchard,*  Allegan;  com.  Nov.  26,  1864;  bTt.  brig.-gen. 

TJ.  S.  Vols.  May  10, 1865,  "for  faithful  and  meritorious  services  in  the 

capture  of  Jell'.  Davis  ;"  must.  out.  witli  regiment,  July  1, 1865. 

MaJ.  Frank  W.  Mix,  Allegan ;  com.  Feb.  18, 1863 ;  capt.  Aug.  13, 1862 ;  1st  lieut. 

3d  Cav.,  May  26, 1862 ;  res.  Nov.  24, 1864. 
Ist  Lieut,  and  Q.-M.  Geo.  R.  Stone,  Allegan  ;  com.  March  18,  1863 ;  pro.  capt. 

Co.  A,  Aug.  25, 1864. 
Ist  Lieut,  and  Q.-M.  Perry  J.  Davis,*  Allegan;  com.  Aug.  23,  1864;  bvt.  capt. 
U.  S.  Vols.  May  10, 1865,  "  for  meritorious  services  in  the  capture  of  Jeff. 
Davis;"  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 

Non-C&mmissicmed  Staff. 
■Com.-Sergt.  Harlan  P.  Dunning,  Allegan ;  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Principal  Musician  John  B.  Champion,  Allegan ;  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 

Oympany  A. 
Capt.  Geo.  R.  Stone,  Allegan  ;  com.  Aug.  25,  1864;  1st  lieut.  and  q.-m.  March 

18, 1863;  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
1st  Lieut.  Thos.  J.  Parker,  Allegan  ;  com.  Feb.  18,  1863;  2d  lieut.  Co.  L,  Aug. 

1, 1862  ;  res.  Dec.  21,  1864. 
Madison  Bipler,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  April  8, 1864, 
iSilbert  Baight,  niUst.  out  Aug.  15, 1865. 
Marion  Hicks,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Feb.  12, 1864. 
Daniel  Hendrick,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Feb,  4, 1854. 
John  Nero,  must,  out  Aug,  15, 1865. 

Company  G. 
Peter  Semyn,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  July  21, 1865. 
Andrew  I.  Shepherd,  must,  out  Aug.  15, 1865. 

Company  D. 
2d  Lieut.  Chas.  W.  Fisk,  Allegan ;  com,  Dec.  6, 1863 ;  sergt.  Co,  L ;  pro.  Ist  lieut. 
Co,  H,  Aug,  1,  1864 ;  must,  out  July  1, 1865, 

Company  E. 
Geo.  W.  Banks,  disch,  by  order,  June  21, 1865. 
Sherman  £gan,  must,  out  Aug.  15, 1865. 

Company  F. 
Capt.  John  H.  Simpson,  Allegan  ;  com.  Dec,  10,  18G4 ;  1st,  lieut  Aug.  23, 1863 ; 
2d  lieut.  March  31, 1863 ;  sergt.  Co,  L ;  must,  out  July  1, 1866. 

Company  G. 
Timothy  C.  Green,  must,  out, 
Hiram  Comstock,  died  of  disease  at  Chattanooga,  June  13,  1864. 

Company  L. 
Capt.  Benj.  D.  Pritchard,  Allegan  ;  com.  July  25,  1862;  pro,  lieut.-col,  Nov,  26, 

1864. 
1st  Lieut.  Isaac  Lamoreaux,  Allegan ;  com.  Aug.  4, 1862, 
1st  Lieut.  Geo.  B.  Stone,  Allegan ;  com.  March  1,  1863 ;  app,  q.-m.  March  18, 

1863, 
2d  Lieut.  Thos.  J.  Parker,  Allegan  ;  com.  Aug.  1, 1862 ;  pro.  1st  lieut.  Co.  A. 
2d  Lieut.  Samuel  F.  Murphy,  Allegan ;  com.  Jan.  18,  1865;  must,  out  July  1, 

1865. 
1st  Sergt.  John  F,  Bcebe,  Allegan ;  enl.  Aug.  1, 1862  ;  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
■Q.-M.  Sergt.  John  H.  Simpson,  Allegan  ;  enl.  July  26, 1862 ;  pro.  2d  lieut.  Co.  F, 
Com.-Sergt.  Orson  D.  Dunham,  Allegan;  enl.  Aug.  14,  1862;  disch,  for  dis- 
ability, March  18, 1863, 
Sergt.  Chas.  W,  Fisk,  Allegan ;  enl.  July  31, 1862 ;  pro.  2d  lieut.  Co.  B, 
Sergt.  Hiram  B.  Hudson,  Allegan  ;  enl.  July  21, 1862 ;  must,  out  July  1, 1866, 
Sergt.  Francis  L,  Hickock,  Allegan  ;  enl.  July  28,  1862 ;  disch.  by  order,  June 

7, 1865. 
Sergt.  Silas  F,  Stauber,  Allegan  ;  enl.  Aug.  1, 1862;  disch.  for  promotion.  May 

22, 1864. 
Sergt.  Samuel  F.  Murphy,  Allegan  ;  enl.  Aug,  11, 1862;  pro.  2d  lieut. 
.Sergt,  Chas.  Carter,  Allegan ;  enl.  July  30, 1862;  disch,  for  disability.  Sept,  26, 

1864, 
Corp.  Samuel  S,  Baldwin,  Allegan  ;  enl.  Aug.  1, 1862 ;  disch.  Feb.  16, 1863. 
Corp.  Horatio  N.  Price,  Allegan;  enl,  July  21,  1862;  died  at  Murfreesboro, 

March  6, 1863. 
Corp,  Alex,  Hurd,  Allegan  ;  enl,  Aug,  1, 1862 ;  wagoner ;  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Corp.  Elijah  Wilcox,  Allegan ;  enl.  Aug.  II,  1862 ;  died  at  Murfreesboro,  Feb. 

20, 1863. 

17 


Corp.  Chas.  L.  Knight,  Allegan  ;  enl.  July  26,  1862;  sergeant;  must,  out  July 

1, 18G5. 
Corp.  Alvah  C.  Fisk,  Allegan  ;  enl.  Aug.  2, 1862;  must,  out  July  1, 1865, 
Farrier  Wm.  Pulcipher,  Allegan ;  enl.  Aug.  4, 1862 ;  died  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky. 
Farrier  Jesse  S.  Penfleld,  Allegan;  enl.  Aug.  4, 1862  ;  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Siiddler  Wilts  H.  Williams,  Allegan  ;  enl.  Aug.  7, 1862  ;  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Teamster  Jonathan  Brewer,  Allegan;  enl.  Aug.  4,  1862 ;■  trans,  to  Inv.  Corps, 

Aug.  1, 1863. 
Wagoner  Jos.  Hofmaster,*  Allegan;  enl.  July  25,  1862;    quartermaster-Ber- 

geant;  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Allen  Ash,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Jacob  I.  Bailey,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
John  Bentley,  disch.  by  order,  June  19, 1865. 
Wm.  H.  Baker,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  19, 1863. 
Bradley  M.  Bates,  disch.  for  disability,  June  5, 1863. 
Henry  C.  Braman,  tiuns.  to  Vot.  Res.  Corps,  Feb.  15,1864. 
David  Beck,  trans,  to  Vet.  Kes.  Corps,  Nov.  1, 1863. 
Miles  Bidwell,  died  of  disease  at  Allegan,  Feb.  2, 1865. 
Alonzo  C.  Bnrnham,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Andrew  Bee,*  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Elijah  Cummins,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Benj.  K.  Coif,*  sergt.,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Edward  B.  Crawford,  died  of  disease  in  Michigan,  Jan.  28, 1863. 
David  V.  Davidson,  died  of  disease  at  Murfreesboro,  Dec.  1, 1862. 
Herbert  H.  Davidson,  died  of  disease  at  Lebanon,  Ky.,  March  5, 1863. 
John  C.  Everts,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Jan.  5, 1863. 
Henry  0.  Edgerton,  disch.  by  order,  May,  1865. 
Andrew  T.  Foote,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Feb.  10, 1863. 
-  Alexander  Fry,  trans,  to  Vet.  Kes.  Corps,  Feb.  15, 1864. 
Leander  J.  Fields,  died  of  diijease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Dec.  12, 1862. 
Jas.  M.  Flowers,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Chas.  H.  Gurney,  discharged  Dec.  10, 1862. 
Lewis  C.  Goodrich,  disch.  for  disability,  March  11, 1863. 
Martin  J.  Guyot,  died  uf  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Dec.  24, 1862. 
Abner  B.  Hughes,  died  of  disease  at  New  Albany,  Ind.,  June  13, 1863. 
Edwin  C.  Hughes,  died  in  action  at  Summerville,  Ala.,  April  2, 1862. 
David  H.  Hall,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  28,  1863. 
Jas.  Holdsworth,  disch.  by  order,  July  25, 1865. 
John  Harrington,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
David  H.  Haines,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Hiram  B.  Hudson,  must,  out  July  1,1865. 
Otis  L.  Halton,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
John  Keyser,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 

Jacob  Keyser,  died  of  disease  at  Lebanon,  Ky.,  Feb.  14, 1863, 
Walton  Kibbey,  died  of  disease  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  Jan.  7, 1863. 
Gordon  N.  Kenyon,  must,  out  July  1,1865, 
Edgar  Lindsley,  must,  out  July  1,1865, 
John  W,  Lindsley,*  must,  out  July  1,  1865. 
Edward  Lane,*  must,  out  July  18, 1865, 

John  McLoughrey,  died  in  action  at  Stone  Kiver,  Dec.  29, 1862. 
Chaa.  C.  Marsh,*  corp.,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Alonzo  Miller,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Wm.  Mann,*  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
E,  L.  G.  Myers,  disch.  by  order,  July  27, 1865, 
Albert  Miller,  trans,  to  Vet,  Kes.  Corps,  Sept.  30, 1863. 
Geo.  W.  Moore,  trans,  to  Vet.  Kes.  Corps,  Nov.  1, 1863. 
Francis  Mei*chant,died  of  disease. 

Geo.  F,  Nichols,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  July  10, 1863. 
Jos.  Naregang,  died  of  disease  at  Murfreesboro,  April  27, 1863. 
Geo.  Noggle,*  must,  out  July  1, 1865, 
Wm.  M.  Oliver,*  corp.,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Peter  Passenger,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
David  D.  Parkhurst,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Charles  Pettir,  died  of  disease  in  Kentucky,  Nov.  3, 1862. 
Horatio  N,  Price,  died  of  disease  at  Murfreeaboro,  March  5, 1863. 
Edward  W,  Pardee,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville. 
Edward  Keed,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
William  G.  Bowe,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Joseph  Richie,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  9,  1863. 
Jonathan  D.  Squires,  disch,  for  disability,  Oct.  19, 1863, 
Charles  F,  Smith,  died  of  disease  in  Ohio,  Feb.  1, 1863. 
Edward  F.  SafFord,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  June  15, 1863. 
Leland  H.  Shaw,  trans,  to  Vet.  Kes.  Corps,  Jan.  15, 1864. 
Ferdinand  Sebright,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Gilbert  Stone,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Henry  Smith,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Joseph  Stewart,*  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Isaac  C.  Seely,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Charles  F,  Tubab,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Ira  Tuttle,  disch,  by  order,  July  21, 1865, 
Salem  True,  disch,  for  disability. 
E.  S.  Finley,  disch.  for  disability,  July  18, 1863. 
Frederick  Woodham,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
John  Wilson,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Daniel  Willis,  must,  out  July  1, 1865, 
WilHam  West,  must,  out  July  1, 1865, 
Sylvester  Wedge,  must,  out  July  1, 1865, 


130 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


BAURY  COUNTY  MEMBERS  OF  THE  FOURTH  CAVALRY. 
Companj/  A, 
Levitt  D.  FduIkersoD,  must,  out  Aug.  15,  1865. 

Company  O, 
Stmon  Cooper,  must,  out  Aug.  15, 1865. 
John  D.  Rockwood,  died  of  diaeaae. 

Company  D. 
Watson  S.  Williams,  must.  out.  Aug.  15, 1865. 

Company  M. 
Lucius  Bates,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Mile  D.  Cooper,  must,  out  Aug.  15, 1865. 

Horace  Freeman,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Feb.  4, 1863. 
John  W.  Holmes,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Madison  A.  Hoose,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Ira  Leach,  died  of  disease  at  Nashvjlle,  Xenn.,  Dec.  25, 1862. 
Newell  Nichols,  disch.  for  disability,  Fob.  22, 1863. 
Owen  A.  Nichols,  disch.  for  disability,  July  14, 1863. 

J.  P.  Reynolds,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Sept.  30, 1864;  must,  out  July  1,1865. 
Chester  Savacool,  traus.  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  April  10, 1864;  must,  out  July  1, 
1865. 

Company  I. 
Hiram  Lamb,  disch.  Feb.  8, 1865. 

Company  K. 
Byron  B.  Purdy,  disch.  by  order,  May  19, 1865. 
Herman  0.  Purdy,  disch.  by  order.  May  19, 1865. 

'Company  L. 
Ira  D.  Brooks,  must,  out  Aug.  15, 1865. 
Benjamin  F.  Carpenter,*  musf.  out  Aug.  15, 1865. 
Albert  D.  Carpenter,  must,  out  Aug.  15, 1865. 
Rooney  6.  Flowers,  must,  out  Aug.  15, 1865. 

Company  M. 
Samuel  H.  Hubbard,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

THE  MICHIGABT  CAVALBY  BKIGADE.* 

Company  I,  of  the  Fifth,  from  Allegan  County — The  Regiment  as- 
signed to  the  Michigan  Briga(^e  in  the  Spring  of  1863 — Battles  in  the 
Summer  of  1863— Casualties— Winter-Quarters  in  1863-64— Kil- 
patriok's  Eaid  to  Richmond — Col.  Dablgren's  Expedition — Baclt  to 
North  Virginia — Reorganization  of  Sheridan's  Command — Battle 
of  the  Wilderness — Sheridan's  Raid  to  Richmond — The  Dash  into 
Beaver  Dam — Battle  with  Stuart  at  Yellow  Tavern — Stuart  routed 
and  slain — Before  Richmond- — Battle  on  the  Chickahominy — Es- 
pecial Gallantry  of  the  Michigan  Brigade — Return  to  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac — Fight  at  Hawcs'  Shop — Old  Church  Tavern  and  Cold 
Harbor — Battle  of  Trevillian  Station — Brilliant  Victory — Fight  at 
Louisa  Court- House- — In  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  Middletown,  Front 
Royal,  etc. — Victories  at  Opequan  and  Winchester — Casualties 
during  the  Year — Winter-Quarters — Sheridan's  Great  Raid  to  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac — Dealing  the  Death-Blow  to  Rebellion — Or- 
dered West — Men  with  Two  Years  to  serve  transferred — Regiment 
mustered  out — Allegan  County  Members — Barry  County  Members 
— The  Allegan  and  Barry  Representation  in  the  Sixth  Cavalry — Its 
Battles  and  Casualties  in  1863 — Kilpatrick's  Richmond  Raid — The 
Wilderness — Beaver  Dam,  Meadow  Bridge,  and  Hawea.'  Shop — Tre- 
villian Station — The  Shenandoah  Campaign — The  Great  Ride  to 
Richmond — Closing  Scenes — Ordered  to  the  Rocky  Mountains — 
Powder  River  Expedition — A  Guard  "corraled" — 'The  Regiment 
mustered  out — Barry  County  Soldiers — Allegan  County  Soldiers — 
Formation  and  Departure  of  the  Sixth  Cavalry — Assigned  to  the 
Michigan  Brigade— Its  Battles  in  1863— Its  Battles  in  1864— The 
Brilliant  Close  in  1865 — Its  Frontier  Service — The  Muster  out — 
The  Barry  County  Members — The  Allegan  County  Members. 

FIFTH  CAVALRY. 

Company  I,  of  this  regimerit,  was  wholly  an  Allegan 
County  organization.     It  was  recruited  by  ex-Congressman 

*This  celebrated  body  was  composed  of  the  First,  Fifth,  Sixth, 
and  Seventh  Cavalry.     It  was  organized  in  the  fore-part  of  1863,  and 


William  B.  Williams,  of  Allegan,  in  the  summer  of  1862, 
and  under  his  command  proceeded  to  Detroit,  Mich.,  the 
regimental  rendezvous,  in  August  of  the  same  year. 

The  regiment  was  first  commanded  by  Col.  J.  T.  Cope- 
land,  and  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  Aug. 
30,  1862.  It  was  subjected  to  a  long  delay  in  procuring 
arms  and  equipments;  a  spirit  of  discontent  prevailed  in 
consequence,  and  numerous  desertions  occurred. 

The  regiment  finally  left  the  State  for  Washington  on 
the  4th  of  December,  1862,  only  partly  armed,  but  other- 
wise fully  equipped  and  well  mounted.  Down  to  that  date 
it  had  carried  on  its  rolls  the  names  of  one  thousand  three 
hundred  and  five  officers  and  enlisted  men.  Upon  its  ar- 
rival at  the  seat  of  war  it  was  assigned  to  the  Second 
Brigade,  Third  Division,  Cavalry  Corps,  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  otherwise  known  as  the  Michigan  Cavalry  brig- 
ade.    (See  note  at  beginning  of  chapter.) 

It  was  engaged  with  the  enemy  at  Hanover,  Va.,  June 
30,  1863  ;  at  Hunterstown,  Pa.,  July  2d  ;  Gettysburg,  Pa., 
July  3d,  where  it  was  hotly  engaged,  charging  the  enemy 
repeatedly  and  losing  heavily.  It  was  also  in  conflicts  of 
more  or  less  importance  at  Monterey,  Md.,  July  4th  ;  Cave- 
town,  Md.,  July  5th  ;  Smithtown,  Boonsboro',  Hagerstown, 
and  Williamsport,  Md.,  July  6th ;  Hagerstown  and  Wil- 
liamsport,  Md.,  July  10th;  Falling  Waters,  Md.,  July 
14th;  Snicker's  Gap,  Va.,  July  19th;  Kelly's  Ford,  Va., 
September  13th  ;  Culpeper  Court-House,  Va.,  September 
14th;  Raccoon  Ford,  Va.,  September  16th  ;  White's  Ford, 
September  21st ;  Jack's  Shop,  Va.,  September  26th  ;  James 
City,  Va.,  October  12th;  Brandy  Station,  Va.,  October 
13th;  Buckland's  Mills,  Va.,  October  19th  ;  Stevensburg, 
Va.,  November  19th ;  and  Morton's  Ford,  Va.,  Nov.  26, 
1863.  Sixty-four  men  were  killed  and  wounded  during 
the  year  1863,  besides  one  hundred  and  twenty-one  re- 
ported missing  in  action,  many  of  whom  were  killed. 
Other  reports  of  alterations  and  casualties  show  that  from 
the  time  the  regiment  was  organized  until  the  close  of 
1863  forty  men  died  of  disease,  sixty-eight  were  discharged 
for  disability,  twenty-one  by  sentence  of  general  court- 
martial,  fifteen  by  order,  two  for  promotion,  one  hundred 
and  seventy-seven  deserted,  twenty  officers  resigned,  one 
officer  was  dismissed,  and  the  total  number  of  recruits  re- 
ceived was  thirteen. 

During  the  winter  of  1863-64  the  Fifth  had  its  quar- 
ters at  Stevensburg,  Va.,  and  was  employed  mostly  on 
picket  duty  along  the  Rapidan. 

In  the  latter  part  of  February,  1864,  it  took  part  in  the 
raid  made  by  the  cavalry  under  Kilpatrick  to  the  outer  de- 
fenses of  Richmond.     The   main  body  of  the  regiment 


continued  in  service  as  a  brigade  until  the  close  of  the  war;  being 
commanded  successively  by  Gens.  Kilpatrick  and  Custer,  and  gain- 
ing, whether  rightly  or  wrongly,  the  highest  reputation  of  any 
cavalry  brigade  in  the  service.  As  three  of  the  regiments  of  which 
the  brigade  was  composed  follow  each  other  consecutively,  and  as  all 
of  them  contained  a  considerable  representation  from  Allegan  and 
Barry  Counties,  we  have  grouped  them  together  under  the  general 
title  given  above.  As  there  are  numerous  matters,  however,  which 
concern  the  regiments  separately,  we  have  furnished  separate  sketches 
of  these  bodies;  giving  the  fullest  description  of  the  operations  of 
the  brigade  in  the  history  of  the  Fifth  Regiment,  which  had  the  largest 
representation  from  these  counties. 


THE  MICHIGAN  CAVALRY   BRIGADE. 


131 


crossed  the  Rapidao,  marched  thence,  vi&  Spottsylvania  and 
Beaver  Dan  Station  tO  Hungary  Station,  and  moved  down 
the  Brook  turnpike  to  within  five  miles  of  the  city  of  Rich- 
mond. Being  attacked  on  the  2d  of  March  hy  a  superior 
force  of  the  enemy,  the  Union  cavalry  was  compelled  to 
fall  back  on  Gen.  Butler's  forces,  stationed  at  New  Kent 
Court-House.  ' 

A  detachment  of  the  regiment  had  also  accompanied  the 
forces  commanded  by  the  gallant  Col.  Ulric  Dahlgren. 
They  moved  down  the  James  River  to  within  five  miles  of 
the  rebel  capital.  The  detachment  of  the  Fifth,  being  in 
front,  charged  the  enemy's  works  and  captured  his  first  line 
of  fortifications.  Following  up  its  advantage,  Dahlgren's 
command  pushed  back  the  enemy  from  one  line  to  another, 
until  a  point  was  reached  within  two  miles  of  the  city,  when 
it  was  found  impossible  to  advance  farther  with  so  small  a 
force.  Meanwhile  the  rebels  were  gathering  from  all  points, 
and  in  the  endeavor  to  extricate  itself  from  its  perilous 
position  the  detachment  of  the  Fifth  became  separated  in 
the  night,  which  was  rainy  and  very  dark,  from  the  main 
portion  of  Dahlgreu's  command.  On  the  following  day  this 
detachment  cut  its  way  through  a  strong  rebel  force  posted 
at  Old  Church,  and  succeeded  in  rejoining  the  regiment 
near  White  House  Landing.  At  Yorktown,  Va.,  on  the 
11th  of  March,  the  regiment  embarked  on  board  transports 
for  Alexandria,  whence  it  marched  to  Stevensburg,  arriving 
there  on  the  18th  of  April,  1864. 

Here  a  reorganization  of  the  cavalry  forces,  under  Gen. 
Sheridan's  command,  took  place,  and  the  Michigan  Cav- 
alry Brigade  was  thenceforth  known  as  the  First  Brigade  of 
the  First  Division,  Cavalry  Corps,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

On  the  5th  of  May  the  brigade,  commanded  by  the  fiery 
Custer,  again  crossed  the  Rapidan,  and  soon  became  en- 
gaged in-  the  great  battle  of  the  Wilderness  ;  fighting 
mounted,  the  first  three  days,  against  the  forces  led  by  the 
renowned  rebel  cavalry  leader.  Gen.  J.  E.  B.  Stuart. 

On  the  9th  of  May  the  cavalry  corps  set  out,  under 
Gen.  Sheridan,  on  his  great  raid  toward  Richmond.  Three 
divisions,  numbering  full  twelve  thousand  men,  turned  their 
horses'  heads  to  the  southward ;  the  blue-coated  column,  as 
it  marched  by  fours,  extending  eleven  miles  along  the  road, 
from  front  to  rear.  On  the  route  they  overtook  a  large  body 
of  Union  soldiers,  who  had  been  taken  prisoners  at  Spott- 
sylvania, released  them,  and  captured  the  rebel  guard. 
Toward  evening,  the  same  day,  the  Michigan  brigade, 
followed  closely  by  the  rest  of  the  column,  dashed  into  the 
rebel  depot  at  Beaver  Dam  Station,  scattering,  almost  in  an 
instant,  the  force  stationed  for  its  defense.  All  night  long 
the  men  were  busy  destroying  the  immense  amount  of  rebel 
supplies  accumulated  at  Beaver  Dam,  worth  millions  of 
dollars,  consisting  of  three  long  railroad  trains,  with  loco- 
motives, stores  of  goods  of  various  kinds,  and  one  hundred 
loaded  army-wagons,  the  flames  of  which  rose  in  lurid  col- 
umns through  the  darkness  amid  the  cheers  of  the  ex- 
ultant soldiers. 

At  daybreak  the  next  morning  the  command  moved 
forward,  and  after  tearing  up  the  railroad- track  at  Negro 
Foot  Station  it  reached  "  Yellow  Tavern,"  ten  miles  from 
Richmond,  on  the  11th  of  May.  There  Gen.  Stuart  had 
assembled  a  large  force  of  rebel  cavalry,  and  a  severe  battle 


ensued.  The  Fifth  Cavalry  fought  dismounted,  and  charged 
the  enemy's  position  under  a  heavy  fire ;  routing  him  after  a 
most  stubborn  resistance.  The  rebels  lost  heavily  in  this 
engagement,  including  their  commanding  officer.  Gen.  J. 
E.  B.  Stuart,  who  was  mortally  wounded  by  a  private  of 
this  regiment.  Having  brushed  aside  all  the  forces  opposed 
to  it,  the  Union  column  pursued  its  way  "  on  to  Richmond" 
unmolested. 

The  next  day  the  command  arrived  within  a  mile  and  a 
half  of  Richmond,  but  found  fortifications  in  front  on 
which  cavalry  could  make  no  impression.  Gen.  Sheridan 
then  turned  his  course  toward  the  Chickahominy  at  Meadow 
Bridge.  The  rebels  had  destroyed  the  bridge,  and  a  large 
force  of  them  disputed  his  further  progress.  The  ap- 
proaches to  the  stream  led  through  a  swamp,  along  which 
not  more  than  four  men  could  ride  abreast,  and  a  well- 
posted  battery  on  the  opposite  side  cut  down  the  head  of 
the  Union  column,  completely  checking  its  advance.  The 
leading  brigade  vainly  endeavored  to  force  a  passage.  The 
next  one  likewise  failed. 

Gen.  Sheridan  then  sent  for  Custer  and  his  Michigan 
brigade,  which  at  once  hastened  to  the  front.  There  the 
youthful  general  dismounted  the  Fifth  and  Sixth  Michigan, 
and  sent  them  forward  into  the  swamp  as  flanking-parties, 
while  with  drawn  sabres  the  First  and  Seventh  Michigan 
breathlessly  awaited  the  order  to  charge.  The  dismounted 
men  drove  the  enemy  from  their  first  position,  advanced 
through  water  waist-deep  to  the  railroad-bridge,  crossed  it 
on  the  ties,  and  then  plied  their  Spencer  rifles  on  the  rebel 
cannoniers  with  such  effect  that  the  latter  were  obliged  to 
turn  their  guns  on  these  assailants  to  prevent  being  entirely 
enfiladed.  The  moment  they  did  so  Custer  gave  the  order 
to  "  Charge,"  and  the  two  mounted  regiments,  with  brand- 
ished sabres  and  ringing  cheers,  dashed  forward  at  the  top 
of  their  horses'  speed.  The  rebels  had  barely  time  to  lim- 
ber their  guns  and  retreat ;  leaving  the  road  again  open  for 
the  advance  of  the  whole  corps.  The  command  then  pro- 
ceeded, via  Malvern  Hill,  Hanover  Court-House,  White 
House,  Ayelitt's  and  Concord  Church,  to  Chesterfield  Sta- 
tion, where  it  joined  the  main  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

On  the  28th  of  May  the  regiment  was  hotly  engaged 
near  Hawes'  Shop,  where  it  aided  in  driving  the  enemy 
from  their  position  after  a  desperate  hand-to-hand  fight. 
The  loss  of  the  regiment  in  this  action  was  very  severe. 
Moving  to  Old  Church  Tavern  on  the  30  th,  it  was  engaged 
with  its  brigade  in  the  routing  of  Young's  rebel  cavalry. 
On  the  31st  of  May  and  1st  of  June  it  was  engaged,  to- 
gether with  other  cavalry  regiments,  at  Cold  Harbor,  where 
it  fought  dismounted  in  advance  of  the  infantry,  and, 
although  losing  heavily,  succeeded  in  capturing  many 
prisoners. 

The  Michigan  brigade  soon  after  set  out  under  Gen. 
Sheridan  to  join  Gen.  Hunter,  who  was  moving  from  the 
Shenandoah  Valley  to  Lynchburg.  On  the  11th  of  June 
the  command  met  at  Trevillian  Station  a  large  force  of  the 
enemy,  both  infantry  and  cavalry.  During  that  day  and 
the  next  there  ensued  one  of  the  severest  cavalry  fights  of  the 
war,  the  Union  cavalry  mostly  fighting  dismounted.  The 
Michigan  brigade  did  most  of  the  fighting  the  first  day, 
and  lost  heavily.     T^e  brigade  battery  was  three  times 


132 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  ATSTD  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


captured  by  the  enemy,  and  as  many  times  recaptured  by 
the  determined  efforts  of  the  Michigan  men.  The  rebels 
were  finally  driven  from  the  field  and  pursued  several  miles  ; 
six  hundred  prisoners,  fifteen  hundred  horses,  one  stand 
of  colors,  six  caissons,  forty  ambulances,  and  fifty  wagons 
being  captured  by  the  victorious  Unionists. 

Moving  subsequently  in  the  direction  of  Louisa  Court- 
House,  the  regiment  encountered  a  column  of  the  enemy, 
but  cut  its  way  through  with  considerable  loss  in  prisoners. 
Gen.  Hunter  failed  to  make  the  passage  of  the  mountains. 
Gen.  Sheridan,  in  consequence,  then  marched  his  troops  to 
White  House  Landing,  and  soon  after  joined  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  south  of  Petersburg. 

After  serving  on  picket  and  scout  duty  in  front  of  Rich- 
mond and  Petersburg  during  the  month  of  July,  1864,  the 
Michigan  brigade  was  taken  on  transports  to  Washington, 
D.  C,  early  in  August,  and  thence  marched  to  the  Shen- 
andoah Valley.  Here  it  followed  Custer  in  many  a  desperate 
charge,  fully  sustaining  its  old  renown.  At  Middletown 
the  Fifth  Cavalry  was  attacked  by  a  strong  force  of  the 
enemy,  but  repulsed  them,  capturing  sixty-five  prisoners. 
Again,  on  the  19th  of  August,  while  a  squadron  of  the  reg- 
iment were  scouting  to  the  front,  they  were  attacked  by  a 
greatly  superior  force  of  the  enemy  under  the  guerrilla  leader 
Moseby,  and  being  overpowered  were  driven  into  camp  with 
a  loss  of  sixteen  men  killed. 

It  was  also  engaged  at  Front  Royal,  August  16th  ;  Lee- 
town,  August  25th  ;  at  Shepardstown,  August  25th  ;  Smith- 
field,  August  28th  ;  Berryville,  September  3d  ;  Opequan 
Creek,  September  19th,  where  the  Michigan  brigade  utterly 
routed  the  enemy's  cavalry  and  broke  their  infantry  lines, 
capturing  two  battle-flags  and  four  hundred  prisoners  ;  Win- 
chester, September  19th  ;  Luray,  September  24th  ;  Wood- 
stock, October  9th  ;  and  Cedar  Creek,  Oct.  19, 1864,  where 
Custer's  command  charged  the  enemy's  main  line ;  driving 
it  back  in  confusion  and  capturing  a  large  number  of  pris- 
oners. 

During  the  year  ending  Nov.  1,  1864,  the  regiment  had 
seventy-six  men  killed,  one  hundred  and  seventeen  wounded 
in  action,  fourteen  missing  in  action,  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
four  taken  prisoners,  two  hundred  and  nine  recruits  joined 
the  regiment,  while  but  thirty-three  men  died  of  disease 
and  but  two  desertions  were  reported. 

The  Michigan  brigade  went  into  winter-quarters  near 
Winchester,  Va.,  in  December,  1864,  and  remained  until 
the  latter  part  of  February,  1865.  On  the  27th  it  broke 
camp,  and  with  the  cavalry  corps  commanded  by  Gen.  Sher- 
idan started  on  a  long  and  rapid  march  up  the  Shenan- 
doah Valley,  past  Staunton,  over  the  mountains,  and  down 
the  James  River  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  The  com- 
mand met  with  but  little  opposition,  dispersed  all  forces  op- 
posed to  it,  destroyed  much  property  on  the  line  of  the 
Lynchburg  and  Gordonsville  Railroad,  locks,  mills,  and 
aqueducts  on  the  James  River  Canal,  and  on  the  19th  of 
March  joined  the  forces  assembled  to  give  the  last  blow  to 
Lee's  rebel  army. 

On  the  30th  and  31st  days  of  March  and  1st  of  April, 
1865,  the  Michigan  brigade  was  warmly  engaged  at  Five 
Forks.  During  these  three  days  of  battle  it  was  in  the 
advance,  and  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  Union  armies, — 


fighting  dismounted, — and  finally  succeeded,  with  the  rest 
of  Sheridan's  corps,  in  capturing  the  enemy's  line  of  defense, 
and  several  thousand  prisoners.  From  this  time  until  the 
surrender  of  Lee  at  Appomattox,  April  9,  1865,  it  was 
constantly  engaged  with  the  enemy,  and,  being  in  the  ad- 
vance, the  flag  of  truce  to  negotiate  the  surrender  was  sent 
through  its  lines. 

After  the  surrender  of  Lee  this  regiment  moved  with  the 
cavalry  corps  to  Petersburg,  Va.  Soon  afterward  it  made  an 
incursion,  with  other  forces,  into  North  Carolina ;  thence 
it  marched  to  Washington,  D.  C,  participated  in  the  re- 
view of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  May  23, 1865,  and  imme- 
diately thereafter,  with  the  Michigan  Cavalry  Brigade,  was 
ordered  to  the  Western  frontier.  Tlie  Fifth  was  sent  by 
rail  and  steamboat  to  Fort  Leavenworth,  Kan.,  where  the 
men  having  two  years  or  more  to  serve  were  transferred  to 
the  First  and  Seventh  Michigan  Cavalry  Regiments.  On 
the  22d  of  June  the  regiment,  as  an  organization,  was 
mustered  out  of  service.  It  arrived  in  Detroit,  Mich., 
July  1,  1865,  and  was  there  paid  off  and  disbanded. 

ALLEGAN  COUNTY  MEMBERS. 


Capt.  Wm.  B.  Williams,  Allegan;  com,  Sept.  3,  1862;  resigfned  June  11, 18G3. 
Capt.  Geo.  N.  Butcher,  Saugatiick;  com.  June  l.S,  1863  ;  Ist  lieut.,  .\ug.  14,1862; 

disch.  for  disability.  Not.  2, 1863. 
Ist  Lieut.  Geo.  W.  Lonsbury,  Allegan  ;  com.  July  15,  1864 :  2d  lieut.,  Sept.  1, 

1863  (previously  sergeant);  pro.  to  capt.  Co.  M,  Nov.  10, 1864;  bvt.  miij., 

March  13, 1865,  "  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  during  the  war ;" 

must,  out  June  22, 1865. 
2d  Lieut.  Geo.  N.  Gardner,  Saugatuck ;  enl,  April  14, 1865  ;  must,  out  June  22, 

1865. 
Q.-M.  Sergt.  L.  L.  Crosby,  Saugatuck ;  enl.  Aug.  12, 1862 ;  trans,  to  Signal  Corps, 

April,  1864. 
Com.  Sergt.  Hannibal  Hart,  Allegan ;  enl.  Aug.  18,1862;  diach.  for  wounds, 

June  14, 1864. 
Sergt.  Wm.  C.  Weeks,  Allegan  ;  enl.  July  22, 1862 ;  must,  ont  June  23, 1865. 
Sergt.  Hiram  K.  Ellis,  Saugatuck;  enl.  Aug.  19,  1862;  disch.  for  promotion, 

Aug.  29, 1864. 
Sergt.  Geo.  W.  Earl,  Gun  Plains  ;  enl.  Aug.  21, 1862  ;  must,  out  June  23, 1865. 
Seigt.  Martin  Baldwin,  Allegan  ;  enl.  Aug.  21, 1862 ;  must,  out  June  23, 1865. 
Sergt.  Wm.  A.  Piper,  Allegan  ;  enl.  Aug.  15, 1862  ;  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  12, 

1864. 
Sergt.  Wm.  White,  Saugatuck;  enl.  Aug.  15,  1862;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  Co.  L, 

May  2,  1805. 
Sergt.  Goo.  H.  Smith,  Allegan;  enl.  Aug.  22,  1862;  disch.  by  order,  June  13, 

1805. 
Sergt.  Irving  Batchelor,  Gun  Plains ;  enl.  Aug.  21,  1862 ;  must,  out  June  23, 

1865. 
Corp.  David  P.  Taylor,  Ganges  ;  enl.  Aug.  14, 1862 ;  died  of  accidental  wounds, 

March  27,  1863. 
Corp.  Austin  A.  Andrews,  Allegan  ;  enl.  Aug.  21, 1862 ;  must,  out  June  23,1865. 
Corp.  Herman  Garvelink,  Allegan ;  enl.  A\ig.  15, 1862 ;  killed  in  action  at  Hawea' 

Shop,  May  28, 1864. 
Corp.  Louis  Hirner,  Saugatuck  ;  enl.  Aug.  16, 1862 ;  killed  in  action  at  Yellow 

Tavern,  May  11,  1864. 
Farrier  Mortimer  Andrews,  Allegan  ;  enl.  Aug.  21, 1862  ;  disch.  by  order,  June 

13,  1865. 
Farrier  Geo.  Maason,  Gun  Plain  ;  enl.  Aug.  22, 1862;  trans,  to  Inv.  Corps,  Sept. 

1, 1863. 
Saddler  Jacob  E.  Miner,  Allegan  ;  enl.  Aug.  22, 1862 ;  absent  sick  at  City  Point, 

Va. 
Teamster  John  Cook,  Allegan  ;  enl.  Aug.  21,  1862  ;  diach.  for  disability,  Sept. 

16,  1863. 
Wagoner  Dewitt  C.  Sanford,  Gun  Plain ;  onl.  Aug.  22,  1862 ;  disch.  for  disa- 
bility, Feb.  13,  1863. 
Samuel  Atkins,  must,  out  June  23, 1865. 
Oriss  Buchanan,  must,  out  June  23, 1865. 
Caleb  Bennett,  disch.  by  order,  July  12,  1865. 
B.  J.  Burlingame,  missing  in  action  at  Eichmond,  March  1, 1864. 
Hendrick  Couk,  missing  in  action  at  Trevillian  Station,  June  11,  1864. 
George  Canouse,  miaaing  in  action  at  Trevillian  Station,  June  11,  1804. 
Elliott  Chase,  died  of  disease  at  Detroit,  Oct.  19, 1802. 
Lawrence  L.  Crosby,  trans,  to  Vet.  Bes.  Corps,  April,  1861. 
James  Collins,  died  in  Anderaonviiie  prison-pen,  July  9,  1864. 
David  Onmmings,  died  a  prisoner  of  war,  of  disease,  Aug.  15, 1864. 
Daniel  C.  Collier,  must,  out  June  23, 1866.  ' 


THE   MICHIGAN   CAVALRY   BRIGADE. 


133 


Samuel  Olark,  mnat.  out  June  2\  18G5. 

Gabriel  Cole,  mu^t.  out  June  23,  1865. 

Robert  Dyer,  must,  out  June  23, 1865. 

Bussell  Dyer,  must,  out  June  23, 1863. 

Seth  Dyer,  disch.  by  order,  July  17, 1865. 

James  Dyer,  missing  in  action  at  Trevillian  Station,  June  11, 1864. 

George  Drury,  missing  in  action  at  Trevillian  Statiou,  June  11, 1861. 

William  Drury,  missing  in  action,  Oct.  10, 1864. 

Bei^amin  S.  Dalrymple,  must,  out  June  23, 1865. 

Abner  Emmons,  must,  out  June  23, 1865. 

Orliter  P.  Eaton,  disch.  by  order.  May  19, 1865. 

Lafayette  Fox,  must,  out  June  23, 1865. 

Cornelius  Gavin,  disch.  by  order,  July  20, 1865. 

Vernon  Groucber,  must,  out  June  23, 1865. 

■William  Goodman,  died  of  disease,  a  prisoner  of  war,  July  24, 1864. 

George  H.  Hicks,  died  in  action  at  SmithfleU,  Va.,  Aug.  29, 1864. 

Baunibal  Ilart,  disch.  by  order,  Jan.  14, 1864. 

George  Hodgetta,  trans,  to  7th  Mich.  Cav. 

John  Hill,  must.,  out  June  23, 1865, 

Morgan  B.  Hawks,  must,  out  June  23, 1865. 

James  Kitchen,  di.sch.  at  end  of  service,  Aug.  20, 1865. 

Morgan  D.  Lane,  trans,  to  Signal  Corps,  April  23, 1864. 

William  McWilliams,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  March  15, 1864. 

H.  W.  Mann,  died  in  action  at  Shepardstown,  Va.,  Aug.  25, 1864. 

Gottlieb  Miller,  missing  in  action  at  Richmond,  Va.,  March  1, 1864. 

Charles  B.  Moses,  died  of  disease,  a  prisoner  of  war,  Sept.  29, 1864. 

John  E.  Murphy,  must,  out  June  23, 1865. 

George  E.  Munn,  must,  out  June  23, 1865. 

Orlando  C.  Masson,  must,  out  June  23,  1865. 

Franklin  Miller,  must,  out  June  23, 1865. 

William  Neuhof,  disch.  by  order.  May  3, 1865. 

M.  A.  Powell,  disch.  by  order,  Feb.  2, 1865.  - 

George  Pullman,  died  of  disease,  a  prisoner  of  wSr,  April  12, 1864.  * 

Giles  A.  Piper,  must,  out  June  23, 1865. 

Albert  Kynick,  must,  out  June  23, 1865. 

Rapliael  Boss,  trans  to  Vet.  Bos.  Corps,  Jan.  15, 1864. 

Caspar  Robb,  disch.  by  order,  July  11, 1865. 

Jacob  Einehart,  disch.  by  order,  July  12, 1865. 

Josepli  Slagcl,  disch.  by  order,  Dec.  24,  1863. 

Samuel  Shaver,  must,  out  Juue  23, 1865. 

David  H.  Seaman,  must,  out  Juno  23, 1865. 

George  Shuport,  must,  out  June  23, 1865. 

George  Shepard,  missing  in  action  at  Richmond,  Va.,  March  1, 1864. 

Marcus  C.  Thompson,  died  of  disease,  a  prisoner  of  war,  Sept.  4, 1864. 

George  W.  Thompson,  must,  out  June  23, 1865. 

Henry  Warner,  disch.  for  wounds. 

Homer  Watson,  must,  out  June  23, 1865. 

Henry  Zoueman,  must,  out  June  23, 1865. 

BARRY   COUNTY. 
William  H.  Cook,  Co.  L,  of  this  regt.,  was  from  Barry  County.    He  was  last 
reported  as  missing  in  action  at  Trevillian  Statiou,  Va.,  June  11, 1864. 

SIXTH   CAV  ALKY. 

Allegan  County  had  but  few  members  in  th^  Sixth  Cav- 
alry, but  Barry  was  represented  in  all  its  companies  except 
I-  Company  K  being  almost  exclusively  from  that  county. 

The  regiment  rendezvoused  at  Grand  Rapids.  Its  ranks 
were  rapidly  filled,  and  it  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service,  under  the  command  of  Col.  George  Gray,  on 
the  13th  of  October,  1862.  Mounted  and  equipped,  but 
not  armed,  carrying  on  its  rolls  the  names  of  one  thousand 
two  hundred  and  twenty-nine  o£Scers  and  men,  it  left  the 
redmental  rendezvous  on  the  10th  of  December  following, 
and  proceeded  to  the  seat  of  war  in  Virginia. 

It  was  soon  assigned  to  the  Second  Brigade  of  the  Third 
Division  of  the  Cavalry  Corps,  Army  of  the  Potomac  (the 
Michigan  Cavalry  Brigade),  of  which  a  somewhat  extended 
notice  has  been  given  in  the  sketch  of  the  preceding  regi- 
ment, to  which  the  reader  is  referred  for  details.  Before 
the  beginning  of  its  first  campaign  Company  K,  by  reason 
of  discharges  and  resignations,  had  lost  all  its  original 
commissioned  officers  except  Lieut.  Pendill. 

The  regiment  fought  at  Hanover,  Pa.,  June  30,  1863  ; 
at  Hunterstown  and  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  and  Monterey,  Cave- 
town,  Smithtown,  Boonsboro',  Hagerstown,  Williamsport, 


and  Falling  Waters,  Md.,  in  July  of  the  same  year ;  at 
Snicker's  Gap,  Va.,  July  19,  1863 ;  at  Kelly's  Ford,  Cul- 
peper  Court-House,  Raccoon  Ford,  White's  Ford,  and 
Jack's  Shop,  Va.,  in  September,  1863 ;  at  James  City, 
Brandy  Station,  and  Buckland's  Mills,  Va.,  in  October, 
1863 ;  and  at  Stevensburg  and  Morton's  Ford,  Va.,  in 
November  of  the  same  year. 

At  Gettysburg  and  Falling  Waters  it  particularly  dis- 
tinguished itself.  Its  principal  casualties  from  the  time  it 
entered  the  service  until  Nov.  1,  1863,  were  reported  as 
thirty-six  killed  in  action,  seventy-five  missing  in  action,  and 
forty-five  who  died  of  disease. 

During  the  winter  of  1863-64  it  was  quartered  at  Ste- 
vensburg, Va.  In  the  latter  part  of  February  it  started  for 
Richmond,  forming  part  of  Gen.  Kilpatrick's  raiding  force. 
It  participated  in  all  the  hard  riding,  skirmishing,  etc.,  at- 
tendant upon  that  unsuccessful  expedition,  and,  with  others 
of  the  command,  succeeded  in  joining  the  Union  forces  at 
New  Kent  Court-House.  Thence  it  moved  down  the  Penin- 
sula, proceeded  on  transports  to  Alexandria,  and  then 
marched  to  its  former  camp  at  Stevensburg.  On  the  18th 
of  April  the  Michigan  brigade  was  transferred  to  the  First 
Cavalry  Division,  and  thereafter  until  the  close  of  the  war 
was  known  as  the  First  Brigade  of  the  First  Division  Cav- 
alry Corps,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Companies  I  and  M,  which  had  been  operating  in  the 
Shenandoah  Valley  during  the  year  1863,  rejoined  the 
regiment  on  the  3d  of  May,  1864,  and  on  the  6th  of  that 
month  the  Michigan  brigade  was  in  the  midst  of  the  ter- 
rible battles  going  on  in  the  Wilderness.  As  victors,  it 
emerged  into  the  open  country  on  the  8th  of  May,  and  on 
the  morning  of  the  9th  started  with  Sheridan's  corps  on  a 
raid  to  the  rear  of  the  rebel  armies,  the  brigade  leading 
this  splendid  body  of  twelve  thousand  veteran  cavalrymen. 
The  Sixth  assisted  in  destroying  the  immen.se  rebel  depot 
of  supplies  at  Beaver  Dam  Station,  fought  in  the  thickest 
of  the  battle  at  Yellow  Tavern,  and  gained  imperishable 
honor  at  the  crossing  of  the  Chickahominy  at  Meadow 
Bridge.*  Again,  at  Hawes'  Shop,  on  the  28th  of  May, 
1864,  the  regiment  took  part  in  a  decisive  charge  on  the 
enemy's  lines.  After  a  severe  conflict  the  rebels  were 
forced  to  retire,  leaving  their  dead  and  wounded  on  the 
field.  The  Sixth  lost  heavily  in  this  engagement.  Of  its 
members  present,  one-fourth  were  either  killed  or  wounded 
in  less  than  ten  minutes. 

Engaging  in  the  raid  of  Sheridan's  forces  towards  Gor- 
donsville,  the  regiment,  on  the  11th  of  June,  participated 
in  the  battle  of  Trevillian  Station,  charging  the  enemy  re- 
peatedly, and  capturing  many  prisoners,  most  of  whom, 
however,  were  recaptured.  From  the  time  it  crossed  the 
Rapidan,  on  the  5th  of  May,  until  it  passed  the  James,  on 
the  28th  of  June,  the  regiment  lost  twenty-nine  men  killed, 
sixty  wounded,  and  sixty-four  missing. 

Early  in  August  the  Michigan  brigade,  with  others  of 
Sheridan's  command,  was  transferred  to  the  Shenandoah 
Valley,  where  it  took  an  active  part  in  all  the  skirmishes, 
battles,  marches,  and  counter-marches  that  occurred  during 
this  part  of  the  Shenandoah  campaign, — a  campaign  which 

*  See  history  of  Fifth  Cavalry. 


134 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES',  3IICIIIGAN. 


liad  made  the  names  of  Sheridan,  Winchester,  and  Cedar 
Creek  fiimous  from  one  end  of  the  country  to  the  other. 

The  actions  in  which  the  Sixth  participated  in  the  valley 
may  be  summarily  catalogued  as  those  of  Front  Royal, 
Leetown,  Smithfield,  Opequan  Creek,  Winchester,  Luray, 
Port  Republic,  Mount  Crawford,  Fisher's  Hill,  Woodstock, 
and  Cedar  Creek.  In  December,  1864,  it  went  into  winter- 
quarters  near  Winchester.  Its  total  list  of  killed  to  No- 
vember 1st  amounted  to  fifty-five,  while  forty-four  of  its 
members  had  died  of  disease. 

During  the  last  days  of  February,  1865,  the  regiment 
began  its  final  Virginia  campaign.  After  a  long  and  event- 
ful march  under  Sheridan,  during  which  it  helped  to  defeat 
the  rebel  Gen.  Rosser  at  Louisa  Court-House,  to  break  up 
the  Lynchburg  and  Gordonsville  Railroad,  and  to  destroy 
the  locks,  aqueducts,  and  mills  on  the  James  River  Canal, 
it  reached  White  House  Landing  on  the  19th  of  March, 
and  immediately  took  part  in  the  succession  of  brilliant 
triumphs  which  ended  at  Appomattox  Court-House  on  the 
9th  of  April,  1865.  After  the  surrender,  the  rebel  Gen. 
Pickett,  who  was  taken  prisoner  in  one  of  these  engage- 
ments, spoke  of  a  charge  made  by  this  regiment  which  he 
witnessed  as  being  the  "  bravest  he  had  ever  seen." 

After  participating  in  the  grand  review  held  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  May  28,  1865,  the  Michigan  brigade  was 
ordered,  vicL  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  and  the 
Ohio,  Mississippi,  and  Missouri  Rivers,  to  Fort  Leaven- 
worth, Kan.  At  that  point  the  Sixth  received  orders  to 
cross  the  Plains.  These  orders  produced  much  dissatisfac- 
tion among  its  members,  as  they,  with  all  other  volunteers, 
had  supposed  that  with  the  collapse  of  the  Rebellion  their 
services  would  no  longer  be  required.  Remembering,  how- 
ever, their  noble  record  as  a  regiment,  adhering  firmly  to 
the  high  degree  of  discipline  and  faithful  observance  of 
orders  which  had  ever  distinguished  them,  its  members 
marched  forward  by  way  of  Fort  Kearney  and  Julesburg 
to  Fort  Laramie. 

At  the  latter  point  the  regiment  was  divided  into  detach- 
ments by  order  of  Gen.  Connor.  One  was  to  form  a  part 
of  the  "  left  column.  Powder  River  expedition,"  one  was  to 
remain  at  Fort  Laramie,  while  another  was  to  escort  a  train 
to  the  Black  Hills. 

The  Powder  River  detachment,  on  reaching  that  stream, 
found  that  the  Indians,  of  whom  it  had  been  sent  in  pur- 
suit, had  managed  to  escape.  The  troops  then  built  the 
fort  since  known  as  Fort  Reno.  On  this  expedition  Capt. 
0.  F.  Cole,  of  Company  G,  lost  his  life  ;  having  heed- 
lessly ridden  a  long  distance  from  the  column,  he  was  sur- 
prised by  Indians  and  shot  to  death  with  arrows. 

From  Fort  Reno  a  small  detachment  was  sent  out  as  a 
train-guard  to  Virginia  City,  Montana.  Meeting  a  large  war- 
party  of  Arapahoe  Indians,  the  guard  was  "  corraled" — 
that  is,  surrounded  and  stopped — by  them  for  twelve  days. 
Gen.  Connor  was  finally  apprised  of  their  condition,  when 
reinforcements  were  sent  to  their  relief.  Sergt.  Hall,  of 
Company  L,  and  Private  Evans,  of  Company  F,  were 
the  brave  men  who  succeeded  in  conveying  the  intelligence 
to  Gen.  Connor.  They  traversed  a  distance  of  fifty  miles 
through  a  wild  and  to  them  unknown  country,  swarming 
■with  hostile  savages,  and  thereby  saved  the  detachment. 


On  the  17th  of  September,  in- pursuance  of  orders  issued 
by  Maj.-Gen.  Dodge,  the  men  of  the  Sixth  whose  term  of 
service  did  not  expire  before  Feb.  1,  1866,  were  consoli- 
dated with  the  First  IMichigaij  Cavalry,  and  the  rest  of  the 
regiment  was  ordered  to  Fort  Leavenworth,  Kan.  It  was 
there  mustered  out  of  service  Nov.  24,  1865,  and  on  the 
30th  of  the  same  month  it  arrived  at  Jackson,  Mich., 
where  its  members  received  final  pay  and  discharge-papers. 

BAERT  COUNTY  SOLDIEKS. 
Field  and  Staff. 
Q.-M.  W.  H.  Jewell,  Assyria ;  com.  Deo.  11, 18G4;  must,  out  Nov.  T,  1865.     (See 
Co.  K.) 

Non-Commisskmed  Stoff. 

Hosp.  Steward'  Benj.  R.  lU>se,  Carlton ;  enl.  Nov.  1, 1863  ;  disch.  by  order  from 
Co.  K,  May  3, 1866. 

Company  A, 

Andrew  L.  Baniuni,  died  in  action  at  Winchester,  Va.,  Sept.  19, 1864. 

Ctympany  B. 
Peter  Dunham,  disch.  by  order,  Dec.  4, 1865. 
Myndert  Yemans,  must,  out  March  10, 1866. 

%  Compantj  C. 

Thomas  Cowcll,  trans,  to  1st  Mich.  Cav.,  Not.  17, 1864. 
Andrew  J.  Fisher,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Feb.  17, 1866. 
Simson  D.  Inman,  must,  out  Feb.  17, 1866. 
George  M.  Jenliins,  trans,  to  Ist  Mich.  Cav.,  Nov.  17, 1864. 

Company  D. 
John  P.  Mallin,  trans,  to  1st  Mich.  Cav,,  Nov.  17, 1865. 
Andrew  Rogers,  must,  out  March  31, 1866. 

Company  E, 
Wilson  Perkins,  died  in  action  at  Beaver  Pond  Mills,  Va.,  April  4, 1865. 
Joseph  Smith,  trans,  to  1st  Mich.  Cav.,  Nov.  17, 1865. 

Convpany  F. 
Robert  McNee,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  July  1, 1863. 
Asa  Smith,  must,  out. 

Company  G. 
Daniel  Bowerman,  trans,  to  1st  Mich.  Cav.,  Nov.  17, 1865. 
Orriii  Clark,  must,  out  Feb.  10, 1866. 
George  W.  Cline,  must,  out  Feb.  15, 1866. 
James  V.  Judd,  disch.  Oct.  1, 1863. 

Company  H, 
Hiram  F.  Lawrence,  must,  out  Feb.  17, 1866. 

Thomas  Mayo,  died  of  disease  at  Andersonville  prison,  Ga.,  Oct.  9, 1864. 
Oliver  S.  Reed,  trans,  to  1st  Mich.  Cav. 

Company  K. 

1st  Lieut.  Peter  Cramer,  Woodland ;  com.  Aug.  26, 1862  ;  res.  Feb.  18, 1863. 

2d  Lieut.  Lewis  H.  Jordon,  Irving ;  com.  Sept.  26, 1862  ;  disch.  March  6, 1863. 

2d  Lieut.  Oortez  P.  PendiU,  Prairieville ;  com.  March  16,  1863 ;  enl.  as  1st 
sergt.,  Aug.  26, 1862;  res.  for  disability,  Sept.  16, 1S6I. 

Q.-M.  Sergt.  Chas.  W.  Taylor,  Maple  Grove;  enl.  Aug.  26,  1862;  discharged. 

Com.  Sergt.  H.  C.  Hemlershott,  Irving  ;  enl.  Oct.  11,  1862  j  trans,  to  Inv.  Corps, 
Jan.  15,  1864. 

Sergt.  Wm,  H.  Jewell,  Assyria;  enl.  Sept.  2, 1862;  pro.  to  regimental  quarter- 
master. 

Sergt.  Lorenzo  D.Cobb,  Yankee  Springs;  enl.  Sept.  8, 1862  ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut. 
Co.  L. 

Sergt.  Parley  H.  Rice,  Hope;  enl.  Sept.  7, 1862;  trans,  to  Vet. Res.  Corps ;  must, 
out  July  5, 1865. 

Sergt.  John  C.Dillon,  Maple  Grove;  enl.  Aug.  29, 1862;  disch.  for  disability, 
Jan.  28, 1865. 

Sergt.  Selden  B.  Norton,  Castleton  ;  enl.  Aug.  26,1862;  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 

Corp.  Jaa.  K.  Francisco,  Prairieville  ;  enl.  Sept.  2,  1862  ;  died  of  wounds,  Sept. 
26,  1864. 

Corp.  Mathew  Baird,  Hope;  enl.  Aug.  30, 1862;  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 

Corp.  John  L.  Williams,  Yankee  Springs ;  enl.  Sept.  20, 1862 ;  must,  out  July  7, 
1865. 

Corp.  Clifton  G.  Barnura,  Cariton  ;  enl.  Aug.  27,  1862;  died  of  disease  at  Fair- 
fax, Va.,  April  18, 1863. 

Corp.  Henry  C.  Rice,  Hope;  enl.  Sept.  7, 1862  ;  trans,  to  Inv.  Corps,  Jan.  15,1864. 

Corp.  Presley  W.  Hasklnson,  Yankee  Springs;  enl.  Sept.  20,  1862;  must,  out 
Nov.  24,  1865. 

Corp.  Milo  0.  West,  Hope;  eul.  Aug.  30, 1862  ;  died  of  disease,  Aug.  24, 1864. 

Musician  John  J.  Cobb,  Yankee  Springs ;  enl.  Sept.  8, 1862  ;  must,  out  Nov.  24, 
1866. 

Musician  Myron  Paul,  Thornapple ;  enl.  Sept.  8, 1862  ;  must,  out  July  25, 1866. 

Farr.er  Aaron  J.  Walker,  Irving;  enl.  Oct.  10,  1862 ;  trans,  to  Inv.  Corps,  Jan. 
16,  1864.  ^  ' 


THE   MICHIGAN   CAVALRY   BRIGADE. 


135 


Farrier  Jeremiah  B.iribaugh,  Gastleton ;  eni.  Oct.  10, 1862 ;  must,  out  Nov.  24, 

1865. 
Teamster  Anson  Gary,  Tiiornapple ;  enl.  Aug.  18,  1862 ;  discli.  for  disability, 

Sept.  26,  1863. 
Teamster  Samuel  Barton,  Irving ;  enl.  Aug.  30, 1862 ;  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865  . 
Wagoner  David  R.  Trego,  Irving;  enl.  Oct.  10, 1862;  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps, 

Jan.  3, 1864. 
Jacob  Alverson,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Gliften  Bowerman,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  D.  G. 
W.  H.  Brown,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  D.  0. 
David  Brown,  died  of  disease,  Jan.  8, 1864. 
Munson  Buclc,  missing  in  action  at  Hanover,  Pa.,  June  30, 1863. 
John  Beach,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Amos  Beach,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Stephen  P.  Barnum,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
William  B.  Bolton,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Qeorge  H.  Brownell,  died  of  wounds  received  at  Gettysburg,  Pa. 
Fredericlc  Bergman,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  April  10, 1864  . 
josiah  L.Campbell,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  2,  1863. 
Myron  Chamberlain,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  6, 1863. 
Norman  E.  Clark,  trans,  to  Ist  Mich.  Cav. 
Emerson  Cartwright,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Austin  W.  Clark,  must,  out  Nov.  19, 1865. 
Harquis  A.  Dowd,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
John  A.  Dennis,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
George  W.  Dart,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  11, 1863. 
Edward  Dacons,  died  of  disease,  Jan.  13, 1865. 
Amos  J.  Eggleston,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  30, 1863. 
Joseph  Fishburn,  died  of  disease  at  his  home,  Nov.  11, 1864. 
William  Gordon,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Feb.  15,  1864. 
Adam  Hart,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  D.  G. 
Benjamin  Heath, disch.  for  disability. 
Frederick  Hart,  disch.  for  disability.  May  15, 1865. 
James  H.  Hunt,  must,  out  June  12, 1865. 
John  Irwin,  must,  out  Nov.  24,  1865. 
Van  Rensselaer  Jones,  disch.  for  disability,  July  21, 1863. 
Lyman  C.  Jayquays,*  must,  out  June  30, 1866. 
Ira  Kelsej',  died  at  Newby's  Croas-Roads,  Va.,  July  24, 1863. 
Dewitt  G.  Kenyon,  must,  out  June  29, 1865. 
Jeremiah  Killmer,  must,  ont  Nov  24, 1865. 
jeffursoii  Kelley,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Jacob  Kahler,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Franklin  R.  Lewis,  must,  out  Nov.  24,  1865. 
Samuel  Murdock.  must,  out  June  20, 1865. 

Hiram  McCartney,  died  of  disease  at  Andersonville  prison,  Ga.,  March  29, 1864. 
Justin  W.  Miles,  must,  out  March  31, 1866. 
Edwin  Meads,  disch.  for  wounds,  April  6, 1864. 
John  A.  Miller,  disch.  for  wounds,  Oct.  5, 1864. 
Archibald  Murdock,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Oct. 12,  1865. 
Mark  Norris,  must,  out  March  31, 1866. 
Mason  Norton,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Levi  Presley,  must,  out  March  26, 1866. 
George  M.  Payne,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Samuel  Presley,  disch.  for  disaWlity. 

Jonathan  Smith,  died  at  Newby's  Cross-Roads,  Va.,  July  24, 1863. 
Albert  H.  Sidman,  disch.  for  disability. 
Justice  Smith,  reported  missing  in  action,  but  returned. 
Stephen  A.  Stanley,  trans,  to  Ist  Mich.  Cav. 
Robert  W.  Shriner,  must,  out  June  20, 1865. 
Russell  K.  Stanton,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Justin  A.  Smilh,  must,  out  July  10,  1865. 
Eber  A.  Stanley,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
Blisha  SkiUman,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
James  A.  Vandeohoten,  must,  out  June  13, 1865. 
L.  F.  Vester,  died  of  disease  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  Sept.  22, 1864. 
David  Way,  Jr.,  died  of  disease. 

Orvillo  Wheeler,  died  of  disease  in  Michigan,  Nov.  28, 1B64. 
Joel  0.  Wheeler,  disch.  for  disabilily,  Jan.  2, 1863. 
Lycurgus  J.  Wheeler,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Jan.  3, 1864. 
William  R.  Wheeler,  must,  out  March  10, 1866. 
Oscar  White,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Henry  A.  Ward,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 

Company  L. 
2d  Lieut.  Lorenzo  D.  Cobb,  Yankee  Springs ;  com.  Dec.  10, 1864  ;  must,  out  Nov. 

21,  1865. 
Martin  Babcock,  must,  out  Aug.  12, 1865. 
Jeremiah  Grandall,  must,  out  March  10, 1866. 
Alfred  Fraine,  trans,  to  Ist  Mich.  Cav.;  must,  out  March  25,  1866. 
Charles  Furness,  must,  out  July  6, 1865. 
Calvin  C.  Norton,  tnina.  to  Ist  Mich.  Cav.,  Nov.  17, 1865. 
Charles  Terry,  trans,  to  Ist  Mich.  Cav. 

Company  M. 
Sergt.  Silas  M.  Smith,  Irving;  enl.  Sept.  7, 1862 ;  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
J.  Q.  A.  Briggs,  trans,  to  1st  Mich.,Gav.  ^ 


*  Or  Jaques. 


Johnson  N.  Bowen,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 

Deloss  D.  Bassett,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 

Alfred  Flanders,  must,  out  June  30, 1866. 

Daniel  Hewitt,  must,  out  Nov,  24, 1865. 

John  Klock,  died  of  disease  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  Aug.  1, 1864. 

William  C.  Relly,  died  of  disease  at  Andersonville  prison,  Ga.,  Sept.  15, 1864. 

Robert  McNee,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  July  1, 1863. 

MEMBERS   FROM  ALLEGAN  COUNTY. 
i^H  <md  Staff. 
1st.  Lieut,  and  Adj.  Elliott  M.  Norton,  Wayland;  com.  Jan.  4, 1863;  2d  lieut. 
Co.  H,  Jan.  1, 1864;  trans,  to  Vet.  Cav.  Nov.  17, 1865;  must,  out  March 
10, 1866. 

Company  A. 

Merritt  G.  Mosher,  missing  in  action  at  Todd's  Tavern,  Va.,  May  6, 1864. 

Company  B. 
Sergt.  E.  M.  Norton.    (See  Field  and  Staff.) 
Edwin  E.  Whitney,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 

Company  B. 

Peter  J.  Alden,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 
John  Madison,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1865. 

Company  K. 
Versal  P.  Fales,  must  out  June  2, 1865. 
Justus  German,  must,  out  Nov.  24,  1865. 
Henry  F.  Haney,  must,  out  Oct.  24, 1865. 
Origen  Hamilton,  trans,  to  Ist  Mich.  Cav. 
Elisha  Inman,  supposed  killed  by  guerrillas. 
Wells  T.  Latourette,  must,  out  Nov.  24, 1866. 

SEVENTH  CAVALRY. 
This  regiment  numbered  among  its  members  sixty  offi- 
cers and  men  from  Barry  County,  and  less  than  a  dozen 
from  the  county  of  Allegan,  these  being  scattered  among 
all  its  companies,  except  G  and  L.  The  rendezvous  was  at 
Grand  Rapids,  where  the  regiment  was  organized  during 
the  fall  of  1862  and  the  ensuing  winter.  Two  battalions 
left  Grand  Rapids  for  the  seat  of  war  in  Virginia,  Feb. 
20,  1863,  and  were  joined  by  the  third  battalion  in  May 
following,  Col.  William  D.  Mann  being  in  command  of  the 
regiment. 

The  Seventh  was  assigned  to  the  Michigan  Cavalry 
Brisjade,  so  often  mentioned  already,  and  until  the  close  of 
the  war  participated  in  all  its  glory  and  renown.  It  took 
part  in  minor  actions  at  Thoroughfare  Gap,  Va.,  May  21, 
1863  ;  at  Greenwich,  Va.,  May  30th,  and  at  Hanover,  Pa., 
on  the  30th  of  June.  On  the  3d  of  July  at  Gettysburg 
it  was  very  hotly  engaged,  charging  the  enemy  repeatedly, 
and  having  fifty-seven  of  its  men  killed  and  wounded,  be- 
sides twelve  missing  and  twelve  taken  prisoners.  It  was 
also  engaged  at  Smithtown,  Md ,  July  6th  ;  at  Boonsboro', 
Md.,  July  6th  and  8th  ;  at  Hagerstown,  Md.,  July  6th  and 
10th  ;  at  Falling  Waters,  Md.,  July  14th  ;  at  Snicker's  Gap, 
Va.,  July  19th;  at  Kelly's  Ford,  Va.,  September  13th  ;  at 
Culpeper  Court-House,  Va.,  September  14th ;  at  Raccoon 
Ford,  Va.,  September  16th  ;  Brandy  Station^  Va.,  October 
13th,  and  others.  Ninety-two  men  were  killed  and  wounded 
in  action,  forty-six  were  reported  missing  in  action,  many 
of  whom  were  killed,  and  down  to  Nov.  1, 1863,  the  date  of 
making  that  report,  fifty  of  its  numbers  had  died  of  disease. 

During  the  winter  of  1863-64  the  Seventh  was  mostly 
employed  on  picket  duty  in  front  of  the  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac, but  resumed  more  active  service  on  the  28th  of 
February,  1864,  when  it  marched  with  its  brigade  on  the 
"  Kilpatrick  raid."  Arriving  before  Richmond  on  the  31st 
of  February,  it  was  placed  on  picket  the  following  night. 
Here  it  was  attacked  by  a  superior  force  of  the  enemy,  and, 
being  unsupported,  was  driven  back.    Forty-four  men  were 


13t) 


HISTORY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


reported  missing,  among  whom  was  the  commander  of  the 
regiment,  Lieut.-Col.  A.  C.  Litchfield.  The  command  soon 
marched  to  Yorktown,  whence  it  proceeded  by  transports  to 
Alexandria,  Va. 

Having  crossed  the  Rapidan  with  the  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac on  the  5th  of  May,  the  regiment  set  out  on  the  9th 
in  Gen.  Sheridan's  movement  against  the  enemy's  com- 
munications. On  the  11th  it  was  in  the  battle  of  Yellow 
Tavern  ;  charging  the  enemy's  cavalry  and  driving  it  from 
the  field,  and  having  eighteen  of  its  own  men  killed  and 
wounded.  The  operations  of  the  Michigan  Cavalry  Brigade 
on  that  raid  have  been  mentioned  in  the  sketch  of  the  Fifth 
Cavalry,  previously  given,  and  the  Seventh  took  its  full 
share  in  them  all. 

After  rejoining  the  army  it  attacked  the  rebel  cavalry 
on  the  27th  of  May,  charging  and  driving  one  of  their 
brigades  several  miles,  and  capturing  forty-one  men.  The 
next  day  it  was  in  a  fight  at  Hawes'  Shop,  where  fourteen 
of  its  men  were  killed  and  wounded.  It  also  took  part  in 
the  attack  on  the  enemy's  works  at  Cold  Harbor  on  the 
30th  of  May,  fighting  dismounted  in  advance  of  the  in- 
fantry. 

With  the  rest  of  the  Michigan  brigade  and  other  regi- 
ments, it  then  moved,  under  Gen.  Sheridan,  towards  Gor- 
donsville,  and  on  the  11th  and  12th  of  June  had  a  hard 
cavalry  fight  at  Trevillian  Station,  losing  twenty-nine  killed 
and  wounded  during  the  conflict.  On  the  first  day  of  the 
fight  a  small  squad  of  the  Seventh  recaptured  from  a  large 
force  of  the  rebels  a  piece  of  artillery  which  had  been  taken 
from  a  Union  battery. 

The  command  then  returned  to  the  main  army,  and  on 
the  31st  of  July  the  Michigan  brigade  set  out  for  Wash- 
ington and  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  On  the  16th  of 
August  the  Seventh  Cavalry  was  in  the  battle  of  Crooked 
Run,  where  it  had  twelve  men  killed  and  wounded,  and 
where,  according  to  the  official  report,  "  one  battalion 
charged  a  brigade  of  rebel  cavalry,  routing  them  and  cap- 
turing nearly  a  hundred  prisoners." 

On  the  25th  of  August  it  was  engaged  near  Shepherds- 
town,  with  slight  loss.  On  the  29th,  its  division  being  at- 
tacked by  infantry  in  force,  it  covered  the  retreat  to  Smith- 
field,  having  fourteen  killed  and  wounded. 

On  the  19th  of  September  the  regiment  was  warmly 
engaged  in  the  battle  of  Opequan  Creek.  It  charged 
across  that  stream,  drove  the  enemy  from  the  bank,  advanced 
and  aided  in  driving  him  at  headlong  speed  through  the 
town  of  Winchester.  Twenty-three  officers  and  men  were 
killed  and  woanded  in  the  Seventh ;  among  the  mortally 
wounded  being  its  commander,  Lieut.-Col.  Melvin  Brewer. 
Five  days  later  the  regiment  was  in  another  combat  at 
Luray,  driving  the  enemy  back  in  great  confusion,  and 
capturing  sixty  prisoners. 

On  the  9th  of  October  the  Seventh  took  part  with  its 
corps  in  routing  the  rebel  cavalry  under  Gen.  Rosser.  Ten 
days  later,  at  Cedar  Creek,  while  the  regiment  was  on  picket, 
the  enemy,  by  a  sudden  attack,  broke  through  the  line  of 
the  Union  infantry  and  struck  it  in  the  rear.  It  made 
good  its  retreat,  however,  without  serious  loss.  When 
Sheridan  galloped  up  from  Winchester  and  retrieved  the 
fortunes  of  the  day,  the  Seventh  Michigan  Cavalry  took 


an  active  part  in  the  conflict,  and  in  the  final  charge  which 
drove  the  foe  in  confusion  from  the  field  it  captured  about 
one  hundred  prisoners. 

During  the  year  ending  Nov.  1,  1864,  the  regiment  had 
had  no  less  than  one  hundred  and  fifty-nine  officers  and 
men  killed  and  wounded, — a  very  heavy  loss  for  a  cavalry 
regiment. 

The  Seventh  remained  in  camp  near  Winchester  most  of 
the  time  until  the  27th  of  February,  1865,  when  it  moved 
up  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  with  its  corps,  to  take  part  in 
Gen.  Sheridan's  celebrated  march  to  the  James  River.  On 
the  8th  of  March  the  regiment  aided  in  routing  a  portion 
of  Rosser's  cavalry  near  Louisa  Court-House,  and  captur- 
ing the  town.  After  destroying  a  large  part  of  the  Lynch- 
burg and  Gordonsville  Railroad,  and  the  locks,  aqiieducts, 
and  mills  on  the  James  River  Canal,  the  command  reached 
White  House  Landing  on  the  19th  of  March,  and  was 
soon,  with  the  cavalry  corps,  established  on  the  left  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  The  Seventh  took  an  active  part 
in  the  battle  of  Five  Forks,  and  was  engaged  with-  the 
enemy  almost  till  the  moment  of  Lee's  surrender  at  Appo- 
mattox. 

After  a  short  stay  in  North  Carolina  the  Michigan  bri- 
gade returned  to  Washington,  and  thence  proceeded  to 
Fort  Leavenworth,  whence  it  was  ordered  to  cross  the 
Plains  and  operate  against  the  hostile  Indians.  There  was 
much  bitterness  felt  by  the  men  at  this  extension  of  their 
service  to  another  field  from  what  was  originally  intended. 
Nevertheless,  they  crossed  the  Plains  to  the  Rock^  Moun- 
tains, and  were  employed  until  November  in  guarding  the 
overland  stage-route  from  the  Indians.  About  the  1st  of 
November  the  regiment  transferred  two  hundred  and  fifty 
men,  whose  term  extended  beyond  March  1,  1866,  to  the 
First  Michigan  ;  the  remainder  of  the  regiment  returning 
to  Fort  Leavenworth,  and  being  there  mustered  out  of  the 
service.  It  was  paid  ofi"  and  disbanded  at  Jackson,  Mich., 
on  the  25th  of  December,  1866. 

BAEKY   COUNTY  MEMBERS. 
Field  and  Staff. 
Surg.  Wm.  Upjohn,  Haetiugs;  com.  Nov.  1, 1863;  must,  out  Dec.  16, 1865. 
1st  Lieut,  and  Com'y  James  W.  Bentley,  Haatings;  com.  Oct.  15, 1862 ;  must. 

out  Deo.  16,  1865. 
Hosp.  Steward  Geoige  A.  Smith,  Hastings;  appointed  Nov.  14, 1862;  disoh.  by 
order.  May  3,  1865. 

Company  A. 
Henry  Allen,  must,  out  DecM6, 1866. 
Marshall  BiUinger,  must,  out  Deo.  15, 1866. 
James  Barber,  must,  out  Dec.  15, 1805. 
Charles  Cook,  must,  out  Dec.  15, 1865. 

Edgar  A.  Clark,  died  of  disease  at  Littlo  Blue,  Neb.,  July  5, 1865. 
Edward  H.  Harvey,  disch.  by  order,  Dec.  22, 1864. 
Alexander  McNeal,  must,  out  Dec.  15, 1866. 
Edgar  Nye,  must,  out  Dec.  15, 1866. 

Company  B. 
Alfred  Davis,  must,  out  March  10, 1866. 

Company  C 
James  Thomas,  must,  out  Dec.  16, 1865. 

Company  D. 
.lames  F.  Saddler,  must,  out  July  14, 1805. 

Company  E. 
James  Dawson,  trans,  to  1st  Mich.  Cav.  Nov.  17, 1865. 
Charles  E.  Hyde,  diseh.  from  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Aug.  7,  1865. 
Jacob  D.  Hendrick,  disch.  from  Vet.  Res.  Coris,  Aug.  2, 1865. 


EIGHTH,  TENTH,  AND   ELEVENTH  CAVALRY,  ETC. 


137 


Company  F. 
Sergt.  Harmon  Smith,  Prairievillo;  pro.  2d  litut.  Dec.  12,1865;  must,  out  as 

sergt.  Dec.  15, 1865. 
.Tames  BlancliHrd,  died  of  disease  in  Andcrsonville  prison,  Ga.,  Sept.  15, 1864. 
CliarlcB  H.  Bergman,  must,  out  March  10, 1866. 
John  L.  Chandler,  must,  out  March  10, 1866. 
Eugene  Cooper,  trans,  to  Ist  Mich.  Cav,  Nov,  17, 1865, 
!R,  Cone,  died  of  disease  at  Jacltson,  Mich,,  May  18, 1864. 
Daniel  Eldridge,  must,  out  March  10, 1866. 
James  Henry,  must,  out  Marcii  10, 1866, 

Isaac  0,  Howe,  died  of  disease  at  Andersonville  prison,  Ga,,  Nov,  17, 1864, 
Charles  J,  Jenner,  trans,  to  let  Mich,  Cav,  Nov,  17, 1865, 
Hobert  A,  Kelly,  must,  out  March  10, 1866. 
Thomas  H.  McLeod,  trans,  to  Vet.  Kes.  Corps. 
Alexander  F.  Mcintosh,  trans,  to  Yet.  Kes.  Corps,  Jan.  15, 1864. 
Jolin  M.  Peclc,  died  of  disease. 

Peleg  T.  Phelps,  died  of  disease  at  York,  Pa,,  Aug,  27, 1864, 
0,  F,  Ralph,  died  in  action  at  Falling  Waters,  Md,,  July  14, 1863, 
Norman  Rugglep,  disch,  for  disaliility.  Sept,  14, 1863, 
Joseph  F,  Trenchard,  disch,  for  disability,  June  24, 1865. 
Joy  S,  Terry,  disch,  for  disability,  Oct,  13, 1863, 
Peter  Wilbert,  disch,  for  disability.  Sept,  14, 1863, 
George  L,  Wilcox,  must,  ont  July  11, 1865, 
Job  J,  Williams,  died  of  disease  at  Alexandria,  Va,,  July  25, 1863. 

Company  H. 
W.  0.  Bush,  must,  out  March  10, 1866. 
Edwin  Bissell,  must,  out  June  2, 1865. 
Perry  G.  Fisher,  must,  out  March  10, 1866. 
Byron  Fisher,  must,  out  June  24, 1865. 
Bobinson  Norwood,  must,  out  July  25, 1865. 
Milton  F.  Nottingham,  trans,  to  1st  Mich.  Cav.  Nov.  17, 1865. 
Loeki  0.  Peck,  trans,  to  Ist  Mich,  Cav,  March  10, 1866, 
William  Shean,  died  of  disease  at  Brandy  Station,  Va,,  March  10, 1864, 
Irvin  Tenejck,  missing  in  action  at  Cedar  Creek,  Va,,  Oct,  19, 1864, 

Company  L 
Robert  Strong,  discharged  April  24, 1863, 

Company  K. 
Q,M.-Sergt.  Fitch  M.  Searles,  Orangeville;  enl.  Dec.  27, 1862 ;  must,  out  Jan. 

26,  1866. 
Corp,  William  W,  Bitgood,  Orangeville;  disch,  for  disability,  Aug,  3, 1863. 
Blacksmith  Jesse  G,  Sprague,  Hastings ;  trans,  to  Inv,  Corps,  Nov,  1, 1863, 
J»mes  Campbell,  missing  in  action  at  Boonshoro',  Md,,  July  8, 1863, 
Oliver  Chalker,  must,  out  March  6, 1866, 
Frederick  Hahn,  must,  out  March  6, 1866. 
Edward  Leslie,  must,  out  July  12, 1865. 
Colburn  Osgood,  must,  out  March  6, 18G6. 
Hugh  Smith,  trans,  to  Ist  Mich.  Cav.,  Nov.  17,1865. 
John  L.  Young,  must,  out  March  6, 1866. 

Compcmy  M. 
Erastus  Havens,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  April  10, 1864. 

MEN  FROM  ALLEGAN  COUNTY  IN  THE  SEVENTH  CAVALRY. 
Company  D, 
D.  Eldridge,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  6, 1863. 

Qympany  F. 
Irving  James,  trans,  to  1st  Mich.  Cav. 

Company  K. 
Samuel  B.  Delaney,  must,  ont  March  20, 1866. 
George  R.  McHenry,  must,  out  Dec.  15, 186,5. 
Sidney  R.  Prentiss,  died  of  disease  at  Baltimore,  Sept.  24, 1864. 

Company  J. 
William  H.  Kirshner,  must,  out  Dec.  16, 1865. 
Nelson  J.  Kendall,  must,  out  Dec.  15, 1865. 

Compa^vy  K. 
Joseph  Staley,  trans,  to  Ist  Mich.  Cav. 

Company  M. 
John  Will,  trans,  to  Ut  Mich.  Cav. 


CHAPTER    XXXIL 

BIQHTH,  TENTH,  AND  ELEVENTH  CAV  ALKY,  Etc. 

Organization  of  the  Eighth — Company  P  from  Allegan  County — Offi- 
cers from  the  Two  Counties — Service  in  Kentucky — Routing  Mor- 
gan at  Buffington's  Island— Hard  Marching — Services  in  East 
Tennessee — Back  to  Kentucky  on  Foot — Remounted — Joins  Sher- 
man at  Kenesaw — Services  in  the  Atlanta  Campaign — Surrounded, 
but  breaks  out — -Afterwards  surprised  and  routed — -Those  who 
escaped  sent  to  Nashville — Fighting  Hood — The  End — Officers 
and  Soldiers  from  Allegan  County — From  Barry  County — The 
Tenth  Cavalry — On  Duty  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee — Engage- 
ment at  Carter's  Station — At  Butt's  Gap — The  Summer  of  1864 
— Routing  and  Killing  Morgan — Expedition  to  Saltville,  Va. — 
Expedition  into  North  Carolina — Hard  Marching  and  Fight — . 
Fight  at  Henry  Court-House — Victory  at  Salisbury,  N.  C— Barry 
County  Soldiers — Allegan  County  Soldiers. 

EIGHTH   CAVALKY. 

This  regiment,  the  rendezvous  of  which  was  at  Mount 
Clemens,  was  recruited  during  the  fall  of  1862  and  the 
winter  following,  but  did  not  take  the  field  until  May,  1863, 
when,  with  one  thousand  one  hundred  and  seventeen  offi- 
cers and  men,  it  proceeded  to  Kentucky.  Allegan  and 
Barry  Counties  were  well  represented  in  the  Eighth ;  the 
former  county  furnishing  almost  all  of  Company  P,  which 
was  recruited  by  Capt.  (afterwards  Col.)  Elisha  Mix,  of 
Manlius.  Asst.-Surg.  Samuel  D.  Toby,  of  Ganges ;  Adjt. 
Homer  Manvel,  of  Saugatuck ;  Second  Lieut.  Miles  Horn, 
of  Otsego ;  Capt.  John  E.  Babbitt,  of  Allegan  County ; 
and  First  Lieut..  Adrian  L.  Cook,  of  Hastings,  were  also 
.conspicuous  officers  of  this  regiment.  Martin  Cook,  of 
Allegan,  was  a  hospital  steward. 

From  Covington,  Ky.,  the  regiment  entered  upon  active 
service  on  the  1st  of  June,  1863,  and  between  that  time 
and  August  10th,  in  that  year,  marched  twelve  hundred 
and  forty-two  miles,  exclusive  of  over  sixteen  hundred  miles 
marched  by  detachments  of  the  regiment  while  scouting, 
etc.  It  was  first  engaged  with  the  enemy  on  the  Triplet, 
Kentucky,  and  Salt  Rivers,  and  at  Lebanon,  Ky.  When 
the  rebel  Gen.  John  H.  Morgan  made  his  celebrated  raid 
through  the  States  of  Kentucky,  Indiana,  and  Ohio,  the 
Eighth  was  one  of  the  foremost  in  the  chase,  and,  hanging 
closely  on  his  flanks  and  rear,  at  length  brought  him  to  bay 
at  Buffington  Island,  Ohio.  Here,  on  the  19th  of  July,  1863, 
it  immediately  attacked  and  routed  his  forces ;  capturing 
two  hundred  and  seventeen  prisoners,  besides  killing  and 
wounding  many  others.  Twice  during  this  pursuit  of 
Morgan  the  regiment  marched  forty-eight  hours,  halting 
but  twice  on  each  occasion,  and  then  only  for  a  few  min- 
utes. At  another  time  the  chase  was  kept  up  for  twenty- 
four  hours,  without  stopping  to  feed  and  rest  but  once. 

From  Buffington  Island  the  regiment  returned  to  Ken- 
tucky, where  it  fought  and  defeated  Scott's  rebel  cavalry. 
In  August  it  advanced  with  the  Union  forces  into  East 
Tennessee.  At  Calhoun  and  Athens,  Tenn.,  on  the  26th 
and  27th  of  September,  the  brigade  to  which  it  was  at- 
tached was  attacked  and  defeated  by  a  rebel  force  of  some 
ten  thousand  men,  commanded  by  Forrest  and  Wheeler. 
The  Unionists  retreated  to  Loudon  ;  the  Eighth  having  suf- 
fered a  loss  of  forty-three  men,  killed  and  wounded,  besides 
several  missing. 


18 


138 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN   AND   BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Until  the  early  part  of  February,  1864,  the  regiment 
was  very  actively  engaged  marching  and  skirmishing  up 
and  down  the  valleys  of  the  Tennessee  and  Holston  Rivers. 
It  had  also  engaged  in  all  the  operations  termed  the  "  siege 
of  Knoxville,"  pursued  Longstreet's  retreating  army,  and 
fought  him  at  Bean's  Station,  Dandridge,  and  Strawberry 
Plains.  On  the  3d  of  February  the  regiment  moved  to 
Knoxville,  transferred  its  horses  to  the  quartermaster's  de- 
partment, and  thence  marched  on  foot  to  Mount  Sterling, 
Ky.,  a  tedious  tramp  of  more  than  two  hundred  miles  over 
the  Cumberland  Mountains. 

It  was  there  remounted,  and  on  the  28th  of  June  joined 
Gen.  Sherman's  army  in  front  of  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Ga. 
On  the  march  from  Mount  Sterling  the  regiment  had 
scoured  the  country  bordering  the  railroad  ;  capturing  one 
hundred  and  forty  prisoners.  Forming  part  of  Gen.  Stone- 
man's  cavalry  force,  it  covered  the  right  of  Gen.  Sherman's 
infantry  during  the  crossing  of  the  Chattahoochie  and  the 
advance  on  Atlanta.  It  participated  in  the  Campbelltown 
and  Macon  raids  in  July,  1864,  and  a  detachment  of  the 
Eighth  succeeded  in  capturing  and  destroying  three  rail- 
road-trains loaded  with  rebel  stores. 

In  the  latter  raid,  at  Clinton,  Ga.,  July  31st,  the  forces 
commanded  by  Gen.  Stoneman  were  surrounded  by  a  supe- 
rior force  of  the  enemy,  and  he  ultimately  surrendered,  but 
prior, to  that  time  the  Eighth,  having  obtained  permission, 
charged  through  the  enemy's  ranks  and  endeavored  to 
reach  the  Union  lines  near  Atlanta.  On  the  3d  of  August, 
however,  being  nearly  worn  out  with  seryice,  having  been 
in  the  saddle  with  little  or  no  rest  or  sleep  for  seven  days 
and  eight  nights,  it  was  surprised  and  routed  by  the  enemy 
with  heavy  loss;  losing  two  hundred  and  fifteen  officers  and 
men,  mostly  taken  prisoners.  The  remainder  of  the  regi- 
ment was  employed  on  picket  duty  until  the  middle  of 
September,  1864,  when  it  was  ordered  to  Nicholasville,  Ky., 
and  then  back  to  Nashville,  where  it  arrived  on  the  26th  of 
October. 

The  Eighth  was  engaged  through  the  month  of  No- 
vember, skirmishing  with  the  cavalry  advance  of  Hood's 
army,  being  several  times  surrounded  by  the  enemy,  but 
always  managing  to  cut  its  way  out.  Alter  Hood  was  de- 
feated at  Franklin  and  Nashville  and  driven  out  of  Tennes- 
see, this  regiment  had  no  service  more  severe  than  that  of 
suppressing  the  guerrilla  bands  who  still  infested  the  coun- 
try. In  July  the  Eleventh  Cavalry  was  consolidated  with 
the  Eighth,  the  combined  regiment  retaining  the  latter 
name.  It  was  mustered  out  of  the  United  States  service 
at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Sept.  22,  1865,  and  was  soon  after 
paid  oflF  and  disbanded  at  Jackson,  Mich. 

OFFICEES  AND  SOLDIEKS  FKOM  ALLEGAN  COUNTY. 

Field  and  Staf. 

Col.  Eliaha  Mix,  ManliuH;  com.  Dec.  3^864 ;  lieiit.-col.,  April  16,1864;  miij., 

March  2, 1863  ;  must,  out  with  regt.,  Sept.  22, 1865.    (See  Co.  1".) 
Asst.-Surg,  Samuel  D.  Toby,  Ganges;  com.  July  20, 1864;  must,  out  July  20, 

1865. 
1st  Lieut,  and  Adj.  Homer  Manvel,  Saugatuck ;  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

NoiirOommisBioned  Staff. 
Hosp.-Steward  Martin  Cook,  Allegan  ;  enl.  March  16, 1865;  must,  out  Sept.  22, 
1865. 

Company  A. 

Z.  W.  Hopkins,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Gordon  B.  Kust,  must,  out  June  10,  1865. 


Company  B. 
DaTid  M.  Austin,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
James  Fuller,  must,  out  June  10, 1S65. 
Delos  AV.  Hare,  must,  out  June  10, 186.5. 

Charles  0.  Hicks,  missing  in  action  in  Tennessee,  Nov.  23,  1804. 
William  Jones,  must,  out  June  10,  1865. 
William  Pratt,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
James  B.  Rhodes,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
William  H.  Rhodes,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
William  H.  Randall,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Truman  Smith,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Charles  C.  Wailen,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Edwin  C.  Wailen,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Fernando  Yemens,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 

Company  C, 
Sylvester  Farnsworth,  must,  out  June  6, 1865. 

Com/pany  E. 
2d  Lieut.  Miles  Horn,  Otsego;  com.  Jan.  1, 1863;  died  of  disease  at  Kalamazoo, 

Sept.  8, 1865. 
W.  D.  Austin,  must,  out  Sept.  25, 1865. 
Frederick  E.  Grant,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Charles  H.  Harper,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Joseph  L.  Payne,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Elisha  B.  Pratt,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
George  Whitney,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Hiram  Winters,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Company  F. 

Capt.  Elisha  Mix,  Manlins;  com.  Nov.  1, 1862.    (See  Field  and  StafT.) 

Ist  Lieut.  John  B.  Babbitt,  com.  Nov.  1, 1862;  pro.  to  capt.  Co.  I,  Aug.  31, 1863. 

Q.M.-Sergt.  Homer  Manvel,  Saugatuck;  enl.  Nov,  28,  1862;  pro.  to  2d  lieut. 
Co.  H. 

Sergt.  Jolin  McDowel1,-Casco ;  enl.  Dec.  4, 1862 ;  died  in  Anderson ville  prison  , 
June  28, 1864. 

Sergt.  Miles  Horn,  Otsego ;  enl.  Jan.  1, 1863 ;  pro.  to  2d  lieut.  Co.  E. 

Sergt.  Byron  Teal,  Cheshire  ;  enl.  Nov.  22, 1862  ;  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Corp.  Richard  A.  Follett,  Gangps ;  enl.  Dec.  20, 1862. 

Corp.  Timothy  S.  Cook,  Casco ;  enl.  Dec.  20, 1862 ;  trans,  to  navy.  May  12, 1864. 

Corp.  James  Buyce,  Casco ;  enl.  Dec.  20,  1862 ;  died  of  disease  at  Paris,  Ky., 
April  12, 1864. 

Corp.  Stephen  Fairbanks,  Fillmore;  enl.  Dec.  29, 1862;  died  of  disease  at  Alle- 
gan, Jan.  21, 1865. 

Teamster  Elisha  J.  H.  Walker,  Ganges;  must,  out  June  19,  1865. 

Teamster  John  Wilson,  Otsego ;  discharged. 

Farrier  Charles  E.  Tompkins,  Otsego;  must,  out  Sept,  22, 1865. 

Sol.  J.  Andrews,  died  of  disease  at  Chattanooga,  Aug.  R,  1864. 

John  Avery,  disch.  July  28, 1863. 

Samuel  Brown,  disch.  for  disability,  July  16, 1861. 

W.  Bidwell,  died  of  disease  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  Sept.  19, 1864. 

diaries  D.  Bristol,  disch.  Ity  order,  June  26, 1865. 

J.  B,  Brinkhart,  died  of  disease  in  Iowa. 

Walter  Billings,  disch.  for  disability,  June  15, 1865. 

Randall  Billings,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 

John  Blossom,  must,  out  Sept,  22, 1865, 

William  Bailey,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

George  H.  Buchanan,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Jacob  R,  Boas,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 

Jay  F.  Barker,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

George  H.  Cushman,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 18G5. 

Jacob  Corwin,  must,  out  Sept.  19, 1865. 

Charles  Emmons,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

George  H.  Engles,  must,  out  Sept.  22,  1865. 

Seneca  L.  Everts,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 

Isaac  Foster,  must,  out  Sept.  22,  1865. 

Michael  Gilligan,  disch.  for  disability,  June  15, 1865, 

Charles  Hawkins,  discharged. 

William  H.  Howe,  died  of  disease  at  Annapolis,  March  23, 1865. 

John  C.  Haines,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  March  28, 1865. 

Norman  P.  Haines,  must,  out  Sept.  22,  1865. 

Lewis  Huntley,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Seth  Hinds,  must,  out  May  25, 1865. 

George  E.  Kinney,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

William  H.  Kinney,  must,  out  Sept.  22,  1865. 

John  A.  Kinney,  killed  on  Mississippi  River  steamer,  April  15, 1865. 

Edward  Lindsley,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Joseph  B.  Morris,  disch.  by  order.  May  18, 1865. 

Thomas  J.  Mills,  disch.  by  order,  July  20, 1865. 

Matthew  Orr,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

William  H.  Parrish,  must,  out  June  1(1, 1865. 

Cliarles  Powers,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Stephen  Powers,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  20, 1863. 

William  Pryor,  died  of  disease  in  Tennessee,  Aug.  9, 1864. 

Harold  Sherman,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

William  U.  Thompson,  died  in  Andersonville  prison-pen,  Aug  23, 1864. 

Reuben  Thomas,  disch.  by  order,  July  3, 1866. 


EIGHTH,  TENTH,  AND  ELEVENTH   CAVALRY,  ETC. 


139 


John  M.  Wenver,  disch.  by.order,  July  30, 1864. 

Nathaniel  Wellman,  disch.  for  dieability.  May  27, 186B. 

John  J.  Willertou,  missing  iu  action  on  raid  to  Macon,  Ga,,  Aug.  4, 1S64. 

James  Wassou,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Company  H, 
2d  Lieut.  Homer  Manvel,  Saugatuck ;  com.  Nov.  20, 1864 ;  pro.  to  1st  lieut.  aud 

adjt. 
Charles  W.  Holmes,  must,  out  .Tune  10, 1865. 
Samuel  W.  Kendall,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Charles  J.  Seigner,  died  of  disease  in  Indiana,  Jan.  28, 1865. 
James  Stanton,  died  of  disease  in  Tennessee,  March  25, 1865. 
Richard  Williams,  disch.  by  order,  May  29, 1865. 

Company  I. 
Capt.  John  E.  Babbitt,  honorably  discharged,  Dec.  27, 1864. 
James  T.  Bentley,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
James  Bassett,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
George  Collins,  mutt,  out  June  13, 1865. 
rhilo  L.  Edson,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Enoch  Howe,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Timothy  V.  Haigbt,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
George  W.  Knapp,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Martin  Munzer,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Marshall  Meriker,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1866. 
George  W.  Lawrence,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Theodore  Larkins,  died  in  Andersonville  priaon-pen,  Jan.  22, 1865. 
George  E.  Patten,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Beuben  A.  Putnam,  nmst.  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
OrviUe  J.  Whitlock,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Company  E. 
Bergt.  Charles  D.  Gray,  2d  lieut. ;  pro.  April  25,1866;  not  mustered;  died  of 

wounds  at  Pulaski,  Tenn.,  April  30, 1865. 
Warren  Collins,  died  of  disease  at  Annapolis,  March  S,  1865. 
Joseph  Simmers,  died  in  Andersonville  prison-pen. 
William  Tudehope,  disch.  by  order.  May  31, 1866. 
Samuel  S.  Thomas,  disch.  for  promotion,  Sept.  26, 1864. 

CoTnpany  L. 
Isaac  A.  McCarthy,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1866. 
James  H.  SMitb,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 18G5. 

Company  M. 

Hiram  Annis,  must,  out  May  17, 1866. 

Bcujamin  Boss,  died  of  disease  at  Chattanooga,  June  28, 1864. 

OFFICEKS  AND  SOLDIEES  FKOM  BARRY  COUNTY. 
Company  A. 
Kusaell  E.  Benedict,  died  of  disease  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Feb.  23, 1865. 
Reuben  W.  Norton,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Company  B. 
Frank  O.  Clark,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1866. 

Company  D. 
William  H.  Eaton,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Company  E. 
Isaac  Albrough,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1866. 
William  Berringer,  disch.  by  order,  Sept.  21, 1865. 

Company  G. 
Levi  Breese,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 

Company  I. 
Ell  Booth,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 

Company  K. 
W.  W.  Crowfoot,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

C<ympany  L. 
1st  Lieut.  Adrian  L.  Cook,  Hastings  ;  com.  Jan.  8, 1865  ;  must,  out  Sept.  22,  '66. 
Marquis  D.  L.  Crapo,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Dewitt  C.  Dodge,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Henry  C.  Downs,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Nathan  Eaton,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Silas  Hewett,  must,  out  May  18, 1865. 

Andrew  Hathaway,  died  of  disease  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Dec.  26,  1864. 
John  Johnson,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
Simon  Mathews,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
George  H.  Robinson,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  24, 1865. 
John  Vredenbnrgh,  must,  out  June  10, 1865. 
John  W.  Willard,  must,  out  June  10, 1863. 

Company  M. 
Sergt  Adrian  L.  Cook,  Hastings;  pro.  2d  lieut. 
Jacob  K.  Ennis,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 


TENTH  CAVALEY. 
The  Tenth  Regiment  of  Michigan  Cavalry  was  recruited 
during  the  fall  of  1863,  its  rendezvous  being  at  the  city  of 
Grand  Rapids.  Among  the  many  counties  represented  in 
the  organization  were  those  of  Allegan  and  Barry,  but 
neither  had  a  full  company  in  its  ranks. 

With  a  force  of  nine  hundred  and  twelve  o£Scers  and 
men,  commanded  by  Col.  Thaddeus  Foote,  the  regiment 
left  its  rendezvous  on  the  1st  of  December,  1863,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  Lexington,  Ky.,  whence  it  marched,  on  the 
13th  of  that  month,  to  Camp  Nelson.  During  most  of  the 
winter  of  1863-64 .  it  was  on  duty  at  Burnside  Point, 
Knoxville,  and  Strawberry  Plains,  Tenn. 

On  the  24th  of  April  it  was  ordered  to  Carter's  Station 
for  the  purpose  of  destroying  the  bridge  over  the  Wautaga 
River,  but  failed  in  consequence  of  the  enemy  being  in 
force  and  occupying  an  intrenched  position.  In  the  en- 
gagement which  ensued  the  Tenth  lost  eleven  men  killed 
and  wounded  and  three  missing. 

On  the  28th  of  May  a  detachment  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  men  of  the  regiment,  while  engaged  in  a  reconnois- 
sance  to  Bull  Gap  and  Greenville,  encountered  a  superior 
force  of  the  enemy,  whom  they  put  to  rout ;  killing  and 
wounding  a  large  number,  besides  capturing  thirty  pris- 
oners and  a  number  of  horses  and  mules. 

During  the  summer  of  1864  the  regiment  was  actively 
engaged  in  various  parts  of  East  Tennessee,  and  with  vary- 
ing success  fought  the  enemy  at  White  Horn,  Morristown, 
Bean's  Station,  Rogersville,  Kingsport,  Cany  Branch,  New 
Market,  Moseburg,  Williams'  Ford,  Dutch  Bottom,  Sevier- 
ville,  Newport,  Greenville,  Mossy  Creek,  Bull  Gap,  Blue 
Spring,  Strawberry  Plains,  Flat  Creek  Bridge,  Sweet- 
Water,  Tliornhill,  Jonesboro',  and  Carter's  Station.  On 
the  4th  of  September  the  regiment  participated  in  the  sur- 
prise and  rout  of  Gen.  John  H.  Morgan's  forces  at  Green- 
ville, Tenn.  In  this  engagement  Gen.  Morgan  was  killed 
and  his  staflF  and  a  large  number  of  his  men  captured. 

To  Nov.  1,  1864,  the  regiment  had  lost  in  killed  and 
wounded  fifty-seven  ;  missing  in  action,  forty-four  ;  by  de- 
sertions, ninety-six ;  while  the  large  number  of  one  hundred 
and  forty  had  died  of  disease. 

In  December  the  Tenth  joined  in  the  expedition  to 
Saltville,  Va.,  and  assisted  in  destroying  the  salt-works  at 
that  point.  It  also  fought  the  enemy  at  Kingsport,  Bris- 
tol, and  Chucky  Bend,  Tenn. 

Returning  to  Knoxville,  its  brigade  soon  after  marched 
with  Ge»  Stoneman  in  his  raid  into  North  Carolina.  The 
regiment  was  engaged  with  the  enemy  at  Brabson's  Mills, 
Tenn.,  and  at  Boonville,  N.  C.  Moving  rapidly,  vici  Wilkes- 
boro',  and  thence  towards  Salisbury,  the  Virginia  and  Ten- 
nessee Railroad  was  reached  at  Christiansburg,  and  on6 
hundred  miles  of  its  line,  together  with  the  bridges,  was 
destroyed. 

This  accomplished,  the  regiment  made  a  rapid  march  to 
Henry  Court- House,  Va.,  traversing  ninety-five  miles  in 
twenty-two  hours.  At  tljat  point,  on  the  8th  of  April, 
1865,  it  became  engaged  with  a  superior  force  of  the 
enemy's  cavalry  and  infantry,  and  was  compelled  to  retire 
with  a  loss  of  eight  killed  and  wounded,  Lieut.  Kenyon 
bein"  among  the  former.     On  the  9th  and  lOlh,  while  the 


140 


HISTOEY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


regiment  was  employed  destroying  the  railroad  and  bridge 
north  of  Salisbury,  at  Abbott's  Creek,  the  enemy  was 
again  encountered  and  defeated,  aftor  a  three  hours'  contest. 
The  regiment  then  proceeded  along  the  upper  waters  of 
the  Catawba ;  picking  up  bands  of  rebel  cavalry  endeavor- 
ing to  make  their  escape  southward.  It  was  engaged  in 
skirmishes  with  the  enemy  at  Statesville,  N.  C,  on  the  14th, 
and  at  Newton,  N.  C,  on  the  17th  of  April,  1865. 

Upon  the  surrender  of  Johnston  the  Tenth  joined  in 
the  movements  looking  to  the  capture  of  Jeff.  Davis.  It 
was  soon  after  ordered  to  West  Tennessee,  where  it  served 
until  Nov.  11,  1865,  when  it  was  mustered  out  at  Mem- 
phis, Tenn. ;  reached  Jackson,  Mich.,  for  final  pay  and 
disbandment,  November  15th  of  the  same  year. 

BABRY    COUNTY   SOLDIEES. 
Companr/  B. 
Asbfield  Graham,  died  of  disease  al  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  June  22, 1865. 
Samuel  Hall,  must,  out  Not.  21 ,  1865. 
Minor  Mead,  must,  out  Oct.  28, 1865. 

Melvin  Mead,  died  of  disease  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  April  5, 1865. 
Moses  H.  Taj'lor,  must,  out  Nov.  21, 1S65. 
J.  B.  Uppeison,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Company  C. 
William  Vaughan,  must,  out  May  31, 1805. 

Companj/  D. 
George  W.  Jay,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Albert  A.  Jay,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Company  F. 
-John  0.  Coleman,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Edward  Fisher,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1805. 
Clinton  A.  Gregory,  must,  out  Oct.  4, 1865. 
Myron  H.  Stephens,  must,  out  June  21, 1865. 

CompanTf  6. 
William  Bundy,  disch.  by  order,  Aug.  30, 1865. 
Lewis  Landon,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Amos  Leek,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Harvey  G.  Patrick,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
George  T.  Smith,  must,  out  Sept.  29, 1865. 

Company  H. 
Hiram  0.  Paine,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Company  I, 
Samuel  W.  Sturdevant,  must,  out  Nov.  22, 1865. 

Company  K, 
Joseph  H.  Adams,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Edward  S.  Bronson,  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
George  W.  Bump,  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 
Myron  Bruce,  must,  out  Nov.  23, 1865. 
Wallace  M.  Bracket,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Edward  Cook,  must,  out  Sept.  19, 1865. 
Nelson  W.  Cook,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Edward  Chaffee,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1805. 
Byron  Johnson,  must,  out  Nov.  15, 1865. 
Daniel  Lewis,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Frederick  F.  McNair,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Melvin  Mead,  died  of  disease  at  Lenoir,  Tenn.,  June  22,  1865.       * 
Edgar  D.  Keld,  must.  outNov.  11, 1865. 
Albert  Sponible,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1805. 
■NVaahington  Sponible,  must,  out  Nov.  22, 1865. 

Company  L. 
Thomas  J.  Curtiss,  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  12, 1865. 
Wm.  Estess,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Walter  M.  Keaglo,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1866. 
Allen  T.  Bowley,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

Company  M, 
Frank  Demond,  died  of  disease  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  July  20, 1865. 
Blchard  Demond,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

MEMBERS  FROM  ALLEGAN  COUNTY. 
Company  E, 
Capt.  Wm.  H.  Dunn,  Ganges;  com.  Jan.  6,  1865;  lat  lieut.,  April  25,  1864; 
2d  lieut.  Co.  D,  July  25,1803;  brevet  maj.,  U.  S.  Vols.,  April  11,  1865, 
for  gallantry  in  a<'tion  at  Abbot's  Creek,  N.  C;  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 


William  A.  Allen,  disch.  by  order,  Aug.  18, 1865. 
George  B.  Dunn,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  24, 1865. 
George  Jones,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Charles  H.  Taylor,  must,  out  Oct.  9, 1865. 

Company  F. 
Edwin  Conrad,  disch.  by  order,  June  25, 1865. 

Company  I. 
Edward  Margason,  must,  out  Nov.  11,  1865. 
William  A.  Palmer,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
John  Stephens,  disch.  for  disability,  June  13, 1863. 

Company  L. 

S.  V.  Howard,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Lester  Multhop,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
Peter  Stacey,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 
George  Whittle,  must,  out  Nov.  11, 1865. 

ELEVENTH   CAVALRY. 

This  regiment  was  recruited  at  Kalamazoo  during  the 
summer  and  fall  of  1863.  It  was  mustered  into  the  service 
December  10th,  and  under  the  command  of  Col.  Simeon  B. 
Brown  left  its  rendezvous  for  the  field  on  the  17th  of  the 
same  month  ;  its  rolls  showing  the  names  of  nine  hundred 
and  twenty-one  officers  and  enlisted  men.  Company  C  was 
almost  wholly  from  Barry  County,  while  the  same  county 
was  also  represented  in  all  the  other  companies  except  those 
of  A,  B,  E,  and  I.  Six  men  from  Allegan  County  were  dis- 
tributed among  five  different  companies.  (See  roster.)  The 
Eleventh  proceeded  to  Lexington,  Ky.,  and,  after  receiving 
arms  and  equipments,  was  employed  during  the  months  of 
January  and  February,  1864,  in  scouting ;  having  its  head- 
quarters at  Lexington.  In  April  it  moved  to  Louisa,  Ky., 
and,  with  the  Thirty-Ninth  Kentucky  Infantry,  with  which 
it  was  brigaded,  was  employed  in  protecting  the  eastern 
part  of  the  State  from  rebel  raids  and  incursions,  which  came 
in  from  Virginia,  until  the  last  of  May,  when  it  was  sent 
on  an  expedition  into  West  Virginia,  under  Gens.  Bur- 
bridge  and  Hobson ;  but,  hearing  that  the  rebels,  under 
Morgan,  had  invaded  Kentucky,  the  division  returned, 
and  by  forced  marching  overtook  the  enemy  at  Mount 
Sterling,  Ky.  Here,  on  the  8th  of  June,  the  enemy  was 
routed  with  severe  loss.  On  the  12th  of  the  same  month 
the  rebels  were  again  encountered  at  Cynthiana,  and  a 
second  time  defeated  and  dispersed. 

From  August  23d  to  September  17th  it  was  stationed  at 
Camp  Burnside,  on  the  Cumberland  River,  and  was  cm- 
ployed,  with  other  troops,  in  protecting  the  southern  part 
of  Kentucky  from  threatened  invasion  by  Gen.  Wheeler's 
cavalry. 

In  the  latter  part  of  September  it  was  engaged  in  a  raid 
to  Saltville,  Va.  At  Bowen's  Farm  the  regiment  was  warmly 
engaged,  and  also  at  Richland  Gap  and  Rich  Mountain,  and 
was  part  of  the  assaulting  force  upon  the  enemy's  position 
at  Saltville,  which,  defended  by  a  superior  force,  was  found 
too  strong  to  be  captured.  During  the  return  march  into 
Kentucky  the  Eleventh  formed  the  rear-guard.  At  Sandy 
Mountain  it  was  nearly  surrounded  by  the  enemy,  but  suc- 
ceeded, after  a  severe  struggle,  in  rejoining  the  command. 

During  November  it  was  constantly  engaged  in  clearing 
the  country  of  guerrillas,  and  had  severe  skirmishing  at 
Hazel  Green,  McCormack's  Farm,  Morristown,  Mount 
Sterling,  and  other  points.  It  was  at  Crab  Orchard  and 
Cumberland  Gap ;  marching  from  the  latter  place  to  Clinch 
River,  where  it  had  a  sharp  fight  December  28th.     From 


EIGHTH,  TENTH,  AND  ELEVENTH   CAVALRY,  ETC. 


141 


the  1st  to  the  11th  of  December  it  was  enj^aged  in  scout- 
ing and  foraging  about  Bean's  Station,  Morristown,  Kus- 
Bellville,  Whitesboro',  and  Cobb's  Ford.  On  the  11th  of 
December  it  moved  with  Gen.  Stoneman's  command  into 
North  Carolina,  and  on  the  13th  was  at  Bristol,  where  a 
number  of  prisoners  and  a  large  amount  of  stores  were  cap- 
tured. 

At  Max  Meadow  Station  the  regiment  destroyed  a  large 
arsenal.  It  skirmished  with  the  enemy's  cavalry  about 
Marion  on  the  17th,  and  the  whole  command  had  a  severe 
fight  with  Breckenridge's  infantry,  the  enemy  finally  falling 
back. 

The  command  then  proceeded  to  Saltville,  where  the 
enemy's  extensive  salt-works  were  destroyed.  After  an  ar- 
duous campaign  the  regiment  finally  returned  to  Lexington, 
Ky.,  where  it  arrived  on  the  2d  of  January,  1865,  many  of 
the  men  having  lost  their  horses  and  coming  in  on  foot. 
During  the  campaign  from  November  17th  to  January  2d 
the  regiment  had  marched  an  average  of  twenty-eight  miles 
a  day,  not  including  scouting  and  foraging. 

It  was  engaged  in  scouting  the  eastern  portion  of  Ken- 
tucky until  February  23d,  when  it  was  ordered  to  join 
Gen.  Stoneman's  command  at  Knoxville,  which  it  did  on 
the  15th  of  March,  moving  by  way  of  Louisville  and  Nash- 
ville. 

It  formed  a  part  of  the  expedition  under  Stoneman  into 
East  Tennessee,  North  and  South  Carolina,  and  Georgia. 
At  Salisbury,  N.  C,  where  it  arrived  on  the  12th  of  April, 
the  command  was  engaged  with  a  superior  force  of  the 
enemy,  and  captured  eighteen  hundred  prisoners  and  twenty- 
two  guns,  besides  destroying  a  large  amount  of  property, 
including  the  railway  and  telegraph  lines. 

From  Salisbury  it  marched  to  Asheville,  where,  on  the 
26th  of  April,  it  captured  two  hundred  prisoners  and  a 
large  amount  of  property  and  munitions  of  war.  On  the 
1st  of  May  it  was  at  Anderson  Court-House,  S.  C*  On 
the  11th  it  captured  the  cavalry  escort  of  Jefi'erson  Davis, 
near  Washington,  and  on  the  13th  was  on  the  Tugaloo  and 
Savannah  Rivers. 

Returning  from  this  great  raid,  the  regiment  reached 
Knoxville,  Tenn,,  on  the  3d  of  June,  and  encamped  at 
Lenoir  Station  until  the  24th,  when  it  moved  by  rail  to 
Pulaski,  where,  on  the  20th  of  July,  it  was  consolidated 
with  the  Eighth  Michigan  Cavalry.  It  was  mustered  out 
of  service  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  on  the  22d  of  September. 
Returned  to  Michigan  on  the  28th,  and  was  paid  and  dis- 
banded. 

OFFICERS  AND  MEN  FBOM  B.iRKT  COUNTY. 

Company  C. 

Ut  Lieut.  Chai-lca  A.  Bailey,  Hastings;  com.  Oct.  23, 1863;  disch.  for  disabiiity, 

August  (?). 
2d  Lieut.  Tlieron  Mason,  Hastings;  com.  Jan.  3,  T865 ;  sergt.,  Sept.  2,1863; 

trans,  to  8tli  Cay.  „  „  „  ~ 

Com.-Sergt.  Henry  A.  Latlirop,  Castleton  ;  enl.  Sept.  22, 1863 ;  pro.  in  U.  S.  C.  T. 
Com.-Sergt.  Harmon  H.  Muuger,  Hastings;  trans,  to  8tli  Car. 


»  At  Anderson  it  was  estimated  that  the  command  destroyed  three 
million  dollars'  worth  of  public  property.  At  this  point  also  were 
found  and  brought  away  a  great  amount  of  Confederate  paper  money, 
and  three  of  the  plates  (engraved  in  England)  upon  which  bills  were 
printed.  These  last,  together  with  a  specimen  gold  coin  (five  dollars), 
struck  by  private  enterprise,  are  the  property  of  Gen.  C.  E.  Smith,  of 
Kalamazoo. 


Sergt.  David  Todd,  Bastings;  enl.  Sept.  18, 1863;  died  of  disease  at  Nashville, 

March  25, 1866. 
Sergt.  Augustus  Taylor,  Hastings;  enl.  Sept.  14, 1863  ;  trans,  to  8th  Cav. 
Sergt.  Nelson  Parker,  Hastings;  enl.  Sept.  28, 1803;  trans,  to  8th  Cav. 
Corp.  Isaac  B.  Monk,  Hastings  ;  enl.  Sept.  10, 1863 ;  trans,  to  8th  Cav. 
Corp.  Michael  McFarlin,  Hastings  ;  enl.  Sept.  3, 1863 ;  disch.  by  order,  Sept.  1, 

1S65. 
Corp.  John  W.  Stillson,  Hastings ;  enl.  Sept.  20, 1863 ;  trans,  to  8th  Cav. 
Corp.  Frederick  Myers,  Hastings ;  enl.  Sept.  25, 1863 ;  must,  out  March  1, 1865. 
Farrier  George  Hunger,  Hastings;  enl.  Oct.  18,1863;  trans,  to  8th  Cav. 
FaiTier  William  D.  Vaughn,  Hastings;  enl.  Sept.  16, 1863 ;  must,  out  May  31, 

1865. 
Wagoner  P.  B.  Homan,  Hastings;  enl.  Sept.  15, 1863 ;  trans,  to  8th  Cav. 
John  W.  Bronson,  disch.  by  order,  Aug.  4, 1865. 
Joshua  Boorom,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
William  P.  Boorom,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
William  F.  Brown,  must,  ont  Sept.  22, 1865. 
E.  W.  Benjamin,  must,  out  May  19, 1865. 
Moses  E.  B.iylor,  must,  out  June  16,1865. 
N.  J.  Bronson,  must,  out  June  16, 1865. 
Adrian  Cook,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Levi  Chase,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Marcus  L.  Cooley,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Elbridge  Carr,  must,  out  May  13, 1865. 
George  L.  Crosby,  must,  out  May  16, 1865. 

George  W.  Cassady,  died  of  disease  at  Lexington,  Ky.,  Aug.  28, 1864. 
Alfred  Drake,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Nelson,  Ky. 
Oscar  F.  Dunham,  disch.  by  order,  Aug.  10, 1865. 
Anson  Fowle,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Charles  Horton,  must,  ont  Sept.  22, 1865. 

William  H.  Ilayward,  died  of  disease  at  Mt.  Sterling,  Ky.,  Feb.  16, 1865. 
Seymour  Harris,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Patrifk  McFarlin,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Edward  H.  McCormick,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Eiley  Munger,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Henry  Miller,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
William  H.  Maloy,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Henry  Marble,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Dec.  30, 1884. 
Horace  A.  Orwig,  must,  out  May  16, 1865. 
George  W.  Peck,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Amasa  L.  Quant,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Israel  Eoush,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Benjamin  F.  Ronsh,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Peter  L.  Eorke,  must,  out  June  16, 1865. 
James  L.  Reed,  (rans.  to  U.  S.  C.  T. 
James  Swin,  disch.  by  order,  Aug.  10,1865. 
Isaac  Stanton,  died  of  disease  at  Ashland,  Ky.,  Jan.  20, 1865. 
Frederick  A.  Spencer,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1866. 
Peter  D.  Sage,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Henry  D.  Thompson,  must,  out  Aug.  31, 1865. 

Company  D. 
W.  H.  Knickerbocker,  must,  out  June  16, 1865. 
Company  F. 
Sergt.  Lewis  A.  Raymond,  Castleton;  enl.  Sept.  16,1863;  disch.  by  order.  May 

26, 1865. 
Bergt.  Norman  H.  Latham,  Baltimore :  enl.  Sept.  9, 1863 ;  must,  out  Sept.  22, 

1865. 
Corp.  Michael  Fisher,  Prairieville ;  enl.  Sept.  9, 1863 ;  trans,  to  8th  Cav. 
Wagoner  John  Case,  Johnstown ;  enl.  Oct.  6, 1863 ;  trans,  to  8th  Cav. 
Alonzo  R.  Coo,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Eussell  B.  Norton,  trans,  to  8th  Mich.  Inf. 
John  E.  Snow,  died  of  disease  at  Marion,  Va.,  Dec.  15, 1864. 
Philo  Sbaff,  must,  oat  July  13, 1865. 
Kobert  Strong,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
James  Strong,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
Benjamin  Tungate,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
John  Tungate,  died  of  disease  at  Richmond,  Va.,  May  10, 1865. 

Company  G, 
Sergt.  Albert  S.  Eno,  Maple  Grove;  enl.  Oct.  5, 1863;  trans,  to  8th  Cav.,  Co.  B. 
Cassius  M.  Gould,  disch.  by  order,  Aug.  10, 1865. 
Andrew  J.  Henrich,  must,  out  July  19, 1865. 
Henry  H.  Mayo,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1863. 
Eeuben  Norton,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 
James  P.  Stokes,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Company  H. 

G.  0.  Clark,  trans,  to  8th  Mich.  Cav. 
Philo  E.  Dunning,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Company  K. 
Daniel  Ornmp,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Company  L. 
David  K.  Dutton,  must,  out  Sept.  18, 1866. 
.    George  Norwood,  must,  out  Sept.  22,  1865. 
George  Penock,  disch.  by  order,  Aug.  10, 1865. 


142 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Company  M, 
E.  H.  Convin,  disoh.  by  order,  May  30, 1865. 
Henry  Howe,  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

ALLEGAN  COUNT!   MEMBERS. 

Company  C. 
Corp.  Wm.  Herbert,  Gun  Plains;  enl.  Oct.  15, 1863;  must,  out  Sept.  22, 1865. 

Company  F. 
EdgHr  F.  Brundage,  dIsch..for  disahility.  May  1, 1865. 

Company  S. 
Monroe  Durkee,  trans,  to  8tli  Cav. 
Alonzo  Kenney,  disch.  by  order,  June  21, 1865. 

Company  I. 
Sergt.  Wni.  Bartlett,  Ganges ;  enl.  Sept.  26, 18G3;  must,  out  Aug.  10, 1865. 

Company  L. 
Clias.  E.  Day,  must,  out  May  29, 1865. 

MERRILL   HORSE. 

This  was  the  name  of  a  body  of  cavalry  recognized  as  a 
Mi.ssouri  regiment,  three  companies  of  which,  viz.,  H,  I, 
and  L,  were  raised  in  the  State  of  Michigan,  and  to  the 
close  of  the  war  retained  their  distinctive  character  as 
Michigan  troops  so  far  that  their  officers  were  commis- 
sioned by  and  their  members  credited  to  the  latter  State. 
Companies  H  and  I  were  recruited  early  in  the  autumn  of 
1861,  and  the  latter  company  especially  had  a  large  repre- 
sentation from  Barry  County.  Company  L  was  not  organ- 
ized until  December,  1862. 

The  regiment  to  which  these  companies  belonged  served 
during  the  whole  term  of  its  service  with  the  Western 
armies.  It  engaged  the  enemy  at  Memphis,  Moore's  Hill, 
and  Kirksville,  Mo.,  in  1862.  At  Brownsville,  Bayou 
Mecoe,  Ashley's  Bayou,  Little  Rock,  Benton,  Princeton, 
Little  Missouri  River,  Prairie  Dehan,  Camden,  and  Jen- 
kins' Ferry,  Ark.,  in  1863-64.  At  Franklin,  Otterville, 
Independence,  and  Big  Blue,  Mo.,  in  October,  1864. 

In  the  latter  part  of  1 864  the  regiment  was  transferred 
to  Nashville,  Tenn. ;  thence  by  steamers  it  proceeded  to 
Eastport,  Miss.,  and  on  the  11th  of  February,  1865,  it  be- 
gan a  march,  vid  Florence,  Huntsville,  Stevenson,  and 
Bridgeport,  Ala.,  to  Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

During  the  remainder  of  its  term  of  service  it  was  em- 
ployed in  Northern  Georgia  on  scout  duty.  In  Georgia 
it  encountered  the  enemy  at  Trenton  Gap,  Alpine,  and 
Summerville.  Its  service  closed  on  the  21st  of  September, 
1865,  when  it  was  mustered  out  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 

MEMBERS    FROM   BARRY  COUNTY. 
Company  if. 
1st  Lieut.  Natban  J.  Aiken  ;  com.  Aug.  26, 1861 ;  resigned  March  18, 1862. 
Samuel  Baird,  must,  out  Sept.  19, 1865. 
Sidney  S.  Fish,  disch.  by  order,  June  16, 1865. 
Luther  Holman,  died  of  disease  at  Augusta,  Mich.,  July  15, 1864. 
James  Paul,  must,  out  Sept.  19, 1865. 
Isaac  Snyder,  died  of  disease  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  Feb.  21, 1866. 


2d  Lieut.  Lucien  B.  Potter,  Maple  Grove;  com.  July  2, 1862;  pro.  to  1st  lieut, 

Co.  B. 
Sergt.  John  M  Gitohell,  enl.  Aug.  26, 1861 ;  veteran,  Jan.  5,  1864 ;  must,  out 

Sept.  19,1866. 
Sergt.  Hubbard  L.  Baldwin,  enl.  Aug.  27, 1861 ;  veteran,  Jan.  5, 1864 ;  must,  out 

July  25. 1866. 
Sergt.  John  M.  Brown,  enL  Aug.  23, 1861 ;  veteran,  Jan.  5, 1864  ;  must,  out  Sept. 

19,  1866. 
Corp.  James  E.  Jones,  enl.  Aug.  27, 1861 ;  disch.  for  disability,  May  30,  1862. 
Corp.  John  M.  While,  enl.  Aug.  17, 1861 ;  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  9, 1863. 
Corp.  John  D.  Ohristley,  enl.  Aug.  30,  1861. 


Corp.  Albert  H.  Eaton,  enl.  Aug.  28,  1661 ;  veteran,  Jan.  5, 1864;  must,  out 

Sept.  19, 1866. 
Farrier  Sylvester  D.  White,  enl.  Aug.  24, 1861 ;  died  of  disease  at  St.  Louis, 

Mo.,  Nov.  4, 1861. 
Oreemis  Britton,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  15, 1864. 
Henry  Huuglitalin,  disch.  for  disability,  Nov.  21, 1862. 
Wesley  Houghtalin,  disch.  for  disability.  May  9, 1862. 
Theron  Haynes,  died  of  wounds  received  at  Memphis,  July  18, 1865. 
Benjamin  J.  Hall,  died  of  disease  at  Fayette,  Mo.,  April  26, 1862. 
KufuB  B.  Harrington,  must,  out  Sept.  19, 1866. 
Nathaniel  Jeffries,  disch.  for  disability,  April  6, 1862. 
Reuben  Johnson,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  26, 1862. 
John  H.  Johnsou,  disch.  for  disability,  April  24, 1862. 
Edwin  Mills,  disch.  by  order,  June  16, 1865. 

Henry  S.  Sooville.'died  of  diseuee  at  Fayette,  Mo.,  March  13, 1862. 
George  Scovillo,  died  in  action  at  Memphis,  Mo.,  July  18, 1802. 
John  B.  Taylor,  died  in  action  at  Moore's  Hill,  July  28, 1862. 
Moses  B.  Taylor,  disch.  for  disaliiiity,  Sept.  13, 1861. 
James  Willson,  died  in  action  at  Memphis,  Mo.,  July  18, 1862. 
Charles  Wilkinson,  died  of  disease  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Deo.  9, 1861. 

Company  L. 
Sergt.  James  Telford,  Johnstown  ;  enl.  Nov.  29, 1862  ;  died  of  disease  at  Little 
Bock,  Ark.,  Aug.  12, 1864. 

ALLEGAN  COUNTY  MEMBERS. 

Company  H. 
William  J.  Henscll, disch.  by  order,  June  15, 1865. 

Company  L 
Charles  Ingraliam,  must,  out  Sept.  19,  1865. 


CHAPTER    XXXIIL 

riKST  LIGHT  AKTILLEBT. 

Batteries  unconnected  with  each  other — Battery  C  largely  from  Alle- 
gan County — Its  Services  in  Northern  Mississippi — It  joins  Sher- 
man— The  Atlanta  Campaign — Its  Battles — Marching  through 
Georgia — The  Carolina  Campaign — Muster  out — Soldiers  of  the 
First  Light  Artillery  from  Allegan  County — From  Barry  County. 

This  regiment  contained  a  comparatively  large  number 
of  men  from  the  counties  of  Allegan  and  Barry,  but  they 
were  scattered  through  several  of  the  batteries  of  which 
the  regiment  was  composed,  'and  the  histories  of  these  bat- 
teries are  as  unconnected  with  each  other  as  are  those  of 
the  same  number  of  cavalry  or  infantry  regiments.  There- 
fore the  First  Light  Artillery  cannot  be  described  as  a 
whole ;  nor  is  it  practicable,  except  in  the  case  of  Battery  C, 
to  give  separate  sketches  of  the  several  batteries,  in  each  of 
which  a  few  men  only  were  found  fiom  these  counties. 
Battery  C,  however,  drew  about  forty  men  from  the  two 
counties  (all  but  one,  we  believe,  from  Allegan),  and  of 
that  we  will  therefore  give  a  slight  sketch. 

Its  first  official  designation  was  the  Third  Michigan  Bat- 
tery, but  it  was  most  commonly  known  as  "  Dees'  Battery." 
It  had  its  rendezvous  at  Grand  Rapids,  and  was  recruited 
into  service  in  connection  with  the  Third  Cavalry. 

Commanded  by  Capt.  Alexander  W.  Dees,  it  left  its 
rendezvous  on  the  17th  of  December,  1861,  and  joined  the 
forces  then  assembling  for  operations  against  the  enemy  on 
the  Tennessee  and  Cumberland  Rivers.  It  was  encased  in 
the  battle  of  Farmington,  Miss.,  May  9,  1862;  siege  of 
Corinth,  Miss.,  May  10  to  31,  1862;  battle  luka.  Miss., 
Sept.  19,  1862  ;  Corinth,  Miss.,  Oct.  3  to  4,  1862  ;  and 
at  Lumpkin's  Mills,  Miss.,  Nov.  29,  1862,  where  it  dis- 
abled two  of  the  rebel  guns,  and  with  a  cavalry  brigade 
forced  the  enemy  into  their  earthworks  at  the  Tallahatchie 


FIRST  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 


143 


River.  It  continued  in  service  in  Northern  Mississippi  and 
West  Tennessee  until  the  spring  of  1864,  when  it  joined 
Gen.  Sherman's  army,  then  operating  in  Northern  Georgia. 
During  the  hotly-contested  Atlanta  campaign.  Battery  C 
successfully  engaged  the  enemy  at  Resaca,  May  14th ; 
Dallas,  May  27th;  Big  Shanty,  June  15th  ;  Kenesaw  Moun- 
tain, June  25th;  Nickajack  Creek,  July  1st;  Decatur, 
July  20th;  and  the  siege  of  Atlanta,  July  22  to  Aug. 
25,  1864. 

From  Nov.  1-12,  1864,  it  was  engaged  in  the  pursuit 
of  Hood's  rebel  army  into  Northern  Alabama.  On  the 
16th  of  the  same  month,  with  Gen.  Sherman's  army,  it 
began  the  march  "  through  Georgia."  Hardee's  rebel 
forces  were  encountered  in  front  of  Savannah  on  the  9th  of 
December,  and  Battery  C  assisted  in  driving  him  inside  his 
works.  On  the  10th  it  engaged  him  all  day,  and  on  the 
11th  dismounted  one  of  his  guns  and  silenced  others. 

On  the  4th  of  January,  1865,  it  embarked  on  a  trans- 
port for  Beaufort,  N.  C,  and  on  the  16th  was  in  camp  at 
Pocotaligo.  Its  Carolina  campaign  was  commenced  on  the 
29th  of  January,  and  on  the  9th  of  February  it  was  warmly 
engaged  with  the  enemy  at  the  crossing  of  the  South  Edisto 
River.  Columbia  was  reached  on  the  17th,  and  on  the  4th 
of  March,  near  Cheraw,  the  rebels  were  again  encountered 
and  defeated,  and  twenty-eight  guns  were  taken  from  them. 
The  Cape  Fear  River  was  crossed  at  Fayetteville,  N.  C. 
On  the  13th  of  March  the  enemy  was  attacked  and  driven 
from  his  position.  The  series  of  actions  which  culminated 
at  Bentonville,  N.  C,  March  19th  and  20th,  the  advance 
to  Goldsboro',  N.  C,  the  pursuit  of  Johnston  to  and 
through  Raleigh,  his  surrender,  the  march  to  Washington, 
D.  C,  vl&  Richmond,  Va.,  and  the  grand  review  at  the 
nation's  capital,  were  events  in  which  Battery  C  took  an 
active  part.  It  arrived  in  Washington,  D.  C,  May  23d, 
marched  to  Detroit,  Mich.,  June  13th,  and  was  there  mus- 
tered out  of  the  service,  June  22,  1865. 

ALLEGAN  COUNTY   SOLDIEBS  IN  THE  FIRST   LIGHT  ATtTILLEBT. 

Battery  A. 

Albert  Bragg,  muat.  out  July  28, 1865. 

Johu  H.  Kicks,  trans,  to  Vet.  Bes.  Corps,  Nov.  15, 1863. 

Batienj  B. 
William  0.  Thayer,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  24, 1863  ;  must,  out  Juno  14, 1865. 

BaUery  O. 
2d  Lieut.  Asa  Estabrook,  Allegan  ;  com.  Dec.  18, 1864;  must,  out  June  22, 1866. 
Sergt.  Martin  V.  Heath,  Allegan  ;  enl.  Oct.  11,  1861 ;  disch.  for  disability,  April 

24,  1862. 
Corp.  James  Sullivan,  Allegan ;  eni.  Oct.  25,  1861 ;  diaoh.  for  disability,  Sept. 

12,  1862. 
Corp.  Frank  Fort,  Allegan  ;  enl.  Oct.  14,  1861 ;  veteran,  Dec.  28, 1863 ;  must,  out 

June  22,  1865. 
Saddler  James  Clark,  Allegan ;  enl.  Oct.  14, 1861 ;  veteran,  Dec.  28, 1863 ;  must. 

out  June  22, 1865. 
Musician  Benoni  Collins,  Allegan  ;   enl.  Nov.  8, 1861 ;  disch.  for  disability,  July 

11,  1862. 
Fitch  R.  Barker,  died  of  disease  at  St.  Louis,  March  11,  1862. 
John  S.  Crary,  disch.  for  disability,  March  24, 1862. 
Warren  Collins,  disch.  for  disability,  March  4, 1862. 
Volney  Clark,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  8, 1862. 
Luman  Cooley,  disch.  for  disability,  Feb.  26, 186.3. 
Harmon  H.  Cooley,  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  1, 1862. 
Benjamin  B  Carter,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  28, 1863;  must,  out  June  22, 1865. 
Enos  Clark,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  28, 1863 ;  must,  out  June  22, 1865. 
John  S.  Curtis,  must,  out  June  22, 1865. 
Abel  Dunton,  disch.  for  disability,  Dec.  4, 1862. 
Elijah  Evans,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  28, 1863;  must,  out  Jnne  22, 1865. 
Horace  Eldred,  must,  out  June  22, 1865. 
John  Frank,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  8, 1862. 


Angus  Frazer,  mustered  out. 

Herbert  Howe,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Dec.  18, 1864. 

John  Hemmutt,  died  of  disease  at  Rome,  Ga.,  Aug.  22, 1864. 

Frank  J.  Higgins,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Dec.  18, 1864. 

Burroushs  Ingham,  veteran,  enl.  Dec.  28, 1863;  muat.  out  June  22, 1865. 

Chandler  B.  Jones,  disch.  for  disability,  Oct.  8, 1862. 

Abrara  Morris,  died  of  disease  in  Missouri,  May  14. 1862. 

Edward  Nichols,  died  of  disease  in  Indiana,  May  19, 1862. 

Solomon  Ostrander,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Dec.  18, 1864. 

Hetiry  D.  Synes,  died  of  disease  at  St.  Louis,  Jan.  18, 1862. 

Elihu  Smith,  veteran,  enl.  Deo.  28, 1863 ;  muat.  out  June  22, 1865. 

Earl  B.  Tyler,  diach.  for  disability,  Jan.  11, 1862.  t- 

Absalom  Walker,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  26, 1862. 

Philip  Valmy,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  11, 1862. 

Battery  F. 
Daniel  Burleson,  disch.  by  order,  June  17, 1865. 

Battery  G. 
Alpheus  Mansfield,  died  of  disease  at  Fort  Gaines,  Ala.,  Dec.  6,  1864. 
Solomon  Shoemaker,  died  of  disease  at  Greenville,  La.,  Aug.  22, 1864. 
Jos.  St.  Clair,  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Feb.  12, 1865. 

BaUery  H. 
Wilson  Rossman,  must,  out  July  22, 1865. 

Battery  K. 
Geo.  K.  Lewis,  disch.  by  order.  May  17, 1865. 

Battery  L. 
James  French,  died  of  disease  at  Coldwater,  Mich.,  April  26, 1863. 
Wra.  C.  Thornton,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Curpa,  May  1, 1864. 

FOURTEENTH   BATTERY. 
Sergt.  Wm.  B.  Forbes,  Gun  Plain ;  enl.  Sept.  7, 1863  ;  on  detached  service, 
Corp.  John  Flynn,  Gun  Plain ;  enl.  Sept.  4, 1863 ;  must,  out  July  1, 1865 . 

OFFICERS   AND  SOLDIEBS    FROM    BARRY    COUNTY  IN   THE   FIRST 
LIGHT   ARTILLERY. 

BaUery  A, 
James  McCalley,  died  of  diseaae  at  Cliattmooga,  Tenn.,  May  8, 1864. 
Andrew  J.  Mattison,  muat.  out  July  25, 1865. 

BaUery  B. 
Jesse  C.  Benjamin,  disch.  for  wounds,  June  3, 1866. 
Franklin  Campbell,  must,  out  June  3, 1865. 
John  Caatle,  must,  out  June  14, 1865. 
Augustus  Ford,  must,  out  June  14, 1865. 
David  M.  Hueston,  disch.  by  order,  June  29, 1865. 
William  Palmatier,  died  of  disease  at  Rome,  Ga.,  Aug.  20, 1864. 
Henry  L.  Raymond,  died  of  disease  at  Rome,  Ga.,  July  27, 1864. 
Chester  S.  Stoddard,  must,  out  June  14, 1865. 
Ralph  T.  Stocking,  must,  out  June  14, 1865. 
John  Slamni,  must,  out  June  14, 1865. 

Battery  0. 
Charles  H.  Williams,  must,  out  June  14, 1865. 

Battery  E. 
1st  Lieut.  Leonard  Wightman,  Hastings ;  com.  March  16, 1864 ;  2d  lieut.  Oct.  1, 

1862 ;  (previously  a  corporal)  bvt.  capt.,  June  20, 1865,  '•  for  meritorious 

services ;"  must,  out  July  20, 1865. 
John  Burd,  must,  out  Aug.  30, 1865. 
John  Carpenter,  must,  out  Aug.  30, 1865. 
George  W.  Cain,  must,  out  Aug.  30, 1865. 
Amoa  Greenham,  must,  out  Aug.  30,  1866. 
Nathan  Lucaa,  must,  out  Aug.  30, 1865. 
Lucius  L.  Landon,  must,  out  Aug.  30, 1865. 
James  McNee,  disch.  by  order,  June  30, 1865. 
John  McNee,  disch.  by  order,  June  26, 1865. 
Jacob  Odell,  must,  out  Aug.  20, 1865. 
Elijah  A.  Shaw,  must,  out  Aug.  30, 1865. 
George  C.  Smith,  must,  out  Aug.  30, 1865. 
Cornelius  Senter,  disch.  by  order,  June  30, 1865. 
George  D.  Scoviile,  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Oct.  18, 1864. 
Bufus  W.  Tester,  must,  out  Aug.  30, 1865. 
Peter  Wilbert,  must,  out  Aug.  30, 1865. 
Miles  S.Young,  must,  out  Aug.  30, 1865. 

Buttery  G. 
William  Cranston,  disch.  for  disability.  May  13, 1865. 
Dayton  S.  Peck,  must,  out  Aug.  6, 1865. 

Battery  I. 
John  W.  Miller,  must,  out  July  14, 1865. 

Battery  E. 
■William  Quick,  died  of  disease  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn. 


144 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Battery  L, 

Sergt.  Austin  D.  Johnson,  Prairie-ville ;  enl.  March  16, 1863 ;  nmst.  out  Aug.  22, 

1865. 
Corp.  George  H.  Brooks, Orangeville ;  enl.  March  18, 1863 ;  disch.for  promotion 

in  30th  Inf. 
Thomas  McLane,  must,  out  Aug.  22,  1865. 
Jesse  Quicl;,  disch.  for  disiibility.  May  13, 1866. 
Kichard  Shaw,  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Nelson,  Ky.,  July  14, 1865. 
William  Swartont,  must,  out  Aug.  22,  1865. 

TItirteenth  Battery, 
Edwin  P.  Clark,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Zebnlon  Caawel],  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 
Jeremiah  Harper,  must,  out  July  1, 1865. 

Peter  Schrontz,  died  of  disease  at  Fort  Sumner,  Md.,  Dec.  25, 1864. 
Heman  Train,  died  of  disease  at  Fort  Sumner,  Md.,  Nov.  29, 1864. 


CHAPTER    XXXIV. 

SOLDIEKS    OF    OTHEK    EEGIMEITTS. 

Remarks  on  the  scattering  Soldiers  of  Allegan  and  Barry  Counties — 
Men  in  the  First  Infantry— In  the  Fiftli  Infantry — In  the  Tenth 
Infantry — In  the  Eleventh  Infantry — In  the  Fifteenth  Infantry — 
In  the  Sixteenth  Infantry — In  the  Eighteenth  Infantry — In  the 
Twentieth  Infantry — In  the  Twenty-Fourth  Infantry — In  the 
Twenty-Fifth  Infantry— In  the  Twenty-Sixth  Infantry — In  the 
Twenty-Seventh  Infantry — In  the  First  Colored  Infantry — In  the 
First  Sharpshooters — In  the  Forty-Fourth  Illinois  Infantry — In 
the  Sixty-Sixth  Illinois  Infantry — In  the  Nineteenth  Wisconsin 
Infantry — In  the  First  United    States    Sharpshooters — Miscella- 


Besides  the  commands  whose  histories  have  been  thus 
briefly  outlined,  there  were  many  others  containing  soldiers 
from  Allegan  and  Barry  Counties, — soldiers  whose  records 
are  equally  as  bright  and  honorable  as  those  of  any  in  the 
army,  but  of  whom  we  cannot  speak  here,  owing  to  the 
smallness  of  the  number  in  each  organization.  We  gladly 
give,  however,  the  following  list  of  their  names  : 

FIRST    INFANTEY. 

FROM  ALLEGAN. 
Dennis  Cosier,  Co.  K ;  veteran,  enl.  Feb.  17, 1864;  disch.  by  order,  July  6, 1865. 
John  Dorrance,  Co.  K  ;  discharged  June  1, 1863. 

FEOM  BARRY. 
Frederick  Cook,  Co.  H ;  must,  out  July  9, 1865. 

FIFTH   INFANTRY. 

FROM  BARRY  COUNTY. 
Charles  J.  Jennor,  Co.  D ;  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Dec.  17, 1863. 
1st  Lieut.  Daniel  E.  Biidsell,  Co.  15,  Hastings;  com.  Sept.  1,1864;  2d  lieut., 

June  10, 1864;  sergt. ;  wounded  Oct.  27, 1864;  disch.  for  disability,  Jan. 

10,  1866. 
John  Gaff,  mnst.  out  July  5, 1865. 
Edward  Stevens,  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 
George  Shultz,  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 
Milo  Fisher,  Co.  F ;  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 
Joseph  Foster,  Co.  I ;  must,  out  July  5, 1865. 
Mortimer  Lowing,  Co.  I,  must,  out  May  31, 1865. 

TENTH  INFANTRY. 

FROM  ALLEGAN. 
Eli  Baker,  Co.  B ;  must,  out  July  19, 1865. 
Johnson  Parsons,  Co.  C  ;  must,  out  July  19, 1866. 
Chas.  F.  Smith,  Co.  E ;  must,  ont  Aug.  3, 1865. 
Thos.  Hayner,  Co.  G ;  must,  out  July  19,  1865. 
Ethan  Whitney,  Co.  I;  must,  out  July  19, 1865. 
Francis  H.  Norton,  Co.  K ;  must,  out  July  19, 1865. 

FEOM  BARRY. 
John  W.  Snyder,  Co.  A ;  must,  out  July  19, 1865. 
Charles  A.  Allen,  Co.  B ;  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 
Niel  F.  Alden,  Co.C;  must,  out  Aug,  2%  1866. 


William  H.  Muffley,  Co.  C ;  must,  out  July  19, 1865. 

Thomas  McGuire,  Co.  G ;  died  of  diaease  at  New  Albany,  Ind.,  Feb.  4, 1865. 

ELEVENTH  INFANTEY. 

FROM  ALLEGAN. 
Corp.  James  Sprague,  Co.  G ;  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  30, 1864. 
Joseph  Annis,  Co.  G  ;  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  30, 1864. 
James  Rose,  Co.  G  ;  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  30, 1864. 
Wm.H.  Smith,  Co.  G;  died  of  disease,  Fob.  4,  1862. 
Darius  Sprague,  Co.  G ;  disch.  at  end  of  service,  Sept.  30, 1865. 

ELEVENTH  INFANTRY  (NEW). 

FROM  ALLEGAN. 

Talbot  Ballinger,  Co.  B  ;  must,  out  Sept.  16, 1866. 
Lewis  C.  Cady,  Co.  B;  must,  out  Sept.  16, 1866. 
James  Lutz,  Co.  B;  must,  out  Sept.  16,1865. 
David  Stevenson,  Co.  B;  must,  ont  Sept.  16, 1865. 

FIFTEENTH  INFANTRY. 

MEMBERS  FROM  ALLEGAN  COUNTY. 
George  W.  Colborne,  Co.  A  ;  died  of  disease  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  June  10, 1865. 
Albert  N.  Russell,  Co.  A ;  must,  out  Aug.  13, 1865. 
Ezra  H.  Heath,  Co.  B;  disch.  by  order,  July  1, 1865. 
Thomas  Burt,  Co.  C;  must,  out  Aug.  13, 1865. 
Ralph  Parrith,  Co.  C;  d:Bch.  by  order,  July  1, 1865. 
Cortland  Brownell,  Co.  D ;  mnst.  out  Aug.  13, 1865. 
John  Haywood,  Co.  D ;  disch.  by  order,  July  20, 1865. 
Charles  W.  Tyler,  Co.  D ;  disch.  by  order,  June  16, 1865. 
George  Kitson,  Co.  B ;  must,  out  July  18, 1865. 
John  H.  Butler,  Co.  F;  must,  out  Aug.  13, 1805. 
Sidney  M.  Bennett,  Co.  F;  disch.  by  order.  May  30,1866. 
James  Reeves,  Co.  F;  disch.  by  order,  July  26,  1866. 
Peter  Schneider,  Co.  F;  must,  out  Aug.  13, 1866. 
Sylvanus  Snell,  Co.  F ;  must,  out  Aug.  13, 1805. 
Gaylord  Helmer,  Co.  H ;  disch.  by  order.  May  31, 1865. 
George  W.  Roe,  Co.  H ;  must,  out  Aug.  13, 1865. 
Austin  G.  Pike,  Co.  I ;  disch.  by  order,  July  1, 1865. 
Charles  Butler,  Co.  K  ;  disch.  by  order,  July  15, 1865. 

BARRY   COUNTY  MEMBERS. 
Asa  S.  Durham,  Co.  A;  must,  out  Aug.  13, 1865. 
Mills  W.  Corning,  Co.  C;  must,  out  Aug.  13, 1865. 
James  Curley,  Co.  D ;  disch.  by  order,  Aug.  28, 1865. 
George  W.  Shepard,  Co.  D;  disch.  by  order,  June  22, 1865. 
James  Racey,  Co.  E ;  must,  out  Aug.  13, 1866. 
Henry  Blodgett,  Co.  F;  disch.  by  order.  May  30,  1865. 
Ampbious  Bliss,  Co.  F ;  must,  out  Aug.  13, 1866. 
Edwin  C.  Davis,  Co.  G;  disch.  by  order,  May  30, 1866. 
Austin  D.  Bates,  Co.  H;  must,  out  Aug.  13, 1865. 
Orison  Lovewell,  Co.  H ;  must,  out  Aug.  13, 1866. 
Alfred  S.  Millard,  Co.  H;  must,  ont  Aug.  13, 1865. 
EInathan  Gilbert,  Co.  I ;  must,  out  Aug.  '13, 1866. 
William  F.  M.  Mitchell,  Co.  K  ;  must,  out  Aug.  13, 1865. 
Robert  Rouse,  Co.  K ;  disch.  by  order.  May  30, 1865. 

SIXTEENTH   INFANTRY. 

MEMBERS  FROM  ALLEGAN  COUNTY. 
Jacob  Lugensland,  Co.  A  ;  must,  out  July  8, 1865. 
John  W.  Brown,  Co.  B;  must,  out  July  8, 1865. 
Austin  Corbett,  Co.  B ;  disch.  by  order,  Aug.  26, 1865. 
John  Hoof,  Co.  B ;  must,  out  July  8, 1865. 
Elias  Leonard,  Co.  B;  must,  out  July  8, 1866. 
John  McCreery,  Co.  B ;  must,  out  July  8, 1865. 
James  B.  Griswold,  Co.  C;  must,  out  July  8, 1865. 
Alexander  Hayden,  Co.  0;  must,  out  July  8, 1865. 
James  O'Brien,  Co.  C  ;  must,  out  July  8, 1865. 
Richard  Purdy,  Co.  C;  must,  out  July  8,1865. 
John  Thomas,  Co.  C ;  must,  out  July  8, 1865. 
Harmon  Campbell,  Co.  F ;  disch.  by  order,  June  14, 1865. 
Robert  H.  Gould,  Co.  K ;  must,  out  July  8, 1865. 
Jerry  Munro,  Co.  I;  disch.  by  order,  May  30, 1866. 

BARRY   COUNTY  MEMBERS. 
Daniel  Myers,  Co.  D  ;  must,  out  July  8, 1865. 
Francis  0.  N.  Leonard,  Co.  I ;  veteran,  March  1, 1864. 
Louis  B.  Barber,  Co.  K  ;  must  out  July  8, 1865. 
George  Roth,  Co.  K ;  must,  ont  July  8, 1866. 

EIGHTEENTH  INFANTRY. 

FROM  ALLEGAN. 
Benjamin  M.  Curtis,  Co.  C;  died  of  disease  at  Lexington,  Ky.,  Dec.  21, 1862. 
John  A.  Carpenter,  Co.  C;  must,  out  June  26, 1865. 


SOLDIEKS  OF  OTHER  REGIMENTS. 


145 


TWENTIETH  INFANTRY. 

FROM  BAEST. 

Thomas  H.  Barker,  Co.  C ;  died  of  diseaflti  near  Falmouth,  Ya.,  Jan.  10, 1863. 
Willard  S.  Cook,  Co.  C ;  died  of  disease,  Dec.  12, 1862. 
Ira  Messinger,  Co.  C  ;  died  of  disease  at  Falmouth,  Va.,  Sen.  28, 1862. 
Samuel  W,  Onwig,  Co.  C ;  died  of  disease  Id  AudersonTilU  prison,  Ga.,  Sept.  8, 

186*. 
Oliver  J.  Stevenson,  Co.  C;  must,  out  May  30, 1865. 
Capt.  George  W.  Bullis,  Johnatown ;  Co.  F,  Nov.  28, 1863 ;  1st  lieut.  Co.  I,  July 

2'J,  1862  J  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  10, 1864. 

TWENTY-SECOND  INFANTRY. 

FROM  BARRY. 
Mortimer  W.  Hunter,  Co.  F ;  died  of  disease  at  Richmond,  Va.,  June  8, 1865. 
Florence  A.  Hunter,  Co.  F]  died  of  disease  at  Richmond,  Ya.,  June  8, 1865. 

TWENTY-FOURTH  INFANTRY. 

MEMBERS  FROM  ALLEGAN  COUNTY. 
■William  F.  Henry,  Co.  A ;  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  March  28, 1865. 
Selden  Sperry,  Co.  A  ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 

William  White,  Co.  A ;  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  April  8, 1865. 
RoUin  Wood,  Co.  A ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Clark  Bailey,  Co.  B;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Newton  Belden,  Co.  E ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 

Edward  Crew,  Co.  E ;  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  May  14, 1865. 
HoUis  Ward,  Co.  B ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Gideon  Chilson,  Co.  F ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
John  G.  Collins,  Co.  F ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Orson  J.  Davis,  Co.  F ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
George  Doxey,  Co.  F ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Henry  De  Boslyn,  Co.  F  ;  must,  out  June  30,1866. 
Charles  M.  Failing,  Co.  F ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Benjamin  F.  Lamoyne,  Co.  F ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Samuel  Piper,  Co.  F ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Luther  S.  Pelham,  Co.  F;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Edward  Rogers,  Co.  F ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Thomas  Iddles,  Co.  H  ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 

James  W.  Parker,  Co.  H  ;  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  March  21, 1865. 
James  Blytheman,  Go.  I ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
James  Daama,  Co.  I ;  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Cornelius  Lockker,  Co.  I ;  must,  out  June.  30, 1865. 
Garrett  N.  Nieland,  Co.  I;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Mathew  Notier,  Co.  I;  must,  out  June  30^1865. 
Jerome  Mockma,  Co.  I ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Frank  S.  Popplewell,  Co.  I ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Everett  Russell,  Co.  I ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
James  Roe,  Co.  I ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Joseph  Sharpe,  Co.  I ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
John  Scriven,  Co.  I ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
John  F.  Tidd,  CO.  I ;  must,  out  June  30, 1865. 
Gardner  A.  Terry,  Co.  I ;  must,  out  Juno  30, 1865. 
Lewis  Mapes,  Co.  K ;  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Butler,  April  25, 1865. 

FROM  BARRY. 
Detzel  Bradford,  must,  out  June  21, 1865. 

TWENTY-FIFTH  INFANTRY. 

FROM  BARKY. 
Moses  Steeber,  Co.  H  ;  must,  out  June  24, 1865. 

TWENTY-SIXTH   INFANTRY. 

MEMBERS  FROM  BARRY  COUNTY. 


2d  Lieut.  Jesse  Jordan,  Woodland ;  com.  Dec.  23, 1863 ;  disch.  for  wounds,  Dec. 
6.1864.  „_ _ 


Sergt.  Jesse  Jordan,  Woodland;  enl.  Aug.  12, 1862  ;  pro.  to  2d  lient.  Co.  H. 

Corp.  Adam  J.  Hagar,  Woodland ;  enl.  Aug.  11, 1862 ;  must,  out  June  17, 1865. 

Corp.  James  G.  Jordan,  Woodland;  enl.  Aug.  11, 186:i;  must,  out  June  17, 1866. 

Judge  B.  Barnum,  must,  out  June  4, 1866. 

Aaron  J.  Cupp,  must,  out  June  4, 1865. 

Marcus  G.  Corsett,  must,  out  June  4, 1865. 

Charles  Dewey,  died  of  disease,  Jan.  11, 1864. 

L.  D.  Edson,  died  of  disease,  Aug.  9, 1864. 

Samuel  E.  Grant,  must,  out  June  4, 1866. 

Hugh  Kilpatrick,  must,  out  June  4, 1865. 

Henry  Miller,  died  of  disease  at  Washington,  D.  C,  Feb.  6, 1864. 

Levi  L.  Paddock,  died  of  disease  at  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  8, 1864. 

Jeremiah  Riggs,  died  of  disease  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Sept.  1, 1864. 

19 


Oscar  E.  Sheldon,  died  of  disease  at  Alexandria,  Ya.,  Feb.  23, 1863. 
Joel  St.  Johns,  disch.  for  disability,  Aug.  14,  1863. 
Milo  Sheldon,  must,  out  June  4, 1865. 
Samuel  S.  Straight,  must,  out  June  4, 1865. 
George  W.  Tyler,  disch.  for  disability.  May  6, 1864. 
William  H.  Wheeler,  died  at  Farmville,  Ya.,  April  7, 1866. 
Ransom  Wolcott,  must,  out  June  4, 1865. 
John  Wilcox,  Co.  K ;  must,  out  May  30, 1865. 

TWENTY-SEVENTH  INFANTRY. 

FROM  BARRY. 
Henry  B.  Moon,  Co.  D ;  must,  out  July  26, 1865. 

FROM  ALLEGAN. 
Oscar  B.  Dun  ton,  2d  Ind.  Co.  Sharpshootets ;  died  in  Andersonville  prison-pen. 

TWENTY-NINTH  INFANTRY. 

FROM  BARRY. 
J.  A.  Kenyon,  Co.  H ;  must,  out  Sept.  6, 1865. 

FIRST  MICHIGAN  (102d  U.  S.)  COLORED  INFANTRY. 

FROM  BARRY. 
Cairo  Bolin,  Co.  B ;  must,  out  Sept.  30, 1865. 
Amos  Cisco,  Co.  B ;  must,  out  Sept.  30, 1865. 
Amos  Swanagan,  Co.  C ;  must,  out  Sept.  30, 1865. 

FROM  ALLEGAN. 
James  Chambers,  Co.  F ;  must,  out  Sept.  30, 1865. 
Albert  Tolbert,  Co.  F;  must,  out  Sept.  30, 1865. 
Musician  William  Gilmore,  Co.  G,  Gun  Plain;  enl.  Dec.  20,1863;  must,  out 

Sept.  30, 1865. 
Aquilla  Corey,  Co.  H ;  must,  out  Sept.  30, 1865. 
William  J.  Harris,  Co.  H;  must,  out  Sept.  30, 1865. 
David  Silence,  Co.  I;  must,  out  Sept.  30, 1866. 

FIRST  SHARPSHOOTERS. 

BARRY  SOLDIERS. 
Musician  Charles  M.  Stephens,  Co.  A ;  enl.  April  18, 1863;  must,  out  July  28, 

1865. 
Amos  W.  Bowen,  Co.  A;  must,  out  July  28, 1865. 

Edward  F.  Cox,  Co.  A ;  died  in  action  near  Petersburg,  Ya.,  June  17, 1864. 
Edgar  F.  Davidson,  Co.  A ;  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Douglas,  111.,  June  23, 1864. 
Curtis  A.  Davidson,  Co.  A ;  must,  out  June  28, 1865. 
Ellas  Farwell,  Co.  A ;  must,  out  Aug.  1, 1865,  from  Yet.  Res.  Corps. 
Joseph  Fisher,  Co.  A  ;  disch.  for  disability. 

John  Fisher,  Co.  A ;  died  of  disease  at  Kalamazoo,  Mich.,  Jan.  28, 1863, 
Benjamin  F.  Hinckley,  Co.  A ;  died  of  wounds  at  Washington,  D.  C,  July  12, 

1864. 
Nathaniel  Jeffreys,  Co.  A;  disch.  Nov.  22, 1864. 
Darius  A.  Kent,  Co.  A;  ntust.  out  July  28, 1865. 

John  Livingston,  Co.  A;  died  of  disease  near  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  17, 1864. 
Henry  Stevens,  Co.  A ;  must,  out  June  28, 1866, 

Gilbert  Wilber,  Co,  A ;  died'io  action  near  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  17, 1864. 
Robert  Finch,  Co.  B;  disch.  for  disability,  Sept.  17, 1864. 
Darius  Fonts,  Co,  C;  must,  out  July  28, 1865. 

John  McGraw,  Co.  F ;  died  of  disease  at  Andersonville  prison,  Ga,,  Oct.  26, 1861. 
David  E,  Grant,  Co,  G ;  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Douglas,  111,,  December,  1863, 
Cbarles  D,  Beckford,  Co.  I ;  must,  out  July  28, 1865, 
Herman  Mclntyre,  Co,  I;  must,  out  July  28,  1866. 
John  R,  Pitts,  Co,  I ;  must,  out  July  28, 1865. 
Francis  Marquette,  Co.  K ;  must,  out  June  27, 1866. 

ALLEGAN  SOLDIERS. 
Levi  Porter,  Co.  C ;  died  in  Andersonville  prison-pen,  Aug.  2, 1864. 
Obadiah  Gloason,  Co.  D  ;  disch.  for  disability. 
William  Hawley,  Co.  C ;  died  of  disease  at  Camp  Douglas,  111,,  Feb,  26, 1864. 

FORTY-FOURTH  ILLINOIS   INFANTRY. 

FROM  BARRY  COUNTY. 
Francis  P.  Backus,  Prairieville,  Co,  H;  died  in  Missouri,  Dec,  16, 1861. 
Edward  Doyle,  Yankee  Springs,  Co.  H;  died  of  wounds,  April  6,1862. 
Sergt.  Arthur  Hamilton,  Yankee  Springs,  Co.  H;  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  1,  1864; 

must,  out  Sept.  26, 1865. 
Corp.  Benj.  F.  Norris,  Yankee  Springs,  Co.  H  ;  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  1, 1864;  must. 

out  Sept,  25,  1865, 
John  Slielp,  Prairieville,  Co.  H;  disch,  for  disability,  Jan,  12, 1863, 
Thos,  W,  Travis,  Prairieville,  Co,  H ;  must,  out  May  26, 1865. 
Philip  Terry,  Yankee  Springs,  Co.  H;  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  1, 1864;  trans,  to  Vet. 

Res.  Corps,  Feb.  4, 1866. 


If 


146 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


FROM  ALLEGAN  COUNTY. 
ChM.  W.  Bates,  Allegan,  C!o.  H ;  disch.  fordisability,  Feb.  1, 1862. 
James  M.  Cunrad,  Gun  Plain,  Co.  H;  veteran,  enl.  Jan.  1, 1864;  pro.  to  sergt. 
Lafayette  WilUs,  Allegan,  Co.  Hj  disch.  for  disability,  Jan.  10, 1862. 

SIXTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    INFANTEY    (WESTEEN 
SHAKPSHOOTEEB). 

FROM  BARRY   COUNTY. 
Andrew  J.  Herrick,  Co.  D;  disch.  for  disability,  April  25, 1862. 
Samuel  Russell,  Co.  D  j  discli.  for  disability,  Oct.  23, 1863. 
Michael  Whalen,  Co.  D ;  must,  out  July  7, 1865. 

NINETEENTH   WISCONSIN  INFANTRY. 

FROM  ALLEGAN  COUNTY. 
Edward  P.  Adams,  Wayland,  Co.  H  ;  died  of  wounds  at  Fort  Monroe,  Va.,  Deo. 
11, 1864. 


riEST  EEGIMENT  UNITED  STATES  SHAEP- 
SHOOTEES. 

FROM  BARRY   COUNTY. 
Loander  P.  Johnson,  Co.  K;  trans,  to  Vet.  Res.  Corps,  Nor.  15, 1863. 
Edwin  B.  Parks,  Go.  K;  disch.  by  order,  Oct.  8, 1864. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

MaJ.  David  Comwell,  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Co.  K,  Eighth  Illinois  Infantry, 
at  Bloomington,  111.,  April  25, 1861 ;  served  three  months,  and  re-enlisted 
In  the  same  company  and  regiment  for  three  years ;  was  in  the  battles  of 
Fort  Donelson  and  Pittsburg  Landing ;  trans,  to  Bat.  D,  Second  Illinois 
Light  Artillery,  serving  as  private  and  bugler;  in  February,  1863,  com, 
1st  lieut.  Fifth  U.S.  Artillery  (colored);  wounded  at  Milliken's  Bend, 
La. ;  pro.  to  capt.  June  6, 1863,  and  com.  maj.  in  February,  1864;  then 
on  staff  till  close  of  war ;  hiust.  out  May  20, 1866. 


GEOLOGICAL  MAP 

or  THE  LOWER    PENINSULA     ^ 

MlCH"lGAN?^3 


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P^ET     SECOND. 


THE   VILLAGES   AND    TOWl^SHIPS 


OF 


ALLEGAN   COUNTY. 


ALLEGAN     VILLAGE.' 


NATUEAL  FEATURES,  Etc. 

The  village  of  Allegan  is  located  on  both  sides  of  the 
Kalamazoo  Kiver,  which  pursues  its  winding  course  in 
such  manner  as  almost  to  surround  the  business  part  of 
the  village.  The  residence  portion  is  built  partly  on  the 
peninsula  first  alluded  to,  and  partly  on  a  plateau  which 
rises  from  20  to  50  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  river. 
The  upper  and  lower  sections  of  the  village  both  have  very 
irregular  boundaries,  and  two  or  three  ravines  also  diversify 
the  landscape.  Extensive  views  of  the  lower  part  of  the 
town  and  of  the  surrounding  country  are  obtained  from 
the  plateau  before  mentioned.  Altogether  the  village  has 
one  of  the  most  picturesque  sites  to  be  found  in  any  por- 
tion of  Michigan.  If  is  amply  supplied  with  shade-trees, 
among  which  are  many  native  pines  and  oaks  that  add 
greatly  to  its  beauty. 

Allegan  derives  its  principal  advantages  from  the  water- 
power  furnished  by  the  Kalamazoo,  and  from  its  railroad 
connections ;  the  Kalamazoo  division  of  the  Lake  Shore 
and  Michigan  Southern  road,  the  Grand  Haven  and  the 
Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana  Railroads  making  the  place 
easily  accessible  from  all  portions  of  the  State. 

ORIGINAL  PURCHASES. 

Allegan  was  first  projected  in  1834,  and  the  earliest 
actual  movements  toward  building  a  village  there  were 
also  made  in  that  year.  The  present  corporate  limits  em- 
brace portions  of  sections  20,  21,  22,  27,  29,  32,  33,  34, 
and  the  whole  of  section  28.  The  parties  who  originally 
purchased  from  government  the  land  embraced  within  these 
limits  were  as  follows : 

Stephen  Viokery  and  Anthony  Cooley,  southwest  fractional  quarter 
of  section  28,  Aug.  .3,  183.3,  and  the  east  half  of  southeast  quarter  of 
section  29,  on  same  date. 

Stephen  Russell,  soutl^west  fractional  quarter  of  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  21,  Sept.  16,  1833.  Also  the  west  half  of  north- 
east quarter  of  section  28  on  the  same  date. 

»  By  E.  0.  Wagner. 


Stephen  Vickery,  Hazen  Ballow,  Husten  and  Anthony  Cooley, 
south  fraction  of  same  section,  Nov.  2,  1833. 

George  Ketchum,  east  half  of  northeast  half  of  section  29,  Nov. 
29,  1833. 

Samuel  Hubbard,  northeast  quarter  of  section  32,  April  30, 1834. 

Stephen  Bussell,  west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  2?, 
June  7,  1834. 

Samuel  Brown,  northeast  fraction  of  northeast  quarter  of  section 

33,  June  7,  1834. 

Asa  C.  Briggs,  northwest  quarter  of  northwest  quarter  of  section 

34,  June  9,  1834. 

George  Ketchum,  southeast  quarter  of  northwest  quarter  of  same 
section,  June  21,  1834. 

Stephen  Viokery,  northwest  fraction  of  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 33,  June  21,  1834. 

Same  party,  north  part  of  west  fraction  of  northwest  quarter,  same 
date, 

Anthony  Cooley,  southwest  fraction  of  northeast  quarter  of  section 
33,  July  15,  1834. 

Martha  Stoddard,  west  half  of  southeast  quarter  of  section  29 
Aug.  6,  1834. 

Nelson  Sage,  southeast  fractional  quarter  of  section  20,  Aug.  8, 
1834. 

Samuel  Hubbard,  north  fraction  of  northwest  quarter  of  section 
28,  Aug.  26,  1834. 

Same  party,  west  half  of  northeast  quarter  of  section  29,  same  date. 

Same  party,  east  half  of  northeast  quarter  of  section  28,  Aug.  27, 
1834. 

Same  party,  northeast  fraction  of  southwest  quarter  of  section  21 
Aug.  30,  1834. 

Same  party,  southwest  quarter  of  northwest  quarter  of  section  33, 
Sept.  31,  1834. 

Ansel  Dickenson,  east  half  of  northwest  quarter  of  section  34, 
Oct.  8,  1834. 

James  Lowe,  southwest  quarter  of  section  22,  Nov.  3,  1S34,  and 
the  northwest  quarter  of  section  27,  on  same  date. 

Samuel  Hubbard,  east  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  21 
Nov.  11,  1834. 

Same  party,  east  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  27,  Jan. 
27,  1836. 

Same  party,  west  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  21,  May 
i,  1835. 

Same  party,  southwest  quarter  of  northwest  quarter  of  section  34, 
May  4,  1835. 

Alby  Bossman,  Island  No,  1,  in  the  Kalamazoo  Kiver,  section  33, 
Aug.  18, 1851. 

Same  party,  Island  No.  2,  in  the  Kalamazoo  Eiver,  same  date. 

Johu  K.  Kellogg,  Islands  Nos,  3  and  if  same  date. 

147 


148 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


THE  ALLEGAN  AND  BOSTON  COMPANIES. 
During  the  year  1833,  Mr.  George  Ketohum,  of  Mar- 
shall, Calhoun  Co.,  and  Messrs.  Stephen  Vickery  and  An- 
thony Cooley,  of  Kalamazoo,  purchased  from  the  govern- 
ment a  tract  of  land  now  covered  by  the  central  portion  of 
the  village  of  Allegan.  Stephen  Russell  and  others  bought 
lands  at  the  same  period,  which  were  subsequently  included 
in  the  village,  but  we  are  now  dealing  with  the  nucleus  of 
the  place.  On  November  of  that  year  they  sold  one  undi- 
vided third  of  their  land  to  Mr.  Elisha  Ely,  of  Rochester, 
N.  Y.  (subsequently  known  at  Allegan  as  Judge  Ely), 
who  agreed  to  have  a  race  dug  and  a  saw-mill  erected  there. 
In  May,  1834,  an  arrangement  was  made  for  the  convey- 
ance of  Mr.  Ely's  interest  to  his  son,  Alexander  L.  Ely,  and 
a  deed  to  that  eifect  was  executed.  It  was  not  recorded, 
as  the  elder  Ely  evidently  retained  some  kind  of  a  claim  on 
the  property.  Yet  the  younger  man  acted  as  the  virtual 
owner,  and  was  the  principal  manager  of  the  enterprise. 

During  the  summer  of  1834  he  and  his  other  partners, 
Ketchum,  Vickery,  and  Cooley,  projected  the  village  of 
Allegan,  Mr.  Oshea  Wider,  a  civil  engineer,  having  ascer- 
tained that  there  was  a  fall  of  eight  feet  in  the  Kalamazoo 
River  at  the  point  in  question.  Before  anything  was 
done,  however,  an  important  change  of  ownership  was 
made.  In  the  summer  of  1834,  Hon.  Samuel  Hubbard, 
of  Boston,  one  of  the  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, employed  Mr.  Ketchum,  of  Marshall,  to  buy 
some  wild  lands  for  him  in  Michigan.  Mr.  Ketchum  made 
some  purchases  in  Allegan  County,  and  recommended 
Judge  Hubbard  to  secure  an  interest  in  the  village  pro- 
jected by  Ely  and  his  associates  at  the  rapids  of  the  Kala- 
mazoo. The  judge  consulted  some  of  his  friends,  and  the  re- 
sult was  that  he  and  Edmund  Monroe  and  Pliny  Cutler,  of 
Boston,  and  Charles  C.  Trowbridge,  of  Detroit,  united  in 
purchasing  the  interest  of  Messrs.  Vickery,  Cooley,  and 
George  Ketchum  in  the  village  tract,  that  interest  being  the 
one  undivided  two-thirds.  Hubbard  held  the  title  for  him- 
self and  the  three  other  gentlemen  named.  Subsequently 
Judge  Hubbard  loaned  Mr.  A.  L.  Ely  several  thousand 
dollars,  and  Mr.  Trowbridge  took  the  title  of  Ely's  interest, 
holding  it  for  Hubbard's  benefit,  as  security  for  his  claim, 
so  that  Samuel  Hubbard  and  C.  C.  Trowbridge  appear  on 
the  records  as  proprietors  of  the  village. 

Soon  after  the  purchase  by  Judge  Hubbard  and  his 
friends,  he,  Cutler,  Monroe,  Trowbridge,  and  A.  L.  Ely 
formed  themselves  into  the  "  Allegan  Company"  for  the 
purpose  of  developing  the  intended  emporium.  This  was 
not,  however,  an  incorporated  company;  it  was  merely  a 
firm,  composed  of  the  gentlemen  named,  who  adopted  that 
name  for  the  purpose  of  convenience.  The  people  gener- 
ally spoke  of  it  as  "  The  Company." 

About  the  same  time,  Hubbard,  Monroe,  Cutler,  and 
Trowbridge,  who  had  then  purchased,  or  subsequently  did 
60,  over  20,000  acres  of  wild  land  outside  of  the  village, 
in  Allegan  and  other  counties,  assumed  the  name  of  the 
"  Boston  Company"  in  all  their  operations  connected  with 
those  lands,  in  order  to  distinguish  that  part  of  their  busi- 
ness from  the  village  matters  in  which  Ely  was  concerned. 
This  "  company,"  like  the  Allegan  Company,  was  not  in- 
corporated.    Yet,  on  account  of  both  firms  being  composed 


largely  of  the  same  persons,  and  of  their  both  being  com- 
monly mentioned  as  "  The  Company,"  there  is  quite  a 
general  impression  at  the  present  day  that  the  "  Boston 
Company"  founded,  laid  out,  and  improved  the  village  of 
Allegan,  but  this  idea,  as  has  been  seen,  is  erroneous.  Nev- 
ertheless, after  Mr.  Ely's  interest  passed  conditionally  into 
the  hands  of  Judge  Hubbard,  as  already  mentioned,  there 
was  very  little  distinction  between  the  two' companies. 

Mr.  Sidney  Ketchum  continued  for  many  years  the  agent 
of  the  Eastern  capitalists,  managing  their  interests  in  both 
"companies."  In  1841,  P.  J.  Littlejohn  was  appointed 
resident  agent  under  him. 

In  1835,  Elisha  and  Alexander  L.  Ely  removed  to  Alle- 
gan, and  Sidney  Ketchum  also  spent  much  of  his  time 
there.  In  1835  a  plat  of  the  village  was  made,  and  meas- 
ures were  at  once  taken  to  further  the  interests  of  the  ham- 
let. Work  had,  in  fact,  been  begun  in  1834,  but  only  a 
little  had  been  done.  The  race  was  dug,  the  dam  built, 
and  a  saw-mill  erected.  The  need  of  a  school-house  was 
apparent  as  laborers  in  the  interest  of  the  company  arrived, 
which  was  soon  after  built,  and  tenement-houses  followed 
in  rapid  succession.  The  most  sanguine  expectations  were 
indulged  in  with  regard  to  the  future  of  the  little  village, 
and,  with  the  prospect  of  a  railroad,  there  was  no  limit  to 
the  value  of  property.  It  is  credibly  stated  that  Mr.  A.  L. 
Ely  was  offered  $100,000  for  his  third  interest  in  the 
property.  He  refused  this  offer,  but  proposed  to  unite  with 
the  other  holders  of  the  property  and  dispose  of  forty  shares  ■ 
at  S5000  per  share ;  stipulating  that  Judge  Hubbard  and 
Trowbridge  should  retain  the  title  as  trustees.  A  few  shares 
were  sold  at  exorbitant  figures,  the  proceeds  of  which  were 
devoted  to  the  improvement  of  the  property. 

In  June,  1835,  the  lots  in  the  village  plat  were  placed  on 
sale.  Col.  Joseph  Fisk  enjoyed  the  distinction  of  being  the 
first  purchaser,  securing  lots  Nos.  282  and  283.  This  was 
the  beginning  of  a  period  of  inflation  in  Allegan,  which  in- 
creased in  1836  and  '37  (embracing^in  its  course  a  "wild- 
cat" banking  project  by  which  unsalable  acres  were  made 
the  basis  of  a  bank  of  issue),  and  which  finally  culminated 
in  one  grand  financial  wreck,  depriving  the  settlers  of  all 
available  capital  save  their  own  indomitable  courage  and 
tireless  industry. 

The  first  survey  of  the  village  embraced  two  tiers  of 
blocks,  and  was  (partly  on  account  of  the  haste  in  which  it 
was  made)  both  ill-planned  and  inaccurate.  The  proprie- 
tors consequently  employed  Flavins  J.  Littlejohn  to  make 
a  second  survey  in  1837  and  '38.  Yet  even  in  this  Mr. 
Littlejohn  was  forced  to  work  in  accordance  with  the  lines 
already  adopted,  which  will  account  for  the  irregularity  of 
the  present  village  plat.  By  direction  of  the  company,  Mr. 
Littlejohn  repaired,  during  the  winter  of  1838,  to  Albany, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  had  a  plate  engraved  and  500  copies 
printed  for  distribution.  The  plates  were  then  placed  in 
the  hands  of  Mr.  Trowbridge,  one  of  the  proprietors,  who, 
later,  had  a  second  edition  printed  from  them. 

The  projectors  of  the  village  did  not  allow  themselves  to 
become  discouraged,  and  in  1838  a  railroad  was  surveyed 
from  Allegan  to  Marshall,  and  an  agent  appointed  to  take 
charge  of  the  work  of  construction.  The  sanguine  parents 
of  this  scheme  were  no  more  fortunate  than  in  their  other 


ALLEGAN  VILLAGE. 


149 


projects ;  the  railroad  enjoyed  a  brief  existence  only  in  the 
minds  of  the  credulous  directors. 

The  village  had  now  become,  during  its  brief  existence, 
comparatively  well  settled,  emigrants  from  the  East  having 
been  attracted  by  the  fame  of  its  water-power  and  the  en- 
terprise which  the  proprietors  had  displayed  in  its  early 
settlement.  After  the  railroad  project  had  failed,  and  the 
wildcat  bank  had  spread  disaster  around,  the  condition  of 
the  community  became  more  and  more  straitened.  Nearly 
everybody  owed  the  company. 

Some  one,  about  1839  or  1840,  suggested  that  the  com- 
pany set  the  people  at  work  repairing  the  race  and  dam, 
which  by  this  time  were  in  a  bad  condition,  and  pay  them 
in  company  orders;  This  was  done,  and  very  numerous 
and  curious  were  the  uses  to  which  this  local  currency  was 
put,  some  amusing  illustrations  on  this  head  being  given  in  a 
letter  published  in  the  Allegan  Journal,  in  1878,  from 
which  the  most  of  our  information  regarding  the  Allegan 
and  Boston  Companies  is  derived.     The  writer  says  : 

"  Everybody  owed  the  company,  therefore  the  '  oompnny  orders' 
were  equal  to  gold.  I  spent  some  days  with  Mr.  Doane  Davis  at 
his  hotel.  One  evening  there  was  a  writing-class  of  young  men  and 
young  women  in  the  dining-room.  I  was  agreeably  surprised.  I 
said,  'Doane,  how  do  these  young  people  contrive  to  pay  the  master?* 
'  Oh,'  replied  Doane,  '  they  pay  in  company  orders  ;  they  take  them 
for  their  services,  and,  as  he  owes  the  company,  they  are  gold  to  him.' 
Another  evening  there  was  a  dance.  Doane's  wagon  brought  the 
young  people.  The  pipers  came  from  some  creek-  above  Allegan. 
Doane  got  the  party  a  nice  supper.  *  How's  this,  Doane?*  'All 
right,*  said  he ;  *  I  owe  the  company,  the  pipers  owe  the  company,  and 
it  is  gold  to  us.'  '  Well,'  I  asked,  *  how  do  you  do  for  small  chiinge  ?* 
'  Easily,*  said  Doane;  *  Judge  Ely  has  a  little  attachment  to  the  saw- 
mill, and  there  he  turns  out  wooden  bowls.'  *' 

This  was  in  1840.  Company  orders  were  not  current  in 
the  payment  of  taxes,  and  this  fact  presented  the  most 
serious  obstacle  to  the  financial  schemes  of  the  little  com- 
munity. Although  the  business  of  the  country  began  to 
revive  from  this  time,  yet  the  fortunes  of  the  Boston 
and  Allegan  Companies  showed  no  improvement.  One  of 
the  Boston  partners  failed  in  business ;  another  disposed  of 
his  share  to  a  Mr.  Jabez  Fitch,  who  soon  after  died,  and 
the  company's  affairs  seemed  involved  in  a  labyrinth  of 
embarrassments. 

A  steamboat  was  built  at  Singapore  by  the  proprietors  of 
Allegan,  about  1842,  which  was  named  the  "  C.  C.  Trow- 
bridge," and  was  intended  to  run  on  the  Kalamazoo  River. 
It,  only  made  two  trips,  however,  and  was  then  taken  off. 
The  early  boats  are  mentioned  in  Chapter  XIX.  in  the 
general  history. 

In  1844  an  inventory  of  unsold  lands  of  the  Boston 
Company  was  made,  embracing  in  all  about  20,000  acres. 
These  were  classified  and  appraised,  and  were  then  divided 
among  the  owners  by  lot. 

In  1849  the  Allegan  village  property  not  previously  sold 
was  disposed  of  at  auction  by  the  trustees,  the  proceeds 
bein"  divided  among  the  interested  parties.  Judge  Hubbard 
had  died  during  the  interval,  leaving  Mr.  Trowbridge,  who 
still  resides  in  Detroit,  the  sole  survivor  of  the  original 

partners 

EAELT    SETTLEMENTS. 

The  settlement  of  the  village  of  Allegan  began  in  1834, 
though  Elisha  Ely,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  had  been  over  the 


ground  the  previous  year  on  a  prospecting-tour.  The 
proprietors  of  the  village  had  already  made  a  beginning, 
and  found  themselves  much  in  want  of  labor  to  complete 
the  system  of  improvements  that  had  been  projected.  Mr. 
Ely  returned  to  Rochester,  and  brought  back  with  him  a 
small  company,  consisting  of  Leander  S.  Prouty,  his  wife, 
and  a  small  boy ;  Andy  J.  Pomeroy,  who  was  appointed 
foreman  of  the  work  to  be  undertaken  ;  and  J.  Hoyt. 

Mr.  Prouty  states  that  on  their  arrival  at  Detroit,  whither 
they  had  come  by  lake  from  Rochester,  they  purchased  a 
yoke  of  oxen  and  a  wagon,  the  latter  being  well  laden  with 
household-goods.  One  team  proving  insufficient,  they  hired 
another  on  the  route,  to  assist  them  in  reaching  Kalamazoo, 
for  which  they  paid  the  exorbitant  sum  of  $40.  From  that 
point  they  depended  upon  the  river  to  reach  their  destina- 
tion, and  embarked  upon  rafts ;  Mr.  Ely  having  purchased 
lumber  with  which  to  erect  shanties  on  their  arrival.  A 
man  named  Sherwood  took  charge  of  one  of  the  rafts,  while 
Mr.  Prouty  revived  the  maritime  experience  of  his  younger 
days  in  commanding  the  other. 

Before  the  little  squadron  had  proceeded  far  on  its  journey 
Sherwood's  craft  capsized,  and  much  of  its  freight  was  thrown 
overboard.  By  a  desperate  cffoyt  the  pork  and  other  valu- 
able articles  which  comprised  tfie  cargo  were  secured,  and, 
by  the  exercise  of  a  very  rigid  discipline  as  commander, 
Mr.  Prouty  finally  succeeded  in  bringing  the  party  to  their 
much-desired  destination.  The  ladies  of  the  company  went 
ashore  while  the  rafts  were  being  repaired,  and  excited  no 
little  wonder  and  admiration  among  the  Indians,  many  of 
whom  had  never  before'seen  a  white  woman.  Arriving  at 
the  spot  where  the  city  of  Allegan  was  to  be  built,  they  at 
once  erected  a  shanty  on  a  bit  of  ground  nearly  opposite 
the  site  of  the  Chaffee  House,  Wallace  Crittenden,  who 
had  joined  the  party  on  the  way,  driving  the  first  nail,  and 
causing  the  forest  first  to  re-echo  to  the  sound  oTthe  hammer. 

An  acre  of  ground  was  immediately  cleared,  and  one  of 
the  party  was  dispatched  to  Otsego  to  secure  a  plow,  their 
own  having  been  left  in  the  bed  of  the  Kalamazoo  at  the 
time  of  the  disaster  to  the  raft.  This  ground  they  planted 
with  potatoes  and  such  seeds  as  had  been  brought  from  the 
East,  raising  crops  which  afforded  them  an  ample  supply  for 
winter.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Prouty  were  both  employed  by  the 
proprietors  to  keep  house  for  the  men  in  their  employ,  for 
which  the  former  was  to  receive  $12.50  a  month,  and  the 
latter  $5  for  the  same  period.  They  occupied  the  shanties 
first  erected  until  more  comfortable  and  spacious  log  houses 
were  built,  into  which  they  removed. 

Provisions  were  scarce,  and  the  supply  brought  with  them 
was  limited.  Schoolcraft,  forty  miles  distant,  was  the  most 
accessible  point  at  which  they  could  be  obtained,  and  thither 
Mr.  Prouty  repaired  to  supply  his  larder.  He  returned  with 
a  quantity  of  pork,  which,  for  want  of  a  more  convenient 
method  of  conveyance,  he  was  obliged  to  carry  on  his  back. 
Fish  and  game  were  readily  obtained  from  the  Indians,  who 
were  ever  eager  to  "  swop"  those  commodities  for  bread, 
potatoes,  and  other  articles  in  more  general  use  among  the 
whites. 

Allegan  at  this  early  day  presented  all  the  aspects  of  an 
uncleared  wilderness.  Indians  were  numerous,  the  deer 
and  wolf  were  as  yet  hardly  conscious  of  the  presence  of  the 


150 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BAKRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


settler,  and  the  "  massasaugas"  were  so  abundant  as  to 
make  it  necessary  for  the  laborers  to  protect  their  limbs 
with  a  covering  of  white-ash  bark  as  a  safeguard  against 
their  venomous  bite.  Mr.  Prouty  very  soon  proved  him- 
self a  valuable  man  to  the  village  company,  and  was  given 
the  position  of  foreman  of  the  work  being  carried  on,  which 
position  he  held  for  fifteen  months.  At  the  expiration  of 
this  period  he  removed  to  towniship  1,  range  13  (now 
Trowbridge),  where  he  had  previously  entered  200  acres, 
on  which  he  still  resides. 

An  addition  was  made  to  the  colony  by  the  birth  of  a 
daughter  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Prouty,  who,  though  the  earliest 
white  infant  in  Allegan,  was  born  in  Otsego.  Mr.  Ely,  in 
honor  of  the  event,  presented  the  little  one  with  a  village 
lot. 

That  gentleman  returned  to  Rochester  in  the  fall  of 
1834,  being  replaced  by  his  son,  Alexander  L.  Ely,  who 
very  soon  became  prominently  identified  with  the  growth 
of  the  village.  The  next  year  his  father  resumed  his  resi- 
dence in  the  county,  and  made  it  his  permanent  home. 
Mr.  Prouty  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Keep  and  wife,  who 
were  the  landlord  and  landlady  at  the  boarding-house  for  a 
season,  but,  not  being  favorably  impressed  with  the  advan- 
tages of  Allegan,  they  soon  departed. 

Col.  Joseph  Fisk,  another  Rochester  pioneer,  followed 
soon  after,  his  advent  occurring  in  the  spring  of  1835.  At 
the  time  of  his  arrival  there  was  but  one  family  in  the 
place,  that  of  Leander  S.  Prouty,  and  but  one  other  family 
in  the  four  western  ranges  of  Allegan  County,  that  of  Wil- 
liam G.  Butler,  of  Saugatuck.  Col.  Fisk  came  at  the  insti- 
gation of  Sidney  Ketchum,  then  acting  as  agent  of  the  Alle- 
gan and  Boston  Companies  and  the  proprietors  of  Allegan, 
who  had  pictured  in  a  very  attractive  light  the  future  of  that 
place.  He  at  once  erected  a  log  house  on  the  site  of  the 
Allegan  House,  and  then  returned  to  Marshall  for  his  family, 
bringing  them  by  way  of  the  Kalamazoo  River.  On  his 
arrival  the  whole  white  population  of  the  county  numbered 
but  sixty  souls.  On  the  site  of  his  first  log  house  he  after- 
wards built  the  Allegan  House,  and  was  its  earliest  land- 
lord. In  company  with  Alva  Fuller  he  opened  a  store  con- 
taining a  general  stock  on  the  east  end  of  Hubbard  Street, 
nearly  opposite  his  residence,  and  ordered  a  supply  of  goods 
from  New  York.  No  less  than  three  months  were  con- 
sumed in  transporting  the  goods  to  their  destination,  and 
the  expense  amounted  to  $2.50  per  hundred  pounds.  Col. 
Fisk  became  the  first  owner  of  land  in  the  village,  aside 
from  the  company.  In  1837,  in  connection  with  Sidney 
Ketchum,  he  built  the  first  grist-mill,  on  the  site  now  oc- 
cupied by  Oliver  &  Co.'s  furniture-manufactory.  Later 
he  engaged  in  the  purchase  and  shipment  of  grain,  and  em- 
barked extensively  in  the  construction  of  railways  in  this 
and  other  States. 

In  the  spring  of  1835  the  first  birth  occurred  in  the 
settlement, — that  of  Joseph  Allegan  Fisk,  son  of  Col.  and 
Mrs.  Joseph  Fisk.  The  middle  name  was  adopted  at  the 
request  of  Mr.  Ely.  The  little  one,  however,  hardly 
reached  the  age  of  one  year,  and  his  was  probably  the  first 
death  in  the  village.  The  same  year  (1835)  also  witnessed 
the  first  marriage,  or  rather  marriages,  in  Allegan.  On 
Christmas  Day,  Alexander  L.  Ely  was  united  in  wedlock  to 


Miss  Mary  Weare,  and  George  Y.  Warner  to  Mrs.  Wil- 
liams, both  ceremonies  being  performed  by  the  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Jones. 

Indian  wigwams  at  this  time  lined  the  bank  of  the  river, 
Macsaubee,  one  of  the  chiefs,  and  a  few  of  his  followers 
choosing  the  peninsula  where  are  now  the  race  and  mills. 
Farther  down  the  stream  they  raised  a  suflScient  quantity 
of  corn  to  supply  their  meagre  wants.  They  were  on  cor- 
dial terms  with  the  whites,  and  especially  kind  in  time  of 
sickness. 

Macsaubee  had  several  bright,  intelligent  sons  and  a 
very  attractive  daughter.  The  language  of  the  aborigines 
was  for  a  time  entirely  unintelligible  to  the  settlers,  and  a 
half-breed  whom  Mr.  Ely  brought  from  the  East  did  good 
service  in  interpreting  between  the  people  of  the  two  races. 
Very  soon,  however,  their  language  became  somewhat 
familiar  to  many  of  the  whites,  and  conversation  with 
them  was  comparatively  easy. 

Rochester  had  another  representative  in  Allegan  in 
Horace  Wilson,  who  arrived  in  1835,  when  there  were 
but  two  log  houses  in  the  place.  He  soon  made  himself 
acquainted  with  the  characteristics  of  the  country  round 
about,  and  was  for  a  while  actively  employed  in  pointing 
out  desirable  localities  to  speculators  and  pioneers.  He 
also  cleared  off  the  main  portion  of  the  village,  now  occupied 
by  imposing  business  blocks,  felling  the  lofty  trees  which 
grew  there  with  dauntless  energy  and  industry. 

These  trees  were  burned  some  time  after  chopping,  when 
the  fire,  becoming  uncontrollable,  destroyed  several  dwell- 
ings which  had  been  erected,  and  the  frame  of  the  only 
church  edifice  in  the  village.  Mr.  Wilson  seems  to  have 
been  satisfied  with  this  latest  achievement,  for  he  soon  after 
left  the  allurements  of  village  life  for  the  less  exciting  pur- 
suits of  a  farmer,  locating  in  the  township  of  Monterey. 

Among  the  pioneers  of  1835,  who  by  their  public  spirit 
and  energy  have  done  much  to  make  Allegan  the  progres- 
sive village  it  is,  may  be  mentioned  the  name  of  Ira  Chaffee, 
who  came  to  that  place  from  Ogdcnsburg,  N.  Y.,  in  1835, 
and  at  once  engaged  to  Alexander  L.  Ely  for  a  year  at 
small  wages.  He  proved  himself  so  eflScient  that  his  wages 
were  more  than  quadrupled  the  following  year,  when  he 
was  selected  to  superintend  the  erection  of  a  dam  and  saw- 
mill for  other  parties  at  Swan  Creek,  seven  miles  below  the 
village.  He  was  then  occupied  in  running  one  of  the  com- 
pany's saw-mills. 

At  a  later  period  Mr.  Chaffee  became  engaged  in  various 
business  enterprises  of  his  own,  and  in  1841  he  purchased 
the  saw-mill  built  by  the  proprietors  of  the  village,  which 
he  has  managed  continuously  since  that  time.  In  1872  he 
built  the  Chaffee  House,  an  imposing  structure,  which  in 
point  of  convenience  and  excellence  of  material  ranks  among 
the  finest  hotels  of  the  State.  Mr.  Chaffee  is  still  a  resident 
of  Allegan,  and  is  actively  engaged  in  business  pursuits. 

Doane  D.  Davis,  David  Anthony,  and  one  Baker  came 
in  1835,  at  the  suggestion  of  Col.  Fisk,  and  were  engaged 
in  building  for  him  ;  the  former  marrying  the  following  year 
and  making  Allegan  his  home.  During  the  earlier  years 
of  his  residence  he  followed  the  trade  of  a  carpenter.  Later 
he  was  engaged  as  a  contractor,  and  was  actively  interested 
in  various  enterprises  of  considerable  importance.     He  was 


ALLEGAN  VILLAGE. 


151 


also  elected  to  several  ofiScial  positions,  and  during  one  term 
held  the  oflSce  of  county  treasurer.  Mr.  Davis,,  as  the 
result  of  years  of  well-directed  industry,  left  on  his  death 
a  handsome  estate  to  his  widow,  who  bequeathed  in  her  will 
a  considerable  legacy  to  the  Baptist  Church  of  the  village, 
of  which  she  was  a  member. 

Elias  Streeter,  another  New  York  pioneer,  made  his 
advent  in  1835,  accompanied  by  his  three  sons, — J.  B., 
T.  E.,  and  A.  L.  Streeter, — all  of  whom  are  now  residents 
of  Allegan.  On  Mr.  Streeter's  arrival  he  engaged  in  labor 
for  the  proprietors  of  the  village,  but  afterwards,  preferring 
a  more  independent  career,  he  embarked  in  the  lumbering 
business  on  his  own  account.  He  established  a  first-class 
record  as  a  hunter,  and  was  also  remarkably  skillful  as  a 
trapper.  On  one  occasion,  while  placing  in  position  a  heavy 
iron  wolf-trap,  several  miles  from  home,  his  wrist  was  caught 
between  its  formidable  teeth,  which  deeply  mangled  the 
flesh.  The  spring  of  the  trap  was  so  strong  that  he  was 
unable  to  open  the  jaws  with  his  remaining  hand.  In  spite 
of  the  intense  pain,  he  made  his  way  to  a  sapling,  which, 
having  a  hatchet  with  him,  he  cut  down  witli  one  hand. 
Out  of  this  he  succeeded  in  making  a  wedge.  He  then  by 
repeated  efforts  forced  it  a  little  at  a  time  between  the  teeth 
of  the  trap,  and  finally,  after  much  labor  and  great  suffer- 
ing, opened  the  jaws  so  that  he  could  extricate  his  hand 
from  their  terrible  grasp.  Mr.  Streeter  died  many  years 
since,  at  his  home  in  Allegan. 

W.  C.  Jenner  had  formerly  been  a  British  subject.  He 
made  Allegan  his  home  in  1835,  bringing  with  him  two 
sons,  W.  B.  and  T.  C.  Jenner.  He  was  the  first  shoemaker 
in  Allegan,  and  his  skill  in  that  occupation  was  in  great 
demand.  At  a  later  period  he  and  his  son,  T.  C.  Jenner, 
embarked  in  the  dry-goods  business  at  Allegan.  He  erected, 
on  the  corner  of  Locust  and  Hubbard  Streets,  a  comfort- 
able frame  house,  in  which  he  resided  until  his  death. 
The  family  have  resided  here  ever  since  his  arrival  in 
1835.     His  son,  W.  B.  Jenner,  still  survives. 

John  Askins  was  the  first  millwright  who  sought  the 
wilds  of  Allegan.  He  followed  the  fortunes  of  Judge  Ely, 
as  did  many  other  Rochester  emigrants  of  1835.  Being 
also  a  skillful  carpenter  and  joiner,  he  was  employed  in 
building  the  dam  and  saw-mill,  and,  a  little  later,  found  a 
wide  field  for  his  labors  in  the  erection  of  buildings  for  the 
pioneers.  He  enjoyed  the  reputation  of  being  the  most 
skillful  hewer  of  timber  in  the  settlement.  Mr.  Askins 
still  resides  in  Allegan.  Though  in  a  measure  retired  from 
the  active  pursuits  of  his  early  years,  his  hand  has  not  yet 
lost  its  cunning. 

James  Dawson  was  another  of  the  settlers  of  1835  who 
followed  the  calling  of  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  in  which  he 
is  yet  actively  employed.  He  built  a  comfortable  home  on 
the  corner  of  Monroe  and  Walnut  Streets,  and  still  occu- 
pies it. 

Justus  W.  Bond,  another  Rochester  man,  which  city  he 
left  in  1835  for  the  forests  of  Allegan,  was  early  engaged 
as  a  painter  and  glazier.    He  still  pursues  his  calling  in  the 

village. 

E.  Parkhurst,  on  his  arrival  the  same  year,  became  Mr. 
Ely's  accountant,  and  acted  in  this  capacity  during  the 
early  flourishing  pei;iod  of  Allegan's  existence.     He  was 


subsequently  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  a  probate 
judge.  He  died,  however,  early  in  the  history  of  Allegan. 
Elisha  Moody  improved  a  quarter  section  of  land  now 
embraced  in  the  village  limits,  but  soon  after,  becoming 
weary  of  the  privations  incident  to  a  newly-settled  country, 
returned  to  Rochester,  whence  he  had  come  in  1835  at  the 
suggestion  of  Mr.  Ely. 

Rev.  W.  Jones  was  the  first  divine  who  cast  his  fortunes 
with  the  pioneers  of  Allegan.  He  built  a  residence  on  the 
ground  now  occupied  by  the  First  National  Bank,  and  held 
the  earliest  religious  meeting  in  the  little  hamlet.  His  ser- 
vices were  much  in  demand  on  wedding  occasions,  when 
his  genial  nature  contributed  greatly  to  the  pleasure  of  the 
occasion. 

Among  the  remaining  settlers  of  1835  were  B.  Eager, 
L.  Fish,  J.  Weare,  and  a  few  others  who  soon  removed  out 
of  the  village  and  located  themselves  on  farms. 

The  year  1836  witnessed  a  great  increase  in  the  emi- 
gration to  Allegan.  It  has  seemed  to  us  as  if  the  remark 
of  an  old  settler,  that  "  everybody  came  in  1836,"  was 
almost  literally  true.  Among  the  emigrants  of  that  year 
the  following  are  recalled  : 

Flavins  J.  Littlejohn  was  born  in  Herkimer  Co.,  N.  Y., 
in  July,  1804.  He  graduated  from  Hamilton  College,  in 
that  State,  in  1827,  delivering  the  valedictory  address.  In 
the  spring  of  1836,  finding  his  health  failing,  he  removed 
to  Allegan,  with  the  purpose  of  devoting  his  energies  to 
surveying  and  such  other  occupations  as  would  admit  of 
an  active  out-of-door  life.  He  had  been  in  the  settlement 
but  a  year  when  the  Allegan  Company  employed  him  to 
make  a  survey  of  the  village,  the  preliminary  survey  of 
Oshea  Wilder  not  having  proved  accurate,  probably  from 
want  of  the  necessary  facilities.  He  was  engaged  in  this 
labor  until  1838,  as  already  mentioned. 

After  this,  at  the  solicitation  of  friends,  he  entered  into 
the  practice  of  law.  During  the  years  1842,  1843,  and 
1844  he  was  a  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives 
of  Michigan,  and  in  1845  and  1846  he  served  as  a  State 
senator ;  was  re-elected  to  the  House  in  1847 ;  serving  in 
1848 ;  being  present  during  the  first  session  held  at  Lan- 
sing. While  a  senator  he  was  the  chairman  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Revision  of  the  Statutes,  and  during  his  second 
year  he  was  the  president  pro  tempore  of  the  Senate. 

In  1852,  Mr.  Littlejohn  actively  resumed  the  practice 
of  law;  was  later  elected  circuit  judge,  with  jurisdiction 
over  a  field  embracing  twenty  counties,  which  position  he 
filled  for  eleven  years.  Judge  Littlejohn  from  time  to  time 
purchased  much  land  in  various  portions  of  the  county, 
which  was  afterwards  disposed  of  as  the  demand  for  de- 
sirable locations  increased.  On  his  arrival  at  Allegan  but 
four  acres  of  the  village  site  had  been  cleared  of  trees,  and 
even  that  tract  was  still  well  filled  with  stumps,  the 
only  streets  being  narrow  roads  in  which  teams  could 
barely  pass.  Not  a  single  settler  had  ventured  to  locate 
between  Allegan  and  Grand  Rapids,  and  not  an  acre  had 
been  cleared.  Judge  Littlejohn,  after  a  short  illness,  died 
on  the  14th  day  of  May,  1880,  in  the  seventy-seventh 
year  of  his  age. 

His  father  and  three  brothers,  John,  Philo  B.,  and  Silas 
F.  Littlejohn,  followed  him  to  Allegan.     The  last  named 


15:; 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


followed  his  occupation  of  carpenter,  and  erected,  in  1837, 
a  spacious  and,  for  those  early  days,  an  elegant  residence 
on  the  site  now  occupied  by  Col.  Fisk's  house.  Silas  F. 
Littlejohn  did  not  long  survive  his  coming  to  Michigan. 
John  Littlejohn  settled  in  Allegan  in  1844,  and  soon 
became  actively  interested  in  various  business  enterprises. 
A  more  extended  biography  of  this  gentleman  is  given  in 
the  latter  part  of  this  chapter.  A  son,  Philetus  0.  Little- 
john, who  had  formerly  been  extensively  engaged  in  con- 
tracting at  the  East,  left  his  home  in  Virginia  in  1852, 
and  located  in  Allegan.  For  many  years  he  took  an  active 
interest  in  public  enterprises,  but  has  recently  devoted  his 
time  principally  to  the  care  of  his  landed  property  in 
Pine  Plains. 

Lyman  W.  Watkins,  Zadoc  Huggins,  and  Andrew  Her- 
mants  all^  left  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  early  in  1836  for  Chicago. 
On  their  way  they  were  induced  to  turn  aside  to  Allegan 
by  the  promise  of  lucrative  employment  upon  the  works 
then  in  progress  there.  At  Marshall,  Messrs.  Huggins  and 
Watkins  purchased  a  canoe,  and  made  their  way  down  the 
river  to  Allegan  without  difiSeulty.  The  former  gentleman 
soon  after  purchased  a  farm  in  Monterey.  Mr.  Watkins 
worked  for  a  while  in  the  mill  at  Allegan,  but  for  several 
years  followed  the  calling  of  a  boatman  on  the  Kalamazoo 
River.  He  afterwards  opened  a  grocery-store,  and  with  it 
the  first  meat-market  in  Allegan.  Still  later  he  established 
a  drug-store,  which  he  conducted  until  his  retirement  from 
active  business. 

Rev.  W.  C.  H.  Bliss,  one  of  the  earliest  preachers  of  the 
gospel  to  the  little  colony,  was  a  former  resident  of  Roches- 
ter, N.  Y.,  from  which  place  he  emigrated  in  1836.  He 
was  a  cabinet-maker  as  well  as  a  minister,  and  opened  the 
first  cabinet-shop  in  Allegan,  on  the  site  of  the  City  Hotel. 
Many  of  the  early  religious  services  in  the  village  were  held 
by  him,  the  scene  of  the  first  having  been  a  carpenter-shop 
near  the  site  of  the  Allegan  House.  Afterwards,  for  many 
years,  he  fulfilled  the  duties  of  a  circuit-preacher,  traveling 
many  miles  on  foot  in  the  performance  of  his  sacred  func- 
tions. Though  in  his  seventy-eighth  year,  he  still  oflBoiates 
at  funerals,  and  occasionally  preaches  other  sermons. 

Alva  Fuller  came  from  the  State  of  New  York  in  1836, 
and  began  life  in  Allegan  in  the  mercantile  business  with 
Col.  Fisk.  He  remained  in  Allegan  several  years,  and  then 
returned  to  his  native  State,  where  he  purchased  a  farm. 
He  had,  however,  become  thoroughly  imbued  with  the 
spirit  of  the  West,  and  soon  migrated  to  Illinois,  where  he 
now  resides. 

From  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  the  same  year,  came  Alby  Ross- 
man,  who  at  once  went  to  work  at  his  trade  as  a  machinist. 
In  connection  with  Hyman  Hoxie,  another  of  the  pioneers 
of  1836,  he  established  a  furnace  and  machine-shop,  which 
establishment  was  conducted  by  Mr.  Rossman  nearly  thirty 
years.  An  anecdote  told  by  that  gentleman  forcibly  illus- 
trates the  extreme  scarcity  of  money  at  that  period.  That 
gentleman  made  a  contract  for  the  purchase  of  500  bushels 
of  charcoal,  the  agreement  being  that  it  should  be  paid  for 
in  trade,  with  the  exception  of  25  cents  in  money,  to  enable 
the  seller  to  obtain  a  letter  from  the  post-oflBce.  At  a  later 
period  Mr.  Rossman  purchased  100  acres  of  land,  on  which 
he  erected  a  spacious  brick  residence,  where  he  now  resides. 


John  R.  Kellogg  came  from  the  State  of  New  York  in 
1836,  located  in  Allegan,  and  engaged  in  real-estate  busi- 
ness. He  was  subsequently  engaged  in  lumbering  and 
other  business,  being  always  ranked  among  Allegan's  most 
enterprising  citizens.  With  him  came  two  sons,  Andrew 
J.  and  John  G.  Kellogg,  the  former  of  whom  now  resides 
in  Detroit  and  the  latter  in  California. 

N.  B.  West,  who  is  still  one  of  the  most  enterprising 
business  men  of  the  village,  was  also  a  pioneer  of  1836. 
He  at  first  followed  his  trade  as  a  carpenter  for  two  years. 
After  an  absence  of  three  years  he  returned  in  1841,  and 
engaged  in  the  business  which  he  has  ever  since  followed, — 
that  of  a  manufacturer  of  doors,  blinds,  etc.  When  Mr. 
West  came  there  was  but  one  tavern  in  the  place, — the 
Allegan  House, — and  so  great  was  the  rush  of  travel  that 
he  was  unable  to  secure  quarters  there.  He  accordingly 
repaired  to  the  Exchange  Hotel,  then  being  built  by  Wm. 
Boone,  where  he  found  a  comfortable  bed  in  one  of  the 
stalls  of  the  barn.  The  Exchange  was  soon  after  completed, 
and  was  speedily  filled  with  guests. 

Dr.  0.  D.  Goodrich  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being  the 
first  physician  who  ministered  to  the  ills  of  the  settlers  of- 
Allegan.  He  arrived  there  in  1836,  having  left  Oneida 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  two  years  before,  and  at  once  began  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession.  His  circuit  extended  many  miles 
in  every  direction,  a  large  part  of  his  time  being  spent  in 
battling  with  that  scourge  of  Michigan,  the  fever  and  ague. 
He  has  since  that  time,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  years 
spent  in  Connecticut,  been  in  active  practice  in  Allegan, 
though  of  late  years  he  has  sought  relief  from  professional 
labor  whenever  practicable. 

Duncan  A.  McMartin,  the  present  president  of  the  Pio- 
neer Society,  arrived  in  Allegan  in  1836,  a  weary  pedestrian, 
en  route  for  Illinois.  He  was,  however,  so  favorably  im- 
pressed with  this  region  and  the  cordial  welcome  of  the  set- 
tlers that  he  determined  not  to  leave.  He  still  resides  in 
the  village,  and  with  his  accomplished  wife,  whose  advent  in 
the  county  dates  back  to  1833,  takes  great  interest  in  all 
that  pertains  to  its  early  history. 

Among  the  most  public-spirited  of  Allegan's  citizens 
who  came  in  1836  was  Henry  H.  Booth.  He  had  pre- 
viously been  a  resident  of  Weedsport,  N.  Y.,  and  was  at- 
tracted to  Allegan  by  the  rumors  of  its  rapid  growth  which 
had  reached  the  East.  Most  of  his  household  goods  had 
been  shipped  the  previous  winter  by  schooner,  and,  having 
been  stored  in  Detroit,  had  been  destroyed  by  fire.  On  his 
arrival  Mr.  Booth  found  there  was  not  much  to  do  at  his 
trade  of  cabinet-making,  and  accordingly  engaged  for  a  while 
in  teaming,  which  he  found  quite  profitable.  Subsequently 
he  was  elected  county  elerk,  which  office  he  filled  accept- 
ably for  several  years.  He  afterwards  officiated  as  county 
judge,  and  was  for  several  years  the  agent  of  the  Boston 
Company  in  the  sale  of  their  lands.  In  1856  he  built  Pine 
Grove  Seminary,  a  capacious  structure,  the  use  of  which  he 
gave,  free  of  rent,  to  the  various  instructors  who  occupied  it 
for  educational  purposes.  The  building  was  purchased,  in 
1865,  by  School  District  No.  1,  and  is  now  occupied  by  the 
Union  School  of  Allegan.  Mr.  Booth  died  in  1867,  in 
Allegan,  where  his  widow  still  retains  her  residence. 

Milo  Winslow  was  a  son  of  the  Green  Mountains  who 


~c-t' 


'/:^U4-^ 


VP<:^- 


ALLEGAN  VILLAGE. 


153 


left  his  native  State  of  Vermont  for  Allegan  in  1836.  He 
early  built  a  store  on  the  site  of  the  Allegan  City  Bank,  a 
spacious  building  for  that  day,  which  he  filled  with  a  general 
stock  of  goods.  He  established  a  good  trade,  and  was 
chosen  the  first  treasurer  of  the  county ;  but  his  career  was 
suddenly  terminated  by  a  melancholy  fate.  He  embarked 
on  a  schooner  for  Chicago,  where  he  intended  to  purchase 
goods.  The  vessel  was  capsized  by  the  wind,  and  Mr. 
Winslow  was  drowned. 

William  A.  Knapp,  -  another  pioneer  from  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  was  induced  by  Alexander  L.  Ely  to  cast  his  lot  in 
Allegan  in  1836.  He  found  one  saw-mill  completed  on 
his  arrival  and  another  in  process  of  erection,  the  Allegan 
Company  at  this  time  having  a  large  number  of  men  in 
their  employ.  He  was  at  once  engaged  to  assist  in  the  mill, 
where  he  remained  two  years.  Mr.  Knapp  afterwards  pur- 
chased a  farm,  but  has  nevertheless  resided  much  of  the 
time  in  the  village,  having  for  a  number  of  years  served  as 
a  public  officer. 

Alanson  S.  Weeks,  who  also  arrived  in  1836,  was  the 
second  painter  and  glazier  in  the  village,  which  trade  he 
combined  with  that  of  a  chair-maker.  His  sons,  W.  C. 
and  H.  C.  Weeks,  though  residents  of  the  village,  are  ex- 
tensive breeders  of  blooded  stock,  and  have,  on  their  fine 
farm  near  by,  the  largest  herd  in  the  county. 

J.  B.  and  Leonard  Bailey  left  the  excitements  of  New 
York  City  fon  the  wilds  of  Michigan  in  1836,  the  former 
having  been  employed  by  New  York  parties  to  superintend 
the  erection  of  a  saw-mill  on  the  Kalamazoo,  fourteen  miles 
below  Allegan.  Leonard  Bailey  was  a  carpenter,  and  had 
immediate  charge  of  the  construction  of  the  mill.  He  at 
first  placed  his  family  in  Allegan,  but  ere  long  moved  it  to 
the  locality  of  his  business,  where  they  remained  until  1840. 
They  then  returned  to  the  village,  and  have  resided  there 
ever  since,  Mr.  Bailey  being  actively  employed  in  business  in 
Allegan.  Leonard  Bailey  engaged  in  the  milling  business, 
and  has  also  held  various  official  positions,  being  also  a  resi- 
dent of  Allegan. 

Jason  Torry  was  another  of  the  early  carpenters,  who  left 
the  State  of  New  York  in  1836  and  migrated  to  Allegan. 
He  was  at  first  engaged  in  a  pail-factory,  but  subsequently 
followed  his  trade  until  his  removal  to  another  portion  of 
the  State.  Hiram  Bassett,  of  Kochester,  N.  Y.,  worked  in 
one  of  the  saw-mills  when  he  first  came,  and  was  otherwise 
employed  by  Mr.  Ely.  He  remained  in  Allegan  until  his 
death,  in  1876. 

Among  those  who  came  early  in  1836  was  a  man  named 
Greeley,  who  followed  the  occupation  of  well-digging  and 
boarded  at  Leander  S.  Prouty's.  He  died  the  same  year, 
his  death  being  the  first  in  the  settlement.  ^ 

In  1836  also  came  William  Waycott  from  the  suburbs  of 
Detroit,  where  he  had  followed  the  joiners'  craft.  Soon 
after  his  arrival  he  met  a  tragic  fate,  which  caused  much 
gloom  in  the  little  settlement.  While  engaged  in  raising 
the  frame  of  J.  B.  Bailey's  house,  one  of  the  timbers  fell 
and  struck  Mr.  Waycott  with  a  force  which  made  the  blow 
instantly  fatal.  This  melancholy  event  was  the  first  violent 
death  which  occurred  in  the  village. 

Hovey  K.  Clarke  acted  for  a  brief  time  as  agent  for  the 
Boston  Company.     He  then  engaged  in  the  study  of  law 
20 


with  Judge  Littlejohn,  and  was  afterwards  an  active  prac- 
titioner. He  also  attained  some  local  distinction  as  the 
cashier  of  the  Allegan  wildcat  bank.  Mr.  Clarke  subse- 
quently removed  to  Detroit,  where  he  has  for  years  enjoyed 
a  reputation  for  distinguished  ability  in  his  profession. 

George  Y.  Warner,  a  New  Englander  by  birth,  arrived 
in  1836,  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law.  He  held 
several  official  positions,  among  them  those  of  probate  judge, 
Circuit  Court  commissioner,  and  prosecuting  attorney.  He 
afterwards  cleared  a  farm  in  Trowbridge  and  resided  upon 
it  many  years,  but  has  since  removed  from  the  State. 

Richard  Cook  came  from  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  early  that 
same  year,  and  was  employed  in  excavating  the  race. 
Afterwards  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Allegan  township, 
where  his  sons,  John  and  George,  now  reside. 

From  Wayne  County,  N.  Y.,  came  Wells  Field  (also  in 
1836),  who  located  in  the  village.  Col.  Fisk  had  returned 
to  the  East  and  mustered  a  band  of  thirteen  recruits,  among 
whom  were  his  brother,  Oramel  Fisk,  and  Mr.  Field.  The 
latter  gentleman  had  engaged  on  his  arrival  to  take  charge 
of  Col.  Fisk's  store,  recently  opened,  which  he  did  for  one 
year,  at  the  expiration  of  which  he  leased  the  Allegan 
House,  and  became  its  landlord  for  a  year.  In  1840  he 
removed  to  a  farm  he  had  purchased  in  the  township  of 
Watson,  upon  which'  he  remained  ten  years.  He  then  re- 
turned to  the  village,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

William  Finn,  a  native  of  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.,  also  cast 
his  lot  with  the  Allegan  pioneers  in  1836.  He  arrived  when 
the  village  plat  was  not  yet  cleared,  and  only  a  few  log 
houses  and  slab  shanties  ofi'ered  shelter  to  the  meagre  popu- 
lation. After  a  short  time  Mr.  Finn  returned  to  the  East 
for  a  stock  of  provisions,  which  he  purchased  for  $2000 
and  sold  for  $6000, — wildcat  money, — narrowly  escaping 
the  loss  of  his  capital.  He  afterwards  embarked  in  the 
dry-goods  business,  and  in  various  milling  enterprises.  He 
is  still  a  resident  of  Allegan. 

Among  the  other  arrivals  during  this  eventful  year  were 
E.  A.  Murray,  J.  D.  Stone,  S.  Marsh,  L.  Loomis,  J.  Big- 
gins, W.  Porter,  John  J.  Jones  (formerly  postmaster),  T. 
A.  West,  W.  H.  Brown,  W.  Allen,  E.  G.  Bingham,  G. 
"  McCoy,  J.  P.  Austin,  D.  Emerson,  L.  Wilcox,  E.  W.  R. 
Dickinson,  Z.  Booth,  H.  Hoxie,  J.  L.  Shearer,  D.  B.  Stout, 
H.  Annis,  A.  Johannot,  J.  Billings,  I.  Bush,  W.  PuUen, 
Ellis  C.  Miner,  Philander  Chaffee,  T.  M.  Russell,  J.  J. 
Miner,  G.  Jewett,  and  G.  Nelson.  Yet  these  were  only 
a  part,  for,  during  the  year  1836,  more  than  five  hundred 
people  halted  for  a  time  at  least  at  Allegan.  Many  of 
them,  however,  did  not  become  permanent  residents  of  the 
villao'e,  merely  making  it  a  temporary  abode  until  another 
abiding-place  could  be  provided  in  other  portions  of  the 
county. 

Among  the  pioneers  of  1837  was  Daniel  D.  Davis,  who 
made  his  advent  in  July  of  that  year,  most  of  his  family 
havino-  preceded  him.  For  a  while  he  followed  his  occu- 
pation as  a  carpenter  and  joiner  in  summer,  employing  the 
winter  months  in  the  manufacture  of  wagons  and  sleighs. 
He  bought  two  lots  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  upon 
which  he  at  first  erected  a  shanty,  and,  later,  a  comfortable 
residence.  He  finally  removed  to  land  he  had  previously 
purchased  on  section  5,  Allegan  township,  and  engaged  for 


154 


HISTOEY  OP  ALLEGAN  AiND  BAKKY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


several  years  id  its  improvement,  but  later  years  found  him 
again  a  resident  of  the  village  which  he  chose  as  his  early 
home. 

E.  C.  Southworth,  having  removed  from  Little  Falls  to 
Allegan,  soon  established  a  factory  for  the  manufacture  of 
pails.  He  was  also  a  merchant,  and  for  a  brief  time  the 
landlord  of  the  Allegan  House.  He  afterwards  purchased 
a  farm,  to  which  he  removed,  but  ultimately  departed  for 
California,  where  he  is  now  engaged  in  mining. 

Among  others  who  came  in  1837  were  R.  W.  Brooksi 
J.  D.  Leggett,  G.  H.  Hill,  L.  Ross,  J.  Davison,  L.  K. 
Pratt,  J.  M.  Thomas,  A.  Parkinson,  T.  N.  West,  L.  Wins- 
low,  Asa  Morse,  N.  and  C.  Dickenson,  G.  Benson,  N. 
Briggs,  J.  P.  Nolan,  C.  Austin,  J.  Weare,  Jr.,  B.  Pratt, 
W.  C.  Rowe,  J.  Hudson,  W.  F.  Brown,  G.  H.  Hull,  J. 
Robinson,  H.  Hutchins,  George  Ely,  A.  Goodrich,  A.  D. 
Dunning,  J.  Doty,  John  F.  Ely,  J.  and  L.  Eager,  M.  Van 
Norman,  D.  C.  Ailing,  T.  Sands,  J.  P.  Austin,  A.  Edgar- 
ton,  E.  Flannagan,  J.  H.  Wells,  J.  Smith,  6.  Morton,  and 
H.  and  J.  Allett. 

James  Henderson,  a  native  of  Scotland,  came  to  Detroit 
in  1835,  and  three  years  later  removed  to  Allegan,  where 
he  assisted  in  the  construction  of  the  first  flouring-mill. 
Subsequently  he  became  a  farmer,  to  which  occupation  he 
devoted  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  a  man  of  culti- 
vated tastes,  and  devoted  much  of  his  leisure  to  intellectual 
pursuits.  He  resided  in  Allegan  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1875.  His  son,  Donald  Campbell  Hen- 
derson, who  came  to  Allegan  with  his  father  in  1838,  has 
since  attained  much  distinction  as  a  journalist,  and  is  well 
known  throughout  the  State  as  the  founder  and  editor-in- 
chief  of  the  Journal.  A  sketch  of  Mr.  Henderson's  paper 
will  be  found  in  Chapter  XX.  of  the  general  history. 

In  1838  came  also  C.  G.  Wilson,  F.  Day,  H.  Cole,  J. 
and  S.  L.  Stone,  N.  Manson,  C.  P.  Nichols,  G.  Perkins,  0. 
Smith,  R.  and  G.  W.  Fairchild,  H.  Fisher,  D.  A.  Plummer, 
W.  Marshall,  W.  P.  Giddings,  D.  Bracelin,  B.  W.  Kibby, 
F.  Van  De  Bogert,  S.  Brockway,  I.  Dexter,  F.  C.  Parker, 
J.  Knowlton,  B.  Rogers,  J.  W.  Willard,  and  J.  B.  Price. 

The  principal  emigrants  of  1839  were  H.  L.  Hurd,  D. 
Kingsbury,  J.  Green,  S.  Underwood,  D.  and  E.  Wilder, 
and  A.  P.  Bush.  During  the  following  ten  years,  among 
the  arrivals,  some  of  whom  remained  but  a  brief  time, 
were  E.  and  L.  Knapp,  J.  B.  Alexander,  M.  Hawks,  S. 
Miles,  L.  Barker,  H.  C.  and  G.  C.  Smith,  H.  Staring,  J, 

B.  Allen,  J.  Frost,  A.  and  A.  B.  Carpenter,  W.  Hinckley, 

C.  C.  Willis,  C.  C.  Brownson,  H.  Lounsbury,  J.  P.  McCor- 
mick,  B.  B.  Bassett,  C.  R.  Wilkes,  R.  and  L.  Thompson, 
A.  R.  Calkins,  J.  Moses,  R.  Dyer,  J.  and  J.  W.  Kent,  G. 
Bigsby,  C.  J.  Tanner,  G.  Updyke,  0.  Goodspeed,  T.  N. 
Hudson,  R.  G.  Winer,  J.  Rawley,  H.  J.  and  M.  Cook,  8. 
Peek,  J.  Sadler,  S.  P.  Stanley,  0.  B.  Bellinger,  R.  Updyke, 
L.  Comstock,  R.  Collins,  Watson  Brown,  L.  Sage,  J.  E. 
Babbitt,  W.  Partridge.  J.  Dyer,  H.  Stimson,  C.  and  M. 
Richards,  J.  Yeldon,  H."Cole,  G.  Peet,  M.  Baldwin,  H. 
Green,  and  T.  J.  Parker. 

Many  leading  citizens  came  to  the  village  at  a  later  period, 
who  by  their  energy  added  greatly  to  its  growth  and  im- 
provement, but  they  cannot  be  classed  as  among  the  early 
settlers. 


VILLAGE  PLATS. 
Very  soon  after  the  organization  of  the  Allegan  Com- 
pany a  preliminary  survey  of  two  tiers  of  blocks  was  made 
by  Oshea  Wilder.  This  was,  however,  so  inaccurate  that 
in  1837  the  company  employed  F.  J.  Littlejohn  to  make  a 
second  survey  of  the  plat.  Thus  surveyed,  maps  were  en- 
graved, which  were  distributed  among  the  various  purchasers 
of  lots.  Since  that  time  the  following  additions  have  been 
made  to  the  original  village  plat :  AUerds'  survey,  Russell's 
fraction,  Streeter's  addition,  Higginbotham's  addition,  Rus- 
sell's addition.  Stein  and  Green's  addition.  Cummins'  ad- 
dition, Briggs'  addition,  Davis'  addition.  Green's  addition, 
Lee's  addition,  Lowe's  division  map  of  section  27,  Lowe's 
second  division  map  of  section  27,  Streeter  and  Andrews' 
addition,  Riley  and  Thompson's  replat  of  part  of  Block  B, 
Streeter's  addition,  Rossman's  addition,  Goodrich's  addition. 

ORGANIZATION  AND  OrJFICEES. 

The  village  of  Allegan  was  incorporated  in  1838,  the 
first  president  being  William  C.  Jenner,  who  was  re-elected 
for  several  successive  years.  The  village  records  of  the 
first  twenty  years  have  been  lost  or  destroyed,  and  no  re- 
liable information  can  be  obtained  regarding  the  village 
officers  of  an  earlier  date  than  1858.  During  that  year 
the  village  obtained  a  new  charter  and  an  election  was  held, 
of  which  the  following  record  was  made  in  the  village 
book : 

"At  an  election  held  at  the  Old  Court-House,  in  the  village  of 
Allegan,  in  the  County  of  Allegan  and  State  of  Michigan,  on  Mon- 
day, the  8th  day  of  March,  A.  D.  1858,  for  the  purpose  of  Electing 
village  officers  under  the  new  charter.  Hon.  Wm.  B.  Williams  and 
Dr.  0.  D.  Goodrich  were  duly  Elected  Inspectors  or  Judges  of  such 
Elections,  and  E.  B.  Bassett  was  chosen  Clerk,  who  were  duly  sworn 
as  provided  by  law." 

From  and  including  that  year  the  following  officers  have 
been  elected : 

1858. — President,  Henry  H.  Booth;  Recorder,  E.  B.  Bassett;  Trus- 
tees, David  D.  Davis,  T.  M.  Russell,  C.  R.  Wilkes,  C.  W. 
Calkins,  S.  N.  Pike;  Treasurer,  Homer  6.  Case;  Assessors, 
Wells  Field,  William  Finn. 

1859. — President,  Thomas  C.  Jenner;  Recorder,  E.  B.  Bassett;  Trus- 
tees, Thomas  J.  Parker,  Alanson  Case,  Ira  Chaffee,  E.  D. 
Follett,  Wells  Field;  Treasurer,  Amos  P.  Bush;  Assessors, 
Amos  Pratt,  Nathan  B.  West. 

1860. — President,^  Alanson  Case;  Recorder,  E.  B.  Bassett;  Trustees, 

C.  J.  Bassett,  Thomas  J.  Parker,  Alby  Rossman,  Andrew 
Oliver,  John  H.  Mayhew;  Treasurer,  Amos  P.  Bush;  As- 
sessors, J.  B.  Bailey,  Daniel  D.  Davis. 

1861.— President,  C.  W.  Calkins;  Recorder,  E.  B.  Bassett;  Trustees, 
Alby  Rossman,  N.  B.  West,  William  B.  Jenner,  B.  D.  Fol- 
lett, R.  S.  Updyke;  Treasurer,  Amos  P.  Bush;  Assessors, 

D.  A.  MoMartin,  D.  D.  Davis. 

1862.— President,  Ira  Chaffee;  Recorder,  E.  B.  Bassett;  Trustees, 
W.  C.  Messenger,  Frederick  Runte,  C.  F.  Nichols,  Diivid 
Thompson,  C.  W.  Calkins;  Treasurer,  A.  P.  Bush;  As- 
sessors, L.  W.  Watkins,  Daniel  D.  Davis. 

1863.— President,  Charles  R.  Wilkes;  Recorder,  D.  J.  Arnold; 
Trustees,  David  Thompson,  C.  W.  Calkins,  Wells  Field,  Ira 
Chaffee,  William  C.  Messenger;  Treasurer,  A.  S.  Butler; 
Assessors,  P.  0.  Littlejohn,  D.  D.  Davis. 

1864.— President,  E.  B.  Bassett;  Recorder,  Silas  E.  Stone;  Trustees, 
W.  C.  Messenger,  Homer  G.  Case,  R.  S.  Updyke,  George 
D.  Smith,  Andrew  Oliver;  Assessors,  Wells  Field,  F.  0. 
Littlejohn. 

1865.— President,  C.  W.  Calkins;  Recorder,  D.  J.  Arnold;  Trustees^ 
Ira  Chaffee,  Henry  Vosburgh,  J.  D.  Bush,  George  W.  Stone, 


<^~- 


^^/ 


Photos,  by 
0.  G.  Agrell,  Allegan,  Mich. 


a^TlHA.  '^=:^iM^^r^. 


MES.    COL.   J.   LITTLEJOHN. 


Col.  John  Littlejohn  was  born  in  Martha's 
Vineyard,  Mass.,  Oct.  10,  1790.     He  received  an 
academical  education,  and   before   he  attained  his 
majority  he  acquired  much  reputation  as  an  accom- 
plished and  successful  teacher  in  the  schools  of  his 
native  county.     On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of 
1812  he  offered  himself  as  a  volunteer,  and  soon  re- 
ceived a  commission  as  lieutenant.    He  was  wounded 
at  the  famous   battle  of  Lundy's   Lane,  and  was 
commended  for  his  bravery  by  Gen.  Scott,  the  com- 
manding officer.     After  the  close  of  the  war  he  en- 
gaged very  actively  in  business  connected  with  the 
construction  of  the  Erie  Canal,  successfully  execu- 
ting large  contracts,  and  winning  an  enviable  name 
for   integrity  and   energy  of  character.      To  him 
belongs  the  credit  of  building  the  most  difficult  link 
in  the  first  important  railroad  in  this  country, — the 
inclined   plane   between   Albany  and  Schenectady. 
He  also  took  a  conspicuous  part  in  building  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Kailroad,  also  the  James  River 
and  Kanawha  Canal.     About  the  year  1840  he  re- 
moved to  Allegan ;  and,  investing  considerable  capi- 


tal there,  threw  himself  with  his  customary  energy 
and  enterprise  into  the  work  of  developing  the  re- 
sources of  the  place.  One  result  of  his  enterprise 
was  the  building  of  the  first  flouring-mill  of  any  con- 
siderable size  in  the  county.  Infirm  health  obliged 
him  to  retire  from  business  during  the  last  ten  years 
of  his  life.  He  died  during  a  visit  to  Omaha  in 
January,  1868.  His  surviving  sons  are  P.  O.  Lit- 
tlejohn, Esq.,  of  Allegan,  and  the  Right  Rev.  A. 
N.  Littlejohn,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  Long  Island.  Col. 
Littlejohn  was  twice  married :  first  to  Miss  Amy 
Dewey;  she  died  some  seven  years  after  their  mar- 
riage; and  in  1823  he  was  again  married, — to  Miss 
Eleanor  Newkirk,  of  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where 
she  was  born  Nov.  23,  1799.  She  is  a  lady  of  rare 
personal  excellence  and  remarkable  industry  and 
thrift,  a  faithful,  true,  and  patient  wife,  an  affection- 
ate mother,  and  a  valuable  friend.  She  is  now  in 
her  eighty-first  year,  and  still  evinces  much  of  her 
former  vigor  and  energy.  A  glance  at  her  portrait  is 
only  necessary  to  recognize  the  force  of  character 
which  she  possesses. 


ALLEGAN  VILLAGE. 


155 


1866.—: 


1867.- 


1868.—: 


1869.—: 


1870.- 


1871.- 


1872.- 


1873.- 


1874.- 


1875.— 


1876.- 


1877.- 


1878.-: 


1879.— 


Wella  Field;  Treasurer,  H.  C.  Smith;  Assessors,  P.  0.  Lit- 
tlejohn,  David  D.  Davis. 

President,  Joseph  Fisk ;  Eeoorder,  D.  J.  Arnold ;  Trustees, 
Zenus  L.  Griswold,  C.  R.  Wilkes,  Columbus  Coleman, 
Joseph  G.  Stack,  S.  N.  Pike;  Treasurer,  J.  D.  Bush;  As- 
sessors, Wells  Field,  L.  W.  Watkina. 
-President,  Ira  Chaffee;  Recorder,  James  F.  Stack;  Trustees, 
William  J.  Pollard,  Benjamin  Eager,  G.  D.  Smith,  Henry 
Vosburgh,  James  Caskey ;  Treasurer,  H.  C.  Smith ;  Assessors, 
Alanson  Case,  D.  A.  McMartin. 

President,  Ira  Chaffee;  Recorder,  Frank  J.  Higgins;  Trustees, 
W.  B.  Jenner,  Alanson  Case,  Willian  C.  Messenger,  James 
B.  Streeter,  Samuel  Lederman ;  Treasurer,  George  Geppert ; 
Assessors,  Henry  Vosburgh,  A.  B.  Case. 

■President,  William  B.  Jenner;  Recorder,  J.  F.  Alley;  Trus- 
tees, William  C.  Messenger,  James  B.  Streeter,  Alby  Ross- 
man,  Ira  Chaffee,  C.  W.  Calkins,  A.  J.  Kellogg ;  Treasurer, 
George  D.  Smith;  Assessors,  Alanson  Case,  L.  W.  Watkins. 

President,  F.  J.  Littlejohn;  Recorder,  A.  E.  Calkins;  Trus- 
tees, William  C.  Messenger,  D.  D.  Davis,  William  Mason; 
Treasurer,  G.  D.  Smith ;  Assessor,  Alanson  Case. 

•President,  F.  J.  Littlejohn  ;  Clerk,  George  D.  Smith;  Trustees, 
Horace  B.  Rich,  Ira  Chaffee,  Alby  Rossman;  Treasurer, 
George  Geppert;  Assessor,  J.  H.  Wetmore. 

■President,  John  W.  Stone;  Clerk,  Martin  T.  Ryan;  Trustees, 
Andrew  J.  Kellogg,  Nathan  B.  West,  Leonard  Bailey ; 
Treasurer,  George  Geppert ;  Assessor,  P.  0.  Littlejohn. 

President,  F.  J.  Littlejohn;  Clerk,  Martin  T.  Ryan;  Trus- 
tees, Horace  B.  Peck,  Joseph  W.  Surdaker,  George  Oliver; 
Treasurer,  Irving  F.  Clapp ;  Assessor,  William  R.  Webster. 

•President,  F.  J.  Littlejohn;  Clerk,  Sherman  P.  Stanley;  Trus- 
tees, D.  J.  Arnold,  James  B.  Streeter,  W.  C.  Weeks;  Treas- 
urer, Irving  F.  Clapp  ;  Assessor,  Leonard  Bailey. 

President,  Horace  B.  Peck;  Clerk,  Sherman  P.  Stanley; 
Trustees,  George  R.  Stone,  John  M.  Mendel,  H.  N.  Hopkins, 
A.  F.  Howe;  Treasurer,  Sjlas  E.  Stone;  Assessor,  William 
R.  Webster. 

President,  William  C.  Weeks ;  Clerk,  Sherman  P.  Stanley  ; 
Trustees,  B.  B.  Sutphen,  J.  W.  Chaddock,  Augustus  Lilly ; 
Treasurer,  S.  E.  Stone;  Assessor,  Leonard  Bailey. 

President,  John  M.  Mendel;  Clerk,  Joseph  M.  Killian ; 
Trustees,  Perry  J.  Davis,  A.  E.  Calkins,  F.  B.  Leweke; 
Treasurer,  W.  B.  Jenner;  Assessor,  William  R.  Webster. 

President,  D.  C.  Henderson;  Clerk,  Sherman  P.  Stanley; 
Trustees,  Andrew  Oliver,  Charles  F.  Tubah,  John  Allett; 
Treasurer,  H.  B.  Peck;  Assessor,  Leonard  Bailey. 

President,  Henry  F.  Thomas;  Clerk,  Frank  D.  Stuck;  Trus- 
tees, J.  0.  Hoffman,  B.  B.  Crouk,  A.  B.  Calkins ;  Treasurer, 
William  T.  Clark ;  Assessor,  William  R.  Webster. 


SCHOOLS. 

A  school  was  taught  in  Allegan  village  as  early  as  1835, 
and  a  school  district  was  organized  the  following  year.  The 
first  school,  as  nearly  as  recollected,  was  held  in  a  building 
just  west  of  the  site  of  the  Peck  Block,  the  teacher  being 
Miss  Hinsdale,  of  Kalamazoo  County,  who  did  good  service 
as  a  pioneer  instructress  in  various  portions  of  the  coutiiy. 
In  the  fall  of  1836,  Miss  illiza  Littlejohn  taught  a  private 
school,  and  afterwards  kept  the  district  school  for  several 
successive  summers.  Miss  Mary  Parkhurst  also  taught  a 
private  school  about  1838.  In  1839  and  1840  the  educa- 
tion of  the  youth  of  the  village  was  intrusted  to  Miss  Lavia 
I3in"ham.  Among  the  earliest  male  teachers  were  Messrs. 
Spencer  Marsh,  G.  Y.  Warner,  E.  Parkhurst,  and  H. 
Munger. 

The  first  district  school  building  was  erected  in  1836, 
standing  a  short  distance  southeast  of  the  site  of  J.  B. 
Bailey's  residence.  It  was  26  by  40  feet  in  size,  and  had 
a  cupola  with  a  bell  in  it,— a  bell  which  still  does  good 
service  in  behalf  of  the  village  fire  department. 


An  institution  known  as  the  Allegan  Academy  was 
organized  in  1846,  which  was  for  several  years  under  the 
management  of  Elisha  B.  Bassett,  a  graduate  of  Williams 
College,  and  a  gentleman  who  is  still  remembered  as  having 
deserved  and  received  the  affectionate  regard  of  his  pupils. 
The  school  was  apparently  prosperous,  but  was  not  of  long 
duration. 

In  1857,  Judge  H.  H.  Booth  erected,  in  a  beautiful 
pine  grove  on  the  hill  in  the  western  part  of  the  village, 
a  large  building  for  a  private  school,  which'  he  named 
"  Pine  Grove  Seminary."  He  gave  the  use  of  the  building 
to  the  teachers,  and  kept  it  in  repair.  This  school  was 
taught  for  several  years  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Herman  Perry, 
and  later  by  Rev.  L.  P.  Waldo.  In  1865,  Judge  Booth 
sold  the  building  to  the  school  district,  and  it  is  now  occu- 
pied as  the  principal  edifice  of  the  Union  School. 

A  female  seminary  was  opened  and  taught  for  a  year 
or  two  by  Dr.  S.  D.  Tobey  and  sister,  in  the  residence  now 
occupied  by  W.  B.  Jenner. 

The  present  Union  School,  established  in  1867,  is  now 
graded  on  the  plan  adopted  by  the  State  Association  of 
School  Superintendents,  the  work  in  the  higher  grades 
being  especially  adapted  to  those  preparing  to  teach  in  dis- 
trict schools.  In  the  high  school  there  are  three  courses  of 
study  provided, — the  English  course,  the  Latin  course,  and 
the  German  course, — each  extending  over  a  period  of  three 
years.  In  the  year  1879  three  students  graduated  in  the 
English  and  four  in  the  Latin  course.  At  the  present  time 
more  than  one-half  of  the  pupils  in  the  high  school  are 
studying  some  other  language  than  English.  The  school 
is  provided  with  a  fair  chemical  and  philosophical  appa- 
ratus, and  is  also  the  possessor  of  a  mineralogical  cabinet  of 
over  two  hundred  specimens,  presented  by  the  editors  of 
the  Allegan  Journal.  The  cost  of  superintendence  and  in- 
struction for  each  scholar  is,  in  the  primary  grades,  $7.22 ; 
in  the  grammar  grades,  $9.08 ;  and  in  the  high  school 
grades,  122.85.  The  cost  of  incidentals  for  each  scholar  in 
all  the  grades  is  $2.58.  The  average  total  cost  of  education 
per  scholar  is  $11.87  a  year. 

The  present  school  buildings  may  be  described  as  fol- 
lows : 

1.  The  Central  School,  a  wooden  building  formerly  used 
as  a  private  seminary,  contains  four  large  rooms,  a  recita- 
tion-room, and  the  superintendent's  office.  Three  of  the 
large  rooms  have,  within  the  past  two  years,  been  furnished 
with  new  and  improved  seats. 

2.  The  North  Ward  building  is  of  brick,  and  contains 
two  large  rooms. 

3.  The  South  Ward  building  is  also  constructed  of  brick, 
and  contains  two  large  rooms,  both  on  the  ground-floor. 

4.  The  West  Ward  building  is  of  the  same  material, 
and  contains  two  rooms,  both  on  the  ground-floor. 

5.  A  room  in  the  Exchange  building  has  been  leased 
during  the  past  two  years,  and  is  used  for  primary  scholars. 

The  list  of  superintendenCs  since  1867  is  as  follows: 
1867-68,  Wm.  H.  Stone;  1868-71,  Silas  Wood,  graduate 
of  Normal  School;  1871-74,  Albert  Jennings,  Ph.B., 
graduate  of  Michigan  University;  1874-77,  Daniel  P. 
Simmons;  1877-80,  Edmund  D.  Barry,  B.A.,  graduate  of 
Michigan  University. 


156 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BAKKY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


The  present  corps  of  teachers  consists  of  the  following 
persons :  Edmund  D.  Barry,  Superintendent  and  Principal ; 
Miss  Mary  Bassett,  Preceptress ;  Mrs.  M.  J.  Ingersoll, 
grades  8  and  7,  Central  School ;  Miss  Ida  Furber,  grade  6, 
Central  School ;  Miss  Nettie  H.  Ingersoll,  grade  5,  Central 
School ;  Miss  Emma  E.  Holton,  grades  5,  4,  and  3,  North 
Ward  ;  Miss  Jennie  Langley,  grades  2  and  1 ,  North  Ward  ; 
Miss  H.  A.  Allen,  grades  5,  4,  and  3,  South  Ward  ;  Miss 
Kate  Edmonds,  grades  2  and  1,  South  Ward;  Miss  Ellen 
Heath,  grades  4  and  3,  West  Ward ;  Miss  Lizzie  Eager, 
grade  2,  West  Ward ;  Miss  H.  S.  Way,  grade  1,  Exchange 
building. 

The  board  of  trustees  is  composed  of  H.  H.  Pope,  Di- 
rector; Judge  D.  J.  Arnold,  Moderator;  Ira  Chichester, 
Assessor ;  J.  W.  Chaddock,  H.  B.  Peck,  and  Dr.  Henry 
P.  Thomas. 

THE   FIRE   DEPARTMENT. 

The  first  fire-apparatus  in  the  village  of  Allegan  of  which 
we  can  learn  was  bought  in  1863,  when  Ira  Chafifee,  then 
one  of  the  village  trustees,  was  authorized  to  purchase  a 
hook-and-ladder  apparatus  at  a  cost  of  875.  The  follow- 
ing year  a  hand-engine,  together  with  three  hundred  feet 
of  hose,  was  secured  by  direction  of  the  trustees  at  a  cost 
of  1900,  R.  S.  Updyke  having  been  deputized  to  make  the 
purchase.  An  engine-house  was  constructed  the  same  year, 
at  a  cost  of  $398. 

In  1869  a  conflagration  occurred  which  destroyed  the 
block  of  stores  where  the  Chaffee  House  now  stands,  and 
other  property,  and  it  was  felt  that  the  efforts  of  the  fire- 
men were  much  impeded  by  the  l^ck  of  co-operation  between 
the  companies.  The  village  authorities  determined  to  have 
a  more  thorough  organization  of  the  fire  department,  and 
a  chief  engineer  was  accordingly  appointed  ;  A.  Rossman 
being  selected  for  that  position.  In  1870  the  department 
was  reorganized  with  the  following  officers  : 

President  of  Department,  William  Pollard ;  Chief  En- 
gineer, A.  Rossman  ;  Foreman  of  Engine  Company,  James 
Ganson ;  Foreman  of  Hose  Company,  Edwin  Wheelock ; 
Foreman  of  Hook-and-Ladder  Company,  0.  T.  Booth. 
The  latter  gentleman  was  the  same  year  succeeded  by  A.  E. 
Calkins.  In  1871  other  changes  were  made,  and  the  fol- 
lowing gentlemen  filled  the  respective  offices  mentioned 
below  :  Chief  of  Department,  Andrew  J.  Kellogg  ;  Assist- 
ant Chief,  D.  D.  Davis ;  Foreman  of  Engine  Company,  A. 
J.  McCarthy  ;  Foreman  of  Hook-and-Ladder  Company,  A. 
E.  Calkins. 

During  the  year  the  hook-and-ladder  and  hose  companies 
were  each  presented  with  an  elegant  trumpet  by  Andrew  J. 
Kellogg. 

The  officers  elected  for  1872  were  as  follows:  Chief  of 
Department,  A.  J.  Kellogg;  Assistant  Chief,  A.  E.  Cal- 
kins; President,  W.  J.  Pollard;  Foreman  of  Hook-and- 
Ladder  Company,  J.  F.  Clapp  ;  Foreman  of  Engine  Com- 
pany, A.  J.  McCarthy. 

In  December,  Assistant  Chief  Calkins  died,  being  buried 
on  the  18th  of  that  month,  when  the  department  turned 
out  in  full  ranks  in  honor  of  his  memory. 

The  following  year  the  chief  of  department  remained  the 
same,  with  Clark  Nichols  as  assistant  and  Joseph  Killian  as 
foreman  of  the  hook-and-ladder  company. 


During  that  year  the  engine  company  was  disbanded  on 
account  of  the  success  of  the  Holly  Water- works,  and  Alert 
Hose  Company  No.  1  was  organized,  George  Geppert  having 
been  chosen  as  foreman. 

The  officers  for  the  year  1874  were  the  following:  Chief, 
A.  J.  Kellogg ;  Assistant  Chief,  Clark  Nichols ;  Foreman 
of  Hook-and-Ladder  Company,  J.  F.  Clapp ;  Foreman  of 
Hose  Company,  George  Geppert.  By  an  ordinance  of  the 
board  of  trustees,  passed  December  3d  of  that  year,  the 
office  of  second  assistant  chief  was  created,  and  James  D. 
Follett  chosen  to  fill  the  position. 

The  officers  for  1875  were  as  follows:  Chief,  George 
Geppert ;  1st  Assistant  Chief,  J.  F.  Clapp ;  2d  Assistant 
Chief,  Henry  Rosa ;  Foreman  Hook-and-Ladder  Company, 
Alexander  Hurd ;  Foreman  Hose  Company,  L.  G.  Cady. 
During  the  year  A.  J.  Kellogg,  the  late  chief,  presented  the 
department  with  a  large  and  elegant  flag  as  a  memorial  of 
his  connection  with  the  organization.  Chief  Geppert  was 
rechosen  for  the  following  year  (1876),  with  Clark  Collins 
as  first  assistant,  and  J.  C.  Van  Valkenburg  as  second  assis- 
tant. He  resigned,  however,  during  the  year,  when  S.  D. 
Pond  was  chosen  in  his  place. 

In  May  of  this  year  Alert  Hose  Company  was  divided, 
and  two  companies  of  15  men  each  were  formed;  John 
Holmes  being  made  the  foreman  of  Alert  Hose  Company, 
No.  1,  and  George  Lonsbury  foreman  of  Rescue  Hose  Com- 
pany, No.  2.  W.  R.  Webster  was  elected  foreman  of  the 
hook-and-ladder  company.  The  citizens  of  the  village,  in 
token  of  their  appreciation  of  the  efficiency  of  the  depart- 
ment, presented  it  during  the  year  with  a  handsome  silver 
trumpet. 

The  list  of  officers  for  1878  embraced  the  following: 
Chief,  Samuel  D.  Pond ;  1st  Assistant  Chief,  J.  C.  Van 
Valkenburg  ;  2d  Assistant,  Jerry  Crittenden  ;  Foreman  of 
Hook-and-Ladder  Company,  W.  R.  Webster ;  Foreman  of 
Alert  Hose  Company,  John  Holmes ;  Foreman  of  Rescue 
Hose  Company,  A.  Messenger. 

The  present  officers  are  as  follows :  Chief  of  Department, 
J.  C.  Van  Valkenburg ;  1st  Assistant  Chief  of  Department, 
Jerry  Crittenden  ;  2d  Assistant  Chief  of  Department,  Clark 
Collins ;  Foreman  Alert  Hose  Company,  John  Holmes ; 
Foreman  Rescue  Hose  Company,  A.  Messenger. 

HOLLY   WATER-WORKS.      , 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  1870  the  question  of  adopting 
the  Holly  system  of  water-works  in  Allegan  was  very  gen- 
erally discussed  by  the  taxpayers  and  voters  of  that  village. 
Negotiations  were  opened  by  the  village  officers  with  Mr. 
Holly,  and  that  gentleman  submitted  a  proposition  to  fur- 
nish the  requisite  machinery  for  such  works,  to  be  propelled 
by  water-power,  to  the  officers  above  mentioned.  At  the 
annual  election  of  village  officers  in  March,  1871,  the 
whole  question  was  duly  submitted  to  the  electors,  with  a 
further  proposition  to  borrow  $25,000  on  tiine  bonds  (at 
not  over  ten  per  cent,  interest),  to  be  expended  in  purchasing 
the  necessary  machinery  and  putting  it  in  operation.  Three 
hundred  and  fift3'-five  votes  were  cast,  of  which  225  were 
for  and  the  remainder  against  the  measure. 

Bonds  were  at  first  issued  for  $12,500,  payable  in  five 
equal  annual  payments,  and  were  negotiated  at  ten  per  cent. 


MRS.    .JOSEPH    FISK. 


COL.    .JOSEPH    FISK. 


COL.   JOSEPH   FISK. 


Among  the  tvulj'  representative  men   of  Allegan  County, 
few  if  any  have    been   more    intimately  associated  with    its 
material  development  than  Col.  Joseph  Fisk,  the  well-known 
contractor  and  builder,  who  has  witnessed  the  transition  of  a 
small    hamlet  into  one    of  the  important  towns  in  this  part 
of  the  State,  of  a  thin  settlement  into  a  busy  and  prosperous 
community,  of   a  semi-wilderness  into   a  fertile  and  highly 
productive  region,  and  in  his  own  person  has  typified  so  admira- 
bly the  agencies  which  wrought  many  of  these  changes,  that 
no  history  of  Allegan  would  be  complete  without  some  sketch 
of  his    life,  labors,  and    character.       Col.   Fisk  was  born  in 
Charlemont,  Franklin  Co.,  Mass.,  May  22,  1810.     About  1816 
the    family  removed    to    New  York  State,  near  the    Massa- 
chusetts line,  and  from  there  to  Macedon,  N.  Y.    About  1826 
they  again  moved,  locating  at  Williamson,  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y., 
where  Joseph  became   acquainted  with  Miss  Betsey  Davis, 
whom  he  married  in  January,  1832.    His  early  life,  like  that  of 
most  of  our  successful  business  men,  was  one  of  close  applica- 
tion, self-reliance,  and  self-denial.     He  acquired  the  trade  of 
a  carpenter  and  joiner,  and  obtained  a  liberal  common-school 
education.    In  1834  he  emigrated  to  Michigan  with  his  family, 
and  settled  in  Marengo,  Calhoun  Co.,  where  he  remained  until 
March  7,  1835,  when  he  came  to  Allegan  and  purchased  the 
first  lot  after  the  village  was  laid  out  and  lots  offered  for  sale. 
The  colonel  entered  into  the  development  of  the  little  hamlet 
with  the  same  energy  and   enterprise  that  has  characterized 
his  subsequent  operations.      Soon  after  his  arrival   he   con- 
tracted for  the  erection  of  ten  or  twelve  dwellings  for  the 
Boston  company  ;  he  employed  a  large  force  of  men,  and  for 
many  years  was  engaged  in  the  erection  of  buildings.    In  1852 
he  took  the  contract  for  the  construction  of  the  Chicago  break- 
water, which  he  executed  successfully,  and  which  still  stands 
as  a  monument  to  his  mechanical  skill,  and  which  gave  him 
a  prominent  position  among  the  large  and   successful  con- 
tractors of  the   West.     His  career  as  a  railroad  contractor 
dates  back  to  1853,  at  which  time  he  took  a  contract  for  build- 
ing the  Eel  Kiver  road  in  Indiana,  of  about  one  hundred 
miles  in  length.    In  1854  and  1855  he  was  connected  with  the 
construction  of  the  Dubuque  and   Pacific  in  Iowa  ;  he  also 
built  a  pile  bridge  across  the  bay  at  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  a  double 
track  a  mile  and  a  quarter  in  distance;  also  a  structure  of 
about  the  same  length  across  Mud  Lake  on  the  Watertown 
road.     From  1857  to  1863  he  was  engaged  in  Missouri  ;  he 
built  the  southwest  branch  of  the  St.  Louis  and  Pacific,  and 
was  also  engaged  on  the  main  line,  and  constructed  twenty- 
five  miles  on  the  Iron   Mountain  road.     Immediately  after 
the  close  of  the  war  he  was  associated  with  Messrs.  Champlin 
&  Smith  in  the  construction  of  the  North  Missouri  road  to 


the  Iowa  State  line  ;  also  the  branch  to  Kansas  City,  a  distance 
of  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles.  In  1867  he  built  the  road 
from  Kalamazoo  to  Grand  Kapids,  a  distance  of  fifty-seven 
miles.  In  1868  he  built  the  road  from  Allegan  to  Muskegon, 
and  in  1871  the  Allegan  branch  of  the  Grand  Rapids  and 
Indiana  Railroad;  this  road,  twelve  miles  in  length,  he  con- 
structed in  ninety  days.  The  last  contract  of  an_y  note  was 
for  the  building  of  the  Lansing  division  of  the  Lake-Shore 
and  Michigan  Southern.  The  aggregate  number  of  miles  built 
exceeds  one  thousand.  In  all  these  enterprises,  involving 
large  expenditures  and  heavy  resi)onsibilities,  and  frequently 
attended  with  great  risk,  he  has  been  eminentlj'  successful. 
Honesty  and  a  firm  desire  to  succeed  have  been  the  essential 
media  of  his  success.  In  all  his  transactions  he  has  evinced 
excellent  judgment,  and  sterling  honesty  has  been  the  basis  of 
all  his  operations.  This  is  high  testimony,  but  it  is  only  the 
reflex  of  the  prominent  traits  of  Col.  Fisk's  character,  and 
what  to  the  strange  reader  may  seem  to  be  the  language  of 
eulogy  will  be  readily  recognized  by  all  who  know  him  as  a 
mere  plain,  uncolored  statement  of  the  salient  points  in  his 
character  and  the  features  in  his  career. 

He  has  figured  quite  conspicuously  in  State  and  county 
politics  ;  was  the  first  register  of  Allegan  County,  and  subse- 
quently was  elected  sheriff;  for  many  years  held  the  office  of 
magistrate  for  Allegan  township.  But  political  life  to  him 
was  devoid  of  charms  ;  he  had  no  desire  for  political  prefer- 
ment, and  when  he  accepted  a  nomination  it  was  more  from  a 
desire  to  advance  the  interests  of  Allegan  than  for  his  own 
aggrandizement. 

Col.  Fisk  never  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  a  finished  educa- 
tion ;  but,  being  endowed  with  a  large  amount  of  common 
sense,  industry,  perseverance,  and  ambition,  he  has  succeeded 
in  building  a  reputation  as  widespread  as  it  is  enviable.  In- 
deed, it  may  be  truly  said  of  him  that  his  entire  career  is  one 
worthy  the  emulation  of  the  young,  and  a  fitting  example  for 
all  sorts  and  conditions  of  business  men  to  follow. 

Col.  Fisk's  biography  would  not  be  complete  without  special 
mention  of  his  estimable  wife,  who  shared  the  privations  of 
the  early  days,  and  whose  portrait,  so  full  of  character,  may 
be  seen  on  this  page.  She  is  a  woman  of  rare  personal  excel- 
lence, a  faithful,  true,  and  patient  wife,  a  careful  and  afl'ec- 
tionate  mother,  of  pleasant  manners,  and  beloved  and  respected 
by  all  who  know  her.  She  is  one  of  the  original  members  of 
the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Allegan,  and  closely  identified  with 
its  various  religious  and  charitable  enterprises.  She  has  been 
the  mother  of  six  children,  three  of  whom  are  living, — Julia  A., 
now  Mrs.  James  A.  Lee  ;  Charles  W.,  now  residing  in  Texas  ; 
and  George  D.,  connected  with  the  Grand  Haven  Railroad. 


ALLEGAN  VILLAGE. 


157 


interest.  The  works  were  started  with  double  turbine- wheels 
and  attachments,  and  ten-inch  mains  up  to  the  business 
centre  of  the  village  ;  then,  as  the  mains  were  extended  in 
diflferent  directions  from  that  centre,  they  were  reduced 
to  eight  inches,  and  finally  to  six  inches,  in  diameter.  At 
the  expiration  of  a  year  a  vote  was  carried  to  raise  $15,000 
more  by  the  same  means,  to  be  used  in  extending  the  mains, 
and  in  December,  1873,  about  $4500  more  was  voted  for 
the  same  purpose.  All  the  bonds  so  issued  were  arranged 
so  that  $2500  would  become  due  on  the  1st  of  September 
of  each  year.  Thus  far  the  payments  have  been  promptly 
made. 

The  works  have  proved  eminently  successful.  Double 
hydrants  were  early  placed  at  suitable  points  along  the  lines 
of  water-pipes.  The  hook-and-ladder  and  hose  companies 
are  well  equipped  and  under  constant  drill,  and  all  fires 
have  been  promptly  and  effectually  checked. 

Along  the  line  of  pipes,  water  is  furnished  to  all  who 
desire  at  low  rates,  the  tank  at  one  of  the  railroad  depots 
being  thus  supplied.  The  receipts  about  meet  the  current 
running  expenses,  including  superintendence  and  repairs. 
The  first  supply-well  proving  inefficient,  a  second  one,  40 
rods  distant,  was  sunk,  and  is  now  in  use.  Its  diameter  is 
20  feet,  with  a  depth  of  water  of  12  feet.  This  is  inclosed 
in  a  substantial  circular  building  of  stone.  The  works  are 
sufficiently  powerful  to  throw  from  a  double  hydrant,  situ- 
ated on  an  elevation  100  feet  above  the  machinery  and  over 
half  a  mile  away,  two  three-quarter  inch  streams  70  feet 
higher  than  the  hydrant. 

THE   BAE  OF   ALLEGAN. 

To  make  up  a  methodical  and  trustworthy  record  of  the 
commencement,  outgrowth,  and  entire  membership  of  the 
bar  of  Allegan  village  requires  patient  research,  and,  in  the 
absence  of  all  reliable  data,  a  heavy  tax  upon  the  memory 
of  its  older  members. 

George  Y.  Warner  and  F.  J.  Littlejohn  were  the  first 
resident  lawyers  of  Allegan  County;  the  former  reach- 
ing Allegan  in  the  early  spring,  and  the  latter  on  the  last 
of  June,  1836.  In  the  succeeding  year  Hovey  K.-Clarke 
was  added  to  the  number.  In  that  year  the  first  regular 
term  of  the  Circuit  Court  was  held  in  the  school-house 
near  the  base  of  the  western  hill.  At  that  period,  and 
for  a  decade  thereafter,  the  business  in  the  Allegan  courts 
was  largely  conducted  by  attorneys  from  Calhoun  and 
Kalamazoo  Counties ;  chief  among  these  were  Gordon 
and  Bradley  from  the  former,  and  Stuart,  Balch,  Miller, 
and  Mower  from  the  latter,  county. 

Although  serving  for  a  while  as  prosecuting  attorney, 
the  attention  of  Judge  Littlejohn  was  chiefly  directed  to 
other  pursuits.  He  later  filled  various  official  positions, 
and  obtained  a  distinguished  place  upon  the  bench  and  at 
the  bar  of  Allegan  County. 

Mr.  Warner  was  judge  of  probate  for  one  term,  and  his 
practice  at  the  bar  was  also  interrupted  by  other  avocations. 
The  attention  of  Hovey  K.  Clarke  was  also  for  a  biief  space 
attracted  by  other  objects,  he  having  been  chosen  to  the 
cashiership  of  the  wildcat  Allegan  bank.  He  is  now  a 
very  able  lawyer  at  Detroit. 

Next  in  order  came  De  Witt  C.  Chapin  and  Theodore 


Chapin.  The  former  filled  the  office  of  judge  of  probate 
for  a  term.  After  them  came  Robert  Goble,  who  settled 
in  Allegan,  and  was  elected  prosecuting  attorney.  Follow- 
ing him  was  Gilbert  Moyers. 

In  the  winter  of  1855,  William  B.  Williams  settled  in 
Allegan  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
subsequently  filling  the  position  of  circuit  judge.  In  the 
spring  of  the  same  year,  Elisha  B.  Bassett,  who  had 
previously  been  judge  of  probate,  and  Hon.  F.  J.  Littlejohn 
formed  a  copartnership  in  business,  which  was  dissolved  by 
the  election  of  the  latter  to  the  circuit  bench  in  the  spring 
of  1858.  In  the  year  1857,  Joseph  Thew  entered  upon 
practice  at  Allegan. 

Between  the  years  1858  and  1866  quite  a  large  number 
of  gentlemen  became  members  of  the  bar  of  Allegan  vil- 
lage, as  follows :  George  H.  House,  Dan  J.  Arnold  (present 
circuit  judge) ;  Hannibal  Hart,  John  W.  Stone,  John  N. 
York,  James  F.  Stuck,  first  at  Otsego  and  then  at  Allegan  ; 
Henry  C.  Briggs  and  Benjamin  D.  Pritchard,  both  of 
Allegan ;  Francis  H.  Ward,  Lawrence  L.  Crosby,  Alfred 
C.  Wallin,  H.  N.  Averill,  Patroclus  A.  Latta,  John  P. 
Hoyt,  J.  Bird  Humphrey,  present  judge  of  probate,  and 
Philip  Padgham,  formerly  prosecuting  attorney;  Frank 
Bracelin,  now  of  Muskegon  ;  Edwin  B.  Grover,  not  now  in 
practice  ;  Albert  H.  Fenn,  late  prosecuting  attorney;  E.  D. 
Steele  and  Daniel  Earle. 

Between  1870  and  1878  the  following  names  were  added 
to  the  numbers,  as  near  as  is  possible  to  ascertain,  to  wit : 
B.  F.  Travis,  R.  B.  Cowles,  Mark  D.  Wilbur,  William  W. 
Warner,  John  H.  Padgham,  Lyman  H.  Babbitt,  Frank  S. 
Donaldson,  of  Allegan ;  Edward  J.  Anderson,  J.  Leo 
Potts,  Hiram  B.  Hudson,  John  E.  Babbitt.  Several  whose 
names  appear  on  the  roll  of  attorneys  have  practiced  but  a 
brief  time  at  the  Allegan  bar. 

Of  those  who  have  devoted  themselves  to  professional 
business,  quite  a  number  have  filled  various  positions  of 
public  trust  with  credit  to  themselves  and  their  profession. 
Many  of  them  are  yet  young  in  years,  and  give  promise  of 
extended  usefulness  in  the  future.  There  has  always  ex- 
isted an  unusual  degree  of  amity  and  goodfellowship  among 
the  members  of  the  Allegan  bar.  In  matters  of  practice 
they  have  ever  evinced  great  courtesy  and  liberality  tow^ards 
each  other,  and  a  deference  towards  the  court  which  is  in 
striking  contrast  with  what  is  occasionally  exhibited  else- 
where. 

As  advocates,  quite  a  number  rank  high  in  public  esti- 
mation, while  as  jurists,  learned  in  the  law,  their  arguments 
have  frequently  commanded  the  marked  attention  of  the 
highest  courts  of  judicature. 

For  the  above  facts,  the  historian  is  indebted  chiefly  to 
Hon.  F.  J.  Littlejohn.  A  list  of  all  the  lawyers  who  have 
either  practiced  or  been  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Allegan 
county  is  given  in  Chapter  XV.  of  the  general  history. 

The  present  members  of  the  Allegan  village  bar  are  as 
follows :  Flavins  J.  Littlejohn,  William  B.  Williams,  Joseph 
Thew,  Benjamin  D.  Pritchard,  J.  B.  Humphrey,  Albert  H. 
Fenn,  Horace  H.  Pope,  Hannibal  Hart,  Philip  Padgham, 
William  W.  Warner,  J.  H.  Padgham,  Patroclus  A.  Latta, 
Frank  S.  Donaldson,  Hiram  B.  Hudson,  John  E.  Babbitt, 
Frank  B.  Lay,  C.  Y.  Bennettare,  D.  H.  Pope. 


158 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


THE   MEDICAL    PEATEENITT   OF  ALLEGAN. 

The  medical  profession  was  represented  in  Allegan  very 
soon  after  the  settlement  of  the  hamlet,  the  various  mala- 
rial fevers  incident  to  the  opening  of  a  new  country  having 
made  the  presence  of  the  physician  indispensable.  The 
subjoined  sketch  gives  a  brief  record  of  the  various  mem- 
bers of  the  profession  who  have  practiced  in  the  village 
since  1836. 

Dr.  R.  M.  Bigelow  was  the  first  physician  to  locate  in 
Allegan.  He  began  the  practice  of  medicine  there  in  -the 
year  just  mentioned,  but  after  a  residence  of  nearly  four 
years  removed  to  Otsego,  where  he  entered  into  partnership 
with  Dr.  L.  B.  Coats.  In  ISiT,  Dr.  Bigelow  joined  one 
of  the  first  trains  that  went  to  California,  and  resided  on 
the  Pacific  coast  until  his  death,  the  date  of  which  is  not 
known.  Just  previous  to  the  removal  of  Dr.  Bigelow  from 
Allegan,  Dr. Sawtell  opened  an  office  there.  He  re- 
mained but  a  year  or  two,  however,  after  which  he  also  set 
out  for  the  land  of  gold.  His  subsequent  history  is  un- 
known. 

OSMAN  DEWEY  GOODRICH,  M.D. 

This  gentleman,  the  pioneer  physician  of  Allegan,  and 
whose  name  is  prominently  associated  with  the  history  of 
the  medical  profession,  was  born  May  10,  1808,  in  New 
Hartford,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.     His  parents,  Leonard  and 


DR.    0.    D.    GOODRICH. 

Susannah  Goodrich,  were  among  the  pioneers  of  that 
county,  having  emigrated  tliere  in  1800.  The  elder  Good- 
rich was  a  farmer,  and  reared  a  family  of  five  children, 

three  sons  and  two  daughters, — Oso-au  D.  being  the  fourth. 
He  remained  upon  the  farm  until  he  attained  his  seven- 
teenth year,  after  which  time  some  three  years  were  spent 
in  efforts  to  regain  lost  health.  He  commenced  the  study 
of  medicine  under  the  tuition  of  Dr.  Uriel  H.  Kellogg,  of 
New  Hartford,  and  in  1834  graduated  at  the  Berkshire 
Medical  Institute,  at  Pittsfield,  Mass.  In  July  following 
his  graduation  he  established  himself  in  the  practice  of  his 


profession  at  Huron,  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  which  at  that  time 
was  a  new  country.     Here  he  remained  two  years,- during 
which  time  he  aided  in  the  organization  of  the  first  church, 
and  was  one  of  the  ten  original  members.   In  March,  1836, 
at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  the  Hon.  Elisha  Ely,  one  of 
the  pioneers  of  Allegan,  he  decided  to  remove  there,  which 
he  did  in  May  of  that  year.     Shortly  after  his  arrival  his 
wife  and  child  were  taken  sick,  and  this,  in  addition  to 
other  hardships  and  privations,  rendered  his  first  experience 
in  the  county  bitter  indeed.     There  was  but  one  house 
within  ten  miles  of  Allegan.     North  and  south  of  the 
village  was  an  unbroken  wilderness,  and  west  not  a  dwell- 
ing'until  the  shores  of  Lake  Michigan  were  reached.     Pio- 
neer life  and  its  attendant  privations,  in  connection  with 
his  arduous  duties  as  a  physician,  made  sad  inroads  upon 
his  health,  and  in  September,  1845,  he  was  obliged  to 
relinquish  his  practice  and  make  an  efibrt  to  recover  his 
health.     He  went  to  Berlin,  Hartford  Co.,  Conn.,  residing 
there  and  at  New  Haven  until  September,  1855.     Eight 
years  of  this  time  were  spent  in  the  employ  of  the  New 
York  and  New  Haven  Railroad  Company.   During  his  resi- 
dence in  the  East  he  investigated  the  principles  of  homoe- 
opathy, and  adopted  its  practice,  and  upon  his  return  to 
Allegan  he  again  established  himself  in  his  profession,  and 
became  the  first  homoeopathic  physician  in  the  county.    May 
15,  1832,  he  married  Miss  Emeline  Dickinson,  of  Berlin, 
Hartford  Co.,  Conn.      She  was  an  estimable  woman  in  all 
respects,  and  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  her.     She 
died  Sept.  30,  1872,  leaving  two  sons  and  one  daughter. 
In  1873  the  doctor  was  married  to  Jane  E.  Shepard,  real- 
izing again  the  fulfillment  of  those  words  of  Holy  Writ, 
"  Whoso  findeth  a  wife  findeth  a  good  thing,  and  obtaineth 
favor  of  the  Lord."    She  departed  this  life  April  24,  1879. 
The  pipneer  life  of  Dr.  Goodrich  was  one  of  hardship  and 
privation.     In  the  practice  of  his  profession  he  was  fre- 
quently obliged  to  ford  streams,  following  an  Indian  trail 
to  the  rude  home  of  the  early  settler  who  was  so  unfortu- 
nate as  to  require  his  professional  services.     He  has  not 
only  witnessed  the  transition  of  a  wilderness  into  a  highly 
prosperous  agricultural  section,  of  a  hamlet  into  a  busy  and 
enterprising  village,  but  in  his  own  person  has  typified 
many  of  the  agencies  that  have  wrought  these  changes. 
He  has  made  an  enviable  reputation  as  a  citizen.-     He  pos- 
sesses the  necessary  qualifications  of  the  physician  other 
than    knowledge, — geniality  of  disposition   blended   with 
firmness,  kindness,  and  compassion.     He  will  long  be  re- 
membered for  his  genial  faith  in  the  Christian  religion, 
carrying  its  precepts  and  teachings  into  his  every-day  life. 
He  is  now  the  only  pioneer  physician  remaining  in  Allegan 
County. 

In  the  year  1846,  Dr.  Goodell  settled  in  Allegan.  He 
remained  but  a  short  time,  and  then  moved  to  Ohio. 

Dr.  H.  S.  Lay  may  also  be  counted  one  of  the  pioneer 
physicians,  as  he  came  to  Allegan  in  1849.  He  was  born 
in  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  the  year  1828,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-two  years  commenced  practice  in  Allegan ;  with  the 
exception  of  two  years'  residence  in  Dansville,  N.  Y.,  and 
four  years  in  Battle  Creek,  Mich.,  that  place  has  since  been 
his  h.ome.     While  in  Battle  Creek  the  doctor  was  physi- 


ALLEGAN  VILLAGE. 


159 


cian-in-ehief  of  the  "  Sanitaria!  Health  Institute"  of  that 
city,  and  was  also  the  editor  of  the  first  volume,  beginning 
in  August,  1866,  of  the  Health  Reform, — a  journal  pub- 
lished in  connection  with  the  institute.  The  doctor  re- 
entered college  in  the  winter  of  1877,  and  graduated  from 
the  Detroit  Medical  College  with  the  class  of  that  year. 

Dr. Elliott  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  in 

Allegan  in  1855.  He  remained  until  the  spring  of  1861, 
when  he  entered  the  army  as  a  surgeon.  At  the  close  of 
the  war  he  removed  to  Titusville,  Pa.,  and  from  there  to 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  where  he  still  resides. 

Dr. Lovejoy  came  to  Allegan  in  1857,  but  after  a 

residence  there  of  about  three  years  he  removed  from'  the 
county. 

Dr.  J.  K.  Wilson,  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  New 
York,  came  to  Allegan  in  1858.  He  practiced  medicine 
there  until  1877,  when  he  also  left  the  county. 

Dr.  J.  J.  McConkie,  a  graduate  of  Columbus  College, 
Ohio,  came  to  Allegan  in  1867,  where  he  soon  established 
a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  Failing  in  health,  the  doctor 
concluded  to  go  farther  north,  and  in  1879  he  purchased 
a  large  tract  of  land  in  Grand  Traverse  County,  in  this  State, 
whither  he  at  once  removed. 

Dr.  Edwin  Amsden,  a  son  of  Dr.  Elihu  Amsden,  came  to 
Allegan  in  May,  1868.  He  was  born  in  Gainesville,  N.  Y., 
in  December,  1827,  and  studied  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  under 
Professor  Austin  Flint,  now  one  of  the  most  eminent  phy- 
sicians of  New  York  City,  graduating  from  the  Buffalo 
Medical  College  in  1853.  He  served  three  years  in  the 
war  for  the  Union  as  surgeon  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Thirty-Sixth  Regiment  New  York  Volunteers.  Soon  after 
coming  to  Michigan,  Dr.  Amsden  entered  into  partnership 
with  Dr.  A.  E,.  Calkins,  which  association  continued  until 
just  previous  to  Dr.  Calkins'  death. 

Henry  F.  Thomas,  M.D.,  was  born  on  the  17th  of  De- 
cember, 1843,  in  the  township  of  Tompkins,  Jackson  Co., 
Mich.  He  entered  Albion  College  in  1859,  and  remained 
two  years.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  the  Seventh  Michigan 
Cavalry  as  first  sergeant  of  Company  D,  and  in  1864  re- 
ceived a  lieutenant's  commission.  He  participated  in  all 
the  numerous  battles  and  raids  of  that  regiment,  related  in 
Chapter  XXXI.  of  general  history,  including  its  arduous 
service  in  the  Far  West  after  the  close  of  the  war.  Dr. 
Thomas  graduated  from  the  medical  department  of  the 
University  of  Michigan  in  1868.  He  began  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  the  spring  of  1868,  at  Constantine,  St. 
Joseph  Co.,  Mich.  From  there  he  removed  to  Allegan  in 
June,  1869,  and  has  remained  there  to  the  present  time. 
Dr.  Thomas  was  a  member  of  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives of  Michigan  in  1873,  and  of  the  Statb  Senate  in 
1875.  In  the  spring  of  1879  he  was  also  elected  president 
of  the  village  of  Allegan. 

Dr.  0.  E.  Goodrich,  son  of  Dr.  0.  D.  Goodrich,  was  born 
in  Allegan,  June  22,  1844.  He  graduated  at  the  Hahne- 
mann Medical  College,  at  Chicago,  in  1866,  and  practiced 
medicine  at  Allegan  until  1878,  when  he  retired  from  the 
profession. 

Dr.  A.  B.  Way  was  born  in  Canfield,  Mahoning  Co., 
Ohio,  in  1839,  and  came  to  Allegan  in  1873.  He 
graduated   from    Little  Miami  College,  at  Cincinnati,   in 


the  class  of  1863.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion 
he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  Sixth  Ohio  Regiment  of  vol- 
unteers, and  was  transferred  to  the  hospital  department 
of  Ohio,  where  he  served  two  years.  He  has  retired  from 
practice  during  the  present  year. 

Dr.  W.  H.  Bills  was  born  in  Wyoming  Co.,  N.  Y., 
March  24,  1846,  and  came  to  Allegan  during  the  fall  of 
1872.  He  obtained  his  literary  education  at  the  Middle- 
bury  Academy,  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  commenced 
the  study  of  medicine  in  1865,  graduating  from  the  Buf- 
falo Medical  College  Feb.  22,  1870.  He  began  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  in  Pentwater,  Mich.,  the  same  year,  resid- 
ing there  two  years.  He  then  removed  to  Allegan,  where 
he  has  since  remained. 

Dr.  F.  M.  Calkins,  son  of  Dr.  A.  R.  Calkins,  was  born 
at  Allegan,  Mich.,  on  the  19th  of  September,  1852.  He 
began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Drs.  Calkins  and  Ams- 
den in  1871,  and  graduated  from  the  Long  Island  Col- 
lege Hospital,  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  on  the  25th  of  June, 
1874.  In  1878  he  entered  into  partnership  with  Dr.  W. 
H.  Bills,  which  business  connection  still  exists. 

Dr.  James  A.  Mabbs  was  born  Oct.  29,  1851,  at  Ran- 
som, Hillsdale  Co.,  Mich.  He  commenced  the  study  of 
medicine  in  1871  with  Dr.  J.  J.  McConkie,  and  graduated 
from  the  Chicago  Medical  College  in  1875.  He  imme- 
diately returned  to  Allegan  and  entered  into  partnership 
with  his  former  preceptor.  la  1878  the  doctor  removed 
from  Allegan,  and  at  present  is  practicing  at  Fillmore,  in 
the  same  county. 

Dr.  F.  R.  Hynes,  a  homoeopathic  physician,  came  to 
Allegan  in  1877,  and  engaged  in  practice,  in  which  he  still 
continues. 

Dr.  Charles  Russell  was  born  in  Byron,  Ogle  Co.,  111.,  in 
September,  1843.  -He  began  the  study  of  medicine  with 
his  father.  Dr.  J.  M.  Russell,  of  Hastings,  Mich.,  in  1863, 
and  graduated  from  the  medical  department  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Michigan  in  1866.  Immediately  after  receiving 
the  degree  of  doctor  of  medicine  he  associated  himself  with 
his  father  in  practice  at  Hastings.  In  1879  he  removed  to 
Allegan,  where  he  is  now  in  practice. 

The  present  resident  phy,sicians  of  Allegan  are  H.  S. 
Lay,  M.D.,  E.  Amsden,  M.D.,  H.  F.  Thomas,  M.D., 
■  W.  H.  Bills,  M.D.,  F.  M.  Calkins,  M.D.,  and  Charles 
Russell,  M.D.,  of  the  regular  school ;  0.  D-  Goodrich,  M.D., 
and  F.  R.  Hynes,  M.D.,  of  the  homoeopathic  school ;  and 
A.  G.  Weeks,  M.D.,  of  the  botanic  school. 

ABEAM  R.  CALKINS. 
Abram  R.  Calkins  was  born  in  Malta,  Saratoga  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  May  19,  1822,  and  died  in  Allegan,  Mich.,  March  17, 
1873.  In  1833  he  removed  with  his  father  to  Richland, 
Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.  At  this  place  his  father  died  in 
1837.  He  then  entered  the  family  of  his  older  brother, 
Chauncey  W.  Calkins,  and  continued  his  literary  studies. 
At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  in 
the  office  of  Drs.  Coats  &  Biglow,  of  Otsego,  Mich.,  and 
graduated  from  the  Geneva  Medical  College,  N.  Y.,  in  1845. 
Soon  after,  he  opened  an  office  in  Allegan,  where  he  was 
married,  in  November  of  that  year,  to  Miss  Lucy  Maria 
Winslow,  who  was  the  mother  of  his  two  sons,  the  younger 


160 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


of  whom,  Dr.  Fred  M.  Calkins,  follows  his  father's  profes- 
sion in  the  same  place.  For  nearly  thirty  years  Dr.  Calkins 
practiced  medicine  in  Allegan,  often  fording  streams  and 
following  an  Indian  trail  through  the  forest  to  the  rude 
home  of  the  pioneer.  Ambitious  to  succeed  in  his  pro- 
fession, full  of  energy  and  vigor,  daunted  by  no  difficulty, 
deterred  by  no  obstacle,  he  became  skillful  both  as  a  phy- 
sician and  surgeon. 

Sympathetic  and  kindly  in  his  nature,  he  was  ever  a 
welcome  visitor  at  the  bedside  of  suffering  humanity.  He 
displayed  an  active  interest  in  every  work  that  promised. 


ABEAM   E.    CALKINS,  M.D. 

in  his  opinion,  the  elevation  and  welfare  of  mankind,  and 
was  helpful  in  every  society  of  which  he  became  a  member. 
To  the  church  he  gave  his  presence,  his  counsel,  and  his 
means.  In  the  school  board  he  labored  for  the  physical 
and  moral  as  well  as  the  intellectual  advancement  of  the 
young.  To  the  society  of  Freemasons  he  was  a  valued 
acquisition.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican,  positive  and 
firm  in  his  opinions. 

He  entered  the  army  in  1862,  and  was  appointed  surgeon 
of  the  Seventeenth  Michigan  Infantry ;  participated  in  the 
battles  of  South  Mountain  and  Antictam.  He  served  in 
the  army  for  a  year,  when  the  severe  sickness  of  his  wife' 
induced  him  to  resign  his  position.  She  died  before  his 
return.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  a  member  of  the 
County  and  State  Medical  Societies,  and  also  of  the  Amer- 
ican Medical  Society,  having  been  sent  by  the  State  Society 
as  a  delegate  to  that  body  at  its  meeting  in  Philadelphia  in 
1872.  Dr.  Calkins  was  thrice  married,  the  second  time  in 
June,  1855,  to  Miss  Helen  G.  Bingham,  and  again  in 
April,  1863,  to  Mrs.  Lottie  S.  Smith,  who  survives  him. 

Although  Dr.  Calkins  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-one,  he 
lived  to  see  the  comparative  wilderness  amid  which  he 
began  his  life-work  bud  and  blcssom  as  the  rose,  the 
streams  substantially  bridged,  the  Indian  trails  succeeded 


by  good  roads,  and  the  log  dwellings  replaced  by  attractive 
farm-houses. 

Full  of  generous  impulses,  courteous,  genial,  and  social, 
he  was  prized  while  here  and  mourned  when  gone.  Active 
and  busy  to  the  last,  his  life  was  another  sacrifice  to  the 
profession  which,  when  once  adopted,  leaves  a  man  no 
longer  his  own  master.  An  affectionate  husband,  a  watch- 
ful, indulgent,  and  loving  parent,  an  obliging  friend,  and 
an  upright  citizen,  it  is  well  to  cherish  his  memory. 

RELIGIOUS   ORGANIZATIONS. 
THE   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

This  body  was  organized  April  23,  1836,  a  meeting  of 
those  interested  having  been  held  at  the  house  of  William  C. 
Jenner.  Its  first  members  were  Alexander  L,  Ely,  Julia 
S.  Austin,  John  Littlejohn,  William  C.  Jenner  and  wife, 
Sarah  Jenner,  Thomas  C.  Jenner,  William  B.  Jenner,  and 
Silas  F.  Littlejohn.  The  following  day  Mary  A.  N.  Ely 
was  received  upon  profession,  and  Milo  Winslow,  George 
Y.  Warner,  Mrs.  Hannah  Winslow,  and  Mrs.  Mary  Ann 
Littlejohn  by  letter,  making  in  all  fourteen  members.  From 
that  date  to  the  present  time  more  than  500  persons  have 
been  enrolled  as  members;  many  of  them  have  died  or 
been  dismissed,  but  the  present  membership  numbers  more 
than  160. 

The  little  band  of  worshipers  of  1836  met  for  a  while 
at  the  residence  of  William  C.  Jenner,  where  the  Rev. 
William  Jones  officiated  as  minister,  but  soon  afterward  the 
Allegan  Company  erected  for  their  use  a  small  edifice,  which 
was  donated  to  the  society.  It  had  been  occupied,  how- 
ever, only  two  or  three  Sabbaths  when  it  was  destroyed  by 
fire,  caused  by  the  clearing  of  land  now  embraced  in  the 
village.  The  society  then  assembled  on  Sabbath  in  a  car- 
penter- and  joiner-shop,  later  in  a  chamber  of  Mr.  Jen- 
ner's  house,  and  finally  in  a  school-house,  which  also  did 
duty  as  a  court-house.  Silas  F.  Littlejohn  also  opened  his 
house  for  worship  during  one  winter. 

The  church  then  determined  to  erect  a  house  of  worship 
of  its  own,  and  it  did  so  in  1842,  at  a  cost  of  $850,  under 
the  ministry  of  Rev.  Samuel  Newberry.  The  building  was 
repaired  and  renovated  in  1853,  and  was  enlarged  under 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  John  Sailor.  On  the  night  of  Sept. 
18,  1874,  the  edifice  was  totally  destroyed  by  fire.  The 
church  was  not  disheartened,  and  the  members  at  once  de- 
voted themselves  to  the  work  of  erecting  a  new  edifice.  A 
little  more  than  one  year  from  the  destruction  of  the  old 
building  the  congregation  occupied  a  much  more  spacious 
and  imposing  structure,  which  had  been  built  at  a  cost  of 
$10,000,- and  which  was  free  of  incumbrance,  except  a 
trifiing  indebtedness,  which  was  soon  after  liquidated. 

From  the  small  beginning  seen  in  1836  the  church  has 
not  only  become  self-supporting,  but  has  been  active  in  the 
cause  of  charity,  and  given  liberally  of  its  substance  to  both 
foreign  and  domestic  missions. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  pastors  from  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  church  to  the  present  time:  Revs.  William 
Jones,  1836-37  ;  Augustus  Littlejohn,  five  weeks ;  George 
W.  Elliott,  three  months  ;  Luke  Lyons,  1837-39  ;  Hcrvey 
Hyde,  1840-41;  Samuel  Newberry,  1842-45;  E.  F. 
Waldo,  1846-48;   William  Page,  1849-50;    Charles  M. 


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ALLEGAN  VILLAGE. 


161 


Morehouse,  1851-54;  Joseph  A.  Ranney,  1854-59;  J03I 
Kennedy,  1860-64;  John  Sailor,  1865-74;  John  D. 
McCord,  1874-78;  A.  B.  Allen,  Jan.  1, 1879,  who  is  now 
the  pastor. 

The  present  elders  are  D.  A.  McMartin,  John  0.  Nor- 
throp, Henry  Cook,  Henry  Dunning,  W.  B.  Jenner,  George 
Knapp,  L.  G.  Stedman.  The  trustees  are  Ira  Chichester, 
H.  H.  Pope,  H.  B.  Peck,  John  S.  Bidwell,  H.  P.  Dun- 
ning, Henry  Rosa,  John  Stegeman. 

THE   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH. 

This  church  was  organized  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Williams, 
of  the  North  Ohio  Conference,  in  the  spring  of  1836,  the 
Methodists  being  then  under  the  supervision  of  the  Con- 
ference just  named.  The  original  class  consisted  of  seven 
members,  namely  :  Mrs.  Weighty  Wilson,  Enoch  Baker  and 
wife,  Miss  Clarissa  Wilson,  Miss  Streeter,  and  Mr.  Torrey, 
all  of  whom  are  dead  with  the  exception  of  Mrs.  Baker. 
Enoch  Baker  was  chosen  as  the  first  class-leader.  Among 
those  who  very  early  united  with  the  church  were  Spencer 
Marsh,  who  died  in  1877,  Rev.  William  C.  H.  Bliss  and 
wife,  who  came  from  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in  the  spring  of 
1837,  and  Rev.  William  Brown,  who  has  been  an  active 
local  preacher  for  more  than  forty  years. 

The  first  board  of  trustees  was  organized  and  the  society 
legally  incorporated  in  the  fall  of  1837.  The  little  con- 
gregation first  assembled  in  a  school-house  which  stood  near 
the  present  grocery-store  of  Mr.  C.  W.  Hall,  on  Hubbard 
Street.  The  first  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1839,  on 
the  site  of  the  present  one,  which  was  completed  in  1853. 
This  latter  building  was  enlarged  in  1866,  during  the  pas- 
torate of  Rev.  E.  Marble. 

The  following  are  the  pastors  who  oflSciated  prior  to 
1856,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  which  it  was  not  possi- 
ble to  obtain :  Revs.  Williams,  Todd,  F.  Gage,  Erchen- 
brach,  D.  Bash,  Edward  L.  Kellogg,  C.  Mosher,  Parker, 
William  C.  H.  Bliss,  A.  J.  Eldred,  F.  Glass,  J.  H.  Peit- 
zel,  and  S.  A.  Osborn.  Since  that  date  the  following  is 
a  complete  list  of  the  ministers  in  the  order  of  their  suc- 
cession :  Revs.  D.  Bush,  1856;  S.  A.  Dunton,  1858;  D. 
R.  Latham,  1860;  A.  Y.  Graham,  1861;  N.  S.  Otis, 
1862;  James  Billings,  1864;  E.  Marble,  1865;  H.  C. 
Peck,  1867;  H.  P.  Henderson,  1868;  George  W.  Sher- 
man, 1870;  James  Hamilton,  1872;  R.  C.  Crawford, 
1874  ;  L.  M.  Edwards,  1876 ;  and  the  present  pastor.  Rev. 
W.  A.  Hunsberger,  1879.  The  society  is  in  a  very  flour- 
ishing condition.  Besides  the  church  property  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Trowbridge  and  Walnut  Streets,  it  owns  an  excellent 
parsonage  on  the  corner  of  Trowbridge  and  Pine  Streets. 

Connected  with  the  charge  in  Allegan  is  a  Sunday  after- 
noon appointment  at  Mill  Grove,  where  there  is  a  prosper- 
ous church  of  54  members,  making  a  total  of  198  members 
connected  with  this  pastorate.  There  is  a  church  edifice  at 
Mill  Grove  belonging  to  the  society,  erected  mainly  through 
the  liberality  of  Mr.  Alonzo  Vosburgh,  worth  about  11400. 
The  church  is  entirely  free  from  debt. 

THE   BAPTIST   CHUECH. 
It  is  impossible  to  obtain  more  than  a  very  meagre  his- 
tory of  this  organization,  though  repeated  efforts  have  been 
21 


made  to  render  the  information  more  complete.  It  appears 
that  the  members  of  the  society  resident  in  Allegan  were 
formerly  connected  with  the  Plainfield  Church,  a  commu- 
nication having  been  sent  by  the  Allegan  Baptists  to  that 
organization  on  the  26th  of  December,  1840,  to  be  consti- 
tuted a  branch  of  that  church.  In  January,  1841,  the  names 
of  the  following  persons  were  enrolled  as  members  of  a 
branch  of  the  Plainfield  Church :  Joseph  Fisk,  A.  Ross, 
John  R.  Kellogg,  Noah  Briggs,  J.  Ross,  Hannah  Davis, 
E.  Colburn,  Wm.  Finn,  Betsey  Fisk,  Daniel  Leggett,  Jona- 
than Peabody,  H.  Munger  (pastor),  H.  Ross,  John  G. 
Colburn,  Rhoda  Munger,  H.  Fisk,  Mary  Ann  Stone,  S. 
Briggs,  Aurelia  Fuller,  Chester  Wetmore,  John  Griffith, 
Frederick  Day,  Amanda  Griffith,  Nancy  Ross,  Leonard 
Ross,  Fanny  Day,  Mary  Jane  Kenyon,  Lemuel  Wilcox, 
Samuel  Wilcox,  Phoebe  Ross,  Levi  Wilcox.  The  society, 
however,  soon  effected  a  separate  legal  organization,  and 
Rev.  H.  Munger  was  settled  as  the  first  pastor,  Joseph 
Fisk  being  selected  as  church  clerk.  Noah  Briggs  and 
John  G.  Colburn  were  appointed  deacons,  and  the  following 
were  elected  as  a  board  of  trustees :  Chester  Wetmore, 
Wm.  Finn,  Lyman  Fisk,  one  year ;  Daniel  D.  Davis,  Elias 
Streeter,  Alvah  Fuller,  two  years ;  T.  M.  Russell,  Noah 
Briggs,  Joseph  Fisk,  three  years. 

From  that  time  on  the  church  pursued  the  even  tenor 
of  its  way  without  any  very  remarkable  incidents,  but  with 
steadily  increasing  prosperity.  A  house  of  worship  was 
erected,  and  the  church  greatly  increased  and  grew  in 
numbers.  In  September,  1877,  Mrs.  Hannah  J.  Davis, 
widow  of  David  Doane  Dayis,  died  and  bequeathed  her 
estate,  valued  at  more  than  $60,000,  to  the  First  Baptist 
Church,  of  which  she  was  a  member,  and  for  charitable 
purposes.  Included  in  this  bequest  was  a  spacious  and 
completely  furnished  residence,  which  fs  generally  used  as 
a  parsonage,  though  the  church  is  now  without  a  pastor. 
The  officiating  board  of  trustees  is  as  follows  :  Joseph  Fisk, 
Ralph  Pratt,  F.  S.  Day,  C.  W.  Calkins,  G.  M.  Smith,  F. 
H.  May,  Charles  B.  Pratt,  John  H.  Colburn,  George  E. 
McCarthy.     F.  H.  May,  Clerk ;  C.  W.  Calkins,  Treasurer. 

PROTESTANT   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH. 

The  first  service  was  held  in  Allegan  by  Rev.  W.  N. 
Leyster  in  1842.  The  next  service  was  not  held  until  ten 
years  later,  and  was  conducted  by  Bishop  Littlejohn,  now 
of  New  York.  In  1858  a  series  of  services  on  week-day 
evenings'  was  inaugurated  by  Rev.  L.  N.  Freeman,  of 
Kalamazoo,  and  sufficient  interest  was  manifested  to  war- 
rant their  continuance  for  a  period  of  more  than  a  year. 
During  this  time  17  persons  were  baptized  and  11  con- 
firmed. Rev.  J.  Rice  Taylor  removed  to  Allegan  in  Octo- 
ber, 1859,  as  the  first  settled  rector,  and  remained  nearly 
four  years,  the  services  at  that  time  having  been  held  at 
the  court-house.  The  parish  was  organized  as  the  Church 
of  the  Good  Shepherd,  and  admitted  into  union  at  the  Di- 
ocesan Convention  in  1860.  The  society  began  the  erection 
of  the  present  church  in  1867,  and  first  occupied  it  on  Palm 
Sunday,  March  21,  1869.  Rev.  Henderson  Judd,  who  had 
been  installed  as  rector  the  year  previous,  remained  six 
years.  He  instilled  a  spirit  of  labor  into  the  hearts  of  his 
parishioners,  and  under  his  ministry  the  church  rapidly  in- 


162 


HISTORY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


creased  in  size.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Walter  Scott, 
who  began  his  labors  May  8,  1875,  and  is  still  the  rector. 
The  church  roll  embraces  80  communicants,  and  the  parish 
generally  is  in  a  healthy  condition,  with  large  prospects  of 
usefulness.  A  flourishing  Sabbath-school  is  also  connected 
with  the  society.  The  oflScers  are  as  follows :  "William  B. 
Williams  and  D.  J.  Arnold,  Wardens;  Augustus  Lilly, 
Almeron  E.  Calkins,  and  P.  Padgham,  Vestrymen  ;  George 
R.  Stone,  Treasurer ;  Joseph  M.  Killiam,  Secretary. 

GERMAN  METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH. 

A  mission  in  connection  with  the  German  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  was  established  in  Allegan  County  as 
early  as  1856.  In  that  year  Rev.  G.  Berthrams,  of  Lan- 
sing, visited  the  German  population  of  the  county  and 
expounded  the  Scriptures  to  them  in  their  native  tongue. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  H.  Krill,  and  he  by  Rev.  Jacob 
Krebill,  who,  however,  confined  their  labors  principally  to 
Salem  and  Monterey,  where  societies  connected  with  this 
church  were  organized. 

In  the  year  1864,  Rev.  V.  Jahrens  was  installed  as 
pastor  of  the  little  flock  in  Allegan,  and  organized  a  church 
with  only  five  members,  namely:  Daniel  Ellinger  and 
wife,  Frederick  Ruute  and  wife,  and  Maria  Ellinger. 
These  labored  earnestly,  however,  among  their  friends, 
and  they  soon  enjoyed  the  satisfaction  of  witnessing  a 
slow  but  healthy  growth.  The  same  year  ground  was 
purchased  for  a  church  edifice,  which  was  built  the  next 
year,  being  dedicated  on  the  1st  of  December,  1865.  A 
parsonage  was  also  secured  for  the  pastor.  The  congrega- 
tion was  ere  long  placed  in  charge  of  Rev.  Henry  Maertz, 
who  also  had  the  superintendence  of  the  societies  at  Salem, 
Monterey,  and  Hopkins.  The  membership  of  the  German 
Methodist  Church  in  Allegan  County  now  numbers  160, 
over  whom  Rev.  C.  A.  Militzer  is  the  pastor,  with  his 
residence  in  Allegan.  The  various  societies  are  in  a  very 
flourishing  condition,  and  subscribe  liberally  for  benevolent 
purposes.  There  is  also  a  successful  Sabbath-school,  with 
145  scholars. 

CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH. 

The  Congregational  Church  had  its  inception  during  the 
year  1858,  when  a  little  band  of  ten  persons  of  that  creed, 
anxious  for  the  establishment  of  a  church  of  their  own 
was  gathered  on  the  10th  of  June  of  that  year  at  the 
house  of  H.  H.  Booth,  in  the  village  of  Allegan.  On 
Sunday,  the  20th  of  the  same  month,  their  first  service 
was  held  in  Pine  Grove  Seminary,  Rev.  Mr.  Wolcott  offi- 
ciating on  the  occasion.  Mr.  Andrew  Oliver  was  chosen 
clerk  of  the  society.  Preaching  after  this  was  irregular, 
though  the  customary  weekly  service  was  maintained  with- 
out intermission. 

In  1858,  Rev.  D.  Wirt  was  called  to  the  pastorate, 
preaching  his  inaugural  sermon  on  the  6th  of  November 
of  that  year.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  L.  H.  Jones, 
and  he  by  Rev.  L.  F.  Waldo.  Rev.  E.  Andrus  was  next 
installed  as  pastor,  who  was  followed  by  Rev.  R.  Apthorp. 
After  him  Rev.  L.  F.  Bickford  filled  the  pulpit,  being  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  D.  E.  Hathaway.  The  congregation  erected 
a  house  of  worship  after  they  had  become  fully  established, 


which  was  dedicated  Jan.  7,  1865.  Ten  years  afterwards 
a  comfortable  parsonage  was  added  to  the  church  property. 
The  present  membership  is  158,  the  pastor  being  Rev. 
John  Sailor. 

SEVENTH-DAY  ADVENTIST   CHURCH.* 

The  Seventh-Day  Adventist  Church  of  Allegan  was 
duly  organized  on  the  7th  of  December,  1861.  In  1863 
it  completed  the  plain  but  neat  house  of  worship  which 
is  located  on  Cutler  Street.  This  building  is  capable 
of  seating  about  300  persons.  When  the  church  was  or- 
ganized it  numbered  but  nine  souls.  As  this  embraced 
individuals  in  moderate  circumstances,  it  was  only  by  dint 
of  much  sacrifice  and  strenuous  efiFort  that  they  were  en- 
abled to  complete  and  pay  for  their  house  of  worship,  which 
was  dedicated  in  the  summer  of  1864.  Elder  J.  N.  An- 
drews (now  missionary  to  Switzerland)  conducted  the  ser- 
vices. At  a  meeting  held  Dec.  7,  1861,  Horatio  S.  Lay 
was  elected  elder,  and  James  M.  Foster  clerk.  About  one 
year  later,  or  on  Nov.  12,  1862,  the  elder  elect  was  duly 
ordained  by  the  laying  on  of  hands  and  prayer.  Elder 
James  White,  of  Battle  Creek,  Mich.,  and  Elder  Moses 
Hull,  of  the  same  place,  officiating. 

Dr.  H.  S  Lay  having  removed  to  Battle  Creek,  Mich., 
the  church  was  left  without  an  elder  for  several  years,  the 
regular  services  being  conducted  by  leaders  who  were  chosen 
from  time  to  time.  In  the  mean  time  Henry  H.  Pierce, 
formerly  deacon  of  the  church  at  Monterey,  having  re 
moved  to  Allegan,  was  chosen  to  fill  that  office  in  the  latter 
place. 

On  the  13th  of  July,  1878,  James  M.  Baker,  having 
been  previously  selected  for  that  purpose  by  the  church, 
was  duly  ordained  as  elder. 

In  1867,  Elder  J.  N.  Loughborough,  now  a  missionary 
to  England,  spent  some  weeks  in  Allegan,  during  which 
time  he  delivered  a  course  of  lectures  on  the  prophecies. 
As  the  result  of  his  labors  some  10  or  15  members  were 
added  to  the  church.  About  the  same  time,  also,  several 
persons  in  the  vicinity  of  Douglas  (Saugatuck  township), 
having  embraced  the  faith,  were  also  admitted  into  member- 
ship with  the  church  at  Allegan.  Subsequently,  however, 
a  Seventh-Day  Adventist  Church  was  raised  up  at  Douglas, 
and  letters  were  granted  to  all  the  members  of  the  Allegan 
Church  residing  in  that  vicinity  to  enable  them  to  become 
members.  The  membership  of  the  Allegan  Church  was 
thus  reduced  to  about  its  present  number,  33.  Like  most 
Seventh-Day  Adventists'  Churches,  this  one  has  been  com- 
pelled to  sustain  itself  without  the  aid  of  a  local  pastor, 
their  ministers  being  largely  employed  in  spreading  the 
faith  of  the  church  throughout  all  lands. 

Elder  W.  H.  Littlejohn,  who  is  a  resident  minister  of 
the  place  when  not  laboring  in  other  parts  of  the  State, 
frequently  addresses  the  members  of  this  church  on  the 
Sabbath,  and  they  are  occasionally  visited  by  other  minis- 
ters of  the  denomination.  They  have  a  thriving  Sabbath- 
school,  numbering  30  members,  of  which  J.  M.  Baker  is 
superintendent.  Besides  a  weekly  prayer-meeting,  they 
have  organized  a  tract  and  missionary  society  for  the  dis- 


»  By  Elder  W.  H.  Littlejohn. 


ALLEGAN   VILLAGE. 


163 


tribution  of  publications  which  set  forth  the  reasons  of 
their  faith,  and  a  branch  club  of  the  American  Health  and 
Temperance  Association,  for  the  advancement  of  the  health 
and  temperance  of  the  community  The  latter  institution 
is  both  unique  in  its  character  and  radical  in  its  work. 
All  members  of  the  association  are  expected  to  sign  one  of 
three  pledges.  The  first  obligates  them  to  abstain  from  the 
use  of  alcohol  in  all  its  forms ;  the  second,  from  that  of 
alcohol  and  tobacco ;  and  the  third,  from  alcohol,  morphine, 
opium,  tobacco,  tea,  and  coffee.  None  but  the  signers  of 
the  third  pledge  are  eligible  to  oflSce.  This  club  was 
organized  Aug.  20,  1879.  It  is  not  denominational  in  its 
character,  the  rights  and  privileges  of  its  membership  being 
extended  to  all  who  are  in  sympathy  with  its  objects. 

The  regular  weekly  services  of  the  church  are  held  on 
Saturday,  or  the  seventh  day  of  the  week,  in  obedience  to 
what  its  members  regard  as  the  only  Sabbath  law  which 
God  has  ever  promulgated.  The  Seventh-Day  Adventists 
are  firm  believers  in  the  near  coming  of  Christ ;  but,  unlike 
those  known  as  First-day  Adventists,  they  do  not  now,  and 
never  have,  indicated  the  exact  time  at  which  Christ  will 
come. 

GERMAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

The  German  Lutheran  Society  was  organized  in  the  year 
1869  under  the  direction  of  Rev.  John  Bowman,  the  first 
board  of  trustees  being  composed  of  Michel  Eckert,  Gustav 
Meske,  and  Fred  Sohuman.  The  pastor  was  Rev.  Christian 
Metzger,  under  whom  the  society  increased  in  number  and 
became  so  prosperous  as  to  warrant  the  erection  of  a  church 
edifice,  the  previous  services  having  been  held  in  the  court- 
house. To  this  end  a  building  committee  was  appointed, 
consisting  of  Samuel  Ellinger,  Gustav  Meske,  and  Michel 
Eckert.  The  work  progressed  rapidly,  and  in  1874  the 
edifice  was  completed  at  a  cost  of  $1600,  many  willing 
hands  aiding  in  the  work.  Rev.  Mr.  Metzger  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  Frederick  Frankenstein,  and  he  by  the  present 
pastor,  Rev.  Albert  Schernberg.  The  trustees  are  Francis 
Meyer,  Michel  Eckert,  and  Julius  Schermer. 

SECRET  SOCIETIES. 
ALLEGAN  LODGE,  No.  Ill,  F.  AND  A.  M. 

In  the  month  of  April,  1858,  a  few  members  of  the 
Masonic  order,  resident  in  Allegan,  met  to  petition  the  Grand 
Master  for  a  dispensation  to  organize  a  new  lodge.  The 
petition  was  granted,  and  on  the  4th  of  August  the  lodge 
was  opened  with  the  following  as  its  first  officers :  T.  N. 
Hudson,  W.  M. ;  J.  B.  Streeter,  S.  W. ;  J.  W.  Nichols, 
J.  W. ;  H.  C.  Smith,  Trcas. ;  H.  S.  Manson,  Sec.  The 
charter  bears  date  Jan.  1,  1854,  and  the  earliest  elected 
officers  were  E.  B.  Bassett,  W.  M. ;  E.  D.  Follett,  S.  W. ; 
Alby  Rossman,  J.  W. ;  J.  E.  Babbitt,  Treas. ;  H.  S.  Man- 
son,  Sec. 

Since  that  time  the  following  gentlemen  have  served  the 
lodge  as  Masters :  E.  B.  Bassett,  four  times ;  E.  D.  Fol- 
lett, twice ;  G.  D.  Smith,  three  times ;  A.  S.  Butler,  three 
times ;  William  J.  Pollard,  five  times ;  E.  E.  Edwards, 
once;  G.  R.  Stone,  once;  H.  Franks,  once;  and  E.  D. 
Motley,  the  present  Master,  once.  The  lodge  numbers  94 
members,  and  is  in  a  highly  prosperous  condition. 


EUREKA  CHAPTER,  Xo.  50,  R.  A.  M. 

The  dispensation  for  Eureka  Chapter  bears  date  Jlay 
23,  1867,  and  the  charter  January  8th  of  the  following 
year,  the  charter  members  being  A.  J.  Kellogg,  George  D. 
Smith,  George  Geppert,  Zara  Clifford,  H.  S.  Butler,  R.  S. 
Updyke,  A.  B.  Case,  W.  J.  Pollard,  F.  B.  Schprno.  Its 
first  stated  communication  under  the  dispensation  was  held 
at  Masonic  Hall,  Aug.  16,  1867.  The  first  convocation 
was  held  at  the  same  place,  Jan.  23,  1868,  for  the  purpose 
of  electing  officers,  the  result  being  as  follows :  A.  J.  Kel- 
Idgg,  M.  E.  H.  P.;  R.  S.  Updyke,  King;  G.  D.  Smith, 
Scribe;  B.  B.  Sutphen,  Treas. ;  F.  J.  Higgins,  Sec.  Its 
present  officers,  elected  Dec.  2,  1879,  are  W.  H.  Pollard, 
M.  E.  H.  P. ;  B.  B.  Sutphen,  King;  J.  P.  Barclay,  Scribe  ; 
G.  R.  Stone,  Treas. ;  J.  M.  Killian,  Sec.  The  regular  con- 
vocations are  held  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  each  month,  and 
the  organization  is  in  an  exceedingly  flourishing  condition. 

ALLEGAN  LODGE,  No.  105,  I.  0.  0.  F. 

Allegan  Lodge,  No.  105,  was  instituted  Nov.  8,  1866, 
by  William  Oaks,  Grand  Master  of  the  State,  its  charter 
members  being  Allen  Wood,  Sherman  P.  Stanley,  A.  F. 
Howe,  S.  H.  Priest,  James  Caskey,  Sr.,  and  James  Caskey, 
Jr.  Its  first  officers  were  James  Caskey,  N.  G. ;  Sherman 
P.  Stanley,  V.  G. ;  A.  F.  Howe,  Sec. ;  Allen  Wood,  Treas., 
the  charter  bearing  date  Jan.  14,  1867.  Its  present  offi- 
cers arc  Richard  Baker,  N.  G. ;  Richard  D.  Thompson,  V. 
G. ;  Allen  Wood,  Rec.  Sec. ;  H.  D.  Hunt,  Per.  Sec. ;  Joseph 
W.  Ely,  Treas.  It  has  upon  its  list  81  active  members, 
and  enjoys  much  prosperity. 


MAY   LODGE,  No.  16,  L  0.  0.  F.  (DAUGHTERS  OF 
REBEKAH). 

This  was  organized  Sept.  2,  1875,  by  George  W.  Griggs, 
G.  M.,  its  first  officers  being  William  J.  Frost,  N.  G.  ;  Mrs. 
Eliza  Baker,  V.  G. ;  Mrs.  Netty  Ely,  Sec. ;  Mrs.  Jennie 
Frost,  Treas. ;  Mrs.  C.  E.  Hopkins,  Per.  Sec.  Its  present 
officers  are  Henry  Osborn,  N.  G. ;  Mrs.  George  Davis,  V. 
G. ;  George  Davis,  Sec;  Mrs.  Ida  Osborn,  Treas. ;  Mrs. 
B.  B.  Cronk,  Per.  Sec.  The  lodge  holds  its  meetings  in 
Odd-Fellows'  Hall,  on  Locust  Street,  the  second  Friday  of 
each  month,  and  enjoys  much  prosperity.  It  numbers  on 
its  roll  42  members. 

HOME  LODGE,  No.  290,  I.  0.  0.  F. 
This  lodge  was  organized  under  a  dispensation,  March  3, 
1877,  which  was  granted  to  the  following  members :  W. 
H.  Shepard,  L.  Livingston,  D.  R.  Thralls,  R.  R.  Tick,  J. 
E.  Babbitt,  L.  H.  Babbitt,  J.  J.  McConkie,  and  James  E. 
Fuller.  The  charter  was  granted  March  28,  1877,  with 
the  following  as  the  first  officers :  J.  E.  Babbitt,  N.  G. ; 
James  E.  Fuller,  V.  G. ;  D.  R.  Thralls,  Sec.  ;  J.  J.  McCon- 
kie, Treas.  Its  present  officers  are  Ralph  Pratt,  N.  G. ; 
E.  R.  Morgan,  V.  G. ;  0.  T.  Booth,  Sec.  ;  W.  A.  Cheney, 
Treas.  The  lodge  is  in  a  very  flourishing  condition,  and 
is  rapidly  growing  in  numbers,  its  present  membership 
bein"  58.  Its  meetings  are  held  in  a  well-appointed  hall 
in  the  Ebmeyer  Block. 


164 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN   AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


HEART  AND  HAND  ENCAMPMENT,  No.  32,  I.  0.  0.  F. 
The  encampment  was  instituted  Sept.  17,  18G8,  by  John 
N.  Ingersoll,  Grand  Patriarch  of  the  State  Encampment, 
and  obtained  its  charter  Jan.  20,  1869.  Its  charter  mem- 
bers were  Henry  Vosburgh,  Eugene  E.  Bacon,  Fayette  S. 
Day,  Nelson  F.  Strong,  John  C.  Gorman,  George  Hall, 
Titus  Doane,  William  W.  Ward.  Its  first  officers  were 
Henry  Vosburgh,  C.  P.  ;  Fayette  S.  Day,  H.  P. ;  John  C. 
Gorman,  S.  W. ;  Eugene  E.  Bacon,  Scribe;  William  W. 
Ward,  Treas. ;  George  Hall,  J.  W.  Its  present  officers 
are  Richard  Baker,  C.  P. ;  Fayette  S.  Day,  H.  P. ;  James 
E.  Fuller,  Scribe ;  George  M.  Hodges,  S.  W. ;  Allen  Wood, 
Treas. ;  Thomas  Powers,  J.  W.  Its  present  membership 
is  51. 

ALLEGAN  LODGE,  No.  938,  I.  0.  a.  T. 
In  December,  1875,  the  "  Women's  Crusade  Band"  was 
the  only  temperance  organization  in  the  village,  and  the 
temperance-workers  concluded  to  form  a  society  which, 
while  offering  ample  facilities  for  aggressive  work,  should 
include  both  men  and  women,  and  also  present  social  advan- 
tages to  reformed  men.  Accordingly,  early  in  January, 
1876,  J.  W.  Scott,  of  Pontiac,  held  two  meetings,  the  main 
points  discussed  having  been  the  relative  merits  of  different 
plans  of  organization  for  work.  The  majority  seeming  to 
favor  the  organization  of  a  lodge  of  Good  Templars,  a  meet- 
ing was  held  at  the  Presbyterian  church,  January  24rth, 
and  a  lodge  was  organized  known  as  Allegan  Lodge,  No. 
938.  The  following  officers  were  chosen :  Worthy  Chief 
Templar,  R.  C.  Crawford  ;  Worthy  Vice  Templar,  Mrs.  H. 
A.  Pope ;  Sec,  D.  P.  Simmons ;  Assistant  Sec,  Grace  B. 
Sailor ;  Treas.,  H.  B.  Hudson ;  Financial  Sec,  Charlotte 
Askins;  Marshal,  S.  N.  Pike;  Deputy  Marshal,  Ruth  Bur- 
gess; Inside  Guard,  Charles  G.  Agrell;  Outside  Guard, 
H.  Van  Kammen;  Chaplain,  John  Sailor;  Past  Worthy 
Chief  Templar,  J.  J.  McConkie ;  Right  Hand  Supporter, 
Mrs.  E.  Amsden  ;  Left  Hand  Supporter,  Annis  Pullen  ; 
Lodge  Deputy,  Luther  Fowler. 

Papers  were  circulated  the  same  evening,  and  60  persons 
who  wished  to  engage  in  the  work  signed  their  names  to 
the  roll.  The  lodge  now  began  steadily  to  increase  in  num- 
bers and  influence.  Proposals  for  membership  followed  in 
regular  order,  the  largest  number  initiated  at  a  single  meet- 
ing having  been  20.  At  the  end  of  three  months  the 
number  had  increased  to  178,  and  at  the  end  of  six  months 
to  216,  this  being  the  maximum  number  during  the  exist- 
ence of  the  lodge.  At  this  time,  and  until  the  meeting  of 
the  Grand  Lodge,  in  October,  1878,  Allegan  Lodge  was 
the  banner  lodge  of  the  State.  At  the  end  of  the  first  year- 
the  books  showed  181  names  in  good  standing,  which  de- 
creased slowly  to  116  at  the  end  of  the  second  year.  This 
•number  became  103  at  the  next  report,  and  suddenly  fell, 
Nov.  1,  1878,  to  5],  when  the  minimum  number  was 
reached.  Since  that  time  the  list  has  slowly  increased  until 
the  present,  when  65  working  members  are  enrolled  upon 
the  books  of  the  lodge.  The  present  officers  are  William 
H.  Bierce,  W.  C.  T. ;  Rev.  John  Sailor,  W.  C. ;  Henry 
Marsh,  P.  W.  C.  T. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  lodge  was  held  in  Odd-Fellows' 
Hall.  After  some  changes  in  location  the  present  hall,  in 
the  Union  Block,  was  secured,  and  dedicated  March  12, 


1877,  F.  S.  Day,  District  Deputy,  having  officiated.  In 
this  spacious  and  comfortable  hall  its  meetings  are  now 
held.  It  is  the  only  surviving  temperance  organization  in 
the  village  of  Allegan,  and,  though  not  so  flourishing  as 
formerly,  is  still  accomplishing  a  good  work  in  the  cause  of 
temperance  and  morality. 

ALLEGAN   LODGE,  No.  41,   ANCIENT   ORDER   OP   UNITED 
WORKMEN. 

This  order  was  introduced  into  Allegan  in  1878,  in 
March  of  which  year  the  above  lodge  was  organized,  with 
22  charter  members.  Its  first  officers  were  Fayette  S.  Day, 
M.  W. ;  Joseph  W.  Ely,  S.  W. ;  H.  Leroy  Peck,  0. ;  A. 
M.  Shepard,  Recorder;  E.  Leavenworth,  Receiver;  A.  D. 
Nelson,  Financier;  H.  S.  Lay,  M.D  ,  Medical  Examiner. 
The  present  officers  are  W.  V.  Hoyt,  M.  W. ;  E.  S.  Doty, 
S.  W. ;  George  Turner,  0. ;  G.  M.  Smith,  Recorder ;  F. 
S.  Day,  Receiver ;  0.  T.  Booth,  Financier ;  J.  W.  Ely, 
Past  blaster- Workman.  The  present  membership  is  40, 
and  the  meetings  are  held  on  the  second  and  fourth  Tues- 
days of  each  month,  at  the  hall  in  Union  Block,  on  Locust 
Street. 

OTHER  SOCIETIES. 
THE  ALLEGAN    LITERARY  AND   LIBRARY  ASSOCIATION. 

This  association  was  organized  in  June,  1871,  a  meeting 
having  been  called  at  the  office  of  A.  H.  Fenu  the  previous 
March  for  the  purpose.  Dr.  E.  Amsden  was  appointed 
chairman,  and  J.  B.  Humphrey  secretary.  A.  S.  Butler, 
who  was  foremost  in  the  enterprise,  stated  the  object  of  the 
gathering.  After  a  free  discussion  and  interchange  of 
views,  a  committee  was  selected  to  draft  a  plan  for  a  per- 
manent organization.  It  consisted  of  A.  S.  Butler,  John 
W.  Stone,  William  J.  Pollard,  H.  C.  Weeks,  and  J.  B. 
Humphrey.     The  meeting  then  adjourned  subject  to  call. 

On  the  23d  of  May  a  meeting  was  held  in  Empire  Hall, 
at  which  a  constitution  and  by-laws  were  adopted,  50  mem- 
bers and  2  life  members  (A.  S.  Butler  and  C.  W.  Hall) 
having  joined  the  association.  Annual  members  were  to 
pay  $1  each  per  year,  while  life-members  paid  $25  once  for 
all.  J.  B.  Humphrey  was  made  chairman  of  this  meeting, 
and  held  office  until  the  regular  annual  gathering  in  June. 

In  1871  occurred  the  first  regular  annual  meeting  for 
the  election  of  officers.  The  following  gentlemen  were 
chosen:  President,  A.  S.  Butler;  Treasurer,  B.  D.  Pritcli- 
ard ;  Corresponding  Secretary,  J.  B.  Humphrey ;  Record- 
ing Secretary,  M.  T.  Ryan ;  Librarian  and  Collector,  H.  C. 
Weeks ;  Executive  Committee,  J.  W.  Stone,  E.  Amsden, 
C.  W.  Hall.  In  July  there  were  on  the  books  129  annual 
members  and  4  life-members,  Joseph  Fisk  and  William  B. 
Williams  having  been  added  to  the  latter  class.  The  asso- 
ciation gave  a  course  of  lectures  in  the  fall  and  winter  which 
netted  neariy  $400  profit.  The  lecturers  were  Will  M. 
Carlton,  E.  B.  Fairfield,  B.  F.  Taylor,  Rev.  Mr.  Milburn, 
the  blind  preacher,  Fred.  Douglass,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Liver- 
more,  U.  D.  Wilber,  Josh  Billings,  W.  E.  McLaren,  and 
Theodore  Tilton. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  June,  1872,  the  following 
officers  were  elected:  President,  Dr.  E.  Amsden;  Vice- 
President,  Mrs.  Constance  A.  B.  Jewett ;  Treasurer,  Geo. 


AUGUSTUS  S.  BUTLER. 


LYMAN  W.  WATKINS. 


ALLEGAN  VILLAGE. 


165 


B.  Kobinson  ;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Albert  Jennings ; 
Recording  Secretary,  M.  T.  Ryan. 

The  following  is  the  report  of  the  treasurer  at  the  close 
of  the  year  : 

EECEIPTS. 

From  two  eaDtatas $116.60 

"      former  treasurer 610.81 

"     door-reeeipts,  lecture  course 180.14 

Season  tickets,  lecture  course 631.60 

Membership  dues 112.00 

Sale  of  organ 54.20 

Social  at  ChafTee  House 8.39 

Total $1713.74 

The  disbursements  amounted  to  $1404.72,  leaving  a  bal- 
ance on  hand  of  $309.02. 

B.  D.  Pritchard  was  elected  president  in  1873  ;  George 
W.  Lonsbury,  in  1874;  William  W.  Warner,  in  1875; 
re-elected  in  1876  ;  Andrew  Oliver,  in  1877  ;  C.  W.  Hall, 
in  1878;  and  E.  Amsden,  in  1879. 

In  June,  1875,  the  association  organized  under  the  stat- 
ute as  a  stock  company,  all  life-members  being  entitled  to 
a  share  upon  completing  their  payment  of  $25.  Any  per- 
son over  sixteen  years  of  age  residing  in  Allegan  County 
is  entitled  to  a  share  of  stock  upon  payment  of  $25.  The 
following  is  a  list  of  the  shareholders ;  Mrs.  0.  T.  Booth, 

E.  Amsden,  J.  S.  Bidwell,  D.  J.  Arnold,  Mrs.  S.  E.  Bing- 
ham, Mrs.  A.  S.  Butler,  E.  B.  Born,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Booth,  William  A.  Bliss,  Ira  Chichester,  H.  P.  Dunning, 
Jlrs.  John  Dumont,  Hannah  J.  Davis'  estate,  J.  B.  Hum- 
phrey, C.  W.  Hall's  estate,  D.  C.  Henderson,  Mrs.  Con- 
stance A.  B.  Jewett,  George  W.  Lonsbury,  J.  M.  Mendell, 

F.  H.  May,  Mrs.  D.  A.  McMartin,  George  Oliver,  Andrew 
Oliver,  B.  D.  Pritchard,  H.  H.  Pope,  H.  B.  Peck,  E.  C. 
Reid,  Mrs.  S.  J.  Ryan,  Julius  Tomlinson,  N.  B.  West,  W. 

B.  Williams,  William  W.  Warner,  H.  C.  Weeks,  William 

C.  Weeks. 

The  library  contains  about  900  volumes,  which,  with 
book-cases  and  fixtures,  is  valued  at  about  $2000. 

Present  officers ;  President,  E.  Amsden  ;  Vice-President, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Booth;  Clerk,  Edwy  C.  Reid;  Correspond- 
ing Secretary,  Mrs.  0.  T.  Booth ;  Treasurer,  H.  B.  Peck ; 
Librarian  and  Collector,  Mrs.  S.  E.  Bingham ;  Executive 
Committee,  John  M.  Mendell,  H.  H.  Pope,  George  W. 
Lonsbury,  William  W.  Warner. 

TUE  WOMAN'S  LYCEUM. 
The  Woman's  History  Class  of  Allegan  was  organized 
on  the  1st  of  February,  1875,  with  twenty  ladies  present. 
A  leader,  assistant  leader,  and  secretary  were  chosen,  a  com- 
pact by  which  every  member  was  pledged  to  discharge  all 
duties  imposed  by  the  vote  of  the  class  was  signed,  and  ap- 
pointments were  made  for  weekly  meetings  at  the  homes  of 
the  members.  Study  began  with  the  earliest  known  history 
of  the  world  ;  the  mythology  of  different  nations  followed. 
This  was  succeeded  by  histories  of  Egypt,  Phoenicia,  the 
Jews,  Ethiopia,  Carthage,  the  Punic  wars,  Persia,  Assyria, 
Lydia,  Damascus,  and  Palmyra.  Next  followed  the  history 
of  Greece,  the  battles  of  Thermopylae,  Salamis,  Platea,  and 
Mycale,  the  Peloponnesian  wars,  histories  of  Macedonia, 
Sicily,  Pontus,  Armenia,  Cappadocia,  Rhodes,  Bactria, 
Parthia,  and  other  lesser  countries,  interspersed  with  essays 
on  various  subjects,  reading  from  the  poets,  etc. 


In  September,  1878,  the  name  of  the  organization  was 
changed  to  the  Woman's  Lyceum,  and  the  meetings  were 
conducted  in  a  more  parliamentary  manner.  The  study  of 
Gibbon's  History  of  Rome  to  the  Fall  of  the  Western  Em- 
pire has  been  completed,  also  Bayard  Taylor's  History  of 
Germany,  and  the  ladies  of  the  lyceum  are  now  engaged 
upon  the  History  of  France. 

Early  in  February,  1880,  the  fifth  anniversary  of  the 
organization  was  celebrated.  The  Woman's  Lyceum  of 
Allegan  may  now  be  considered  a  permanent  institution, 
having  about  30  working  members  who  are  still  full  of  zeal 
in  the  cause. 

ALLEGAN  VALLEY  BAND. 

In  the  summer  of  1879  the  musical  portion  of  the  com- 
munity gave  encouragement  to  the  efforts  of  a  number  of 
young  men,  and  as  a  result  the  Allegan  Valley  Band  was 
formed  in  September,  1879,  its  leader  being  J.  D.  Wood- 
beck. 

Its  membership  embraces  13  performers,  as  follows: 
J.  D.  Woodbeck,  W.  Powers,  Edward  Taylor,  L.  Y.  Cady, 
J.  C.  Holmes,  Frederick  Jackson,  Jacob  Kershman,  Thomas 
Powers,  B.  Cook,  L.  A.  Amsden,  Jay  Gero,  Frank  Tilton, 
Thomas  McClelland. 

The  citizens,  by  liberal  subscriptions,  provided  the  band 
at  the  time  of  its  organization  with  uniforms,  and  instru- 
ments were  procured  as  means  were  acquired  to  purchase 
them.  Meetings  for  rehearsal  are  held  every  Monday  and 
Thursday  evening.  The  officers  are  Abner  H.  Fenn,  Presi- 
dent; Thomas  McClelland,  Secretary;  Jacob  Kirshman, 
Treasurer. 

THE   BANKS. 
THE    OLD   ALLEGAN   BANK. 

The  Allegan  Bank  was  one  of  the  celebrated  wildcat  in- 
stitutions of  over  forty  years  ago.  It  was  organized  in  the 
fall  of  1837,  and  issued  its  first  paper  promises  to  pay  near 
the  close  of  that  year,  Alexander  L.  Ely  being  the  presi- 
dent and  Hovey  K.  Clarke  the  cashier.  Its  capital  stock 
consisted  of  real-estate  mortgages.  The  banking-house  was 
an  upper  room  over  a  store  on  Brady  Street.  The  bills 
issued  by  the  establishment  not  only  pas.sed  readily  in  the 
home  market,  but  soon  extended  through  a  large  part  of 
the  State.  The  ready  confidence  of  the  credulous  public 
was  secured  by  a  couple  of  incidents  of  otherwise  trivial 
importance. 

Soon  after  the  bills  were  issued  a  citizen  had  occasion  to 
use  a  small  sum  at  the  East.  His  Allegan  money  would 
not  answer,  and  the  emergency  admitted  of  no  delay.  He 
applied  to  the  president  of  the  bank  as  a  friend.  The  latter 
had  a  small  sum  in  Eastern  funds,  which  he  exchanged  with 
him  for  Allegan  bills.  Rumor  seized  on  the  occurrence  and 
magnified  the  amount  a  hundredfold.  Within  a  few  days 
it  was  currently  reported  and  believed  at  Kalamazoo  that 
the  Allegan  Bank  redeemed  its  bills  in  Eastern  funds  on 
demand  at  the  counter.  The  news  was  soon  prevalent  in 
all  the  settled  parts  of  the  State,  and,  as  few  or  none  of  the 
Michigan  banks  redeemed  their  bills,  those  of  the  Allegan 
Bank  were  eagerly  sought  after. 

The  other  occurrence  which  gave  the  bank  a  high  stand- 
in"  was  the  visit  of  inspection  made  by  the  State  commis- 


166 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


sioner  early  in  1838.  Just  before  the  day  appointed  for 
that  event,  the  president  of  the  Allegan  Bank,  knowing 
that  two  of  his  neighbors  had  a  considerable  sum  in  gold 
coin,  designed  for  the  entry  of  lands,  eflfected  a  temporary 
loan  of  the  gold  and  placed  it  among  the  bank  assets.  It 
was  counted  by  the  commissioner  with  great  complacency 
the  succeeding  night,  and  the  same  gold  preceded  him  to 
the  bank  of  Singapore,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kalamazoo, 
where  the  ofificial  also  counted  it  as  a  part  of  the  assets  of 
that  bank.  Yet  the  credit  thus  obtained  was  of  very  short 
duration,  for,  notwithstanding  the  favorable  report  of  the 
commissioner,  both  of  these  banks  collapsed  within  a  few 
months  without  any  available  assets  whatever. 

ALLEGAN   CITY  BANK. 

This  bank  was  established  in  1860,  by  Augustus  S.  But- 
ler, with  whom  H.  B.  Peck  was  subsequently  associated, 
the  firm  being  Butler  &  Peck.  In  1873  this  firm  was 'suc- 
ceeded by  that  of  U.  M.  &  H.  B.  Peck,  who  are  the  present 
owners,  the  former  being  the  president  and  the  latter  the 
cashier.  It  is  a  bank  of  deposit  and  exchange,  and  pos- 
sesses, by  its  capital  and  extensive  connections,  excellent 
facilities  for  the  transaction  of  a  large  banking  business. 
Its  president  is  also  vice-president  of  the  Kalamazoo  City 
Bank. 

FIRST   NATIONAL   BANK. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  the  village  of  Allegan  was 
organized  in  June,  1870,  the  earliest  boarH  of  directors 
being  B.  D.  Pritchard,  T.  C.  Jenner,  W.  H.  Nickerson,  G. 
B.  Robinson,  and  Z.  L.  Griswold.  Its  first  ofiicers  were  B. 
D.  Pritchard,  President;  T.  C.  Jenner,  Vice-President; 
and  G.  B.  Robinson,  Cashier.  It  was  organized  with  a 
capital  stock  of  $50,000,  and  at  once  commanded  the  con- 
fidence of  the  business  community.  The  present  board  of 
directors  is  composed  of  B.  D.  Pritchard,  N.  B.  West,  Ira 
Chichester,  I.  P.  Griswold,  E.  G.  Truesdell,  and  J.  H. 
Hart.  The  oificers  are  B.  D.  Pritchard,  President;  Ira 
Chichester,  Vice-President ;  F.  G.  Truesdell,  Cashier ; 
Leon  Chichester,  Teller. 

MANUFACTOEIES  AND   MILLS. 
ALLEGAN   WATER-POWER   ASSOCIATION. 

In  1834  the  erection  of  a  dam  and  the  excavations  for 
a  race  were  begun  at  Allegan  by  the  proprietors  of  the  vil- 
lage, under  the  superintendence  of  Martin  Barber.  Soon 
after,  a  saw-mill  was  erected  and  put  in  operation,  which 
was  speedily  followed  by  other  saw-mills  and  a  grist-mill, 
which  were  managed  by  Mr.  Ely,  or  changed  hands  as  the 
varying  fortunes  of  the  Allegan  Company  made  transfers 
necessary. 

The  dam  not  proving  in  all  respects  equal  to  the  demands 
upon  it,  P.  J.  Littlejohn  was  authorized  to  reconstruct  it, 
which  he  did  by  digging  20  feet  or  more  for  a  more 
solid  foundation  and  filling  in  with  timber,  stone,  and  other 
material,  at  an  expense  of  about  $1000.  It  was  again  re- 
paired by  the  owners  in  1847,  under  the  immediate  direc- 
tion of  Elias  Streeter,  at  a  considerable  expense,  and  subse- 
quently by  Ira  ChaflFee,  who  devoted  much  time  and  labor 
to  the  improvement  of  the  dam  and  the  increase  of  the 


water-power.  During  the  summer  and  fall  of  1879,  under 
the  immediate  supervision  of  J.  B.  Streeter,  a  new  crib  of 
timber  60  feet  square  and  from  12  to  16  feet  deep,  filled 
with  gravel,  has  been  put  into  the  north  side  of  the  dam. 
This  substantial  work,  with  a  bridge  120  feet  long  and  10 
feet  wide,  the  necessary  coffer-dam,  and  a  pier  of  slabs  25 
rods  long,  and  a  solid  pier  in  the  dam  centre  12  by  12  and 
16  feet  deep,  are  the  later  improvements  that  secure  an 
average  head  of  11  feet,  with  a  waste  fully  equal  to  the 
water  used.  The  work  was  done  at  a  cost  of  a  trifle  less 
than  $1400. 

The  power  is  estimated  by  run  of  stone,  the  recent  im- 
provements having  made  a  single  run  of  stone  equivalent 
to  20  horse-power.  The  following  list  embraces  the  order 
in  which  the  power  was  utilized  by  various  proprietors, 
together  with  the  owners'  names  and  the  amount  of  power 
owned  by  each  of  them,  the  whole  power  being  equal  to  40 
run  of  stone: 

1st.  The  mill  built  by  the  Allegan  Company,  in  1835, 
now  owned  by  Ira  Chaffee,  with  4  run  of  stone. 

2d.  The  furniture-manufactory  of  Oliver  &  Co.,  for- 
merly a  grist-mill,  built  at  an  early  day  by  the  Allegan 
Company,  representing  4  run  of  stone. 

3d.  Furnace  of  Tomlinson  &  Co.^  established  by  Ross- 
man  &  Hoxie  in  1836,  with  1  run  of  stone. 

4th.  Schoolcraft  Mill,  built  by  the  Allegan  Company, 
now  occupied  by  Peck  &  Streeter  as  a  site  for  a  saw-mill, 
with  6  run  of  stone. 

5th.  The  Nichols  &  Ely  mill,  the  site  now  owned  by 
Messrs.  Chaffee  &  Fisk,  representing  4  run  of  stone. 

6th.  Pail-factory  built  early  by  Ezra  Southworth,  and 
now  owned  by  J.  Ambler ;  1  run  of  stone. 

7th.  N.  B.  West's  sash-,  door-,  and  blind-factory,  estab- 
lished in  1842 ;  power  equaling  3  run  of  stone. 

8th.  Leonard  &  Davidson's  sash-  and  blind-factory ;  site 
owned  by  P.  Leonard.     Not  in  use  ;  1  run  of  stone. 

9th.  John  Littlejohn's  grist-mill,  built  in  1840,  after- 
wards known  as  the  Kellogg  Mill,  and  now  the  property  of 
Wetmore  Bros. ;  4  run  of  stone. 

10th.  S.  N.  Pike's  mill,  first  built  in  1855  as  a  saw- 
mill, and  now  used  as  a  grist-mill ;  3  run  of  stone. 

11th.  A.  E.  Calkins'  grist-mill,  formerly  built  for  a 
shinglemill,  representing  2  run  of  stone. 

12th.  Mill  built  by  S.  N.  Pike  in  1849,  and  now  owned 
by  J.  M.  Mendel  &  Co.,  having  3  run  of  stone. 

13th.  Eagle  Foundry,  built  by  Fisk  &  Calkins,  and  now 
owned  by  L.  W.  Watkins,  with  1  run  of  stone. 

The  Allegan  Manufacturing  Company  leases  a  cable- 
power  from  the  above. 

14th.  Allegan  Water- Works,  2  run  of  stone. 
15th.  J.  M.  Heath's  wood-works,  1  run  of  stone. 
The  original  race,  built  by  the  Allegan  Company,  ex- 
tended over  a  length  of  36  rods,  an  extension  of  the  same 
number  of  rods  having  been  added  very  early  by  the 
Boston  Company  to  enable  them  to  furnish  a  water-supply 
to  the  Schoolcraft  mill.  The  owners  of  these  establish- 
ments have  organized  themselves  into  an  association,  and 
obtained  a  charter  under  the  title  of  the  Allegan  Water- 
Power  Association,  with  the  following  oflScers :  N.  B.  West, 
President;  George  Oliver,  Secretary;  J.  B.  Streeter,  Treas- 


ALLEGAN   VILLAGE. 


167 


urer  and  Superintendent;  who  are  also  a  board  of  trustees, 
in  connection  with  J.  M.  Mendel  and  A.  E.  Calkins. 

N.   B.   WEST'S   MANUFACTORY   OF   SASH,   DOOKS,   AND 
BLINDS. 

This  business  was  first  established  in  1842  by  West, 
Davis  &  Higgins,  who  were  succeeded  by  A.  &  N.  B.  West. 
The  senior  member  having  died  in  1852,  the  enterprise  has 
since  been  conducted  by  N.  B.  West,  the  present  proprietor. 
A  water-power  representing  60  horse-power,  or  3  run  of 
stone,  is  employed  in  running  the  mill.  Sash,  doors,  and 
blinds  are  principally  manufactured,  and  a  planing-mill  is 
kept  in  constant  operation.  A  portion  of  the  stock  is 
shipped  to  Ohio,  though  a  market  is  principally  found  in 
adjacent  portions  of  the  State.  When  first  established,  there 
was  no  enterprise  of  a  similar  character  in  Western  Mich- 
igan. During  the  active  season  20  hands  are  employed  in 
various  departments  of  labor,  but  there  is  no  present  de- 
mand for  so  large  a  force.  The  building  has  been  three 
times  burned  and  rebuilt. 

FURNITURE-FACTOET   OF    OLIVER    &    CO. 

The  business  of  manufacturing  furniture  was  first  estab- 
lished by  Wilkes  &  Richards,  who  were  succeeded  in  1855 
by  the  present  firm.  They  produce  furniture  of  all  de- 
scriptions, together  with  a  variety  of  coffins  and  caskets. 
The  manufactory  is  located  on  the  banks  of  the  Kalamazoo 
River,  from  which  they  derive  their  water-privilege.  This 
is  equal  to  80  horse- power,  or  4  run  of  stone,  which  they 
own.  Sixteen  men  are  employed  in  the  workshops  and 
saw-mill,  and  the  business  at  one  time  reached  $20,000 
a  year  in  sales,  but  is  not  at  present  so  active.  Chicago 
was  then  the  point  of  destination,  and  the  trade  was  exclu- 
sively wholesale.  The  sales  are  now  principally  efiected 
through  agencies  established  at  Grand  Rapids,  Kalamazoo, 
Plainwell,  Vicksburg,  and  other  convenient  points.  A  con- 
siderable wholesale  trade  in  extension-tables  is  enjoyed  by 
the  firm. 

ALLEGAN  WAGON-  AND  CARRIAGE-FACTORY. 
This  establishment  is  owned  and  managed  by  E.  B.  Born, 
who  first  engaged  in  business  in  October,  1854.  He  at 
first  rented  a  building,  but,  as  his  patronage  increased, 
erected  in  1 857  a  shop  on  Water  Street,  which  embraces  a 
wood-,  blacksmith-,  and  paint-shop,  together  with  a  sales- 
room adjoining.  Connected  with  this  are  also  a  salesroom  in 
Ganges  and  another  at  Plainwell,  where  a  large  assortment 
of  the  wares  of  his  establishment  may  be  found.  The  work 
done  by  him  has  a  deservedly  high  reputation  for  excellence 
and  finish,  and  is  executed  under  the'  personal  supervision 
of  the  proprietor,  who  is  assisted  by  his  three  sons,  one 
bein"  in  each  department  of  the  business. 

J.  TOMLINSON'S  FOUNDRY. 
This  foundry  was  first  established  by  Rossman  &  Hoxie 
in  1836,  and  after  the  death  of  the  latter  gentleman  the 
Smith  Bros,  became  partners.  They  were  succeeded  by 
Winslow  Feek,  under  the  firm-name  of  Rossman  &  Feek, 
which  firm  continued  until  1865,  when  Mr.  Rossman  dis- 
posed of  his  interest  to  John  M.  Heath,  and  the  firm  be- 
came Feek  &  Heath.     In  1870  the  share  of  Mr.  Feek  was 


purchased  by  J.  Tomlinson,  the  present  proprietor,  who 
became  associated  with  Mr.  Heath,  who  still  retains  an 
interest  in  the  business.  The  establishment  manufactures 
machinery  of  all  kinds  used  in  milling,  agricultural  imple- 
ments, and  engines,  besides  doing  much  job-work.  A  mar- 
ket for  these  products  is  found  in  Wisconsin,  Illinois,  In- 
diana, and  Michigan.  When  run  to  its  fullest  capacity  25 
men  are  constantly  employed,  though  the  present  demands 
upon  the  foundry  will  not  furnish  labor  to  that  number. 
The  owners  also  do  a  considerable  business  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  pumps,  for  which  there  is  an  extensive  sale  in  the 
northern  portion  of  the  State  as  well  as  in  the  immediate 
vicinity.  Grain-separators  are  among  their  wares,  for  which 
they  have  established  an  enviable  reputation. 

KIRSHMAN   &   ROSA'S  WAGON-FACTORY. 

The  business  of  manufacturing  wagons  and  sleighs  which 
is  carried  on  by  this  firm  was  first  established  by  Kirsh- 
man  &  Parker  in  1865.  T.  J.  Parker  succeeded,  but  after 
he  had  cond&cted  it  a  brief  time  the  present  firm  became 
proprietors.  They  make  their  wares  principally  to  order, 
keeping  comparatively  little  stock  on  hand.  The  demand 
for  the  goods  is  found  principally  at  home. 

There  is  also  a  tannery,  owned  by  the  heirs  of  T.  C.  Jen- 
ner,  and  leased  by  John  Kugler,  which  is  run  by  horse- 
power, and  is  actively  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
leather.  Philander  Chaffee  is  extensively  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  pumps,  for  which  there  is  a  considerable 
local  demand,  and  J.  M.  Heath  in  the  production  of  fruit- 
dryers,  emery-wheels,  etc.  Messrs.  Peck  &  Streeter's  ex- 
tensive saw-mill  and  broom-handle  and  heading-factory,  one 
of  the  most  important  enterprises  of  the  kind  in  the  place, 
was  consumed  by  fire  during  the  preparation  of  this  work. 

FENN  &  PERKINS' MANUFACTORY,  FANNING-MILLS,  Etc. 

This  business  was  established  in  1873,  and  managed  by 
the  Allegan  Manufacturing  Company  until  October,  1877, 
when  Dickenson  &  Fcnn  became  proprietors.  Two  years 
later  the  former  gentleman  disposed  of  his  interest  to  Mr. 
Perkins,  of  the  present  firm.  Besides  doing  a  general  job- 
bing business  in  the  shops  they  manufacture  fanning-mills, 
milk-safes,  feed-cuttera,  etc.  The  fanning-mill  made  by 
them  is  modeled  after  the  Messenger  pattern,  and  possesses 
so  many  excellences  as  to  make  it  deservedly  popular  among 
the  farming  community.  A  market  for  these  articles  is 
found  principally  in  adjacent  portions  of  the  State.  In 
addition,  the  firm  do  much  in  the  way  of  dressing  and  fin- 
ishing lumber  for  other  parties. 

ALLEGAN  AGRICULTURAL  WORKS. 
This  enterprise  was  established  in  1874  by  a  stock  com- 
pany for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing  railway-cars,  con- 
tracts for  which  were  promised  by  certain  companies  on 
the  completion  of  the  works.  A  panic  having  occurred  in 
financial  circles  which  affected  the  railroad  interests,  it 
was  then  converted  by  the  company  and  a  few  additional 
stockholders  into  an  establishment  for  the  manufacture  of 
agricultural  implements,  in  which  cultivators  of  an  improved 
pattern,  as  well  as  other  utensils  used  in  farming  pursuits, 
are  produced.     A  portion  of  the  building,  which  is  a  spa- 


168 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


cious  one  and  located  near  the  depot,  is  used  by  the  Grand 
Haven  Railroad  Company  as  a  repair-shop. 

SPRING-BED  MANUFACTORIES. 
Among  the  manufactures  of  Allegan,  the  spring-bed  in- 
dustry holds  a  prominent  place.  An  inferior  grade  of  this 
necessary  article  has  for  several  years  been  made,  but  with 
the  invention  of  the  celebrated  "  140-spring"  or  "  Peerless" 
bed  an  article  was  produced  which  has  proved  excellent 
in  quality  and  correspondingly  popular.  Allegan,  having 
shipping  facilities  and  an  abundance  of  basswood  timber, 
has  proved  a  favorable  point  for  this  industry.  About 
10,000  of  these  beds  were  made  and  readily  sold  during 
the  last  year,  the  South  and  West  affording  a  market  for 
them.  Amsden  Brothers  and  C.  E.  Smith  &  Co.  are  the 
leading  manufacturers  in  Allegan. 

WETMORE  BROS.'  FLOURING-MILL. 
This  mill  was  built  in  the  year  1840  by  Col.  John 
Littlejohn,  and  in  1850  sold  to  John  R.  Kellogg,  who, 
three  years  later,  rebuilt  and  enlarged  it,  adding  much 
that  was  modern  in  the  way  of  machinery  and  increasing 
its  capacity  by  another  run  of  stone.  In  1858  Mr. 
Kellogg  sold  to  A.  and  H.  G.  Case,  who  managed  the 
mill  successfully  for  a  period  of  years  and  then  disposed 
of  the  property  to  Amos  Smith  Brown,  of  Breedsville. 
The  latter  gentleman  continued  its  owner  until  his  death, 
in  1873,  when  it  was  purchased  by  Wetmore  Bros.,  the 
present  owners,  under  whose  management  it  has  been 
greatly  improved.  It  has  a  water-privilege  equal  to  80 
horse-power  and  the  latest  improved  water-wheels.  There 
are  5  run  of  stone,  which  give  it  a  capacity  of  100  barrels 
of  flour  and  300  bushels  custom-work  daily.  The  market 
for  the  flour  produced  is  found  principally  in  the  Eastern 
States. 

J.  M.  MENDEL  &,  COMPANY'S  MILL. 

This  mill  was  built  by  S.  N.  Pike  as  early  as  1849, 
and  after  a  brief  ownership  by  the  builder  was  sold  to 
Henry  Dumont,  who  in  turn  sold  to  Pollard  &  Abbott. 
They  disposed  of  it  to  Julius  Tomlinson.  Feek  &  Wet- 
more  became  their  successors,  from  whom  the  property 
was  purchased  by  the  present  proprietors  in  1870.  The 
mill  is  three  stories  high,  and  is  run  by  a  water-supply 
equal  to  3  run  of  stone,  which  is  owned  by  the  firm. 
The  capacity  of  the  mill  is  100  barrels  per  day,  though 
not  run  at  present  to  its  fullest  limit.  Both  flour  and  feed 
are  ground,  the  market  for  the  former  being  found  princi- 
pally in  Vermont.  In  the  machinery  are  embraced  most 
of  the  modern  improvements  for  making  a  superior  quality 
of  flour. 

S.  N.  PIKE'S  FLOURING-MILL. 

This  mill  is  located  adjacent  to  the  saw-mill  of  Ira 
ChaSee,  and  was  built  by  the  present  proprietor  in  1855. 
It  is  run  by  water,  and  has  a  power  equal  in  capacity  to 
3  run  of  stone,  or  60  horse-power,  which  is  owned  by 
Mr.  Pike.  The  mill  has  been  twice  destroyed  by  fire,  and 
each  time  rebuilt.  Both  custom-  and  merchant-work  are 
done,  and  it  is  possible  to  produce  400  barrels  of  flour  a 
week  exclusive  of  custom-work.  The  market  for  products 
of  the  mill  was  formerly  found  in  Chicago,  but  a  demand 


has  more  recently  been  made  from  the  Eastern  market, 
and  much  of  the  flour  is  shipped  to  Pittsburgh,  New  York, 
and  other  Eastern  points.  Much  modern  machinery  is 
employed  in  the  manufacture  of  flour,  which  is  of  a 
superior  quality.  The  mill  is  at  present  leased  by  William 
A.  Knerr. 

KALAMAZOO  VALLEY  FLOURING-MILL. 

This  mill,  which  was  built  in  1878  by  A.  E.  Calkins, 
is  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  race,  and  manufactures 
flour  principally  for  shipment,  though  a  limited  amount  of 
custom-work  is  done.  The  mill,  like  most  other  enter- 
prises of  a  similar  character  in  Allegan,  is  run  by  water 
furnished  by  the  Kalamazoo  River,  the  supply  of  which  is 
equal  to  3  run  of  stone,  or  60  horse-power,  this  share  of 
the  water-privilege  being  owned  by  Mr.  Calkins.  The 
capacity  of  the  mill  is  300  barrels  per  week,  in  addition 
to  much  feied  and  grain,  which  is  shipped  to  the  northern 
portion  of  the  State.  Machinery  has  been  placed  in  the 
mill  for  the  manufacture  of  flour  by  the  new  process,  the 
demand  for  it  being  found  principally  in  Portland,  Me., 
whither  it  is  shipped. 

IRA   CHAFFEE   SAW-MILL. 

This  mill  is  without  question  the  oldest  on  the  banks  of 
the  Kalamazoo  River,  the  original  structure  having  been 
built  by  the  Boston  Company  as  early  as  1835.  It  was 
later  owned  by  South  worth  &  Streeter.  In  1841  the 
present  proprietor  purchased  the  interest  of  Mr.  Streeter, 
and  the  firm  became  Southworth  &  Chafiee.  With  their 
milling  enterprise  they  combined  a  mercantile  business  until 
1850,  when  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  disposed  of  his 
interest  and  embarked  for  the  Golden  State.  The  business 
was  then  conducted  by  Mr.  Chafi'ee,  who  has  managed  it 
since.  It  has  a  water-privilege  equal  to  4  run  of  stone, 
together  with  one  of  the  best  sites  upon  the  river.  The 
mill  is  principally  employed  in  sawing  logs,  and  has  an 
almost  unlimited  capacity.  It  has  frequently  produced 
300,000  feet  per  week,  and  can  accomplish  even  more  when 
run  to  its  utmost  limit. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


JUDGE   HENRY  H.   BOOTH. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir,  from  all  that  can  be  gathered 
from  his  associates  in  life,  stood  far  up  the  scale  in  all  that 
pertains  to  true  manhood,  and  among  the  many  self-made 
men  who  have  lived  and  died  in  the  county  of  Allegan,  no 
one  is  more  justly  entitled  to  a  prominent  place  in  these 
biographical  sketches  than  Judge  Booth.  Yet,  perhaps,  no 
one  among  them  all  cared  less  or  strove  less  ibr  what  men 
commonly  call  success  in  life,  or  fame  and  fortune,  than  he, 
and,  perhaps,  no  one  among  them,  laying  aside  mere  selfish 
considerations,  cared  more  or  strove  more  than  he  for  what 
he  thought  to  be  the  best  good  of  his  fellow-men.  In  his 
character  there  seemed  to  be  a  strange  mingling  of  manly 
sternness  and  womanly  tenderness  ;  kind  and  gentle  almost 
to  a  fault,  yet,  when  he  thought  the  occasion  required,  he 


ALLEGAN  VILLAGE. 


169 


could  rebuke  with  severity.  In  his  life  and  aims  he  was 
more  the  philanthropist  than  the  philosopher.  His  motives 
were  not  always  quite  understood  by  those  with  whom  he 
had  daily  intercourse,  yet  they  knew  that  he  was  always 
purely  good  at  heart  and  true,  and  if  what  he  said  and  did 
did  not  always  meet  with  their  approval,  yet  he  always  com- 
manded their  highest  esteem. 

Judge  Booth  was  born  in  Dorset,  Bennington  Co.,  Vt., 
April  3,  1803.  His  father,  Zachary  Booth,  was  a  saddler 
by  occupation,  and  reared  a  family  of  three  children,  the 
judge  being  the  only  son.  But  little  is  known  of  his  boy- 
hood days.  He  was  early  taught  to  rely  upon  his  own 
resources,  and  received  a  common-school  education.  He 
acquired  the  trade  of  a  cabinet-maker,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  he  removed  with  his  parents  and  sisters  to 
Weedsport,  N.  Y.,  where  he  followed  his  trade,  maintaining 
the  family.  Here  he  became  an  earnest  worker  for  the 
church,  and  in  those  early  days  of  temperance  reform  he 
became  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  cause,  frequently  deliver- 
ing temperance  lectures. 

In  October,  1836,  he  emigrated  to  Allegan  County  with 
his  family.  He  first  engaged  in  the  produce  business,  in 
which  he  remained  one  year,  buying  his  stock  in  the 
country  and  hauling  it  to  Allegan  himself.  The  following 
year  he  was  deputy  county  clerk,  and  so  well  did  he  dis- 
charge the  duties  of  the  office  that  he  was  elected  for  the 
succeeding  term,  and  was  again  re-elected.  Upon  the  ex- 
piration of  the  term  he  was  called  to  fill  the  office  of  county 
judge,  and  it  is  stated  that  during  his  term  of  office,  which 
extended  over  several  years,  not  an  appeal  was  taken  from 
his  decision.  As  a  jurist  he  manifested  clearness  of  per- 
ception, sound  common  sense,  and  indefatigable  persever- 
ance, and  had  he  received  a  legal  education  he  would  no 
doubt  have  obtained  celebrity  as  a  lawyer.  Previous  to  the 
expiration  of  his  judgeship  he  was  appointed  agent  of  the 
Boston  Company,  in  whose  employ  he  remained  up  to 
within  seventeen  months  of  his  death,  which  occurred  June 
22,  1867. 

One  very  marked  feature  in  the  life  of  Judge  Booth  was 
the  deep  interest  he  took  in  educational  matters.  He  was 
ever  ready  to  assist  others  to  obtain  through  competent 
teachers  what  he  secured  only  by  labor  and  privation.  In 
1856  he  built  the  Pine  Grove  Seminary  wholly  at  his  own 
expense  and  purely  as  a  benevolent  enterprise.  He  em- 
ployed the  most  experienced  teachers,  the  school  soon 
obtained  an  enviable  reputation,  and  up  to  the  time  of  his 
failing  health  he  exercised  a  watchful  care  over  its 
interests. 

In  social  life  he  was  noted  for  his  hospitality  and  good 
nature.  He  possessed  in  a  rare  degree  that  quality  of  bear- 
ing and  manner,  united  with  a  comeliness  of  person  and 
a  fine  presence,  which  not  only  favorably  impressed  the 
stranger,  but  endeared  him  to  those  who  enjoyed  his  society. 
He  was  genial,  patient,  and  forbearing,  and  was  actuated  by 
those  higher  motives  which  are  always  recognized  and  felt 
when  systematically  and  constantly  exercised,  as  they  were 
during  his  long  life.  Edward  Buck,  of  Boston,  who  had 
an  intimate  acquaintance  with  him,  says,  "  He  was  a  valu- 
able man  in  any  community,  a  man  of  great  energy  and 
sympathy,  and  in  business  matters  prompt  and  active." 
22 


He  will  long  be  remembered  for  his  genial  faith  in  the 
Christian  religion  ;  he  became  a  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  at  the  time  of  its  organization,  and  was  an 
earnest  and  devoted  supporter  of  it  during  his  life.  In  his 
domestic  relations  his  life  furnishes  a  bright  example  of  all 
that  adorns  the  character  of  a  devoted  husband  and  a 
warm-hearted,  faithful  friend.  As  an  energetic,  enterpris- 
ing, and  useful  citizen  he  had  no  superiors  and  few  equals. 
Oct.  30,  1834,  he  was  married  at  East  Bloomfield,  N.  Y., 
to  Miss  Ruth  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Anson  Munson,  Esq., 
one  of  the  prominent  citizens  and  pioneers  of  that  place. 
Her  portrait,  so  full  of  character,  may  be  seen  on  another 
page.  She  is  a  woman  of  rare  personal  excellence,  of  a 
deeply  religious  nature.  She  was  one  of  the  first  members 
of  the  Congregational  Church  of  Allegan,  and  closely  iden- 
tified with  its  various  charitable  and  religious  enterprises, 
and  a  worthy  counterpart  of  her  husband  in  all  the  salient 
points  of  his  character. 


MR.  AND   MRS.  DAVID   D.  DAVIS. 

David  D.  Davis  was  born  in  Hartford,  Washington  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Feb.  24,  1814.  His  father,  William  Davis,  was  a 
carpenter  and  joiner  by  occupation,  and  reared  a  family  of 
eight  children.  But  little  is  known  of  David's  early  life. 
He  received  a  common-school  education,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty  came  to  Blichigan,  in  company  with  his  brother-in- 
law,  Col.  Joseph  Fisk,  of  whom  he  learned  his  trade, — that 
of  carpenter  and  joiner.  The  year  1834  he  spent  at  Ma- 
rengo, Calhoun  Co.,  and  came  to  Allegan  in  June,  1835. 
May  18,  1836,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Hannah  J.  Robin- 
son ;  they  immediately  returned  to  Allegan.  Mr.  Davis 
and  his  wife  were  among  the  pioneers  of  the  village,  and 
contributed  much  to  the  development  of  its  wealth  and  that 
of  the  county.  Being  very  energetic  and  extremely  indus- 
trious, and  withal  saving  and  judicious  in  his  investments, 
they  were  highly  successful  in  the  accumulation  of  property. 
They  first  lived  in  a  log  house  built  where  the  wing  of  the 
Allegan  House  now  stands.  Their  second  home  was  on 
the  corner  of  Monroe  and  Walnut  Streets,  and  while  living 
there  they  built  the  beautiful  residence  on  the  corner  of 
Cutler  and  Walnut,  where  Mr.  Davis  died  Dec.  17, 1871. 
He  was  a  man  of  much  strength  of  character  and  determi- 
nation, and  emphatically  a  self-made  man.  His  life  was 
comparatively  uneventful,  and  marked  by  few  changes  save 
such  as  occur  in  the  lives  of  most  successful  business  men. 

After  his  settlement  in  Allegan  he  followed  his  trade  for 
many  years,  and  his  savings  were  judiciously  invested  in 
real  estate.  He  never  engaged  in  any  speculative  enter- 
prise, but  steadily  pursued  the  path  he  had  marked  out. 
He  took  a  deep  interest  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  Alle- 
gan. He  held  several  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility, 
notably  among  the  number  that  of  county  treasurer.  For 
years  he  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  and  took  a  deep  interest  in  its  welfare  and 
prosperity. 

Mrs.  Davis  was  a  woman  of  more  than  ordinary  ability 
and  discernment,  and  a  worthy  counterpart  of  her  husband 
in  all  that  pertained  to  energy,  industry,  and  thrift.     She 


170 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


was  possessed  of  deep  religious  convictions,  and  was  con- 
verted when  twelve  years  of  age  ;  she  united  with  the  Bap- 
tist Church,  and  continued  an  earnest  Christian  and  zealous 
Baptist  until  her  death.  She  was  one  of  the  thirteen  who 
constituted  the  first  membership  of  the  Baptist  Church  of 
Allegan.  By  her  labors,  counsel,  and  pecuniary  assistance 
she  did  as  much  as  or  perhaps  more  than  any  other  of  its 
members  in  bringing  it  from  its  beginning  to  its  present 
standard ;  nor  was  her  work  confined  to  her  own  church. 
With  the  means  at  her  command  she  aided  weak  churches, 
and  her  contributions  to  charities  were  numerous.  She  was 
fearless  in  advocacy  of  what  she  deemed  right,  and  out- 
spoken in  opposition  to  what  she  thought  wrong.  In  her 
death,  which  occurred  Sept.  30,  1877,  the  Baptist  Church 
lost  its  strongest  supporter  and  one  of  its  most  constant 
workers,  temperance  an  earnest  advocate,  and  the  poor  a 
friend.  In  the  disposition  of  her  estate  Mrs.  Davis  left 
eight  thousand  dollars  to  the  Kalamazoo  Theological  Semi- 
nary ;  five  thousand  dollars  to  the  Nashville  (Tenn.)  In- 
stitute for  Colored  Students;  five  hundred  dollars  to  the 
Baptist  State  Mission  ;  and,  with  the  exception  of  the  above- 
mentioned  legacies  and  six  thousand  dollars,  she  bequeathed 
the  balance  of  her  estate,  which  was  valued  at  about  sixty 
thousand  dollars,  to  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Allegan. 


AUGUSTUS   S.  BUTLER. 

Augustus  S.   Butler  was  born  in  Gaines,  Orleans  Co., 
N.  Y.,   in    1834.      In    1840   his  parents    emigrated   to 
Michigan,  and  settled  in   Adrian,  where   they  remained 
till   1847,  when  they  removed  to  Lansing.     At  the  age 
of  thirteen  young  Butler  became  a  clerk  in  a  store,  and 
walked    twenty-six    miles    to    hold    the   position.      Ever 
prompt,  ready,  and  accurate,  he  gave  unbounded  accept- 
ance in  this  position,  and  in  1854  was  given  a  clerkship 
in   the  ofiSce  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  discharging  his 
duties  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all.     For  several  years 
he  compiled  the  Legislative  Manual.     In  1856  he  assisted 
in  the  compilation  of  the  land  abstracts  of  Ingham  County. 
lie  removed  to  Allegan  in  1857,  and  compiled  for  the  Hon. 
John  R.  Kellogg  the  abstract  of  land-titles  for  Allegan 
County,  a  work  in  which  he  was  engaged  for  three  years. 
From  his  boyhood  he  took  a  deep  interest  in  public  affairs. 
Frank  in  the  expression  of  his  sentiments,  he  always  made 
his  views  manifest  on  all  the  great  questions  of  the  day. 
In  1860  he  was  deputy  United  States  mar.shal,  and  assisted 
in  the  collection  of  the  census  for  Allegan  County.    In  1861 
he  formed  a  copartnership  with  Wolcott  H.  Littlejohn  in 
the  book  and  stationery  business,  opening  the  first  store  of 
that  kind  in  the  county.     In  December,  1862,  Mr.  Butler 
opened  the  first  banking  establishment  in  the  county  in  the 
Ebmyer  building,  occupying  a  small  space  in  the  store  of 

A.  B.  Case  &  Co.,  at  a  rental  of  twenty-five  dollars  per 
year,  and  with  a  capital  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 
He  rapidly  acquired  the  confidence  and  patronage  of  the 
business  men,  and  the  enterprise  proved  to  be  highly  re- 
munerative.    In  1868  he  formed  a  copartnership  with  H. 

B.  Peck,  which  continued  for  five  years.     Mr.  Butler  took 


great  interest  in  political  matters,  and  filled  several  positions 
of  trust;    he  served  on  many  important  committees,  and 
took  a  prominent  part  in  the  conventions  of  his  party.     He 
was  a  delegate  to  the  National  Democratic  Convention  of 
1 872,  where  he  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  nomination  of 
Horace  Greeley.    He  was  the  founder  of  the  Allegan  Liter- 
ary and  Library  Association,  and  was  elected  its  first  presi- 
dent.    He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic. frater- 
nity, and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  Worshipful  Master 
of  the  Allegan  Lodge  and  member  of  the  Knights  Templar 
Commandery  at   Kalamazoo.     In    1861,  Mr.  Butler  was 
married  to  Miss  Cornelia,  daughter  of  the  Hon.  Flavins  J. 
Littlejohn,  of  Allegan,  who  still  survives  him.     From  all 
that  can  be  learned  of  his  associates,  he  was  a  man  far  up 
the  scale  in  all  that  pertains  to  true  manhood.     He  was 
energetic  and   prompt  in  business,  and  in  all  respects  a 
worthy  citizen  and  a  useful  member  of  society.     He  met 
his  death   Aug.  11,  1873,  by  the  overturning  of  a  stage 
while  on  a  pleasure  excursion  in  New  Hampshire. 


LYMAN  W.  WATKINS. 

Lyman  W.  Watkins,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Allegan 
village,  was  born  in  Chester,  Vt.,  March  10,  1817.     In 
1819  the  family  removed  to  Bethany,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y., 
where   they   remained   until    1829,    when   they  went   to 
Titusville,   Pa.,   where    the    elder   Watkins   died    at  an 
advanced  age;  but  little  is  known  of  his  history  farther 
than  that  he  served  his  country  in  the  war  of  1812  as  a 
private  soldier.     He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  an 
exemplary  man  in  all  respects.     He  reared   a  family  of 
eleven  children, — four  boys  and  seven  girls.     Lyman  im- 
proved his  meagre  facilities  for  education,  and  at  an  early 
age  was  obliged  to  rely  upon  his  own  resources.     At  the 
age   of  nineteen   he   decided   to   try  his   fortune   in  the 
West,  and  in  May  of  1836  came  to  Allegan.     He  was  first 
employed  by  Alexander  Ely,  and  did  his  first  work  upon 
what  was  known  as  the  big  mill.     For  several  years  he  was 
engaged  in  the  lumber  trade,  and  about  1844  he  purchased 
the  steamboat  "  Pioneer,"  which  he  ran  for  several  years, 
when  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  lath  ;  this  business 
he  carried  on  for  some  time,  when  he  went  into  the  grocery 
trade,  but  soon  changed  his  stock  to  that  of  drugs,  in  which 
trade  he  was  engaged  about  twenty  years.     The  life  of  Mr. 
Watkins  has  been  comparatively  uneventful,  and  marked 
but  by  few  changes  save  such  as  occur  in  the  lives  of  most 
business  men.     His  name  has  not  been  known  in  official 
circles,  with  the  exception  of  eight  years  in  which  he  served 
his  fellow-townsmen  as  magistrate,  but  among  those  men 
who  have,  by  their  own  industry  and  energy,  developed 
the    resources   of   Allegan    County,   he   occupies   a   con- 
spicuous position.     In  November,  1845,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Sylvania  Snedaker.     Five  children  were  born  to  them, 
all  of  whom  died  in  infancy.     In  his  religious  and  political 
affiliations  Mr.  Watkins  is  a  Presbyterian  and  a  Democrat. 
All  in  all,  he  is  one  of  those  gentlemen  whose  identification 
with  any  community  is  always  productive  of  good. 


ALLEGAN  VILLAGE. 


171 


ALANSON  S.  WEEKS. 


Plioto.  by  C.  G.  Agrell,  Allegan. 


Alanson  S.  Weeks,  son  of  Samuel  and  Susannah  Weeks, 
was  born  at  Wheelock,  Caledonia  Co.,  Vt.,  Jan.  10,  1812. 
He  received  such  an  education  as  the  meagre  facilities  of 
that  day  afforded,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  he  was  appren- 
ticed to  the  trade  of  a  painter  and  chair-maker,  serving  his 
time  with  one  Ira  Church.  In  the  spring  of  1834-,  in  com- 
pany with  his  brother,  Corydon,  he  started  for  Michigan ; 
their  conveyance  was  a  horse  and  buggy  ;  the  journey  occu- 
pied some  four  weeks,  and  was  devoid  of  any  incidents 
worthy  of  mention.  They  arrived  in  Detroit  on  the  12th 
of  August,  1834,  where  they  attended  the  funeral  obsequies 
of  Governor  Porter,  the  last  of  the  territorial  Governors  of 
Michigan. 

After  a  short  rest  they  started  West,  their  point  of  desti- 
nation being  Kalamazoo,  then  known  as  Bronson.     Here 
Mr.  Weeks  remained  during  the  autumn  and  winter,  work- 
ing at  his  trade.     In  the  spring  of  1835  he  made  his  first 
visit  to  Allegan,  and,  being  favorably  impressed  with   its 
natural  advantages,  decided  to  make  it  his  home.    He  pur- 
chased a  farm  on  section  5,  in  the  town  of  Trowbridge,  and 
returned  to  Kalamazoo,  where  he  remained  until  the  spring 
of  1836,  when  he  purchased  property  in  the  village  of  Al- 
legan and  made  a  permanent  settlement.     The  following  year 
(1837)  he  was  married  to  Miss  Harriet  N.  Peckham.    She 
was  also  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  was  born  in  1819  in  Frank- 
lin County.     About  1827  her  father  removed  to  Canada, 
and  in  1836  she  came  to  Michigan  in  company  with  her 
brother-in-law,  J.  P.  Austin.     She  was  a  noble  type  of  the 
pioneer  woman,  and  endured  cheerfully  all  the  hardships 
and  deprivations  of  the  early  days.    She  died  in  1855,  at  the 
age  of  thirty-six  years,  leaving  her  husband  and  four  chil- 
dren to  mourn  her  loss,  the  youngest  being  a  babe  of  two 
months.     For  seven  years  the  father  filled  the  place  of 
mother  and  nurse,  attending  to  his  household  duties  after 
his  day's  work  was  done.     To  his  children  he  has  been  a 
father  in  all  that  the  name  implies ;  he  early  taught  them 


lessons  of  morality,  industry,  and  thrift,  and  to  him  they 
are  largely  indebted  for  the  enviable  position  they  hold 
among  the  representative  men  of  Allegan  County. 

The  eldest  son,  William  C.,  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the 
spring  of  1862,  in  Company  I,  Fifth  Michigan  Cavalry.  He 
participated  in  many  of  the  decisive  battles  of  the  war,  and  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant.  He  was  severely 
wounded  in  the  battle  of  Five  Forks,  where  he  lost  a  foot ; 
he  was  taken  prisoner,  and  was  confined  in  "  Libby  Prison" 
from  March,  1864,  to  August  of  the  same  year.  In  July, 
1865,  he  was  mustered  out,  and  returned  to  Allegan,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  In  1868  he  was  elected  register  of 
deeds ;  he  discharged  his  duties  with  credit  to  himself  and 
to  the  satisfaction  of  the  people,  and  in  1871  was  re-elected 
to  the  same  position.  He  has  been  closely  identified  with 
the  interests  of  Allegan,  and  was  elected  president  of  the 
village  in  1876.  The  second  son,  Harrison  S.,  entered  the 
military  academy  at  West  Point  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  grad- 
uating with  honor  at  the  age  of  twenty-two,  and  was  com- 
missioned as  second  lieutenant  in  the  Eighth  United  States 
Cavalry.  He  is  at  present  stationed  at  Fort  Union,  New 
Mexico.  The  third  son,  Harold  C,  learned  the  business  of  a 
druggist,  but  by  reason  of  ill  health  turned  his  attention  to 
real  estate.  In  1870  he  bought  the  abstract  records  of  Allegan 
County,  and  is  at  present  associated  with  his  elder  brother, 
William  C.  In  connection  with  their  abstract  business, 
they  are  extensively  engaged  in  agricultural  operations  and 
breeding  Durham  cattle,  their  stock  being  from  some  of  the 
hest  herds  in  Kentucky.  They  own  a  fine  farm  of  several 
hundred  acres,  about  two  and  a  half  miles  from  Allegan 
village.  In  his  political  aflSIiations  the  elder  Weeks  was 
originally  an  Old-Line  Whig,  but  identified  himself  with  the 
Republican  party  upon  its  formation  ;  the  three  boys  each 
cast  their  first  Presidential  vote  for  the  immortal  Lincoln, 
and  are  the  staunchest  of  staunch  Republicans.  Socially, 
Alanson  S.  Weeks  is  genial  and  courteous,  winning  the  re- 


172 


HISTORY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


gard  and  esteem  of  all.  He  is  everywhere  known  as  a  man 
of  unquestioned  integrity  and  honesty.  He  has  many  of 
the  virtues  sfnd  but  few  of  the  faults  of  humanity,  and  is 
one  of  those  whose  identification  with  any  community  is 
always  productive  of  good.  He  has  witnessed  and  has 
been  identified  with  the  many  changes  in  Allegan  history, 
and  while  his  life  has  been  comparatively  uneventful,  the 
position  he  holds  among  those  who  in  the  early  days  laid  the 
foundation  for  the  present  wealth  and  prosperity  of  Allegan 
County,  and  the  part  he  has  taken  in  its  development,  are 
creditable  alike  to  himself  and  his  posterity. 


IRA   CHICHESTER. 

This  gentleman  is  one  of  a  family  of -seven  children, — 
three  sons  and  four  daughters.  He  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Unadilla,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  6,  1824.  His  parents 
were  Abijah  and  Betsey  (Olmstead)  Chichester,  and  were 
farmers   by  occupation.      The  elder  Chichester   removed 


IRA    CHICHESTER. 

from  Connecticut  about  1805,  and  settled  in  Otsego  Co. 
N.  Y.  Aside  from  his  farm  labors  he  engaged  in  teaching 
school,  and  won  a  reputation  in  life  for  honesty  and  strict 
integrity.  He  removed  from  Unadilla  in  1835,  and  settled 
in  the  town  of  Otsego,  in  the  same  county,  four  miles  below 
the  village,  upon  a  farm  he  had  purchased.  His  wife  died  in 
1837.  He  finally  came  to  Michigan,  and  died  in  Gun 
Plain,  Allegan  Co.,  in  1856. 

The  early  advantages  of  Ira  Chichester  were  extremely 
limited.  His  education  was  obtained  in  the  district  schools 
of  the  time,  and,  in  common  with  the  other  members  of 
the  family,  he  experienced  the  various  phases  of  pioneer 
life,  and  endured  its  many  hardships  and  privations.  After 
arriving  at  the  age  of  manhood  he  acquired  proficiency  in 
the  trade  of  the  carpenter  and  joiner,  and  also  employed  a 
portion  of  his  time  in  teaching  school.  His  brother 
Aaron  Chichester,  who  was  a  surveyor  by  profession,  and 


who  for  several  years  held  the  position  of  county  surveyor, 
instructed  him  also  in  the  art,  and  he  has  surveyed  much 
of  the  county  of  Allegan.  With  the  exception  of  the 
year  1860,  he  represented  his  township  on  the  board  of 
supervisors  from  1858  to  1866,  inclusive.  During  his 
service  occurred  the  great  civil  war,  and  his  duties  were 
arduous  in  his  position.  The  war  widows  and  families  of 
diseased  or  disabled  soldiers  received  his  earnest  attention, 
and  all  have  cause  to  remember  him  with  gratitude  in  those 
trying  days  of  warfare  and  suspense.  For  ten  years  in 
succession  he  held  the  office  of  county  treasurer. 

In  1866,  Mr.  Chichester  was  married  to  Ann  Mary  Ives, 
daughter  of  Friend  Ives,  one  of  the  most  prominent  citizens 
of  Allegan.  In  January,  1867,  Mr.  Chichester  located 
in  Allegan  with  his  family,  and  is  at  present  residing  in 
that  city.  Although  yet  young  in  years,  he  has  arisen  to 
prominence,  and  is  one  of  the  most  respected  and  influ- 
ential citizens  of  his  county. 


ELIAS   STREETER. 

Few  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Allegan  are  more  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  growth  and  development  of  the 
village  than  was  Mr.  Streeter.      Having  been  associated 


ELIAS    STllEETER. 

in  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  with  the  family  of  Judge  Ely  in 
lumbering  interests,  he  was  readily  persuaded  to  follow 
their  fortunes  in  Michigan,  whence  he  removed  in  1835, 
where  little  else  than  a  wilderness  presented  itself  on  his 
arrival.  His  native  place  was  the  township  of  Phelps, 
N.  Y.,  where  his  parents,  Thomas  and  Ruth  Streeter, 
resided  at  the  time  of  his  birth.  His  ekrly  life  was  un- 
eventful, though  it  is  probable  that  careful  home-training 
developed  those  qualities  of  fortitude  and  perseverance 
which  enabled  him  in  after-life  to  fill  so  successfully  the 
r6le  of  pioneer.  He  early  engaged  in  lumbering  pursuits 
in  the  Empire  State,  and,  in  1825,  married  Miss  Julia 


ALLEGAN  TOWNSHIP. 


173 


Ann  Boeu,  of  Springville,  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y.  On  his 
arrrival  in  Michigan  he  engaged  again  in  lumbering,  and 
was  also  actively  interested  in  building  and  furthering  the 
interests  of  the  village  of  Allegan,  having  been  employed 
by  the  Boston  Company.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Streeter  had  a 
family  of  five  sons  and  five  daughters,  eight  of  whom  are 


still  living.  Mr.  Streeter's  death  occurred  at  the  home 
of  his  son,  James  B.  Streeter,  in  Allegan,  July  22,  1868, 
in  his  seventieth  year.  The  portrait  accompanying  this 
sketch  is  the  filial  tribute  of  this  son  to  his  memory. 
James  B.  is  one  of  the  most  progressive  of  Allegan's  citi- 
zens, and  largely  engaged  in  commercial  enterprises  there. 


ALLEGAN     TOWNSHIP. 


NATURAL  FEATURES. 

The  township  of  Allegan  maintains  an  important  posi- 
tion on  account  of  its  containing  the  county-seat,  which  is 
also  the  business  centre  of  a  large  circuit  of  country.  It 
is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Monterey,  south  by  Trow- 
bridge, east  by  Watson,  and  west  by  Pine  Plains,  and  is 
described  in  the  United  States  Survey  as  township  2  north, 
of  range  13  west.  It  was  surveyed  by  Lucius  Lyon  in 
September,  1836. 

It  has  many  high  elevations  and  deep  ravines,  some  of 
the  former  commanding  extended  views  of  the  surrounding 
country.  On  the  west  and  south  sides  are  level  stretches 
of  pine-land,  and  a  considerable  portion  of  the  tract  along 
the  northern  boundary  is  also  level,  and  even  shows  some 
traces  of  the  swampy  land  which  was  formerly  to  be  seen 
there.  The  Kalamazoo  Eiver  follows  a  circuitous  course 
through  the  township,  entering  it  from  the  south  and  flow- 
ing northwesterly,  making  its  exit  near  the  centre  of  the 
western  boundary.  There  are  fertile  bottom-lands  along  its 
course,  embracing  some  of  the  richest  soil  in  the  township, 
and  the  banks  in  many  instances  are  very  precipitous. 

Several  creeks  of  greater  or  less  length  flow  into  the 
river,  most  of  them  from  the  north.  The  surface  of  Alle- 
gan is  also  dotted  by  a  number  of  lakes  of  varying  size. 
The  most  important  of  these  is  Miner  Lake,  which  em- 
braces portions  of  sections  11,  12,  and  13,  and  covers  an 
area  of  nearly  a  square  mile.  It  is  a  favorite  resort  of 
pleasure-parties,  and  the  sportsman  with  his  flshing-rod 
finds  ample  employment  along  its  shores.  The  larger  por- 
tion of  Dumont  Lake  is  also  claimed  by  Allegan  township. 
It  lies  on  portions  of  sections  4  and  5,  and  is  in  some  lo- 
calities remarkable  for  its  depth.  Wetmore  Lake  is  located 
on  section  3,  and  Littlejohn  Lake,  the  only  one  near  the 
southern  boundary,  is  on  section  31. 

The  soil  varies  in  different  localities,  being  generally  a 
strong  clay  mixed  with  sand,  though  the  pine-lands  are 
composed  principally  of  sand.  The  bottom-lands  along  the 
river  are  the  most  fertile  tracts  in  the  township.  Though 
a  large  portion  of  the  township  produces  a  luxuriant  growth 
of  grass,  yet  wheat  and  corn  are  the  staple  products. 
Wheat  is  grown  with  much  success,  some  localities  yield- 


*  By  B.  0.  Wagner.     This  chapter  relates  to  that  part  of  the  town- 
ship outside  of  the  village,  except  as  to  valuation  and  officers. 


ing  extraordinary  crops.  The  usual  vegetables  also  find  a 
congenial  soil,  and  large  crops  of  them  are  produced.  The 
amount  of  improved  land,  by  the  census  of  1874,  was 
9446  acres,  divided  among  the  221  farms.  The  official 
valuation  in  1877  was  $1,118,205,  and  the  equalized  valu- 
ation $1,120,000,  including  personal  property.  The  pro- 
gress of  improvement  in  the  township  was  for  years  some- 
what retarded  by  the  fact  of  its  lands  having  been  held 
by  non-residents.  These  have  since  been  cleared  and  ren- 
dered productive. 

Almost  all  varieties  of  timber  abound  in  the  township 
of  Allegan.  Elm,  ash,  cedar,  and  tamarack  are  found  in 
the  swampy  portions,  while  beech  and  maple  flourish  in 
other  localities.  Lofty  pines  were  formerly  seen  in  abun- 
dance on  the  southern  border,  some  of  which  were  of 
gigantic  proportions.  Fruit-culture  has  more  recently 
absorbed  the  attention  of  many  of  the  residents.  Large 
orchards  of  apples  are  seen  on  every  side,  some  of  which 
have  produced  fruit  of  very  superior  quality  and  size. 
Plums  are  grown  to  a  limited  extent,  and  peaches  have 
been  gathered  which  are  pronounced  quite  equal  in  flavor 
to  those  produced  in  the  celebrated  Michigan  fruit-belt. 
Many  acres  are  now  covered  by  these  trees,  and  so  much 
interest  has  been  awakened  in  the  subject  as  to  have  in- 
duced farmers  to  devote  their  land  to  the  culture  of  the 
peach  as  well  as  the  apple.  Much  interest  is  also  mani- 
fested in  the  improvement  of  stock,  many  specimens  of  the 
choicest  varieties  of  horses,  cattle,  sheep,  and  swine  being 
found  in  the  township.  The  Kalamazoo  division  of  the 
Michigan  Central  Kailroad,  the  Grand  Haven  Bailroad, 
and  the  Allegan  and  Southeastern  Railroad  all  traverse  this 
township.  They  are  described  at  length  in  Chapter  XIX. 
of  the  general  history. 

The  county-farm  is  located  in  Allegan  township,  and  con- 
sists of  100  acres  of  the  best  quality  of  land,  90  of  which 
are  improved.  The  buildings  are  spacious,  and  in  most 
respects  well  adapted  for  the  acQommodation  of  the  unfor- 
tunate inmates.  One  of  the  buildings  is  a  two-story 
structure,  with  basement,  built  in  1869,  for  the  keeping 
and  treatment  of  the  insane,  in  which  the  officers  have  had 
encouraging  success.  There  is  also  a  neat  two-story  build- 
in"-  erected  two  or  three  years  since  for  the  care  and  in- 
struction in  school  of  the  poor  children  thrown  upon  the 
county,  of  sufficient  size   for   the   accommodation  of  30 


174 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BAREY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


of  them,  in  which  15  were  provided  for  last  winter,  and 
homes  obtained  for  them  in  the  spring.  This  is  the  first 
institution  of  the  kind  established  in  the  State  in  connection 
with  the  county-house.* 

ORIGINAL   PURCHASES  OF  LAND. 

The  lands  of  Allegan  township,  including  the  Tillage,  were 
purchased  from  the  government  by  the  following  parties  : 

Section  1.— Bought  from  US1  to  1858  by  William  B.  Clymer,  Asa 
Hard,  John  Kent,  Samuel  T.  Reed,  Sottlieb  Beese,  Lewis  Peck, 
Edgar  Blaisdell,  Anna  M.  Alley,  George  W.  Delano. 
Section  2— Bought  from  1837  to  1863  by  Alfred  Dutoher,  0.  C.  Mo- 
Craoken,  Benjamin  Eager,  William  B.  Clymer,  Thomas  R.  Sher- 
wood, Henry  Wetsel,  Jacob  Garlock. 
&c(ion  3.— Bought  in   1836  and  1836  by  Chester  Wetmore,  Samuel 

Hubbard,  Charles  Butler. 
Section  4.— Bought  from"  1835  to  1836  by  Peter  Dumont,   Chester 
Wetmore,   Samuel  Hubbard,  Junius  H.  Hatcjh,  Stephen  V.  R. 
Trowbridge. 
Section  5.— Bought  from   18.35  to  1836  by  Milo  Winslow  and  Amos 
Bronson,  Silas  P.    Littlejohn,  Sylvester  Clark,  William  S.  De 
Zenay,  Milo  Winslow,  and  Jotha  P.  Austin. 
Section  6.— Bought  in  1 835  by  Peter  Dumont  and  John  Robinson,  Jr. 
Section  7.— Bought  from  1832  to  1836  by  B.  P.  Hastings,  Charles 
Butler,  Arthur  Bronson,  E.  P.  Hastings,  Peter  Dumont  and  John 
Robinson,  Jr.,  Charles  Butler. 
Section  8.— Bought  in  1835  by  Joseph  D.  Beers  and  Samuel  Sherwood. 
Section  9.— Bought  from  1835  to  1836  by  0.  B.  Ely,  A.  L.  Ely,  Ches- 
ter Wetmore,  B.  F.  La,rned,  Lewis  Huttleston. 
Section  10.— Bought  from  1835  to  1852  by  Alexis  Packard,  Alanson 
Edgerton,  0.  C.  MoCraoken,  Chester  Wetmore,  John  W.  Bdger, 
Ira  Agan. 
Section  11.— Bought  from  1836  to  1858  by  William  Teall.William  B. 
Clymer,  Ira  Agan,  Henry  H.  Booth  and  D.  D.  Davis,  A.  S. 
Smith,  Fred  Leiohto,  George  P.  Morten,  J.  A.  Erost,  A.  S.  Ken- 
net. 
Section  12.— Bought  from  1835  to  1860  by  John  E.  Brackett,  William 
Teall,    Peter   Richart,  William    B.    Clymer,  Dorastus  Kellogg 
Charles  S.  Wilson. 
Section  13.— Bought  from  1836  to  1837  by  Isaac  R.  Elwood,  Jonas 

Russell,  James  H.  Woods,  John  J.  Miner,  Dauphin  Brown. 
Section  14.— Bought  from  1835  to  1836  by  Amos  P.  Bush,  James  B. 

MoRay,  James  Carter. 
Section  15.— Bought  from  1835  to  1837  by  Peter  Dumont,  Edward 
Pimley,  Jonathan  Peabody,  John  Askins  and  Benjamin  Eager, 
Benjamin  Scott. 
Section  16.— Bought  from  1839  to  1864  by  Justen  Ely,  John  Wilson, 
Albert  Wilson,  N.  B.  West,  0.  B.  Bellinger,  Oka  Town,  0.  Smith^ 
C.  S.  Wilson,  B.  A.  Murray,  Charles  Southwell. 
Section  17.— Bought  from  1833  to  1835  by  L.  I.  Daniels,  E.  P.  Hast- 
ings, Alex.  L.  Ely,  Joseph  D.  Beers,  and  Samuel  Sherwood. 
Section  18.— Bought  from  1832  to  1866  by  E.  P.  Haslings,  Charles 
Butler,  Arthur  Bronson,  Silas  Trowbridge,  Joseph  D.  Beers  and 
Samuel  Sherwood,  William  Bracelin. 
Section  19.— Bought  from  1833  to  1836  by  E.  P.  Hastings,  Samuel 

Hubbard,  Thomas  Burch,  Alex.  H.  Edwards. 
Section  20.-Bonght  from  1834  to  1835  by  Nelson  Sage,  Samuel  Hub- 
bard, Chaunoey  Bassett,  Alexander  H.  Edwards,  and  William  H 
Welsh. 
Section  21.— Bought  from  1833  to  1851  by  Stephen  Russell,  Samuel 
Hubbard,  Chauncey  Bassett,  Elisha  Moody,  Philander  Leonard. 
Section  22.— Bought  in  1834  and  1835  by  James  Lowe,  Zenas  L.  Gris- 

wold,  William  Briant,  Edward  Pinley. 
Section  23.— Bought  from  1835  to  1837  by  Wilson  Coggswell,  Alphonso 
Blakesley,  Enos  Northrop,  Stephen  V.  R.  Trowbridge,'Benjamin 
F.  Earned,  Daniel  L.  Case,  Laurence  Kealey. 
Section  24.— Bought  in  1836  by  Stephen  V.  R.  Trowbridge,  Simon  N. 
Dexter  and  Benjamin  W.  Raymond,  Henry  Gray,  James  Carter,' 
Ira  Hamilton. 


»  See  Chapter  XVI. 


Section  25.— Bought  from  1836  to  1849  by  B.  F.  Larned,  S.N.  Dexter 

and  B.  W.  Raymond,  John  W.  Bancroft,  Samuel  Holmes. 
Section  26. — Bought  in  1835  and  1852  by  Joseph  D.  Beers  and  Samuel 

Sherwood,  Prescott  B.  Thurston. 
Section  27. — Bought  in  1834  and   1835  by  Stephen  Russell,  James 
Lowe,  Samuel  Hubbard,  Lewis  H.  Sanford  (in  trust  for  Helen  S. 
Greves),  A.  Aldrioh,  John  Askins,  Benjamin  Eager. 
Section  28. — Bought  from  1833  to  1851  by  Stephen  Viokery  and  An- 
thony Cooley,  Stephen  Russell,  Viokery  Ballon  and  Cooley,  Sam- 
uel Hubbard,  Alby  Rossman,  John  R.  Kellogg. 
Section  29. — Bought  in  1833  and  1834  by  Stephen  Vickery  and  An- 
thony Cooley,  George  Ketehnm,  Silas  Trowbridge,  Martha  Stod- 
dard, Samuel  Hubbard. 
Section  30. — Bought  in  1834  and  1835  by  Samuel  Hubbard,  Thomas 

Burch. 
Section  31. — Bought  in  1835  by  L.  H.  Moore,  Alex.  L.  Ely,  James 

McThomas,  James  B.  Hunt. 
Section  32. — Bought  in  1834  by  Samuel  Hubbard. 
Section  33. — Bought   from  1834  to  1851    by  Samuel  Brown,  George 
Ketohum,  Stephen  Vickery,  Anthony  Cooley,  Samuel  Hubbard, 
Alby  Rossman. 
Section  34.— Bought  in  1834  and  1835  by  Asa  Briggs,  Ansel  Dicken- 
son, Samuel  Hubbard,  Lewis  H.  Sanford  (in  trust  for  Helen  S. 
Greves),  Alex.  L.  Ely,  George  Green. 
Section  35. — Bought  in  1835  by  Alexander  L.  Ely,  John  I.  Eastman, 

Samuel  Hubbard,  James  Lowe. 
Section  36.— Bought  in  1836  by  Elisha  Moody,  James  H.  Woods, 
Simon  N.  Dexter  and  Benjamin  W.  Raymond,  Bradley  Granger, 
Richard  B.  Wiggins,  Noah  R.  Gates. 

EARLY  SETTLEMENTS. 
The  first  settler  in  the  township  of  Allegan  outside  of  the 
village  was  Elisha  Moody,  who  came  in  June,  1836,  and 
located  on  section  21,  where  he  had  entered  160  acres.  He 
made  some  improvements,  such  as  erecting  a  cabin  and 
clearing  a  few  acres ;  but  either  the  location  was  unsatis- 
factory or  the  life  of  a  pioneer  was  unpleasing  to  Mr. 
Moody,  for  during  the  following  year  he  disposed  of  his 
property  to  Elisha  Dickenson,  who  immediately  moved  on  to 
it  and  became  the  second  settler  in  the  township.  He,  too, 
seems  to  have  been  of  a  restless  nature,  for  he  soon  divided 
the  property  into  parcels,  sold  it,  and  left  the  township. 

The  third  settler,  and  the  first  permanent  one,  was  Chester 
Wetmore,  who  came  from  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1835,  and 
after  remaining  one  year  in  Gun  Plain  removed  to  the 
township  of  Allegan,  having  entered  480  acres  of  land  on 
sections  3  and  4.  He  built  a  scow,  in  which,  with  his 
family,  he  floated  down  the  Kalamazoo  to  Allegan  village, 
from  which  point  he  cut  his  own  road  to  the  place  he  had 
chosen  for  his  home.  He  had  gone  there  himself  a  few 
weeks  before  and  built  a  log  house,  but  it  was  still  with- 
out doors  or  windows.  Mr.  Dickenson  was  his  nearest 
neighbor,  and  he  was  about  three  miles  distant. 

Mr.  Wetmore  devoted  his  energies  to  the  clearing  of  his 
land,  employing  two  men  to  help  him.  At  the  end  of  the  year 
he  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  25  acres  improved,  and  a 
portion  of  It  under  cultivation.  With  Mr.  Wetmore  came 
his  two  sons,  who  are  now  the  proprietors  of  the  large 
flouring-mill  of  Wetmore  Brothers  in  Allegan. 

William  Allen  came  soon  after  from  New  York,  and 
iocated  as  a  tenant  upon  a  farm  that  had  previously  been 
entered  by  Justus  Ely,  and  on  which  a  small  clearing  had 
been  made;  Mr.  Ely  was  a  resident  of  Allegan  village, 
and  was  principally  engaged  in  lumbering. 

Jonathan  Peabody  arrived  in  the  village  of  Allegan,  from 
Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1836,  and  immediately  entered  40 


ALLEGAN  TOWNSHIP. 


175 


acres  of  land  on  section  15.  Finding  profitable  employ- 
ment in  the  village,  he  remained  there  two  years,  when  he 
built  a  log  house  on  his  place,'  moved  into  it,  and  began 
improving-  his  land.  In  the  spring,  squaws  were  busy  in  the 
vicinity  making  sugar.  The  method  they  pursued  was  not 
such  as  to  tempt  an  epicurean  palate.  Game  of  various 
kinds  is  said  to  have  been  cooked  in  the  sap,  which  was 
afterwards  reduced  to  sugar,  packed  into  "  mococks*'*  and 
sold  to  the  settlers  for  potatoes  and  meal.  In  the  family 
of  Mr.  Peabody  occurred  probably  the  earliest  death  in  the 
township, — that  of  one  of  his  infant  children,  in  1837. 

Peter  M.  Higginbotham  may,  with  some  justice,  contest 
the  honor  of  being  the  earliesD  settler.  He  arrived  from 
Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  entered  land  on  section  15  early  in 
1835,  before  the  settlement  made  by  Moody.  There  he 
built  a  shanty,  and  remained  suflBciently  long  to  begin  the 
work  of  clearing.  He  then  returned  to  the  East,  where  he 
stayed  during  the  following  winter.  The  next  spring  we 
find  him  again  with  axe  in  hand  felling  the  forest.  It  was 
not,  however,  till  the  spring  of  1837  that  he  brought  his 
family  from  New  York  and  took  permanent  possession.  It 
consisted  of  his  father,  his  mother,  and  his  brother,  John  B. 
Higginbotham.  Another  brother,  H.  S.  Higginbotham, 
came  in  1839  and  located  on  section  21,  his  land  being  now 
embraced  within  the  village  limits.  This  brother  is  the 
only  surviving  member  of  the  family.  Peter  Higginbotham 
was  undoubtedly  the  first  to  begin  a  clearing  in  Allegan 
township,  outside  the  village,  but  not  the  first  to  take  up 
his  permanent  residence  in  it.  In  1841  Mr.  Higginbotham 
removed  to  section  21,  where  he  resided  until  his  death. 

Niram  Abbott  came  from  Elniira,  N.  Y.,  in  1835,  to  the 
village,  and  a  year  later  began  improving  his  place  on  sec- 
tion 30.  This  was  the  first  farm  improved  near  the  village, 
and  Mr.  Abbott  while  clearing  it  continued  his  residence 
in  Allegan.  He  built  a  comfortable  home  for  that  period, 
but  in  a  short  time  moved  to  Monterey.  Even  this  did  not 
content  him,  and  in  1839  he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  finally 
moving  to  Minnesota,  where  he  died.  His  daughter,  Eliza- 
beth S.,  now  the  wife  of  H.  S.  Higginbotham,  was  the  first 
little  white  girl  in  Allegan  township,  out  of  the  village. 

Z.  L.  Griswold  left  his  early  home  in  Batavia,  N.  Y.,  in 
1835,  and  located  160  acres  on  section  22  on  the  8th  of 
June  of  that  year.  While  entering  his  land  at  Kalamazoo, 
Mr.  Griswold  met  Elisha  Moody  and  recommended  a  tract 
adjoining  his  own,  which  he  (Moody)  immediately  exam- 
ined and  purchased.  Three  weeks  later  Mr.  Moody  had 
built  a  log  house  upon  it  and  established  his  family  in  it. 
When  Mr.  Griswold  returned  the  following  year  he  found 
Elisha  Dickenson  in  possession  of  the  Moody  place,  with 
whom  he  remained  three  weeks,  paying  $5  per  week  for 
board.  Meanwhile,  he  erected  a  shanty  on  his  land, 
moved  into  it,  and  went  to  keeping  bachelor's  hall.  He 
chopped  11  acres,  which  he  planted  principally  with  pota- 
toes, the  seed  of  which  cost  from  $1  to  81.50  per  bushel. 
Few  of  the  settlers  devoted  themselves  entirely  to  the  im- 
provement of  their  land,  but  worked  for  the  Allegan  or  the 
Boston  Companyf  in  chopping  and  drawing  logs.    For  this 


*  See  Chapter  X. 

t  See  preceding  chapter  on  Allegan  village. 


reason  no  very  marked  progress  was  made  in  the  improve- 
ment of  the  township  for  several  years. 

Mr.  Griswold  was  given  the  contract  for  building  the 
first  school-house  in  his  neighborhood,  a  very  early  school 
having  previously  been,  taught  in  a  barn  built  by  him,  by 
Miss  Olivia  Wetmore.  In  the  school-house  just  mentioned 
was  held  the  first  Sabbath-school  in  the  township,  Mr.  Gris- 
wold having  been  the  superintendent.  Like  many  other 
old  residents  of  the  township,  Mr.  Griswold  retired  to  the 
village  to  spend  the  declining  years  of  his  life. 

Peter  Dumont,  a  brother-in-law  of  Chester  Wetmore, 
came  in  the  spring  of  1837,  having  remained  at  Gun  Plain 
during  the  two  previous  years.  He  entered  160  acres  on 
section  4.  His  family  remained  with  Mr.  Wetmore  until  a 
log  house  was  constructed,  to  which  they  removed.  Mr. 
Dumont  cleared  30  acres  and  built  a  barn,  but,  finding  a 
purchaser  of  the  place  in  Rev.  W.  C.  H.  Bliss,  removed  to 
another  farm  which  he  purchased  on  section  6,  where  he 
died  in  1852,  and  where  his  sons  John  B.  and  Robert  now 
reside.  Wolves  were  plenty  at  this  period,  and  the  bounty 
for  killing  them  was  large  enough  to  be  a  material  object  to 
a  skillful  hunter.  An  instance  is  related  of  one  settler  who 
paid  for  his  farm  from  the  proceeds  of  wolf-scalps. 

The  first  public  religious  services  in  the  township,  out- 
side of  the  village,  were  probably  held  in  the  school-house 
on  section  21.  Elder  Munger  is  recollected  as  an  early 
preacher,  as  were  also  Rev.  William  Jones  and  Rev.  W.  C. 
H.  Bliss.  The  latter  gentleman  has  already  appeared  as 
having  purchased  the  farm  of  Peter  Dumont.  For  a  time 
the  week  was  occupied  by  Mr.  Bliss  in  physical  labor,  and 
the  Sabbath  in  pastoral  work  in  various  parts  of  the  county. 
His  services  were  in  constant  demand  on  funeral  occasions, 
and  at  intervals  he  performed  a  marriage  ceremony,  though 
his  annual  income  was  not  materially  increased  by  the  fre- 
quency of  these  latter  events.  When  Mr.  Bliss  became  a" 
circuit-preacher,  he  traveled  twenty-two  hundred  miles  in 
one  year  in  fulfilling  the  duties  of  his  position.  Though 
advanced  in  years,  he  still  occasionally  officiates  at  religious 
gatherings,  and  still  occupies  the  homestead  on  which  he 
first  settled. 

Corydon  Weeks  emigrated  from  Vermont  in  1834,  and 
located  in  Allegan  village.  After  a  brief  residence  there 
he  settled  upon  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Charles  S.  Wil- 
son. Later,  he  removed  to  Ohio,  but,  finding  the  attractions 
of  Michigan  superior  to  those  of  the  Buckeye  State,  he 
returned  and  purchased  40  acres  on  section  17,  where  he 
now  resides. 

Joseph  Bush  came  from  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in  1835,  and 
became  a  resident  of  the  village.  In  1837  he  purchased 
of  William  B.  Jenner  40  acres  on  section  9,  to  which  he 
removed.  During  the  first  year  he  waS  absent  much  of 
the  time  helping  to  build  schooners  for  the  lake  traffic,  he 
being  by  trade  a  ship-carpenter.  Mr.  Bush  had  been  a 
soldier  in  the  regular  army,  and  had  been  engaged  in  the 
Black  Hawk  war.  For  years  Mrs.  Bush  accompanied  her 
husband,  and  endured  the  hardships  of  camp-life  and  its 
privations. 

John  J.  Miner,  one  of  a  numerous  family,  most  of  whom 
located  in  Watson,  entered  80  acres  on  section  13,  in  Alle- 
gan township,  in  1836.     ^e  improve^  this  land  and  ren- 


176 


HISTOEY  OF  ALLEGAN   AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


dered  it  a  productive  farm,  but  ultimately  removed  to  the 
village,  where  he  died,  and  where  his  widow  still  resides. 
Clement  Miner,  a  brother,  also  has  a  home  in  Allegan. 

John  Wilson,  another  pioneer  from  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y., 
came  in  1836,  and  made  the  village  his  residence  for  three 
years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  purchased  40 
acres  on  section  16,  which  he  soon  after  disposed  of,  and 
bought  80  acres  on  another  portion  of  the  same  section. 
On  the  first  tract  he  built  a  cooper-shop,  probably  the  only 
one  anywhere  in  that  region.  He  has  since  removed  to 
the  village,  but  still  retains  his  farm. 

George  Muma  came  from  Upper  Canada  in  1837,  and 
was  employed  by  Z.  L.  Griswold  to  clear  a  portion  of  his 
farm,  upon  which  he  resided.  He  subsequently  settled 
I  upon  section  16,  and  afterwards  upon  section  17,  where 
he  owned  80  acres.  His  latest  purchase  was  in  Pine 
Plains. 

John  and  Ephraim  Brownell  were  pioneers  from  Monroe 
County  in  1837.  Unlike  most  of  the  emigrants  from  that 
county,  who  were  attracted  to  the  village  by  the  prospect  of 
employment,  they  proceeded  directly  into  the  woods,  and 
each  located  himself  upon  an  80-acre  tract  on  section  6. 
Afterwards  their  brother,  Richard  Brownell,  came  and  chose 
a  farm  on  section  6,  subsequently  removing  to  section  7. 
The  two  brothers  who  first  arrived  are  still  residents  of  the 
township,  Richard  having  since  died. 

Asa  Morse,  another  Monroe  County  man,  arrived  in  1837 
and  remained  a  year  in  the  village,  after  which  he  removed 
to  a  40-acre  lot  on  section  9,  to  which  he  added  80  addi- 
tional acres  on  the  adjoining  section.  He  still  owns  the 
farm  on  which  he  settled,  but  lives  in  Allegan  village. 
Three  of  Mr.  Morse's  children  died  soon  after  his  arrival 
of  scarlet  fever.  There  were  but  few  neighbors,  but  these 
all  came  in  turn  to  spend  the  nights  in  watching  by  the 
bedside  of  the  little  sufferers. 

James  Lowe  came  to  Allegan  from  the  banks  of  the 
Hudson,  in  the  State  of  New  York,  in  1838,  and  entered 
320  acres  of  land  on  sections  22  and  27.  He  was  for 
a  while  engaged  in  land-speculations,  and  afterwards  re- 
turned to  his  native  State,,  where  he  remained  until  1840. 
He  then  settled  upon  his  purchase  with  his  family.  He 
also  owned  valuable  land  in  St.  Joseph  County.  Mr.  Lowe 
died  in  1842.  Mrs.  Lowe,  though  left  with  a  large  family 
and  a  farm  to  supervise,  overcame  all  obstacles,  and  by  giv- 
ing her  personal  efforts  to  the  improvement  of  the  land 
succeeded  in  rendering  it  very  productive. 

From  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  came  William  Pullen  in  1837, 
who  remained  one  year  in  the  village  and  then  purchased 
240  acres  on  sections  24  and  25,  upon  which  he  settled. 
While  in  the  village  he  prepared  a  house  of  planks  ready 
for  erection,  which  he  removed  with  a  team  to  its  destina- 
tion (although  there  was  no  road  but  an  Indian  trail), 
where  it  was  speedily  put  up.  Twenty-two  acres  were 
chopped  over  the  first  year,  but  the  brush  was  so  green 
that  it  would  not  burn.  Mr.  Pullen,  however,  made  a  vir- 
tue of  necessity,  and  planted  potatoes  and  corn  among  the 
logs  and  bushes,  obtaining  a  very  respectable  crop.  Mr. 
PuUen's  house  afforded  an  early  r-esort  for  the  children 
who  availed  themselves  of  the  instruction  of  Miss  Harriet 
Blackman,  who  taught  at  the  early  age  of  fourteen  years. 


She  is  still  teaching  in  the  county.  Mr.  Pullen,  under  a 
contract  with  the  highway  commissioners,  cut  alone  twelve 
miles  of  road  through  the  township. 

Among  the  men  employed  by  A.  L.  Ely  in  cutting  the 
race  at  the  village  were  Daniel  and  James  Bracelin,  who 
came  from  Washtenaw  County  in  1835.  After  the  demand 
for  laborers  in  the  village  had  subsided,  Mr.  Ely  induced 
them  to  purchase  each  40  acres  on  section  33.  Daniel 
then  engaged  to  clear  a  piece  of  timbered  land  for  Mr.  Ely, 
which  was  subsequently  known  as  the  Bracelin  lot.  The 
brothers  found  no  roads  near  their  places,  and  were  not 
greatly  impressed  with  the  advantages  of  the  situation. 
James  sold  to  Ely  and  Daniel  exchanged  .his  lot  for  80 
acres  in  Watson,  whither  they  both  removed  soon  after- 
wards. 

James  Green  came  from  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1838,  and 
took  up  his  residence  on  section  23,  but  subsequently  retired 
to  the  village,  where,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-seven 
years,  he  is  still  vigorous  and  active. 

William  A.  Knapp,  who  was  one  of  the  early  pioneers 
of  the  village,  became,  in  1844,  a  resident  of  an  80-acre 
tract  on  sections  9  and  16,  on  which  he  resided  until  he 
again  removed  to  the  village,  in  1863.  When  he  began 
the  clearing  of  his  land  not  a  house  had  been  erected  be- 
tween his  farm  and  Allegan.  Like  many  other  settlers 
who  have  removed  to  the  village,  Mr.  Knapp  still  retains 
his  farm. 

Philo  Van  Keuren  removed  from  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in 
1836,  and  made  the  village  his  residence  for  a  number  of 
years,  following  the  occupation  of  a  boatman  on  the  Kala- 
mazoo River.  In  1846  he  purchased  160  acres  on  section 
24,  upon  which  he  built  a  substantial  framed  house,  and 
cleared  10  acres  the  first  year,  keeping  bachelor's  hall  in 
the  mean  time.  The  first  school  building  in  the  neighbor- 
hood was  built  on  Mr.  Van  Keuren's  land.  Later,  a  build- 
ing was  erected  by  the  district  on  the  northwest  corner  of 
the  same  section.  Mr.  Van  Keuren  has  continued  to 
reside  upon  the  land  ho  originally  purchased. 

Among  those  who  came  at  a  later  date  and  have  aided 
greatly  in  the  advancement  of  the  township,  though  not 
among  its  pioneers,  may  be  mentioned  the  following : 

Charles  Wilson,  a  former  resident  of  Rochester,  arrived 
in  the  county  in  1838,  but  did  not  purchase  land  until 
1852,  when  he  secured  a  farm  embracing  portions  of  sec- 
tions 9,  10,  15,  and  16,  which  had  been  owned  by  Justin 
Ely., 

The  same  year  came  Allen  Wood,  who  had  arrived  in  the 
village  three  years  previous,  from  Monroe  County.  He 
purchased  80  acres  and  built  a  house,  but  it  was  not  until 
two  years  later  that  he  became  a  permanent  resident.  In. 
1869  he  removed  to  the  village,  where  he  now  resides. 
Gustav  Maskey  is  a  native  of  Prussia,  but  came  to  this 
country  in  1852,  making  his  way  directly  to  Michigan, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  located  upon  80  acres  on 
section  26,  now  within  the  village  limits. 

George  E.  Jewett  came  originally  from  Maine,  and 
located  at  Saugatuck,  where  he  remained  several  years. 
In  1853  he  purchased  320  acres  on  section  8,  in  Saugatuck, 
a  portion  of  which  he  afterwards  sold  to  his  brother,  Na- 
thaniel Jewett,  leaving  200  acres,  which  he  now  owns. 


ALLEGAN  TOWNSHIP. 


177 


Alanson  Lilly  came  from  Ohio  in  1853,  and  purchased  a 
farm  on  section  16.  Although  his  arrival  occurred  at  a 
comparatively  late  period,  the  land  he  purchased  and  that 
immediately  surrounding  it  was  still  an  unhroken  forest. 
He  began  the  labor  of  clearing  at  once,  and  very  soon  had 
the  larger  portion  of  it  under  cultivation. 

Philip  Vahue  was  a  pioneer  from  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  located  in  this  township  in  1854.  With  him  came 
0.  Gr.  and  C.  S.  Vahue.  All  three  settled  on  sections  8 
and  9.  Watson  Brown  moved  from  Massachusetts  in 
1848,  and  purchased  80  acres  on  section  24,  which  he  made 
his  permanent  home. 

EARLY   EOADS. 

Previous  to  1836  no  roads  had  been  surveyed  in  the 
township.  At  the  foot  of  State  Street,  near  the  site  of  the 
Allegan  House,  in  Allegan  village,  was  a  ferry.  From  it, 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  a  rough  road  had  been 
marked  out  and  partially  cleared,  which  ran  to  Pine  Creek, 
then  to  Otsego,  and  thence  to  Kalamazoo.  This  road  had 
not  been  surveyed,  and  could  be  regarded  as  little  else  than 
a  mere  track. 

The  earliest  legal  road  was  surveyed  by  Flavins  J.  Lit- 
tlejohn  in  September,  1836,  and  is  described  ii^a  public 
road  leading  from  the  village  and  county  of  Allegan  south- 
easterly to  the  village  and  county  of  Kalamazoo,  in  Michi- 
gan. It  followed  substantially  the  course  of  the  road 
above  described,  the  record  showing  the  following  courses 
and  distances : 

"Be^inninf  at  a  stake  near  high-water  mark  in  the  centre,  and  at 
the  foot  of  State  Street,  in  the  village  of  Allegan ;  thence  south  across 
the  Kalamazoo  River  to  a  stake  on  the  south  bank  thereof,  the  same 
being  north  54  degrees  west  and  42  links  distant  from  a  beech-tree, 
marked  as  a  witness-tree,  and  also  south  73  degrees  30  minutes  west, 
distant  from  an  oak-tree  marked  as  a  witness-tree;  thence  south  14 
degrees  30  minutes  east  5  chains  10  links  to  a  stake  north  60  degrees 
east  and  12  links  distant  from  a  maple-tree  marked  as  a  witness-tree ; 
thence  south  50  degrees  east  94  chains  68  links,  to  a  pine-tree  marked 
with  a  blaze,  three  hacks,  and  a  cross,  as  a  sight-tree;  thence  south 
.  67  degrees  45  minutes  east  184  chains  87  links,  to  a  stake  north  31 
degrees  west  of  and  21  links  distant  from  a  maple  witness-tree,  and 
also  north  24  degrees  east  of  and  25  links  distant  from  a  maple  wit- 
ness-tree ;  thence  south  60  degrees  30  minutes  east  46  chains,  to  a 
stake  upon  the  east  line  of  township  1  north,  of  range  13  west,  21 
chains  from  the  southeast  comer  of  section  line  of  said  town,  and  97 
links  north  of  a  marked  tree  on  said  section  line.  Jfote.— The  above 
courses  are  given  after  allowing  4  degrees  30  minutes  for  thfe  variation 
of  the  needle." 

The  commissioners  of  highways  at  this  time  were  Enoch 
S.  Baker,  Elisha  Moody,  and  Elisha  Ely. 

The  second  road  in  the  township  was  also  surveyed  by 
F.  J.  Littlejohn,  and  is  described  as  "  a  State  road  from 
the  county-seat  of  Allegan  County  to  the  county-seat  of 
Van  Buren  County  (Paw  Paw),  in  the  State  of  Michigan," 
the  portion  running  through  Allegan  township  only  having 
been  recorded.     It  was  surveyed  in  March,  1837. 

The  next  road  was  known  as  the  Pine  Creek  road,  and 
was  surveyed  July,  1837,  probably  by  the  same  person, 
under  the  direction  of  John  Billings,  George  Y.  Warner, 
and  F.  J.  Littlejohn,  commissioners  of  highways. 

A  portion  of  the  road  was  discontinued,  as  may  be  seen 
by  reference  to  a  profile  of  a  road-survey,  by  order  of  the 
23 


commissioners,  by  William  Forbes,  county  surveyor,  on  the 
6th  and  7th  days  of  March,  1838. 

A  road  was  next  surveyed  leading  from  the  village  of 
Allegan  to  the  village  of  Edwardsburg,  Cass  Co.,  Mich. 
The  survey  was  made  on  the  25th  of  November,  1837, 
by  H.  P.  Barnum.  From  this  time  roads  were  surveyed 
as  settlers  appeared  and  the  demand  for  them  incretised. 

SCHOOLS. 

A  school  was  taught  in  the  township  before  the  erection 
of  a  school  building,  at  the  house  of  Chester  Wetmore,  on 
section  21,  the  earliest  teacher  being  his  daughter,  Miss 
Olivia  W.  Wetmore.  Meanwhile,  Mr.  Wetmore  had  erected 
a  new  barn,  which,  being  spacious  and  clean,  was  devoted 
for  a  time  to  the  uses  of  a  school. 

In  1841  the  first  school-house  in  the  township,  outside 
of  the  village,  was  built  on  the  Dickenson  farm,  on  section 
21 ;  the  school  being  taught  by  tlie  lady  before  mentioned, 
and  her  earliest  pupils  being  Joseph  H.  Wetmore,  Rhoda 
M.  Wetmore,  Albert  D.  Wetmore,  Lucy  J.  Wetmore,  Wil- 
liam A.  Bliss,  Henry  Bliss,  and  Chester  Ross. 

The  first  school  district  in  the  township  was  organized  in 
1836.  Others  soon  after  followed,  until  the  territory  is 
now  divided  into  seven  whole  and  four  fractional  districts. 
The  directors  of  the  various  districts  are  H.  H.  Pope, 
Winslow  Feek,  Brewster  Peabody,  Lewis  Blaisdell,  W.  O. 
Hudson,  Sylvester  Campbell,  Emerson  Allen,  and  J.  B. 
Adams,  the  village  being  included  in  the  school  report  of 
the  township.  The  whole  number  of  children  receiving  in- 
struction is  897,  of  whom  35  are  non-resident  pupils. 
Three  male  and  23  female  teachers  are  employed,  to  whom 
the  total  amount  in  salaries  paid  is  S4861.20.  Eight  school 
buildings  adorn  the  township,  three  of  which  are  built  of 
brick,  and  the  total  value  of  school  property  in  Allegan  is 
$24,650. 

BUEIAL-PLACES. 

The  largest  of  the  township  cemeteries  is  located  within 
the  limits  of  the  village.  One  and  a  half  acres  of  land, 
situated  on  the  north  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 29,  was  early  donated  by  Alexander  L.  Ely  as  a  burial- 
place,  with  the  stipulation  that  a  lot  be  reserved  for  the 
interments  of  his  family.  When  it  ceased  to  be  used  for 
this  purpose,  by  the  t«rms  of  the  bequest  the  remains  of 
himself  and  his  family  were  to  be  exhumed  and  the  lot 
was  to  revert  to  his  heirs.  An  effort  was  made  in  1869  to 
remove  the  burial-ground  to  section  32,  where  40  acres  had 
been  purchased  for  the  purpose.  On  an  examination  of  the 
terms  of  Mr.  Ely's  bequest,  the  project  was  found  to  be 
impracticable,  and  the  land  purchased  was  disposed  of  for 
agricultural  purposes.  Six  acres  adjoining  the  old  cemetery 
was  then  secured  from  W.  B.  Williams  in  1873,  and  added 
to  the  original  tract.  This  not  only  affords  additional  space, 
but  contributes  greatly  to  the  attractiveness  of  the  spot. 

A  half  acre  of  ground  was  purchased  Aug.  30,  1847, 
described  as  lying  on  the  road  known  as  the  Miner  road, 
runnin"  east  from  the  Grand  River  road  to  the  township  of 
Watson,  being  on  the  north  side  of  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  22,  and  being  about  60  rods  east  of  the  Grand 
River  road.     This  ground  was  deeded  by  Gerry  Pardee  to 


178 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


B.  L.  Griswold,  R.  Cook,  and  J.  Hudson,  as  trustees  of  the 
burial-ground,  for  a  consideration  of  $20. 

Another  tract,  embracing  three-eighths  of  an  acre,  was 
purchased  Jan.  1,  1866,  described  as  the  southwest  corner 
of  the  east  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  5.  It 
was  deeded  by  Allen  Wood  and  wife  to  the  Fairfield  Cem- 
etery Association,  and  which  was  described  as  a  parcel  of 
land  ten  rods  north  and  south,  and  six  rods  east  and  west, 
out  of  the  southwest  corner  of  the  above  premises,  which 
was  conveyed  to  said  association  for  purposes  of  burial,  to 
be  used  for  that  purpose  and  no  other,  and  at  all  times  to 
be  kept  well  enclosed  with  a  good  and  substantial  fence  by 
the  corporation. 

ORGANIZATION  AND  OFFICEES. 

By  an  act  of  the  territorial  council  of  1833,  the  territory 
of  the  county  of  Allegan  was  constituted  the  township  of 
Allegan,  and  attached  to  Kalamazoo  County  for  judicial  and 
legal  purposes.*  By  an  act  of  the  State  Legislature  of 
1836,  those  townships  situated  in  ranges  13  and  14,  Al- 
Ipgan  County,  were  constituted  the  township  of  Allegan,  em- 
bracing in  all  eight  survey-townships  of  that  time  and  eight 
civil  townships  of  the  present  day, — namely,  Trowbridge, 
Allegan,  Monterey,  Salem,  Cheshire,  Pine  Plains,  Heath, 
and  Overisel.  Various  portions  were  successively  set  off 
from  Allegan  until  that  township  was  reduced  to  its  present 
limit  of  six  miles  square. 

At  the  first  town-meeting  after  the  division,  held  pursu- 
ant to  notice  in  the  village  of  Allegan,  in  April,  1836,  Joseph 
Fisk  was  chosen  moderator,  Joseph  Allen  and  Elisha  Moody 
were  made  clerks,  and  the  following  officers  were  elected : 
Supervisor,  Alexander  L.  Ely ;  Township  Clerk,  Nathaniel 
Livermore;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  Joseph  Fisk,  Elisha 
Ely,  Elisha  Moody,  Enoch  S.  Baker;  Assessors,  Elisha 
Moody,  Hiram  Abbott,  Joseph  Fisk ;  Highway  Commis- 
sioners, Elisha  Moody,  Elisha  Ely,  Enoch  S.  Baker;  Over- 
seers of  the  Poor,  Lyman  Fisk,  Elisha  Ely ;  School  Com- 
missioners, Sylvester  Aldrich,  Benjamin  McCoy,  Enoch  S. 
Baker ;  School  Inspectors,  Alexander  L.  Ely,  William  C. 
Jenner,  Joseph  Allen. 

The  following  are  the  remaining  township  officers  in 
succession  to  the  present  time : 

SUPERVISORS. 
1837,  Flavius  J.  Littlejohn;  1838,  Silas  F.  LittlejohD  ;  1839,  Joseph 
Fisk;  1840,  Hyman  Hoxic;  1841,  William  Finn ;  1842,  Alex.  L. 
Ely;  1843,  Elisha  Ely;  1844,  James  Andrew;  1845,  William 
Finn;  1846,  Noah  Briggs;  1847,  William  Finn;  1848-50,  David 
D.Davis;  1851,  Leonard  Bailey;  1852,  Elisha  Ely ;  1853-56,  E. 
B.  Bassett;  1857,  Benjamin  Pratt;  1858-fiO,  E.  E.  Bassett;  1861 
-62,  P.xO.  Littlejohn;  1863-66,  Alanson  Case;  1867,  Joseph  Fisk; 
1868-69,  Alanson  Case;  1870-74,  P.  0.  Littlejohn;  1876-79^ 
Leonard  Bailey. 

TOWNSHIP  CLERKS. 
1837-41,  Alvah  Fuller;  1842,  Leonard  Bailey ;  1843,  Benjamin  Pratt- 
1844,  Alexander  L.  Ely;  1845-46,  B.  B.  Bassett;  1847,  Charles 
S.  Field;  1848,  Ralph  B.  Goble;  1849-50,  Amos  W.  Stone;  1851 
Levi  B.  Smith;  1852,  Horatio  S.  Lay;  1853,  James  B.  Streeterj 
1854,  Levi  B.  Smith;  1865,  Henry  C.  Smith;  1856,  C.  0.  Bush  • 
1857-58,  John  Kirby;  1859,  A.  S.  Butler;  1860,  W.  B.  Jenner; 

«  The  residents  of  this  old  township  of  Allegan  lived  in  Cisego 
and  Gun  Plain,  and  the  officers  they  elected  are  mentioned  in  the 
history  of  Otsego. 


1861,  A.  S.  Butler;  1862,  Henry  C.  Smith;  1863,  George  L. 
Askins;  1864,  H.  S.  Iligginbotham ;  1865-66,  J.  F.  Alley;  1867, 
John  W.  Stone;  1868,  A.  F.  Howe;  1869,  E.  B.  Grover;  1870, 
A.  E.  Calkins;  1871,  Irving  F.  Clapp;  1872-74,  Samuel  D.  Pond; 
1875,  A.  E.  Calkins;  1876-78,  S.  P.  Stanley;  1879,  W.  W.  Vos- 
burgh. 

TREASURERS. 

1837-38,  no  record;  1839,  William  Finn;  1840,  Oramel  Fisk;  1841, 
David  D.  Davis;  1842,  James  Andrew  ;  1843,  Alex.  L.  Ely ;  1844, 
Leonard  Bailey;  1845,  David  D.  Davis;  1846,  Daniel  Emerson; 
1847-48,  Justus  W.  Bond;  1849,  William  Finn  ;  1850-52,  Daniel 
D.Davis;  1853-54,  William  Finn  ;  1855-56,  John  J.Jones;  1867, 
J.  W.  Nichols;  1858-59,  John  J.  Jones;  1860-63,  Martin  Cook; 
1864-66,  A.  S.Butler;  1867,  H.  C.  Smith;  1868-69,  Silas  E.  Stone; 
1870-71,  George  D.  Smith;  1872,  A.  S.  Butler;  1873,  D.  A.  Mc- 
Martin;   1874-77,  Martin  Cook;  1878-79,  William  J.  Pollard. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 
1837,  Chester  Wetmore;  1838,  S.  F.  Littlejohn;  1839,  Wells  Field; 
1840,  Elisha  Ely;  1841,  E.  C.  Southworth,  D.  B.  Stout;  1842, 
Benjamin  Pratt;  1843,  Frederick  Day,  Nathan  Manson,  Jr.; 
1844,  Alby  Rossman ;  1845,  Hiram  Sabin;  1846,  Benjamin 
Scott;  1847,  Nathan  Manson,  Jr.;  1848,  Osmand  Smith;  1849, 
Levi  B.  Smith;  1850,  Amos  P.  Bush;  1851,  Charles  R.  Wilkes; 
1852,  Osmund  Smith;  1863,  Daniel  D.  Davis;  1854,  John  J. 
Jones;  1855,  J.  D.  Pope,  H.  H.  Booth;  1856,  Elias  Streeter,  P. 
0.  Littlejohn;  1857,  Homer  G.  C.Tse;  1858,  John  E.  Babbitt, 
Joseph  Wetmore;  1859,  P.  0.  Littlejohn,'  Allen  Wood;  1860, 
George  W.  Stone;  1861,  Benjamin  Pratt;  1862,  Joseph  H.  Wet- 
more;  1863,  P.  0.  Littlejohn;  1864,  J.  D.  Pope;  1865,  Benjamin 
Pratt^  1866,  James  F.  Stuck;  1867,  P.  0.  Littlejohn;  1868, 
William  Finn;  1869,  D.  A.  McMartin;  1870,  Alanson  Case; 
1871,  William  B.  Jenner;  1872,  Fayette  S.  Day,  John  P.  Barkley; 
187.3,  John  E.  Babbitt;  1874,  Albert  D.  Wetmore;  1875,  William 
Francis,  Robert  Campbell;  1876,  Fayette  S.  Day;  1877,  Myron 
Henshaw;  1878,  Joseph  Thew;  1879,  Allen  Wood. 

HIGHWAY  COMMISSIONERS. 
1837,  John  Billings,  F.  J.  Littlejohn,  George  Y.Warner;  1838,  Ben- 
jamin Eager,  Daniel  Emerson,  0.  D  Goodrich;  1839,  Chester 
Wetmore,  John  Askins;  1840,  John  P.  Allard,  William  Porter, 
Hiram  Sabin ;  1841,  F.  J.  Littlejohn,  Gil  Bias  Wilcox,  J.  G.  Cole- 
man; 1842,  P.  J.  Littlejohn,  Wells  Field,  Isaac  Dexter;  1843, 
Ira  Chaffee,  Hiram  Sabin,  P.  J.  Littlejohn;  1844,  Jacob  D. 
Seaman,  Ira  Chaffee,  Hiram  Sabin ;  1845,  Philo  Van  Kenren, 
Nathan  Manson,  Jr.,  J.  D.  Seaman;  1846,  Harvey  Kenyon, 
Hiram  Sabin,  Philo  Van  Kenren;  1847,  David  Amerman,  Philo 
Van  Keuren,  Ira  Chaffee;  1848,  Clark  F.  Nichols;  1849,  Joseph 
H.  Wetmore;  1850,  R.  H.  Brownell,  James  M.  Heath;  1851, 
Jerome  Moses;  1852,  Philo  Van  Keuren,  Watson  Brown;  I853' 
Ephraim  Brownell;  1854,  George  Perkins,  Lauren  Sage;  1855, 
P.  0.  Littlejohn,  John  Askins,  Chester  Wetmore :  1856,  Ward 
Wilson;  1867,  W.  A.  Bliss,  John  Askins;  1868,  J.  D.  Pope; 
1859,  Daniel  Amerman,  Philo  Van  Keuren;  1860,  John  Wilson; 
1861,  James  M.  Heath;  1862,  Daniel  Amerman;  1863,  Joseph 
Fisk;  1864,  Jacob  Garlook,  P.  0.  Littlejohn;  1865,  Daniel 
Amerman;  1866,  Jacob  Garlock;  1867,  Ira  Chaffee;  1868,  J.  H. 
Wetmore,  P.  0.  Littlejohn;  1869,  Daniel  White;  1870,  Daniel 
D.  Davis;  1871,  Samuel  H.  Priest;  1872,  Joseph  H.  Wetmore; 
1873,  Judson  A.  Frost,  Clark  Nichols;  1874,  Alexander  Hurd; 
1876,  Judson  A.  Frost;  1876,  A.  D.  Wetmore;  1877,  Ira  Chaffee; 
1878,  Quincey  Fausler;  1879,  John  Wilson. 

SCHOOL  INSPECTORS. 
1837,  William  Jones,  George  Martin,  Spencer  Marsh;  1838,  0.  D. 
Goodrich,  John  H.  Wells,  Spencer  Marsh ;  1839,  James  Andrews, 
R.  M.  Bigelow,  Alexis  Ransom;  1840,  0.  D.  Goodrich,  R.  M. 
Bigclow,  D.  A.  McMartin;  1841,  E.  C.  Southworth,  Nathan  Man- 
son,  Jr.,  A.  P.  Thompson;  1842,  0.  D.  Goodrich,  John  P.  Allard, 
D.  B.  Stout;  1843,  H.  K.  Clarke,  Samuel  Newberry;  1844,  B.  B. 
Bassett,  E.  G.  Hackley;  1846,  F.  J.  Littlejohn;  1846,  E.  Saw- 
tell;  1847,  P.  L.  Littlejohn,  P.T.  R.  Jones;  1848,  Levi  B.  Smith; 
1849,  Osmund  Smith;  1860,  L.  B.  Smith,  H.  S.  Day;  1851,  H. 
S.  Day;  1862,  F.  J.  Littlejohn;  1863,  H.  S.  Day;  1854,  F.  J. 
Littlejohn;  1855,  L.  B.  Smith;  1856,  F.  J.  Littlejohn;  1867,  L. 


CASCO  TOWNSHIP. 


179 


B.  Smith;  1858,  F.  J.  Littlejohn ;  1859,  Henry  C.  Briggs;  1860, 
W.  L.  Littlejohn,  J.  L.  Hawes;  1861,  E.B.  Bassett;  1862,  James 
B.  Streeter;  1863,  Charles  Brownell ;  1864,  James  B.  Streeter; 
1865,  H.  S.  Higginbotham ;  1866,  F.  J.  Higgins;  1867,  H.  S. 
Higginbotham ;  1868,  William  B.  Jenner;  1869,  John  S.  Bidwel] ; 
1870,  J.  C.  Fisk;  1871,  Martin  T.  Ryan;  1872,  J.  M.  Pennoelt; 
1873,  Mark  D.  Wilber;  1874,  A.  E.  Calkins;  1875-76,  Charles  W. 
Sage;  1877-78,  F.  M.  Calkins:  1879,  H.  A.  De  Lano. 

ASSESSORS. 
1837,  Silas  F.  Littlejohn,  Hiram  Abbott,  J.  R.  Kellogg,  H.  K.  Clarke, 
Milo  Winslow;  1838,  A.  L.  Ely,  George  Morton,  Lorenzo  Wina- 
low;  1839,  F.  J.  Litthejohn,  Nathan  Hanson,  Jr.,  A.  L.  Ely; 
1840,  Noah  Briggs,  Alexis  Ransom,  W.  H.  Rood;  1841,  Chester 
Wetmore,  Henry  Damont,  John  Billings,  Jr. 

DIRECTORS  OF  THE  POOR. 
1837,  Elisha  Ely,  Charles  Dickenson  ;  1838,  D.  C.  Ailing,  Benjamin 
Atkins;  1839,  Hyman  Hoxie,  Alby  Rossman;  1840,  Ebenezer 
Parkhurst,  Cephas  Field ;  1841,  Elias  Streeter,  Alanson  S.  Weeks ; 
1842,  William  C.  Jenner,  Festus  Wilson;  1843,  Elisha  Ely,  A.  P. 
Bush;  1844,  A.  P.  Bush,  Cephas  Field;  1845,  William  Finn,  A. 
P.  Bush;  1846,  Elisha  Ely,  Elias  Streeter;  1847,  Elisha  Ely, 
Alby  Rossman  ;  1848,  George  Muma,  Elisha  Ely ;  1849,  Elias 
Streeter,  Alby  Rossman ;  1850,  G.  C.  Smith,  P.  N.  Higginbotham; 
1851,  E.  G.  Hackley,  T.  N.  Higginbotham;  1852,  Elias  Streeter, 
P.  N.  Higginbotham;  1853,  S.  N.  Pike,  George  C.  Smith;  1854, 
Alby  Rossman,  David  D.  Davis;  1855,  Alby  Rossman,  Elias 
Streeter;  1856,  George  Perkins,  Moses  Fausler;  1857,  Elias 
Streeter,  Alby  Rossman;  1858,  David  Ely,  P.  0.  Littlejohn; 
1859-60,  no  record  ;  1861,  Daniel  D.  Davis,  John  Askins. 

DRAIN   COMMISSIONER. 
1876-78,  John  Wilson. 

SUPERINTENDENTS   OF   SCHOOLS. 
1875-76,  M.  D.  Wilber ;  1877,  F.  M.  Calkins ;  1878-79,  Walter  Scott. 

CONSTABLES. 
1837,  George  Y.  Warner,  Alanson  Edgarton;  1838,  D.  A.  McMartin, 
Henry  Dumont;  1839,  Henry  Langley,  James  Andrew,  Lloyd 
Austin,  Garret  H.  Baker;  1840,  James  Andrew,  Wells  Marshall, 
John  Billings,  H.  A.  Buffum  ;  1841,  Wells  Marshall,  Zadoo  Hug- 
gins,  James  Andrew,  Jonathan  Peabody;  1842,  Wells  Marshall, 


Samuel  Underwood,  Jr., Harvey  Kenyon,  T.  C.  Jenner;  1843,  L.W. 
Watkins,  Philo  Van  Keuren,  Rufus  Fairchild,  Lewis  Huttleston  ; 
1844,  Rufus  Fairchild,  Alexander  Henderson,  Philo  Van  Keuren, 
Zadoe  Huggins;  1845,  Rufus  Fairchild,  Alexander  Henderson, 
George  Warner,  L.  K.  Pratt;  1846,  Daniel  D.  Davis,  Rufus  Fair- 
child,  L.  B.  Smith,  Alfred  Muma ;  1847,  E.  C.  Southworth,  Nathan 
Manson,  Jr.,  James  M.  Heath ;  1848,  Rufus  Fairchild,  Thomas 
Cook,  J.  W.  Nichols,  Robert  Bottsford  ;  1849,  J.  W.  Nichols, 
John  AUett,  John  J.  Jones,  Levi  A.  Barber;  1850,  J.  J.  Jones, 
H.  C.  Smith,  S.  M.  Holmes,  Joseph  Cook;  1851,  J.  J.  Jones,  J. 
P.  McCormick,  J.  B.  Streeter,  Henry  Allett ;  1852,  J.  P.  McCor- 
mick,  Thomas  Cook,  Thomas  Streeter,  Joseph  Fiske;  1853,  John 
J.  Jones,  Ward  Wilson,  Thomas  Streeter,  J.  P.  McCormick ;  1854, 
William  Finn,  Thomas  B.  Streeter,  James  Garrison,  J.  P.  Mc- 
Cormick; 1855,  C.  C.  Spear,  J.  E.  Garrison,  T.  B.  Streeter,  S.  A. 
Hewett;  1856,  J.  E.  Garrison,  William  Wedge,  Joseph  Cook, 
Henry  Seaman ;  1857,  Allen  Streeter,  James  E.  Garrison,  Lyman 
Pratt,  John  Steadman;  1858,  F.  Atwell,  Albert  French;  1859, 
James  E.  Garrison,  George  Cook,  Benjamin  Curry,  H.  C.  Allett; 

1860,  H.  S.  Priest,  Lyman  K.  Pratt,  John  Allett,  H.  L.  Gassett; 

1861,  Samuel  H.  Priest,  H.  L.  Gassett,  Lyman  E.  Pratt;  1862, 
George  C.  Nicholson,  G.  N.  Alexander,  L.  K.  Pratt,  J.  P.  Mc- 
Cormick ;  1863,  Martin  Cook,  L.  K.  Pratt,  George  H.  Foster,  J. 
P.  McCormick;  1864,  J.  E.  Garrison,  E.  B.  Tyler,  Benona  Col- 
lins, Henry  Southwell;  1865,  Riley  Thompson,  D.  W.  Dodwell,  F. 
Atwell,  S.  H.  Priest;  1866,  S.  H.  Priest,  Earl  Tyler,  Riley  Thomp- 
son, W.  C.  Wood;  1867,  S.  H.  Priest,  J.  C.  Gorman,  D.  S.  Cosier, 
W.  G.  Wood;  1868,  Charles  E.  Smith,  John  C.  Gorman,  Clark 
Nichols,  F.  S.  Day;  1869,  John  E.  Babbitt,  Jeremiah  Lester, 
Hubbard  Wilson,  Clark  Nichols;  1870,  C.  W.  Fisk,0.  S.  Hardy, 
J.  R.  Aldrich,  T.  D.  Ely ;  1871,  George  W.  Byron,  Fayette  S. 
Day,  William  R.  Webster,  0.  S.  Hardy ;  1872,  William  R.  Web- 
ster, Samuel  H.  Priest,  George  W.  Bailey,  Spencer  Wright;  1873, 
James  M.  Foster,  Charles  E.  Pratt,  Gybrecht  Stein,  Joseph  Ely ; 
1874,  C.  E.  Pratt,  John  C.  Holmes,  Joseph  Ely,  William  R.  Web- 
ster; 1875,  W.  F.  Clark,  Quincey  Fausler,  William  H.  Jones,. 
Hulbert  Wilson  ;  1876,  Allen  Mosher,  Fred.  Hall,  Joseph  W. 
Ely,  Walter  Benjamin ;  1877,  Allen  Mosher,  W.  H.  Jones,  Fred. 
Hall,  Joseph  W.  Ely ;  1878,  Thomas  Clifford,  M.  P.  Grioe,  W. 
H.  Bierce,  Dennis  R.  Thralls;  1879,  M.  H.  Wetton,  Frsftik  D. 
Stuck,  M.  P.  Grice,  Ed.  P.  Girard. 

The  hamlet  of  Mill  Grove,  a  portion  of  which  lies  in 
Allegan,  will  be  more  fully  described  in  the  history  of  Pine 
Plains. 


CASCO.* 


Casco,  the  southwestern  township  of  Allegan  County, 
includes  survey-township  No.  1  north,  in  range  16  west, 
and  the  fractional  township  No.  1,  in  range  17,  containing 
in  all  nearly  40  full  sections.  On  the  north  is  the  town- 
ship of  Ganges,  on  the  south  the  Van  Buren  county-line, 
on  the  east  the  township  of  Lee,  and  on  the  west  the 
waters  of  Lake  Michigan. 

Casco  holds  a  prominent  place  among  the  fruit-growing 
towns  of  Western  Michigan,  and  in  the  culture  of  peaches 
especially  is  making  very  rapid  advances.  With  an  as- 
sessed valuation  in  1879  of  $285,000,  the  township  then 
ranked  next  after  Saugatuck  and  Fillmore  in  that  particular. 


*  By  David  Schwartz. 


The  north  and  middle  branches  of  Black  River,  flowing 
from  the  north  and  east  to  section  31,  there  join  in  form- 
ing the  main  stream,  but  neither  affords  any  very  desirable 
water-power.  Both,  however,  are  of  ample  volume  to 
serve  the  demands  of  lumbermen  in  log-running,  and  the 
north  branch  was  some  years  ago  navigated  by  keel-boats 
to  a  point  about  nine  miles  above  South  Haven.  Along 
the  lake-shore  the  land  generally  rises  in  high,  abrupt  bluffs, 
and  presents  a  picturesque  front  to  travelers  on  passing 
vessels.  The  lake-shore  region  is,  of  course,  the  favorite 
fruit-growing  district,  and  the  southwestern  portion  of  the 
township  resembles  a  vast  peach-orchard.  South  Haven  is 
the  principal  market,  and  the  chief  place  for  shipping  fruit, 
although  in  the  ea^te^r^  part  qf  ^be  tRWflsh|p  the  Chicago 


180 


HISTORY   OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


and  West  Michigan  Railway  receives  much  freight  from 
this  source. 

On  the  17th  of  May,  1869,  the  town  agreed  by  a  vote 
of  113  to  103  to  raise  $5000  in  aid  of  the  Kalamazoo  and 
South  Haven  Railroad,  but  at  a  subsequent  meeting  recon- 
sidered and  defeated  the  resolution.  On  the  25th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1869,  a  resolution  to  aid  the  Chicago  and  Michigan 
Lake  Shore  Railroad  was  defeated  by  a  vote  of  109  to  2. 
Two  attempts  to  raise  money  for  the  erection  of  a  town- 
house  have  also  met  with  failure.  Casoo  has  no  village, 
but  has  two  post-oflBces,  one  church  edifice,  and  three  others 
in  process  of  erection. 

THE  EAELT  COMERS  IN  CASCO. 
Until  the  autumn  of  1844  the  township  of  Casco  had  not 
heard  the  ring  of  the  pioneer's  axe,  and  until  the  spring  of 
1845  had  received  no  permanent  white  settlers.  It  was 
John  Thayer  and  his  two  sons  who  led  the  way  in  the 
peaceful  invasion  of  Casco,  and  it  was  upon  section  2,  where 
Thayer  had  bought  land,  that  they  first  made  a  clearing,  in 
the  fall  of  1844.  While  engaged  in  this  work  they  made 
their  home  at  Levi  Loomis',  in  Ganges,  where  'Thayer's 
family  abided  until  the  summer  of  1845. 

In  April,  1845,  before  the  Thayers  had  taken  up  their 
residence  in  the  township,  Mortimer  McDowell  and  William 
B.  Reynolds  came  in  and  began  at  once  to  n)ake  a  clearing 
on  section  18.  Timothy  McDowell,  a  resident  of  Western 
New  York,  had  bought  320  acres  of  land  in  Casco,  and 
Lad  seilt  his  son  Mortimer  and  his  brother-in-law  Rey- 
nolds out  to  put  up  a  cabin  and  make  a  small  clearing  pre- 
paratory to  the  coming  of  the  rest  of  the  family.  While 
doing  this,  Reynolds  and  young  McDowell  lived  at  A.  N. 
Crawford's  house,  in  Ganges,  walking  thither  every  night 
and  back  the  next  morning.  By  June  they  had  put  up  a 
cabin  and  cut  up  the  timber  on  half  an  acre  of  land,  and 
on  the  17th  of  that  month  Timothy  McDowell,  with  his 
wife  and  three  children,  having  come  by  wagon  from  their 
New  York  home,  appeared  and  took  possession  of  their 
new  abode,  thus  becoming  the  first  actual  residents  of  the 
township  of  Casco. 

Reynolds,  after  thus  assisting  in  giving  the  McDowells 
a  good  start,  went  to  Kalamazoo  and  engaged  in  railroad 
work.  He  died  in  Minnesota  in  1879.  Mortimer  Mc- 
Dowell still  lives  in  Casco,  as  does  his  mother.  His  father, 
who  was  Casco's  first  supervisor,  and  who,  during  his  sub- 
sequent life,  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  the  township, 
died  in  1876. 

When  Mr.  McDowell  came  West  he  brought  a  pair  of 
fine  horses,  which  he  expected  to  use  on  his  farm,  but  a 
survey  of  the  wild  country  to  which  he  had  come  quickly 
satisfied  him  that  his  horses  would  be  sid\y  out  of  place, 
and  he  accordingly  exchanged  them  for  a  yoke  of  cattle.  In 
a  country  where  there  were  no  roads  horses  and  wagons 
were  almost  useless  property,  but  oxen  were  nearly  invalu- 
able. 

Not  long  after  Mr.  McDowell  came  the  lake-shore  road 
was  opened  between  his  house  and  Saugatuck,  but  south 
from  his  place  the  lake-beach  was  the  only  highway  as  far 
even  as  St.  Joseph.  In  front  of  his  residence  a  ravine  led 
to  the  lake-shore,  and  of  that  ravine  McDowell  made  a 


roadway  by  which  travelers  from  the  south  reached  the 
Saugatuck  road.  His  house  was  a  halting-place  for  all  who 
journeyed  that  way,  and  served  many  a  weary  traveler  as 
a  welcome  place  of  entertainment.  Although  McDowell 
brought  his  family  to  Casco  by  land,  he  sent  his  household 
goods  by  lake  to  Saugatuck,  whence  they  were  conveyed,  in 
charge  of  Alexander  Henderson,  to  McDowell's  landing- 
place  in  a  scow,  which  was  towed  along  the  lake-shore  by 
men  walking  on  the  beach. 

John  Thayer  built  a  cabin  on  section  2,  and  brought  his 
family  in  shortly  after  the  McDowells  made  their  settle- 
ment. With  him  also  lived  James  Donnelly,  who  became 
a  settler  upon  a  10-acre  tract  which  he  bought  of  Thayer. 
Orletus,  one  of  the  sons  of  John  Thayer,  who  was  the  first 
person  to  be  married  in  the  township,  took  for  a  wife  Clarissa, 
a  daughter  of  James  W.  Wadsworth,  of  Ganges.  Their 
daughter,  Eutheria,  now  a  resident  of  Wisconsin,  was  the 
first  white  child  born  in  the  township,  and  Mrs.  Hayes, 
the  mother  of  Mrs.  John  Thayer,  was  the  first  white  per- 
son who  died  in  the  same  territory.  She  was  buried  on 
Mr.  Thayer's  farm,  where  her  remains  rest  to  this  day. 

The  McDowells  and  Thayers  remained  for  five  years  the 
only  white  families  resident  in  Cilsco.  H.  J.  Cox,  who  now 
lives  upon  section  6,  was  a  young  unmarried  man  when  he 
came  to  Casco,  in  1845,  to  work  for  Mr.  McDowell,  and, 
although  he  continued  to  live  in  the  neighborhood,  he  could 
hardly  be  called  a  permanent  resident  until  several  years 
afterwards.  The  next  comer  was  Garret  Updike,  who  made 
his  appearance  in  1850  ;  following  him  were  the  Sheffers, 
Mungers,  HoUisters,  L.  D.  Cook,  Joseph  Dow,  W.  W.  Ock- 
ford,  M.  F.  Rose,  J.  Emmons,  W.  P.  Davis,  Ezra  Brown, 
the  Bardens,  E.  H.  McLouth,  the  Thomas  brothers,  D.  H. 
Cady,  the  Reeds,  Crosby  Eaton,  A.  B.  Avery,  John  Flint, 
the  Buys,  John  Faben,  Thomas  Idelles,  R.  Bowles,  W. 
Crates,  the  Hamlins,  L.  W.  Osborn,  and  Andrew  Brown, 
all  of  whom  settled  in  the  township  between  1850  and 
1860. 

In  the  year  1850,  Clark  M.  Sheffer  bought  a  tract  of 
land  on  section  36,  in  fractional  township  1,  range  17,  but 
did  not  make  a  permanent  settlement  there  until  1852,  al- 
though he  lived  there  in  a  shanty  and  peeled  considerable 
bark. 

In  1851,  Joseph  Dow,  who  had  been  living  a  year  at 
South  Haven,  came  with  his  son  to  a  place  on  the  same 
section,  which  he  had  bought  of  J.  C.  Hale,  erected  a  log 
cabin,  and  began  to  make  a  clearing.  To  get  nails  for  the 
construction  of  his  cabin  Dow  had  to  send  to  Paw  Paw, 
near  thirty  miles  distant.  As  to  roads,  there  was  a  toler- 
able highway  northward  to  McDowell's  (his  nearest  neigh- 
bor in  that  direction)  ;  the  one  leading  to  South  Haven  was 
a  mere  path  marked  by  blazed  trees.  It  was  not  until 
some  years  afterwards  that  the  lake-shore  road  southward 
from  Mr.  Dow's  place  was  made  a  decent  thoroughfare. 

In  1852,  Mr.  Dow  brought  the  rest  of  his  family  to  his 
home  in  the  woods,  and  in  the  same  year  Clark  M.  Sheffer 
and  his  brother,  S.  G.  Sheffer,  made  permanent  settlements 
close  at  hand.  East  of  these  there  was  then  nobody  in 
the  township  save  Smith  and  Thayer,  on  sections  1  and  2. 
The  nearest  places  for  the  settlers  of  Casco  to  go  to  mill  were 
Lawrence  and  Allegan,  and  both  were  so  far  away  that  a 


sMS^^'^-^^.^JSafA^^-,. 


Res  DEUCE  OF    T    A,     S(XB>       Casco   Allegan  Co   M  ct 


Residence  OF  the  Late   I.S.  LIND£RMAN  ,  Casco,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich. 


CASCO  TOWNSHIP. 


181 


journey  to  either  was  always  regarded  as  a  most  unpleasant 
task. 

The  woods  were  so  dense  that  one  of  Dow's  sons,  who 
had  gone  but  a  short  distance  from  the  house  after  a  pail  of 
water,  completely  lost  his  bearings  while  watching  the 
movements  of  some  deer  which  had  come  near  him.  When 
he  recognized  the  fact  that  he  was  lost,  he  climbed  a  tree 
and  tried  to  "look  out,"  but  the  attempt  was  a  failure. 
After  a  time  his  brothers  missed  him  and  went  to  seek  him, 
finding  him  only  after  a  protracted  fearch. 

The  Dow  boys  used  to  take  firewood  home  along  the 
lake-shore  in  a  scow,  towing  the  vessel  by  means  of  a  horse 
on  the  beach.  One  day,  however,  a  sudden  squall  of  wind 
swamped  the  scow,  set  the  cargo  afloat,  and  came  near 
pulling  the  horse  into  the  lake.  That  ended  the-  business 
of  "  towing  on  the  lake." 

The  next  settlers  on  the  lake-shore  after  Dow  and  the 
Sheffers  were  L.  D.  Cook  and  Andrew  Ilollister,  who  lo- 
cated themselves,  in  1852,  on  section  24,  in  range  17.  At 
that  time  there  was  a  stage-route  between  South  Haven  and 
Saugatuck,  which  went  along  the  beach  from  the  former 
place  to  McDowell's,  and  then  followed  the  lake-shore 
road.  The  stage-driver  was  John  H.  Billings,  an  early 
settler  in  the  town  of  Ganges,  and  for  many  years  a  well- 
known  kniglit  of  the  whip  in  the  western  part  of  Allegan 
County. 

In  1852,  Sylvester  Munger  and  F.  L.  Ilollister  came  into 
the  township,  and  in  1853  W.  W.  Ockford  and  M.  F. 
Rose.  The  year  1854  broi%ht  among  others  J.  Emmons 
and  W.  P.  Davis,  and  in  1855  Richard  Harden,  a  Kala- 
mazoo pioneer  of  1837,  joined  the  Casco  settlement,  locating 
himself  upon  section  8,  where  he  now  resides.  The  land 
was  entirely  in  a  state  of  nature,  and  the  east-and-west 
road  which  now  passes  his  place  was  only  underbrushed. 
The  only  settler  between  Mr.  Barden's  farm  and  the  lake 
was  Eli  Weind,  who  lived  upon  the  farm  now  occupied  by 
S.  H.  Hamlin,  with  whom  Mr.  Barden  and  his  family  re- 
sided until  his  own  necessary  improvements  were  completed. 
E.  H.  McLouth  and  Levi  Thomas  also  came  in  1855,  as 
did  Reuben  and  J.  B.  Thomas ;  D.  H.  Cady  in  1856,  and 
J.  V.  Sheffer  and  S.  and  A.  Reed  in  1857.  When  Crosby 
Eaton  (now  representing  his  district  in  the  Legislature) 
came  to  Casco  from  Massachusetts,  in  1858,  and  located  on 
section  5,  in  range  17,  there  was  no  one  south  of  him  to 
the  county-line.  In  1858,  too,  John  Flint,  a  Kalamazoo 
County  pioneer  of  1836,  and  a  merchant  in  Galesburg  for 
fourteen  years,  bought  the  Earl  mill,  on  section  9,  and  car- 
ried it  on  several  years.  Among  the  other  settlers  of  1858 
were  Cornelius  Buys  and  his  brother ;  and  among  those  of 
1859,  L.  W.  Osborn  and  Reuben  Walker.  In  1860  ad- 
ditions to  the  settlement  were  made  in  the  persons  of  An- 
drew J.  Munger,  N.  Q.  Munger,  S.  H.  Hamlin,  S.  M. 
Hamlin,  and  others.  N.  Q.  Munger  says  that  the  lake- 
shore  region  was  pretty  wild  even  when  he  came  in.  He 
lived  with  his  family  the  first  winter  of  his  stay  in  the  barn 
of  his  brother  Sylvester,  and  when  he  built  his  cabin  he 
could  not  find  a  clear  spot  large  enough  to  put  it  on  without 
cutting  down  a  few  trees.  He  says  it  was  a  common  thing 
for  hiin  to  shoot  deer  from  his  cabin  door. 

H.  A.  Fowler,  the  most  extensive  peach-grower  in  Casco, 


came  hither  in  1862  from  Otsego,  and  settled  upon  a  tract 
of  new  land  previously  owned  by  Linus  Bathrick.  Among 
the  later  comers  on  the  lake-shore  may  be  mentioned  J.  J. 
Goodemote,  T.  A.  Bixby,  M.  H.  Bixby,  D.  E.  Histed,  C. 
H.  Wigglesworth,  H.  GrifiBn,  A.  D.  Healy,  H.  W.  Bishop, 
E.  D.  Farnum,  H.  J.  Lindeman,  Charles  Johnson,  Wil- 
liam Carter,  Daniel  Lutz,  and  N.  D.  Fitch. 

The  first  burials  on  the  lake-shore  were  made  in  family 
lots.  William  Darling  laid  out  the  cemetery  on  section  18. 
John  McDowell,  who  died  a  prisoner  at  Andersonville, 
built  the  fence,  and,  in  view  of  the  few  deaths  with  which 
the  town  had  been  aflBicted,  he  was  led  to  remark,  "  I  guess 
we'll  have  to  kill  somebody  to  start  this  graveyard." 

EASTERN   CASCO. 

The  whole  eastern  part  of  the  township  was  exceedingly 
backward  in  the  matter  of  settlement,  and  not  until  about 
1865  did  the  pioneers  take  hold  of  that  portion  with  a  will. 
Thenceforward,  however,  that  section  was  rapidly  peopled, 
and,  although  there  is  yet  some  uncultivated  land  there, 
the  tract  is  generally  well  improved,  and  is  highly  valued 
as  a  farming  district.  There  were  originally  large  tracts  of 
pine  and  hemlock  timber,  and  some  swamp  land  in  that 
region  which  repelled  settlers  and  retarded  the  progress  of  the 
town.  At  length,  however,  a  few  sanguine  pioneers  located 
themselves  on  the  tract  in  question,  reclaimed  the  lowlands, 
and  soon  proved  that  no  part  of  the  township  ofiered  better 
inducements  to  the  farmer  than  existed  there.  They  quickly 
received  accessions  to  their  numbers,  and  ere  long  the  sec- 
tion which  had  been  called  the  poorest  in  the  township  was 
known  as  one  of  the  most  valuable. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  esteem  in  which  Eastern  Casco 
was  held  only  a  little  over  twenty  years  ago,  Thomas  Idelles, 
who  located  there  late  in  1858,  says  that  en  route  from 
Saugatuck  to  his  new  home  he  stopped  at  a  settler's  house 
to  rest,  and  upon  indicating  his  destination  was  cheered 
by  his  host's  exclaiming  that  if  he  went  there  and  stayed 
he  would  starve,  "  as  sure  as  preaching.'' 

Mr.  Idelles  made  his  settlement  in  October,  1858,  upon 
80  acres  in  section  12  that  he  had  bought  of  David  Gideon, 
a  land-'speculator  living  in  Wisconsin.  On  section  2  Idelles 
found  John  Thayer,  with  whom  he  lived  until  his  own 
cabin  was  put  up.  On  section  12  he  found  John  Faben, 
who  had  effected  his  settlement  in  1856.  On  section  1 
were  James  Smith  and  Ezra  D.  Brown,  but  on  sections  3, 
4, 10, 11, 13,  and  14  there  had  been  no  move  made  towards 
settlement.  George  Crates,  on  section  36,  was  the  solitary 
settler  in  the  southeast  portion  of  the  town.  South  of 
Idelles,  in  1858,  to  the  county-line  and  west  to  the  centre 
of  the  township,  the  only  settlers  were  George  Crates,  E. 
V.  Bodfish,  and  Jame§^Emmonds. 

Ezra  D.  Brown,  already  mentioned,  served  through  the 
war  of  1812,  and  in  1854  located  the  land-warrant  which 
he  had  received  for  his  services  on  a  quarter  of  section  1 
in  Casco.  His  widow,  now  living  in  Casco,  says  that  except 
John  Thayer  they  had  no  white  neighbors  nearer  than  five 
miles,  their  nearest  being  the  McDowells  and  Crawfords. 
"  There  were  indeed  Indians  and  wolves  for  neighbors,"  she 
continued,  in  her  remarks  to  the  writer,  "  and  the  wolves 
especially  were  so  neighborly  that  they  never  let  a  night 


182 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


pass  without  howling  about  the  house  as  if  they  would 
howl  it  down."  The  place  occupied  by  Brown,  on  section 
1,  is  now  owned  by  Henry  Dow,  who  came  to  the  township 
in  1868. 

In  1860,  Isaac  Stelar  came  in  to  make  a  settlement  on 
section  26.  While  building  a  cabin,  he  lived,  with  his 
family,  beneath  the  shelter  of  a  bark  roof  put  up  against 
a  log.  In  1860,  Henry  Overhiser  came  to  Michigan  from 
Indiana,  and  in  March,  1861,  located  himself  upon  40  acres 
on  section  1,  which  he  had  bought  of  W.  W.  Ockford,  a 
previous  settler  on  section  16.  At  that  time  the  settlers  in 
Eastern  Casco  included  James  Smith  and  E.  D.  Brown,  on 
section  1  ;  John  Faben  and  Thomas  Idelles,  on  section  12 ; 
Thomas  H.  Janes  and  James  Carthrop,  on  section  11 ; 
John  Thayer  and  his  two  sons,  on  section  2  ;  Isaac  Stelar, 
on  section  26  ;  Daniel  Matthews,  on  section  35  ;  and  John 
Brewer,  on  section  36.  There  was  no  settler  on  sections 
14,  23,  24,  or  25.  In  March,  1864,  Overhiser  moved  to  his 
present  location,  on  section  14,  at  which  time  the  only  road 
near  him  was  the  north-and-south  road  passing  by  his  land, 
and  that  was  only  underbrushed. 

In  1861  a  road  was  cut  out  through  sections  1  and  2, 
but  between  sections  1  and  36  the  territory  was  entirely 
unprovided  with  a  highway,  except  an  underbrushed  road 
through  sections  11  and  12.  Whenever  a  settler  started 
on  a  journey  with  his  ox-team,  before  the  war,  he  always 
carried  an  axe  with  him,  and  expected  to  clear  his  own  way 
as  a  matter  of  course. 

One  of  the  early  grist-mills  owned  by  John  Faben  con- 
sisted simply  of  a  hemlock-log  mortar  and  a  spring-pole 
pestle,  but  settlers  were  glad  to  use  it,  as  it  saved  them  a 
trip  of  20  miles  to  Allegan.  The  first  year  of  his  settle- 
ment Mr.  Idelles  bought  Indian  corn  of  Messrs.  McDowell 
&  Barden  and  had  it  pounded  at  Faben's  mill,  but  when 
his  own  corn  began  to  grow  he  improvised  a  still  cheaper 
mill  by  perforating  a  tin  pan,  and  then  he  and  his  family 
regaled  themselves  on  bread  made  of  grated  green  corn. 

Indians  were  plentiful  in  Eastern  Casco  even  as  late  as 
1858,  their  favorite  camping-grounds  being  near  the  big 
springs  on  sections  11  and  22.  Hunting,  fishing,  and 
trading  with  the  whites  employed  their  time,  and,  although 
averse  to  work,  they  were  seldom  beggars.  Scott  Lake,  in 
Lee  township,  was  the  most  popular  fishing-place.  They 
remained  in  the  vicinity  until  1861,  when  they  passed  away 
from  the  neighborhood. 

To  show  what  some  settlers  had  to  begin  on,  it  may  be 
told  of  Henry  Overhiser  that  when  he  bought  his  land  on 
section  1  he  turned  his  horse,  harness,  and  saddle  in  as 
part  payment  on  it,  and  then,  with  nothing  left  to  him  in 
the  way  of  capital  but  his  bare  hands,  he  managed  to  clear 
his  land  by  logging  for  others,  giving  two  days  of  his  own 
work  for  one  of  a  man  with  a  team. 

The  cemetery  on  section  2  was  laid  out  in  1859.  The 
first  tombstone  placed  in  it  was  erected  over  the  grave  of 
Henry  Overhiser's  son.  In  the  spring  of  1861  the  wife 
of  James  Carthrop  died,  and  those  who  recollect  the  event 
say  there  was  not  a  horse-team  at  the  funeral,  for  the 
simple  reason  that  there  was  not  one  in  the  township,  or 
at  least  in  that  part  of  it. 

Settlements  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  township  were 


continued  in  1863,  when  E.  Leisure  located  on  section  11. 
In  1864  W.  W.  Johnston,  now  living  on  section  16,  made 
a  settlement  there.  Samuel  Clover  was  also  on  section 
14,  and  in  1865  Jacob  Berry  (who  came  to  Michigan  in 
1856)  located  on  section  22.  In  that  year,  also,  William 
M.  Ruel  and  George  Whitney  became  settlers  on  section 
14.  In  1866  came  W.  L.  Zook,  in  1867  J.  Cady  and 
Peter  Black,  and  in  1868  Henry  Dow  and  L.  A.  Spencer. 
S.  W.  Bennett,  now  living  on  section  33,  was  an  early 
comer  in  Lee  township,  where  he  was  engaged  in  lumber- 
ing, but  when  he  decided  to  make  a  permanent  location  he 
chose  his  present  home. 

TOWNSHIP  ORGANIZATION. 

Casco  was  a  portion  of  Ganges  until  1854,  when  it  was 
set  ofi"  under  its  present  name,  Timothy  McDowell,  E.  K. 
McLouth,  and  S.  G.  SheflFer  being  appointed  a  board  to 
preside  at  the  first  town-meeting.  John  Thayer  suggested 
the  name  of  Cornfield  for  the  new  town,  because  he  thought 
the  country  a  great  corn-growing  district.  Others  suggested 
Wheatland,  and  still  others  Winfield  (in  honor  of  Gen. 
Scott),  while  L.  D.  Cook,  a  warm  admirer  of  Lewis  Cass, 
wanted  to  call  the  new  township  by  his  name.  '_'  Political 
feeling,"  says  Mr.  Cook,  "  prevented  the  honoring  of  Gen. 
Cass  in  that  way,  but  I  was  bound  to  preserve  a  portion  of 
the  name  anyhow,  and  so  I  prevailed  on  the  people  to  name 
the  township  Casco." 

The  township  records  were  entirely  destroyed  in  1869 
by  the  fire  which  burned  Linus  Bathrick's  house,  and  none 
of  the  details  regarding  township  business  previous  to  that 
time  can  be  obtained.  The  names  of  the  supervisors  can, 
however,  be  given  from  1855,  and  are  as  follows : 

1855,  Timothy  McDowell;  1856,  Richard  Barden;  1857-59,  William 
P.Davis;  1860,  Croshy  Eaton;  1861,  William  P.  Dans;  1862 
-63,  John  Willett;  1864,  A.  J.  Munger;  1865-68,  Crosby  Baton. 

The  following  persons  served  the  township  from  1869  to 
1880  as  supervisor,  clerks,  treasurers,  and  justices  of  the 
peace : 

SUPERVISORS. 
1869-76,  Crosby  Eaton;  1877-78,  H.  Overhiser;  1879,  M.  Bugden. 

CLERKS. 
1869,  Linus  Bathrick;  1870-75,  L.  A.  Spencer;  1876-77,  Reuben 
Hodson;  1878-79,  L.  A.  Spencer. 

TREASURERS. 
1869-75,  H.  Overhiser;  1876-77,  H.  W.  Bishop;  1878-79,  D.  E.  Histed. 

JUSTICES. 
1869,  S.  G.  Sheffer;  1870,  Thomas  Idelles;  1871,  S.  M.  Hamlin  ;  1872, 
G.  W.  Spencer;  1873,  J.  G.  Potter;  1874,  Thomas  Idelles;  1875, 
Joseph  Snyder;    1876,  T.  W.  Brainard;    1877,  E.  D.  Farnum; 
1878,  J.  S.  Marr;    1879,  W.  A.  Webster. 

The  votes  cast  at  the  election  in  1869  were  103;  in 
1870  there  were  208,  and  in  1875  they  reached  241. 

TAX-PAYERS   OP   1855. 
Below  we  give  a  list  of  the  persons  whose  names  appear 
as  tax-payers  upon  the  assessment-roll  of  1855: 

^'"°«-                        Sec.  Name.                       Sec. 

E.D.Brown i       O.H.Thayer 2 

James  Emmons 1       John  Thayer 2 

O.  C.  Ihayer 2       Lawrence  Heyd 5 


CASCO  TOWNSHIP. 


183 


Name. 


Sec. 


Kame. 


Sec. 


William  P.Davis 5,  6 

Morris  ShanDon 6 

Levi  Thomas 6 

H.J.  Cox 6 

William  Purdy 6 

James  Hall 7 

Sylvester  Munger 7 

EinVeind 7 

C.  D.  Woodmansee 7 

C.  M.  Sheffer 36 

Joseph  Dow 36 

Moses  Bartholomew 36 

Herman  Purdy 7 

Garret  Updike 12 

Richard  Barden 12 

E.  K.  McLouth 18 


W.  McDowell 18 

John  Ryan 18 

Timothy  McDowell 18 

Mortimer  McDowell 7 

Carrell  Lake 13 

Edward  Judson 24 

Andrew  Hollistcr 24 

L.  D.  Cook 24 

Samuel  Follett 25 

Joseph  Dow,  Jr 25 

S.  G.  Sheffer 36 

Christian  Bartholomew 36 

Joseph  Wagner 30 

Daniel  Howard ,j 30,  31 

Harriet  Griffith 35 


FATAL  ACCIDENTS. 
One  of  the  most  direful  calamities  ever  known  in  the 
western  part  of  Allegan  County  was  the  burning,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1869,  of  the  three  children  of  Linus  Bathrick,  of 
Casco.  Mr.  Bathrick,  who  was  a  Methodist  exhorter,  went 
with  his  wife  one  evening  to  a  prayer-meeting  some  miles 
away  from  his  home,  leaving  in  the  house  his  three  young 
children,  the  oldest  of  whom,  ten  years  of  age,  was  idiotic. 
She  was  confined  to  a  sofa ;  the  others  were  put  to  bed. 
The  household  lamp  was  left  burning,  and  the  door  was 
locked.  During  the  absence  of  the  parents  the  house  took 
fire  (no  one  knew  how),  and  the  sleeping  innocents  were  all 
burned  to  death.  The  awful  tragedy  caused  a  gloomy  sen- 
sation throughout  the  county,  and  in  Casco  is  yet  a  fresh 
and  mournful  incident  of  local  history.  It  was  at  that  fire, 
too,  that  the  township  records  were  destroyed ;  Bathrick 
being  the  township  clerk. 

In  1862  a  man  named  Patterson,  living  on  section  20, 
was  killed  by  the  caving  in  of  the  earth  while  digging  a 
well  on  his  place,  and  in  1870  "William  Fox  lost  his  life  in 
a  similar  manner  while  digging  a  well  for  William  Hada- 
way.  Hadaway  himself  was  killed  three  years  afterwards 
by  the  fall  of  a  tree. 

FOREST  FIRES. 
The  forest  conflagrations  which  in  the  fall  of  1871  raged 
fiercely  through  Allegan  County  worked  much  destruction 
in  Casco.  Timber,  fences,  and  even  sheep,  were  burned  up, 
while  the  occasional  destruction  of  a  house  or  barn  in- 
creased general  dismay.  "  Fighting  fire"  was  for  many  a 
weary  day  the  only  occupation  thought  of,  and  indeed  the 
only  means  by  which  hundreds  of  homes  were  saved  from 
the  flames.  Many  people  buried  their  valuables  and  other 
goods  in  the  ground,  fearing  the  country  was  doomed  to 
destruction,  and  the  excitement,  as  may  be  imagined,  mounted 
to  fever-heat.  The  charred  forests  still  tell  the  story  of  the 
great  fires,  while  those  who  participated  in  the  events  of 
that  time  preserve  the  most  vivid  recollections  of  the  ex- 
citing contest  with  the  flames. 

MILLS. 
Stephen  Earl  put  up  a  saw-mill  on  section  9  in  1858, 
but  almost  immediately  sold  the  property  to  John  Flint  and 
Daniel  Harris.  There  was  then  considerable  pine,  hemlock, 
and  whitewood  timber  in  that  vicinity,  and  for  six  years 
the  mill  did  a  flourishing  business.  After  that  it  passed 
into  the  possession  of  J.  D.  Clute  &  Co.,  for  whom  L.  C. 
Manning  acted  as  manager.  At  a  later  period  they  erected 
a  grist-mill  with  two  run  of  stone,  beside  the  saw-mill.     In 


1876  both  mills  were  burned  to  the  ground,  and  since  then 
no  efforts  have  been  made  for  the  restoration  of  either. 
David  Flora's  steam  saw-mill  on  section  13  has  been  doing 
a  good  business  for  six  or  eight  years,  and  on  section  16 
William  Hawkhead's  steam  grist-mill  is  a  great  local  con- 
venience. 

CHURCHES. 

In  the  earlier  days  of  Casco  religious  worship  was  en- 
joyed by  the  pioneers  either  in  South  Haven  or  Ganges  (at 
Packard's  Corners).  In  the  eastern  part  of  the  township 
meetings  were  held  in  a  log  school-house,  after  1859,  by 
Free- Will  Baptists  and  Adventists.  Prayer-meetings  were 
frequent,  but  it  was  only  on  rare  occasions  that  a  preacher 
happened  out  that  way.  Linus  Bathrick,  a  Methodist 
local  preacher,  was  the  first  of  that  denomination  to  hold 
services  in  that  quarter.  A  union  Sunday-school  was  or- 
ganized in  the  Idelles  school-house  in  1861,  through  the 
efforts  of  John  Thayer,  and  since  that  time  it  has  been 
regularly  maintained.  Since  1877  Henry  Overhiser  has 
been  the  superintendent.  The  average  attendance  is  48. 
A  United  Brethren  class  was  organized  in  the  Idelles  school- 
house  in  1865,  with  7  members,  and  for  a  few  years  in- 
creased largely  in  strength.  Thomas  H.  Janes  was  the 
first  class-leader,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Balding  the  first  pastor. 
Towards  1875  the  membership  became  so  reduced  that  the 
class  was  dissolved. 

EAST  CASCO  METHODIST  CLASS. 
Immediately  after  that  event  a  Methodist  class  was  or- 
ganized in  the  Berry  school-house  with  6  members  :  Lonson 
Overhiser,  Herrenia  Overhiser,  Wilson  Rozel,  Corisande 
Bailey,  Oscar  M.  Frude,  and  Alonzo  Herrington.  Lonson 
Overhiser  was  chosen  the  first  class-leader,  and  still  serves 
as  such.  The  class,  now  including  12  members,  worships 
in  the  Idelles  school-house,  but  will  late  in  the  summer  oc- 
cupy a  church  edifice  now  in  process  of  erection  opposite 
the  hall  of  the  East  Casco  Grange.  Although  to  be  called 
a  Methodist  church,  this  edifice  will  be  built  by  contribu- 
tions from  members  of  other  denominations,  and  will  be 
free  to  all  desiring  to  use  it  for  evangelical  worship.  The 
stewards  of  the  class  are  W.   W.  Johnston  and  A.  G. 

Pease. 

A  UNITED   BRETHREN   CLASS. 

Another  class  of  United  Brethren  was  formed  in  the 
Buys  school-house,  Dec.  10,  1865,  by  Rev.  S.  C.  Buck, 
with  a  membership  of  22.  Austin  Hamner  was  chosen 
the  first  class-leader,  but  was  succeeded  in  a  short  time  by 
John  Patterson.  The  first  steward,  according  to  the  records, 
was  Elisha  Fields,  who  was  elected  Feb.  18,  1866.  Before 
the  organization  Rev.  Mr.  Balding  used  to  preach  to  the 
United  Brethren  of  the  vicinity.  The  first  pastor  of  the 
class  was  Rev.  S.  C.  Buck,  who  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
Robert  Linn,  but  in  1873  returned  for  a  second  term.  Rev. 
R.  H.  Watson,  who  was  Mr.  Linn's  successor,  was  followed 
by  Rev.  J.  W.  De  Long,  the  present  pastor.  The  mem- 
bership is  38,  the  class-leader  is  James  Barden,  the  steward 
is  Henry  Ridley,  and  the  trustees  are  Henry  Overhiser, 
George  Bowles,  and  Samuel  Hadaway.  The  class  is  in  the 
Gano'cs  Circuit,  which  includes  also  two  classes  in  Ganges 
and  one  in  Cheshire.    Meetings  are  now  held  in  the  Hada- 


184 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


way  school-house,  but  a  church  edifice  is  to  be  erected 
during  the  summer  of  1880. 

THE  WEST  CASCO  METHODIST  CLASS. 
This  class  was  organized  in  the  McDowell  school-house 
in  the  fall  of  1865  by  Rev.  William  Paddock.  The  first 
members  were  W.  W.  Sly  (Class-Leader),  H.  A.  Fowler, 
(Steward),  Mrs.  H.  A.  Fowler,  A.  J.  Munger  (Steward), 
Mrs.  A.  J.  Munger,  Henry  Patterson  and  wife,  Mrs.  W. 
W.  Sly,  C.  H.  Hamlin  and  wife,  Linus  Bathrick  and  wife, 
and  Elizabeth  Barden.  Among  the  pastors  have  been  Rev. 
Messrs.  Paddock,  Kellogg,  Richards,  Boggs,  Carlisle,  Mc- 
Chesney,  Parker,  and  Hunsberger.  The  present  class- 
leader  is  A.  J.  Munger,  and  the  pastor  is  Rev.  M.  D. 
Carel,  of  South  Haven,  who  preaches  once  a  fortnight  to 
the  West  Casco  class.  The  membership  is  now  31.  The 
stewards  are  H.  A.  Fowler  and  A.  J.  Munger ;  the  trustees 
are  A.  J.  Munger,  L.  W.  Osborn,  and  H.  A.  Fowler. 

THE  CHURCH  OE  GOD. 
This  body  was  organized  in  March,  1874,  in  the  Buys 
school-house,  by  Elder  B.  D.  Bright.  The  first  members 
were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sylvester  Munger,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James 
Fitch,  Mrs.  Burroughs,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Levi  Thomas,  and 
Mr.  Manning.  Sylvester  Munger  and  Mr.  Manning  were 
chosen  the  first  deacons.  Elder  Bright  preached  until 
1878,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  the  present  minister. 
Elder  Jasper  Moffat.  The  church  membership  now  num- 
bers 30.  The  deacon  is  Albert  Updike,  and  the  ruling 
elders  are  Charles  Willett  and  Levi  Thomas.  Preaching  is 
at  present  enjoyed  once  a  fortnight.  The  congregation 
worships  in  a  church  edifice  which  was  built  in  1874,  directly 
after  the  organization. 

SCHOOLS. 
In  1849,  Mary  Piatt,  of  Ganges,  taught  a  school  in  that 
town,  near  Mr.  Crawford's,  whither  Mr.  McDowell  used  to 
send  his  children.  That  school  lasted  but  three  weeks,  and 
then  Mr.  McDowell  engaged  Miss  Piatt  to  teach  his  chil- 
dren at  his  house:  After  Garret  Updike  came,  in  1850, 
his  children  also  went  to  school  at  McDowell's  to  Miss 
Piatt,  who  taught  there  during  the  winters  of  1849  and 
1850. 

In  1851  the  first  school-house  in  the  township  was  built 
on  the  place  now  occupied  by  H^.  Q.  Munger,  the  first 
teacher  there  being  Austin  Collins,  the  second  Miss  Laura 
Gardner,  and  the  third  Miss  Susan  McDowell,  now  Mrs. 
William  Plummer.  A  log  school-house  was  built  on  sec- 
tion 11  in  1859,  and  in  the  winter  of  1860  and  1861 
Charles  Emerson  taught  the  school  there.  Scholars  were 
so  few  that  it  was  the  exception  and  not  the  rule  when  Mr. 
Emerson  had  any  in  attendance.  He  would  often  call  school 
in  the  morning  when  none  would  be  there  to  hear  him. 
In  that  case  he  would  busy  himself  until  noon  in  clearin"- 
land  near  the  school-house,  which  belonged  to  him.  If  no 
pupils  appeared  at  noon,  he  would  devote  the  afternoon  to 
the  same  work.  In  that  way  he  chopped  four  acres  while 
waiting  for  scholars  who  wouldn't  come. 

The  official  report  for  1878  gave  the  following  statistics 
touching  the  public  schools  of  Casco  : 


Number  of  districts 10 

Enrollment 526 

Average  attendance 423 

Value  of  property $6775 

Teachers'  wages $1432 

The  school  directors  in  1878  were  H.  A.  Fowler,  W. 
G.  Plummer,  T.  J.  Royal,  Reuben  Hodson,  L.  C.  Seymour, 
L.  C.  Cady,  James  Usher,  J.  W.  Chase,  C.  S.  York,  and 
S.  B.  Phelps. 

FRUIT-PAKMING. 

Casco  has  been  and  is  making  rapid  strides  forward  as  a 
peach-growing  township,  and,  although  there  are  in  the 
town  no  such  mammoth  peach-orchards  as  those  of  R.  M. 
Moore  and  Williams  &  Son,  of  Saugatuck,  there  are  quite 
a  number  containing  each  from  2000  to  2500  trees.  Of 
course  the  peach  district  is  adjacent  to  the  lake-shore,  and 
in  the  southwestern  corner  of  the  town  the  cultivation  of 
that  fruit  is  almost  the  exclusive  industry.  The  limits  of 
peach-culture  in  Casco  can  scarcely  be  fixed,  since  the  busi- 
ness is  yet  in  its  early  growth,  but  it  is  certain  that  it 
must  speedily  become  very  extensive. 

Among  the  prominent  peach-growers  may  be  mentioned 
Histed  &  Wigglcsworth,  Mrs.  J.  S.  Lindeman,  H.  A. 
Fowler,  T.  A.  Bixby,  M.  H.  Bixby,  Mortimer  McDowell, 
J.  J.  Goodemote,  Clark  M.  Sheffer,  A.  D.  Healy,  L.  W. 
Osborn,  S.  H.  Hamlin,  and  J.  V.  Sheffer.  It  was  only 
eleven  years  ago  that  the  cultivation  of  peaches  in  Casco 
for  shipment  first  began  to  be  thought  of  In  the  season 
of  1879  thousands  of  bushels  were  shipped  to  Chicago 
and  other  markets,  and  the  indications  promise  that  the 
shipments  of  1880  will  exhibit  an  increase  of  100  per 
cent,  over  those  of  1879. 

EAST  CASCO   GRANGE,  No.  338. 

This  grange  was  organized  on  the  16th  day  of  March, 
1874,  with  about  40  members,  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year 
a  grange  hall  was  built  on  section  15.  The  first  officers 
were  as  follows :  Alva  Cady,  M. ;  C.  0.  Wood,  0. ;  Jesse 
D.  Chaplin,  L. ;  W.  W.  Johnston,  Chap. ;  L.  A.  Spencer, 
Sec. ;  Marshall  Bugden,  Treas.  The  membership  is  now 
48,  and  the  officers  are  as  follows:  C.  0.  Wood,  M. ;  James 
Bailey,  0. ;  L.  A.  Spencer,  L. ;  Mrs.  Marshall  Bugden, 
Chap.;  J.  Cady,  Sec;  Robert  Adkin,  Treas.;  Joseph 
Bailey,  Steward ;  Edward  Haggar,  Asst.  Steward ;  Warren 
Ockford,  Gatekeeper ;  Miss  Nancy  Overhiser,  Ceres ;  Miss 
Katie  Pease,  Pomona ;  Miss  Emma  Morrison,  Flora ;  Mrs. 
Warren  Ockford,  Stewardess. 

MICHIGAN  LAKE-SHORE  GRANGE,  No.  407. 
This  organization  was  formed  in  April,  1874,  with  a 
membership  of  70,  at  Richards'  Hall  on  the  lake-shore, 
which,  although  still  the  place  of  meeting,  is  likely  to  be 
soon  replaced  by  a  grange  hall.  Of  the  first  officers  chosen 
L.  W.  Osborn  was  M. ;  C.  F.  Cook,  0. ;  Hamilton  Pat- 
terson, Chap.;  Albert  Seymour,  Sec.;  Mortimer  Mc- 
Dowell, Treas.  The  membership  on  the  1st  of  March, 
1880,  was  65,  and  the  officers:  W.  A.Webster,  M. ;  W. 
G.  Plummer,  0. ;  S.  M.  Hamlin,  L. ;  German  Richards, 
Chap. ;  C.  A.  Seymour,  Sec. ;  E.  E.  McDowell,  Treas. ; 
Mrs.  George  Griffin,  Ceres;  Mrs.  L.  W.  Osborn,  Pomona; 


TIMOTHY  Mcdowell. 


MRS.   EMELINE   McDOWELL. 


TIMOTHY  McDowell. 


This  gentleman  may  with  truth  be  spoken  of  as 
one  of  the  most  enterprising  of  the  pioneers  of  Casco. 
His  birth  occurred  in  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1801, 
and  was  of  excellent  New  England  extraction. 

He  was  married  in  1825  to  Miss  Emeline  Rey- 
nolds, at  Lockport,  N.  Y.  During  the  year  1845 
both  he  and  his  wife  became  interested  in  the  new 
country  in  the  West,  which  resulted  in  their  removal 
to  the  present  township  of  Casco,  Mich.  The  family 
of  Mr.  McDowell  were  the  earliest  settlers  within  its 
boundaries.  No  pioneer  had  yet  entered  its  dense 
forests,  and  no  post-office  nearer  than  Saugatuck  was 
accessible.  To  reach  this  point  required  a  journey 
of  fifteen  miles.  Mr.  McDowell  brought  much 
energy  to  bear  in  the  pioneer  labor  that  awaited  him, 
and  ultimately  had  the  gratification  of  seeing  luxu- 


riant crops  upon  his  estate,  and  the  country  around 
him  rapidly  settled. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McDowell  were  the  parents  of  six 
children,  the  eldest  having  died  at  the  age  of  seven, 
and  the  youngest  at  the  age  of  ten  months.  These 
little  ones  were  buried  in  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Two  sons,  John  and  Warren,  died  after  reaching 
mature  years,  the  former  having  fallen  a  victim  to 
the  horrors  of  Andersonville  prison. 

Mr.  McDowell's  death  occurred  at  his  home  in 
Casco,  Feb.  5, 1877.  He  was  one  of  the  most  influ- 
ential and  affluent  residents  of  the  township,  and 
had  been  for  years  a  director  of  the  South  Haven 
First  National  Bank.  Aside  from  his  high  char- 
acter as  a  business  man,  he  was  an  exemplary  and 
esteemed  citizen. 


CASCO  TOWNSHIP. 


185 


Mrs.    L.   W.    Seymour,    Flora;    Mrs.   Frank   Tourtellot, 
Stewardess. 

POST-OPFICES. 

Casco's  first  post-office  was  established  on  the  lake-shore 
in  1856,  being  called  New  Casco.  Upon  the  removal  of 
that  office  in  1861  to  Ganges,  Timothy  McDowell  obtained 
the  establishment  of  another  post-office  in  the  township, 
called  West  Casco,  and  was  himself  appointed  postmaster. 
He  was  succeeded,  in  February,  1871,  by  N.  Q.  Munger, 
whose  successor  was  J.  S.  Richards,  the  present  occupant 
of  the  office.  Spring  Grove  post-office,  on  section  3,  was 
established  in  the  spring  of  1878,  with  Sanborn  Marr  as 
postmaster,  and  still  remains  in  his  charge.  The  mails  are 
brought  to  both  offices  three  times  a  week. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


HON.  CROSBY  EATON. 
The  father  of  Mr.  Eaton  was  born  in  the  town  of  Seabrook , 
N.  H.,  in  July,  1789,  and  removed  with  his  parents  at  an 
early  date  to  the  State  of  Maine,  the  land  on  which  they  lo- 
cated having  been  at  that  period  wholly  destitute  of  any  mark 
of  civilization.  Here  Crosby  was  born,  Dec.  3,  1823.  He 
exercised  his  industry  upon  the  farm  at  an  early  age,  and 
later  taught  the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood  until  his 
twenty-first  year,  when  he  migrated  to  Massachusetts  and 
became  overseer  in  a  cotton-mill.  He  was  subsequently 
employed  by  Dr.  J.  C.  Ayers  &  Co.  as  superintendent  of 
their  patent-medicine  manufactory.  Mr.  Eaton  in  1858 
accomplished  what  he  had  previously  long  desired,— a  resi- 
dence in  Michigan.  He  purchased  a  farm  in  Casco,  Mich., 
which  has  been  devoted  to  grain  and  fruit-raising,  in  which 
pursuit  he  has  been  eminently  successful.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics,  an  active  political  worker,  and  has  filled 
24 


many  important  offices  in  both  township  and  county.  For 
twelve  terms  he  has  been  supervisor,  for  six  years  superin- 
tendent of  schools,  and  for  two  successive  terms  representa- 
tive in  the  State  Legislature.  The  latter  election  was  es- 
pecially complimentary  to  his  character  as  a  citizen. 

Mr.  Eaton  has  been  twice  married, — in  July,  1851,  to 
Miss  Ellen  M.  Woodman,  of  Auburn,  Me.,  and  in  No- 
vember, 1855,  to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Wilson,  of  Calais,  Me. 


REV.  CHARLES  JOHNSON. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Lincolnshire, 
England,  in  1825,  and  in  eariy  life  emigrated  to  Michigan, 
which  with  brief  exceptions  has  been  his  home  ever  since. 
He  passed  the  years  of  his  minority  on  a  farm  in  Genesee 
County,  but,  as  the  pioneer  life  of  those  days  afforded  very 
limited  facilities  for  mental  improvement,  on  reaching  his 
majority  he  went  to  Ohio,  and  spent  several  years  in  edu- 
cational pursuits,  teaching  a  portion  of  the  time  in  that 
State  and  Kentucky.  Returning  to  Michigan,  he  again 
engaged  in  teaching  at  Flint,  Fenton,  Saginaw,  and  Milford. 
At  the  latter  place  he  also  became  pastor  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  in  connection  with  his  charge  of  the  Union  School. 

This  continued  several  years,  when  he  resigned  both  po- 
sitions to  become  teacher  in  the  State  Reform  School  at 
Lansing.  After  three  and  a  half  years  spent  in  that  work 
he  became  pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Flint,  but  again 
returned  in  the  early  part  of  1867  to  become  superinten- 
dent of  the  Reform  School,  and  remained  at  Lansing  in 
that  position  till  the  spring  of  1875,  when  he  spent  the 
summer  at  Lakeside  Fruit  Farm,  his  present  home.  In 
the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  became  superintendent  and 
chaplain  of  the  Iowa  Reform  School,  which  position  he 
held  till  the  spring  of  1878,  when  he  resigned  to  be  pastor 
of  the  Baptist  Church  of  South  Haven,  in  this  State,  and 
removed  with  his  family  to  his  farm,  which  is  situated  near 
that  village,  South  Haven  being  his  post-office  address. 


HENRY  OVERHISER. 
The  father  of  Mr.  Overhiser  was  a  native  of  New  York 
State,  and  born  in  1804.  He  early  acquired  something  of 
a  reputation  for  pedestrian  exploits,  having  frequently 
walked  a  distance  of  three  hundred  miles.  Henry  was 
born  Jan.  2,  1835,  in  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was  the 
sixth  in  a  family  of  thirteen  children.  His  eariy  life,  to 
the  age  of  nineteen,  was  spent  at  home,  and  at  the  end  of 
that  time  he  acquired  the  trade  of  a  carpenter.  In  Febru- 
ary, 1855,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  McKee,  of  Black- 
ford Co.,  Ind.,  a  former  resident  of  Ohio,  where  she  was 
born  in  1836.  Her  grandfather  was  an  eariy  pioneer  of 
that  State,  and  fell  a  victim  to  the  brutality  of  Indians  on 
the  Ohio  River  in  1811.  Henry  soon  after  purchased  a 
portion  of  his  father's  farm,  and  two  years  later  removed  to 
Rush  Co.,  Ind.  He  made  successive  removals  after  this 
until  his  final  settlement  upon  his  present  farm  in  Casco  in 
1864.  This  land  was  then  unimproved  and  its  immediate 
neighborhood  destitute  of  highways.     The  ground  was,  ho  w- 


186 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


ever,  soon  cleared  and  the  wilderness  transformed  to  pro- 
ductive fields.  Mr.  Overhiser  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
having  cast  his  first  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  has 
filled  the  offices  of  supervisor  and  treasurer  with  acceptance, 
having  been  elected  to  the  latter  office  ten  successive  years. 
Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Overhiser  are  members  of  the  Church 
of  the  United  Brethren,  though  kindly  disposed  towards 
other  orthodox  denominations.  Eight  children  have  been 
born  to  them,  in  the  following  order :  Lonson  M.,  Nov.  9, 
1855 ;  William  A.,  Jan.  11,  1857 ;  Olive  J.,  April  26, 
1859  ;  Ida  May,  Oct.  13, 1861 ;  George  G.,  Dec.  14, 1864  ; 
Charles  H.,  Jan.  1,  1867  ;  Mary  Ann,  Oct.  19, 1869  ;  and 
Minnie  B.,  April  22,  1874.  Of  this  number  but  one  is 
deceased,  George  G.,  whose  death  occurred  Sept.  14,  1866. 


THOMPSON  A.  BIXBY. 

Mr.  Bixby  may  recur  with  commendable  pride  to  his 
New  England  origin.  The  Green  Mountain  State  had  for 
years  been  the  home  of  the  Bixby  family,  and  Guilford, 
Windham  Co.,  the  birthplace  of  members  of  the  present 
branch.  Thompson  A.  Bixby  was  the  eldest  in  a  family  of 
five  children,  and  was  born  Oct.  26, 1836.  His  early  years 
were  spent  with  his  father,  where  the  intervals  of  rest  after 
arduous  labor  were  employed  in  study,  attending  school  at 
Westminster  Seminary,  Vt.  His  thoughts  had  long  been 
directed  towards  the  West,  where  he  ultimately  found  a 
home.  A  brief  time,  was  spent  in  Kalamazoo,  after  which, 
in  connection  with  his  brother,  he  purchased,  in  the  fall  of 
1866,  the  present  home  of  sixty  acres.  It  abounded  at  that 
time  in  a  luxuriant  growth  of  hemlocks,  but  has  since  been 
converted  into  a  productive  fruit  farm,  upon  which  peaches 
are  made  a  specialty.  Mr.  Bixby  was  married  Dec.  15, 
1870,  to  Miss  Sarah  Dow,  of  Casco,  who  was  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  and  born  Sept.  27,  1839.  Her  parents  were 
pioneers  to  Michigan  in  1852,  and  are  still  residents  of 
Casco,  having  erected  the  earliest  frame  house  in  the  town- 
ship soon  after  their  arrival.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bixby  have 
had  six  children,  born  as  follows  :  Willard  J.,  Aug.  2, 1872, 
who  died  Sept.  27,  1872  ;  John  E.  and  Josie  E.,  born 
April  18,  1875;  Blanche  S.,  July  15,  1878;  and  Grace 
A.  and  Glen  A.,  July  14, 1879.  The  mother  of  Mr.  Bixby 
died  in  1849,  and  in  1873  his  father  (Ezekiel  Bixby)  be- 
came a  resident  of  Casco,  having  been  extended  a  welcome 
to  the  cheerful  family  circle  of  his  son.  His  death  occurred 
May  21,  1880,  aged  seventy-four  years  and  eight  months. 
Mr.  Bixby  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political  preferences,  though 
not  an  active  partisan. 


W.  M.   RUELL. 


The  parents  of  W.  M.  Ruell  were  of  English  birth,  his 
father  having  left  his  early  home  when  eighteen  years  of 
age.  W.  M.  was  the  eldest  in  a  family  of  four  children, 
and  was  born  in  Pittsford,  Monroe  Co.,  Nov.  22,  1838. 
He  was  left  fatherless  at  the  tender  age  of  ten  years,  and  at 
once  turned  his  youthful  energies  in  the  direction  of  labor 
for  the  support  of  the  remainder  of  his  family.  At  the 
age  of  seventeen  he  emigrated  to  Michigan  and  purchased 


a  home  for  his  mother  in  Calhoun  County,  where  she  still 
resides,  though  married  a  second  time.  W.  M.  Ruell  was 
married  in  June,  1866,  to  Miss  Celia,  daughter  of  David  and 
Nancy  James,  who  was  born  in  Calhoun  County,  Oct.  14, 
1842.  They  have  had  three  children, — Frederick  James, 
born  May  5, 1870  ;  Florence  E.,  whose  birth  occurred  Feb. 
1, 1873  ;  and  Mary  F.,  born  Feb.  27,  1877,  who  died  the 
same  year.  Mr.  Ruell  after  his  marriage  sold  his  property 
in  Calhoun  County  and  removed  to  the  present  home  in 
Casco,  which  embraces  one  of  the  most  desirable  farms  in 
the  township,  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  with  an  orchard  of 
two  thousand  trees.  Mr.  Ruell's  political  predilections 
were  formerly  Democratic,  though  recent  events  have 
made  him  an  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  Greenback 
party.  He  is  an  influential  member  of  the  "  grange,"  and 
has  held  minor  offices  in  the  township,  though  not  ambi- 
tious for  such  distinctions.  With  little  else  than  energy 
and  fidelity  to  duty  as  his  original  capital,  Mr.  Ruell  has 
gained  both  a  competency  and  an  honorable  name  among 
his  associates. 


ALBERT   D.    HEALY. 

Nelson  K.  Healy,  the  father  of  Albert  D.,  was  a  native 
of  Massachusetts,  and  became  a  Michigan  pioneer  in  1838, 
coming  to  the  State  when  twenty  years  of  age,  and  choos- 
ing Mendon,  St.  Joseph  Co.,  as  a  location.  The  mother 
was  a  pioneer  of  1835,  and  a  former  resident  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Healy  were  married  during  the  year 
1843,  and  their  son,  Albert  D.,  was  born  Oct.  5,  1844,  at 
Mendon.  Until  his  eighteenth  year  he  was  a  member  of 
the  home-circle,  where  farm  labor,  varied  by  attendance  at 
the  public  school  of  the  neighborhood,  occupied  his  time. 
He  soon  after  acquired  the  trade  of  a  painter,  and  embraced 
fourteen  States  in  the  area  over  which  he  followed  this 
vocation.  Mr.  Healy  was  married  Oct.  16,  1872,  to  Miss 
Amanda,  daughter  of  William  and  Susan  Ellis,  of  Coving- 
ton, Ky.,  who  was  the  seventh  in  a  family  of  twelve  chil- 
dren. Mr.  Ellis  was  a  Virginian  by  birth,  while  Mrs.  Ellis 
was  a  native  of  Kentucky.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Healy  have  two 
daughters, — Fanny  E.,  born  Aug.  1, 1875,  and  Mina  Myr- 
tle, whose  birth  occurred  March  19, 1878.  Their  residence, 
a  sketch  of  which  is  given  on  an  adjoining  page,  is  known 
as  the  "  Gothic  Ridge"  farm,  and  embraces  thirty-two  acres 
of  land.  It  is  devoted  principally  to  the  cultivation  of 
choice  varieties  of  fruit,  and  its  proprietor  has  achieved  a 
reputation  as  a  successful  fruit-grower.  He  has  seventeen 
acres  covered  by  peach-trees,  eight  hundred  and  eighty 
plum-trees,  and  six  acres  embracing  various  other  fruits 
peculiar  to  the  climate.  The  attractive  residence  upon  this 
ground  was  built  from  designs  made  by  its  owner.  Mr. 
Healy's  political  affinities  have  been  since  the  beginning 
Democratic,  though  his  business  affiiirs  preclude  the  possi- 
bility of  devoting  his  time  to  public  interests. 


ISAAC  S.  LINDERMAN. 

Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  was  the  scene  of  Mr.  Linderman's 
birth,  which  occurred  May  23,  1819,  his  father  having 


-n 


1 5«  <  .'4\,(as&«'«*!9*«aasifiL- 


•^"sa,- 


&OTHIC   RIDQE  FRUIT  F. 

A.  HEA 


|1  -        QTl- 


Casco,  MichiGtAN 

WP-T . 


CHESHIRE  TOWNSHIP. 


187 


been  Henry  Linderman,  also  a  native  of  New  York  State, 
who  died  in  1856.  The  mother  removed  to  Illinois,  and 
survived  her  husband  many  years. 

Mr.  Linderman's  early  opportunities  were  limited,  his 
time  having  been  chiefly  occupied  in  labor.  A  quick  in- 
telligence, however,  and  keenness  of  observation  compen- 
sated in  a  great  measure  for  the  lack  of  educational  advan- 
tages. 

He  married,  when  twenty-two  years  of  age.  Miss  Catherine 
Smith,  of  Newfield,  N.  Y.,  whose  parents  were  also  natives 
of  the  Empire  State.  They  had  six  sons,  all,  with  a  single 
exception,  living.  Mrs.  Linderman  died  Sept.  20,  1862, 
and  in  April,  1864,  Mr.  Linderman  was  married  to  Miss 
Permelia  N.  Gregory,  whose  birthplace  was  South  Caro- 


lina. He  was  again  afflicted  in  the  loss  of  his  second  wife, 
who  died  in  September,  1870,  leaving  two  children.  In 
1872  he  was  united  to- Miss  Eleanor  Holmes,  of  South 
Haven,  a  former  resident  of  Pennsylvania,  who  has  one 
daughter.  Mr.  Linderman  removed  to  Casco  in  1868,  and 
died  Oct.  16,  1878,  at  his  residence  in  the  township. 
Mrs.  Linderman  still  resides  upon  the  estate,  which  by  the 
energy  of  her  husband  had  been  converted  into  a  most 
productive  fruit-growing  farm. 

Mr.  Linderman,  though  not  actively  interested  in  church 
matters,  was  inclined  towards  the  creed  of  the  Universalists. 
He  was  an  exemplary  citizen,  and  enjoyed  the  esteem  of 
neighbors  and  friends  whose  intimate  relations  afi'orded  them 
an  insight  into  his  manly  character. 


CHESHIRE. 


The  township  of  Cheshire,  which  comprises  survey- 
township  No.  1  north,  in  range  14  west,  is  located  on  the 
south  line  of  the  county,  which  is  also  the  base-line  of  the 
United  States  survey,  being  bounded  on  the  north  by  the 
township  of  Pine  Plains,  south  by  Van  Buren  County, 
east  by  the  township  of  Trowbriclge,  and  west  by  Lee.  Its 
surface  is  slightly  undulating,  with  some  small  hills,  but  it 
is  almost  entirely  composed  of  arable  ground.  There  was 
formerly  considerable  swampy  land,  but  most  of  this  has 
been  transformed  by  the  labor  of  its  owners  into  the  most 
productive  portion  of  the  township. 

Cheshire  is  adorned  with  many  very  beautiful  lakes, 
which  give  variety  to  the  landscape  and  greatly  enhance 
the  attractions  of  the  township.  The  most  important  of 
these  is  Swan  Lake,  located  in  the  centre  of  the  township, 
and  lyin^  principally  upon  section  16.  It  is  surrounded 
with  fertile  fields  and  excellent  timbered  land,  and  its 
shores  and  waters,  moreover,  ofi'er  many  allurements  to  the 
sportsman.  Advent  Lake  is  situated  on  the  east  side  of 
sections  11  and  12,  while  northwest  of  it  are  Silver  and 
Mud  Lakes.  Eagle  Lake,  so  called  from  its  fancied  resem- 
blance to  that  imperial  bird,  lies  on  the  county-line,  part  of 
it  extending  into  Van  Buren  County,  but  the  larger  portion 
being  in  section  35,  in  Cheshire.  Duck  Lake,  on  section 
36,  is  very  properly  named.  Its  surface,  when  the  writer 
visited  it,  was  almost  literally  covered  with  wild  ducks,  and 
these  birds  have  long  made  it  a  favorite  haunt. 

Little  Lake  lies  on  sections  20  and  29,  and  a  second 
Mud  Lake  is  found  northwest  of  Eagle  Lake.  The  town- 
ship has  also  several  considerable  streams  flowing  through 
it.  Their  waters  nearly  all  find  their  way  eventually  to 
the  Kalamazoo  Kiver,  Swan  Lake  being  the  general  reser- 
voir and  Swan  Creek  the  medium  through  which  they  are 
conveyed  to  that  stream,  into  which  the  creek  empties,  after 
passing  through  the  northwest  corner  of  Cheshire,  in  the 

township  of  Pine  Plains. 

»  By  E.  0.  Wagner. 


The  soil  may  be  described  as  a  gravel  and  clay  loam, 
with  a  fair  proportion  of  sand  in  the  northern  and  western 
portions.  Much  drainage  has  been  done,  and  the  crops 
produced  by  the  strong  clayey  soil  bear  ample  evidence  to 
the  value  of  this  species  of  improvement.  In  1873  the 
number  of  acres  of  wheat  harvested  was  1023,  which 
yielded  10,921  bushels  of  that  grain,  while  807  acres, 
which  were  planted  with  corn,  produced  33,496  bushels, 
this  crop  being  in  some  localities  especially  prolific.  Various 
other  grains  arc  also  grown  with  success. 

The  soil  and  climate  are  well  adapted  to  the  raising  of 
fruit,  which  is  likely  in  time  to  prove  one  of  the  most 
profitable  products  of  the  township.  All  kinds  of  timber 
flourish  in  Cheshire.  In  the  north  part  beech  and  maple 
timber  abounds,  the  trees  attaining  large  size,  while  else- 
where the  ground  was  originally  shaded  by  an  ample 
growth  of  basswood,  oak,  walnut,  butternut,  elm,  and  ash. 
The  pine  is  of  good  quality,  and  has  always  been  in  much 
demand.  In  the  low  and  swampy  land  the  usual  luxuriant 
growth  of  tamarack  is  discovered. 

EAKLY  SETTLEMENTS. 

Until  the  year  1839  not  a  tree  in  Cheshire  had  fallen  be- 
fore the  pioneer's  axe.  In  that  year  two  residents  of  Mon- 
roe Co.,  N.  Y.,  Simeon  Pike  and  the  Rev.  Jonathan 
Hinckley,  left  their  native  State  for  Michigan.  The  latter 
settled  at  Breedsville,  in  Van  Buren  County,  while  Mr. 
Pike  entered  40  acres  of  land  on  section  31,  in  Cheshire, 
and  later  acquired  an  additional  40  acres  in  Bloomingdale. 

Horace  Humphrey  and  Joseph  Peck,  in  Columbia,  were 
his  nearest  neighbors  for  two  or  three  years,  they  having 
settled  the  year  before  he  did.  His  family,  consisting  of 
his  wife  and  three  children,  remained  with  these  neighbors 
until  a  comfortable  house  had  been  erected  on  his  land ;  after 
that  he  cleared  a  small  tract  and  devoted  it  principally  to 
grain  and  other  supplies  for  family  use.  His  time  was, 
however,  chiefly  given  to  the  management  of  Alex.  L.  Ely's 


188 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


grist-mill,  where  he  was  employed  until  it  was  consumed  by 
fire.  Ho  then  repaired  to  Paw  Paw  and  engaged  in  the 
milling  business  there  ;  his  family  meanwhile  remaining  in 
Cheshire.  After  the  burning  of  the  mill  he  was  obliged  to 
make  a  pilgrimage  of  twenty-three  miles  to  convert  his  grain 
into  flour.  Mr.  Pike  spent  his  latter  days  upon  the  farm, 
where  he  died  in  1861,  aged  sixty-five  years.  His  oldest 
son,  Osteon  G.  Pike,  now  lives  in  the  township,  on  section 
27. 

The  next  settler  was  Samuel  Goodell,  who  came  from 
Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y,  in  1840,  and  located  upon  160  acres  on 
section  32,  having  remained  with  Horace  Humphrey  while 
erecting  a  log  house,  to  which  he  soon  after  removed.  He 
immediately  began  clearing  his  farm,  on  which  he  remained 
until  his  death.  His  brother  Nathaniel  Goodell  purchased 
land  near  him,  but  subsequently  removed  to  Monterey, 
where  he  now  resides.  The  township  for  several  years  had 
few  accessions  to  the  small  band  of  early  pioneers.  As  late 
as  1844  the  only  tax-payers  whose  names  appear  on  the 
records  are  Samuel  Goodell  and  Simeon  Pike.  In  the  spring 
of  1847  came  Samuel  Lane,  from  Monroe  Cor,  N.  Y.,  who 
entered  80  acres  on  section  33,  which  he  cleared,  and  on 
which  he  remained  six  years.  He  then  removed  to  the  town- 
ship of  Bloomingdale,  Van  Buren  Co.  At  about  the  same 
time  came  Washington  and  Matthew  Merchant,  who  located 
in  the  northeastern  portion  of  the  township  and  remained 
several  years.  They  then  moved  away,  and  little  is  now 
remembered  about  them,  as  their  location  was  a  very  iso- 
lated one. 

Cyrus  W.  and  James  G.  Lindsley  with  their  families 
came  to  the  township  in  1850,  where  they  built  a  saw-mill 
on  a  small  creek  running  through  section  27,  which  is  the 
outlet  of  Eagle  Lake.  Subsequently,  C.  W.  Lindsley  built 
on  the  same  stream  a  shingle-mill,  which  he  owned,  until 
his  death,  in  1873.  James  G.  Lindsley  purchased  land  on 
section  22  and  erected  a  saw-mill,  the  saw  of  which  worked 
back  and  forth  horizontally,  cutting  off  the  top  of  the  log 
first.  Mr.  Lindsley  entered  the  army,  where  he  died  in 
1863. 

In  the  year  1848,  Caleb  Ward  purchased  120  acres  of 
land  on  section  31  from  D.  S.  Heywood,  who  had  bought 
it  of  the  government.  Previous  to  the  purchase,  however, 
Mr.  Heywood  had  made  an  arrangement  with  Melvin  Hog- 
mire  to  clear  off  a  part  of  it,  receiving  for  his  labor  a  por- 
tion of  the  land.  Mr.  Hogmire  at  the  time  of  the  sale  had 
cleared  about  30  acres,  and  Mr.  Ward  purchased  his  interest 
also  in  the  land,  and  entered  upon  the  cleared  tract  at 
once.  His  son,  Emmet  Ward,  lives  on  the  farm  his  father 
bought. 

A  settler  named  Buck,  a  man  of  advanced  years,  came 
from  New  York  and  located  upon  240  acres  on  section  9, 
in  1849.  He  was  an  eccentric  character,  and  was  well 
known  throughout  the  county,  where  he  occasionally  per- 
formed the  functions  of  a  preacher.  He  removed  several 
years  after  to  Illinois,  and  died  there. 

A.  B.  Eaton  was  an  emigrant  from  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y., 
in  1849,  who  purchased  a  farm  of  120  acres  on  section  34. 
There  was  already  some  clearing  done,  and  a  shanty  had 
been  erected.  His  nearest  neighbor  was  Reuben  Ward,  in 
Van  Buren  County,  with  whom  Mr.  Eaton's  family  found 


a  cordial  welcome  on  their  arrival.  For  months  Mrs. 
Eaton  and  Mrs.  Ward  were  the  only  white  women  seen  in 
this  portion  of  the  township.  Before  Mr.  Eaton's  arrival 
his  farm  had  been  occupied  by  a  settler  named  Tyler,  who 
probably  came  as  early  as  1848,  but  died  soon  after. 

Harvey  Munger,  better  known  in  this  and  adjacent  por- 
tions of  the  State  as  Elder  Munger,  one  of  the  pioneers  in 
ministerial  work  in  Allegan  County,  became  a  resident  of 
Cheshire  in  1850,  having  previously  resided  iu  Allegan. 
He  purchased  200  acres  on  section  34,  and  after  a  residence 
of  ten  years  removed  to  Van  Buren  County.  He  called 
together  a  little  band  of  worshipers  of  the  Baptist  faith, 
who  convened  in  the  school-house,  the  list  of  which  em- 
braced the  names  of  A.  B.  Eaton  and  wife.  Miss  Anna 
Palmer,  Miss  Mary  Ann  Piersons,  Miss  Rhoda  Cooley,  and 
Elder  and  Mrs.  Munger.  The  elder  ministered  to  this 
little  flock  several  years,  after  which  they  became  a  portion 
of  the  Bloomingdale  Church.  A  Sabbath-school  was  es- 
tablished in  1851,  which,  though  held  at  the  house  of 
Harvey  Howard,  in  Bloomingdale,  was  chiefly  sustained  by 
the  residents  of  Cheshire,  Mr.  A.  B.  Eaton  having  been 
superintendent. 

Marcus  Lane,  whose  early  recollections  cluster  around 
the  beautiful  valley  of  the  Mohawk,  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  came  to  Cheshire  iu  1850,  and  purchased  128  acres 
on  section  33.  He  stayed  with  his  brother,  Samuel  Lane, 
while  erecting  a  house  of  his  own,  to  which  he  subsequently 
brought  a  wife.  To  the  raising  of  this  house  the  neigh- 
bors for  a  long  distance  around  were  summoned  as  usual. 
They  responded  readily,  but  a  part  of  them  withdrew  on 
the  announcement  that  no  whisky  would  be  given  them. 
Mr.  Lane,  however,  preferred  to  maintain  his  temperance 
principles  at  the  risk  of  unpopularity,  and  with  the  aid  of 
the  remaining  few  succeeded  in  erecting  the  frame.  Mr. 
Lane,  when  he  came  West,  intended  to  go  to  Illinois,  but 
has  found  Michigan  a  field  of  labor  both  congenial  and 
profitable. 

Dustin  Murch,  formerly  a  resident  of  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y., 
located  80  acres  on  section  18  in  1849.  He  had  already 
erected  a  shanty  when  his  family  arrived,  to  which  they 
removed.  The  following  spring  a  band  of  Indians  located 
near  him  on  sections  20  and  29,  close  to  Little  Lake,  many 
of  whom  proved  industrious  farmers  and  met  a  fair  degree 
of  success  in  their  agricultural  pursuits.  They  numbered 
8  or  10  families,  and  were  of  the  tribe  that  settled  in  Way- 
land.     Was-sa-to  was  the  most  prominent  among  them. 

Elizur  Hogmire  arrived  the  same  winter,  and  located  one 
mile  south  of  Mr.  Murch,  where  he  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  shingles. 

Richard  Ferris  left  Van  Buren  County  in  1854,  and 
purchased  560  acres  on  sections  17  and  19,  in  Cheshire. 
Even  then  there  was  but  one  house  between  his  land  and 
the  village  of  Allegan.  He  accepted  the  hospitality  of 
Dustin  Murch  while  erecting  a  shanty,  and  soon  after  built 
a  saw-mill  on  Swan  Creek,  which  was  the  second  mill  in 
Cheshire.  He  carried  it  on  until  it  was  burned,  in  1860. 
Three  years  later  it  was  replaced  by  another,  situated  eighty 
rods  west  of  the  site  of  the  first  one.  Mr.  Ferris  still  re- 
sides upon  his  original  purchase,  and  has  established  a  good 
record  as  a  successful  farmer  and  a  public-spirited  citizen. 


CHESHIRE  TOWNSHIP. 


189 


William  L.  Torry  arrived  from  Ohio  in  1855,  and  located 
himself  upon  40  acres  on  section  17.  The  pioneers  of 
Cheshire  had  principally  settled  in  the  southern  portion  of 
the  township,  the  central  and  northern  lands  remaining 
comparatively  unoccupied.  Mr.  Torry  found  not  only  his 
own  purchase  uncleared,  but  the  larger  portion  of  the 
neighboring  land  in  the  same  condition.  On  section  4  a 
settler  named  Oliver  had  made  some  improvements,  and  on 
the  southeast  quarter  of  the  same  section,  William  Gates, 
who  had  come  from  Ohio  a  short  time  previous,  began  the 
clearing  of  40  acres,  upon  which  he  erected  a  log  house. 
Mr.  Buck's  house  afforded  him  shelter  until  his  own  could 
be  completed.  Mr.  Gates  resided  for  many  years  upon  his 
land,  and  finally  removed  to  Monterey,  where  he  still  re- 
sides. Mr.  Torry  afterwards  removed  to  section  5,  where 
he  purchased  a  small  farm,  which  he  still  cultivates. 

lliohard  Blanchard  settled  in  1855  upon  160  acres  on 
section  8.  He  was  a  former  resident  of  New  York,  but 
had  emigrated  from  Chicago  to  the  forests  of  Cheshire. 
He  was  known  as  a  public-spirited  citizen,  and  became  an 
active  expounder  of  the  faith  of  the  United  Brethren. 

Sylvanus  Stewart,  another  Ohio  pioneer  of  1856,  pur- 
chased of  H.  H.  Booth  80  acres  of  land  on  section  20,  for 
which  he  paid  $4  per  acre.  He  still  resides  on  the  same 
farm,  which  he  has  made  one  of  the  most  desirable  in  the 
township. 

Warren  Dowd,  a  former  resident  of  Wyoming  Co.,  N.  Y., 
settled  upon  80  acres  on  section  8  in  1856.  He  had  pre- 
viously learned  the  trade  of  a  shoemaker,  and  for  a  while 
worked  for  W.  C.  Jenner,  of  Allegan.  In  that  occupation 
he  was  accustomed  to  repair  to  the  village  on  Monday 
morning  and  remain  until  Saturday  night,  and  then  return 
to  Cheshire  with  supplies  for  his  family  on  his  back.  A 
well-improved  farm  and  a  substantial  residence  are  the  re- 
wards of  his  industry  and  enterprise. 

John  F.  Dowd,  a  brother  of  Warren,  came  the  same 
year  from  Wyoming  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  remained  two  years 
with  Richard  Ferris.  He,  meanwhile,  purchased  40  acres 
on  section  16,  to  which  he  subsequently  added  40  more. 
On  the  arrival  of  his  wife,  in  1857,  he  removed  to  his  pur- 
chase, having  previously  erected  a  comfortable  framed 
house. 

Another  emigrant  from  Wyoming  County  was  John 
Brason,  who  located  himself,  in  1860,  upon  145  acres  on 
section  16,  one  mile  north  of  John  F.  Dowd,  who  was  his 
nearest  neighbor.  After  building  a  substantial  framed 
house  and  planting  an  orchard,  he  sold  his  place  and  moved 
across  the  road  to  another,  on  section  17,  where  he  still 
resides.  His  latter  purchase  was  made  from  the  Indians, 
whom  he  taught  to  cultivate  their  land  and  to  raise  wheat. 
This  greatly  delighted  them,  and  made  them  regard  Mr. 
Brason  in  some  degree  as  a  benefactor.  They  would  ex- 
claim, "  Eat  'em  wheat, — eat  no  more  corn  1" 

David  Gile,  previously  of  Ohio,  purchased  a  place  on 
section  9,  adjacent  to  that  of  Warren  Dowd.  William  A. 
Lisco,  another  emigrant  from  the  Buckeye  State,  secured 
a  farm  on  section  3,  embracing  40  acres.  This  he  cleared 
and  labored  upon  until  his  enlistment  in  the  war  for  the 
Union.  On  his  return  he  purchased  the  Gates  farm,  and 
subsequently  removed  to  the  northern  portion- of  the  State. 


Jeptha  Waterman  came  from  New  York  in  1856,  and 
became  the  owner  of  40  acres  on  section  39.  He,  too, 
entered  the  army,  and  in  1865  sacrificed  his  life  to  the 
Union  cause,  having  died  while  receiving  medical  care  in 
a  hospital.     Mrs.  Waterman  now  resides  upon  section  18. 

COLORED   CITIZENS. 

A  considerable  proportion  of  the  population  are  of  the 
colored  race,  who  merit  notice  in  a  history  of  Cheshire.  As 
a  class  they  stand  well  for  both  sobriety  and  industry. 
Many  of  them  have  farms  upon  which  comfortable  houses 
are  built,  and  the  land  of  which  is  improved  and  well  main- 
tained. They  also  have  two  church  organizations,  to  which 
a  liberal  support  is  accorded,  and  of  which  mention  is  made 
farther  on.  They  are  by  no  means  the  least  influential  of 
the  citizens  of  the  township,  and  have  won  much  credit  for 
the  ambition  they  display  in  their  farming  pursuits  and  the 
good  reputation  they  have  established  in  all  their  social 
relations.  The  first  colored  men  to  settle  in  the  township 
were  C.  Tomison  and  K.  Taylor,  who  located  on  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  28.  The  land  owned  by  the  colored 
people  was  mostly  bought  of  the  Indians  when  they  de- 
parted. 

POST-OFFICES. 

The  first  post-office  in  the  township  was  kept  by  Jonathan 
Howard,  on  section  32.  Afterwards  William  Heywood  was 
appointed  postmaster,  and  the  office  was  kept  at  his  resi- 
dence for  many  years  on  section  22,  until  its  discontinuance 
in  March,  1879.  It  was  re-established  in  June  of  the  same 
year.  The  office  is  now  located  on  section  23,  Timothy 
Church  being  the  postmaster.  The  mail  arrives  semi- 
weekly. 

EAELT   PTJECHASES. 

The  following  are  the  original  purchases  of  land  in  the 
township : 

Section  1.— Bought  from  1836  to  1868  by  L.  H.  Moore,  A.  L.  and  A. 
Ely,  N.  L.  Strong,  Elias  Whitcomb,  William  Nouerly. 

Section  2.'— Bought  from  1836  to  1859  by  William  Larzelard,  Oramel 
Griffin,  Willis  Butcher,  J.  C.  Cleveland,  John  Reed,  Lucia  R. 
Hawes  (assignee),  Orlo  R,  Lane. 

Section  3. — Bought  from  1836  to  1856  by  William  Duncan,  Oliver 
Babcock,  George  L.  Otis,  L.  R.  Hawes  (assignee). 

Section  4. — Bought  from  1837  to  1854  by  David  Ladd,  Thompson  and 
Gates,  E.  W.  Oliver,  Isaac  Stulla,  George  D.  Potter. 

Section  5. — Bought  from  1835  to  1855  by  Charles  E.  Stuart,  Daniel 
Mann,  Moses  Drake,  Thomas  Ward,  T.  B.  Potter,  D.  D.  Davis. 

Section  6. — Bought  from  1835  to  1855  by  Charles  E.  Stuart,  David 
Ladd,  George  Pains. 

Section  7.— Bought  in  1836  and  1837  by  William  Duncan,  John  H. 
Ostrom,  Palmer  and  Walker,  David  Ladd. 

Section  8. — Bought  in  1836  by  Ostrom,  Palmer,  and  Walker. 

Section  9.— Bought  in  1836  and  1837  by  A.  G.  Burke,  L.  S.  Brown, 
Charles  Green. 

Section  10.— Bought  from  1837  to  1859  by  Charles  Green,  L.  J.  Cobb, 
Thompson  and  Gates,  A.  G.  Conant,  N.  P.  Buck,  E.  Morey. 

Section  11.— Bought  from  1836  to  185+  by  L.  H.  Moore,  Dexter  and 
Richmond,  Hill  and  Cobb,  M.  Clark,  Jr.,  John  Herrington, 
Amasa  Jones,  Eli  and  George  Hart. 

Section  12.— Bought  from  1836  to  1860  by  Hill  and  Cobb,  W.  Mer- 
chant, J.  W.  Schermerhorn,  Nancy  J.  Case. 

Section  13.— Bought  from  1837  to  1870  by  Ralph  Emerson,  M.  Mer- 
chant, D.  D.  Davis,  Jesse  Herrington,  A.  W.  Morey,  J.  W.  Van 
Fussen,  J.  D.  Graham,  George  Sherwood. 

Section  14.— Bought  from  1836  to  1858  by  William  Duncan,  Robert 
Walter,  Daniel  Bowler,  Victor  Austin,  Askel  Morey,  Seth  Flit- 
craft,  W.  A.  Albert. 


190 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Section  15. — Bought  from    1836   to   1864   by    Ostrom,    Palmer,   and 

Walker,  H.  H.  Booth,  E.  G.  Haokley,  E.  H.  Parks,  H.  Chesley, 

George  Brennao. 
Section  16.— Bought  from  1865  to  1861  by  A.  C.  Grey,  0.  J.  Buck, 

J.  H.  Chesley,  J.  F.  Dowd,  J.  W.  Coburn,  D.  D.  Davis,  William 

Eidwood,  William  Barrett. 
Section  17. — Bought   from    1836   to    1854  by  Ostrom,   Palmer,   and 

Walker,  Indians,  Harriet  W.  Gates. 
Section  18.— Bought  from   1836    to   1866   by  Ostrom,    Palmer,  and 

Walker,  0.  W.  Kiee,  Phoebe  Ann  Rice,  Isom  McDaniel,  J.  B, 

Moore,  R.  S.  Russell,  J.  W.  Brown. 
Section  19. — Bought  in  1835  and  1836  by  Ostrom,  Palmer,  and  Walker, 

0.  R.  Baboock. 

Section  20. — Boughtfrom  1836  to  1855  by  Ostrom,  Palmer,  and  Walker, 

J.  R.  Kellogg,  Indians. 
Section  21. — Bought  from  1835  to  1 869  by  Ostrom,  Palmer,  and  Walker, 

Indians,  W.  L.  O'Brien,  Jr.,  A.  V.  Bodine,  Justin  Smith,  H.  P. 

Haight,  L.  W.  Hewitt,  E.  S.  Canning,  Thomas  Spotts. 
Section  22.— Bought  from  1836  to  1858  by  Ostrom,  Walker,  and  Palmer, 

J.  G.  Lindsley,  W.  S.  Heywood  (assignee),  Russell  Hamilton,  Z.  C. 

Howard,  Alex.  Benna,  Samuel  Humiston;  J.  W.  Tenhoff,  Joel 

Hewitt. 
Section  23.— Bought  from  1853  to  1858  by  W.  S.  Heywood,  Enos  Cha- 

pin,  G.  G.  Swat,  H.  H.  Booth,  Victor  Austin,  Gustavus  Heywood, 

Robert  Winter,  0.  J.  Buck,  Daniel  Springer,  Calmon  Springer, 

Robert  Winter. 
Section  24.— Bought  from  1 854  to  1859  by  H.  H.  Booth,  T.  M.  Russell, 

Seth  Fletcraft,  I.  G.  Austin,  Isaac  Laws,  William  Crosby,  J.  G. 

Austin. 
Section  25.— Bought  from  1837  to  1854  by  S.  R.  Griffin,  George  Pierce, 

H.  P.  Blake,  J.  A.  Bigbey. 
Section  26.— Bought  from  1837  to  1864  by  Reed  and  Wells,  William 

Chapman,  Daniel  Collins,  Martin  Cooley,  Charles  Dunn,  Isaac 

Laws,  W,  W.  Finch,  J.  J.  Kinniston. 
Section  27. — Bought  from  1850  to  1858  by  C.  W.  Lindsley  (assignee), 

J.  G.  Lindsley,  W.  S.  Heywood  (assignee),  James  Davis,  H.  Cooley, 

1.  Tyrrell,  T.  E.  Sperry,  Ezra  Whaley,  J.  B.  Kinniston,  J.  D. 
Bowman. 

Section  28. — Bought  from  1852  to  1858  by  James  Davis,  T.  E.  Sperry, 
Calvin  Davis,  Kingsbury  Taylor,  W.  H.  Burden,  Adam  Turner, 
B.  F.  Woodworth,  Hiram  Baker,  A.  V.  Bodine,  Chas.  Thomson. 

Section  29.— Bought  from  1836  to  1864  by  J.  R.  Kellogg,  J.  IL  Cook, 
A.  Turner,  J.  Burkhead,  Alfred  White,  F.  Melvin,  L.  U.  Lowell, 
S.  B.  Goodell,  N.  Daniels. 

Section  30.— Bought  from  1835  to  1866  by  L.  H.  Moore,  A.  S.  Wicks, 
0.  R.  Babcook,  R.  C.  Rice,  L.  E.  Goodell,  Thomas  Southward,  By- 
ron Teal,  S.  B.  Goodell,  H.  J.  Hamilton. 

Section  31.— Bought  from  1836  to  1854  by  T.  H.  Hulbert,  D.  S.  Hey- 
wood, Simon  Pike,  Samuel  Goodell,  J.  A.  McMillen,  Phoebe  Pike, 
Rufus  Townsend,  Samuel  Hendrickson. 

Section  32.— Bought  from  1837  to  1858  by  Samuel  Goodell,  R.  Swift, 
Ora  Cooley,  J.  M.  Steward,  F.  M.  Pearson,  Caleb  Ward,  R. 
Humeston,  H.  C.  Briggs,  M.  C.  Turner,  E.  Quick,  Eli  Bell. 

Section  33.— Bought  from  1837  to  1858  by  Thomas  Boulton,  William 
French,  Samuel  Lane,  Ezra  Whaley,  Elizabeth  Whaley,  Horace 
Tanner,  Daniel  Gray,  Henry  Case,  John  North,  J.  McDaniel. 

Section  34.— Bought  from  1835  to  1852  by  Elisha  Doan,  H.  M. 
Hinckley,  Anna  Hisrodt,  L.  J.  Lacy,  Samuel  Strong,  C.  W. 
Lindsley,  A.  B.  Eaton,  Daniel  Gray,  Seaman  Cooley. 

Section  35. — Bought  from  1835  to  1854  by  Huston  and  Moore,  S.  D. 
Foster,  Henry  Mower,  Henry  Case,  Daniel  Collins,  William  Chap- 
man, Trumen  White,  H.  P.  Blake,  George  Perkins. 

Section  36. — Bought  from  1836  to  1854  by  Ostrom,  Palmer,  and 
Walker,  Inman  White,  George  Perking. 

EARLY  ROADS. 

The  writer  is  informed  that  the  earliest  road  in  Cheshire 
was  a  short  one  which  ran  from  the  base-line  on  the  south 
bounds  of  section  34,  through  Mr.  A.  B.  Eaton's  land, 
and  between  Mud  and  Eagle  Lakes.  It  is  doubtful,  liow- 
pver,  if  tbis  was  an  officially  surveyed  road,  and  certainly 
HQ  repord  of  it  has  bpen  preserved.  The  first  recorded 
yoad  in  tke  township  was  surveyed  by  James  G.  Lindsley, 


in  July,  1852,  under  the  direction  of  Samuel  Strong  and 
Marcus  Lane,  highway  commissioners.  The  survey  is 
designated  "Road  Survey  No.  1,"  the  line  running  as 
follows : 

"  Beginning  at  the  Southeast  corner  of  Section  Thirty-Three,  on 
the  base-line,  running  north  along  the  east  line  of  said  section  and 
the  east  line  of  Section  Number  Twenty-Eight  to  the  northeast  cor- 
ner, being  two  miles  in  length  according  to  the  United  States  Survey 
thereof,  in  Township  Number  One  North,  of  Range  Fourteen  west." 

"  Road  Survey  No.  2,"  is  thus  designated  in  the  record, 
although  bearing  date  May  3,  1852,  two  months  before 
No.  1.     The  record  is  as  follows: 

"  A  survey  of  a  road  commencing  at  the  |  corner  on  the  north  side 
of  Section  Nine,  township  one.  North  of  Range  Fourteen  West,  run- 
ning west  one  half  mile  on  the  Section  line  between  Nine  and  Four, 
thence  South  on  Section  lino  between  Nine  and  Eight,  one  mile 
thence  west  on  Section  line  between  sections  Eight  and  Seventeen 
one  mile.  The  said  road  is  two  and  one  half  miles  in  length  accord- 
ing to  the  United  States  Survey. 

"MABcns  Lane, 

"  dustin  murch, 

"Samuel  Strong, 

"  Highway  Commisaiotiera.*' 

The  line  of  "  Road  No.  3,"  is  thus  described  : 

"  Beginning  at  the  Corners  of  Sections  Three  and  Four  of  Town- 
ship One,  north,  of  Range  Fourteen,  west,  on  the  base  line ;  thence 
north  one  degree  thirty  minutes  west  to  the  quarter  line  of  Section 
Thirty-Four  in  Township  One,  north.  Range  above  described ;  thence 
north  forty-five  degrees  East  to  the  Section  line  of  Sections  Thirty- 
Four  and  Thirty-five ;  thence  north  on  said  line  to  a  stake  eleven 
rods  south  of  the  corners  of  Sections  Twenty-six  and  Twenty-Seven 
and  Thirty-Four  and  Thirty-Five;  thence  north  eighty-six  degrees 
east  thirty-eight  rods;  thence  north  forty-four  degrees  east  to  the 
Section  line  between  Sections  Thirty-Five  and  Twenty-Six  j  thence 
east  on  said  line  to  the  Corners  of  Sections  Thirty-  Five  and  Six,  and 
Twenty-Five  and  Six.  The  above  survey  accords  with  the  true 
magnet  of  1852,  which  varies  between  four  and  five  degrees  east  of 
north  of  the  United  States  Survey.  Surveyed  November  13th,  1852, 
by  James  G.  Lindsley.'' 

SCHOOLS. 

On  account  of  the  small  population,  no  school  was  taught 
in  Cheshire  previous  to  1852.  The  first  one  was  located 
in  the  south  part  of  the  township,  near  the  "  base-line."  A 
very  simple  structure  of  boards  served  as  a  shelter  for  the 
children  for  a  period  of  two  years,  when  a  more  spacious 
and  comfortable  building  was  erected,  which  is  still  in  use. 
The  young  lady  who  first  instructed  the  youthful  minds  of 
this  portion  of  the  township  was  Miss  Ann  Palmer,  a  sis- 
ter of  Mrs.  A.  B.  Eaton. 

The  second  school  was  opened  in  the  Lindsley  neighbor- 
hood, on  section  22.  This  building,  as  primitive  as  its  pre- 
decessor, was  later  replaced  by  a  convenient  and  tasteful 
structure  surrounded  with  a  fino  playground,  which  is  pro- 
tected from  the  sun  by  a  luxuriant  growth  of  shade-trees. 

All  of  the  school  buildings  of  Cheshire  are  comfortable 
and  a  few  of  them  are  decidedly  elegant,  confirming  the 
reputation  which  the  township  has  established  for  the  ex- 
cellence of  its  educational  appointments.  One  of  the  former 
superintendents  introduced  the  normal-school  system,  and 
awakened  sufficient  interest  to  encourage  the  openin"  of 
evening-classes,  which  for  a  while  were  well  sustained  and 
did  much  to  inspire  a  love  of  study  among  those  who  were 
attendants.     . 


CHESHIRE  TOWNSHIP. 


191 


The  township  is  divided  into  seven  entire  districts'  and 
one  fractional  one,  which  are  managed  by  the  follow- 
ing board  of  directors :  S.  S.  Stout,  B.  W.  Morse,  H.  H. 
Howard,  Richard  Ferris,  N.  S.  Groves,  Hiram  Flanagan, 
and  J.  U.  Schermerhorn.  The  number  of  children  receiv- 
ing instruction  is  449.  They  are  taught  by  3  male  and 
18  female  teachers,  who  receive  an  aggregate  salary  of 
$1232.25.  The  total  value  of  the  school  property  is  $6300, 
and  the  total  resources  for  educational  purposes  $2713.04 
per  year. 

ORGANIZATION,  OFFICERS,  Etc. 
Township  No.  1,  in  range  14,  was  surveyed  by  Calvin 
Britain  in  1831,  the  survey  having  been  completed  on  the 
1st  of  May,  in  that  year.  It  was  a  part  of  the  civil  town- 
ship of  Allegan  until  1842,  when  it  was  made  a  part  of 
Trowbridge.  The  act  of  the  State  Legislature  organizing 
it  as  a  separate  civil  township  was  approved  April  2,  1851, 
and  reads  as  follows : 

"An  net  to  org.inize  the  township  of  Cheshire,  in  the  county  of 
Allegan : 

"  Section  One.  The  people  of  the  State  of  Michigan  enact,  That 
township  number  One  north,  of  Kange  Fourteen  west,  now  forming 
a  part  of  the  township  of  Trowbridge,  in  the  County  of  Allegan,  be, 
and  the  same  is  hereby  set  off  from  said  township  by  the  name  of 
Cheshire,  and  that  the  first  township-meeting  therein  shall  be  held  at 
the  house  of  Samuel  Lane,  in  said  township. 

"  Section  Two,  This  act  shall  take  effect  and  be  in  force  from  and 
after  the  first  Monday  in  April,  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-two." 

The  following  list  embraces  the  tax-payers  of  Cheshire 
for  the  year  1852: 

Timothy  Buck.  Caleb  Ward. 

Washington  Merchant.  Henry  W.  Duran. 

Matthew  Merchant.  Royal  Cooley. 

Eliab  Wright.  Marcus  Lane. 

Dustin  Murch.  Charles  Cooley. 

Hishack  (an  Indian).  Ezra  Whaley. 

Wasato  (an  Indian).  Samuel  Strong. 

Batis  Wasato  (an  Indian).  Asel  B.  Eaton. 

James  G.  Lindsley.  Harvey  Munger. 

Cyrus  W.  Lindsley.  Henry  Case. 

Benjamin  Tryon.  Miles  Tanner. 
Simeon  Pike. 

The  following  is  the  record  of  the  first  town-meeting  in 
Cheshire : 

"  At  the  first  election  held  in  the  township  of  Cheshire,  in  the 
county  of  Allegan,  for  the  purpose  of  organization  in  pursuance  of 
legislative  enactment  detaching  the  above-named  township  from 
Trowbridge,  in  Allegan  County,  State  of  Michigan,  Harvey  Munger 
was  chosen  moderator,  and  S.  Strong  elerk.  James  G.  Lindsley  and 
A.  B.  Eaton  wea-e  chosen  inspectors.  The  oath  of  office  was  then  ad- 
ministered according  to  statute  in  such  cases,  when  the  polls  were 
declared  open.  The  following  officers  were  elected :  James  G.  Linds- 
ley, Supervisor;  Harvey  Munger,  Township  Clerk;  Marcus  Lane, 
Treasurer;  Marcus  Lane,  C.  W.  Lindsley,  S.  Strong,  Dustin  Murch, 
Justices  of  the  Peace ;  Marcus  Lane,  Dustin  Murch,  S.  Strong,  High- 
way Commissioners;  C.  Lindsley,  S.  Strong,  School  Inspectors;  Caleb 
Ward,  A.  B.  Eaton,  Directors  of  Poor;  Ezra  Whaley,  A.  B.  Eaton, 
Constables." 

The  subsequent  officers  of  the  township  have  been  as 

follows : 

SUPERVISORS. 

1853-55,  James  G.  Lindsley;  1856,  Harvey  Munger;  1857,  James  G. 

Lindsley;  1858,  P.  H.  Oliver;  1859,  Samuel  Strong;  1860-64,  C. 

■     W.    Lindsley;    1865-67,    John   Branson;    1868-70,  William' L. 

O'Brien;   1871-77,  Stephen  S.  Stout;   1878,  William  Albright; 

1879,  Stephen  S.  Stout. 


TOWNSHIP  CLERKS. 

1853-54,  Gustavus  Heywood;  1855;  Richard  Ferris;  IS.'je,  AVilliani 
L.  Torry;  1857-58,  Warren  Dowd:  1859,  C.  W.  Lindsley;  1860, 
James  G.  Lindsley;  1861-62,  George  Drury ;  1863-64,  Orrin  J. 
Buck;  1865-67,  William  L.  O'Brien;  1868-70,  Hiram  Flanagan; 
1871-79,  William  L.  O'Brien. 

TREASURERS. 

1853,  Samuel  Strong;  1854,  Eoos  Chapin ;  1855-56,  Victor  Austen; 
1857,  William  M.  Tanner;  1858,  William  L.  Torry;  1859-72, 
George  G.  Sweet;  1873-77,  John  Mocklencate;  1878,  William  6. 
Rowe;  1879,  John  Mocklencate. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 
1853,  Jonas  Buck,  Caleb  C.Ward;  1854,  Cyrus  W.  Lindsley,  Eliab 
Wright;  1855,  Russell  Humiston;  1856,  Solomon  Cobb;  1857, 
Blodgett  Torry,  P.  H.  Oliver;  1858,  Samuel  Strong  ;  1859,  War- 
ren Dowd,  Marcus  Lane ;  1860,  John  Reed,  William  M.  Tanner; 
1861,  Jacob  A.  Haite,  Warren  Dowd;  1862,  W.  H.  Rockwell, 
Samuel  Strong;  1S63,  Samuel  Marble,  R.  B.  Roe;  1864,  Warren 
Dowd,  Samuel  Strong;  1865,  Richard  Blanchard,  E.  B.  Roe; 
1866,  Samuel  Strong,  Enos  Chapin;  1867,  E.  B.  Roe,  Enos  Cha-. 
pin;  1868,  Orren  W.  Avery;  1869,  Jacob  Mound;  1870,  Richard 
Blanchard,  Enos  Chapin;  1871,  Warren  Dowd,  Stark  Lamp- 
man;  1872,  Nelson  C.  Moore;  1873,  R.  C.  Harmon,  Richard 
Blanchard;  1874,  L.  H.  Albright,  W.  W.  Spencer;  1875,  B.  F. 
Chapin,  Warren  Dowd;  1876,  W.  W.  Spencer;  1877,  Timothy 
Church;  1878,  Hiram  Flanagan,  R.  C.  Harmon;  1879,  Hiram 
Flanagan. 

HIGHWAY  COMMISSIONERS. 

1853,  Dustin  Murch;  1854,  Caleb  Ward;  1855,  Ezra  Whaley ;  1856, 
Dustin  Murch;  1857,  William  Gates;  1858,  Ezra  Whaley;  1859, 
Nelson  0.  Moon ;  1860,  E.  B.  Roe;  1861,  John  Brason;  1862, 
Daniel  Gray;  1863,  Moses  Sprague;  1864,  John  Brason;  1865, 
William  L.  O'Brien;  1866,  Victor  Austin;  1867,  Richard  Blan- 
chard; 1868,  S.  C.  Angevine,  William  L.  O'Brien;  1869,  Samuel 
B.  Drury;  1870,  S.  C.  Angevine;  1871,  Aaron  Richardson;  1872, 
Daniel  Collins;  1873,  Joseph  St.  German,  William  S.  Heywood  ; 
1874,  W.  S.  Heywood;  1875,  Joseph  St.  German;  1876-77,  Wil- 
liam S.  Heywood;  1878,  W.  G.  Roe;  1879,  N.  S.  Graves. 

SCHOOL   INSPECTORS. 
1853,  Cyrus  W.  Lindsley;  1854,  A.  B.  Eaton;  1855,  C.  W.  Lindsley; 

1856,  R.  H.  Oliver;  1857,  Richard  Ferris;  1858,  George  G. 
Sweet;  1859,  Nelson  0.  Moon;  1860-61,  Richard  Ferris;  1862, 
Richard  Ferris,  George  G.  Sweet;  1863,  George  G.  Sweet;  186t, 
Richard  Ferris;  1865,  George  G.  Sweet;  1866,  O.J.  Buck;  1867, 
Richard  Ferris;  1868,  0.  J.  Buck;  1869,  Andy  L.  Prouty ;  1870, 
0.  J.  Buck;  1871,  A.  L.  Prouty;  1872,  R.  C.  Harmon,  Hiram 
Flanagan;  1873,  0.  J.  Buck;  1874-75,  A.  L.  Prouty;  1876-77, 
0.  J.  Buck;  1878,  Robert  C.  O'Brien;  1879,  R.  C.  Harmon. 

DIRECTORS   OF   THE   POOR. 
1853,  Jonas  Buck,  Caleb  Ward;  1854-56,  Daniel  Collins,  A.  B.  Eaton; 

1857,  William  S.  Heywood,  Alexander  Dana ;  1858,  Warren 
Dowd,  Hiram  Chechy. 

DRAIN   COMMISSIONERS. 
1873-74,  Warren  Dowd;  1875-76,  R.  C.  O'Brien;  1877-78,  George  A. 
Chapin. 

SUPERINTENDENTS   OF  SCHOOLS. 
1875-76,  R.  C.  Harmon ;  1877-79,  Hiram  Flanagan. 

CONSTABLES. 
1853  William  M.  Tanner,  William  S.  Heywood,  E.  M.  Eaton,  J.  G. 
Higgins;  1854,  Ezra  Whaley,  William  M.  Tanner,  George  Pierce, 
George  U.  Schermerhorn ;  1855,  Cotton  Leach,  William  M.  Tanner, 
Ezra  Whaley,  M.  A.  French;  1856,  Addison  Gates,  Justice  Fox, 
Ezra  Whaley,  C.  M.  Leach;  1857,  John  Isenhart,  W.  A.  Lisco, 
I.N.Willis,  Jesse  Harrington;  1858,  William  A.  Lisco,  James 
Strong,  Franklin  Pearsons,  John  Isenhart;  1859,  H.  W.  Durand, 


192 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BAERY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Abel  Steam,  Elijah  Howes,  Ezra  Whaley ;  1860,  Isaac  Noble, 

A.  W.  Morey,  Charles  Tyler,  Russell  Humiston ;  1861,  C.  M. 
Tyler,  George  Hamilton,  C.  M.  Leach,  H.  C.  Munger;  1862,  C. 
M.  Tyler,  Gilbert  Haight,  Joseph  Watts,  G.   U.  Schermerhorn; 

1863,  C.  M.  Leach,  Abel  Stearns,  Addison  Gates,  C.  M.  Tyler; 

1864,  C.  M.  Leach,  Alva  Pierce;  1865,  C.  M.  Leach;  1866,  B.  F. 
Woodward,  C.  M.  Tyler,  Warren  Dowd,  Richard  Ferris;  1867, 

B.  F.  Woodward,  Isaac  Noble,  Alexander  Dana,  Joseph  Cham- 
berlain ;  1868,  Isaac  Noble,  B.  F.  Woodworth,  Alexander  Dana, 
L.  Shaw;  1869,  G.  D.  Haight,  Isaac  Noble,  C.  M.  Tyler,  J.  H. 
Cline;  18?0,  Isaac  Noble,  G.  W.  Roe,  James  Lockwood,  G.  D. 
Haight;  1871,  Alexander  Dana,  James  H.  Cline,  E.  Howard; 
1872,  William  A.  Liseo,  Edmund  Root,  Orin  Church,  W.  W. 
Spencer;  1873,  A.  U.  Wait,  Edward  Richardson,  Alvin  Rockwell, 
Darius  Marble;  1874,  Richard  Fenn,  Abel  Stearn,  George  Pierce, 
E.  H.  Richardson;  1875,  George  Pierce,  Benjamin  Stearns,  E.  C. 
Lindsley;  1876,  William  Thompson,  Charles  D.  Nash;  1877,  E.  J. 
Baird,  John  Bidgley,  Frank  Albright,  A.  T.  Sharp;  1878,  John 
McMabon,  Victor  Austin,  Eugene  F.  Murch,  Leonard  Webster; 
1879,  A.  T.  Sharp,  Eugene  Mureh,  L.  M.  Webster,  J.  F.  Ridgway. 

FIRST  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHITECH. 

The  white  people  of  Cheshire  generally  attend  church  in 
other  townships  or  worship  at  the  school-houses  in  this  one, 
but  the  colored  people  have  two  organizations  of  their  own. 

Regular  Methodist  services  were  first  held  among  them 
some  years  ago  at  the  house  of  William  Thompson,  by  Rev. 
Johnson  Burden,  a  colored  preacher,  though  occasional 
meetings,  conducted  by  Elder  Burke,  had  previously  been 
held  at  the  same  place.  Elder  Rhodes  also  frequently  ad- 
dressed the  colored  citizens  of  the  township  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Mr.  Thompson. 

An  effort  was  made  by  Elder  Burden,  after  the  society 
had  become  thoroughly  organized,  to  build  a  house  of  wor- 
ship, and  the  present  structure  was  accordingly  erected.  It 
is  not  yet  completed,  the  members  of  the  church  preferring 
to  finish  it  as  their  means  shall  permit  rather  than  to  con- 
tract a  debt.  They  have  now  a  surplus  in  the  treasurer's 
hands,  and  with  an  occasional  donation  seem  likely  soon  to 
accomplish  their  desire, — a  completed  and  dedicated  church 
edifice.  The  trustees  who  superintended  the  erection  of 
the  building  were  William  Thompson,  Jesse  F.  Ridgley, 
and  Ezekiel  Howard.  The  pastors  in  rotation  have  been 
Elders  Johnson  Burden,  John  Jordan,  L.  D.  Crosby,  John 
Myers,  and  Lewis  Ratliff,  the  present  incumbent.  The 
membership  embraces  50  names,  and  shows  good  prospects 
of  a  considerable  increase.  A  flourishing  Sabbath-school  is 
also  held  during  the  summer  months.  The  present  board 
of  trustees  is  composed  of  William  Thompson,  Jesse  F. 
Ridgley,  M.  C.  McCuUy,  Matthew  Russell,  James  T.  Russell. 

THE   CHUECH  OP  THE   LIVING  GOD. 

Another  organization  among  the  colored  population  of 
the  township  was  known  as  the  Church  of  God.  The 
writer  is  informed  that,  owing  to  a  difference  of  opinion  on 
the  part  of  the  Cheshire  congregation  from  the  denomina- 
tion, that  body  seceded  and  took  the  name  of  the  Church  of 
the  Living  God.  The  pastor  is  Samuel  Smith,  who  is  ac- 
credited with  great  fluency  of  speech,  and  also  with  a  ver- 
satility of  mind  which  enables  him  to  promulgate  such  doc- 
trine as  may  be  most  pleasing  to  his  hearers,  rejoicing  in 
very  great  freedom  from  creed  or  form.  Several  brethren 
of  the  congregation  are  also  fluent  in  exhortation.  The 
services  are  held  in  a  log  structure  on  section  21. 


CHBSHIEE  BANNEE  GRANGE,  PATEONS  OP 
HUSBANDEY. 

This  lodge  was  organized  Sept.  29,  1874,  and  received 
its  charter  during  the  year  1879.  Its  earliest  ofiBcers  were 
J.  M.  Howard,  Master ;  G.  W.  Lewis,  Overseer ;  W.  J. 
Eaton,  Steward  ;  Dr.  S.  S.  Stout,  Lecturer  ;  H.  A.  Linds- 
ley, Assistant  Steward ;  Daniel  Collins,  Chaplain  ;  B.  T. 
Chapin,  Gatekeeper.  Its  officers  for  the  present  year  are 
M.  E.  Bagley,  Master ;  John  Brason,  Overseer ;  William 
H.  Albright,  Steward ;  0.  G.  Lindsley,  Lecturer ;  Joseph 
Enos,  Assistant  Steward ;  William  Raymond,  Chaplain  ; 
0.  G.  Pike,  Gatekeeper.  The  grange  now  numbers  140 
members,  and  is  in  an  exceedingly  flourishing  condition. 
A  spacious  hall  has  just  been  completed,  in  which  its  meet- 
ings are  held. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


MARCUS  LANE. 

Among  the  early  settlers  and  good  practical  farmers  of 
Cheshire  township  none  have  a  better  record  for  personal 
integrity  and  high  moral  worth  than  he  whose  life  and 
character  forms  the  basis  of  these  lines.  Coming  to  Mich- 
igan in  1851,  he  stopped  at  Allegan  County  with  a  brother, 
and  assisted  him  in  clearing  off  a  piece  of  ground  and  get- 
ting in  a  crop  of  corn,  which  was  planted  among  the  roots, 
logs,  and  stumps,  but  the  result  of  this  labor  was  eighteen 
hundred  bushels  of  corn.  It  was  not  Mr.  Lane's  intention 
to  make  Michigan  his  home,  having  started  for  Illinois; 
but,  meeting  his  brother  in  Buffalo,  he  was  induced  by  him 
to  come  and  see  Michigan.  After  a  short  stay  here  he  de- 
cided upon  making  it  his  permanent  home,  purchased  forty 
acres  of  land,  and  erected  a  log  house.  The  lumber  used 
for  this  was  brought  from  Pine  Grove,  with  a  creek  between 
his  cabin  and  the  lumber.  Going  with  an  ox-team,  he,  on 
his  return,  found  the  waters  so  high  that  he  must  swim  his 
oxen  in  order  to  cross.  This  he  did.  Such  were  pioneer 
experiences.  Few  these  latter  days  comprehend  the  hard- 
ships through  which  the  pioneers  of  the  State  passed. 
Neither  can  they  understand  the  strength  of  the  bonds  of 
sympathy  and  fellowship  which  united  these  first  dwellers 
in  the  woods.  After  his  cabin  was  completed  another  difli- 
culty  arose,  but,  remembering  it  was  said  "  That  it  is  not 
good  for  man  to  be  alone,"  he  returned  to  New  York,  and, 
Sept.  25,  1851,  married  Harriet  F.,  daughter  of  George 
and  Mirze  Miller.  Two  weeks  after  their  marriage  this 
young  couple  started  to  their  home  in  the  wilds  of  Mich- 
igan. Upon  their  arrival  they  took  an  inventory  of  their 
stock  of  this  world's  goods  with  which  to  begin  life,  and 
found,  besides  a  few  household  effects,  one  cow  and  three 
dollars.  But  with  a  hearty  good  will  both  went  to  work  to 
make  a  home,  and  how  well  they  succeeded  can  be  seen. 
Mr.  Lane  engaged  in  buying  and  selling  land,  owning  at 
times  several-  hundred  acres.  Their  home  farm  now  con- 
sists of  one  hundred  and  forty-eight  acres.  Although  be- 
ginning with  such  small  capital  they. have  always  had  plenty 
to  supply  their  wants,  yet  could  look  around  them  and  see 
their  neighbors  almost  destitute,  at  times  being  obliged  to 


CHESHIEE  TOWNSHIP. 


193 


subsist  oq  leeks  and  potatoes  for  weeks  at  a  time.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lane  have  a  family  of  seven  children,  viz.,  George  M., 
the  first  white  male  child  born  after  the  organization  of  the 
township ;  Wm.  C,  Almon  B.,  Herschel  D.,  Jennie  M., 
Edwin  E.,  and  Lena  M.  George  M.  married  Miss  Mary- 
Fry,  and  is  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in  Chicago. 
Wm.  C.  married  Miss  Belle  Bagley ;  is  living  on  a  fine 
farm  in  Bloomingdale.  The  others  are  at  home  with  their 
parents.  Mr.  Lane  was  born  in  Hume,  Allegeny  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  March  15,  1827.  He  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his 
mother  in  1831,  when  an  uncle,  Wm.  Hill,  took  him  into 
his  family,  where  he  found  a  pleasant  home  until  he  was 
twenty-seven  years  of  age.  His  uncle  being  engaged  in 
farming'  and  dairying,  Marcus  assisted  during  the  summer 
and  attended  school  in  the  winter  months.  After  arriving 
at  his  majority  he  returned  to  his  native  county,  engaging 
two  years  in  the  dairy  business  with  his  brother  William. 
Some  time  during  these  two  years  he  lost  the  use  of  three 


fingers,  caused  by  a  cut  received  at  the  hands  of  one  Hiram 
Turner.  Later  in  life  Mr.  Lane  has  been  engaged  in  farm- 
ing principally,  but  in  connection  with  this  has  spent  five 
years  in  a  saw-mill,  lumbering,  and  in  mercantile  business 
in  partnership  with  Cooley  &  Munger.  At  this  time  Mr. 
Lane  owns  a  saw-mill.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and 
has  held  several  offices  of  trust  in  his  township.  In  relig- 
ion is  a  Baptist,  and  has  ever  been  willing  to  devote  a  por- 
tion of  his  time  and  money  for  the  spread  of  the  gospel. 
Was  one  of  the  men  who  organized  the  first  Baptist  Church 
in  his  township,  and  so  well  did  the  members  of  his  church 
appreciate  his  services  that  they  elected  him  deacon  and 
superintendent  of  the  Sabbath-school,  which  position  he 
has  since  filled  with  credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to 
others.  Mr.  Lane's  father  died  in  New  York,  in  1870. 
Mrs.  Lane  was  born  in  Rush,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  8, 
1830.  Her  father,  George  Miller,  died  in  Ohio  in  1859. 
Her  mother  in  New  York  in  1 867. 


MRS.    S.    S.    STOUT. 


PbotoB.  by  Agrell,  Allegan. 


DR.  S.  S.  STOUT. 


S.  S.  Stout,  son  of  Wm.  A.  Stout,  was  born  in  the  State 
of  New  York,  in  1829.  The  father  was  a  farmer,  and  here 
S.  S.  remained  until  he  was  grown  to  manhood.  He  then 
made  choice  of  a  profession,  selecting  that  of  medicine,  going 
to  Dr.  Downing  to  pursue  his  course  of  study.  Attended 
medical  lectures  at  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  in  1853.  After  leaving 
college  spent  three  and  one-half  years  working  on  the 
Northern  Indiana  and  Southern  Michigan  Air-line  Railroad, 
then  being  built.  This  road  passed  through  the  northern 
part  of  the  State  of  Ohio.  After  leaving  the  railroad  pur- 
25 


chased  a  farm  in  Michigan,  intending  at  the  time  to  become 
a  farmer,  but  his  health  being  poor,  and  not  having  a  dis- 
position to  work  on  a  farm,  now  entered  the  practice  of 
medicine. 

A  successful  practice  has  extended  over  a  period  of 
twenty-two  years,  thirteen  years  of  that  time  in  the  town- 
ship of  Cheshire.  He  possesses  the  necessary  qualifications 
of  a  physician  other  than  knowledge, — geniality  of  dispo- 
sition, kindness,  and  compassion.  He  is  in  every  sense  a 
worthy  citizen. 


191 


HISTORY  OF   ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


RICHAED   FERRIS. 


MRS.    RICHARD   FERRIS. 


JOSEPH    G.    FERRIS. 


Photos,  by  Briggs,  Allegan. 


RICHARD  FERRIS. 


Richard  Ferris,  son  of  Leonard  Ferris,  was  born  in  Wayne 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  7, 182.!.  His  father  being  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, Richard  worked  at  home  on  the  farm  until  he  was  eigh- 
teen years  of  age.  During  the  winter  months  he  attended  the 
district  school  near  home.  One  winter  he  attended  a  select 
school  in  Mishawaka,  Ind.,  taught  by  a  blind  man.  The 
winters  of  1848  and  1849  he  was  at  Notre  Dame  Univer- 
sity, near  South  Bend,  Ind.  His  educational  advantages 
were  superior  to  many  young  men  of  that  day.  Mr.  Fer- 
ris made  several  changes  in  his  business  and  place  of  resi- 
dence before  his  final  settling  in,  this  State.  These  changes 
are  as  follows:  in  1843,  went  to  Mishawaka,  Ind.,  working 
in  a  mill-yard;  in  1844,  hired  out  by  the  month  in  Cass 
Co.,  Mich. ;  returning  to  Mishawaka  the  latter  part  of  the 
same  year,  he  engaged  in  a  saw-mill  as  a  sawyer ;  in  1850, 
came  to  Lawrence,  Van  Buren  Co.,  Mich.,  working  in  a 
saw-mill  in  summer,  and  teaching  in  winter  in  the  village 
of  Lawrence  ;  in  1851,  returned  the  second  time  to  Misha- 
waka, this  time  buying  an  interest  in  a  saw-mill ;  in  Au- 
gust, 1851,  returned  to  Michigan,  and  here  bought  an  in- 
terest in  a  saw-mill  at  Lawrence,  on  Brush  Creek  ;  in  1854, 
moved  to  Cheshire  township,  Allegan  Co.,  purchasing  five 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  wild  land.  Here  he  commenced 
clearing,  and  erected  a  saw-mill  for  the  purpose  of  sawing 
up  the  lumber.  This  mill  burned  down  in  1860.  A  new 
one  was  erected  in  186.3.  He  spent  a  part  of  his  time  at- 
tending to  his  farm,  but  since  1876  he  has  devoted  his  time 
exclusively  to  farming.  He  is  now  living  on  the  same 
tract  of  land  he  purchased  when  first  coming  into  the  town- 
ship ;  he  now  owns  five  hundred  and  twenty  acres.  Mr. 
Ferris  is  a  Republican,  and  is  an  active  member  of  the 
party.  He  has  filled  the  oflSces  of  township  clerk  and 
school  inspector  for  several  years.  In  1870  he  was  elected 
to  the  lower  house  of  the  Legislature.     He  is  of  Irish  and 


American  parents.  In  religion  he  is  a  liberal  Catholic. 
April  29,  1851,  he  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Ann  Milburn.  They  have  had  four  children,  viz.: 
William  M.,  Mary  E.,  Marcus  A.,  and  Joseph  G.,  who  died 
Dec.  8,  1879.  The  others  are  living  at  home  with  their 
parents.  Mrs.  Ferris  was  born  in  England  Jan.  1,  1826, 
remaining  there  until  she  was  twenty-two  years  old. 


A.  B.  EATON. 


A.  B.  Eaton  was  born  in  Cornwallis,  N.  S.,  May  12, 1818, 
and  was  the  second  son  of  Stephen  and  Mary  Eaton.  When 
he  was  but  five  years  old  his  father  moved  to  New  York 
City.  Remaining  there  but  a  short  time,  they  went  to 
Euclid,  Ohio.  At  the  end  of  two  years  returned  to  New 
York  State,  settling  at  Clarence,  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y. ;  thence, 
after  three  years'  stay,  to  Porter,  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-one,  when  most  young  men  want  to  begin  life 
for  themselves,  A.  B.,  no  exception  to  this  general  rule, 
bought  a  piece  of  land  in  Wilson  township.  In  1849,  Mr. 
Eaton  became  interested  in  the  West,  and  as  many  were 
emigrating  from  New  York  to  Michigan  he  fell  into  line 
with  them,  and  landed  in  Cheshire,  Allegan  Co.  To-day 
we  find  him  living  on  the  same  farm  he  then  bought.  It  con- 
sisted of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres.  He  has  since  added 
forty  acres.  Mr.  Eaton  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  was  Maria  B.,  daughter  of  Amon  and  Patta  Palmer. 
Three  children  were  born  of  this  union,  viz. :  0.  P., 
Mary  E.,  and  Washington  Irving,  who  died  Jan.  2,  1876. 
0.  P.,  the  other  son,  is  a  physician  in  Detroit.  Mary 
E.  was  married  on  the  30th  of  June,  1867,  to  F.  C. 
Petty.  Mr.  Petty  died,  leaving  his  wife  and  two  children, 
— U.   E.   and  M.    C, — who  make  their  home   at    Mr. 


CHESHIRE  TOWNSHIP. 


lys 


Eaton's.  Mrs.  Eaton  died  June  5,  1859.  The  second 
wife  was  LoTina,  daughter  of  George  and  Juliana  Hopkins. 
This  marriage  took  place  March  14,  1861.  Mrs.  Eaton's 
father  was  a  grandson  of  Gen.  Ebenezer  Walbridge,  of 
Bennington,  Vt.  Gen.  Walbridge  was  an  oflScer  in  the 
French  and  Indian  war,  and  in  the  Revolutionary  war  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  general ;  he  took  an  active  part  in 
the  battles  of  Bennington  and  Ticonderoga,  and  in  the  cap- 
ture of  Burgoyne. 

In  politics  Mr.  Eaton  has  always   been  a  Republican, 


with  which  party  he  is  prominently  identified  and  a  working 
member.  In  religion  is  a  Baptist,  and  is  an  earnest  worker 
in  his  church ;  was  one  of  the  number  who  organized  a 
church  three  miles  north  of  Bloomingdale.  None  have  been 
more  earnest  in  the  support  of  the  gospel,  and  few  members 
of  the  church  more  regular  in  their  attendance  upon  its 
appointed  services.  His  wife  and  daughter  are  members 
of  the  same  church.  Mr.  Eaton  is  one  of  the  substantial 
and  respected  men  of  his  township,  and  enjoys  a  good 
reputation  for  industry,  honesty,  and  economy. 


JONATHAN    HOWARD. 


MRS.    SOPHIA   HOWARD. 


JONATHAN  HOWARD. 


On  the  19th  of  May,  1808,  Jonathan  Howard  was  born  ; 
Rome,  N.  Y.,  was  the  place  of  his  birth.  Removing  to 
Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  he  there  remained  until  the  fall  of 
1854,  when  he  came  to  Michigan.  Jan.  28, 1833,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Emeline  Whipple,  who  was  born  Dee.  4,  1809, 
and  died  March  17,  1836;  by  this  marriage  two  children 
were  born, — a  son  and  a  daughter.  The  daughter,  Adeline, 
is  living  in  the  State  of  New  York.  The  son,  J.  M.,  lives 
on  the  old  homestead  in  Cheshire. 

Mr.  Howard  married  for  his  second  wife,  Jan.  22,  1839, 
Miss  Sophia  Johnson. 

J.  M.  Howard's  early  life  was  spent  in  New  York  State 
on  a  farm,  his  father  being  a  good  practical  farmer  and  a 
man  of  sound  common  sense,  who  is  now,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two  years,  living  with  his  son  on  the  farm  which 


he  first  bought  on  coming  to  Michigan.  The  son  has  man- 
aged the  business  for  the  past  fifteen  years.  Having  been 
in  Michigan  since  a  small  boy,  he  has  witnessed  some  of 
the  development  of  the  State,  much  of  it  being  an  unbroken 
wilderness  upon  their  arrival  here.  Well  he  remembers  the 
hard  labor  done  by  these  men  who  were  making  for  them- 
selves homes  in  these  wilds,  going  to  their  daily  work  with 
their  rifles,  axes,  and  their  ox-teams. 

Both  father  and  son  have  been  enterprising  men  in  their 
township,  the  father  serving  six  years  as  postmaster.  They 
are  staunch  Republicans.  Their  real  estate  consists  of 
one  hundred  acres  of  land, — eighty  in  Allegan  County,  and 
twenty  in  Van  Buren  County.  J.  M.  married  Sarah  C, 
daughter  of  William  and  Julia  More,  on  the  18th  of  April, 
1866.     Two  children  have  been  born  to  them. 


C  L  Y  D  E.^ 


Township  2  north,  range  15  west,  was  organized  in 
1860,  and  named  Clyde  after  the  place  of  the  same  name  in 
New  York  State.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Manlius,  on 
the  south  by  Lee,  east  by  Pine  Plains,  and  west  by  Ganges. 
The  Chicago  and  Michigan  Railroad  passes  in  almost  an 
air-line  between  north  and  south,  having  in  the  town  two 
stations, — Fennville  and  Sherman.  These  are  small  but 
growing  villages.  Clyde  is  just  beginning  to  develop  as  a 
fruit-producing  township,  and  gives  encouragement  to  be- 
lieve that  in  the  near  future  the  peach-culture  will  be  a 
large  and  valuable  industry.  In  January,  1880,  about  200 
acres  were  set  to  fruit, — mainly  peaches, — of  which  latter 
J.  W.  McCormick  had  13  acres;  Bathrick  &  White,  12 
acres;  William  H.  McCormick,  10  acres;  while  W.  H. 
Sileox,  S.  Atwater,  H.  Hutchins,  and  others  were  likewise 
prominent  as  peach-growers. 

The  great  tracts  of  lowland  in  Clyde,  heretofore  neglected 
and  worthless,  are  in  a  fair  way  to  be  redeemed  to  agricul- 
ture. Efforts  upon  a  liberal  scale,  looking  to  effective  drain- 
age, have  thus  far  been  attended  with  satisfactory  results, 
and  it  may  therefore  be  regarded  as  a  simple  question  of  a 
brief  time  as  to  the  ultimate  reclamation,  of  the  major 
portion  at  least,  of  what  is  now  a  waste  region. 

THE  EARLY  COMERS  IN  CLYDE. 
Doubtless  the  first  invasion  by  white  men  of  the  territory 
now  occupied  by  Clyde  was  effected  by  Jacob  Bailey  and  a 
company  of  laborers  he  brought  with  him  for  the  purpose 
of  setting  up  a  saw-mill  on  section  10,  in  the  interest  of  a 
New  York  land-owning  firm,  known  as  Green,  Mitchell  & 
Co.  Bailey's  advent  occurred  in  1837,  and  from  that  time 
until  1840  he  carried  on  the  mill  and  cleared  land  with 
considerable  activity.  In  1840,  however,  the  company 
ceased  operations  in  Clyde,  and  Bailey,  with  his  men,  mill, 
and  all,  disappeared  from  the  neighborhood.  Shortly  after 
that,  James  Harris  located  on  section  1,  upon  the  Allegan 
and  Saugatuck  road,  where  he  opened  a  blacksmith-shop, 
and  Robert  G.  Winn  temporarily  located  upon  a  place  on 
section  6.  Harris  and  Winn  were  for  five  or  six  years  the 
only  white  inhabitants  of  the  township. 

The  next  settler  was  Charles  T.  Billings,  a  New  Yorker, 
who  in  1846  located  upon  40  acres  on  section  6,  where  he 
still  resides.  When  Billings  came,  Harris  was  living  on 
section  1,  but  Winn  had  moved  from  section  6  into  New- 
ark, whence  he  subsequently  went  to  Ganges,  his  present 
home.  Walter  Billings,  who  made  a  location  upon  section 
5  in  1847,  remained  only  a  few' years.  In  1849,  Harrison 
Fry  came  on,  and  moved  into  the  shanty  earlier  occupied 
by  Winn  on  section  6. 


w  By  David  Schwartz. 


196 


James  Harris,  above  mentioned,  was  a  millwright,  and 
in  1837  was  doing  mill-work  in  Newark  township.  He 
was  sent  for  in  1839  to  assist  in  repairing  Bailey's  mill,  on 
section  10,  in  Clyde.  It  was  after  the  failure  of  Green  & 
Mitchellj  the  company  owning  the  Bailey  mill,  that  Harris 
located  on  section  1,  on  the  Allegan  road,  and  there  opened 
a  tavern,  in  connection  with  which  he  kept  the  blacksmith- 
shop  already  spoken  of  Harris  carried  on  the  tavern-stand 
nine  years,  and  then  traded  the  place  to  one  Dr.  Coats  for 
land  in  Otsego,  whither  he  removed  and  engaged  in  farming. 
The  Coats  family  conducted  the  tavern  business  a  couple 
of  years,  and  then  sold  to  the  Phillips  family,  who  disposed 
of  it  in  turn  to  George  B.  Smalley. 

On  section  1  also  lived  one  Bushnell,  a  neighbor  of  Har- 
ris, who  died  there  at  an  early  date,  and  was  buried  on  his 
farm.  His  widow  soon  afterwards  left  the  town.  There 
was  also  a  man  called  Marmaduke  Wood,  a  resident  upon 
section  1.  Wood  worked  hard  to  make  a  living,  but  after 
an  experience  of  four  years  concluded  that  he  couldn't  do 
it,  and,  selling  out,  moved  to  Illinois. 

The  first  school  taught  in  the  neighborhood' was  a  sub- 
scription school  in  Manlius,  in  a  log  house  erected  by  the 
people  in  the  vicinity,  on  the  town-line,  about  eighty  rods 
east  of  the  present  Fennville  school-house.  This  was  in 
the  winter  of  1846,  and  the  teacher  was  Laura  Hudson, 
now  Mrs.  Harrison  Hutchins.  The  first  birth  was  that  of 
Mary,  daughter  of  Chas.  T.  Billings,  Dec.  21,  1848,  now 
living  with  her  father.  The  first  marriage  was  that  of 
Helen  A.  Billings  to  Stephen  Atwater,  in  1862,  and  the 
first  death  that  of  Jacob  Baragar,  Feb.  2,  1847. 

FENNVILLE. 

The  first  clearing  upon  the  site  now  occupied  by  Fenn- 
ville was  made  in  1860  by  Henry  Blakslee,  who  did  but 
little,  however,  before  he  entered  the  army,  in  1861,  not 
long  after  which  he  was  killed  in  action.  In  1862,  Elam 
A.  Fenn,  an  early  settler  in  Manlius,  where  he  had  put  up  a 
saw-mill,  erected,  in  company  with  Levi  Loomis,  a  saw-mill 
just  west  of  where  the  railroad-traek  now  passes  through 
Fennville.  The  mill  was  soon  destroyed  by  fire,  and  then 
Emerson  &  Co.,  of  Rockford,  111.,  who  owned  considerable 
land  near  there,  joined  Fenn  in  rebuilding  the  mill,  and 
engaged  him  to  clear  their  land  and  cut  their  lumber.  In 
1870  the  railway-line  was  run  east  of  Fenn's  mill,  and 
David  Walter,  a  shoemaker  who  came  to  Clyde  in  1854, 
boarded  the  railroad  laborers  at  his  house,  near  Fenn's. 

Fennville  was  then  in  the  woods,  but  in  1871  was  platted 
by  Emerson  &  Co.,  and  given  its  name  in  honor  of  the  saw- 
mill man.  The  village  site  was  then  in  Manlius,  opposite 
the  mill.  In  the  fall  of  1871,  when  the  village  consisted 
of  the  stores  of  Pardee  Grizzell  and   Stephen  Atwater 


CLYDE  TOWNSHIP. 


197 


the  post-office,  and  a  half-dozen  houses,  everythiri",  includ- 
ing the  saw-mill,  was  burned  to  the  ground.  After  the  fire 
the  restoration  of  the  village  was  effected  upon  Wilson's 
addition,  previously  laid  out  by  M.  C.  Wilson  upon  the 
property  occupied  by  Henry  Blakslee  in  1860.  There 
the  business  portion  of  the  village  is  now  located.  The 
first  house  in  the  addition  was  built  by  M.  C.  Wilson,  upon 
the  ground  now  occupied  by  David  Signer's  hotel.  Stephen 
Atwater  was  the  first  to  build  a  store  there,  and  presently 
Dr.  Asa  Goodrich,  of  Ganges,  came  and  opened  a  drug- 
shop  in  Atwater's  store,  while  he  also  practiced  the  healing 
art.  To  Daniel  Thomas  belongs  the  distinction  of  havin"' 
been  the  pioneer  blacksmith.  Stephen  Atwater,  M.  C.  Wil- 
son, Waterman  Hutchins,  and  David  Signer,  still  living  at 
Fennville,  are  reckoned  the  oldest  residents  of  the  place. 

A  post-office  was  established  in  1866  for  the  benefit  of 
the  people  near  the  saw-mill,  and  called  "  Fenn's  Mill." 
Elam  Fenn  was  the  first  postmaster,  and,  until  the  comple- 
tion of  the  railway,  received  a  mail  three  times  each  week 
by  way  of  Manlius.  Previous  to  1866  the  latter  place  was 
the  post-office  for  the  people  at  Fenn's  Mill.  When  the 
village  was  laid  out,  the  name  of  the  post-office  was  changed 
to  Fennville.  Succeeding  Fenn,  the  postmasters  have  been 
Stephen  Atwater,  Wm.  Seiver,  George  Smead,  and  J.  W. 
McCormick,  the  present  incumbent. 

Fennville  is  fast  rising  to  importance  as  a  shipping-point 
as  well  as  a  trading-place.  During  the  season  of  1878  the 
railway-shipments  included  5000  barrels  of  apples,  55,000 
baskets  of  peaches,  and  25  cars  of  wheat.  During  the 
season  of  1879  shipments  included  137,000  baskets  of 
peaches,  4000  barrels  of  apples,  and  60  cars  of  wheat. 
The  outlook  for  1880  promises  a  material  advance  in  busi- 
ness over  the  figures  for  1879. 

Besides  Dr.  Asa  Goodrich,  Fennville's  physicians  have 
been  Drs.  C.  F.  Stimpson,  Hull,  McCuUough,  Andrews, 
and  Meaghan.  The  two  latter  are  now  the  resident  physi- 
cians. 

SHERMAN. 

In  1867,  Alonzo  Sherman  and  Ezra  L.  Davis  came  to 
Clyde,  with  about  20  men,  and  set  up  a  saw-mill  on  section 
32.  They  also  opened  a  store,  and  called  the  place  Sher- 
man. Davis  remained  only  a  few  years.  Mr.  Sherman  has 
continued  uninterruptedly  to  follow  the  saw-mill  business 
at  the  place  ever  since.  When  the  railway  was  opened,  in 
1871,  a  post-office  was  established  at  Sherman  and  called 
Bravo,  its  present  name.  The  appellation  is  supposed  to 
have  been  suggested  by  some  one  who  wished  thus  to  indi- 
cate the  spirit  that  must  have  animated  the  pioneers  of  the 
place  in  starting  a  village  in  the  woods.  Chandler  Eaton, 
the  first  postmaster,  was  succeeded,  in  1873,  by  the  present 
incumbent,  Eugene  D.  Nash,  who  has  also  been  the  railway 
agent  since  that  time. 

The  village  when  visited  by  the  writer,  in  February, 
1880,  boasted  three  stores,  a  saw-mill,  and  a  stave-mill. 
The  railway  shipments  at  Sherman  depot  during  the  season 
of  1879  included  25,000  baskets  of  peaches,  37  cars  of 
wheat,  and  1400  bushels  of  clover-seed.  The  business  of 
shipping  fruit  and  wheat  at  this  station  is  expected  to 
advance  materially  during  1880,  and,  as  two  new  stores 
were  erected  in  the  village  in  February,  1880,  public  ex- 


pectation would  seem  to  point  to  a  speedy  and  vigorous 
trade  increase. 

CLYDE   CENTRE. 

Settlements  in  Clyde  were  confined  until  quite  recently 
to  the  northwestern  portion.  Sherman,  in  the  south,  was 
settled  in  1867,  and  in  1872,  Eggleston  and  Hazleton,  in- 
terested with  Stockbridge  and  Johnson,  extensive  land- 
owners, put  up  a  large  saw-mill  at  the  place  now  called 
Clyde  Centre,  employing  in  the  woods  and  at  the  mill  about 
75  men.  They  erected  a  number  of  houses,  including  a 
large  boarding-house  for  their  laborers,  opened  a  store,  caused 
a  railway-station  and  post-office  to  be  established  there, 
and  carried  on  their  business  prosperously  until  1877,  when, 
the  timber-supply  being  about  exhausted,  they  removed  the 
mill  elsewhere,  and  Clyde  Centre  was  accordingly  relegated 
to  obscurity.  James  Bathrick  and  James  E.  White  were 
among  the  first  hands  employed  in  the  mill,  and  when  it 
was  removed  they  bought  farming-land  on  section  20, 
where  they  have  since  been  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits, particularly,  however,  at  present  in  the  business  of 
fruit-growing. 

W.  A.  Briggs,  whose  parents  settled  in  Manlius  in  1851, 
located  at  Clyde  Centre  in  1874,  and  lives  there  now. 
There  is  at  the  Centre  a  Free- Will  Baptist  Church  organ- 
ization, which  worships  in  the  school-house  and  has  a 
small  membership  in  the  thinly-settled  neighborhood. 

TOWNSHIP  ORGANIZATION. 

Clyde,  originally  a  portion  of  Pine  Plains,  was  set  off  by 
the  county  supervisors  Oct.  12, 1859,  and  named  by  Ralph 
Parish,  who  had  come  from  Clyde,  N.  Y.  At  the  first 
town  election,  held  April  2,  1860,  13  votes  were  cast  by 
the  following  persons  :  Ralph  Parish,  George  G.  Smalley, 
E.  H.  Heath,  David  Walter,  Charles  T.  Billings,  Stephen 
Thayer,  John  Withrow,  Henry  Davidson,  E.  B.  Wells, 
Richard  Purdy,  Robert  Hayes,  Frank  Seymour,  Jeremiah 
Stafford. 

The  following  persons  have  been  chosen  annually  since 

1860  as  supervisors,  clerks,  treasurers,  and  justices  of  the 

peace : 

SUPERVISORS. 

1860-64,  Ralph  Parrish;  1865,  E.  A.  Fenn;  1866-79,  J.  W.  McCor- 
mick. 

CLERKS. 

1860,  George  G.  Smalley;  1861,  William  Williams;  1862,  E.  H.  Heath ; 
1863,  R.  H.  Bushnell;  1864^66,  David  Walter;  1867,  Newton 
Arnold;  1868-72,  David  Walter;  1873,  Newton  Arnold;  1874-75, 
David  Walter;  1876-79,  S.  Atwater. 

TREASURERS. 
1860,  E.  H.  Heath;  1861,  C.  T.  Billings;  1862-63,  D.  Walter;  1864, 
R.  Bushnell;  1865,  W.  F.  Billings;  1866,  J.  Robertson;  1867, 
M.C.  Wilson;  1868-71,  S.  Atwater;  1872-75,  H.  F.Pullman; 
1876-77,  W.  W.  Hutchins ;  1878-79,  C.  T.  Billings. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 
1860,  C.  T.  Billings;  1861,  B.  AV.  Phillips;  1862,  R.  Parish;  1863, 
E.  H.  Heath;  1864,  E.  A.  Fenn;  1865,  C.  T.  Billings;  1866,  J. 
W.  McCormick;  1867,  E.  L.  Davis;  1868,  E.  A.  Fenn;  1869,  C. 
T.Billings;  1870,  J.  W.  McCormick;  1871,  Joseph  Pyles;  1872, 
George  Cook;  1873,  S.  Atwater;  1874,  J.  W.  McCormick;  1875, 
W.  H.  Sileox;  1876,  B.  D.  Nash;  1877,  S.  Atwater;  1878,  J.  W. 
McCormick;  1879,  S.  B.  Severns. 


198 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


CHURCHES  AND  SCHOOLS. 

Clyde  contains  no  house  of  worship,  although  the  village 
of  Fennville  has,  on  the  Manlius  side,  a  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  edifice,  in  which  many  of  Clyde's  citizens  worship. 
There  are  in  the  township,  at  various  school-houses,  frequent 


religious  meetings,  but  thus  far  no  denomination  has  found 
itself  strong  enough  to  erect  a  house  of  its  own. 

Of  schools  there  are  but  four,  and  one  of  them  is  in  a 
fractional  district.  The  enrollment  of  school  children  in 
the  four  districts  is  124,  and  the  average  attendance  in  three 
of  them  is  90. 


DOE  r; 


The  township  of  Dorr,  designated  in  the  original  sur- 
vey as  township  No.  4  north,  of  range  No.  12  west,  is 
situated  upon  the  northern  border  of  Allegan  County,  east 
of  the  centre.  The  adjoining  townships  are  Byron,  in  Kent 
County,  on  the  north,  Leighton  on  the  east,  Hopkins  on 
the  south,  and  Salem  on  the  west. 

The  general  surface,  except  through  the  Centre  from 
north  to  south,  and  a  narrow  belt  on  the  east  border,  where 
a  considerable  extent  of  swamp-land  exists,  is  rolling,  and 
presents  many  beautiful  landscapes. 

Originally  the  township  was  heavily  timbered.  About 
two-thirds  of  the  southwest  quarter  was  covered  with  pine, 
and  another  small  tract  of  pine  was  found  southeast  of  the 
centre,  the  remainder  being  of  the  deciduous  varieties, 
such  as  beech,  maple,  oak,  ash,  white-wood,  elm,  lynn, 
tamarack,  etc. 

The  soil  compares  favorably  with  that  of  other  townships, 
and  ■  is  of  the  same  nature  as  that  found  throughout  the 
State,  viz. :  alternating  belts  of  sand  and  clay  loam  on  the 
uplands,  with  alluvial  deposits  in  the  swamps  and  lower 
portions.  A  system  of  ditching  will  ultimately  reclaim 
nearly  every  acre  of  the  present  waste-lands  in  the  town- 
ship. The  lakes  and  water-courses  are  unimportant ;  sec- 
tions 11,  29,  and  30  are  each  dotted  with  a  small  lake  of 
from  15  to  20  acres  in  extent.  The  stream  known  as  Big 
Rabbit  River  cuts  the  extreme  southwest  corner.  Its 
tributary.  Red  River,  enters  the  township  from  the  north- 
east corner,  and,  after  pursuing  a  very  sinuous  course,  finally 
leaves  it,  near  the  centre  of  the  west  border. 

The  people  of  Dorr  are  chiefly  engaged  in  the  pursuits 
of  agriculture,  their  ^oil  being  well  adapted  to  grazing  and 
the  culture  of  fruit,  grass,  corn,  and  the  various  cereals. 
Abundant  harvests  annually  reward  the  husbandmen  for 
their  toil,  and  an  appearance  of  general  prosperity  prevails. 
Neat  farm-houses,  commodious  out-buildings,  handsome  and 
well-managed  farms  grace  the  landscape  in  many  portions. 
For  the  improvement  of  their  live-stock  the  people  have 
thus  far  been  mainly  indebted  to  the  Messrs.  Averill,  Bates, 
and  Gilbert. 

Excellent  railway  facilities  are  afforded  by  the  lines  of 
the  Lake-Shore  and  Michigan  Southern  Railroad  and  the 
Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana  Railroad.  The  former  passes 
through  the  centre  of  the  township  from  north  to  south, 

»  By  J.  S.  Schenok. 


its  Station  being  Dorr  Centre.  The  latter,  running  in  the 
same  general  direction,  intersects  sections  1,  12,  and  13; 
its  station  in  this  township  being  Moline. 

EARLY  HISTORY. 

OKIGINAL  SURVEYS. 
Deputy  United  States  Surveyor  Lucius  Lyon  ran  out  all 
the  township  and  sectional  lines  of  Dorr.  He  was  here 
first  in  1826,  when  he  traced  the  northern,  eastern,  and 
western  boundaries.  On  the  3d  of  May,  1831,  he  re- 
appeared upon  its  borders  and  blazed  the  southern  line,  and 
during  the  months  of  May  and  June  of  the  same  year  com- 
pleted the  work  by  subdividing  the  township  into  36 
sections. 

FIRST  AND  OTHER  EARLY  LAND-ENTRIES. 

That  portion  of  the  public  domain  lying  within  the  present 
township  of  Dorr  was  first  thrown  open  to  purchasers  in  the 
summer  of  1835,  and  the  first  persons  to  avail  themselves 
of  the  opportunity  were  two  well-known  residents  of  Otsego, 
— Hull  Sherwood  and  Almerin  L.  Cotton,  who  on  the  31st 
day  of  August,  1835,  purchased  individually  certain  por- 
tions of  section  31.  One  or  two  other  lots  were  entered 
during  the  same  year,  and  a  large  amount  in  the  years  1836 
and  1837  ;  but  a  considerable  portion  of  this  township  re- 
mained vested  in  the  general  government  until  after  the 
year  1844. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  first  and  other  early  entries 
made  upon  each  section  : 

Section  1. — Harry  Van  Man,  June  2,  1845;  Nathaniel  Goodspeed, 
September,  1845  j  Edward  Moore,  October,  1845;  William  B. 
Floyd,  October,  1845 ;  George  C.  Rice,  October,  1845. 

Section  2. — Natlianiel  Goodspeed,  September,  1S46  ;  Edward  Moore, 
October,  1845 ;  C.  and  A.  M.  Hoy,  October,  1845 ;  Cyrenua  Bar- 
tholomew, 1845;  Braatus  B.  Snow,  1845;  John  Jackson,  1845. 

Section  3. — Harry  Van  Man,  June,  1845;  Cyrus  Snow,  1845;  Ira  G. 
Snow,  1845;  Marshall  M.  Wells,  1845;  Charles  H.  Coggeshall, 
1845. 

Section  4.  Rodney  C.  Sessions,  1850. 

Section  5. — Marshall  Morrill,  Sandusky,  Ohio,  1848. 

Section  6. — Zenas  L.  Griswold,  Nov.  7,  1836. 

Section  7. — Jacob  Bartz,  November,  J  852. 

Section  8. — Timothy  Brown,  December,  1851. 

Section  9. — David  R.  Averill,  March,  1853. 

Section  10.— Marshall  M.  Wells,  December,  1845. 

Section  11.— Wm.  R.  Moore,  October,  1845;  Cyrus  Snow,  November, 
1845 ;  Charles  H.  Coggeshall,  December,  1845. 

.Secftoii  12.— Josiah  Williams,  October,  1845 ;  James  E.  Gould,  October, 
1845;  Wm.  H.  Culver,  September,  1846. 


DORR  TOWNSHIP. 


199 


Section  13. — Dennis  Williams,  October,  1845 ;    C.  and  A.  M.  Hoy, 

October,  1845;  Elibu  Luee,  November,  1845. 
Sactlou  14. — C.  and  A.  M.  Hoy,  October,  1845;  Cyrus  Snow,  Novem- 
ber, 1845;  Elihu  Luce,  November,  1845. 
Sectiuu  15.— Enos  T.  Throop,  July,  1847. 
Section  16. — F.  Kummett,  February,  1855. 

Section  17. — Reuben  Barrett,  May  23,  1838  ;  Samuel  Pettibone,  May 
23,  1836;  Samuel  M.  Bartlett,  July,  1836;  James  Ewing,  March, 
1854. 
Secd'oii  18.^ William  P.  Green,  July,  1836;  James  Ewing,  March, 

1854. 
Section  19. — Samuel  Camp,  January,  1856;  Putnam  Hills,  November, 

1854. 
Section  20. — John  E.  Kellogg,  January,  1836;  Daniel  B.  Miller,  July, 

1836;  Goodwin  Stoddard,  July,  1836. 
Section  21. — John  R.  Kellogg,  January,  1836;  William  B.  Clymer, 

Bucks  Co.,  Pa.,  December,  1836. 
Section  22. — Harry  Van  Man,  June,  1845. 
Section  23. — Harry  Van  Man,  June,  1845. 
Section  24. — Benjamin  Patch,  November,  1845. 
Section  25. — Samuel  C.  Jones,  May,  1847. 
Section   26. — Peck,  Hooker  &  Co.,  Jefferson    Co.,  N.  Y.,  December, 

1836;  Isaiah  Hillman,  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.,  December,  1836. 
Section  27. — David  S.  Dille  and  Isaac  Barnes,  January,  1836  ;  Daniel 

B.  Miller,  July,  1836. 
Section  28. — John    R.  Kellogg,  January,  1836 ;    Goodwin   Stoddard, 

July,  1836;  Lyman  Pettibone,  February,  1837. 
Sectioti  29. — Cornelius  Wendell,  January,  1836.         , 
Section  30. — Samuel  Camp,  January,  1836;  Cornelius  Wendell,  Jan- 
uary, 1836;  George  Brace,  January,  1836. 
Section  31. — Almerin  L.  Cotton,  August  31,  1835;    Hull  Sherwood, 
Aug.  31,  1835  ;    Samuel  Hubbard,  October,  1836 ;    Boltwood  & 
Sweetser,  1836. 
Section  32. — Samuel  Hubbard,  October,  1835. 
Section  33. — Samuel  Hubbard,  October,  1835;  Sylvester  Wright,  Feb. 

4,  1837. 
Section  34. — Benjamin  Truax,  Sept.  2,  1852. 
Section  35. — Emerson  Ketcham,  March,  1853. 

Section  36. — George  W.  Barnes,  February,  1836;  Samuel  Moon,  De- 
cember, 1836;  Ballard  Ball,  December,  1836;  Ira  Camp,  Feb- 
ruary, 1837;  Charles  C.  Comstock,  March,  1854. 

FIRST   SETTLEMENTS. 

The  first  settlement  was  made  in  this  township  in  Octo- 
ber, 1845,  by  Nathaniel  Goodspeed  and  his  son  Orrin. 
They  came  from  Warrensville,  Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio,  with 
their  own  conveyances,  drawn  by  one  horse  and  one  ox-team, 
and  also  brought  in  twelve  head  of  cattle.  The  father  was 
a  widower.  Orrin's  family  consisted  of  himself,  his  wife, 
and  sons,  George,  Cyrus,  Daniel,  and  William.  Their  lands, 
purchased  while  en  route,  at  Marshall,  Mich.,  were  situated 
on  the  north  sides  of  sections  1  and  2,  were  entered  in  the 
name  of  Nathaniel  Goodspeed,  and,  except  one  other,  were 
the  first  purchases  made  upon  those  sections.  The  father 
erected  a  small  log  cabin,  near  the  present  residence  of 
Orrin  Goodspeed,  and  the  latter  lived  with  him  that  winter, 
establishing  himself  the  same  season  in  another  log  house, 
on  section  2. 

Thus  situated,  they  passed  the  winter  of  1845-46,  and 
a  very  severe  one  it  was,  too,  especially  for  their  cattle. 
Their  nearest  neighbors  were  seven  miles  distant,  to  the 
northeast,  while  on  the  south  nine  miles  had  to  be  traversed 
through  the  forests  ere  a  settlement  was  reached.  Not  a 
particle  of  hay  or  straw  could  be  obtained  for  their  live- 
stoclf ;  but  by  a  vigorous  and  daily  use  of  the  axe,  their 
cattle  were  enabled  to  eke  out  a  scanty  subsistence  through 
the  winter  by  "  browsing." 

In  the  spring  and  summer  of  1846, 18  acres  were  cleared 


sufficiently  to  put  in  crops  of  corn,  wheat,  potatoes,  and 
turnips,  and  from  that  time  the  generous  soil  supplied  them 
abundantly  with  food,  but,  notwithstanding,  money  was  hard 
to  obtain.  Store  goods  were  unreasonably  high,  and  only 
to  be  obtained  at  distant  points,  and  Orrin  Goodspeed's 
children  frequently  wended  their  way  to  school  in  the  snow 
barefooted.  The  elder  Goodspeed  was  born  in  Cattaraugus 
Co.,  N.  Y.  He  was  a  tanner  and  currier  by  trade,  and  be- 
fore settling  here  had  lived  in  various  portions  of  the 
country.  In  September,  1850,  he  committed  suicide  by 
shooting  himself  in  his  own  house,  and  his  is  believed  to 
have  been  the  first  death  to  occur  in  the  township.  The 
first  white  child  born  in  the  township  was  Charles  L.,  son 
of  Orrin  Goodspeed,  whose  birth  occurred  June  21,  1846. 
The  next  settlers  in  the  township  were  the  bachelor 
brothers  Edward  and  William  R.  Moore.  Edward  pur- 
chased land  on  sections  1  and  2  in  October,  1845,  and 
with  his  brother  erected  a  log  cabin,  and  settled  upon  the 
premises  now  owned  by  L.  C.  Gilbert,  in  the  winter  of 
1845-46.  Both  were  prominent  citizens  in  the  township 
when  it  included  the  present  town  of  Hopkins ;  served  as 
justices  of  the  peace  and  in  other  capacities.  Edward 
Moore  now  resides  in  Byron,  Kent  Co.,  Mich. 

Augustin  M.  Hoy,  who  owned  lands  situated  upon  sec- 
tions 2,  13,  and  14,  was  also  a  resident  in  1846  or  1847, 
but  did  not  continue  here  long. 

Edmond  Johnson,  the  fourth  to  settle  his  family  in  the 
township,  arrived  during  a  December  snow-storm,  in  1847. 
The  same  day  witnessed  the  arrival  here  of  Warren  Jones 
and  Rodney  C.  Sessions.  They  arranged  a  shelter  for  the 
first  night  by  turning  their  wagon-box  bottom  upwards, 
crawling  underneath  ;  and  the  next  morning  there  was  ten 
inches  of  snow  upon  the  ground.  The  settlers  last  men- 
tioned were  from  Oakland  Co.,  Mich. 

James  A.  Sterling,  who  settled  upon  section  10,  was  also 
one  of  the  prominent  early  settlers.  He  built  the  first 
framed  house  in  the  town,  and,  as  he  served  for  many  years 
as  justice  of  the  peace,  his  house  was  a  well-known  place 
of  resort  for  early  litigants.  Frequently  his  court  held 
open  till  midnight.  Meantime,  his  good  wife  would  pre- 
pare supper  for  those  assembled,  of  whom  about  one-half 
paid  for  their  entertainment.  Squire  Sterling  would  earn 
perhaps  |1.50  in  fees,  while  next  morning  it  required  two 
or  three  hours'  hard  work  to  clear  up,  and  arrange  household 
matters  again. 

For  the  first  years  settlements  tended  towards  the  north- 
east quarter  of  the  township,  and  the  families  coming  in 
were  principally  Americans.  But  soon  after  1850  several 
Germans  began  improvements  in  the  northwest  portion,  and 
their  numbers  have  been  increased  by  others,  until  to-day 
they  own  at  least  one-fourth  of  all  the  lands  in  the  town- 
ship. They  are  good  -citizens,  and  most  excellent  farmers. 
Among  those  not  already  mentioned  who  were  settled  here 
prior  to  June,  1853,  were  Benjamin  Truax,  Stephen  Per- 
kins, William  H.  Lock,  Cyrus  C.  Babbitt,  Robert  Sproat, 
James  Clark,  David  R.  Averill,  David  R.  Averill,  Jr.,  John 
L.  Barney,  Dudley  Miller,  Byron  Nelson,  Jason  J.  Morrill, 
Thomas  A.  Morrill,  George  Krauss,  Levi  Swartz,  Anton 
Harrish,  Jacob  Bartz,  Nicholas  Kline,  George  H.  Sessions, 
William  Kite,  and  Norman  Miller. 


200 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


RESIDENTS  IN  1853. 
The  following  list  comprises  the  names,  etc.,  of  all  who 
were  assessed  as  resident  tax -payers  in  June,  1853.  This 
was  the  first  assessment  made  after  the  organization  of 
Hopkins,  and  those  here  named  may  be  considered  the 
charter  members,  the  real  pioneers  of  the  township  of 
Dorr : 

Section.  Acres.  Tax  paid. 

Orrin  Goodspeed 1,2  216  $20.77 

John  L.  Barney 2         80  SM 

Dudley  .Miller 2         70  7.42 

Warren  Jones 3         80  6.26 

Byron  Nelson 5         80  2.99 

Jason  J.  Morrill 6  100  3.97 

Thomas  A.  Morrill.; 5         80  4.05 

George  Krauss 5  160  6.03 

Levi  Swartz 5         80  3.79 

Anton  Harrish 7         80  4.49 

Jacob  Bartz 7         SO  2.87 

Nicholas  Kline 8         80  3.53 

David  R.  Averill 9        40  13.03 

James  A.  Sterling 10         40  2.66 

George  H.  Sessions 10         80  6.86 

William  Kite 10         SO  4.96 

Norman  Miller 10         50  6.02 

Edmond  Johnson 10  120  6.75 

Wm.  H.  Lock 11         80  5.34 

Cyrus  C.  Babbitt 11         80  4.17 

Robert  Sproat 13         80  6.19 

James  Clark 24        80  2.87 

Benjamin  Truax 34        40  1.72 

David  R.  Averill,  Jr Personal  5.79 

Stephen  Perkins *'  1.30 

Since  1860,  and  more  especially  since  the  close  of  the 
war  and  the  completion  of  the  two  different  lines  of  rail- 
ways, population  has  increased  so  rapidly  that  Dorr  township 
of  to-day  is  one  of  the  most  populous  in  Allegan  County. 

The  names  of  many  other  early  settlers  are  mentioned  in 
the  lists  of  township  officers,  church  and  village  histories, 
etc.,  to  which  the  reader  is  referred. 

CIVIL   HISTOEY. 

From  the  23d  of  March,  1836,  until  the  spring  of  1842, 
the  territory  comprised  within  the  present  limits  of  Dorr 
formed  part  of  Otsego  township.  Watson  was  formed  in 
1842,  and  included  within  its  boundaries  the  present 
townships  of  Watson,  Hopkins,  and  Dorr. 

By  an  act  to  organize  certain  townships  in  the  State  of 
Michigan,  approved  March  16,  1847,  the  township  of 
Dorr  was  erected.  That  portion  of  the  act  relating  to 
this  territory  reads  as  follows : 

"  Section  2.  That  townships  three  and  four  north,  of  range  number 
twelve  west,  in  the  county  of  Allegan,  be  and  the  same  are  hereby  set 
oflf  from  the  township  of  Watson  and  organized  into  a  separate  town- 
ship by  the  name  of  Dorr,*  and  the  first  township-meeting  therein 
shall  be  held  at  the  school-house,  in  school-district  number  three,  in 
said  township." 

FIRST  TOWNSHIP-MEETING,  Etc. 
At  the  first  township  election,  which  was  held  at  the 
school-house  in  district  No.  3,  Monday,  April  5,  1847,  the 
meeting  was  organized  by  choosing  William  H.  Warner 
chairman,  John  Parsons  clerk,  Jonathan  0.  Round  and 
Edward  Moore  inspectors  of  election.  The  whole  number 
of  votes  polled  was  14,  and  all  were  thrown  for  John 
Parsons  for  supervisor.  The  other  officers  elected  were 
Jonathan  0.  Round,  Township  Clerk  ;  William  H.  Warner, 
Treasurer;   Edward  Moore,  William   H.  Warner,  School 

*  A  name  supposed  to  be  derived  from  the  principal  in  Dorr's  (Rhode     ' 
Island)  rebellion. 


Inspectors ;  Orrin  Goodspeed,  Erastus  Congdon,  Jonathan 
Brewer,  Highway  Commissioners;  William  H.  Warner, 
Harvey  N.  Baker,  Directors  of  the 'Poor;  William  H. 
Warner,  Edward  Moore,  Harvey  N.  Baker,  Justices  of  the 
Peace  ;t  Orrin  Goodspeed,  John  Parsons,  Jason  Baker, 
Jonathan  0.  Round,  Constables.  The  appointments  for 
overseers  of  highways  were :  Jonathan  0.  Round  for  District 
No.  1,  Jonathan  Brewer  for  District  No.  2,  John  Parsons 
for  District  No.  3,  and  Edward  Moore  for  District  No.  4. 
The  electors  then  concluded  their  business  by  voting  as 
follows : 

"  To  raise  $150  for  township  expenses.  To  raise  $250  for  highway 
purposes,  and  $15  for  wolf-bounties.  To  pay  $3  for  each  wolf  killed 
in  the  township.  That  for  school  purposes,  fifty  cents  be  raised  on 
each  child  in  the  township  between  the  ages  of  four  and  eighteen 
years.  That  Timothy  J.  Crampton's  barn-yard  be  the  Pound,  and 
William  H.  Warner  serve  as  pound-master.  That  the  next  township- 
meeting  be  held  at  the  house  of  Timothy  J,  Crampton.'' 

On  effecting  a  settlement  with  Watson,  Dorr  received  of 
the  highway  fund  $439.31,  and  of  the  Watson  township 
library  56  volumes,  valued  at  $28.63.  The  total  amount  of 
taxes  collected  during  the  year  ending  April  1,  1848,  was 
the  sum  of  $76.60,  which  was  disbursed  as  follows : 

Paid  to  township  ofiicers $62.01 

"       school  district  No.  1 3.97 

"  "  "         "     2 8.78 

"       road  "         "     4 1.84 

$76.60 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Allegan  County  board  of  supervisors, 
held  Dec.  29, 1852,  township  No.  3  north,  of  range  No.  12 
west,  was  set  off  from  Dorr,  and  organized  into  a  separate 
township,  by  the  name  of  Hopkins.  The  first  meeting 
after  this  change  of  boundary-lines  was  effected  was  held  at 
the  house  of  Orrin  Goodspeed,  on  the  first  Monday  in 
April  (4),  1853. 

TOWNSHIP   OFFICERS. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  principal  township  officers 
of  Dorr,  elected  annually,;];  for  the  years  from  1848  to 
1880,  inclusive : 

SUPEKVISOBS. 

1848-50,  John  Parsons;  1851-62,  Luther  Martin;  1853,  David  R. 
Averill,  Jr.;  1854,  Orrin  Goodspeed;  1855,  David  R.  Averill, 
Jr.;  1856-67,  John  Frank;  1858,  Bradley  Gilbert;  1869-62, 
David  MoConuell;  1863,  Charles  D.  Wood  ;  1864,  David  MoCon- 
nell;  1865-66,  William  A.  Smith;  1868-73,  Philctus  S.  PuUen ; 
1874-76,  William  A.  Smith;  1877-78,  William  J.  Sproat;  1879, 
William  A.  Smith;  1880,  David  MoConnell. 

TOWNSHIP  CLERKS. 

1848-50,  Jonathan  0.  Round;  1851,  William  H.  Warner r^  1852-5.S, 
James  A.  Sterling;  1854,  L.  C.  Gilbert;  1855-56,  C.  0.  Babbitt; 
1867,  Chauncey  Stone;  1868,  Philetus  S.  Pullen;  1859-63,  Rob- 
ert Sproat;  1864,  Benjamin  V.  Stone;  1865,  James  Jeffers;|| 
1866,  George  S.  Thomas;  1867,  Alfred  Bmons;  1868-69,  Robert 
Sproat;  1870,  Joseph  Sterling ;  1871-76,  William  J.  Sproat; 
1876,  John  A.  Beamer;  1877,  George  S.  Thomas;  1878-79,  John 
A.  Beamer;  1880,  Lewis  N.  Fisher. 


■f  Erastus  Congdon,  having  been  elected  justice  of  the  peace  of  Wat- 
son, held  over,  and  served  his  unexpired  term — two  years — tn  this 
township. 

i  All  vacancies,  resignations,  and  appointments  are  not  shown. 

J  Resigned.    J.  0.  Round  appointed  July  24, 1861. 

II  H.  N.  Averill  appointed  August,  1865. 


DORR  TOWNSHIP. 


201 


TEEASUBERS. 
1848,  William  H.  Warner;  1849,  William  R.  Moore;  1850,  Rodney 
C.  Sessions;  1861-53,  Orrin  Goodspeed;  1854,  Nahum  Snow; 
1855-58,  David  McConnell;  1859-64,  Philetus  S.  Pullen ;  1865- 
66,  Frank  Neuman;  1867-69,  John  Sommer;  1870,  William  II. 
Ewingj  1871,  Harmon  Campbell;  1872,  John  Sommer;  1873-75, 
William  H.  Ewing;  1876,  Joseph  Neuman;  1877,  Anton  Weber; 
1878-79,  Joseph  Neuman;  1880,  Philetus  S.  Pullen. 

JUSTICES  or  THE  PEACE. 
Jonathan  Brewer,  Jr.,  1848;  William  R.  Moore,  Jason  Baker,  Seral- 
pha  C.  Buck,  1849;  Erastus  Congdon,  Jason  Baker,  William  R. 
Moore,  1850;  Rodney  C.  Sessions,  1851;  Byron  Nelson,  Henry 
N.  Baker,  1852;  Orrin  Goodspeed,  Robert  L.  Sproat,  James  A. 
,  Sterling,  1S53;  Nahum  Snow,  1854;  David  R.  Averill,  Sr., 
Thomas  A.  Morrill, '1855;  Thomas  Cary,  Byron  Nelson,  1856; 
James  A.  Sterling,  Jonathan  Sooy,  1857;  Hiram  Ross,  Thomas 
Cary,  1858  ;  Hiram  Bisbee,  1859  ;  James  A.  Sterling,  Charles  H. 
Dougherty,  Anton  Weber,  1860  ;  James  Jeffers,  Jonathan  Sooy, 
1861  ;  M.  W.  Van  Tassel,  1862  ;  Charles  D.  Wood,  Anton  Weber, 
1863;  James  A.  Sterling,  Charles  H.  Dougherty,  1864;  John  A. 
Potter,  1865;  Charles  II.  Dougherty,  Joseph  Gilbert,  Anton 
Weber,  1866;  Jonathan  M.  Sooy,  1867;  M.  Grandy,  1868;  Orrin 
Goodspeed,  James  A.  Sterling,  1869;  Anton  Weber,  Robert  H. 
Helmer,  1870;  Joseph  Woodhams,  1871;  George  W.  Pennell, 
Lewis  F.  Smith,  1873;  William  J.  Sproat,  1874;  Alfred  H. 
Phelps,  Edwin  Byles,  1875;  Lewis  F.  Smith,  1876;  Frank  Som- 
mers,  Daniel  Stein,  1877;  Lyman  B.  Parke,  1878;  Alfred  H. 
Phelps,  1879;  Anton  Weber,  1880. 

HIGHWAY  COMMISSIONEKS. 
William  R.  Moore,  1848;  Erastus  Congdon,  1849;  Jonathan  Brewer, 
1850  ;  Edmund  Johnson,  1851  ;  Harvey  N.  Baker,  1852;  Thomas 
Morrill,  Robert  L.  Sproat,  1853;  David  R.  Aveiill,  Sr.,  1854; 
Oliver  Emmons,  1855;  Benjamin  Truax,  1856;  Anton  Weber, 
1857;  Oliver  Emmons,  1858;  Frank  Ncumnn,  William  H.  Look, 
1859;  William  Wood,  1860;  Thomas  Rank,  1861;  Edward  Av- 
erill, Frank  Neuman,  1862;  John  A.  Potter,  1863;  John  Som- 
mers,  1864;  James  Jeffers,  John  Summers,  1865;  Edward  Av- 
erill, John  Wegand,  1866;  Ferdinand  Neuman,  1867;  M.  Grandy, 
1868;  no  record,  1869;  Frank  Neuman,  1870  ;  Robert  W.  Hel- 
mer, 1871;  Eli  Driskell,  1872;  Hampton  Ellis,  1873;  Daniel 
Stein,  1874;  Frank  Neuman,  1875;  Lyman  W.  Ehle,  1876-77 ; 
Wenzell  Schindler,  1878;  Frank  Neuman,  1879;  James  Tanner, 

1880. 

DRAIN   COMMISSIONEES. 

Sylvanus  Paul,  1872;  George  S.  Thomas,  1874;  Bradley  Gilbert, 
1876 ;  Hampton  Ellis,  1878  ;  Charles  R.  Averill,  1879. 

SUPERINTENDENTS  OE  SCHOOLS. 

Erastus  N.  Bates,  1875;  James  W.  Humphrey,  1876;  Sylvanus  Fel- 

ton,  1877-80. 

SCHOOL  INSPECTORS. 

John  Parsons,  1848;  Rodney  C.  Sessions,  1849;  John  Parsons,  1850; 
Luther  Martin,  1851 ;  William  H.  Warner,  1852;  David  R.  Av- 
erill, Jr.,  Robert  L.  Sproat,  1853;  Nahum  Snow,  1854;  David  R. 
Averill,  Jr.,  1855;  John  Frank,  1866;  Charles  D.  Wood,  1857; 
James  A.  Sterling,  1868;  Charles  D.  Wood,  1859;  Charles  H. 
Daugherty,  1860  ;  Heman  B.  Robb,  1861;  Charles  D.  Wood, 
Benjamin  V.  Stone,  1862;  Philetus  S.  Pullen,  1863;  James  A. 
Sterling,  1864 ;  Charles  D.  Wood,  1865 ;  Charles  H.  Daugherty, 
James  A.  Sterling,  1866;  George  Jordon,  1867;  David  McCon- 
nell, Philetus  S.  Pullen,  1868;  no  record,  1869;  P.  S.  Pullen, 
1870;  William  A.  Smith,  1871 ;  V.  Van  Sickel,  1872;  Howard  L. 
Merrill,  1873;  Albert  V.  Averill,  1874;  Bradley  Gilbert,  1875-76 ; 
Joseph  W.  Sohirem,  1877;  Henry  P.  Evarts,  1878-79;  Wright 
B.  Mills,  1880. 

EDUCATIONAL. 
The  first  school  district  organized*  wherein  schools  were 
taught  and  attended  by  children  from  this  township  was 

»  Upon  the  organization  of  Dorr  (including  Hopkins),  in  1847, 
township  No.  4  north,  of  range  No.  12  west,  was  known  as  school 
district  No.  2. 

26 


a  fractional  one,  including  parts  of  Dorr  and  of  townships  in 
Kent  County.  The  school-house  stood  upon  the  county- 
line,  and  in  it  Miss  Mary  Baker,  of  Hopkins,  taught  the 
first  school.  About  1853  a  school  district  was  organized 
in  the  northeast-  quarter  of  the  township,  and  the  house 
was  built  near  the  Congregational  church.  Mr.  D.  Prindle 
taught  the  first  school  in  this  house,  and,  in  early  years,  it 
was  facetiously  termed  the  "  Dorr  Academy." 

For  several  years  after  the  separation  of  Dorr  and  Hop- 
kins townships  the  school  records  were  loosely  kept,  and 
no  information  can  be  gained  from  them.  We  find  that 
the  teachers  licensed  in  1857  were  Helen  Leonard,  Mary 
Miller,  and  Mary  Smith,  and  that  there  were  162  children 
of  school  age  residing  in  the  township.  The  teachers  of 
1858  were  Jane  Sooy,  Ellen  M.  Styles,  Reuben  A.  Wilson, 
William  P.  Wilson,  C.  D.  Wood,  and  Peter  Reausek.  In 
1859,  Charles  Winchester,  Efiie  M.  Baker,  William  Pep- 
per, John  W.  Stone,  Louisa  Bates,  Rebecca  Miller,  and 
Jackson  D.  Dillenbeck.  In  1860,  Lydia  Camp,  Emma 
Leonard,  Levi  H.  Webster,  Augusta  Houston,  Delia  A. 
Smith,  and  Jane  Sooy.  In  1861,  Adelia  Smith,  Maria 
Stone,  Jane  Pullen,  Levi  H.  Webster,  and  Lewis  F. 
Smith. 

The  primary  school  fund,  apportioned  for  1860,  was  as 
follows : 


District. 
No    1 

Scholars. 

38 

47 

33 

Amt. 

$17.48 

21.62 

15.18 

J)istrict. 
No.  5 

Scholars. 
36 

Amt. 

$16.10 

"    2 

"     6 

36 

16.56 

"    3 

"    9 

20 

9.20 

The  moneys  received  from  the  primary  school  fund  in 
1870  were  apportioned  to 

DistriotNo.  1 $30.15      District  No.  5 $31.06 

"          2 21.04                 "          6 40.18 

"         3 49.34                  "          7 23..31 

"         4 11.94                 "         9 21.49 

As  showing  the  present  condition  of  schools  in  the  town- 
ship, the  following  statistics,  gathered  from  the  township 
school-inspector's  report  for  the  year  ending  September, 
1879,  are  appended : 

Number  of  whole  districts 9 

"  children  of  school  age  residing  in  the 

township 523 

"  children   attending  school  during  the 

year 394 

"  frame  school-houses 9 

"  male  teachers  employed 4 

"  female     "  "       11 

Paid  male  teachers $670 

"     female    "       $907 

Total  resources  for  the  year,  $2441.78. 


VILLAGES. 
DORR   CENTRE. 

Dorr  has  two  villages  within  its  borders,  named  respect- 
ively Dorr  Centre  and  Moline.  The  former  is  situated  in 
the  central  part  of  the  township,  and  is  a  station  on  the  line 
of  the  Kalamazoo  division  of  the  Lake- Shore  and  Michigan 
Southern  Railway. 

It  contains  about  200  inhabitants,  a  Congregational 
church  edifice,  Masonic  lodge-rooms,  steam  saw-,  flouring-, 
and  shingle-mills,  two  hotels,  numerous  stores,  and  several 
small  mechanical  shops.  Wheat,  flour,  pork,  lumber,  and 
stave-bolts  are  the  principal  articles  of  shipment. 


202 


HISTOKY   OP  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Among  the  business  and  professional  men  at  present 
residents  of  the  village  are  Messrs.  Frank  Neuman  and 
Lyman  W.  Ehlis,  hotel  proprietors ;  Barris  &  Neuman  and 
Ewing  &  Sproat,  grain-dealers;  Edward  Byles,  lumber- 
manufacturer;  E.  S.  Botsford,  Pritsche  &  Co.,  Joseph 
Neuman,  and  John  Sommer,  merchants;  L.  N.  Fisher, 
railroad-agent ;  H.  M.  Averill  and  John  A.  Beamer,  attor- 
neys ;  Ferd.  Neuman,  flouring-mill ;  Lyman  E.  Parker, 
hardware-merchant,  postmaster,  and  express  agent ;  Seth 
Colvin,  stave-manufacturer ;  Drs.  Theodore  Cole,  H.  P. 
Evarts,  and  J.  H.  Smith,  physicians ;  Rev.  N.  K.  Evarts, 
clergyman. 

Improvements  were  first  made  on  the  village  site  by  Mr. 
Frank  Neuman,  an  energetic  German,  who  came  from  the 
Fatherland  in  1855,  to  Dorr  Centre  in  1856,  becoming  its 
first  settler,  and  in  1857  erected  the  first  framed  house. 
He  also  established  the  first  wagon-shop,  and  was  the  first 
in  many  other  enterprises.  On  the  27th  of  September, 
1869,  as  proprietor,  he  caused  to  be  surveyed  and  laid  out 
the  original  village-plat,  to  which  an  addition  was  made 
by  Joseph  Neuman  the  same  day.  As  already  noticed, 
the  Neumans  are  among  the  most  prominent  and  successful 
business  men  of  the  village  at  the  present  time. 

MOLINE. 

This  small  village,  situated  on  the  east  side  of  Dorr 
township,  was  started  by  Alfred  Chappell,  John  L.  Shaw, 
and  Edward  P.  Vining,  July  16,  1872.  It  is  a  station  on 
the  line  of  the  Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana  Railroad,  seven- 
teen miles  south  of  Grand  Rapids,  lumber  and  farm  prod- 
ucts being  the  principal  articles  of  shipment.  The  village 
was  projected  in  1870,  and  now  contains  about  100  inhab- 
itants. Among  those  doing  business  here  are  B.  Gilbert, 
postmaster  and  merchant ;  Balch  Bros  ,  saw-mill  proprietors  ; 
Alfred  Chappell,  station  and  express  agent;  W.  M.  Pierce, 
merchant;  R.  J.  Rogers  and  Charles  H.  Wademan,  black- 
smiths. 

MASONIC. 

P.  S.  Pullen  Lodge,  M.  307,  F.  and  A.  if.— The  origi- 
nal members  of  this  lodge  held  their  first  meeting  in  the 
grist-mill  at  Dorr  Centre,  July  1,  1871,  and  inaugurated 
measures  for  the  building  up  of  a  lodge  and  lodge-rooms. 
On  the  21st  of  February,  1872,  the  first  regular  communi- 
cation was  held  in  their  new  hall,  and  the  ofificers  first  in- 
stalled were  as  follows :  J.  M.  Burnett,  W.  M. ;  William 
J.  Sproat,  Sec. ;  E.  J.  Boynton,  S.  W.  ;  Otto  R.  Pritsche, 
J.  W.;  Harmon  Campbell,  S.  D.  ;  Eli  Driskell,  J.  D. ; 
Fred.  Custer,  Tyler.  Other  charter  members  were  Phi- 
letus  S.  Pullen,  Prank  Neuman,  Ferdinand  Neuman,  A. 
G.  McConough,  Charles  L.  Christie,  John  McNeal,  Thomas 
Carruthers,  and  William  H.  Reid. 

The  subsequent  Masters  to  the  preser  t  time  have  been 
J.  M.  Burnett,  to  1875,  inclusive;  Eli  Driskell,  1876-77; 
Henry  P.  Evarts,  1878  ;  George  W.  Shriuer,  1879  ;  William 
J.  Sproat,  1880.  Other  present  oiEcers  are  Eli  Driskell,  S. 
W. ;  Alfred  Emmons,  J.  W. ;  George  W.  Shriner,  S.  D. ; 
J.  W.  Pullen,  S.  D. ;  P.  S.  Pullen,  Treas. ;  Lyman  E. 
Parker,  Sec.  ;  and  Andrew  Truax,  Tyler.  The  bdge  num- 
bers 40  members,  and  regular  communications  are  held  in 


their  lodge-rooms  at  Dorr  Centre,  Wednesda.y  on  or  before 

the  full  moon. 

MEDICAL. 

Dr.  Benjamin  J.  V.  Stone,  who  subsequently  became  an 
army  surgeon  and  died  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  March  3,  1865, 
was  the  first  resident  physician  in  the  township.  He  had 
a  large  practice,  and  was  very  successful. 

Dr.  Max  Snitzer,  a  German,  who  settled  in  the  north- 
west part  of  Dorr,  was  also  an  early  physician,  and  prac- 
ticed extensively  among  those  of  his  nationality. 

Dr.  Theodore  Cole,  a  graduate  of  the  Michigan  Univer- 
sity, of  the  class  of  1869,  first  practiced  in  St.  John,  Clinton 
Co.  From  thence  he  removed  to  Dorr  Centre  in  March, 
1870,  where,  to  the  present  time,  he  has  been  engaged  in 
an  extended  and  successful  practice.  Drs.  H.  P.  Evarts 
and  J.  H.  Smith  have  each  practiced  here  some  six  or  seven 
years. 

KELIGIOUS. 
THE  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH  OF  DOER, 
whose  church  edifice  is  situated  in  the  northeast  quarter  of 
the  township,  was  organized  Aug.  27,  1857,  in  a  small 
school  which  stood  near  the  present  church  site.  The 
original  society  was  comprised  of  11  members,  viz.,  Brad- 
ley Gilbert,  Martha  J.  Gilbert,  Nahum  Snow,  Sarah  Snow, 
Lauren  C.  Gilbert,  Judith  Gilbert,  Edward  Averill,  Mary 
B.  Averill,  William  A.  Smith,  Elizabeth  Smith,  and  Sarah 
Smith.  William  A.  Smith  was  chosen,  the  first  deacon,  and 
Nahum  Snow  the  first  clerk, — positions  which  both  held 
many  years,  the  latter  until  his  death,  in  March,- 1876.  In 
February,  1858,  Rev.  James  A.  McKay  accepted  the  pas- 
torate, and  remained  four  years.  The  following  September 
the  First  Congregational  Church  of  Grand  Rapids  pre- 
sented this  church  a  communion-service,  which  is  still  in 
use.  Rev.  N.  K.  Evarts  became  their  pastor  in  the  autumn 
of  1862.* 

A  Sabbath-school  was  established  at  the  beginning,  of 
which  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Smith  was  the  teacher  and  superin- 
tendent. The  growth  of  the  church  has  been  steady  and 
healthful,  marked  by  no  unusual  events  or  divisions.  Be- 
fore the  war  its  members  indulged  in  the  hope  of  soon 
erecting  a  church  edifice,  but  at  the  call  of  their  country 
all  the  able-bodied  male  members  joined  the  Union  armies, 
and  the  subject  of  building  a  house  of  worship  was 
dropped.  Meetings  were  continued  in  the  school-house, 
and  the  question  was  not  again  revived  until  1870.  When 
some  of  the  people  were  disappointed  in  the  location  of  the 
Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana  Railroad  station,  an  effort  was 
made  to  consolidate  the  Hilliard's  Church  with  this,  and  to- 
gether build  a  church  edifice  at  Dorr  Centre.  On  the 
18th  of  November,  1872,  the  place  of  meeting  was  changed 
to  the  Centre.  The  consolidation  failed,  but  the  church 
edifice  at  the  Centre  was  commenced  in  1873.  However, 
owing  to  an  alleged  failure  on  the  part  of  the  contractor,  the 
building  committee  would  not  accept  the  structure,  and 
litigation  followed. 

Meantime,  during  the  summer  of  1873,  a  Sabbath-school 
was  reestablished  in  the  old  school-house.     This  proved 

*  Just  previously,  Charles  W.  Coit,  a  theological  student,  preached 
here  for  a  short  period. 


DORR  TOWNSHIP. 


203 


to  be  the  nucleus  around  which  gathered  the  original  mem- 
bers of  the  church,  and  on  the  6th  of  March,  1875,  the  vote 
of  Nov.  18, 1872,  was  rescinded,  thus  changing  the  place  of 
holding  meetings  from  the  Centre  back  to  the  school-house. 
Soon  after,  the  subject  of  building  a  church  edifice  in 
the  latter  neighborhood  was  again  brought  forward,  and 
finally  resulted  in  the  completion  and  dedication  of  the 
present  beautiful  house  of  worship  in  1876.    It  cost  f  2500, 
has  sittings  for  about  250  people,  and  a  membership  of  100. 
A   flourishing   Sabbath-school,   long   presided  over  by 
Bradley  Gilbert  as  its  superintendent,  is  now  in  charge  of 
Mr.  E.  M.  Gilbert.    Anfong  other  pastors  who  have  admin- 
istered to  the  spiritual  wants  of  this  congregation  since  the 
expiration  of  Mr.  Evarts'  first  term  were  C.  N.  Coulter, 

N.  K.  Evarts  (again),  Moore,  George  W.  Sterling, 

N.  K.  Evarts  (for  the  third  time),  and  Albert  C.  Lee,  of 
"Watertown,  N.  Y.,  the  present  incumbent. 

FIRST   CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH   OF   DORR  VILLAGE. 

This  organization  was  formed  Nov.  11,  1875,  and  its 
original  members  were  Adrian  De  Clark  and  wife,  William 
H.  Ewing,  H.  T.  Pomeroy  and  wife,  Antoinette  Kelly, 
Christina  Patterson,  Horace  Barton  and  wife,  N.  K.  Evarts 
and  wife,  and  Mary  J.  Byles. 

Rev.  N.  K.  Evarts  became  the  first  pastor  in  1875, 
and  has  continued  to  the  present  time.  The  church  edifice 
was  commenced  in  1873 ;  it  was  completed  soon  after,  and 
is  the  one  mentioned  in  the  sketch  of  the  other  Congrega- 
tional Church.     The  society  numbers  24  members. 

OTHER   RELIGIOUS   ORGANIZATIONS. 

It  is  probable  that  Rev.  P.  Glass,  a  Methodist  divine, 
presided  over  the  first  religious  meetings  held  in  this  town- 
ship, in  1849.  Two  classes  of  this  denomination  exist  at 
the  present  time,  and  are  connected  with  the  Byron  Circuit. 
A  society  composed  of  United  Brethren  is  located  mainly 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  township. 

In  the  northwest  quarter  the  German  Catholics  have  a 
large  congregation,  composed  of  members  of  from  40  to  50 
families.  Their  church  edifice — the  largest  house  of  wor- 
ship in  the  county— is  situated  near  the  county-Une,  and 
on  the  highway  dividing  sections  5  and  6  of  this  township. 
They  also  have  a  well-conducted  private  or  parochial  school 
in  the  same  vicinity. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


ORRIN  GOODSPEED. 

Orrin  Goodspeed  was  born  in  the  township  of  Mentor, 
Geauga  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  6,  1816.  His  father,  Nathaniel 
Goodspeed,  a  native  of  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y.,  married  a 
widow,  Mrs.  Miller,  and  became  an  early  settler  in  Ohio. 

Orrin,  their  only  child,  grew  to  manhood  in  the  latter 
State,  and  on  the  9th  of  March,  1837,  was  married  to 
Sally  M.  Curtis,  of  Northfield,  Ohio.  As  farmers  the 
father  and  son  passed  an  uneventful  Ufe  in  the  Buckeye 
State  until  the  autumn  of  1845.  When  journeying  with 
their  own  conveyances  to  the  northern  border  of  the 
present  township  of  Dorr,  they  purchased  a  quantity  of 


State  lands,  and  during  the  same  season  became  the  first 
settlers  within  its  limits. 

From  the  time  of  his  settlement  here  until  the  present 
Orrin  Goodspeed  has  been  one  of  the  most  prominent  citi- 
zens, and  by  habits  of  industry  and  economy  is  now  the 
possessor  of  a  most  beautiful  and  fertile  farm,  embracing 
the  lands  purchased  by  his  father  in  1845. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Orrin  Goodspeed  were  born  twelve 
children,  viz. :  George  N.,  Feb.  14,  1838;  died  at  Chatta- 
nooga, Tenn.,  Jan.  9,  1865,  while  serving  his  country  as  a 
member  of  the  Michigan  Engineers  and  Mechanics.  Cyrus 
E.,  born  Sept.  20,  1839;  died  Sept.  17,  1874.  Daniel 
v.,  April  27,  1842.  Then  an  infant  who  died  unnamed. 
William  F.,  April  20,  1844;  died  Aug.  19,  1853;  Charles 
L.,  June  21, 1846  ;  died  May  21, 1856.  Orrin  A.,  March 
30,  1848;  Sylvia  A.,  May  20,  1850;  Catherine  J.,  May 
1,  1852.  John  W.  W.,  May  24,  1854;  died  March  13, 
1867.  Sally  M.,  May  22,  1856.  Phoebe  A.,  Feb.  22, 
1859  ;  died  Jan.  9,  1880.  The  wife  and  mother  died 
Sept.  28,  1864.  

LAUREN   C.   GILBERT. 

Lauren  C.  Gilbert,  the  tenth  child  in  a  family  of  seven- 
teen children,  was  born  in  Chester,  Geauga  Co.,  Ohio,  March 
17,  1830.  His  ancestors  were  early  settlers  in  the  vicinity 
of  Boston,  Mass.,  and  numbers  of  them  served  in  the  Con- 
tinental army  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 

Joel  Gilbert,  the  father  of  Lauren  C.  Gilbert,  was  a  native 
of  the  State  of  Connecticut,  and  married  Miss  Crisilda 
Crocker.  He  emigrated  westward,  and  successively  became 
a  pioneer  in  Genoa,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  in  Chester, 
Geauga  Co.,  Ohio,  finally  locating  upon  lands  in  the  latter 
State  now  owned  by  E.  0.  Lyman. 

When  nine  years  of  age,  Lauren  C.  Gilbert  began  work 
for  E.  0.  Lyman,  and  remained  with  him — the  proceeds  of 
his  labor  being  paid  to  his  father — until  twenty  years  old. 
He  then  remained  at  home  for  a  short  period,  and  on  the 
3d  of  March,  1852,  married  Mi.'s  Judith  Wisner,  of  his 
native  town.  In  the  autumn  of  1 853  he  removed  to  his 
present  place  of  residence  in  the  township  of  Dorr,  pur- 
chasing eighty  acres,  the  lands  originally  occupied  by  Ed- 
ward Moore,  and  of  which  but  sixteen  acres  were  then 
improved.  Additions  to  his  first  purchase  have  been  made 
from  time  to  time,  until  he  now  owns  in  this  and  Leighton 
townships  four  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  The  major  por- 
tion of  the  home-farm  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation, 
and  the  whole  embellished  by  a  tasteful  residence,  commo- 
dious farm  buildings,  fruit-  and  shade-trees. 

In  August,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  First  Regiment  of 
Michigan  Cavalry,  participated  in  all  its  campaigns,  and, 
with  his  regiment,  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Salt  Lake 
City,  Utah,  March  10,  1866. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gilbert  six  children  have  been  born, 
viz.:  Wallace  B.,  Sept.  2, 1854 ;  Samuel  J.,  April  8, 1857  ; 
Lauren  D.,  April  16,  1862;  Oliver  L.,  Feb.  3,  1867; 
Frederick  C,  Dec.  12, 1870;  and  Nellie  S.,  June  11, 1872, 
who  died  Oct.  22,  1874. 

Politically,  Mr.  Gilbert  is  a  Republican.  Socially,  and 
as  a  true  representative  of  the  agricultural  classes  of  Allegan 
County,  he  is  most  highly  respected. 


204 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


^^\ 


BENJAMIN    GROVEE. 

BENJAMIN   GROVER. 

Benjamin  Grover  was  born  in  Bennington,  Wyoming  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Feb.  9,  1826.  He  was  an  adopted  son  of  Benjamin 
and  Mabel  Grover,  and  passed  his  boyhood  and  early  days  of 
his  manhood  in  that  section.  He  married,  in  1851,  in  Darien, 
Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Miss  Mary  M.,  daughter  of  Sebra  and 
Dura  Weaver,  who  had  removed  with  her  parents  from  Wel- 
lington, Tolland  Co.,  Conn.,  in  1828.  She  was  born  Feb.  2, 
1827.  In  September,  1853,  Mr.  Grover  came  to  Dorr, 
Allegan  Co.,  all  this  section  being  then  a  wilderness,  and 
the  woods  the  abode  of  all  kinds  of  wild  animals.  He 
purchased  first  eighty  acres,  upon  which  his  widow  still 
resides ;  he  afterwards  added  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres, 
which  is  now  in  possession  of  their  son.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Grover  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children  :  Flora 
A.,  born  Oct.  13, 1851 ;  died  Feb.  17,  1865.  Jerome  A., 
born  Nov.  3,1852;  married  Caroline  Burgman  Jan._l, 
1876.  George  C,  born  Feb.  18,  1853  ;  died  March  17, 
1854.  Infant  .son,  born  and  died  Dee.  22,  1857.  Delew 
B.  Grover,  born  Oct.  14,  1860;  died  June  15,  1867. 
Mary  C.  Grover,  born  July  16, 1867  ;  died  Aug.  26, 1867. 

Benjamin  Grover  was  not  a  member  of  any  church, 
believing  that  to  the  just  and  those  willing  and  read^  to 
be  judged  and  meet  their  God,  no  other  creed  or  baptism 
was  necessary.  His  death  occurred  Feb.  9,  1875.  He 
was  much  respected  as  a  neighbor,  citizen,  and  man  in  the 
community  in  which  he  lived.  Mrs.  Mary  M.  Grover  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


CHARLES  H.  DAUGHERTY. 
Charles  II.  Daugherty  was  born  in  Penfield,  Monroe  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Nov.  22,  1829.  His  father,  a  native  of  Ireland, 
emigrated  to  America  when  quite  young,  and  settled  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  where  ho  married  a  lady  of  Scotch 
parentage.  About  1833  he  removed  to  the  State  of  Ohio, 
purchased  a  farm  in  Spencer  township,  Medina  Co.,  and 


MRS.  MARY   M.  GROVER. 

resided  upon  the  same  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
April,  1879,  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine  years.  His  wife 
died  suddenly  of  apoplexy  in  1845. 

Charles  H.,  the  third  child,  the  only  ,son,  and  the  only 
surviving  member  of  his  father's  family,  remained  under 
the  parental  roof  assisting  his  father  in  farm  labor  until 
1852,  when  he  married  Miss  Armina  N.  Inman,  March 
31st  of  the  same  year,  a  young  lady  who  had  .engaged 
in  teaching  in  Spencer,  Ohio,  for  several  years,  and  where 
her  parents  still  reside. 

In  the  autumn  of  1858,  Mr.  Daugherty  removed  to  the 
present  township  of  Dorr,  where  he  has  since  successfully 
engaged  in  the  pursuits  of  farming  and  lumbering,  and  is 
now  conspicuous  as  one  of  its  most  prominent  citizens. 
An  elegant  farm-residence,  erected  in  1875,  surrounded  by 
necessary  out-buildings  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  well- 
cultivated  acres,  silently  yet  eloquently  attest  to  the  facts 
of  which  we  speak. 

He  enlisted  in  the  First  Michigan  Engineers  and 
Mechanics  in  the  fall  of  1864,  joined  his  regiment  at 
Atlanta,  Ga.,  soon  after,  served  as  regimental  inspector  of 
elections,  in  November  of  the  same  year  participated  in 
the  memorable  march  through  Georgia,  the  Carolinas, 
and  Virginia,  in  1864-65  was  present  at  the  siege  of 
Savannah,  Ga.,  the  battles  of  Averysboro'  and  Benton- 
ville,  N.  C,  the  grand  review  at  Washington,  D.  C,  con- 
tinued with  his  regiment  until  its  honorable  muster  out  of 
the  service,  and  during  all  that  time  was  never  in  an  ambu- 
lance or  absent  one  day  from  his  company. 

In  his  political  convictions  Mr.  Daugherty  is  a  Republican, 
and  represented  his  party  in  the  State  Convention  held  at 
Detroit,  May  12,  1880.  He  has  also  served  his  townsmen 
in  many  other  official  capacities.     (See  township  civil  list.) 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Daugherty  have  been  born  four  chil- 
dren, who  all  survive,  viz. :  Julia  0.,  Sept.  27,  1853 ; 
Chester  C,  April  12,  1856;  Eugene  A.,  Dec.  21,  1858; 
and  Stella  S.,  April  6,  1868. 


FILLMORE. 


Township  4  north,  range  15  west,  now  called  Fillmore, 
and  previously  a  portion  of  Manlius,  lies  on  the  northern 
border  of  Allegan  County,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
the  Ottawa  County  line,  on  the  south  by  Manlius  township, 
on  the  east  by  Overisel,  and  on  the  west  by  Laketown. 
The  population  of  the  township  in  1874  was  1720,  and  is 
composed  now,  as  it  has  been  since  1847;  almost  exclusively 
of  Hollanders,  who,  in  the  year  last  named,  were  numbered 
among  the  earliest  settlers,  and  who  have  gradually  acquired 
the  territory.  Two  railways,  the  Chicago  and  West  Mich- 
igan Eailroad  and  the  Grand  Haven  Railroad,  pass  through 
the  township,  only  one  of  which,  however, — the  latter, — has 
a  station  in  it,  that  being  known  as  Fillmore,  where  there 
is  a  small,  but  bustling,  village.  There  is  also  in  the  north- 
west a  village  called  Graafschap,  which  lies  on  both  sides 
the  line  between  Fillmore  and  Laketown.  Between  the 
west  and  northeast  there  is  a  narrow  belt  of  lowland,  which 
is  being  gradually  reclaimed  by  effective  drainage  to  valuable 
usefulness.  In  that  region,  especially  of  late,  heavily  ovei-- 
grown  with  timber,  may  be  observed  the  desolation  wrought 
by  the  wide-spread  forest-fires  that  passed  through  Western 
Allegan  in  the  autumn  of  1871. 

The  town  is  liberally  supplied  with  excellent  schools,  and 
in  the  matter  of  school  buildings  has  just  reason  to  be 
proud.  Equally  abundant  are  the  conveniences  for  religious 
worship.  Water-power  there  is  none,  and  manufactures 
have  therefore  received  but  little  attention.  Agriculture 
is  profitable,  however,  and  the  farmers  are,  as  a  rule,  thrifty 
and  prosperous. 

THE  FIRST  SETTLERS   IN  FILLMORE. 

The  first  five  white  settlers  in  Fillmore  were  George  N. 
Smith,  Anton  Schorno,  Daniel  Lamoreux,  Isaac  Fairbanks, 
and  Benjamin  Fairbanks,  who  ranked  as  to  priority  in  the 
order  named.  All  save  Schorno  arid  Daniel  Lamoreux 
are  still  living, — Smith,  in  the  Mackinaw  country,  Isaac 
Fairbanks,  in  the  village  of  Holland,  and  Benjamin  Fair- 
banks, in  California. 

George  N.  Smith  was  a  Congregational  minister,  and  was 
sent  out  by  the  Congregational  Church,  in  1841,  as  a  mis- 
sionary to  the  Indians  in  Western  Allegan.  He  bought 
some  land  on  section  3,  in  town  4,  and  with  the  assistance 
of  Indians  put  up  a  log  house  and  made  a  small  clearing.  He 
then  built  a  second  log  house  on  his  place,  and  into  that 
building  he  used  to  gather  such  Indians  as  could  be  per- 
suaded to  come,  taught  them  from  school-books  during  the 
week,  and  preached  to  them  on  Sundays.  At  the  outset 
the  redskins  took  kindly  to  the  project,  and  came  in  con- 
siderable numbers  to  school  and  to  church,  but  when  the 


'  By  David  Schwartz. 


novelty  of  the  proceedings  wore  off,  they  declined,  as  a 
general  thing,  to  give  their  attendance,  so  that  towards  the 
last  Mr.  Smith  had  barely  a  dozen  willing  to  be  instructed. 
In  1844  he  received  the  appointment  of  government  mis- 
sionary to  the  Indians,  and  set  about  the  establishing  of  an 
Indian  colony.  To  that  end,  he  induced  several  Indians  to 
purchase  land  in  town  4,  and  to  encourage  the  project  still 
further  the  government  appointed  Isaac  Fairbanks,  in  1845, 
to  be  an  "  Indian  farmer,"  charged  with  the  duty  of  in- 
structing the  savages  in  the  business  of  farming.  Mr. 
Fairbanks  came,  in  1845,  to  township  4  from  near  Kala- 
mazoo, settled  upon  section  3,  adjoining  Mr.  Smith's  place, 
and  assisted  the  latter  in  civilizing  the  sons  of  the  forest ; 
but  somehow  the  scheme  was  not  a  success.  In  1848  the 
Indians  moved  farther  north,  to  the  Mackinaw.  Smith 
accompanied  them,  and  at  latest  advices,  in  1878,  was  still 
living  there. 

Previous  to  Isaac  Fairbanks'  advent,  Anton  Schorno,  a 
German,  who  had  been  living  at  Singapore,  in  Newark  town- 
ship, settled  in  township  4,  on  section  26,  in  1842,  where 
he  lived  until  his  death,  in  1879.  In  1844,  Daniel  La- 
moreux located  on  section  .34,  whence,  however,  he  soon 
removed  to  township  5.  Settlements  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  township,  near  the  county-line,  following  that  of  Isaac 
Fairbanks,  were  made  by  Benjamin  Fairbanks  on  section 
2,  and  by  Homer  E.  Hudson,  who  came  with  Dominie  Van 
Raalte,  the  founder  of  the  Dutch  colony  at  Holland,  and 
started  a  nursery  upon  the  Smith  place.  Not  succeeding 
in  the  venture,  he  soon  changed  his  location  to  Holland. 
George  Harrington,  who  conveyed  Van  Raalte  to  Holland 
and  assisted  in  the  erection  of  the  first  house  at  that  place, 
bought  a  place  on  section  3,  in  township  4,  and  in  that  year 
— 1847 — made  a  settlement  upon  it.  He  was  at  first  en- 
gaged in  teaming,  and  hauled  many  loads  of  supplies  for  the 
Dutch  colony  between  Holland  and  Grand  Rapids,  Allegan 
and  Kalamazoo. 

Darwin  Drew  made  a  settlement  near  Schorno's,  but  did 
not  stop  long.  The  first  Dutch  settler  in  that  quarter  was 
John  G.  Kronemeyer,  who,  in  the  winter  of  1847-48, 
located  with  Behrend  Seeman  on  section  23.  Their  neigh- 
bors in  the  north,  on  the  road  to  Holland,  were  Isaac 
Fairbanks  and  George  N.  Smith.  That  road,  which  had 
been  underbrushed  by  Schorno,  was  subsequently,  in  1849, 
fairly  constructed  ;  being  called  the  Bee-line  road,  by  which 
name  it  is  yet  known.  In  1847  a  log  school-house  was 
put  up  on  section  26,  and  there  a  Miss  Boies,  of  Sauga- 
tuck,  taught  nine  scholars,  four  being  children  of  Krone- 
meyer and  five  of  Schorno.  Three  days  after  Kronemeyer 
began  to  make  a  clearing  on  his  place  his  left  arm  was 
broken  by  the  fall  of  a  tree.  As  soon  as  a  surgeon 
could  be  fetched  from  Zeeland  he  had  the  required  atten- 

205 


206 


HISTOEY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BAERY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


tion,  but  it  was  not  until  the  next  day.     He  was  of  course 
compelled  to  lie  idle  for  a  time,  but  it  was  a  sore  trial 
for  him  to  do  so,  since  upon   tlie  labor  of  his  hands  alone 
the  support  of  his  family  depended.     Becoming  at  last  im- 
patient over  his  enforced  quiet  and  being  resolved  to  work 
at  all  hazards,  he  resumed  his  chopping  operations  with  one 
hand  only,  and  after  that  fashion,  until  he  got  over  the  in- 
jury (four  months  after  he  was  hurt),  he  wielded  his  axe 
with  his  strong  right  arm  and  carried  his  left  in  a  sling. 
The  incident  serves  to   illustrate  how  pressing  were  the 
needs  of  the  hour,  and  how  stubbornly  the  pioneers  faced 
misfortunes  disheartening  enough  to  prostrate  any  but  the 
stoutest  energies.     Kronemeyer  and  two  of  his  young  sons 
went  out  once  in  search  of  wolves,  the  presence  of  which 
had  been  reported  hard  by,  and  after  a  persevering  tramp 
captured  seven  of  these  animals  in  a  bunch  on  section  15. 
As  the  bounty  on  wolf-scalps  from  State,  county,  and  town 
amounted  then  to  something  handsome,  they  were  well  paid 
for  their  day's  work.*      Apropos  of  wolves,  a  daughter  of 
Mr.  Bonselaar,  seeing  in  her  father's  yard  what  she  took 
for  a  fox,  ran  hastily  to  obtain  a  pitchfork,  and  succeeded 
in  pinning  the  animal  to  the  ground,  when  she  was  some- 
what astonished  to  find  that  she  had  brought  a  wolf,  instead 
of  a  fox,  to  grief     Had  she  known  at  first  that  it  was  a 
wolf  she   might  possibly  have  hesitated  before  venturing 
upon  the  attack. 

THE  DUTCH   COLONY. 
In  the  summer  of  1847  the  settlements  by  the  Dutch 
at  Holland  began  to  penetrate  into  Fillmore  and  Laketown 
on  either  side  the  hne  between  the  two  towns.     Amon"' 
those  who  located  on  the  Fillmore  side  were  A.  J.  Neerken, 
Lukas  Tinholt,  D.  Mantingh,  and  others.     Henry  Schro- 
tenboer  'and   wife,  accompanied   by  Dirk   Lenters,  came 
in  1848.     The  former  lived  near  Graafschap  until  1856, 
when  he  removed  to  section  20,  where  he  found  Lenters 
already  located.     The  latter  had  been  living  here  and  there 
until  1855,  when  he  made  his  Fillmore  settlement  on  sec- 
tion 20,  as  the  pioneer  in  that  vicinity.     There  came  into 
the  neighborhood  shortly  after,  J.  H.  Tencate  and  William 
Plassman,  and  these  four  families  were  for  some  time  the 
only  residents  thereabout.      The  country  was  so  heavily 
timbered,  and  in  many  places  swampy,  and  in   coming  in 
they  found  it  a  matter  of  such  difficulty  to  make  roads 
for  wagons,  that  they  brought  their  goods  in  afoot  upon 
their  backs.     Lenters  used  to  walk  nine  miles  to  Sau^a- 
tuck  after  flour,  and  walk  back  again,  lugging  100  pounds 
of  the  commodity  upon  his  back.     For  some  time  the  only 
road  these  settlers  had  was  an  Indian  trail  passing  between 
Manlius  and  Holland,  and  even  at  that  late  day  wolves 
and   bears  were  sometimes  seen,  although  they  gave  no 
trouble. 

The  next  settlers  in  that  vicinity  were  John  Otten,  Peter 
Allen,  Garret  Brower,  G.  J.  Weavers,  John  Deiters,  J.  H. 
Glupker,  John  Glupker,  Jacob  Deiters,  J.  H.  Seiblink,  J. 
J.  Dekker,  J.  H.  Lammen,  B.  Camps,  and  H.  Bonselaar. 
Berend  Timmerman  moved  from  Overisel  in  1852  to  sec- 
tion 24,  jn  Fillmore,  where  his  son  Hendriok  now  lives. 


*  See  Chapter  XI.  of  the  general  history. 


At  that  time  the  settlers  about  there  used  to  go  to  mill  at 
Allegan,  and,  traveling  by  ox-team,  could  not  at  best  com- 
plete the  round  trip  in  less  than  two  days.    Garret  De  Witt 
moved  to  Holland  in  1848,  and  thence  to  section  10,  in 
Fillmore,  upon  land  which  had  until  then  not  known  the 
ring  of  the  woodman's  axe.    His  neighbors  were  Isaac  Fair- 
banks, James  Vanderbett,  T.  Sluiter,  Stephen  Fairbanks,  - 
the  Nies  family,  on  section  1,  and  the  Schaaps,  on  sec- 
tion 2.    After  De  Witt,  the  comers  to  that  neighborhood  in- 
cluded John  Fork,  H.  Schuttmaat,  Mr.  Oldemeyer,  and  Mr. 
Overbeck.     The  Garvelinks  were  early  settlers  in  Holland, 
— in  1847, — and  after  the  elder  Garvelink's  death  his  sons 
moved  to  Fillmore,  where  their  father  owned  land.    One  of 
his  sons, — Jan  W., — who  lives  on  section  8,  has  been  con- 
spicuously identified  with  township  aflfairs  since  1857,  havin" 
been  supervisor  fourteen  years,  town  clerk  two  years,  and 
justice  of  the  peace  twelve  years. 

After  1856  the  Hollanders  gradually  extended  their 
settlements  to  every  portion  of  the  township,  and  at  this 
time  comprise  almost  the  entire  population  of  Fillmore, 
— indeed,  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  in  the  town  a 
dozen  families  not  Hollanders.  In  1859,  along  the  town- 
line  road  between  Fillmore  and  Manlius,  Christian  Arzt, 
Jacob  Illg,  and  Frederick  Kern  were  settlers  on  the  Fill- 
more side,  while  there  were  also  Hollanders  on  the  Man- 
lius side.  Later,  the  Dutch  began  to  people  both  sides  of 
the  line  quite  freely,  and  where  the  Chicago  and  West 
Michigan  Eailway  crosses  it  they  have  a  village  called  East 
Saugatuck,  which  lies  on  both  sides  the  town-line,  but 
chiefiy  in  Manlius.  In  1859  the  town-line  road,  although 
"  chopped  out"  previously,  had  become  thickly  grown  over, 
and  was  then  at  best  a  mere  cattle-path. 

TOWNSHIP   OEGANIZATION. 
Fillmore  was  set  off  from  Manlius  in  1849,  and  named 
in  honor  of  the  then  Vice-President  of  the  United  States. 
The  name  was  Suggested  by  the  wife  of  Ealph  R.  Mann,  at 
whose  house  Isaac  Fairbanks  called  to  enlist  the  influence 
of  Mr.  Mann  in  favor  of  a  petition  asking  for  the  separa- 
tion of  town  4  from  Manlius.     "  What  will  you  call  the 
new  town?"  asked   Mrs.  Mann.     "We   haven't   decided 
upon  a  name,"  replied   Mr.  Fairbanks,  whereupon  Mrs. 
Mann  exclaimed,  "  Call  it  Fillmore,"  and  Fairbanks,  adopt- 
ing  the  suggestion,  so  christened  it.     By  some  mischance 
the  records  of  township  elections  from  1849  to  1851,  inclu- 
sive, have  been  lost,  but  as  to  the  officials  elected  'at  the 
meeting  in  1849,  it  is  known  that  Isaac  Fairbanks  was 
chosen   Supervisor;    Benjamin    Fairbanks,  Clerk;  Anton 
Schorno,  Treasurer  ;  and  Isaac  Fairbanks,  Anton  Schorno, 
George  N.  Smith,  and  George  Harrington,  Justices  of  the 
Peace.     The  officials  for  1850  included  Isaac  Fairbanks 
Supervisor;  A.  Schorno,  Treasurer ;    B.  Fairbanks,  Clerk! 
Those  for  1851  cannot  be  clearly  ascertained.     The  first 
election  was  held  at  the  house  of  Isaac  Fairbanks,  on  which 
occasion  six  votes  were  cast,  by  Benjamin  and  Isaac  Fair- 
banks,   George    N.   Smith,   George    Harrington,    Anton 
Schorno,  and  Darwin  Drew. 

A  list  of  those  who  were  chosen  annually,  from  1852  to 
1880,  to  be  supervisors,  clerks,  treasurers,  and  justices  of  the 
peace,  is  hereto  appended : 


FILLMORE   TOWNSHIP. 


207 


SUPERVISORS. 
1852-56,  Isaac  Fairbanks;  1857-58,  E.  J.  Harrington;  1859,  J.  W. 
Garvolinlt;    1860,  E.  J.  Harrington ;   1861-71,  J.  W.  Garvelink  ; 
1872-76,  G.  W.  Mokema;  1877-78,  J.  W.  Garvelink;  1879,  G.  W. 
Mokema. 

CLERKS. 
1852,  G.  Harrington;  1853-56,  H.  Brouwcrt;  1857-58,  J.  W.  Garve- 
link; 1859-60,  I.  Fairbanks;  1861,  A.  H.  Brink;  1862,  P.  Van 
Anroy;  1863,  A.  H.  Brink;  1864,  H.  Kronemeyer;  1865-67, 
I.  Fairbanks;  1868-71,  S.  Den  XJyl;  1872,  J.  H.  Eppink ;  1873 
-76,  S.  Den  Uyl;  1877-79,  P.  Volmari. 

TREASURERS. 
1852-56,  C.  J.  Voohorst;  1857-59,  H.  Garvelink;   1860,  G.  Harring- 
ton; 1861,  H.  Garvelink;  1862,  B.  J.  Harrington;  1863,  H.  Gar- 
velink; 1864-68,  D.  Lenters;  1869-74,  H.  .1.  Klomparens;  1875 
-78,  M.  Notier;  1879,  G.  Garvelink. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 
1852,  Anton  Schorno;  1854, 1.  Fairbanks  ;  1855,  C.  J.  Voohorst;  1856, 
H.  G.  Miokmanshuizen  ;  1857,  E.  J.  Harrington  ;  1858,  II.  Lucas; 
1859,  H.  Timmerman;  1860, 1.  Fairbanks;  1861,  E.  J.  Harring- 
ton ;  1862,  A.  J.  Brink;  1863,  I.  Fairbanks;  1864,  A.  South- 
wick;  1865,  Jan  Nies;  1866,  I.  Fairbanks;  1867,  A.  H.  Brink; 
1868,  K.  W.  Marten;  1869,  J.  W.  Garvelink  ;  1870, 1.  Fairbanks; 
1871,  G.  Moherman;  1872,  H.  Lucas;  1873,  J.  W.  Garvelink; 
1874,  I.  Fairbanks;  1875,  H.  J.  Klomparens;  1876,  H.  Lucas; 
1877,  J.  W.  Garvelink;  1878,  J.  H.  Eppink;  1879,  H.  J.  Klom- 
parens. 

The  town-board  in  1849  was  composed  of  Isaac  Fair- 
banks, George  N.  Smith,  and  Benjamin  Fairbanks,  and  a 
settlement  with  Manlius  on  road  and  school  moneys,  etc., 
was  effected  May  8th  of  that  year.  In  1850  .the  township 
now  called  Overisel  was  set  off  from  Monterey  and  attached 
to  Fillmore.  In  1857  Overisel  was  detached  and  given 
separate  jurisdiction.  In  1850  the  town  board  was  com- 
posed of  Isaac  Fairbanks,  Anton  Schorno,  and  Benjamin 
Fairbanks;  in  1851,  of  Isaac  Fairbanks,  Anton  Schorno, 
and  George  Harrington. 

In  1853  the  voters  at  the  annual  election  were  Cornelius 
Lepeltak,  Peter  Boven,  Hendrik  Klumper,  Peter  Van 
Anroy,  William  Oldebekking,  Berend  Telman,  H.  J. 
Smit,  H.  Strabbink,  Egbert  Nykerk,  J.  Schroetenboer, 
Harm  Bouws,  Hendrik  Schroetenboer,  Hendrik  Hulst, 
Johannes  Porter,  Hendrik  Beltman,  Garret  Peters,  G.  J. 
Finewever,  Hendrik  Huishur,  H.  G.  Miokmanshuizen, 
Egbert  Nyland,  William  Hulsman,  J.  Karelse,  William 
Kleit,  Hendrik  Almink,  G.  J.  Wolterink,  Albert  Eske, 
G.  W.  Koojers,  Jacob  Schaap,  Cornelius  Notting,  Hendrik 
Strabbink,  Abram  Krapshouse,  Lukas  Dangremond,  Kaas 
Simpel,  M.  Ypma,  J.  H.  Streur,  G.  J.  Immink,  Hendrik 
Lamping,-  Hendrik  Geurink,  Berteld  Vredeveld,  Hannes 
Kok,  Mathew  Naijer,  Harm  Schippert,  Lukas  Vredeveld, 
J.  W.  Agterescli,  W.  R.  Root,  Rolf  Van  Dam,  Jan  Van 
Rhee,  Berens  Boersekool,  Klaas  Vanzouten,  Garret  Vrilink, 
M.  Kleinheksel,  Bernhard  Seeman,  A.  J.  Neerken,  J.  G. 
Kronemeyer,  Hendrik  Timmerman,  G.  J.  Brouws,  G.  J. 
Hopman,  M.  Von  Tubbergen,  M.  Martman,  A.  Von  Tub- 
bergen,  Lambert  Hopman,  J.  H.  Hopman,  M.  Slotmsfti, 
Z.  Vugteven,  Jan  Poer,  C.  J.  Voohorst,  J.  Hopman,  J.  W. 
Grotenhust,  H.  Kleinheksel,  Anton  Schorno,  Isaac  Fair- 
banks, J.  Hellenthat.  In  1856  the  voters  numbered  135  ; 
in  1859  101 ;  in  1861  121 ;  in  1865  104;  in  1872  186  ; 
and  in  1877  254. 


ROADS. 
In  December,  1840,  R.  R.  Mann  and  James  MeCor- 
mick,  highway  commissioners  of  Manlius,  laid  out  a  road, 
commencing  fifty  links  east  of  the  southwest  corner  of  sec- 
tion 34,  in  township  4,  and  terminating  at  the  southwest 
corner  of  section  8,  in  township  3,  Aaron  Chichester  being 
the  surveyor.  The  Richmond  road  was  laid  out  in  Sep- 
tember, 1841,  and  two  others  in  1842.  Anton  Schorno 
and  Benjamin  Fairbanks  were  highway  commissioners  in 
Fillmore  in  1849,  and  August  20th  of  that  year  laid  out 
the  first  road.     In  1850  they  laid  three,  and  two  in  1851. 

PIEST  BIRTH  AND  DEATH. 
George  N.  Smith's  daughter,  born  during  the  early  days 
of  his  settlement  and  dying  soon  after,  was  the  first  white 
person  born,  as  well  as  the  first  one  to  die,  in  the  township. 
She  was  buried  on  her  father's  place,  but  was  afterwards  re- 
moved to  the  Holland  cemetery,  lying  just  out  of  the  north- 
western corner  of  Fillmore  and  owned  conjointly  by  the 
townships  of  Fillmore  and  Laketown. 

FILLMORE  CENTRE. 
This  village,  known  as  Fillmore  Station  on  the  Grand 
Haven  Railroad,  is  the  seat  of  Fillmore  Centre  post-ofiice. 
There  was  built  there  shortly  after  the  completion  of  the 
railway,  in  1870,  Telman,  Hoffman  &  Wagenar's  saw-mill, 
now  carried  on  by  H.  Telman.  In  1875,  Telman,  Hoffman 
&  Lemmers  built  a  fine  grist-mill,  with  three  run  of  stone, 
which,  owing  to  litigation,  was  stopped  in  January,  1880. 
The  first  store  opened  at  Fillmore  Centre  was  that  of  Hen- 
drik Kronemeyer,  who  began  to  trade  there  in  1874.  The 
post-office  was  established  in  1873,  and  G.  Wagenar  ap- 
pointed postmaster.  In  June,  1874,  he  was  succeeded  by 
Hendrik  Kronemeyer,  the  present  incumbent.  The  village 
now  contains  three  stores,  and  in  railway  shipments  it  makes 
a  very  satisfactory  exhibit. 

CHURCHES. 
DUTCH    REFORMED    CHURCH   AT   GRAAFSCHAP. 

The  first  religious  organization  formed  in  the  township 
of  Fillmore  was  located  at  the  village  of  Graafschap. 
The  church  was  organized  in  1848,  and  in  the  same  year 
being  incorporated  as  a  society,  purchased  of  G.  Henevelt 
81  acres  on  the  east  side  of  the  Fillmore  and  Laketown 
line,  which  they  laid  out  as  the  village  of  Graafschap,  and 
upon  which  they  built  a  log  chureh,  meetings  .having, 
however,  been  held  for  nearly  a  year  before  that  time  in  the 
houses  of  settlers.  The  officers  first  chosen  were  Jans  Rut- 
gers, Stephen  Lucas,  Lambert  Tinholt,  and  Henry  Salmink, 
as  elders,  and  Johannes  Van  Anroy  and  Mathias  Naaye,  as 
deacons.  Upon  the  organization  of  the  church,  a  call  was 
sent  to  Rev.  H.  G.  Klyn,  in  the  province  of  Zeeland, 
kingdom  of  the  Netherlands,  who  came  on  at  once  to 
take  charge,  being  accompanied,  moreover,  to  America  by 
Adrian  Zwemer,  now  pastor  of  the  same  church.  Mr. 
Klyn,  who  served  as  pastor  two  years,  vnow  resides  in 
Keokuk,  Iowa,  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-six,  and 
is  still  engaged  in  preaching.  His  successor  at  Graaf- 
schap was  Rev.  Martin  Ypma,  upon  whose  retirement,  in 
1853,  there  was  a  vacancy  in  the  regular  succession  for 


208 


HISTORY  OP  ALLEGAN   AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICEIIGAN. 


some  years,  although  the  pulpit  was  meanwhile  supplied 
by  the  church  at  Holland.  During  Rev.  Mr.  Ypma's  term 
the  church  parsonage  was  converted  into  a  church,  the  old 
log  cabin  was  abandoned,  and  a  new  parsonage  was  built. 

In  1857  differences  on  religious  opinion  arose  in  the  con- 
gregation, and  as  a  result  about  three-fourths  of  the  mem- 
bers decided  to  effect  a  new  departure  as  the  True  Re- 
formed Church  of  America.  Being  in  the  majority,  they 
retained  the  church  property,  while  the  minority  con- 
tinued the  original  church  organization  at  such  times  and 
in  such  places  as  they  best  could  for  two  years  thereafter, 
and,  although  they  were  without  a  regular  pastor,  managed 
to  enjoy  preaching  pretty  regularly.  In  1859  the  present 
house  of  worship  was  built,  and,  in  1861,  Dominie  Peters, 
a  graduate  of  the  New  Brunswick  Seminary,  was  employed 
as  the  first  pastor  subsequent  to  the  church  division,  in 
1857.  His  successors  were  Dirk  Broek  in  1865,  Dominie 
Ogger  in  1871,  William  Van  Derkley,  who  served  until  De- 
cember, 1875,  and  Adrian  Zwemer,  the  present  pastor,  who 
entered  upon  his  pastorate  in  July,  1876.  Mr.  Zwemer 
remembers  preaching,  while  he  was  a  student  at  Holland, 
to  the  congregation  in  Mr.  A.  J.  Neerken's  house,  in  1857, 
when  but  7  families  worshiped  with  the  church.  Now  the 
congregation  includes  74  families.  The  present  elders  are 
G.  Henevelt,  A.  J.  Neerken,  Albert  Bekman,  Herman 
Strabbing,  and  Hendrik  Zuidweg.  The  deacons  are  Be- 
rend  Lugers,  Stephen  Speet,  Garret  Zalmink,  Heudrik 
Joldersma,  Hendrik  Brinkman.  The  Sunday-school,  in 
charge  of  the  pastor,  employs  12  teachers,  and  has  the 
names  of  85  scholars  on  its  roll.  Connected  with  the 
church  is  a  Sabbath-school  on  section  2,  in  Laketown,  at 
which  25  children  usually  attend,  and  which  is  in  charge 
of  Frederick  Zwemer  and  George  Henevelt. 

TRUE   REFORMED  CHURCH  AT  GRAAPSCHAP. 

After  the  division  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church  at 
Graafschap,  in  1857,  those  who  pronounced  for  the  True 
Reformed  Church  retained,  as  has  been  stated,  the  church 
property,  including  a  church,  a  parsonage,  and  the  property 
upon  which  the  village  was  laid  out.  They  used  the  old 
parsonage  for  public  worship  until  1861,  when  they  erected 
the  commodious  edifice  now  in  use.  Subsequent  to  the 
division.  Rev.  Mr.  Bush  occupied  the  pulpit  for  several  years, 
preaching  once  in  three  weeks.,  There  were  other  minis- 
ters also  until  1864,  when  Rev.  D.  Vanderwerp  was  called 
to  be  the  first  pastor.  He  preached  every  Sunday  until 
1872,  after  which,  until  1874,  the  dependence  was  upon 
supplies.  In  1874  Rev.  H.  W.  Trealing  was  called,  and 
remained  until  1877.  In  April,  1879,  his  successor,  the 
present  pastor.  Rev.  R.  T.  Knipers,  took  charge.  The 
church  has  prospered  from  the  outset,  and  has  now  an  aver- 
age attendance  of  150  families.  The  elders  are  Henry 
Lamping,  Jacob  De  Frel,  John  Bouws,  Egbert  Fredericks, 
Henry  Lubbers,  H.  H.  Broenne,  R.  Brill.  THjf  deacons 
are  Cornelius  Lokker,  Lucas  Tinholt,  G.  Mokma,  John 
Slink.  The  Sunday-school,  in  charge  of  the  pastor,  has  9 
teachers,  and  a  membership  of  200. 

DUTCH  REFORMED   CHURCH  ON  SECTION   2. 
This  body  was  organized  in  1867  by  members  of  the 
church  at  Holland,  for  the  sake  of  having  a  place  of  wor- 


ship nearer  home,  and  that  year  a  church  edifice  was 
erected.  The  first  elders  chosen  were  G.  Dalman,  William 
Oonk,  Garret  Wildering.  The  deacons  were  Jacob  Fork, 
Peter  Knaber,  and  Frank  Lucas.  The  first  pastor  was 
Rev.  II.  C.  Knipers,  who  remained  in  charge  until  1877, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Henry  E.  Dascher,  the  present  pastor. 
About  70  families  attend  the  church  and  enjoy  public  wor- 
ship every  Sunday.  The  church  elders  are  William  Oonk, 
Henry  Dalman,  William  Kooyers,  and  Garret  De  Witt. 
The  deacons' are  Jacob  Fork,  John  D.  Bloomers,  Garrit 
Rooks,  and  J.  W.  Wildering.  The  Sunday-school,  which 
is  in  charge  of  the  pastor,  has  8  teachers  and  70  pupils. 

TRUE   REFORMED    CHURCH   ON  SECTION  28. 

This  was  organized  in  1868  by  members  of  the  Graafs- 
chap church  living  in  the  southwestern  portion  of  Fill- 
more. A  church  edifice  was  built  in  1868,  and,  being  de- 
stroyed in  the  forest  fires  of  1871,  was  rebuilt  in  the  spring 
of  1872.  The  first  elders  and  deacons  were  Dirk  Lenters, 
John  Leiblink,  John  Lohrman,  H.  Bruhn,  and  E.  Bruhn. 
The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  John  Staat,  whose  successor.  Rev. 
Mr.  Skabus,  was  followed  in  1875  by  the  present  ptstor. 
Rev.  "William  Von  Leyung.  The  average  attendance  is  90 
families.  The  elders  are  R.  Pastma,  H.  Helms,  H.  H. 
Dobben,  and  A.  Kunnen.  The  deacons  are  Dirk  Lenters 
and  Henry  Garvelink. 

EAST  SAUGATUCK   DUTCH   REFORMED   CHURCH. 

This  church  was  formed  Dec.  23, 1868,  by  a  council  com- 
posed of  Revs.  A.  C.  Van  Raalte,  J.  G.  Nykerk,  D.  Broeck, 
and  Elders  G.  J.  Walderdenk  and  G.  Henevelt.  Twenty- 
two  members  presented  themselves  at  the  organization, 
which  was  efiected  in  a  log  school-house,  on  the  town-line, 
in  Manlius,  where  meetings  had  previously  been  held.  Ed- 
ward Sprick  and  A.  Boesel  were  chosen  elders,  and  H.  S. 
Berksman  and  H.  Dalman  deacons.  Directly  after  the 
organization  a  church  edifice  was  built  on  the  town-line,  in 
Fillmore.  Preaching  was  supplied  until  1873,  when  Rev. 
J.  ¥.  Zwemer,  now  in  charge,  was  employed  as  pastor. 
From  a  membership  of  22  in  1868  the  church  has  increased 
to  a  present  strength  of  110  families.  The  elders  are  Ed- 
ward Sprick,  G.  Van  Tubergen,  J.  Lankhorst,  and  J. 
Heeringa.  The  deacons  are  H.  Neuwenberg,  John  Lub- 
bers, B.  Vandenberg,  and  John  Eisen.  The  Sunday- 
school  has  12  teachers  and  80  scholars. 

SCHOOLS. 

George  N.  Smith  and  Benjamin  Fairbanks  were  chosen 
school  inspectors  at  the  election  in  1849,  and  on  the  5th  of 
May  organized  districts  No.  1  and  No.  2.  The  organization 
of  No.  3  is  unrecorded,  but  on  the  22d  of  June,  1852,  it  was 
ordered  that  No.  3  should  contain  the  southeast  quarter  of 
the  town.  No.  4  was  formed  Aug.  21,  1851,  fractional  dis- 
trict No.  5  in  1854,  and  fractional  districts  No.  6  and  No.  7 
in -1867.  In  1853  the  school  children  between  the  ages  of 
four  and  eighteen  numbered  206,  including  40  in  district 
No.  1, 70  in  No.  2,  20  in  No.  3,  and  76  in  No.  4.  The  first 
record  of  the  appointment  of  teachers  appears  in  1853,  when 
Phineas  A.  Hagar,  Harriet  H.  Hudson,  Constance  Bing- 
ham, Mathew  Janse,  and  Gracia  P.  Briggs  were  engaged. 


GANGES  TOWNSHIP. 


209 


Fillmore  has  now  six  fine  school-houses,  of  which  three  are 
brick  structures  and  two  graded  schools.  The  annual 
report  for  1879  gave  the  following  statistics : 

Number  of  districts  (whole,  4;  fractional,  2) 6 

Enrollment 882 

Average  altendance 623 

Value  of  property $6970 

Teachers'  wages $2055 

The  school  directors  for  1879  were  G.  De  Witt,  J.  W. 
Garvelink,  H.  J.  Klomparens,  Dirk  Lenters,  Jan  Bouws, 
A.  Kirschman. 

THE   BERGMAN   MYSTEKY. 

Fillmore  was  somewhat  agitated,  in  1877,  over  what  was 
known  as  the  Bergman  mystery,  and  to  this  day  the  subject 
is  a  matter  of  lively  recollection.  Some  time  before  the  year 
named,  Bergman  left  Fillmore  and  his  wife,  and,  as  no  word 
came  from  him,  after  a  reasonable  lapse  of  time  his  wife 
married  again.  Not  long  after  that  Bergman  made  his 
appearance  in  Fillmore,  but,  unlike  Enoch  Arden,  was  un- 
willing to  release  the  right  to  his  spouse  without  protest. 
Husband  No.  2  persuaded  him,  however,  to  waive  his  claim 
in  consideration  of  a  donation  of  $25,  and,  the  bargain  being 
thus  peacefully  concluded,  Bergman  abandoned  himself  to 
the  delights  of  single  blessedness. 

Unhappily  for  him,  certain  youthful  but  high-spirited 
citizens  of  Fillmore  resolved  to  rebuke  the  heartless  barter- 
ing a  wife  away  for  a  paltry  $25,  and  so,  coming  upon 
Bergman  in  the  shades  of  night,  they  assailed  him  most 
grievously,  and  wounded  him  sorely  by  means  of  divers 
and  sundry  blows.  So  disconcerted  was  Bergman  at  such 
treatment,  and  so  frightened  moreover  at  the  prospect  of 


more  beatings,  which  were  promised  him  if  he  did  not  leave 
the  town,  that  he  stood  not  upon  the  order  of  his  going, 
but  went  as  fast  as  ever  he  could. 

News  of  the  assault  coming  the  next  day  to  the  ears  of 
the  town  authorities,  and  a  rigid  search  for  Bergman  failing 
to  disclose  his  presence,  the  impression  straightway  pre- 
vailed that  his  assailants  had  murdered  him  and  made 
away  with  the  body.  They  were  arrested,  on  the  charge  of 
murder,  and  upon  preliminary  examination  were  held  for 
assault  with  intent  to  kill.  Being  tried,  they  were  found 
guilty  of  assault  and  battery,  and  were  each  fined  $25.  With 
the  result  of  that  trial,  however,  the  good  people  of  Fill- 
more were  not  satisfied.  Bergman  had  not  been  found, 
nor  was  he  likely  to  be  found,  and  the  murder-theory, 
taking  a  fresh  start,  gained  ground  rapidly,  until  the  public 
was  more  than  ever  convinced  that  Bergman  had  really  been 
foully  dealt  with.  The  excitement  was  wide-spread  and 
intense.  At  a  town-meeting  it  was  voted  to  offer  a  reward 
of  $500  for  the  production  of  Bergman,  dead  or  alive,  and 
for  a  time  nothing  was  talked  of  but  the  Bergman  mystery 
and  the  evident  determination  of  the  townspeople  to  probe 
the  afiair  to  the  bottom. 

Meanwhile,  Bergman  was  peacefully  earning  his  bread  in 
the  State  of  Georgia,  all  unconscious  of  the  solicitude  exer- 
cised on  his  behalf,  and  glad,  no  doubt,  to  be  thus  far  from 
the  muscular  moralists  of  Fillmore.  By  chance  his  presence 
in  the  flesh  in  Georgia  became  revealed  to  the  Fillmore 
people,  and  thereupon,  satisfied  that  the  man  was  not  mur- 
dered after  all,  they  returned  to  tranquil  contentment, 
saved  their  oifered  $500,  and  blessed  their  stars  that  the 
afiair  had  turned  out  so  happily  at  last. 


GANGES/ 


This  township,  organized  in  1847  and  named  by  Dr. 
Coats,  a  member  of  the  Legislature  from  Otsego  (who  for 
some  unknown  reason  selected  the  name  of  the  holy  river, 
of  India),  is  known  on  the  United  States  survey  as  town  2 
north,  in  range  16  west,  and  is  bounded  north  by  Sauga- 
tuck,  south  by  Casco,  east  by  Clyde,  and  west  by  Lake 
Michigan. 

It  is  an  excellent  farming  township,  and  near  the  lake 
the  land  is  devoted  cfiiefiy  to  the  cultivation  of  peaches. 
This  branch  of  industry  has  come  into  prominence  in 
Ganges  within  the  past  six  years,  and,  as  it  continues  to 
expand  from  year  to  year,  the  town  seems  likely  to  gain 
from  this  source  no  inconsiderable  wealth. 

Carefully-compiled  statistics  gave  the  number  of  peach- 
trees  of  all  ages  in  the  township,  in  the  spring  of  1879,  as 
63,985,  and  according  to  the  best  estimates  about  20,000 
more  were  set  out  during  the  year,  so  that  by  Jan.  1, 1880, 


*■  By  Darid  Schwartz. 


the  number  of  trees  reached  84,000,  of  which  30,000  were 
four  years  old  and  over.  The  largest  growers  in  the  town- 
ship have  about  3000  trees  each,  while  those  who  have 
2000  each  are  quite  numerous.  The  fruit  of  Ganges  is 
mainly  sent  away  at  Fennville,  on  the  Chicago  and  West 
Michigan  Railroad,  although  considerable  amounts  are  for- 
warded by  ships  every  season  from  the  Ganges  piers,  from 
Douglas,  and  from  South  Haven. 

There  is  some  lowland  in  the  southeastern  portion  of 
the  township,  through  which  the  north  branch  of  the 
Black  River  flows,  but  it  is  being  rapidly  reclaimed. 
During  the  season  of  navigation  communication  by  water 
with  lake-ports  is  easy,  while  the  Chicago  and  West 
Michigan  Railroad  is  also  near  at  hand.  The  township 
refused  in  October,  1869,  by  a  vote  of  167  to  21,  to  raise 
$30,000  in  aid  of  the  road  just  mentioned,  but  in  Novem- 
ber of  the  same  year  agreed,  by  a  vote  of  106  to  31,  to 
donate  $15,000.  The  railroad  company  did  not,  however, 
run  its  line  through  the  township. 


27 


210 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BAREY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


THE    PIONEERS. 

Harrison  Hutchins,  a  New  Yorker,  led  the  way  in  the 
fall  of  1838  to  the  settlement  of  Ganges,  and  where  he 
then  settled  he  lives  to-day.  He  had  come  West  in  1836, 
and  while  residing  in  Allegan  had  purchased  160  acres  of 
land  iu  Manlius  in  1837,  and  the  same  amount  on  section 
1  in  Ganges.  Meanwhile,  in  Allegan,  in  the  fall  of  1838, 
he  put  up  a  log  cabin,  16  by  18  feet,  on  his  Ganges  tract. 
In  November  of  that  year  he  brought  his  sister  and  her 
three  children  to  his  house  (he  being  himself  unmarried), 
and  began  life  as  a  pioneer. 

In  December,  1838,  John  H.  Billings,  with  a  family 
consisting  of  a  wife  and  five  children,  came  with  Cyrus  A. 
Coles  to  Ganges,  to  locate  upon  lands  which  Coles  had  pre- 
viously entered.  They  moved  into  Hutchins'  cabin,  and, 
although  the  house  had  but  one  room,  the  two  families, 
which,  including  Coles,  numbered  13  persons,  managed  to 
live  in  it  from  December,  1838,  to  February,  1839.  Mr. 
Billings  then  moved  his  family  into  his  own  cabin,  on  sec- 
tion 3,  where  he  had  bought  land  of  Coles.  In  that  same 
month  (February,  1839)  James  W.  Wadsworth,  who  had 
come  to  Manlius,  near  the  Ganges  line,  with  James  McCor- 
mick,  in  December,  1838,  made  a  settlement  upon  sec- 
tion 2. 

The  neighborhood  then  consisted  of  the  families  of 
Hutchins,  Billings,  Wadsworth,  and  McCormick,  the 
latter  being  nearer  to  the  Ganges  people  than  to  his  fellow- 
townsmen  of  Manlius.  Wadsworth  was  the  only  one  of 
them  all  who  boasted  the  ownership  of  a  pair  of  cattle. 
Cyrus  Coles  was  a  bachelor,  but  intended  to  make  a  settle- 
ment upon  his  land  in  section  3.  He  did  not,  however, 
like  the  idea  of  pioneering  alone,  and,  after  helping  to  roll 
up  Wadsworth's  cabin,  returned  to  the  East.  Subsequently 
he  married  there  and  brought  his  wife  to  his  Ganges  farm, 
where  he  still  resides. 

In  February,  1839,  when  Hutchins,  Wadsworth,  and 
Billings  were  the  only  residents  in  the  town,  Ganges  was 
entirely  a  forest,  with  the  usual  accompaniments  of  Indians, 
wolves,  deer,  etc.  The  Indians  were  all  friendly,  and 
much  given  to  trading  with  the  whites.  The  wolves 
were  so  numerous  as  entirely  to  prevent  the  keeping  of 
sheep ;  while  the  deer  were  also  plentiful,  furnishing  the 
settlers  with  venison  in  lieu  of  the  mutton  of  which  they 
were  deprived. 

The  three  families  already  mentioned  were  for  two  years 
the  only  white  inhabitants  of  Ganges.  In  1841  they  were 
joined  by  Levi  Loomis.  That  gentleman  came  from  New 
York  in  1838,  and  with  his  brother  Lyman — both  carpen- 
ters— had  worked  at  Singapore,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kala- 
mazoo, during  the  intervening  period.  Levi  Loomis  was 
noted  during  his  stay  in  Singapore  as  a  skillful  hunter,  and 
in  the  slaughter  of  deer  was  especially  successful.  In  1841 
he  purchased  160  acres  on  section  11  in  Ganges,  and  made 
his  home  upon  it.  He  continued,  however,  to  do  consider- 
able carpenter-work,  erecting  many  houses  and  helping  to 
build  a  number  of  mills  in  the  county.  Mr.  Loomis  was  a 
lonely  settler  in  the  midst  of  a  densely-timbered  tract,  al- 
though he  could  reach  his  nearest  neighbor  by  a  mile's 
travel. 

He  was  himself  a  worthy  neighbor,   always  willing  to 


lend  a  helping  hand  to  incoming  settlers.  He  owned  one 
of  the  two  pairs  of  cattle  in  the  settlement,  and  was  always 
ready  to  loan  them  without  reward  to  his  less  fortunate 
neighbors,  frequently  to  his  own  serious  inconvenfence.  He 
showed  an  unwearying  determination  to  assist  those  who 
needed  assistance  whenever  possible,  and  he  is  remembered 
for  his  kindness  to  this  day.  He  was  for  a  time  coiKn-maker 
in  general  to  the  surrounding  country,  and  for  that  work 
never  charged  a  penny.  Once,  when  asked  how  much  he 
received  for  making  a  cofiSn,  he  replied,  "  Well,  sir,  when  I 
get  so  that  I'll  have  to  charge  for  making  a  ooflfin  I'll  quit 
the  business." 

For  ten  years  after  the  advent  of  Mr.  Loomis  settlers 
came  very  slowly.  In  the  south  part  of  the  township  they 
did  not  begin  until  1843,  when  A.  N.  Crawford  located 
upon  the  lake-shore,  and  in  1845,  when  Timothy  McDowell 
settled  in  Casco,  the  people  of  both  townships  were  so  few 
that  Loomis  and  Hutchins  went  from  near  the  north  line 
of  Ganges  to  assist  in  raising  McDowell's  barn. 

A.  N.  Crawford,  alluded  to  above,  who  had  lived  in  Cal- 
houn County  eight  years,  was  the  first  settler  on  the  lake- 
shore  ;  and  when  he  located  upon  section  30,  in  1843,  his 
nearest  neighbors  on  the  north  were  Levi  Loomis  in  Ganges 
and  James  Hale  in  Newark  (now  Saugatuck),  each  mord 
than  six  miles  distant,  while  there  was  nobody  south  of  him 
to  the  base-line.  The  next  settlers  in  that  locality  were 
Nelson  Root,  who  stayed  only  a  year,  W.  R.  Clark,  H.  F. 
Bostwick,  and  Orville  Hudson.  Mr.  Bostwick's  widow  and 
A.  N.  Crawford  are  the  oldest  living  members  of  the  little 
pioneer  band  who  first  located  in  that  portion  of  Ganges. 

C.  0.  Hamlin  made  a  settlement  in  December,  1846, 
upon  land  in  section  32  that  he  bought  of  Nelson  Root. 
Hamlin  set  up  a  blacksmith-shop,  which  proved  to  be  a 
great  convenience  to  the  country  around,  and  to  which 
people  often  brought  their  horses  for  shoeing  from  Singa- 
pore and  Manlius. 

In  1845,  John  B.  Goodeve,  of  New  York,  bought  of 
one  Bascom  some  land  on  section  4,  in  township  2  (now 
Ganges),  and  with  his  wife  and  two  children  started  by 
land  for  Michigan.  On  the  way  they  were  joined  in  Ohio 
by  A.  S.  Collins  and  family,  and  all  came  to  Ganges  in 
company.  Collins  bought  40  acres  of  Goodeve,  and  while 
they  were  building  Goodeve's  house  both  lived  with  their 
families  in  an  abandoned  log  cabin  on  James  Wadsworth's 
place.  In  the  spring  of  1846,  however,  they  both  had 
houses  of  their  own.  As  evidence  regarding  the  character 
of  the  timber,  Mr.  Goodeve  says  that  from  a  piece  of  5| 
acres  he  cut  logs  enough  to  make  50,000  feet  of  lumber 
and  over  400  cords  of  hard-wood.  After  that  he  cleared 
the  balance  of  the  land,  and  when  his  men  came  to  "  lo"" 
for  him  they  remarked  that  the  number  of  logs  upon  the 
ground  indicated  that  there  hadn't  been  a  stick  hauled  away. 

As  may  be  imagined,  roads  in  such  a  country  were  not 
easily  made.  There  was  a  tolerably  good  road  on  the  lake- 
shore,  but  nowhere  else  in  the  township.  The  nearest 
neighbor  to  Collins  and  Goodeve  was  David  Updike,  who 
had,  a  few  days  before  their  coming,  moved  upon  a  place 
on  section  8,  now  occupied  by  S.  I.  B.  Hutchinson,  and 
first  settled  by  a  German.  Their  next  nearest  neighbor 
was  James  Hale,  in  the  present  township  of  Saugatuck. 


GANGES  TOWNSHIP. 


211 


Amos  Hale,  who  had  lived  at  Singapore  from  1844  to 
1846,  located  in  the  last-named  year  in  Ganges.  His 
widow  married  B.  S.  Collins.  Besides  those  already  named, 
the  residents  of  Ganges  in  1845  included  Mr.  Baragar,  Mr. 
Bankson  (on  the  present  O'Brien  place),  Mr.  Stewart  (on 
section  11),  Thomas  Carter,  G.  F.  Hughes,  Mr.  Roach, 
and  S.  M.  Thompson.  Among  those  who  came  soon  after- 
wards were  Amos  Hale,  Samuel  Weaver,  Benjamin  and 
Nathaniel  Plummer,  Roswell  Daily,  Orlando  Weed,  Richard 
Mack,  William  Dunn,  Thomas  Wilson,  Charles  M.  Link, 
Wm.  Dornan,  William  Warren  (whose  wife's  son,  G.  D. 
Dean,  now  living  on  section  21,  came  when  a  lad  with  his 
mother).  Lamed  Cook,  W.  R.  Clark,  Jonathan  Warrick, 
Orville  Hudson,  T.  Tracey  (who  died  1879,  aged  eighty- 
nine),  J.  R.  Kelley,  Harrison  Fry,  the  Bardens,  Nyes,  and 
others. 

Richard  Mack  located  upon  section  31,  where  he  had 
bought  120  acres  of  his  brother-in-law,  A.  N.  Crawford. 
Peter  Sargent,  an  early  settler  in  Clyde,  removed  to  section 
1,  in  Ganges,  where  he  now  lives.  Nathan  Slayton,  who 
had  visited  Ganges  soon  after  1841,  settled  ultimately  on 
section  10,  where  he  lived  until  his  removal  to  Kansas,  in 
1870.  Walter  Billings,  who  had  come  to  Michigan  in  1 834, 
living  meanwhile  near  Detroit,  in  Allegan,  and  in  Clyde, 
moved  to  Ganges  in  1851,  where  he  now  lives  upon  a  place 
he  bought  of  James  Wadsworth. 

Among  other  early  settlers  may  also  be  mentioned  H.  J. 
Atwater,  S.  W.  Loveridge,  William  Goodwin,  John  Stil- 
son,  Hiram  Lee  (a  blacksmith),  who  sold  his  place  to  Rufus 
Dowd  in  1862,  A.  A.  Johnson  (a  salt-water  sailor,  from 
Maine,  who  bought  a  place  on  section  9,  of  Nathan  Plum- 
mer, in  1854),  Simeon  Staring,  Charles  McVey,  William 
Dunn,  Philander  Taylor,  S.  I.  B.  Hutchinson,  W.  A.  Sey- 
mour (who  bought  the  W.  R.  Clark  place),  J.  Gardner,  R. 
J.  Knox,  William  Darling,  E.  Penfold,  W.  McCarthy,  R. 
C.  Eaton,  Joseph  Trigg,  and  Joseph  Johnson. 

ROADS. 
The  first  highway  of  any  consequence  in  the  township 
was  the  lake-shore  road,  which  was  laid  out  about  1843  by 
Mr.  Chichester,  the  county  surveyor,  and  ultimately  run 
through  to  South  Haven.  The  first  highway  commissioners 
chosen  in  Ganges  were  Roswell  Daily,  Nathan  Slayton,  and 
John  Thayer.  In  1847  the  town  was  laid  out  into  six 
road  districts.  Previous  to  that  twelve  roads,  including  the 
Breedsville  road,  had  been  laid  by  Newark  township  in  the 
territory  subsequently  called  Ganges.  After  1847  town 
roads  were  rapidly  constructed. 

FIEST  BIRTH  AND  DEATH. 
Singularly  enough,  the  first  birth  and  death  in  Ganges 
both  took  place  in  the  family  of  one  who  was  not  a  settled 
resident  of  the  township.  In  1840,  Russell  Hall,  a  brother- 
in-law  of  Harrison  Hutchins,  had  a  piece  of  land  in  Man- 
lius  from  Mr.  Hutchins,  and  while  making  it  ready  for  a 
residence  was  living  in  the  house  of  that  gentleman  in 
Ganges.  While  he  was  living  there,  in  the  year  before 
named,  his  son,  paniel  H.  Hall,  was  born,  he  being  the  old- 
est white  native  of  the  township.  He  now  lives  in  Kansas. 
The  same  year,  and  while  still  living  in  Hutchins'  house, 


Russell  Hall  himself  fell  ill  and  died,  his  being  the  first 
death  in  what  is  now  the  township  of  Ganges. 

Rev.  L.  Gage,  of  Plainwell,  a  Methodist  circuit-minister, 
preached  Mr.  Hall's  funeral  sermon,  which  was  the  second 
sermon  preached  in  the  township.  Mr.  Hall  was  buried  on 
Mr.  Hutchins'  place,  and  there,  for  some  years  afterwards, 
was  the  only  burial-ground  the  township  had. 

PHYSICIANS.' 
At  that  time  there  was  no  physician  to  be  had  short  of 
Allegan.  Dr.  Chauncey  B.  Goodrich  settled  in  the  town- 
ship soon  afterwards,  however,  and  until  his  death,  in 
1879,  was  almost  continuously  in  practice  in  the  western 
part  of  Allegan  County,  in  which  he  was  for  many  years 
the  only  physician.  Dr.  E.  E.  Brunson  has  been  practicing 
in  Ganges  since  1875. 

MILLS. 
The  pioneers  of  Ganges  were  not  very  well  off  with  re- 
spect to  grist-mills.  Saw-mills  were  convenient  enough, 
but  there  was  not  a  very  pressing  demand  for  lumber  by 
the  early  settlers  of  Ganges,  who  generall3'  rolled  up  log 
houses  as  the  cheapest  and  most  expeditious  method  of 
providing  homes.  The  nearest  grist-mill  was  at  Allegan, 
and  a  journey  thither,  over  the  roads  of  that  day,  involved 
a  trip  of  two  days,  and  sometimes  more.  Occasionally  a 
family  which  had  used  up  the  last  of  its  stock  of  bread 
would  be  in  sore  need  before  the  journey  to  mill  and  back 
could  be  accomplished,  although  some  neighbor  was  gener- 
ally found  to  supply  the  deficiency.  Mrs.  Plummer  remem- 
bers that  when  the  family  of  Ralph  R.  Mann  reached 
their  new  home  in  Manlius  they  found  themselves  without 
bread,  and,  learning  that  Mr.  Plummer  was  their  nearest 
neighbor,  five  miles  or  more  distant,  they  sent  a  messenger 
on  foot  to  the  residence  of  that  gentleman  to  ask  the  loan 
of  a  loaf  of  bread.  Fortunately,  the  Plummers  had  the 
bread  to  spare,  and  willingly  supplied  the  wants  of  their 
distant  neighbors. 

DROWNED  IN   THE   LAKE. 

Mention  will  be  made  in  the  history  of  Saugatuck  of 
a  calamity  on  the  Kalamazoo  River  in  1841  whereby  three 
children  of  John  H.  Billings,  together  with  Mrs.  Billings, 
were  drowned.  Three  other  children  of  Mr.  Billings,  in 
the  boat  on  that  occasion,  were  saved,  but  one  of  them, 
Ozias  by  name,  seemed  born  under  an  adverse  star,  for  he 
subsequently  lost  his  life  in  Hutchins'  Lake,  in  Ganges, 
while  crossing  on  the  ice.  He  was  warned  that  the  journey 
was  a  risky  one,  but  boy-like  he  persisted  in  making  the 
venture,  and  before  he  had  proceeded  far  felt  the  ice  giving 
way  beneath  him.  He  struggled  bravely  to  save  himself, 
but  in  vain,  and  soon  went  down  beneath  the  icy  waters  of 
the  lake. 

TOWNSHIP  ORGANIZATION. 

Township  No.  2,  in  range  16,  was  a  portion  of  the  civil 
township  of  Newark  until  1847,  and  when  Ganges  was 
formed  in  that  year  it  included  survey-townships  No.  2  and 
No.  1,  now  known  respectively  as  Ganges  and  Casco,  the  latter 
having  been  set  off  in  1854.  The  first  town-meeting  in 
Ganges  was  held  at  the  house  of  Orlando  Weed,  April  5, 


212 


HISTORY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


1847,  when  27  votes  were  cast  by  the  following  electors; 
A.  H.  Hale,  S.  H.  Weaver,  J.  W.  Wadsworth,  J.  B. 
Goodeve,  S.  M.  Thompson,  Nathan  Slayton,  Nelson  Smeed, 
Peter  Baragar,  Roswell  Daily,  Timothy  McDowell,  David 
Updike,  C.  0.  Hamlin,  E.  S.  Collins,  Caleb  Fuller,  V. 
Wadsworth,  John  Eyan,  John  Lutz,  Charles  M.  Link, 
Henry  Baragar,  H.  N.  Crawford,  Levi  Loomis,  John  Thayer, 
Orlando  Weed,  Harrison  Hutohins,  N.  D.  Plummer,  George 

F.  Hughes,  0.  C.  Thayer. 

The  officials  chosen  on  that  occasion  were  the  following : 
Supervisor,  A.  H.  Hale ;  Clerk,  S.  H.  Weaver ;  Treasurer, 
Levi  Loomis  ;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  N.  D.  Plummer  and 

G.  F.  Hughes ;  School  Inspectors,  Daniel  Piatt  and  A.  H. 
Hale ;  Directors  of  the  Poor,  J.  W.  Wadsworth  and  Na- 
than Slayton ;  Assessors,  J.  W.  Wadsworth  and  J.  B. 
Goodeve;  Commissioners  of  Highways,  Nathan  Slayton, 
Roswell  Daily,  J.  B.  Goodeve ;  Constables,  John  Lutz, 
Henry  Baragar,  S.  H.  Weaver,  and  0.  C.  Thayer ;  Path- 
masters,  District  No.  1,  Henry  Baragar  ;  No.  2,  David 
Updike ;  No.  3,  N.  D.  Plummer ;  No.  4,  C.  0.  Hamlin ; 
No.  5,  Timothy  McDowell.  At  the  same  meeting  $300 
were  voted  for  ordinary  township  purposes,  and  $250  for 
roads  and  bridges. 

At  the  election  in  1848  there  were  38  votes ;  in  1855 
there  were  62 ;  in  1858  there  were  147 ;  in  1867  there 
were  155 ;  in  1871  the  number  advanced  to  205,  and  in 
1875  declined  to  164. 

A  list  of  those  chosen  annually  from  1848  to  1880  to 
serve  as  supervisors,  clerks,  treasurers,  and  justices  of  the 
peace  is  given  below. 

SUPERVISORS. 
1848,  A.  H.  Hale;  1849,  C.  B.  Goodrich;  1850-51,  ElishaWeed;  1852, 
S.  M.  Thompson;  1853-54,  Elisha  Weed;  1855-57,  A.  M.  Craw- 
ford; 1858-62,  H.  F.  Bostwi.ik;  186.3-64,  G.  D.  Webster;  1865-68, 
H.  F.  Bostwick  ;  1869,  G.  P.  Hughes;  1870-71,  R.  C.  Eaton; 
1872-73,  N.  W.  Lewis ;  1874-75,  W.  S.  Chase ;  1876,  R.  C.  Eaton ; 
1877,  W.  S.  Chase ;  1878,  R.  C.  Eaton ;  1879,  W.  S.  Chase. 

CLERKS. 

1848,  S.  H.  Weaver;  1849-51,  S.  M.  Thompson;  1852,  S.  H.  Weaver; 

1863,  L.  A.  Shead;  1854,  John  Weed;  1855-56,  S.  H.  Weaver; 

1857,  Lorenzo  Wood;  1858,  C.  H.Abbott;  1859-62,  S.  H.  Weaver; 

1863-64,  0.  S.  Shaw;  1865,  J.  S.  Payne;  1866,  J.  H.  Baldwin; 

1867,  Elijah  Weaver;  1868,  L.  A.  Pattison ;  1869-72,  W.  A. 
Woodworth;  1873-76,  J.  H.  Baldwin;  1877,  B.  H.  Powers;  1878, 
N.  W.  Lewis;  1879,  J.  H.  Baldwin. 

TREASURERS. 
1848,  Levi  Loomis;  1849-50,  T.  D.  McDowell;  1851-53,  A.  N.  Craw- 
ford; 1854^56,   G.  F.  Hughes;    1857,  Nelson  Smead;  1858-60, 
N.  D.  Plummer;  1861,  William  Dunn;  1862,  N.  D.  Plummer; 
1863-64,  C.  M.  Link;  1865,  J.  B.  Goodeve;  1866-67,  J.  G.  Fry; 

1868,  Rufus  Andrews;  1869-70,  C.  B.  Goodrich;  1871,  G.  W. 
Chapin;  1872-73,  J.  P.  Leland;  1874,  J.  B.  Goodeve;  1875-76, 
S.  R.  Lewis;  1877,  C.  B.  Goodrich;  1878,  S.  R.  Lewis;  1879,  H. 
J.  Atwater. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 
1848,  Levi  Loomis;  1849,  Orlando  Weed;  1850,  Isaac  Patch;  1851, 
Walter  Billings;  1852,  H.  F.  Bostwick;  1853,  William  Dunn; 
1854,  L.  D.  Cook;  1855,  W.  Billings;  1856,  W.  R.  Bostwick; 
1857,  William  Dunn;  1858,  Lorenzo  Weed;  1859,  Levi  Loomis; 
1860,  Joseph  Evarts  j  1861,  Warren  Prentice;  1862,  S.  L.  Payne; 
1863,  Silas  Brooke;  1864,  R.  C.  Eaton;  1865,  Elijah  Weaver; 
1866,  J.  S.  Hudson;  1S67,  S.  Bowker;  1868,  W.  Bostwick; 
1869,  W.  M.  Hendryx;  1870,  J.  Leckenby;  1871,  S.  Bowker; 
1872,  J.  G.   Fry ;  1873,  J.  H.  Baldwin  ;  1874,  J.  Wadsworth ; 


1875,  A.  N.  Crawford;  1876,  R.  C.  Baton;  1877,  L.  H.  Howard; 
1878,  Nelson  Smead ;  1879,  S.  Bowker. 

PLUMMBBVILLE. 
Plummerville,  ep  called,  was  founded  in  1846,  by  Benja- 
min Plummer  and  Orlando  Weed,  who  came  from  Sauga- 
tuck  and  set  up  a  saw-mill  on  the  creek  near  there.     0.  R. 
Johnson  and  a  Mr.  Noyes  soon  started  a  tannery  near  by. 
Plummer  opened  a  store,  and,  in  company  with  Mr.  Robin- 
son, built  a  lake-pier,  four  hundred  feet  in  length,  at  which 
considerable  lumber  and  cordwood  was  shipped.    Mr.  Weed 
went  to  California  in  1849,  and  then  Mr.  Plummer  carried 
on  the   saw-mill   alone  until   about  1858.     The   tannery 
flourished   until  1875.     John   and   Loren  Baldwin,  now 
living  on  section  8,  and  Charles  M.  Link,  a  resident  of  sec- 
tion 5,  were  employees  in  Plummer  &  Weed's   saw-mill, 
which  was  the  first  one  of  any  kind  erected  in  Ganges. 
The  second-jvas  put  up  by  G.  F.  Hughes,  a  short  distance 
south.     Mr.  Plummer,  who   was   one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Saugatuck,  where  he  located  in  1834,  still  resides  at  Plum- 
merville, which,  however,  has  ceased  to  show  any  of  the 
characteristics  of  a  village. 

PIER   COVE. 
The  village  known  as  Pier  Cove  was  laid  out  by  Deacon 
Sutherland,  in  1851,  upon  section  5,  where  he  had  located 
in  1849.     The  first  improvement  of  any  consequence  was  a 
steam  saw-mill,  erected  by  Abbott,  Squires  &  Co.    Franklin 
Nichols  set  up  a  turning-lathe  directly  afterwards,  and  sub- 
sequently transformed  it  into  a  grist-mill,  which  has  been  in 
continuous  operation  to  the  present  time.     Mr.  Sutherland 
built  a  pier  into  the  lake,  sixteen  feet  wide  and  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty-three  feet  in  length,  and  on  subsequent 
occasions  made  additions  which  brought  the  total  length  up 
to  two  hundred  feet  and  the  width  to  forty  feet.     A  store 
was  opened  by  Mr.  Cranston,  a  tavern  was  built  by  J.  J. 
Gardner  and  George  Dunn,  and   several   other  residents 
located  in  the  young  village.      Business  reached  such  a 
volume  presently  that  the  village  boasted  of  four  stores,  a 
population  of  20  families,  and  such  brisk  times  at  the  pier 
that  it  was  no  rare  thing  to  see  a  half-dozen  vessels  loadino' 
there   with   lumber,   cordwood,    etc.,   at   the   same   time. 
Afi'airs  prospered  until  1867,  when,  the  supply  of  timber 
becoming  exhausted,  the  saw-mill  was  discontinued,  ship- 
ments ceased,  and  the  place  relapsed  into  quietude.     It  has 
now  a  store,  post-office,  and  a  population  of  a  dozen  families, 
and  during  the  proper  season  of  navigation  does  something 
in  the  way  of  shipping  fruit. 

There  is  some  talk  of  restoring  the  pier  (now  much 
dilapidated),  and  if  this  should  be  done  the  fruit  business 
would  be  likely  to  show  a  material  increase. 

During  Pier  Cove's  most  prosperous  era  the  village  con- 
tained three  practicing  lawyers,— W.  A.  Woodworth,  Alonzo 
Chandler,  and  a  Mr.  Lyons. 

POST-OPPICES. 
In  the  earlier  days  the  settlers  obtained  their  mail  at 
Saugatuck,  and  after  1853  at  Pier  Cove,  a  post-offiee  being 
established  at  that  place  that  year.  Samuel  M.  Thompson 
was  the  first  postmaster,  and  after  him  the  incumbents  were 
Lorenzo  Weed,  John  S.  Payne,  Elijah  Weaver,  William 


GANGES  TOWNSHIP. 


213 


Ferguson,  and  Martin  Pratt,  now  in  office.  The  name  of 
the  office  remained  Pier  Cove  until  1874,  when  it  was 
changed  to  Ganges. 

New  Casco  post-office  was  established  in  Casco  township 
in  1856,  when  Lawrence  Hyde  was  appointed  postmaster. 
Wm.  P.  Davis  was  the  second  appointee,  and  Wm.  0. 
-  Packard  the  third.  During  the  administration  of  the  latter 
gentleman  the  location  of  the  office  was  changed  to  Pack- 
ard's Corners,  in  Ganges.  After  Mr.  Packard,  Wm.  Chase 
was  the  postmaster,  he  being  followed  by  Geo.  T.  Clapp,  the 
present  incumbent.  Early  in  1879  the  name  of  the  office 
was  changed  to  that  of  Glenn,  which  it  now  bears. 

Peach  Belt  post-office,  on  the  northern  lino  of  the  town- 
ship, was  established  Feb.  1,  1879.  Walter  Billings  was 
the  postmaster  until  December  of  that  year ;  in  January, 
1880,  John  Hoover  was  appointed. 

CHUECHES. 

METHODIST    CLASSES. 

The  first  sermon  preached  in  Ganges  was  delivered  by 
Rev.  L.  Gage,  of  Plainwell  (a  Methodist  circuit-preacher), 
in  James  Wadsworth's  house,  during  the  year  1840.  After 
that  Mr.  Gage  generally  preached  in  Ganges  once  in  four 
weeks.  His  circuit  covered  a  wide  stretch  of  country, 
extending  from  the  Kalamazoo  Circuit  to  the  lake-shore. 
He  was  a  tireless  worker,  and  for  that  reason  came  to  be 
known  as  "  the  breaking-up  plow."  Gage  organized  a  class 
which  worshiped  at  times  in  Wadsworth's  house  and  barn, 
and  also  in  an  old  log  house  on  Harrison  Hutchins'  place. 
Subsequently  a  second  class  was  formed,  a  mile  and  a  half 
south  of  the  town  line,  in  what  was  known  as  the  "  White 
School-House."  This  latter  was  afterwards  united  with 
the  Pier  Cove  class. 

The  Methodist  class  now  worshiping  near  Pier  Cove  was 
organized  about  1852.  The  first  members  were  V.  Wads- 
wortU  and  wife,  E.  S.  Collins  and  wife,  Wm.  Corner  and 
wife,  Jas.  W.  Wadsworth  and  wife,  Charles  Goodeve,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Roswell  Daily,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nathaniel  Plum- 
mer,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wm.  Dunn,  Mrs.  Samuel  Weaver,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Simmons. 

Meetings  were  at  first  held  at  the  houses  of  Nathaniel 
PJummer  and  E.  S.  Collins,  and  at  the  Wadsworth  school- 
house  until  1867,  when  the  present  church  edifice  was 
built.  Among  the  earliest  pastors  were  Rev.  Messrs.  Bliss, 
Boyington,  Erkenbach,  Mosher,  Campbell,  Eldridge,  and 
Earl.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  N.  M.  Steele,  who 
preaches  at  Pier  Cove  once  a  week.  David  Hoover  is  the 
present  class-leader.  The  trustees  are  Wm.  Dunn,  B.  T. 
Collins,  PEilander  Taylor,  Wm.  Corner,  James  Gardner, 
David  Hoover,  Wm.  Ferguson,  V.  Wadsworth,  and  John 
Wadsworth.  The  Sunday-school  superintendent  is  Wm. 
Corner.  There  is  also  a  class  at  Packard's  Corners,  known 
as  the  South  Ganges  class.  Its  membership  is  11,  and 
its  leader  German  Richards. 

THE   FIRST   BAPTIST   CHURCH. 

This  body  was  organized  as  a  branch  of  the  church 

in   Allegan,  July  16,  1853,  by  Elder  Harvey  Munger. 

The  first  members  were  nine  in  number,  as  follows :  Levi 

Loomis,  Sarah  Ann  Loomis,  Joseph  Collins,  Marcus  Suth- 


erland, Almira  Hudson,  Charlotte  Collins,  Mrs.  Sutherland, 
Eunice  Crawford,  and  Bathsheba  Rockwell.  The  first  deacon 
was  Marcus  Sutherland,  and  the  first  clerk  Levi  Loomis. 
Among  the  pastors  who  served  the  church  during  the  first 
twenty  years  of  its  existence  were  Elders  Austin  Harmann, 
,C.  P.  Grosevenor,  Silas  Bowker,  Abner  Webb,  E.  O'Brien, 
and  William  Munger. 

Worship  is  held  at  present  in  the  Lewis  school-house, 
although  a  movement  is  afoot  looking  to  the  speedy  erec- 
tion of  a  church  edifice.  Rev.  J.  E.  Piatt,  the  present 
pastor,  has  been  in  charge  since  1877.  The  membership 
is  54.  The  deacons  are  Harrison  Hutchins  and  G.  W. 
Loveridge.  The  trustees  are  Glenn  O'Brien,  Gillette  Spen- 
cer, and  Edward  Hutchins. 

THE  SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH. 
The  Second  Baptist  Church  was  organized  Sept.  22, 
1868,  by  members  of  the  First  Church  and  others,  aggre- 
gating, all  told,  17  persons.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Silas 
Bowker ;  the  first  deacons  were  William  P.  Sherman  and 
J.  H.  Barden,  and  the  clerk  Levi  Loomis.  The  present 
deacons  are  Levi  Loomis,  William  P.  Sherman,  and  0.  P. 
Carman.  Weekly  Sunday  services  are  held  by  Rev.  J.  E. 
Piatt,  in  the  "  Sherman"  school  district.  The  membership 
is  now  38. 

UNITED    BRETHREN    IN    CHRIST. 

A  United  Brethren  class  was  formed  at  the  Pier  Cove 
school-house  by  Rev.  Mr.  Foote.  in  1861,  with  a  member- 
ship of  24.  The  first  class-leader  was  Lorenzo  Weed. 
Until  1875,  services  were  held  in  the  school-house.  The 
class  had  at  one  time  a  membership  of  50,  but  it  now  num- 
bers only  35.  Among  the  immediate  successors  of  Mr. 
Foote  were  Rev.  Messrs.  Buck,  Baldwin,  and  Linn.  The 
present  pastor  is  Rev.  Mr.  De  Long,  of  Casco,  who  preaches 
at  Pier  Cove  once  in  two  weeks,  and  similarly  to  a  class 
worshiping  in  the  Sherman  school  district.  The  charge  is 
in  the  Ganges  Circuit,  which  includes  six  appointments. 
The  church  now  used  by  the  Pier  Cove  class  was  built  in 
1875.  The  present  class-leader  is  Arthur  Howland,  the 
trustees  are  Elisha  Weed,  Ro,bert  Linn,  Edwin  Goodwin, 
and  John  Goodwin,  and  the  Sunday-school  superintendent 
is  Edwin  Goodwin. 

THE  WBSLBTAN  METHODIST   CLASS   OF   PEACH   BELT. 

This  church  was  formed  by  Rev.  Mr.  Burnell,  in  the 
Billings  school-house,  with  14  members,  Charles  Atwater 
being  the  class-leader.  Rev.  Mr.  Grinnell,  of  Ganges,  is 
now  the  pastor,  and  is  in  charge  of  the  Peach  Belt  Circuit, 
which  includes  Laketown,  Peach  Belt,  and  Mack's  Land- 
ing. The  church  stewards  are  William  Ledig,  Walter  Bil- 
lings, and  Mr.  Frazier.  Meetings  are  held  in  the  Billings 
school-house  once  in  two  weeks. 

SCHOOLS. 

School  district  No.  1  was  formed  in  April,  1847,  and  had 
for  its  first  teacher  Isaac  Stewart,  who  had  previously  been 
teachin"  a  school  in  James  Wadsworth's  house.  Districts 
2  3,  and  4  were  organized  July  20,  1847.  Among  the 
early  district  school-teachers  besides  Stewart  were  Mary 
Piatt,  Samuel  H.  Weaver,  Helen  E.  Seymour,   Frances 


214 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Pool,  Jeanette  Earl,  Constance  Bingham,  and  Eliza  Jane 
Starr.  The  official  report  for  the  year  1879  furnishes  this 
information  touching  the  Ganges  public  schools  : 

Number  of  districts 10 

Enrollment 481 

Value  of  property $6100 

Teachers'  vfages $6185.50 

The  school  directors  for  1879  were  A.  C.  Goodrich,  W. 
H.  Dunn,  W.  A.  Seymour,  C.  M.  Link,  Edward  Lindsey, 
George  W.  Hampton,  John  Wadsworth,  James  Miller. 

GANGES  GRANGE,  No.  839. 
This  was  organized  July  8, 1874,  with  42  members,  An- 
son Grover  being  the  Master ;  W.  A.  Woodworth,  0. ; 
James  Gardner,  L. ;  A.  N.  Perrotlet,  Sec. ;  and  Edward 
Hawley,  Treas.  The  succession  of  Masters  from  the  first 
has  been  Anson  Grover,  William  Cummings,  S.  R.  Lewis, 
and  William  Cummings.  The  membership  in  February, 
1880,  was  50,  and  the  officers  were  William  Cummings,  M. ; 
S.  R.  Lewis,  Sec. ;  E.  Hawley,  Treas. ;  N.  W.  Lewis,  L. ; 
Henry  Plummer,  0. ;  Freeman  Robinson,  Steward ;  An- 
drew Staring,  A.  S. ;  Clarence  Ardrey,  G. ;  Mrs.  F.  Rob- 
inson, Chaplain;  Mrs.  E.  Hawley,  Ceres;  Mrs.  William 
Corner,  Pomona;  Mrs.  Taylor,  Flora.  The  grange  owns 
a  commodious  hall  at  Lewis'  Corners,  which  was  completed 
in  March,  1880. 

TEMPERANCE  SOCIETIES. 
During  the  winter  of  1877-78  a  strong  temperance 
movement  was  started  in  Ganges  with  the  organization 
in  school  district  No.  10  of  a  Red  Ribbon  Club.  The 
cause  prospered  steadily  from  the  outset,  and  in  February, 
1880,  was  encouraged  by  four  Red  Ribbon  Clubs  in  various 
portions  of  the  town,  with  a  promise  of  much  increase  of 
strength. 

THE  SAUGATUCK  AND  GANGES  POMOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY. 

This  society  was  organized  Sept.  30,  1871,  at  the  village 
of  Douglas,  as  the  Lake-Shore  Agricultural  and  Pomological 
Society.  It  then  embraced  members  from  the  twelve  west- 
ern towns  of  Allegan  County.  The  officers  chosen  at  the 
organization  were  D.  W.  Wiley,  President ;  J.  J.  Holmes, 
S.  R.  Lewis,  James  McCormick,  B.  F.  Dressier,  R.  C. 
Eaton,  and  R.  B.  Newnham,  Vice-Presidents;  C.  A.  En- 
sign, Secretary;  E.  W.  Perry,  Corresponding  Secretary; 
J.  S.  Owen,  Treasurer;  H.  H.  Goodrich,  J.  P.  Leland, 
Alexander  Hamilton,  and  J.  F.  Taylor,  Directors.  The 
charter  members  numbered  85. 

A  report,  issued  in  1878,  set  forth  the  following  facts  in 
regard  to  the  society  and  the  fruit  business : 

"The  society  believed  they  had  the  fairest  part  of  the  State  for 
their  iield  of  labor,  and  that  within  its  limits  was  contained  all  that 
the  farmer  or  fruit-grower  could  desire.  From  the  commencement 
of  this  society,  when  there  was  not  fruit  enough  raised  in  this  vicinity 
for  home  consumption,  till  th«  present  time  there  has  been  a  constant 
and  steady  increase  in  the  agricultural  and  pomological  productions 
not  surpassed  by  any  other  locality,  and  equaled  by  very  few. 

"  The  high  price  of  fruit,  and  especially  of  peaches,  during  the 
first  years  of  this  society  gradually  gave  prominence  to  pomology 
in  its  discussions.  The  remoter  towns  paid  less  and  less  attention 
to  it  till  the  membership  was  confined  mostly  to  the  towns  of  Sauga- 
tuck  and  Ganges.  These  two  facts  being  discussed,  it  was  decided 
to  change  the  name  of  the  organization,  and  accordingly  the  change 


was  effected  in  September,  1877,  to  The  Saugatuok  and  Ganges  Po- 
mological Society. 

"Since  the  organization,  seven  years  ago,  the  production  has  in- 
creased from  not  enough  to  supply  home  consumption  to  over  100,000 
bushels  for  shipment  from  the  towns  of  Saugatuok  and  Ganges  alone, 
and  only  a  small  portion  of  the  trees  in  full  bearing.  It  is  fair  to 
■presume  that  the  amount  will  be  more  than  doubled  within  the  next 
five  years." 

The  membership  of  the  society  in  March,  1880,  was  40, 
and  the  officers  as  follows :  James  F.  Taylor,  President ; 
Levi  Loomis,  Alexander  Hamilton,  N.  W.  Lewis,  J.  H. 
Bandle,  William  Corner,  and  P.  Purdy,  Vice-Presidents ; 
Byron  Markham,  Secretary ;  J.  S.  Owen,  Treasurer ;  J.  P. 
Leland,  S.  R.  Lewis,  A.  Hamilton,  and  H.  L.  F.  Crouse, 
Directors. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


EDWARD  PENFOLD. 
Mr.  Penfold  is  of  English  extraction,  and  was  born  in 
Sussex,  England,  May  21,  1828.  Having  become  im- 
pressed with  the  superior  advantages  accorded  artisans  and 
laborers  in  the  New  World,  he,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one, 
bade  adieu  to  the  mother-country  and  embarked  for 
America.  After  a  brief  residence  in  New  York  State  Mr. 
Penfold  returned  to  England,  and  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Caroline  Gratwick,  who  was  born  Dec.  31,  1827, 
jnd  was  a  native  of  Sussex  County,  as  were  also  her  parents. 
Two  children  add  to  their  happiness, — Henry  J.,  born  Oct. 
11,  1856,  and  Charles  E.,  whose  birth  occurred  Nov.  21, 
1862.  An  adopted  daughter,  Miss  Hattie,  is  also  a  member 
of  the  pleasant  family  circle. 

Mr.  Penfold  returned  again  with  his  bride  to  America, 
where,  in  connection  with  his  brother  Henry,  who  had 
meanwhile  left  his  native  shore,  Edward  engaged  in  labor 
in  New  York  State.  During  the  year  1855  they  removed 
to  Michigan,  where  he  purchased  40  acres  of  land  in  Gan- 
ges. This  was  soon  transformed  from  a  wilderness  into 
fruitful  fields,  and  two  years  later  sold  and  a  more  exten- 
sive farm  purchased,  upon  which  his  present  residence  stands. 
During  one  of  the  big  fires  in  that  year  of  fires  (1871),  and 
on  the  day  Chicago  was  burned,  his  log  house  and  the 
lumber  and  shingles  for  a  new  one,  and  two  barns,  together 
with  all  utensils,  were  burned. 

During  the  late  war  both  Edward  and  Henry  Penfold 
were  actively  engaged  in  the  contest,  the  latter  of  whom 
sacrificed  his  life  for  the  cause.  In  1877,  Mr.  Penfold, 
accompanied  by  two  neighbors,  visited  again  his  native  land 
for  a  brief  period.  They  revived  many  pleasant  associa- 
tions, but  returned  fully  impressed  with  the  advantages  of 
a  republican  over  a  monarchical  government.  Mr.  Penfold 
is  regarded  as  a  public-spirited  citizen,  and  his  career  has 
fully  justified  the  estimate  in  which  he  is  held.  His  wife 
and  his  eldest  son  are  exemplary  members  of  the  Wesleyan 
Methodist  Church. 


C.  0.  HAMLIN. 


C.  0.  Hamlin  was  born  in  Lexington  township.  Stark 
Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  1,  1813,  and  was  the  third  in  a  family 


GANGES  TOWNSHIP. 


215 


of  eleven  children, — six  boys  and  five  girls.  His  father, 
Stephen  Hamlin,  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  his  mother, 
Elizabeth  (Felts)  Hamlin,  was  also  a  native  of  that  State, 
having  married  Mr.  Hamlin  some  time  in  1807,  afterwards 
removing  to  Ohio,  locating  on  the  farm  where  they  died, — 
Stephen  Hamlin  in  1856,  and  Elizabeth  Hamlin  in  1878. 

C.  0.  Hamlin,  like  most  boys  of  his  time,  passed  his  boy- 
hood days  with  little  advantages  of  schooling,  and  less  time 
for  play  and  recreation,  hard  work  being  the  portion  of  nearly- 
all  in  those  days.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  commenced  life 
for  himself,  working  on  a  farm  for  the  first  years  by  the 
day  and  month.  Then  he  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade, 
and  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  he  married,  in  Stark  Co., 
Ohio,  Dec.  14,  1837,  Miss  Margaret  M.  Fisher,  daughter 
of  Reuben  and  Lavina  (Knox)  Fisher,  both  natives  of 
Crawford  Co.,  Pa.,  where  Miss  Margaret  was  born,  Aug.  2, 
1820.  Mr.  Fisher's  death  occurred  in  Michigan  in  1851 
or  '52,  and  Mrs.  Fisher's  in  Kalamazoo,  in  1873. 

After  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hamlin  they  com- 
menced housekeeping  in  the  town,  Mr.  Hamlin  working  at 
his  trade.  Here  they  remained  for  nine  years,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1846  started  westward  with  their  family  of  five 
children,  traveling  in  the  usual  way  of  those  days,  by  wagon, 
stopping  first  at  Battle  Creek  for  some  six  months ;  then 
moved  to  and  settled  on  the  farm  where  they  now  live,  con- 
sisting of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  32,  and 
which  only  had  a  small  improvement  when  they  pur- 
chased, and,  though  Mr.  Hamlin  has  continued  working  at 
his  trade,  being  the  only  blacksmith  in  that  vicinity  for  many 
years,  still  has  managed  his  farm  with  success  and  profit. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hamlin  are  the  parents  of  the  following 
children,  who  have  grown  to  manhood  and  womanhood,  viz. : 
Harvey  R.,  born  Dec.  10, 1838  ;  Melissa  L.,  born  April  13, 
1840  ;  Jarret  H.,  born  Sept.  13, 1841,  died  Dec.  12, 1861, 
in  the  army ;  Malinda  M.,  born  May  7,  1843  ;  Maria  0., 
born  Dec.  22,  1844  ;  Caroline  F.,  born  Oct.  23,  1848 ; 
Emeline  M.,  born  Aug.  2,  1850 ;  Ida  A.,  born  Sept.  1, 
1852,  died  May  22, 1873 ;  Viola  A.,  born  Aug.  12, 1854; 
Charles  F.,  born  March  31,  1862 ;  besides  these,  three 
have  died  in  childhood.  In  addition  to  the  home-farm  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  Mr.  Hamlin  owns  other  land 
in  the  township  to  the  amount  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  acres.  He  has  always  followed  mixed  farming,  but, 
like  many  others  of  this  township,  has  of  late  years  inter- 
ested himself  in  fruit-raising,  and  with  success. 

Politically,  Mr.  Hamlin  is  a  Republican,  but  never  seek- 
ing the  emoluments  of  political  work,  leaving  for  others 
who  wish  them  the  oflSces  and  honors. 

Their  family  are  all  grown  to  manhood  and  womanhood, 
and,  with  the  exception  of  one  son  and  one  daughter,  have 
left  home  seeking  fortunes  for  themselves. 

Mr.  Hamlin  built  the  first  pier  on  this  portion  of  the 
lake.  It  is  now  known  as  the  Clapp  Pier,  and  was  built 
by  him  in  1860. 


LEVI  LOOMIS. 
Mr.  Loomis  is  the  direct  descendant  of  Revolutionary 
stock,  one  of  his  ancestors  having  been  a  soldier  of  the  war 
of  1812.     His  parents  were  Josiah  and  Rebecca  (Sheen) 


Loomis,  who  were  the  parents  of  four  sons  and  a  daughter. 
Their  son,  Levi,  was  born  in  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  6, 
1810.  On  the  death  of  his  mother  he  found  a  home  with 
a  family  friend, — Dr.  Foot, — with  whom  he  remained  five 
years,  his  time  having  been  principally  occupied  in  school 
duties.  He  later  engaged  in  labor,  and  with  the  proceeds 
liquidated  the  indebtedness  upon  his  father's  farm.  Sub- 
sequently, having  learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter  and 
joiner,  he,  in  June,  1835,  removed  to  Michigan,  landing 
in  Detroit  on  the  23d ;  July  3d  he  went  to  Marshall ;  on 
the  4th  went  to  Grand  Rapids  ;  thence  to  St.  Joseph,  and 
crossed  the  lake  to  Illinois.  He  returned  to  St.  Joseph  on 
the  28th,  and  commenced  work  on  the  steamboat "  Royalon." 
On  the  8th  of  September  ho  quit  work  on  account  of  the 
ague.  He  sailed  on  the  lake  from  May  1st  to  June  19th, 
being  towed  from  St.  Joseph  to  Swan  Creek,  Allegan 
County.  He  built  a  mill,  thirty-five  by  fifty,  doing  all  the 
framing  and  laying  foundation,  and  within  three  weeks, 
with  the  help  of  a  millwright,  had  it  in  running  operation. 
He  remained  there  until  the  10th  of  May,  1837,  when  he 
returned  to  the  East,  and  was  married  to  Miss  Sally  Ann 
Skinner  May  25th,  same  year,  and  returned  to  Michigan, 
crossing  the  State  in  a  wagon,  going  from  Allegan  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Kalamazoo  River  on  a  raft.  Of  their  eight 
children  five  are  married  and  living  near  their  parents'  home. 

The  early  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Loomis  after  their  mar- 
riage was  Singapore,  where  they  erected  the  first  dwelling 
in  the  hamlet.  Mr.  Loomis  followed  for  a  period  of 
years  his  calling  of  a  millwright,  assisting  to  build  a  mill 
fifty  by  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet.  In  the  spring  of 
1839  he  moved  to  Saugatuck,  then  to  Kalamazoo ;  left 
there  in  January,  1840,  for  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  which 
he  had  purchased  in  1839,  which  was  then  uncleared  land, 
and  is  the  site  of  the  present  homestead.  Eighty  acres  has 
since  been  added,  and  the  whole  farm  placed  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.  After  becoming  a  farmer  he  was  not 
satisfied,  but  built  a  mill  at  Fennville  ;  built  and  supplied  it 
from  his  farm  ;  but  fire  wiped  it  out,  and  about  four  hun- 
dred thousand  feet  of  lumber,  worth  about  six  thousand 
dollars.  Ho  then  went  back  to  his  farm  satisfied.  Much 
of  this  land  is  devoted  to  fruit-raising,  ten  acres  being  de- 
voted to  apples  and  twelve  to  peaches.  This  has  proved 
exceedingly  lucrative.  He  may  justly  be  said  to  have  been 
the  pioneer  in  the  peach-growing  interest  in  the  western 
portion  of  the  county.  Mr.  Loomis  was  formerly  a  Whig 
in  his  political  convictions,  and  has  fallen  very  naturally 
into  the  Republican  ranks.  He  is  not  in  any  sense  an 
office-seeker,  though  several  minor  offices  in  the  township 
have  fallen  to  his  lot.  He  was  the  earliest  assessor  in 
Saugatuck,  and,  with  the  assistance  of  Mrs.  Loomis,  made 
the  first  assessment-roll  in  the  township.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  are,  in  their 
daily  walk  and  conversation,  exemplars  of  the  faith  they 
profess. 

Two  of  their  sons  were  soldiers  in  the  war  for  the  pre- 
servation of  the  Union,  one  of  whom  sacrificed  his  life  in 
1864.  With  this  affliction,  together  with  the  loss  of  two 
other  of  their  children,  their  lives  have  been  saddened, 
though  many  occasions  for  thankfulness  are  still  gratefully 
recognized  by  them. 


216 


HISTOKY  OP   ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


BENJAMIN   PLUMMEE. 


MBS,    BENJAMIN   PLUMMEB. 


BENJAMIN 

Few  residents  of  the  county  of  Allegan  are  more  familiar 
with  its  pioneer  history  or  more  closely  identified  with 
its  early  interests  than  is  Benjamin  Pliimmer,  who,  in  1834, 
became  a  settler  within  its  boundaries.  He  was  born  Nov. 
20,  1802,  in  Maine,  having  been  the  oldest  child  of  David 
and  Hannah  Ames  Plummer,  both  natives  of  New  Hamp- 
shire. 

They  were  for  a  brief  period  residents  of  Pennsylvania, 
after  which  they  removed  to  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio.  His  father 
having  died  in  1828,  the  mother  accompanied  her  son  to 
Michigan,  where  her  death  occurred  in  1857.  Mr.  Plummer, 
in  1827,  married  Miss  Elvina  Andrews,  who  was  born  in 
Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1805,  her  parents  having  been 
natives  of  Connecticut,  and  pioneers  to  Ohio  in  1824. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Plummer's  family  circle  embraced  seven 
children,  four  of  whom  are  now  living."   Andrew,  the  second 


PLUMMER. 

son,  has  the  honor  of  having  been  the  first  white  child  in 
Saugatuck,  where  his  parents  removed  in  1834.  After  a 
residence  of  twelve  years  in  the  latter  township,  where  all 
the  deprivations  incident  to  pioneer  life  were  endured,  they 
removed  to  Ganges,  their  present  home.  Both  lumbering 
and  farming  engaged  Mr.  Plummer's  attention  here,  as  had 
been  the  case  previously.  His  original  purchase  was  one 
hundred  and  fifty  acres.  This,  by  division  among  his  chil- 
dren, has  been  reduced  to  fifty,  which  is  now  cultivated. 
During  the  ravages  in  1853  of  the  cholera  in  Michigan,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Plummer  were  severely  aiBicted  in  the  loss  of  four 
children  in  one  week.  This  severe  dispensation  has  marked 
an  era  in  their  lives  which  is  otherwise  fraught  with  many 
happy  memories.  ^Mr.  Plummer's  political  career  has  not 
been  an  eventful  one.  He  is  a  staunch  Republican,  though 
not  an  office-seeker. 


GANGES  TOWNSHIP. 


217 


WILLIAM  DORNAN. 


The  life  of  William  Dornan  presents  a  conspicuous 
example  of  the  power  of  industry  to  overcome  obstacles. 
He  was  born  in  Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio,  March  30,  1820, 
his  father,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  having  moved  from 
that  State  to  Ohio  a  short  time  previous  to  William's 
birth.  The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  afBicted  with  the 
loss  of  his  mother  at  an  early  age,  her  death  occurring  in 
1830,  and  soon  after  William  drifted  from  the  parental  roof 
and  became,  as  soon  as  possible,  independent  of  other  aid 
than  that  afforded  by  his  own  hands.  His  father's  death 
occurred  in  Indiana  in  1845  or  '46. 

In  the  fall  of  1847,  William  was  married  to  Miss  Nancy 
McClurg,  a  former  resident  of  his  native  town,  her  parents 
having  removed  to  Ohio  from  Pennsylvania  in  the  fall  of 
1844.  Mr.  Dornan  visited  Michigan  on  a  prospecting 
tour  previously,  but  did  not  remove  his  family  thither  until 
1851.  He  then  located  on  section  20  in  Ganges  township, 
clearing  up  the  farm  of  eighty  acres  first  purchased,  and, 
selling  that,  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  sections 
20  and  29,  which  he  still  owns,  and  where  he  lived  until 
within  a  short  time,  now  living  on  section  7,  having  recently 
purchased  a  fruit-farm  of  thirty-seven  acres,  a  sketch  of 
which  can  be  seen  upon  another  page.  Mr.  Dornan  was 
severely  aflSicted  by  the  loss  of  his  wife  in  1870,  who  left  a 
family  of  six  boys  and  two  girls,  all  of  whom  are,  with  the 
exception  of  the  youngest,  still  living.  He  was  a  second 
time  married,  to  Mrs.  Simpson,  Nov.  23,  1873,  who  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  her  maiden  name  being  Mary  Jane 
Rlheldaffar ;  she  came  to  Michigan  with  her  first  husband 
in  1858. 

Mr.  Dornan  is  an  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the 
Greenback  party,  being  formerly  a  Democrat,  though  but 
little  interested  in  political  matters,  being  wholly  absorbed 
in  his  farming  and  business  interests,  although  spared 
much  of  the  responsibility  of  the  farm  management  by  the 
ability  and  judgment  of  his  sons,  who  have  been  remark- 
ably successful  in  all  the  departments  of  agriculture  to 
which  their  attention  has  been  directed,  his  crop  of  wheat 
last  year  of  thirty  acres  averaging  over  forty  bushels  per 
acre,  some  going  as  high  as  fifty-five. 

In  common  with  many  of  the  pioneers  of  the  State,  Mr. 

Dornan's  advantages  for  education  were  limited,  "and  he 

has  experienced  many  of  the  privations  of  pioneer  life,  but 

the  inherent   quality  of  self-reliance  he  possesses  in  an 

28 


eminent  degree  has  enabled  him  to  overcome  every  ob- 
stacle ;  and,  although  he  has  had  his  share  of  bad  luck, 
among  which  was  the  loss  of  nearly  everything  by  fire 
some  fifteen  years  ago,  and  by  which  he  was  compelled  to 
begin  again  almost  at  the  bottom-round  of  the  ladder,  yet 
he  is  now  comparatively  independent. 

In  religious  convictions  he  is  in  fellowship  with  the 
Methodist  Church,  of  which  he  is  a  member. 


S.  I.  B.  HUTCHINSON. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  is  descended  from  Revo- 
lutionary stock,  his  maternal  grandfather,  Joseph  Beecher, 
having  been  a  captain  in  the  war  of  1776.  Mr.  Hutchin- 
son was  born  May  18,  1809,  in  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
until  his  twentieth  year  was  engaged  in  labor  incident  to 
farming  pursuits.  In  May,  1829,  he  became  impressed 
with  the  advantages  afforded  by  the  State  of  Michigan  to 
young  men  of  energy,  and  bade  adieu  to  the  scenes  of  his 
early  life.  Arriving  at  Monroe,  Mich.,  he  pursued  the 
trade  of  a  brickmaker  for  a  period  of  three  years.  This 
calling  frequently  necessitated  travel  over  a  wide  range  of 
territory,  and  Mr.  Hutchinson  remembers  traversing  the 
ground  now  covered  by  the  city  of  Toledo  when  not  a 
dwelling  marked  the  site  of  the  present  thriving  commer- 
cial centre.  In  1834  he  located  a  farm  in  Emmett,  Cal- 
houn Co.,  upon  which  he  soon  after  removed  and  lived  the 
solitary  life  of  a  bachelor. 

In  May,  1842,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Charlotte  Hughes, 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Hughes,  of  England,  her 
birthplace.  She  came  to  America  when  seven  years  of 
age,  and  became  a  resident  of  Calhoun  County  in  1840. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hutchinson  have  had  four  children,  two  of 
whom  are  now  residing  in  Douglas,  Allegan  Co.  The  re- 
maining two  are  deceased,  the  son  having  repaired  to  Cali- 
fornia in  pursuit  of  health,  where  he  died  in  1879  ;  the 
daughter's  death  occurred  in  1870.  Mr.  Hutchinson,  in 
1862,  disposed  of  his  extensive  farm  in  Calhoun  County, 
embracing  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  and  removed 
to  his  present  residence,  the  land  of  which  has  been  devoted 
principally  to  the  raising  of  choice  varieties  of  fruit. 

He  is  a  firm  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  Republi- 
can party,  though  not  an  active  partisan  in  politics.  In 
religious  opinions  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hutchinson  are  lib- 
eral, with  a  profound  respect  for  the  convictions  of  others. 


GUN    plain; 


The  township  bearing  this  name  embraces  the  territory 
designated  in  the  United  States  survey  as  township  No.  1 
north,  of  range  No.  11  west,  and  is  situated  in  the  south- 
east corner  of  Allegan  County.  Barry  County  joins  it  on 
the  east,  and  Kalamazoo  County  on  the  south,  while  the 
townships  of  Otsego  and  Martin,  in  Allegan,  form  respec- 
tively its  western  and  northern  boundaries. 

Except  those  portions  bordering  upon  its  water-courses 
and  the  beautiful  tract  known  as  "  Gun  Plains,''  which  are 
comparatively  level,  the  surface  is  generally  rolling,  and  in 
a  few  instances  hilly,  the  highest  points  attaining  an  alti- 
tude of  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  above  Lake  Michigan. 

The  original  forests  were  deciduous  in  their  nature, 
beech,  maple,  oak,  whitewood,  sycamore,  lynn,  and  ash 
predominating,  and  the  growth  most  dense  on  the  bottom- 
lands skirting  the  streams.  Although  pine  was  found  in 
many  places,  it  never  flourished  extensively  on  any  par- 
ticular section.  "  Gun  Plains"  was  a  burr-oak  opening  of 
the  finest  quality  and  prairie-like  in  its  appearance.  Fre- 
quently but  two  or  three  trees  were  found  standing  upon 
an  acre.  The  soil  of  the  plains,  rich  and  friable  in  its 
nature,  yielded  readily  to  cultivation  when  once  broken. 
The  soil  of  the  township  generally  is  excellent,  being  a 
sand  and  clay  loam  with  alluvial  deposits  intermixed,  and 
is  distinguished  by  no  traits  rendering  it  different  from  that 
of  the  greater  part  of  the  Peninsular  State. 

The  principal  water-courses  are  the  Kalamazoo  and  Gun 
Rivers,  and  Silver  Creek.  The  former  enters  the  township 
on  the  south  line  of  section  33,  and  thence,  in  its  rapid 
flow  towards  the  great  lake,  pursues  a  northwest  course, 
and,  intersecting  sections  33,  32,  29,  30,  and  19,  leaves  the 
township  by  crossing  the  west  line  of  the  latter  section. 
By  the  construction  of  dams  and  an  artificial  channel  at 
the  village  of  Plainwell,  excellent  water-power  is  obtained 
and  utilized  by  various  mills,  village  water-works,  etc. 

Gun  River  takes  its  rise  in  a  lake  of  the  same  name 
in  Barry  County,  and,  as  a  tributary  to  the  Kalamazoo,  flows 
in  a  southwesterly  direction  across  the  northern  part  of  this 
township,  and  finally  effects  a  junction  with  the  latter  stream 
in  the  eastern  part  of  Otsego.  Its  current  is  sluggish,  and 
extensive  swamps  and  marshes  abound  along  its  course. 
These  marshes  were  of  great  benefit  to  the  early  settlers, 
for  here  they  were  enabled  to  obtain  pasturage  and  hay  for 
their  stock  at  a  time  when  the  present  well-cultivated  fields 
were  covered  with  forests.  By  dredging  and  the  cutting 
away  of  drift-wood,  thousands  of  acres  now  valueless  can 
and  will  yet  be  reclaimed. 

Silver  Creek,  a  small  and  limpid  stream,  flows  from 
I'rairieville  across  the  southeast  corner  of  Gun  Plain,  and 
enters  the  Kalamazoo  in  Cooper  township. 


218 


»  By  J.  S.  Schenok. 


As  an  agricultural  district.  Gun  Plain  stands  in  the  front 
rank  among  Allegan  County  townships.  Indeed,  for  many 
years  succeeding  its  first  settlement  it  took  the  lead  of  all 
others  as  regards  the  number  of  acres  of  improved  land, 
value  of  live-stock,  and  farm  products. 

Its  population  in  1850  was  587  inhabitants ;  in  1860, 
1068  ;  and  in  1874  (the  time  of  taking  the  last  enumera- 
tion) it  had  a  total  of  2166  inhabitants.  With  784  voters, 
it  has  now  (1880)  an  estimated  population  of  3500  inhab- 
itants. 

ORIGINAL  SURVEYS  AND  FIRST  LAND-ENTRIES. 

The  township  boundary-lines  were  run  by  John  MuUett, 
deputy  United  States  surveyor,  in  December,  1825,  and 
the  sectional  lines  by  Sylvester  Sibley,  in  March,  1831. 

The  first  purchase  of  lands  in  this  township  and  in  the 
county  was  made  by  Sylvester  Sibley,  of  Wayne  Co.  Mich., 
June  15.  1831.  His  purchase  embraced  the  northeast 
fractional  quarter  of'  section  30,  and  was  chosen,  doubtless, 
while  he  was  engaged  running  the  subdivision  lines.  Samuel 
C.  Wells,  of  Jefferson  Co.,  Ohio,  concluded  the  next  pur- 
chase, Juno  22,  1831,  his  choice  resting  upon  a  portion  of 
section  18,  and  on  the  9th  of  December,  1831,  Hull  Sher- 
wood, of  Otsego,  Mich,  bought  lands  situated  upon  section 
15.  These  three  entries  included  all  made  during  the  year 
1831  in  Allegan  County. 

Other  early  entries  for  parts  of  sections  are  mentioned 
by  years  as  follows :  • 

1832. 
Calvin  C.  White,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mioh.,  section  17,  February. 
Norman  Davis,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Micb.,  section  19,  Marob. 
Orlando  Weed,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  section  20,  March. 
Hull  Sherwood,  Mich.,  section  31,  March. 

1833. 
William  C.  Warrant,  England,  section  19,  June. 
Stephen  Russell,  New  London,  Conn.,  section  19,  August. 
Friend  Ives,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  sections  20,  2t,  July. 
Thomas  J.  Warner,  New  London,  Conn.,  section  20,  August. 
William  Still,  Monroe-Co.,  N.  Y.,  section  29,  June. 
Silas  Dunham,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  section  32,  June. 
Dan  Arnold,  Chittenden  Co.,  Vt.,  section  33,  April. 
Isaac  Aldricb,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Micb.,  section  35,  September. 
Justus  B.  Sutherland,  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y.,  section  35,  October. 

1834. 
Lucius  Lindsley,  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  section  30,  June. 
Edwin  Toby,  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  section  31,  June. 
Elisha  Tracy,  Wayne  Co.,  Pa.,  section  34,  May. 
John  W.  Watson,  Worcester  Co.,  Mass.,  section  17,  February. 
James  Flookhart,  Scotland,  section  19,  July. 

1835. 
William  Forbes,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  section  7,  December. 
Charles  Eels,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  section  8,  November. 
William  Y.  Gilkey,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  section  11,  June. 
Jonathan  Russell,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  section  11,  July. 


MRS. GEO.  H.  ANDERSON. 


QEO.H.  ANDERSON. 


^■s2:^i-'"'«  "«*,r';™=>'i.'wfX"AS"tw'!'i*i.  A-vA.  xv"'.j^'>^>'':i'-:^t:7:i:''Z'^.:,':zi'^''-  '-::  ^:;"':.:«'i^  "■"••-*  ■■""■"■"■■  '-•"■-•'■'r':«r"">"'r'!-''V"':'.::';:s"*^ 


Residence:  OF  GrEO.H  ANDERSON,     Pla/n  well,  Mich 


GUN  PLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 


219 


Orlando  Weed,  Allegan  Co.,  Micb.,  section  13,  December. 
Stepben  Russell,  New  London,  Conn.,  section  11,  November. 
George  W.  Kennicott,  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y.,  section  29,  July. 
Elisba  B.  Seeley,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  section  33,  June. 
Jobn  Murpby,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  section  34,  August. 

1836. 
Lutber  H.  Trask,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Micb.,  sections  1,  2,  Marcb. 
Peter  Buckley,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  section  1 ,  December. 
Samuel  D.  Foster,  Allegan  Co.,  Micb.,  section  1,  December. 
Simeon  Bailey,  New  York  City,  sections  2,  10,  February. 
Nelson  Sage,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  section  2,  June. 
Jobn  MoDermaid,  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  section  4,  May. 
Cyrenus  Tbompson,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  section  4,  June. 
Abram  I.  Dedrick,  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y.,  sections  4,  5,  8,  June. 
Cbester  Buckley,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  sections  4,  6,  7,  June. 
William  Forbes,  Allegan  Co.,  Micb.,  section  6,  March. 
Alexander  B.  Law,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  section  5,  May. 
John  Rutherford,  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  section  5,  May. 
Samuel  Hubbard  and  Isaac  Parker,  Boston,  Mass.,  section  10,  May. 
Jobn  Anderson,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  section  10,  July. 
Charles  Davidson,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  section  10,  November. 
Justin  Ely,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  section  II,  July. 
John  F.  Gilkey,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  section  11,  May. 
Samuel  Begole,  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  sections  12,  14,  May. 
Henry  Mower,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  section  12,  July. 
Norman  Davis,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  section  13,  April. 
Archibald  Jameson,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  section  13,  March. 
Jacob  Woodworth,  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y.,  section  36. 

1837. 
Calvin  C.  White,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  sections  3,  5,  December. 
Henry  Mower,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Micb.,  section  1,  January. 
Jobn  McNaugbton,  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  section  6,  April. 
Arch.  Stewart,  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  section  6,  April. 
William  and  Lawrence  Kealey,  section  7,  January. 
David  Bell,  Calhoun  Co.,  Mich.,  section  8,  June. 
Roswell  Fisk,  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.,  section  9,  February. 
Jonas  Rowe,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  section  9,  March. 
Jobn  W.  Watson,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  section  9,  March. 
Leman  6.  Orton,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  section  9,  October. 
Jobn  J.  Viele,  Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  section  12,  January. 
Chester  Comings,  Worcester  Co.,  Mass.,  section  12,  March. 
Henry  Flockhart,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  section  12. 

PIKST  SETTLEMENTS. 

Dr.  Cjrenius  Thompson,  whose  parents  emigrated  from 
Connecticut  to  Hudson,  in  the  present  county  of  Summit, 
Ohio,  about  1801,  was  born  in  the  latter  town  during  the 
month  of  January,  1802.  Early  in  life  he  studied  medi- 
cine with  the  practitioners  of  his  native  village,  and  finally 
graduated  from  the  medical  college  of  Middlebury,  Vt. 
In  1828  he  married  Miss  Anna  Pelton,  of  Euclid,  Cuya- 
hoga Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  practiced  his  profession  for  a  short 
period,  as  he  also  did  in  the  town  of  Dover,  in  the  same 
"  county.  He  likewise  purchased  a  farm  in  Dover,  but,  the 
location  not  suiting  him,  he  sold  his  possessions  in  Ohio, 
resolved  to  try  his  fortunes  in  the  Territory  of  Michigan. 

He  came  to  Gull  Prairie  in  1830  and  pre-empted  lands, 
which  were  finally  entered  for  him  in  1831  by  Levi  White. 
During  the  spring  of  the  latter  year  Dr.  Thompson  settled 
upon  the  prairie.  He  practiced  medicine  but  little,  his 
attention  being  devoted  more  particularly  to  farming.  He 
soon  became  dissatisfied  with  his  prairie  farm,  however, 
from  the  difiSculty  found  in  obtaining  a  plentiful  supply  of 
water.  Again  selling  out,  he  soon  after  purchased  the  east 
half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  20,  in  township  1 
north,  of  range  11  west. 

In  March,  1832,  he  leased  Turner  Aldrich's  saw-mill  on 


Pine  Creek,  and  removed  his  family  to  that  location,  having 
purchased  for  their  occupancy  a  small  board  shanty  erected 
by  an  earlier  pioneer.  In  company  with  Charles  Miles, 
he  managed  this  mill  until  July,  1832,  when  it  was  burned. 
He  then  tore  down  his  shanty,  and,  moving  the  material  to 
his  land  in  the  present  township  of  Gun  Plain,  erected 
with  it  the  first  habitation  in  range  11  of  Allegan  County. 
This  house  stood  on  the  north  side  of  the  road,  opposite 
the  eastern  part  of  the  cemetery,  and  was  first  occupied 
early  in  the  fall  of  1832.  It  was  a  story  and  one-half  in 
height,  and  was  constructed  by  fastening  the  boards — which 
ran  up  and  down,  barn  fashion — to  the  frame  with  wooden 
pins.  A  fioor  of  loose  boards  and  a  door  finished  its  ap- 
pointments. The  cooking  was  done  outside.  Mrs.  Thomp- 
son relates  that  while  occupying  this  shanty  she  was  greatly 
annoyed  by  the  dogs  owned  by  her  Indian  neighbors. 
They  would  dig  holes  under  the  sills  of  the  house,  and,  by 
pushing  aside  the  loose  flooring,  thereby  gain  an  entrance 
and  steal  any  and  all  eatables  left  in  their  reach,  and  it  was 
difficult  to  imagine  a  place  which  those  wolfish  dogs  could 
not  reach.  The  Indians  seemed  to  think  more  of  them 
than  of  their  wives,  and  as  this  was  the  time  of  the 
"  Black-Hawk  war,"  when  all  Indians  in  Michigan  were 
looked  upon  with  fear  and  suspicion  by  the  few  white  fam- 
ilies then  in  the  interior,  Mrs.  Thompson's  position  was 
not  a  pleasant  one,  as  can  well  be  imagined. 

After  Dr.  Thompson's  house  had  been  completed,  Calvin 
C.  White  and  John  H.  Adams  came  from  Gull  Prairie  and 
boarded  with  him  for  about  a  year  while  clearing  and  im- 
proving their  individual  farms,  Mr.  White  having  first 
purchased  land  on  section  17  in  February,  1832.  Upon 
the  organization  of  the  township  of  Allegan*  in  1 833,  Mr. 
Thompson  was  elected  township  clerk.  During  the  same 
year  the  Plainwell  post-office  was  established,  and  he  was 
appointed  postmaster.  In  the  fall  of  1834,  Dr.  Thompson, 
with  his  family,  returned  to  Ohio,  where  he  remained  a 
few  years.  He  then  resumed  his  residence  in  this  town- 
ship. Not  an  office-seeker,  he  was  yet  a  prominent  and 
highly-respected  citizen.  He  died  April  17,  1853,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-one  years. 

His  widow,  Mrs.  Anna  P.  Thompson,  still  resides'  upon 
the  premises  first  occupied  in  1832,  and  is  remarkable 
for  the  pioneer  vicissitudes  through  which  she  has  passed, 
as  well  as  for  her  lively  recollections  and  youthful  appear- 
ance. Her  daughter,  Myra  E.,  now  the  wife  of  Dr.  Erastus 
N.  Upjohn,  of  Nebraska,  was  born  here  in  the  fall  of  1833, 
and  her  birth  was  one  of  the  first,  if  not  the  first,  to  be 
chronicled  in  the  township. 

The  next  family  to  settle  here  was  that  of  Jonathan 
Eussell.  Mr.  Russell  emigrated  from  New  London,  Conn., 
to  Gull  Prairie,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  in  the  fall  of  1830, 
where  he  joined  his  father-i^law,  William  Giddings.  He 
purchased  an  80-acre  lot,  situated  upon  Gull  Prairie,  and 
made  some  improvements  upon  it,  but  sold  the  same  in 
1832.  He  then  bought  the  east  one-half  of  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  19  in  this  township.  In  June,  1832, 
he  hired  at  Gull  Prairie  a  breaking-team  of  five  yoke  of 
oxen,  and,  coming  here,  plowed  five  acres,  situated  on  the 

*  Allegan  township  included  the  whole  of  Allegan  County. 


220 


HISTOEY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


extreme  northeast  corner  of  his  lot.  This  land  was  sowed 
to  wheat  in  the  fall,  and  was  the  first  field  plowed  and  cul- 
tivated in  the  township.  Mr.  Russell's  dwelling  was  also 
completed  in  the  fall  of  1832,  and  during  the  succeeding 
winter  Mr.  Thompson  and  himself  were  the  sole  house- 
holders in  the  eastern  tier  of  townships  of  Allegan  County. 
During  the  Black-Hawk  war  Mr.  Russell  was  called  out, 
and  with  the  Gull  Prairie  men  proceeded  as  far  as  Niles, 
Mich.  He  was  afterwards  commissioned  a  lieutenant  in 
the  Michigan  State  forces.  For  his  services  he  received 
$75  and  warrants  for  160  acres  of  land.  His  son,  Ulysses 
D.,  was  a  gallant  soldier,  and  color-sergeant  of  the  Second 
Michigan  Infantry.  He  died  of  wounds  received  at  Knox- 
ville,  Tenn.,  in  1863. 

In  the  spring  of  1833,  Orlando  Weed  boarded  with  Mr. 
Russell  while  he  (Weed)  was  building  his  barn,  the  first 
framed  building  erected  in  the  township,  and  during  the 
same  year  the  population  of  the  township  was  still  further 
increased  by  the  arrival  and  settlement  of  about  ten  persons 
with  their  families. 

Among  them  were  Norman  Davis,  on  section  19  ;  War- 
ren Caswell,  who  was  the  first  settler  in  the  northeast 
quarter  of  the  township ;  Isaac  Aldrich,  who,  in  1835  or 
1836,  kept  the  first  tavern  on  the  Plains ;  Friend  Ives,  from 
Medina,  Ohio ;  and  William  Forbes,  from  Scotland. 

In  the  south  part  of  the  town,  on  the  road  leading  to 
Gull  Prairie,  were  Dan  Arnold,  from  Chittenden  Co.,  Vt. ; 
Silas  Dunham  and  William  Still,  both  from  Rochester, 
Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Dunham  also  kept  an  open  house 
for  the  accommodation  of  weary  travelers  and  ''land-look- 
ers." His  daughter — since  Mrs.  D.  A.  McMartin — brought 
from  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  the  pits  from  which  were  grown  the 
first  peach-trees  to  bear  fruit  in  Allegan  County. 

William  Forbes  emigrated  from  Peterhead,  Aberdeen- 
shire, Scotland,  to  America  in  1832.  He  remained  for  a 
few  months  in  the  city  t)f  New  York,  where  he  married  a 
Mrs.  McCausland.  In  the  spring  of  1833  he  came  to  Gull 
Prairie.  Learning  that  Lucius  Lyon,  the  surveyor,  was  the 
owner  of  some  desirable  lands  situated  on  section  18  in  this 
township,  he  purchased  a  tract  from  him,  and  in  the  fall 
of  the  same  year,  after  having  built  a  substantial  dwelling, 
made  it  his  home. 

Mr.  Forbes  was  a  surveyor,  a  gentleman  of  talent  and 
education,  afid  was  prominently  identified  with  the  early 
public  interests  of  this  township  and  county.  For  some 
six  years  immediately  preceding  his  emigration  to  America 
he  was  engaged  upon  the  survey  and'mapping  of  the  county 
of  Sutherland,  Scotland,  for  the  Duke  of  Sutherland.  He 
was  the  first  township  clerk  of  Plainfield,  one  of  the  early 
county  surveyors,  and  ran  out  many  of  the  early  highways 
in  this  and  other  townships  of  the  county.  In  1837  he 
platted  the  village  of  Plainfiejjl, — a  place  described  as  "  sit- 
uated near  Gun  River,  one  mile  north  of  the  Kalamazoo 
River,  in  township  1  north,  of  range  11  west,  twenty-seven 
chains  and  eighty-five  links  from  the  southeast  corner  of 
section  18." 

John  Forbes, — a  brother  of  William, — now  a  resident 
of  the  village  of  Plainwell,  came  direct  from  Peterhead, 
Scotland,  to  this  township,  arriving  in  October,  1834.  He 
settled  west  of  his  brother,  on  the  premises  on  section  18 


now  owned  by  Jerome  Wait.  It  required  three  months' 
time  to  accomplish  the  journey  from  Scotland.  He  was 
accompanied  by  his  wife  and  two  children,  one  member  of 
his  family — a  daughter — having  died  at  Detroit  while  on 
the  way. 

James  Floekhart,  also  from  Peterhead,  Scotland,  pre- 
ceded Mr.  John  Forbes  by  some  three  months,  having 
arrived  July  4,  1834.  He  purchased  the  east  half  of  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  19,  where  he  resided  for  a, 
period  of  about  forty-five  years. 

Justus  B.  Sutherland,  of  the  town  of  Lisle,  Broome 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  came  to  Michigan  first  in  1833,  and  bought 
the  south  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  35. 
In  May,  1834,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  six  children, 
he  began  a  journey,  vid  the  Erie  Canal  and  the  lake 
steamer  "  Old  Pioneer,"  for  the  purpose  of  settling  upon 
his  purchase.  At  Detroit  he  bought  a  yoke  of  oxen,  and, 
attaching  them  to  his  wagon,  which  had  been  shipped  as 
freight,  he  set  out  along  the  Territorial  road  to  Battle 
Creek ;  thence  via  Gull  Prairie  to  Silas  Dunham's  resi- 
dence, where  his  family  remained  for  four  weeks,  while  he 
was  building  a  log  house.  Dan  Arnold  was  his  nearest 
neighbor  on  the  road  towards  the  Plains,  while  Dr. 
Demming's,  in  Cooper,  was  the  nearest  habitation  in  that 
direction. 

In  June,  1834,  John  Anderson,  from  Mayfield,  Mont- 
gomery Co.,  N.  Y.,  became  a  resident.  He  was  one  of 
the  first  justices  of  the  peace  elected  in  Plainfield,  and  for 
many  years  was  the  postmaster  of  the  Plainwell  office.  He 
was  also  an  early  supervisor  and  one  of  the  associate  judges 
of  Allegan  County. 

Other  settlers  of  this  year  were  Nathaniel  Weed,  who 
built  the  first  saw-mill  in  the  township,  on  Silver  Creek, 
and  Elisha  Tracy,  his  son-in-law,  from  Wayne  Co.,  Pa. 

Elisha  B.  Seeley  and  family  came  from  Pittsford,  Monroe 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  in  the  early  part  of  the  summer  of  1835 
settled  upon  a  portion  of  section  33. 

George  W.  Kennicott,  now  a  resident  of  Kalamazoo, 
Mich.,  came  from  Mayfield,  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to 
this  township  in  July,  1835.  He  purchased  from  the 
general  government  the  north  half  of  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  29,  where  he  settled  and  remained  until  Novem- 
ber, 1853,  when  he  removed  to  Kalamazoo.  In  1850,  as 
an  assistant  United  States  marshal,  he  took  the  census  of 
Allegan  County,  which  then  had  a  total  of  5127  inhabit- 
ants. His  son,  James  C,  a  member  of  the  Fifth  Michigan 
Cavalry,  was  killed  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  Aug.  19,  ■ 
1864. 

John  Murphy,  .the  first  supervisor  of  Plainfield  and  the 
first  elected  sheriff  of  Allegan  County,*  came  from  Roch- 
ester, N.  Y.,  and  settled  upon  section  34  in  August,  1835. 
His  family,  consisting  of  himself,  wife,  and  three  chil- 
dren, made  their  home  at  Mr.  Seeley's  house  while  his  own 
was  in  process  of  construction.  He  became  the  sheriff 
of  Allegan  County  in  1836,  and  besides  holding  that  office 
two  terms  he  served  one  term  in  the  State  Legislature,  and 
was  also  elected  district  attorney, — a  position  he  did  not 
fill,  by  reason  of  non-qualification  legally. 

»  John  S.  Shearer  had  previously  been  sheriff  by  the  appointment 
of  the  Territorial  Governor. 


GUN  PLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 


221 


Archibald  Jameson,  prominent  for  many  years  as  the 
supervisor  of  Plainfield  and  Gun  Plain,  also  began  his 
residence  in  this  township  in  the  fall  of  1835.  He  came 
from  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  although  a  native  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  first  settled  on  section  19.  In  1861  he  removed 
to  his  present  residence  at  Silver  Creek,  where  he  is  now 
postmaster  and  merchant. 

Prior  to  the  making  of  the  first  assessment  of  the  town- 
ship of  Plainfield,  in  June,  1836,  there  were  also  settled  there, 
in  addition  to  those  already  mentioned,  Silas  Hall,  Charles 
Bush,  John  W.  Watson,  Peter  Dumont,  an  early  justice 
and  postmaster,  Mumford  Eldred,*  Jefferson  Warner,  Curtis 
Brigham,  Chester  Wetmore,  Charles  Ives,  Orrin  Orton, 
Leman  G.  Orton,  Freeman  Calkins,  John  Stewart,  and 
William  Y.  Gilkey. 

As  showing  the  names  of  resident  tax-payers  in  June, 
1836,  the  amount  and  kind  of  their  real  and  personal  es- 
tate, the  following  statistics,  gathered  from  the  first  assess- 
ment-roll of  Plainfield,  are  hereto  appended : 

Orlando  Weed,  aqres,  200  ;  value  of  real  estate,  $400 ;  oxen,  6 ;  cows, 

4;  horses,  2;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $698. 
Silas  Hall,  acres,  SO;  value  of  real  estate,  160  j  cows,  1;  total  value 

of  real  and  personal  estate,  $175. 
Warren  Caswell,  acres,  160 ;  value  of  real  estate,  $320 ;  oxen,  4 ;  cows, 

6 ;  young  cattle,  2  j  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $444. 
Calvin   C.  White,t   acres,  240 ;  value  of  real    estate,  $720  ;  oxen,  6 ; 

cows,  2;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $890. 
William  Forbes,  acres,  560 ;  value  of  real  estate,  $1480 ;  oxen,  6 ;  cows, 

2 ;  young  cattle,  3 ;    total   value  of  real   and   personal    estate, 

$1705. 
John  Forbes,f  acres,  120;  value  of  real  estate,  $208;  oxen,  2;  cows, 

2 ;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $350. 
C.  Bush  and  J.  W.  Watson,  acres,  360 ;  value  of  real  estate,  $840  ; 

oxen,  4;  cows,  2;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $975. 
John  H.  Adams,  acres,  160 ;  value  of  real  estate,  $480 ;  oxen,  2 ;  cows, 

2 ;  horses,  1 ;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $566. 
Peter  Dumont,  acres,  80 ;  value  of  real  estate,  $300 ;  oxen,  2  ;  cows, 

2 ;  young  cattle,  4 ;  horses,  X  >   total  value  of  real  and  personal 

estate,  $475. 
Isaac  Aldrich,  acres,  80;  value  of  real  estate,  $260  ;  cows,  1;  horses, 

2;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $343. 
Turner  Aldrich,  oxen,  2;  cows,  3;  horses,  1;  total  value  of  personal 

estate,  $102. 
Mumford  Eldrod,  acres,  40;  value  of  real  estate,  $160;  oxen  4;  cows, 

2 ;  young  cattle,  4 ;  horses,  1 ;  total  value  of  real  and  personal 

estate,  $193. 
James  Flockhart,  acres,  80 ;  value  of  real  estate,  $220 ;  oxen,  2 ;  cows, 

1 ;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $285. 
Jonathan  Eussell,f  acres,  80 ;  value  of  real  estate,  $260 ;  oxen,  2 ;  cows, 

2;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $331. 
Jefferson  Warner,  acres,  80 ;  value  of  real  estate,  $220 ;  oxen,  2 ;  total 

value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $265. 
Curtis   Brigham,  acres,  160 ;    value  of  real   estate,  $440  ;    cows,  1 ; 

horses,  3  ;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $556. 
Chester  Wetmore,  acres,  80 ;  value  of  real  estate,  $240 ;  oxen,  2 ;  cows, 

1 ;  young  cattle,  3 ;  horses,  1 ;  total  value  of  real  and  personal 

estate,  $369. 
Charles  Ives,  oxen,  2;  young  cattle,  3;  total  value  of  personal  estate, 

$80. 
Orrin  Orton,  acres,  80 ;  value  of  real  estate,  $222 ;  oxen,  2 ;  total  value 

of  real  and  personal  estate,  $265. 
lioman  G.  Orton,  acres,  80;  value  of  real  estate,  $240;  oxen,  4;  cows, 

3;  young  cattle,  5;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $415. 
Cyrenius  Thompson,  acres,  80;  value  of  real  estate,  $280. 
Friend  Ives,  acres,  640 ;  value  of  real  estate,  $1920 ;  oxen,  8 ;-  cows, 
5;  young  cattle,  9 ;  horses,  1;  total  value  of  real  and  personal 
estate,  $2300. 

*  Was  in  the  present  township  of  Martin, 
t  The  persons  thus  marked  are  now  living. 


Calkins,  acres,  714 ;  value  of  real  estate,  $1 77 ;  oxen,  4 ;  cows,  3  ; 

horses,  2;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $336. 
Dan  Arnold,  acres,  265;  value  of  real  estate,  $861;  oxen,  6;  cows, 

15;  young  cattle,  10  ;  horses,  2  ;  total  value  of  real  and  personal 

estate,  1388. 
Elisha  Tr.\oy,  acres,  160;  value  of  real  estate,  S4-10;  oxen,  2;  cows, 

2;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  S508. 
Justus  B.  Sutherland,f  acres,  160;  value  of  real  estate,  $400;  oxen, 

2 ;  cows,  2  ;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $456. 
Nathaniel  Weed,  acres,  40  ;  value  of  real  estate,  $100 ;  cows,  2 ;  total 

value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $128. 
John  Murphy,  acres,  80 ;  value  of  real  estate,  $200. 
Elisha  B.  Seeley,  acres,  1 03 ;  value  of  real  estate,  $282 ;  oxen,  4;  cows, 

1 ;  horses,  1;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $422, 
Silas  Dunham,  acres,  94  ;  value  of  real  estate,  $282;  oxen,  4;  cows, 

4;  young  cattle,  7;    horses,  1;  total  value  of  real  and  personal 

estate,  $489. 
William  Still,  acres,  98  ;  value  of  real  estate,  $294;  oxen,  4;  cows,  3; 

total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $426. 
George  W.  Kennicott,f  acres,  80 ;  value  of  real   estate,  $220 ;    total 

value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $220. 
John  Anderson,  acres,  380  ;  value  of  real  estate,  $1045  ;  oxen,  2 ;  cows, 

2 ;  young  cattle,  1 ;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $1120. 
Alfred  Dunham,  acres,  40 ;  total  value  of  real  estate,  $80. 
Freeman  Calkins,f  acres,  112;  value  of  real  estate,  $284. 
John  Stewart,  acres,  40 ;  value  of  real  estate,  $110. 
John  F.  and  William  Y.  Gilkey,  oxen,  4;  cows,  8;  young  cattle,  100. 

The  total  tax  levied  on  resident  and  non-resident  estatej 
was  $235.92,  of  which  but  $50  were  collected  by  William 
Still,  the  township  collector. 

During  the  years  1836  and  '37  there  were  many  acces- 
sions to  the  settlement,  and  many  of  the  new-comers  fared 
hardly  in  consequence  of  fevers,  lack  of  medicines,  and 
necessary  supplies  of  every  kind.  Those  who  had  settled 
prior  to  1835  were  enabled  to  buy  cheap  live-stock  and 
provisions,  from  the  pioneers  of  Kalamazoo  County.  But 
when  the  flood-tide  of  emigration  from  the  State  of  New 
York  swept  over  Southern  and  Central  Michigan,  begin- 
ning in  the  spring  of  1836,  it  soon  consumed  the  scant 
surplus  of  the  earlier  settlers,  and  the  year  which  followed 
(1837)  was  in  many  localities  one  of  utter  destitution. 

All  who  came  to  Michigan  in  those  days,  however,  did 
not  remain.  Many  who  started  out  from  the  Empire  State 
with  buoyant  hopes,  flushed  with  the  anticipation  of  cheap 
homes  and  a  future  competency  in  the  new  State,  became 
utterly  discouraged  by  the  privations  they  here  endured, 
the  women  particularly ;  so  that  after  a  few  weeks'  sojourn, 
with  their  purses  depleted,  their  ranks  thinned  by  death, 
the  survivors  carrying  with  them  the  unmistakable  effects 
of  a  bilious  climate,  they  hastened  back  to  their  old  homes 
as  rapidly  as  the  means  of  locomotion  then  in  vogue  per- 
mitted. This  remark  would  apply  with  equal  force  to  all 
parts  of  settled  Michigan  during  the  fourth  and  flfth  de- 
cades of  the  present  century. 

Among  the  additional  residents  of  this  township  assessed 
for  taxes  in  1837  were  Chauncey  Abbott,  Eli  Arnold,  Henry 
Babcock,  Timothy  G.  Crittenden,  Henry  Crittenden,  Jonah 
Halsted,  William  Kelly,  John  Kobinson,  Lucius  Wait, 
Levi  Monroe,  George  P.  Nichols,  Sandusky  Nichols,  John 
Nichols,  Maj.  D.  Nash,  Henry  Flockhart,  Jonas  Rouse, 
Orrin  Roberts,  and  Horace  Lounsberry. 

Other  well-known  pioneers  who  were  here  prior  to  1842 
were  Joel  Batchelor,  who  sold  the  first  goods  in  the  town- 

J  Plainfield  then  embraced  survey  townships  1,  2,  3,  and  4  north, 
of  range  11  west. 


222 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


ship  and  was  an  early  mail-contractor,  etc.,  George  Warner, 
Abram  I.  Dedrick,  John  Robertson,  Ashbel  Gates,  Clark 
Corey,  Lewis  F.  Tobey,  H.  B.  Seymour,  and  William 
Chart. 

The  tax-paying  residents  of  the  township  in  1844  are 
shown  in  the  following  list : 

Acres. 

Arnold,  Dan,  eections  28,  32,33 281 

Aldrich,  Isaac,  sections  5,  8 80 

Aldrich,  Ira Personal 

Anderson,  John,  sections  10,  28,  29 39J5 

Brigbam,  Curtis,  section  28 160 

Batclielor,  Joel,  sections  9,20 160 

Bush,  Charles,  sections  9,  20 158 

Bellingham,  William,  section  15 80 

Corey,  Clark,  section  18 80 

Crawford,  II.  N.,  sections  19,  24 255 

Calkins,  Freeman,  section  32 112 

Calkins,  James,  section  32 23 

Cunningham,  Seymour Personal 

Cunningham,  James  H.,  section  32 87 

Chart,  William,  section  29 90 

Chart,  Obed,  section  19 60 

Crittenden,  Timothy  G.,  sections  19,20 174 

Caswell,  Spencer,  sections  15,36 68 

Caswell,  Sarah,  section  15 29 

Caswell,  Jasper Personal 

Caswell,  Eber Personal 

Coleman,  James,  Jr.,  sections  23,34 280 

Dunham,  William  and  S.  E.,  section  29 40 

Dunham  Estate,  section  32 95 

Dedrick,  Abram  I.,  section  19 25 

Delano,  William  E.,  sections  21,  22 160 

Delano,  John  S.,  section  28 160 

Diamond,  George,  sections  32,  33 196 

Diamond,  Peter Personal 

Earle,  Henry,  section  26 80 

Earle,  Henry,  Jr.,  section  27 80 

Forbes,  John,  section  18 80 

Forbes,  William,  section  18 138 

Flockhart,  James,  section  19 80 

Floekhart,  James,  section  1 80 

Flockhart,  Henry,  section  1 80 

Gates,  Ashbel,  section  5 80 

Gray,  James,  section  1 80 

Gray,  Alexander Personal 

Hogaboom,  John  J.,  section  5 80 

Hicks,  John  A.,  section  5 40 

Hicks,  Levi,  sections  4,  8 120 

Hepden, ,  section  30 80 

Hinckley,  John,  section  26 80 

HoUister,  Andrew Personal 

Hay,  William,  section  18 Village  lot 

Harrington,  Daniel,  section  26 80 

Ires,  Friend,  sections  1,  2,  20,  21 671 

Ives,  Charles  W.,  section  21 127 

Ives,  Noah  E Personal 

Jameson,  Archibald,  sections  13,26 160 

Kennioott,  George  W.,  section  29 82, 

Kelly,  William,  section  7 80 

Knight,  Lyman,  section  11 320 

Lindsley,  Lucius,  section  30 120 

Monteith,  William,  sections  21,  22 240 

Monteith,  William,  Jr Personal 

Mann,  Angus  C,  section  4 162 

Masten,  Isaac,  section  5 40 

MoMartin,  Daniel  D.,  sections  3,  5 122 

Murphy,  John,  section  34 80 

Monroe,  Lewis,  section  14 120 

McCarter,  Thomas Personal 

Nash,  Maj.  D.,  section  35 80 

Nichols,  George  F.,  sections  23,  26 400 

Nichols,  Elam,  sections  11,  I't 79 

Nichols,  William,  section  14 40 

Orton,  Jane  E.,  section  9 80 

Bouse,  Jonas,  sections  8,  9,  20,  21 240 

Kobinson,  John,  section  9 80 

Blchmond,  Benjamin,  section  36 80 

Bnssell,  .Tonathan,  section  19 107 

Kobe,  Elder  James  T.,  sections  24,25 160 

Smith,  Dexter,  section  35 240 

Smith,  Dexter  D.,  section  25 40 

Sherwood,  Giles,  section  29 102 

Spear,  Francis,  section  11 i 

Stout,  Benjamin,  section  8 160 

Seeley,  Nathaniel,  section  30 82 

Still,  William,  section  29 94 

Stewart,  John,  section  30 40 

Stewart,  Admiral Personal 

Sutherland,  Justus  B.,  section  35 80 

Spear,  Garrett,  section  4 40 

Storms,  Abraham,  section  14 80 


Acres. 

Thompson,  Cyrenus,  section  20 80 

Toby,  Edwin,  section  31 80 

Upjohn,  Dr.  Erastus  N.,  section  18 1| 

Updike,  Gilbert Personal 

Upson,  William Personal 

AVatson,  John  W.,  section  17 360 

Woodman,  Frederick Personal 

Warrant,  Thomas  W.,  section  30 100 

Warrant,  William  C,  section  19 87 

Wait,  Lucius,  section  28 80 

Weed,  Nathaniel,  section  34 80 

White,  Calvin  C,  sections  3,  5,  8,  17,  18 419 

Walker,  William,  section  5 > 40 

Weed,  Orlando,  section  13 160 

With  the  completion  of  the  plank-road,  in  1854,  began 
the  growth  of  the  present  flourishing  village  of  Plainwell. 
Its  population  and  industries,  as  well  as  those  of  the  agri- 
cultural districts  of  the  township,  were  successively  accel- 
erated by  the  construction  of  the  Lake-Shore  and  Michigan 
Southern  and  the  Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana  Railroads, 
until  the  township  of  to-day  is  one  of  the  most  flourishing 
and  populous  in  the  county. 

The  names  of  other  prominent  early  citizens  not  pre- 
viously mentioned  will  be  found  by  referring  to  lists  of 
township  ofiBcers,  history  of  village,  societies,  churches,  etc. 

EAELY   KOADS. 

While  this  township  formed,  part  of  Allegan  several 
roads  were  laid  out  under  the  orders  of  Turner  Aldrich, 
Jr.,  and  Norman  Davis,  highway  commissioners  for  the 
township  of  Allegan.  They  were  surveyed  by  Col.  Isaac 
Barnes,  of  the  Gull  Prairie  settlement,  in  the  winter 
of  1833—34,  and  were  placed  on  record  by  Cyrenius  Thomp- 
son, township  clerk  of  Allegan,  in  February  and  March, 
1834. 

These  highways,  designated  in  the  original  records  as 
Nos.  5  to  10,  inclusive,  were,  in  their  general  direction  and 
length,  as  follows : 

No.  5  commenced  on  the  south  line  of  section  24,  eight 
chains  east  of  the  southwest  corner  stake,  and  ran  to  a 
quarter  stake  on  the  south  line  of  section  19.  Whole  dis- 
tance, one  mile,  fifty-seven  links,  twenty-five  chains. 

No.  6  commenced  on  the  banks  of  the  Kalamazoo  River, 
running  thence  north, .45°  east,  twenty  chains,  to  the  south- 
east corner  of  section  19,  township  1  north,  range  11  west, 
thence  north  on  section-line  two  miles  to  the  northwest  cor- 
ner of  section  17.  Whole  distance,  two  miles  and  twenty 
chains. 

No.  7  commenced  at  southwest  corner  of  section  17,  run- 
ning thence  east  on  section-line  two  miles,  thence  north,  45° 
east,  one  mile  and  eight  chains,  to  a  yellow  oak  eighteen 
inches  in  diameter,  north  34°  30'  west,  twenty  chains  five 
links  from  quarter  stake  on  the  east  line  of  section  15. 
Whole  distance,  three  miles  eight  chains. 

No.  8  commenced  at  the  base-line  fifteen  chains  west  of 
the  quarter  stake  on  the  south  line  of  section  34,  and  ran 
thence  to  a  point  on  the  Kalamazoo  River  south,  45°  west, 
twenty  chains  from  the  southeast  corner  of  section  19. 
Whole  distance,  three  miles  twelve  chains. 

No.  9  commenced  ou  the  section-line  fourteen  chains 
east  of  quarter  stake  on  the  south  line  of  section  29,  running 
thence  west  on  said  line  to  a  quarter  stake  on  the  south  line 
of  section  30.     Whole  distance,  one  mile  fourteen  chains. 

No.  10  commenced  on  the  banks  of  the  Kalamazoo  River, 


GUN  PLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 


223 


south,  55°  east  twenty-five  chains  twenty-five  links  from  a 
quarter  post  on  south  line  of  section  19,  thence  to  a  point 
south  58°,  east  twenty-seven  chains  from  a  quarter  post  on 
the  south  line  of  section  30. 

Road  No.  12  of  Allegan  township  was  surveyed  by 
Carlos  Barnes  in  June,  1835,  and  extended  from  the  base- 
line seventeen  chains  seventeen  links  east  of  the  quarter 
stake  of  section  35,  to  a  point  in  the  Territorial  road  south 
79°  20',  west  twenty  chains  ninety-five  links  from  the 
northeast  corner  of  section  24.  "Whole  distance,  five  miles 
two  hundred  and  ninety-eight  rods. 

CIVIL  HISTOET. 
ORGANIZATION. 
This  township,  originally  forming  part  of  Allegan,*  was 
erected  as  Plainfield  in  1836.     Section  38  of  "  an  act  to 
organize  certain  townships,  and   for  other  purposes,"  ap- 
proved March  23,  1836,  reads  as  follows : 

"All  that  portion  of  the  County  of  Allegan  designated  by  the 
United  States  Survey  as  townships  number  one,  two,  three,  and  four, 
north  of  range  number  eleven  west,  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby  set 
off  and  organized  into  a  separate  township  by  the  name  of  Plainfield, 
and  the  first  township-meeting  therein  shall  be  held  at  the  dwelling- 
house  of  Isaac  Aldrich,  in  said  township." 

Section  53  of  the  same  act  says : 

"  If  in  any  of  the  townships  organized  at  the  present  session  of 
the  Legislature  there  shall  not  be  held  n.  township-meeting  on  the 
first  Monday  of  April  next,  then  said  township-meeting  may  be  held 
on  the  third  Monday  in  April  next.'* 

Later,  Section  53  was  so  amended  as  to  make  legal  elec- 
tions held  on  the  first  Monday  in  May,  1836. 

FIRST  TOWNSHIP-MEETING. 
Pursuant  to  the  foregoing  act  and  amendments  thereto, 
the  electors  of  the  township  of  Plainfield  assembled  at  the 
house  of  Isaac  Aldrich,  on  Monday,  April  4,  1836,  and 
duly  organized  for  business  by  choosing  John  Murphy 
moderator,  William  Forbes  clerk,  and  John  Anderson,  Esq., 
judge  of  the  election.  As  a  result  of  this  meeting  the 
following  officers  were  elected  for  the  ensuing  year :  John 
Murphy,  Supervisor ;  William  Forbes,  Township  Clerk ; 
William  Still,  Collector ;  Curtis  Brigham,  John  Anderson, 
Peter  Dumont,  John  Murphy,  Justices  of  the  Peace; 
Orlando  Weed,  Justus  B.  Sutherland,  Chester  Wetmore, 
Highway  Commissioners ;  Curtis  Brigham,  John  Ander- 
son, William  Forbes,  School  Commissioners ;  Charles  Bush, 
Friend  Ives,  Blisha  B.  Seeley,  Assessors ;  Peter  Dumont, 
Chester  Wetmore,  Overseers  of  the  Poor ;  Friend  Ives, 
Elisha  B.  Seeley,  Warren  Caswell,  Fence- Viewers ;  William 
Still,  Peter  Dumont,  S.  H.  Upson,  Chester  Wetmore,  Orrin 
Orton,  Warren  Caswell,  Leman  G.  Orton,  John  H.  Adams, 
Constables. 

Pathmasters. — Charles  Bush,  District  1 ;  Charles  Ives, 
District  2 ;  Elisha  Tracy,  District  3  ;  Elisha  B.  Seeley, 
District  4.     It  was  resolved  at  the  same  meeting : 

"  That  a  lawful  fence  shall  be  five  feet  high. 

"That  boars  shall  not  ran  at  large  if  over  three  months  old. 

"  That  S3. 00  for  a  wolf  and  $1.50  for  a  whelp  shall  be  given  by 
this  township  for  all  killed  in  township  one  north,  and  that  the 
money  be  raised  next  year  and  paid  in  township  orders. 

*  See  history  of  Qtsego  township. 


"That  this  meeting  be  adjourned  to  the  school-house  this  time 
next  year. 

(Signed)  "  William  Eorbes,  Clk. 

"  John  MoiiPHr,  Moderator. 
"  John  Anderson,  J.  P." 

EARLY   ELECTIONS. 

The  total  number  of  votes  polled  for  candidates  for  county 
offices  Nov.  8,  1836,  was  12. 

At  an  election  for  member  of  Congress,  held  Aug.  21 
and  22,  1837,  Hezekiah  G.  Wells  received  19  votes  and 
Isaac  E.  Crary  29  votes. 

At  the  gubernatorial  election  of  November  6th  and  7th 
of  the  same  year  C.  C.  Trowbridge  received  36  votes  and 
Stevens  V.  Mason  30  votes.  In  1840,  80  votes  were 
polled  for  the  two  candidates  for  the  office  of  supervisor,  and 
there  were  tie  votes  for  several  of  the  candidates  of  the 
opposing  Whig  and  Democratic  parties,  the  contest  being 
finally  decided  by  lot. 

DIVISION   OF  TOWNSHIP. 

The  township  of  Martin,  including  survey-townships 
Nos.  2,  3,  and  4  north,  of  range  No.  11  west,  was  set  oif  as 
a  separate  organization  by  an  act  of  the  State  Legislature 
approved  March  22,  1839. 

NAME    CHANGED   TO    GUN   PLAIN. 

By  an  act  of  the  State  Legislature,  approved  March  19, 
1845,  the  name  of  the  township  of  Plainfield  was  changed 
to  Gun  Plain,  the  latter  being  the  name  long  borne  by  a 
beautiful  and  quite  extensive  tract  of  country  lying  between 
Gun  River  and  the  present  village  of  Plainwell. 

TOWNSHIP   OFFICERS. 

The  following  list  embraces  the  names  of  the  principal 
officers  of  the  township  for  the  years  from  1837  to  1879, 
inclusive,  except  for  a  period  of  which  no  record  can  be 
found  in  township  clerk's  office : 

SUPEEVISOES. 
1837-39,  Archibald  Jameson;  1840-41,  John  Robinson ;  1842,  Archi- 
bald Jameson ;  1843,  John  Robinson ;  1844,  Archibald  Jameson  , • 
1845,  Freeman  Calkins;  1846,  James  H.  Commins;  1847-48,  John 
Robinson;  1849,  Daniel  D.  McMartin ;  1850,  Abram  I.  Dedrick ; 
1851,  Daniel  D.McMartin;  1852,  William  Still;  1853-54,  Duncan 
A.  McMartin;  1855,  Henry  Jackson;  1856,  Duncan  A.  McMar- 
tin; 1857,  George  C.  Mills;  1858-60,  Archibald  Jameson;  1861, 
Henry  Jackson;  1862-63,  Archibald  Jameson ;  1864,  Henry  Jack- 
son; 1865,  Milo  E.  Gifford  ;  1866,  Archibald  Jameson ;  1867-68, 
Walter  C.  Pierson;  1869,  Augustus  H.  Hill;  1870,  George  C. 
Mills;  1871-79,  Bleazer  C.  Knapp. 

TOWNSHIP  CLERKS. 

1837-38,  William  Forbes;  1839,  John  Forbes;  1840-41,  George  W. 

Einnicutt;  1842,  Abram  I.  Dedrick ;  1843,  George  W.  Kinnicutt ; 

1844^46,    Clark    Corey;    1847-49,   John   Hawks;     1850,    Clark 

Corey;  1851-52,  Duncan  A.  McMartin ;  1853,  John  Gray;  J  854, 

Joel  Batchelor;  1855,  William  Bellingham ;  1856-57,  Orson  D. 

Dunham;  1858,  B.  Bannister;  1859,  A.  C.  Roberts;    1860,  John 

H.  Lasher;  1861,  George  B.  Force;  1862,  L.  Bannister;  1863, 

Theron  Cummings;  1864^65,  John  H.  Lasher;  1866,  Julius  J. 

Howe;    1867-74,  Henry  Keeler;    1875,  Royal    Adams;    1876, 

Harvey  W.  Chamberlain ;  1877,  George-Scales ;  1878-79,  Charles 

D.  Hart. 

TEEASUEKKS. 

1839-41,  Timothy  G.  Crittenden;  1842-43,  Joel  Batchelor;  1844, 
Justus  B.  Sutherland ;  1845,  Calvin  C.  White ;  1846,  Noah  B. 
Ives;  1847,  William  Still;  1848-63,  no  record;  1864,  Benjamin 
S.Conrad;  1865,  Walter  p.  Pierson ;  1866,  William  Forbes ;  1867- 


224 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


12,  William  Hay;  1873-76,  John  Crispe;  1877-78,  Job  C.  Estes; 
1879,  William  E.  Forbes. 

JUSTICES  OF  TnE  PEACE. 
1837,  Archibald  Jameson,  Mumford  Eldied,  Charles  Bush,  Calvin  C. 
White;  1838,  M.  J.  Nichols;  1839,  Archibald  Jameson;  1840, 
George  Warner;  18-11,  Joel  Batehelor,  Abram  I.  Dedrick,  Wil- 
liam Forbes;  1842,  John  Murphy;  1843,  Archibald  Jameson; 
1844,  Angus  C.  Mann;  1845,  Clark  Corey;  1846,  Duncan  A. 
McMartin;  1847,  Henry  Earl,  Jr.,  Daniel  D.  MoMartin;  from 
1848  to  1863,  inclusive,  no  record;  1864,  Russell  B.  Fenner; 
1865,  Archibald  Jameson;  1866,  Orson  D.Dunham;  1867,  Alfred 
Brownson,  James  B.  Smith ;  1868,  Reuben  House,  George  F. 
Nichols;  1869,  Henry  K.Mills;  1870,  Bronscn  Schoonmaker; 
1871,  Daniel  Earl;  1872,  Charles  W.  Havfley;  1873,  Archibald 
Jameson,  Henry  K.  Mills;  1874,  Reuben  House;  187.'),  Daniel 
Earl,  Russell  B.  Fenner;  1876,  Chauncey  J.  Pooro;  1877,  James 
Jameson;  1878,  Andrew  Carruthers ;  1879,  A.  C.  Roberts. 

COLLECTOKS. 
1837,  William    Still;  1838,  Henry   Crittenden;  1839,  William  Still; 
1840,  Justus  B.  Sutherland;  1841,  Chauncey  Abbott. 

HIGHWAY  CGMMISSIONEKS. 
1837,  William  Still,  Mumford  Bldred,  Justus  B.  Sutherland;  1838, 
William  Still,  Calvin  C.  White,  Friend  Ives;  1839,  William  Still, 
John  Stewart,  Silas  Hall;  1840,  John  Stewart,  Justus  B.  Suther- 
land, George  Warner ;  1841,  John  Forbes,  William  Still,  Chauncey 
Abbott;  1842,  Justus  B.  Sutherland,  John  Stewart,  Joel  Batehe- 
lor ;  1843,  John  W.  Watson,  John  Murphy,  Archibald  Jameson  ; 
1844,  John  Stewart,  Harvey  N.  Crawford,  John  Murphy;  1845, 
Calvin  C.  White,  Blam  Nichols,  John  G.  Smith;  1846,  Harvey 
N.  Crawford,  William  BiUingham,  Silas  Earl;  1847,  William 
Forbes,  Calvin  C.  White,  Elisba  Weed;  from  1848  to  1863,  in- 
clusive, no  record;  1864,  Lister  D.  Smith;  1865,  Eleazer  C. 
Knapp  ;  1866,  John  W.  Brigham,  George  F.  Nichols,  Walter  C. 
Pierson;  1867,  John  H.  Peiree,  William  C.  Warrant;  1868, 
William  Forbes,  Henry  K.  Mills ;  1869,  John  W.  Brigham ;  1870, 
Reuben  House ;  1871,  Augustus  H.  Hill ;  1872,  Nathaniel  Seeley ; 
1873,  John  W.  Brigham,  Reuben  House;  1874,  Joseph  H.  Hunt; 
1875,  John  W.  Brigham;  1876,  Charles  Knapp;  1877,  William 
B.  Estes;  1878,  Lewis  B.  Raber;  1879,  Edward  T.  Crispe. 

ASSESSORS. 
1837,  Charles  Bush,  Mumford  Eldred,  Elisba  B.  Seeley;  1838,  Dan 
Arnold,  Calvin  C.  White,  Silas  Hall;  1839,  John  Robertson, Silas 
Hall,  M.  J.  Nichols ;  1840,  John  Anderson,  Abram  L  Dedrick, 
Ashbel  Gates;  1841,  Joel  Batohelor,  John  Anderson,  Charles 
Bush;  1842,  John  Murphy,  Clark  Corey  ;  1843,  Joel  Batohelor, 
Orlando  Weed;  1844,  Joel  Batehelor,  Harvey  N.  Crawford;  1845, 
John  Anderson,  Harvey  N.  Crawford;  1846,  Dexter  Smith,  Har- 
vey N.  Crawford;  1847,  Freeman  Calkins,  Cy renins  Thompson; 
from  1848-63,  inclusive,  no  record. 

DEAIN    COMMISSIONERS. 
1872,  William  Estes;  1873,  Augustus  H.  Hill;  1874,  Archibald  Jame- 
son; 1875-76,  Edward  T.  Crispe;  1878,  A.  J.  Murphy. 

SCHOOL  INSPECTOES. 
1837-38,  William  Forbes,  John  Nichols,  George  W.  Kinnicutt;  1839, 
John  Robertson,  William  Forbes,  Lewis  F.  Tobey;  1840,  Abram 
I.  Dedrick,  George  W.  Kinnicutt,  H.  B.  Seymour ;  1841,  Abram 
I.  Dedrick,  H.  B.  Seymour,  George  W.  Kinnicutt;  1842,  Abram 
I.  Dedrick,  Clark  Cory,  John  C.  White;  1843,  John  Robinson, 
John  W.  Watson ;  1844,  Abram  I.  Dedrick ;  1845,  Angus  C.  Mann  ; 
1846,  William  Forbes,  Abram  I.  Dedrick;  1847,  Duncan  A.  Mc- 
Martin ;  from  1848-63,  inclusive,  no  record ;  1864,  William  Forbes ; 
1865,  Henry  Jackson ;  1866,  Joseph  W.  Hick ;  1867,  Charles  W. 
Hawley;  1868,  Joseph  W.  Hicks;  1869,  Charles  W.  Hawley; 
1870,  Joseph  W.  Hicks;  1871,  Charles  W.  Hawley;  1872,  Joseph 
W.  Hicks;  1873,  Oscar  E.  Yates;  1874,  Joseph  M.  Copp;  1875-77, 
Oscar E.  Yates;  1878,  A.  C.  Roberts;  1879,  George  H.  Bean. 

8UPEEINTENDBNTS   OF  TOWNSHIP   SCHOOLS. 
1875-77,  Benjamin  Thompson;  1878,  Richard  Pengally;  1879,  Ben- 
jamin Thompson. 


EDUCATIONAL. 

According  to  the  recollection.s  of  the  earliest  inhabitants, 
the  first  school-house  erected  in  the  township  was  built  in 
the  spring  of  1834,  upon  lands  then,  or  soon  after,  owned 
by  Charles  Bush.  Jonathan  Russell  was  chosen  school  di- 
rector, and  the  same  season  he  hired  Miss  Hensdill,  daugh- 
ter of  Judge  Hensdill,  of  Gull  Prairie,  to  teach  the  school. 
Receiving  as  compensation  one  dollar  a  week,  she  taught 
for  a  few  days  only,  being  compelled  to  relinquish  her  task 
by  reason  of  sickness. 

Miss  Sabra  Ives,  afterwards  the  wife  of  Dr.  Coats,  of 
Otsego,  was  then  employed  to  finish  the  term,  for  which 
she  received  one  dollar  and  a  quarter  per  week. 

This  unpretentious  yet  historic  edifice  was  built  of  logs, 
and  was  long  known  as  the  "  Gun  Plain  School-house,"  and 
in  it  were  held  early  religious  services  of  the  Congrega- 
tional and  Baptist  societies. 

In  the  spring  of  1837  the  residents  of  the  Silver  Creek 
settlement  built  a  school-house  on  or  near  the  site  of  Mor- 
timer W.  Sutherland's  present  residence.  The  first  school 
in  this  district — No.  1 — was  taught  the  following  sum- 
mer by  Miss  Lucy  Eldredge,  of  Cooper  township. 

The  winter  term  of  1837  and  1838  was  taught  by  Miss 
Esther  Doolittle.  Twenty-four  pupils  attended,  of  whom 
eight  were  from  the  family  of  Justus  B.  Sutherland.  Dur- 
ing the  succeeding  summer,  Miss  Polly  Nichols  oflSciated  as 
school-mistress  in  the  same  district. 

The  Silver  Creek  school-house  afibrded  accommodations 
for  early  Methodist  Episcopal  services. 

The  first  mention  made  in  the  township  records  concern- 
ing schools  are  found  in  the  proceedings  of  the  first  town- 
ship election,  held  April  4,  1836,  when  John  Anderson, 
Curtis  Brigham,  and  William  Forbes  were  elected  school 
commissioners,  and  at  its  close  the  meeting  was  "  adjourned 
to  the  school-house  this  time  next  year."  Nothing  seems 
to  have  been  done  by  this  board  of  commissioners, — at  least 
they  made  no  record  of  their  proceedings. 

In  1837,  William  Forbes,  John  Nichols,  and  George  W. 
Kennicott  were  elected  as  school  inspectors.  They  held  a 
meeting  Sept.  16, 1837,  and  organized  nine  school  districts, 
the  boundaries  of  which  were  described  as  follows  : 

"  District  No.  1  shall  include  sections  25,  26,  27,  34,  35,  and  36,  and 
the  iirst  meeting  shall  be  held  in  the  school-house,  Oct.  2,  1837. 

"  District  No.  2*  will  contain  section  28,  and  that  part  of  sections 
29,  30,  32,  and  33  lying  northeast  of  the  Kalamazoo  River,  and  the 
meeting  to  organize  shall  be  held  at  Silas  Dunham's,  Oct.  2,  1837. 

"  District  No.  3*  will  contain  section  31,  and  all  that  part  of  sec- 
tions 29,  30,  32,  and  33  lying  southwest  of  the  Kalamazoo  River,  and 
the  first  meeting  shall  be  held  in  the  house  of  Simeon  Calkins,  Oct.  2, 
1837. 

"District  No.  4  to  contain  sections  16, 17,  18,  19,  20,  21,  and  south 
i  of  section  7.  The  first  meeting  to  be  held  in  the  '  Gun  Plain 
school-house.' 

"  District  No.  5  will  contain  sections  4,  6,  6,  8,  9,  and  the  north  J 
of  section  7. 

"District  No.  6  will  contain  sections  1,  2,  3,  10,  11,  north  i  of  12, 
the  whole  of  15,  north  J  of  14,  and  the  whole  of  22.  The  first  meet- 
ing in  said  district  to  be  held  in  the  house  of  Warren  Caswell,  Oct.  2, 
1837. 

"Fractional  School  District  No.  7  shall  contain  sections  23,  24,  south 
J  of  14,  the  whole  of  13,  and  the  south  i  of  section  12. 


*  Districts  numbered  2  and  3,  were  consolidated  Feb.  3,  1841. 


Residence   of    E.G.  KNAPP,   Gun     Plain  Tr,   Alleqan  Co., Mich. 


Residence  of  WILLI  ANI    A.  BELLINGHAM,  GunPmin  Tr, -Allegan  Co,Mich. 


GUN  PLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 


225 


"  District  No.  8  shall  embrace  the  eouth  one-half  of  township  No. 
2  north,  of  range  No.  11  east.*  ' 

"District  No.  9  shall  contain  the  north  one-half  of  township  No.  2 
north,  of  range  No.  11  west." 

The  following  embraces  the  names  of  the  residents  in 
school  district  No.  1,  and  the  amount  of  tax  paid  by  each 
for  the  support  of  a  school  during  the  winter  of  1837  and 
1838: 


George  F.  Nictols S4.64 

S.  W.  Nichols 1.28 

Mnjor  D.  Nash 1.28 

Daniel  Herrington 1.49 


Chauncey  Abbott $1.28 

Justus  B.  Sutherland 2.78 

ElishaTracey 2.99 

NathanielWeed 1.49 

John  Murphy 1.38 

The  first  apportionment  of  school  moneys  found  recorded 
was  in  the  year  1838,  when 

District  No.  1,  having  23  children  of  school  age,f  received S14.72 

"          "    2,       "       10         "                 "         "              "       6.40 

"         "    4,       "       19         "                "         "              "       12.16 

«         «    6,       "       15         "                 "         "             "       9.60 

In  1839,  107  children  of  school  age  were  reported  as 
residents  of  the  township  (Martin  had  then  been  set  off), 
and  $42.88  were  apportioned. 

The  teachers  granted  certificates  in  1840  were  Miss  Sarah 
Bates,  for  district  No.  1  ;  Miss  Eliza  Patrick,  for  district 
No.  2  ;  Miss  Harriet  Cooper,  for  district  No.  4 ;  and  Miss 
Laura  Parkhurst,  for  district  No.  6. 

Other  early  teachers  are  mentioned  by  years,  as  follows : 

1841.— John  Tarbell,  Phoebe   Doolittle,  John  C.  White,  and  E.  C. 

Hensdill. 
1842.^Miss  Kosa,  Cornelia  Davis,  Mary  Davis,  Alzina  Crittenden, 

Mary  Ann  Batchelor,  Eli  Hathaway,  Frederick  Doolittle. 
1843. — Walter    Dunning,   Minerva    Miles,   Permelia  Aldrich,  Julia 

Brownson,  Alonzo   W.  Ingerson,  John    C.  White,  and   Ezekiel 

Skinner. 
1S44. — Eliza  Warner,  Henry  Jackson,  Sarah  Weare,  and  Angus  C. 

Mann. 

The  boundaries  of  districts  were  changed  in  1844,  and 
but  five  districts  occupied  the  territory  formerly  covered 
by  ten. 

The  teachers  of  1845  were  Antoinette  Brown,  William 
Shearman,  Irvin  Murphy,  and  Jacob  N.  Nevins. 

The  names  of  teachers  mentioned  as  receiving  certificates 
during  the  years  from  1846  to  1850  were  Mary  Bennett, 
Harriet  A.  Wood,  Hellen  Williams,  K.  H.  Mitchell,  Ellen 
Fyfe,  Mary  H.  Williams,  Eliza  A.  Bingham,  Samantha  J. 
Woodward,  Mary  McMartin,  Mary  A.  Warner,  Henry 
Jackson,  Flavel  J.  Woodward,  Harriet  Dedrick,  Miss  P. 
Earl,  David  E.  Towers,  Duncan  A.  McMartin,  Edward 
Phetteplace,  Hannah  M.  Howe,  Elizabeth  A.  Adams,  Lydia 
A.  Estes,  Maria  T.  Dunham,  Mary  Barnett,  Sarah  M. 
Woodward,  Ann  E.  Allen,  and  Mary  Jane  Forbes. 

The  public  moneys  apportioned  and  the  number  of  chil- 
dren of  school  age  in  the  township  in  1843  are  shown  by 
the  following  table  : 

Scholars, 
District    No.  1, 
"  No.  2, 

"  No.  4, 

"  No.  5, 

"  No.  6, 


27 S17.69 

25 16.66 

36 23.87 

17 11.27 

16 10.61 


In  1845,  168  scholars  were  reported,  and  in  1850,  206. 


»  Districts  from  No.  1  to  7,  inclusive,  were  all  in  township  No.  1 
north,  of  range  No.  11  west. 

f  Five  and  under  seventeen  years  of  age. 
20 


The  amount  received  from   the  primary   school   fund  in 
1860  was  $164.22. 

Since  the  era  of  railways  and  the  building  up  of  Plain- 
well  village,  population  and  school  interests  have  largely  in- 
creased. In  comparison  with  the  foregoing  brief  summary, 
statistics  compiled  from  the  report  of  the  township  board 
of  education  for  the  year  ending  Sept.  1,  1879,  are  here- 
with appended : 

Number  of  districts  (whole,  7  J  fractional,  3)....  10 

Children  of  school  age  residing  in  the  township  752 

"         attending  school  during  the  year 461 

"        non-resident  attending  schools 30 

Number  of  school  houses  (brick,  2 ;  frame,  9)..  11 

Sittings  in  eleven  school-houses 859 

Value  of  school  property $20,150 

Teachers  employed  during  the  year  (male,  8; 

female,  22) 30 

Months  taught  by  male  teachers 35J 

"             "       "   female      "      56J 

Paid  male  teachers $1462.34 

"     female      "      2175.50 

RESOURCES. 

From  moneys  on  hand  Sept.  2, 1878,  two  mill  tax,  pri- 
mary school  fund,  tuition  of  non-resident  schol- 
ars, district  taxes,  and  all  other  sources $6948.89 

EXPENDITURES. 

For  teachers'  wages,  building  and  repairs,  bonded  in- 
debtedness, and  other  purposes $4859.93 

Moneys  on  hand  Sept.  1,1879 $2088.96 

VILLAGE   OF   PLAINWELL. 

The  village  of  Plainwell,  an  incorporated  municipality  of 
about  1650  inhabitants,  is  pleasantly  situated  on  both  banks 
of  the  Kalamazoo  River.  It  is  also  a  station  of  importance 
on  the  lines  of  the  Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana  and  the 
Kalamazoo  division  of  the  Lake-Shore  and  Michigan 
Southern  Railroads,  which  roads  here  cross  each  other. 
By  rail  it  is  distant  12  miles  from  Kalamazoo,  36  miles - 
from  Grand  Rapids,  and  13  miles  from  Allegan,  the  county- 
seat. 

Plainwell  is  a  village  of  comparatively  recent  origin  and 
growth,  yet,  lying  in  the  midst  of  a  district  rich  in  agri- 
cultural resources,  the  seat  of  busy  mills  and  manufactories, 
and  the  home  of  a  thrifty,  energetic  people,  it  is  deserving 
of  more  than  mere  mention  in  the  history  of  Allegan 
County.  Among  the  original  owners  of  the  lands  within 
or  near  its  present  corporate  limits  were  Norman  Davis, 
Thomas  J.  Warner,  Sylvester  Sibley ,J  Lebbeus  Sherwood, 
Thomas  M.  Warrant,  Lucius  Lindsley,  Samuel  Foster, 
Joseph  D.  Beers,  Samuel  Sherwood,  Hull  Sherwood,  James 
Hanmer,  and  Sarah  R.  Hoskins. 

Prior  to  the  beginning  of  the  plank-roads,  these  lots,  lying 
mainly  upon  sections  29  and  30,  had  changed  ownership 
repeatedly,  and  the  vicinity  was  looked  upon  by  the  pioneers 
simply  as  farming-land ;  not  even  a  mill-site  seemed  practi- 
cable. The  early  residents  in  its  vicinity  were  William 
Still,  John  Anderson,  William  Chart,  William  Woodhams, 
and  George  W.  Kennicott. 

In  1852  began  the  building  of  a  plank-road  from  Kal- 
amazoo to  Grand  Rapids,  and  a  branch  extending  from  this 
point  to  Allegan.     This  being  the  intended  junction  of  the 

+  Sibley  purchased  the  northeast  fractional  quarter  of  section  30, 
35^jy  acres,  June  15, 1831,  thus — according  to  the  land-oiBce  records, 
becoming  the  first  private  owner  of  lands  in  the  county  of  Allegan. 


226 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


two,  a  man  named  Wellever*  looked  upon  it  as  an  exceed- 
ingly advantageous  locality  for  the  establishment  of  a  relay- 
house,  tavern,  etc.  Consequently,  he  purchased  one  acre  of 
land,  and  during  the  fall  of  1853  began  the  construction 
of  the  old  Plainwell  House. 

At  this  time — in  November,  1853 — came  Orson  D.  Dun- 
ham from  Eaton  Rapids.  He  purchased  40  acres  of  land 
situated  on  the  east  side  of  section  30,  south  of  the  river, 
a  tract  which  nearly  encircled  Wellever's  acre.  By  pur- 
chase he  soon  after  became  the  owner  of  Mr.  Wellever's 
unfinished  building  and  lot,  and  in  July,  1854,  the  Plain- 
well  House  was  formally  opened  to  the  public  as  a  place  of 
entertainment  for  wearied,  hungry  men  and  beasts.  Thus 
began  the  settlement  and  business  at  the  Junction,  and  this 
was  the  origin  of  a  name  which  the  village  continued  to  bear 
until  after  its  incorporation. 

The  plank-road  was  completed  in  1 854,  and  immediately 
became  a  thronged  thoroughfare  for  the  hauling  of  freight, 
lumber,  and  farm  produce ;  besides,  it  was  a  favorite  route 
for  stage  travel. 

Mr.  Dunham  relates  that  very  frequently  he  had  the 
passengers  of  seven  four-horse  stage-coaches  stopping  at  his 
house  for  dinner.  He  also  became  postmaster  at  about 
this  time,  succeeding  Judge  Anderson,  who  had  been  post- 
master for  many  years. 

When  Mr.  DunEam  first  came  here,  William  Woodhams 
was  living  in  his  residence,  the  ancient-looking  structure 
still  standing  on  Bridge  Street,  near  the  river,  and  an  un- 
occupied log  house  stood  on  the  site  of  Waldo's  store. 
These  were  the  only  dwellings  on  the  site  of  the  village 
proper,  and  the  log  house  was  used  as  the  residence  of  the 
Dunham  family  until  the  completion  of  the  hotel. 

After  Wellever  sold  his  hotel  property  he  purchased  the 
opposite  corner, — now  owned  by  George  H.  Anderson, — 
'  erected  a  small  frame  building,  and  within  it  exposed  for 
sale  a  meagre  stock  of  groceries.  He  soon  after,  however, 
sold  to  Alfred  S.  and  Albert  Pierson,  who  continued  the 
business,  while  Mr.  Wellever  removed  to  the  city  of  Flint, 
Mich. 

In  the  fall  of  1855,  Mr.  Dunham  sold  his  hotel  property 
to  Messrs.  Mills  &  Merritt,  and  a  man  named  Pratt  then 
became  proprietor  of  the  same,  changing  the  name  to  the 
"  Merritt  House."  Mr.  Dunham  then  built  a  store,  on  the 
site  of  the  Sherman  store,  bought  Pierson 's  stock  of  groceries, 
removed  the  same  to  the  new  building,  added  dry-goods,  no- 
tions, etc.,  and  thus  kept  the  first  store  of  general  merchan- 
dise at  the  Junction.  Soon  after,  Messrs.  Bannister  & 
Whitney  succeeded  Mr.  Dunham  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness, and  largely  increased  the  stock.  Among  other  early 
merchants  were  old  Mr.  Wooley,  Cummings,  and  Peter 
Saxe,  brother  of  John  G.,  the  poet. 

John  H.  Lasher,  the  first  shoemaker  to  settle  here,  came 
in  July,  1855.  His  recollections  of  people  and  matters  at 
that  time  are  as  follows :  William  H.  Woodhams  was  re- 
siding near  the  bridge.  On  the  northeast  corner  of  Bridge 
and  Main  Streets  was  Alfred  S.  Pierson's  grocery-store,  he 
residing  in  the  same  building.  Hart  Dunham's  dwelling 
stood  near  the  present  post-office  building,  and  hard  by  was 

■•'■"Supposed  to  be  Henry  Wellever. 


the  blacksmith-shop.  Orson  D.  Dunham  was  postmaster 
and  proprietor  of  the  Plainwell  House,  and  in  the  old  log 
house,  previously  mentioned,  lived  Harry  Munn,  an  Eng- 
lishman. The  old  school-house  stood  near  Corporation 
Hall,  and  a  man  named  Franklin  lived  in  a  small  dwelling 
standing  near  the  school-house.  Abel  Dunham's  house  was 
where  Frederick  Woodhams  now  resides,  and  a  considera- 
ble distance  west,  on  Allegan  Street,  was  Hiram  W.  Ander- 
son's log  dwelling.  The  Lovelock  family  also  lived  near 
the  blacksmith-shop.  Nathaniel  Seeley  was  on  the  extreme 
west  side,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  village,  on  the  north- 
east side  of  the  river,  were  John  Anderson,  William  Still, 
and  Calvin  Dunham.  Lasher's  first  dwelling,  which  stands 
on  the  north  side  of  Allegan  Street,  west  of  the  race,  was 
built  in  the  fall  of  1855. 

After  the  plank-road  and  the  success  attending  Patter- 
son, Glenn  &  Lyon's  line  of  stage-coaches,  the  next  impetus 
given  the  village  was  the  organization  of  the  Plainwell 
Water-Power  Company.  It  was  formed  in  the  spring  of 
1856,  the  members  being  George  C.  Mills,  Orson  D.  Dun- 
ham, Mr.  Fairchilds,  Giles  Sherwood,  William  H.  Wood- 
hams, and  John  K.  Bingham.  The  race  was  excavated 
during  the  summer  and  fall,  and  a  saw-mill  completed  in 
the  winter  following,  the  cost  of  first  mill  and  race  amount- 
ing to  $3000. 

In  1858,  George  C.  Force  and  Orson  D.  Dunham  built 
for  a  rake-factory  the  mill  now  occupied  by  Patterson,  and 
during  the  fall  of  the  same  year  Henry  J.  Cushman  built 
the  grist-mill  now  owned  by  Lantz.  The  planing-mill 
owned  by  Cressy  was  built  by  0.  D.  Dunham  and  Walter 
Pierson  in  1860.  The  mills  already  mentioned  and  a 
thriving  mercantile  trade  had  gradually  attracted  popula- 
tion to  the  Junction  ;  so  much  so  that  at  the  beginning 
of  the  war  the  inhabitants  gathered  here  numbered  about 
200. 

On  the  8th  day  of  April,  1863,  William  H.  Woodhams, 
George  H.  Anderson,  John  C.  Bannister,  M.  E.  Cushman, 
Peter  Hatfield,  and  M.  E.  Gifibrd,  proprietors  of  lands 
situated  on  section  29,  west  side  of  the  river,  had  the  same 
surveyed  by  Ira  Chichester  and  a  map  recorded  as  the  first 
plat  of  the  village  of  Plainwell. "f- 

About  the  year  1864  a  flouring-mill  which  stood  between 
the  present  paper-  and  saw-mills  was  built  by  Orson  D. 
Dunham,  Sanford  H.  and  K.  B.  Corbyn.  After  running 
two  years,  and  while  owned  by  Bartley  &  Co.,  it  was 
burned.  Messrs.  Bartley  &  Co.  then  erected  the  extensive 
flouring-mills  now  owned  by  Merrill  &  McCourtie. 

INCORPORATION. 

Meanwhile,  the  Lake-Shore  and  Michigan  Southern  Rail- 
road had  been  completed  to  this  point.     The  inhabitants  of 

t  Additions  to  the  original  plat  hare  since  been  made  by  Ami 
Whitney,  Aug.  18,  1866;  Anna  P.  Thompson,  Aug.  21,  1865;  Mary 
R.  Lasher,  April  16,  1867 ;  William  H.  Woodhams,  Feb.  10,  1868 ; 
Mary  Ann  Brigham,  Feb.  12, 1868  ;  Anna  P.  Thompson,  March  18, 
1868  ;  Joel  Batchelor  and  Orson  D.  Dunhnm,  May  14,  1868  ;  Joshua 
Hill,  R.  R.  add.,  Aug.  31,  1868;  George  A.  Van  Horn,  March  24, 
1869;  Giles  Sherwood,  April  15,  1869;  same,  Deo.  21,  1869;  Harriet 
C.  Hill,  July  U,  1870;  John  Anderson,  April  ],  1871;  William  H. 
Woodh.ams,  Sept.  .3,  1872;  and  Giles  Sherwood's  replat,  Sept.  10, 
1872. 


!f&Vi--v-  ' 


Residence  /ind  Stock    Fahm  of  LEVI  /\H/ 


GrUN    PLAiti   Tp,  -Allegan    Co.,  Michigan. 


GUN  PLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 


227 


the  -village  had  increased  to  about  1000  in  number.  Those 
engaged  in  merchandising  and  mechanical  pursuits  were 
very  active.  Mr.  Winegar  had  established  a  bank  of  ex- 
change and  brokerage,  associating  with  himself  a  Mr.  Soule, 
formerly  of  the  map-firm  of  F.  W.  Beers,  Ellis  &  Soule ; 
and  a  newspaper,  the  Plainwell  Express,  was  about  to  dis- 
seminate news  abroad  concerning  the  doings  in  the  busy 
village 

Leading  citizens  believed  that  their  interests  would  be 
best  promoted  and  protected  by  a  village  charter,  and  in 
consequence,  during  the  winter  of  1868-69,  a  petition, 
very  generally  signed,  was  sent  in  to  the  State  Legislature 
then  in  session,  praying  that  an  act  be  passed  for  the 
incorporation  of  the  village  of  Plainwell.  Their  petition 
received  favorable  consideration,  and  by  an  act  approved 
March  26,  1869,  the  territory  herein  described  was  duly 
incorporated  as  the  village  of  Plainwell.  The  act  reads  as 
follows : 

"  The  People  of  the  State  of  Michigan  enact,  That  so  much  of  the 
township  of  Gun  Plain,  in  the  county  of  Allegan,  as  is  included  in 
the  following  territory,  to  wit :  The  southwest  quarter  of  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  twenty-nine,  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
twenty-nine,  the  southwest  quarter,  excepting  the  southeast  fractional 
quarter  thereof,  of  section  twenty-nine,  the  east  half  of  the  southeast 
quarter,  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter,  the  northeast 
quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter,  the  east  half  of  the  northwest  quar- 
ter and  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  thirty,  the  southeast  quarter 
of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  nineteen,  and  the  southwest  quar- 
ter of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  twenty,  in  town  one  north,  of 
range  eleven  west,  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby  constituted  a  village 
corporate,  by  the  name  of  the  village  of  Plainwell." 

Section  2  of  the  same  act  authorized  the  inhabitants  of 
the  village  having  the  qualifications  of  electors  to  meet  at 
the  Plainwell  House  the  second  Monday  of  March  next, 
and  on  the  first  Monday  of  March  annually  thereafter  at 
such  places  as  shall  be  provided  in  the  by-laws  of  said  vil- 
lage, for  the  election  of  village  oflScers. 

FIRST   CHARTER  ELECTION. 

Pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  their  charter,  the  qualified 
electors  of  the  village  assembled  at  the  Plainwell  House, 
Monday,  March  29,  1869,  and  from  among  their  number 
Henry  Keeler,  Eli  Hart,  and  Jacob  V.  Rogers  were  chosen 
judges  of  election.  The  whole  number  of  votes  polled  was 
215,  and  as  a  result  of  this  election  the  following  officers 
were  declared  elected:  Joseph  W.  Hicks,  President;  Henry 
W.  Church,  Clerk ;  Augustus  H.  Hill,  Treasurer  ;  William 
Still,  James  T.  Hyde,  Giles  Sherwood,  William  L.  Ripley, 
D.  C.  Kenyon,  Abel  S.  Dunham,  Trustees;  Carrick  B. 
Randall,  Marshal. 

RESIDENTS,  1S69. 

The  names  of  the  tax-paying  inhabitants  of  the  village  in 
June,  1869,  were  as  follows  : 


Anderson,  John. 
Anderson,  George  H. 
Anderson  &  Gifford  (merchants). 
Adams,  Charles. 
Ainsworth,  Theron. 
Alvord,  S.  N.  (grocer). 
Anaway,  Nathan. 
Atchinson,  J.  H.  (prop'r  Plain- 
well  House). 
Adams,  Dr.  E.  C. 
Anaway,  Harvey. 


Allen,  Alexander. 
Baloh,  A.  B. 
Bradley,  Orrin. 
Brigham,  John. 
Brigham,  Stillman. 
Butts,  Reuben  F. 
Brown,  John. 
Bannister,  J.  C. 
Brown,  0.  E. 
Ball,  Clara. 
Buchanan,  John. 


Bird,  James  B. 
Buchanan,  A.  E. 
Buchanan,  George. 
Bliss,  George. 
Beckwith,  Ransom. 
Brigham,  Eben. 
Bean,  George  H. 
Boyer,  James. 
Burgess,  Erastus. 
Bradley,  Samuel. 
Chamberlin  Bros,  (bakers). 
Conrad,  Jacob. 
Crump,  R.  0. 
Cronk,  B.  B. 
Cline,  Lydia  M. 
Clark,  William  H. 
Cnshman,  M.  E. 
Cushman,  Henry  J. 
Cox,  William. 
Crispe,  John  and  William. 
Cartwright,  George  W. 
Crispe,  Edward. 
Cox  &  Crispe  (druggists). 
Corbyn,  S.  H.  (saw-mill). 
Corey,  Caroline. 
Corbyn,  K.  B. 
Countryman,  P.  S. 
Chambers,  T.  (grocer). 
Curtis,  John. 
Crawford,  Alex. 
Chandler,  R. 
Clement  &  Ritchie. 
Cummings,  Parmilla. 
Cook,  J.  B. 
Chart,  Mary, 
Campbell,  Albert  H. 
Corliss,  G.  W. 
Diboll,  William  H. 
Daniels,  C.  J. 
Dunham,  Orley. 
Dunham,  A.  S. 
Day,  Henry. 
Drayton,  Lyman. 
Dunham,  C.  H. 
Dunham,  A.  G. 
Dwight,  C.  G. 
Davis,  David. 
Dunham,  Orson  D. 
Dennis,  John. 
Dougal,  James  S, 
Daniels,  Dr.  L.  A. 
Dodge,  Albert. 
Edson,  Edmond. 
Earle,  Henry. 
Eldred,  D.  P. 
Earle,  Benjamin. 
Emerick,  Laura  A. 
Earle,  George  W. 
Fuller,  A.  N. 
Fletcher,  Rev.  John. 
Ferguson,  Ruth. 
Fisher,  William  L. 
Faygar,  John. 
Fenner,  E.  B. 
Forbes,  John. 
Forbes,  John,  Jr. 
Fuller,  David. 
Forbes,  James. 
Fox,  Mrs. 
Green,  Peter. 
Goodale,  C.  F. 
Gleason,  Lewis. 
Gilkey,  Mrs. 
Goldsmith,  Mrs. 
Glenville,  William. 


Hill,  A.  H. 

Harding,  A. 

Holmes,  Mortimer  S. 

Hay,  William. 

Hatfield,  Peter. 

Houghton,  W.  S. 

Howard,  Samuel. 

Hart,  J.  J. 

Hawks,  James. 

Howe,  Wesley  E. 

Hart,  Eli. 

Hall,  Andrew. 

Hyde,  J.  T. 

Hatfield,  George  E. 

Hicks,  Joseph  W. 

Hyder,  C.  E. 

Hopkins,  Susan. 

Hume,  Dr.  E.  M. 

Hayes,  Frederick  A. 

Hamlin,  Mary  P. 

Hawks,  John. 

Haggart,  Allen. 

Home,  George.  ^ 

Ingraham,  Daniel. 

Ives,  C.W. 

Ives,  Mrs.  C.  S. 

Ives,  J.  C.  &  C.  S.  (merchants). 

Ives,  Julius  C. 

Johnson,  Judson. 

Jameson,  E.  W. 

Johnson,  William. 

Johnston,  George. 

King,  J.  T. 

Koch,  William. 

Knowlton,  John. 

Kellogg,  Norton. 

Kenyon,  D.  C. 

Kimball,  John  A. 

Krouse  Bros,  (boots  and  shoes). 

Lookhart,  Frank. 

Lent,  John. 

Lockhart,  John. 

Lanti,  H.  11.  (miller). 

Lasher,  J.  H. 

Lasher,  Mary  R. 

Linton,  John. 

Mosher,  William. 

McCarthy,  J. 

Morris,  Foot. 

Mallory,  E.  W. 

McMartin,  Rev.  Peter  A. 

Monroe,  J.  J.  (merchant). 

Martin,  John  S. 

McHenry,  George. 

Monroe,  Squire. 

Mills,  George  C. 

Monroe,  B.  F. 

Male,  James. 

Masson,  George. 

Martin,  James. 

Manley,  William. 

Manlcy,  Adrian. 

Madden,  John  H. 

McNeil,  Philo. 

Newton,  I.,  &  Son. 

Osborne,  Mrs. 

Owen,  Jesse. 

Owen,  F.  A. 

Patterson  &   Kellogg    (planing- 

mill). 
Pangburn,  Jerome. 
Pangburn,  Charles. 
Pierscn,  Emily. 
Pierson,  Simeon  D. 
Piatt, . 


228 


HISTORY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Smith,  Moses. 
Stearnes,  Mary  B. 
Stearnes,  P.  S. 
Sherman,  Seth. 
Snow,  Almira  M. 
Tinny,  L.  (builder). 
Terrell,  Mrs. 
Tapscott,  Mrs. 
Townsend,  Abel. 
Truatt,  William. 
Troffrey,  Eobert. 
Talbot,  William. 
Thompson,  Dr.  Benjamin. 
Truax,  Joseph. 
Taloott,  Z. 
Van  Horn,  George. 
Van  Patten,  Benjamin. 
Woodhams,  William  H. 
Woodhams,  Walter  W. 
Woodhams,  Josiah. 
Woodhams,  Frederick. 

Webster,  Charles  F. 

Winegar  &  Soule  (bankers). 

Woodard  k  Monroe  (merobants). 

Whitoomb,  Laura. 

Warner,  Bbenezer. 

Washington,  John  (barber). 

Webster,  John, 

AVarrant,  William  C. 

Wellever,  Abram. 

Woodhams,  Mary. 

Wightman,  Ira. 

Walker,  W.  A. 

Wright,  James. 

Woodhams,  F.  &  J.  H. 

Wilkinson   &  Shourds    (tin  and 
hardware). 

Wing, . 

Woodard,  0.  J. 

Yates,  Dr.  0.  E. 


Pierson,  Albert  A. 

Peters,  Dr.  J.  D. 

Pierson  &  Co.  (planing-mill). 

Pratt,  George  W. 

Bounds,  Oziel  H. 

Bauf,  Peter. 

Rogers,  .T.  V.  (attorney). 

Rouse,  Warren. 

Randall,  C.  B. 

Russell,  T.  L. 

Ross,  J.  L. 

Rouse,  Jonas. 

Robbins,  H. 

Ripley,  William  L.  (merchant). 

Richmond,  Alonzo. 

Root,  Edward  K, 

Russell,  R.  D. 

Starr,  William. 

Starr,  Charles. 

Stoddard  k  Hay  (merchants). 

Sheldon  &,  Poore. 

Sherwood,  Giles. 

Smith,  Johnson. 

Spaulding,  L. 

Spaulding,  Electa. 

Still,  William. 

Shults,  H.  AT. 

Shafer,  E.  S.  (baker). 

Smith,  I.  D. 

Sisson  &  Bartley  (grist-  and  saw- 
mills). 

Sternberg,  John. 

Scboonmaker,  B. 

Scott,  H.  R. 

Sisson,  Orrin. 

Sherman,  Eddy  (merchant). 

Smith,  C.  H. 

Stoddart,  H.  L. 

Spencer,  B.  (grocer). 

Storms,  Williams. 

Stafford,  Silas  (attorney). 

Since  its  incorporation  and  the  completion  of  the  two 
railroads,  the  village  has  gradually  increased  in  population 
to  its  present  numbers.  Street  grades  have  been  established, 
miles  of  sidewalks  have  been  laid,  and  the  Holly  system 
of  water-works  has  been  adopted. 

In  1873  the  present  Plainwell  Water-Power  Company 
was  organized  and  incorporated,  the  village  becoming  part 
owner.  The  old  company,  for  a  comparatively  minor  con- 
sideration, then  deeded  its  right,  title,  and  interest  to  the 
new  one.  During  the  same  year  the  race  was  enlarged  to 
its  present  proportions, — i.e.,  a  fall  of  10  feet  at  the  bulk- 
head, and  a  power  of  8000  inches, — thus  placing  Plainwell 
in  the  front  rank  as  a  manufacturing  centre.  An  extensive 
paper-mill  was  also  established  in  1872.  Following  along 
the  course  of  time  to  the  present  day,  we  find  that  many 
other  minor  industries  have  since  contributed  their  mite  to 
the  general  prosperity,  until  the  village  of  to-day,  with  its 
busy  mills,  its  active  merchants,  its  churches,  and  a  noble 
school  edifice,  may  justly  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  most 
prosperous  of  the  many  villages  which  dot  the  surface  of 
Southern  Michigan. 

VILLAGE   OFFICERS  SINCE   1869. 

The  following  are  the  village  oiEcers  elected  annually  for 
the  years  from  1870  to  1880  inclusive : 

1870. — Jonas  Rouse,  President;    John  H.  Madden,  Clerk;  William 
Hay,  Treasurer ;  Orson  D.  Dunham,  Giles  Sherwood,  Wil- 


liam Starr,  Norton  P.  Kellogg,  G.  A.  Van  Horn,  Dewitt  C. 
Kenyon,  Trustees ;  A.  Manley,  Marshal. 

1871.— Henry  H.  Mills,  President;  Oziel  H.  Rounds,  Jr.,  Clerk; 
Orrin  J.  Woodard,  Treasurer;  Daniel  Earl,  James  F.  Put- 
nam, James  H.  Bartley,  Trustees;  Edwin  R.  Smith,  MarshaL 

1872.— Augustus  H.  Hill,  President;  Clarence  M.  Giles,  Clerk;  Orrin 
J.  Woodard,  Treasurer;  Joseph  M.  Copp,  Rozelle  Rose, 
Robert  P.  Vanderwerken,  Trustees;  Carriok  B.  Randall, 
Marshal. 

1873.— Joseph  W.  Hicks,  President;  John  S.  Havens,  Clerk;  George 
G.  Soule,  Treasurer;.  Amos  0.  Bird,  Daniel  Earl,  Augustus 
H.  Hill,  Trustees;  Royal  Adams,  Marshal. 

1874.— Joseph  W.  Hicks,  President;  John  S.  Havens,  Clerk  ;  George 
G.  Soule,  Treasurer ;  John  W.  Brigham,  George  E.  Hatfield, 
A.  Bryant,  Trustees ;  Peter  Hatfield,  Marshal. 

1875.— Joseph  W.  Hicks,  President;  John  S.  Havens,  Clerk;  George 
G.  Soule,  Treasurer;  Augustus  H.  Hill,  Daniel  Earl,  John 
Crispe,  Trustees ;  Charles  Howe,  Marshal. 

1876. — Morrison  Bailey,  President;  George  W.  Merriman,  Clerk; 
George  G.  Soule,  Treasurer ;  Chester  S.  Cressy,  Joseph  M. 
Copp,  Charles  W.  Hawley,  Trustees ;  Peter  Hatfield,  Mar- 
shal. 

1877. — Daniel  Earl,  President;  George  Scales,  Clerk;  George  G. 
Soule,  Treasurer ;  Augustus  H.  Hill,  George  H.Anderson, 
William  Forbes,  Trustees;  C.  C.  Hurlburt,  Marshal. 

1878. — Morrison  Bailey,  President;  George  Scales,  Clerk;  George 
W.  Merriman,  Treasurer;  Job  C.  Estes,  Edward  K.  Root, 
Eddy  Sherman,  Trustees ;  John  Sternberg,  Marshal. 

1879. — Daniel  Earl,  President;  Charles  D.  Hart,  Clerk;  Harvey  W. 
Chamberlin,  Treasurer:  Edward  J.  Anderson,  Joseph  W. 
Hicks,  Augustus  H.  Hill,  Trustees ;  John  Sternberg,  Mar- 
shal. 

1880. — Ogden  Tomlinson,  President;  Charles  D.  Hart,  Clerk;  Wil- 
liam Crispe,  Job  C.  Estes,  James  Smith,  Trustees ;  Harvey 
W.  Chamberlin,  Treasurer;  John  Sternberg,  Marshal. 

VILLAGE   FIRE   DEPARTMENT  AND   WATER-SUPPLY. 

On  the  3d  day  of  February,  1870,  the  trustees  of  the 
village  by  resolution  established  a  fire  department  and  en- 
acted by-laws  to  govern  the  same,  the  department  to  con- 
sist of  two  hose  companies  and  a  hook-and-ladder  com- 
pany, controlled  by  a  chief  engineer  and  assistant  engineer, 
who  were  to  receive  their  appointment  from  the  village 
council.  Each  hose  company  was  to  have  at  least  20  mem- 
bers, and  not  more  than  25,  the  hook-and-ladder  company 
not  to  exceed  30  members. 

In  March,  1870,  a  committee  of  trustees,  consisting  of 
Norton  P.  Kellogg,  Dewitt  0.  Kenyon,  and  Jonas  Rouse, 
was  sent  to  Kalamazoo  to  inspect  and  report  upon  the  Holly 
system  of  water-works  there  in  use.  It  reported  on  the  26th 
of  March,  1870,  as  follows  :  "  In  the  opinion  of  the  com- 
mittee, the  Holly  system,  in  connection  with  our  water-power, 
would  aiford  the  best  and  most  secure  protection  against  fire 
for  the  least  money." 

The  following  estimates  were  based  upon  information 
received  from  Horace  Phelps,  superintendent  of  the  Kal- 
amazoo water-works : 

Holly  pump  and  wheel $1000 

545  feet  of  6-inch  pipe 700 

6B0      "         4     "       "    560 

5  double  hydrants 250 

3  gates 100 

Lead  and  oakum 125 


$2735 


At -a  session  of  the  board  of  trustees  held  June  13, 1870, 

it  was  resolved  to  adopt  the  Holly  system,  and  to  expend  on 

the  work  $3400,  of  which  f  2400  should  be  spread  upon 

I    the  tax-rolls  of  the  year  1870,  and  a  contract  was  made 


GUN  PLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 


229 


with  Horace  Phelps,  to  construct  the  works,  on  the  14th  of 
June,  1870.  In  December,  1870,  William  Cox  and  0.  M. 
Bradley  were  appointed  the  first  fire-wardens. 

Dewitt  C.  Kenyon  was  appointed  superintendent  of 
water-works  Jan.  20,  1871,  and  was  ordered  to  take  full 
control  of  keys,  fire  apparatus,  etc.,  until  a  fire  company 
should  be  organized  and  a  chief  engineer  appointed.  J.  J. 
Monroe  was  appointed  the  first  chief  engineer,  March  13, 
1871. 

The  water-works  were  completed  in  the  spring  of  1872, 
and  on  the  8th  of  April  of  the  same  year  a  contract  was 
made  with  Messrs.  0.  D.  Dunham  and  R.  P.  Corbyn  for 
1000  square  inches  of  water  from  their  race,  for  which 
they  were  to  receive  $1150.  Jonas  Rouse  was  appointed  to 
take  charge  of  the  works  in  August,  1872. 

Halcyon  Hose  Company  was  formed  in  December,  1872. 
Early  in  the  spring  of  1873  the  present  water-power  com- 
pany was  formed,  and  for  an  unknown  consideration  the 
title  was  transferred  from  Messrs.  Dunham  and  Corbyn  to  it. 
The  village  then  became  part  of  the  new  company,  with  the 
understanding  that  it  was  to  have  the  first  right  to  1000 
square  inches  of  water,  "  subject,  however,  to  the  rise  and 
fall  of  the  river.'' 

During  the  summer  of  1873  the  race  was  enlarged  to  its 
present  proportions.  A  hook-and-ladder  truck,  costing 
■S975,  was  purchased  in  October,  1877,  also  Babcock  fire- 
extinguishers.  Hook-and-Ladder  Company  No.  1  was  also 
organized  during  the  same  month.  To  A.  E.  Smith  and 
Fred.  A.  Williams  was  given  the  contract  for  erecting  a 
building  for  the  storage  of  fire  apparatus.  The  building 
was  completed  in  January,  1878,  costing  about  $700. 

In  February,  1878,  George  H.  Bean,  chief  engineer  of 
the  Plainwell  Fire  Department,  in  his  annual  report  for  the 
year  ending  March  1,  1878,  said: 

"At  the  time  of  my  appointment  last  spring  there  was  only  one 
company,  of  about  fifteen  members;  now,  at  this  date,  we  have  two 
full  companies,  a  substantial  building  for  all  purposes  of  the  fire 
department,  and  Plainwell  is  as  fully  provided  with  protection  against 
fire  as  any  place  of  its  size  in  the  United  States.  The  present  force 
of  the  department  is  a  chief  engineer,  Halcyon  Hose  Company,  No.  1, 
with  twenty  members,  and  Plainwell  Hook-and-Ladder  Company,  No. 
1,  with  thirty  members. 

"  The  apparatus  consists  of  one  good  hose-cart, — two-wheeled, — 
equipped  with  one  thousand  feet  of  serviceable  linen  hose,  one  new 
hook-and-ladder  truck,  with  all  equipments,  and  eight  Babcock  ex- 
tinguishers, the  Holly  pump,  supplied  with  about  three  thousand 
feet  of  pipes,  and  five  hydrants  in  good  repair. 

"  There  has  been  one  fire  and  two  alarms  of  fire  during  the  year. 

"I  would  recommend  to  your  consideration  the  advisability  that 
the  ofiice  of  chief  engineer  be  an  honorary  one,  and  that  some  com- 
petent person,  recommended  by  the  chief  engineer  or  hose  company, 
to  be  confirmed  by  the  board  of  trustees,  be  appointed  to  take  charge 
of  the  wheel-house  and  pump,  and  to  be  held  responsible  for  the  good 
working  order  and  care  of  the  same. 

"Also  that  some  plan  be  provided  that  the  business  men  may  have 
the  use  of  water  during  the  summer  season  for  sprinkling  the  streets, 
etc.    For  reasons : 

"  1.  It  is  not  the  duty  of  the  fire  department,  or  those  in  charge  of 
the  pump,  to  let  on  water  at  the  call  of  any  and  every  one  who  sees 
fit  to  ask  it,  as  was  done  last  summer,  and  then  be  cursed  when  not 
doing  it. 

2.  Tom,  Dick,  and  Harry  should  not  be  allowed  to  run  it, — perhaps 
go  and  let  on  the  water,  and  then  forget  all  about  shutting  it  off  or 
oiling  the  machine  bearings. 

3.  The  present  arrangements  are  very  dissatisfactory  to  the  citi- 
zens, and  a  bill  of  expense  to  the  village." 


At  the  present  time  the  fire  companies,  apparatus,  etc., 
are  in  about  the  same  condition  as  shown  in  the  foregoing 
report. 

PLAINWELL   PAPER-MILLS. 

These  mills  were  established  by  Messrs.  Lyon  and  Page 
in  1872,  and  are  now  controlled  by  the  firm  of  B.  F.  & 
F.  M.  Lyon,  of  Kalamazoo,  Mich.  Twenty-five  people  are 
steadily  employed,  and  the  daily  products  amount  to  two 
tons  of  news-printing  paper. 

PLAINWELL  EXCHANGE  BANK. 
This  institution  was  established  in  1869  by  Messrs. 
Winegar  &  Soule.  Upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Winegar,  Mr. 
Joseph  W.  Hicks,  the  first  president  of  the  village,  became 
a  member  of  the  firm.  Mr.  Hicks  has  served  as  county 
surveyor,  and  in  many  other  responsible  positions  has  proven 
himself  a  gentleman  of  ability  and  integrity. 

PLAINWELL   POST-OFFICE. 

As  previously  mentioned,  the  Plainwell  post-office  was 
first  established  in  1833,  Dr.  Cyrenius  Thompson,  the  first 
settler  in  the  township,  becoming  the  first  postmaster. 
Mails  were  received  weekly,  vid  Gull  Prairie,  John  H. 
Adams  usually  performing  duty  as  mail-carrier.  When 
Dr.  Thompson  returned  to  Ohio,  in  the  fall  of  1835,  Or- 
lando Weed  became  postmaster.  A  year  or  so  later,  when 
Weed  removed  from  the  Plains,  Peter  Dumont  succeeded 
him.  Mr.  Dumont  retained  the  office  but  a  short  period, 
however,  for  in  1837  he  removed  to  the  northern  part  ot 
the  county.  John  Anderson  then  became  postmaster,  and 
continued  as  such  for  nearly  eighteen  years. 

In  the  summer  of  1854  the  office  was  transferred  to  the 
Junction,*  where  it  has  since  remained.  Orson  D.  Dun- 
ham, the  first  postmaster  at  the '  Junction,  has  been  suc- 
ceeded by  John  H.  Lasher,  George  C.  Mills,  Milo  E. 
Gifford,  Eli  Hart,  Krouse,  Fred.  Hays,  and  John  Crispe. 

PROFESSIONAL. 

Physicians. — As  already  noticed,  we  find  that  Dr.  Cyre- 
nius Thompson  was  the  first  physician  to  settle  in  the 
township.  He  did  not  practice,  however,  the  early  resi- 
dents relying  mainly  upon  Dr.  L.  B.  Coats,  of  Otsego. 

About  1840,  Dr.  Erastus  N.  Upjohn,  brother  of  Dr. 
Uriah  Upjohn,  of  Gull  Prairie,  a  native  of  England,  and  a 
"raduate  of  a  New  York  City  medical  college,  became  the 
first  resident  practicing  physician  in  the  township.  He 
married  Myra  E.,  daughter  of  Dr.  Thompson,  in  1850, 
and  removed  to  the  State  of  Nebraska  in  1855. 

Dr.  Charles  W.  Hawley  was  born  in  Canandaigua,  On- 
tario Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1827.  With  his  parents  he  removed 
from  New  York  to  Schoolcraft,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  in 
1836.  He  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  James  A.  Allen,  of 
Kalamazoo,  and  completed  his  course  at  Laporte,  Ind.  In 
1849,  Dr.  Hawley  taught  school  in  the  Silver  Creek  neigh- 
borhood, this  township.  The  following  year  he  located  in 
Wilmington,  Will  Co.,  111.,  where  he  practiced  three  years. 
He  then  returned  to  this  township,  settling  at  Silver  Creek, 
In  the  fall  of  1875  he  removed  to  his  present  place  of  resi- 
dence, in  the  village  of  Plainwell. 


^  Village  of  Plainwell. 


230 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BAKRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


For  several  years  subsequent  to  1853  the  doctor's  prac- 
tice extended  throughout  this  township,  also  into  the 
towns  of  Martin,  Prairieville,  and  Cooper, — situated  respect- 
ively in  the  counties  of  Allegan,  Barry,  and  Kalamazoo. 
Quite  early  in  life  Dr.  Hawley  married  a  daughter  of 
John  K.  Bingham.  Mr.  Bingham  was  one  of  the  earliest 
pioneers  of  the  State.  He  came  to  Ann  Arbor  first  in 
1826,  and,  being  a  practical  millwright,  built  the  pioneer 
mills  in  many  localities  of  Southern  Michigan.  He  finally 
settled  at  Silver  Creek,  where  he  placed  in  good  working 
order  the  old  saw-mill  first  built  by  Nathaniel  Weed,  and 
in  1847,  in  the  same  locality,  established  the  first  grist-mill 
in  Gun  Plain.  He  was  also  one  of  the  original  members 
of  the  Plainwell  Water-Power  Company,  and  to  his  advice 
and  energy  was  largely  due  the  success  which  attended  the 
enterprise. 

Dr.  J.  D.  Peters  is  a  native  of  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  a 
graduate  of  the  Cincinnati  Eclectic  Medical  Institute.  He 
first  began  practice  in  Alamo,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  where, 
he  remained  eighteen  months.  He  then  removed  to  Otsego, 
Mich.,  remaining  there  one  year.  In  the  fall  of  1861  he 
settled  here,  thus  becoming  the  first  physician  to  settle  per- 
manently in  the  village.  Previous  to  his  coming,  a  Dr. 
McNett  had  practiced  here  for  a  few  months.  Dr.  Peters 
removed  to  the  city  of  Grand  Rapids  in  1872,  and  remained 
there  until  January  of  the  present  year  (1880),  when  he 
returned,  and  is  again  established  in  the  village  of  Plain- 
well.  Succeeding  Dr.  Peters,  and  prior  to  1869,  Drs.  0.  E. 
Yates,  Benjamin  Thompson,  E.  C.  Adams,  E.  M.  Hume, 
L.  A.  Daniels,  and  Dr.  Sherman  had  settled  here. 

The  physicians  at  present  practicing  in  the  village  are 
Drs.  Charles  W.  Hawley,  J.  D.  Peters,  0.  E.  Yates,  Ben- 
jamin Thompson,  and Rosenkrans. 

,  Attorneys. — Silas  StaiFord,  the  first  lawyer  to  settle  in 
the  village  or  township,  came  here  from  Martin,  in  1865. 
In  1867,  J.  V.  Rogers,  a  former  resident  of  Wayland  town- 
ship, began  the  study  of  law  with  Mr.  Stafford,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1868.  Mr.  E.  D.  Steele  also  practiced 
here  for  a  short  time,  and,  later,  Bronson  Schoonmaker  was 
admitted.  The  resident  attorneys  at  the  present  time  are 
Messrs.  Silas  Stafford,  J.  V.  Rogers,  B.  Schoonmaker, 
Daniel  Earle,  E.  J.  Anderson,  and Burnett. 


VILLAGE   SCHOOL   STATISTICS. 

School  district  No.  2,  of  the  township  of  Gun  Plain,  in- 
cludes within  its  territory  the  village  of  Plainwell,  and  from 
the  director's  (0.  J.  Woodard)  report  for  the  year  end- 
ing Sept.  1,  1879,  are  taken  the  following  statistics: 

Children  of  school  age  residing  in  the  district...  448 

"        attending  schools  during  the  year 427 

"        non-residents  attending  school  during 

the  year 23 

Volumes  added  to  library  during  the  year 28 

Present  number  of  volumes  in  library 156 

Number  of  school  buildings 2 

Frame  school-house \ 

Brick              " 1 

Seating  capacity  of  school-houses 385 

Value  of  school  property $14,000 

Men  teachers  employed  during  the  year 1 

Women     "              "            "            "         8 

Months  taught  by  men 9 

"             "            women 9 

Paid  men  teachers $850 

"     women  teachers $1680 

Total  resources  for  the  year $4480.43 


SECRET   BENEVOLENT   ASSOCIATIONS. 

Plainwell  Lodge,  No.  35,  F.  and  A.  M.,  commenced 
work  under  a  dispensation  Sept.  9, 1867,  and  was  chartered 
Jan.  9,  1868.  The  first  officers  installed  were  Jacob  V. 
Rogers,  W.  M. ;  James  J.  Hart,  S.  W. ;  Walter  C.  Pier- 
sons,  J.  W. ;  Jerome  J.  Monroe,  Sec. ;  Simeon  R.  Piersons, 
Treas. ;  James  B.  Smith,  S.  D. ;  Henry  Sherman,  J.  D. ; 
P.  S.  Stearns,  Tyler.  Its  presiding  officers  since  that  time 
have  been  Jacob  V.  Rogers,  1868-69 ;  William  E.  Forbes, 
1870;  Jacob  V.  Rogers,  1871;  Jerome  J.  Monroe,  1872; 
Jacob  V.  Rogers,  1873-74 ;  Benjamin  Thompson,  1875- 
77;  George  H.  Bean,  1878;  and  Benjamin  Thompson, 
1879.  The  present  officers  are  Benjamin  Thompson,  W. 
M. ;  Darwin  E.  White,  S.  W. ;  Frank  D.  Carter,  J.  W. ; 
J.  V.  Rogers,  Sec. ;  Hamilton  W.  Wright,  Treas. ;  Wil- 
liam A.  Murphy,  S.  D. ;  Levi  W.  Cheesbrough,  J.  D. ; 
Lewis  W.  Bean,  Tyler.  Regular  meetings  are  held  Wednes- 
day evenings,  on  or  before  the  full  moon  of  each  month, 
and  the  lodge  numbers  68  members  at  the  present  time. 

The  first  meetings  were  held  ip  a  hall  over  J.  C.  Ives' 
hardware-store,  and  were  continued  there  until  1872,  when 
the  lodge  was  removed  to  its  present  quarters.  For  build- 
ing, furnishing,  etc.,  nearly  $2000  have  been  expended. 

Gun  Plain  Lodge,  No.  120,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  was  instituted 
July  2,  1868,  and  the  first  officers  installed  were  Milo  E. 
Gifford,  N.  G. ;  Henry  Day,  V.  G. ;  C.  J.  Poore,  Sec. ; 
William  Starr,  Treas. ;  J.  B.  Munson,  Warden.  Presiding 
officers  during  subsequent  years  have  been  Henry  Day,  C. 
J.  Poore,  1869;  William  Starr,  0.  A.  Conrad,  1870; 
Augustus  H.  Hill,  H.  K.  Mills,  1871 ;  Jonas  Rouse,  J.  C. 
Estes,  1872;  William  Hay,  J.  N.  Hill,  .1873  ;  Oscar  E. 
Yates,  William  Cox,  1874  ;  William  English,  Avery  Chap- 
pell,  1875 ;  Amos  M.  Hart,  Samuel  F.  Murphy,  1876 ; 
Edward  K.  Root,  L  N.  Hitchcock,  1877;  Arlando  C. 
Masson,  Daniel  F.  Lantz,  1878 ;  Joseph  W.  Hicks,  Ed- 
ward K.  Root,  1879.  The  present  officers  are  A.  V.  Bad- 
ger, N.  G. ;  Frank  Houghtailing,  V.  G. ;  I.  N.  Hitchcock, 
Sec. ;  Monroe  Durkee,  Per.  Sec. ;  John  Sternberg,  Treas. 

The  lodge  numbers  88  members,  and  regular  meetings 
are  held  Monday  evenings  of  each  week.  This  lodge  also 
held  its  first  meetings  over  Ives'  store,  removing  to  its 
present  rooms  in  1874. 

Plainwell  Encampment,  No.  11,  I.  0.  0.  F,  was  in- 
stituted April  26, 1875,  and  the  officers  then  installed  were 
William  Cox,  C.  P. ;  Joseph  W.  Hicks,  H.  P. ;  Samuel  F. 
Murphy,  S.  W. ;  Jerome  Winchell,  Sec.  Those  who  have 
since  held  the  position  of  presiding  officer  have  been 
Samuel  F.  Murphy,  Joseph  W.  Hicks,  1876  ;  Avery  Chap- 
pell,  J.  N.  Hill,  1877;  Edward  K.  Root,  1878;  and 
Augustus  H.  Hill,  1879.  The  present  officers  are  Har- 
vey W.  Chamberlin,  C.  P. ;  Joseph  W.  Hicks,  H.  P. ; 
J.  Cullom,  S.  W. ;  J.  N.  Hill,  J.  W. ;  William  Cox,  Sec. '; 
John  Sternberg,  Treas. 

The  encampment  meets  on  the  second  and  fourth  Thurs- 
day of  each  month,  and  numbers  26  members.      These 
lodges  are  in  a  prosperous  condition,  and  have  expended 
large  sums  for  benefits,  regalias,  furnishing,  etc. 
RELIGIOUS. 

Baptist  Church  of  Plainwell— The.  history  of  the  Bap- 
tists of  Gun  Plain  township  dates  back  to  the  year  1833, 


GUN  PLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 


231 


when  meetings  were  first  held  at  the  house  of  Silas  Dun- 
ham. These  meetings  were  continued  at  irregular  inter- 
vals, generally  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Dunham,  until  March 
8,  1835,  when  Deacon  Curtis  Brigham  commenced  stated 
meetings  in  the  log  school-house  on  the  Plains. 

On  the  13th  of  September,  1835,  Rev.  Jeremiah  Hall, 
of  Kalamazoo,  was  employed  to  preach  once  in  four  weeks. 
Deacon  Brigham  occupying  the  intervening  Sabbaths.  A 
meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Silas  Dunham,  Dec.  26, 
1835,  to  "  take  into  consideration  the  expediency  of  or- 
ganizing a  Baptist  Church.  After  conferring  on  the  sub- 
ject, it  was  resolved  to  unite  in  church  fellowship."  The 
constituent  members,  eight  in  number,  were  Silas  Dunham, 
Tirza  Dunham,  Elisha  B.  Seeley,  Sarah  Seeley,  Curtis 
Brigham,  Lydia  Brigham,  Alfred  Dunham,  and  Edwin 
Dunham.  Thus  was  organized  the  First  Baptist  Church 
of  Plainfield,  and  the  first  church  of  any  kind  in  the 
county  of  Allegan. 

Eev.  Henry  Munger  became  its  pastor  April  26,  1840, 
which  position  he  continued  to  hold  for  a  period  of  five 
years.  In  1844  the  organization  changed  both  its  name 
and  location,  and  was  known  as  the  First  Baptist  Church 
of  Otsego.  Meetings  were  held  alternately  on  the  Plains 
and  at  the  village  of  Otsego.  Subsequently  the  place  of 
meeting  was  changed  from  the  Plains  to  the  school-house 
at  the  Junction,  an  insignificant  hamlet,  from  which  has 
arisen  the  present  flourishing  village  of  Plainwell. 

It  soon  became  evident  that  a  village  of  some  importance 
would  be  the  result  of  the  development  of  the  Plainwell 
water-power  and  the  construction  of  the  Grand  Rapids  and 
Indiana  Railroad,  and  on  the  11th  day  of  May,  1864,  the 
Plainwell  Baptist  Church  was  organized,  22  persons  having 
received  letters  of  dismission  from  the  Otsego  Church  for 
this  purpose.     Rev.  0.  S.  Wolfe  was  at  this  time  pastor. 

Rev.  J.  Fletcher,  who  had  just  previously  served  as  chap- 
lain of  the  Ninth  Michigan  Cavalry,  became  its  pastor 
Oct.  1,  1865,  and  has  remained  continuously  to  the  present 
time.  In  1865-66  a  house  of  worship  was  built.  It  was 
enlarged  in  1870,  and  a  spacious  lecture-room  added.  A 
chapel,  situated  two  and  one-half  miles  east  of  the  village, 
was  built  in  1871,  for  the  accommodation  of  those  mem- 
bers residing  in  that  locality. 

Present  membership  of  the  church,  230  ;  value  of  church 
property,  both  houses,  $6000.* 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Plainwell. — In  the 
spring  of  1836  a  class  composed  of  Elisha  Tracy  and  wife, 
Nathaniel  Weed  and  wife,  and  Mrs.  John  Murphy  was 
formed  at  the  house  of  Elisha  Tracy,  in  the  Silver  Creek 
settlement.  Rev.  Messrs.  Davis  and  Franklin  Gage  were 
the  first  preachers.  Their  meetings  were  held  at  irregular 
intervals  in  the  dwellings  of  the  early  members. 

Three  years  later  Rev.  William  Todd  came  into  the  field 
to  do  missionary  work,  in  the  territory  comprising  all  of 
Allegan  County,  and  Cooper  and  Alamo,  in  Kalamazoo 
County.  A  class  of  7  members  was  then  formed  in  the 
Gun  Plain  school-house,  one  mile  north  of  the  present 
village  of  Plainwell.  Of  this  class  Archibald  Gates  and 
wife,  Abram  J.  Dedrick  and  wife,  Amos  Rouse  and  wife, 


*  From  information  furnished  by  the  pnstor. 


and  Levina  Batchelor  were  the  original  members.  Mr. 
Todd  remained  on  the  mission  two  years,  and  was  then 
succeeded  by  Rev.  F.  Gage.  In  the  summer  of  1841  a 
camp-meeting  was  held  near  Gun  Marsh,  east  of  the  Plains. 
Large  numbers  of  the  people  attended,  and  many  joined  the 
church,  which  gave  Methodism  its  first  important  start  in 
the  county. 

After  Mr.  Gage  came  Revs.  Daniel  Bush,  in  1842 ; 
Thomas  Jakeways,  1843;  Jacob  Parker,  1844;  George 
King,  1845;  M.  B.  Camburn,  1846;  Curtis  Moshier, 
1847-48;  Andrew  J.  Eldred,  1849;  Ransom  Goodell, 
1850.  In  the  fall  of  1851  this  class  was  set  ofi"  into  the 
Otsego  Circuit,  and  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Bignell  became  the 
preacher  in  charge.  He  was  followed  by  A.  Wakefield, 
in  1852-53;  W.  F".  Jenkins,  1854-55;  Porter  Williams, 
1856;  S.  Hendrickson,  1857;  V.  G.  Boynton,  1858;  T. 
H.  Bignell,  1859  ;  L.  M.  Bennett,  1860  ;  F.  Gage,  1861 ; 
G.  Van  Horn,  1862-63  f  E.  H.  Day,  1864-65;  L.  H. 
Pierce,  1866-67 ;  A.  J.  Van  Wyck,  1868. 

At  the  session  of  the  Michigan  Annual  Conference  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  held  at  Three  Rivers, 
Sept.  3,  1868,  a  new  circuit  was  organized,  embracing 
Plainwell,  Martin,  and  South  Wayland,  receiving  the  name 
of  the  Plainwell  Circuit.  Thomas  Lyon  became  the  pre- 
siding elder,  and  Ira  R.  A.  Wightman  preacher  in  charge, 
the  members  constituting  the  official  board  of  this  circuit 
being  L.  S.  Church,  A.  C.  Beach,  A.  C.  Wheeler,  L. 
Spaulding,  D.  S.  Owen,  William  Chappie,  C.  C.  White, 
Jonathan  Russell,  0.  A.  Conrad,  R.  G.  Smith,  A.  W. 
Miller,  Stephen  S.  Germond,  David  Gilger,  Wm.  H.  South- 
wick,  and  J.  R.  Richardson. 

In  May,  1869,  a  church  site  was  purchased  in  the  village 
of  Plainwell  at  a  cost  of  $500,  and  the  work  of  building  a 
house  of  worship  at  once  commenced.  It  was  completed 
at  an  additional  cost  of  $6000,  and  dedicated  Feb.  3,  1870. 
It  is  of  brick,  and  has  sittings  for  400  people.  In  the 
summer  of  1878  a  vestry,  together  with  a  kitchen,  was  built, 
costing  $550. 

Rev.  Ira  R.  A.  Wightman  remained  two  years.  He  was 
succeeded  by  B.  S.  Mills,  who  remained  one  year.  J.  W. 
Miller  served  three  months,  when,  having  been  appointed  ■ 
presiding  elder  of  the  Grand  Traverse  district,  Charles 
Hartley  filled  out  the  year.  Others  since  have  been  J.  T. 
Iddings,  one  year;  J.  H.  Potts,  three  years;  J.  P.  Force 
one  year;  J.  S.  Valentine,  two  years;  and  George  L.  Cole, 
who  is  the  present  pastor.^ 

Plainwell  Presbyterian  Church.— Vaia  society  was  first 
organized,  as  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Plainfield,  at  the 
house  of  George  N.  Smith  on  the  7th  of  January,  1837. 
The  original  members,  sixteen  in  number,  were  Rev.  Mr. 
Knapen,  Rev.  A.  S.  Ware  and  wife,  Mr.  Chamberlin,  wife, 
and  son,  George  N.  Smith  and  wife,  Cyrenius  Thompson 
and  wife,  John  Forbes  and  wife,  Mrs.  Foster,  Mrs.  Powers, 
Mrs.  Adams,  and  Mr.  Orr. 

In  1842  the  society  was  placed  under  care  of  the  Kala- 
mazoo Presbytery,  and  the  following  year  a  church  edifice,| 


f  Data  furnished  through  the  courtesy  of  Kev.  George  L.  Cole. 

+  This  building  was  removed  to  the  village  of  Plainwell — north 
side  of  the  river— in  1866,  and  is  now  owned  and  used  by  the  Catho- 
lics as  their  house  of  worship. 


232 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


situated  one  mile  north  of  the  present  village  of  Plainwell, 
was  built.  1872  a  new  house  of  worship  was  completed 
at  the  village,  the  one  in  present  use.  It  has  sittings 
for  400  people,  and  cost  about  $4000.  A  session-room  was 
added  in  1879,  at  a  cost  of  $400.  From  1842  to  1850 
the  pastors  were  Rev.  Messrs.  McLaurens,  M.  Fuller,  and 
E.  F.  Waldo. 

Since  May  12,  1850,  when  Rev.  R.  McMath  became 
pastor,  his  successors  have  settled  as  follows  :  Revs.  S.  Ste- 
vens, May  23,  1852;  F.  Fuller,  June  4,  1854;  David  S. 
Morse,  May  1,  1858;  S.  Osinga,  Dec.  1,  1862;  John 
Jackson,  June  1,  1865 ;  P.  A.  McMartin,  Feb.  10,  1867 ; 
H.  H.  Morgan,  Aug.  6,  1871  ;  J.  A.  Ramsey,  Jan.  5, 
1873;  J.  Crane,  June  1,  1873;  L.  G.  Marsh,  May  1, 
1876. 

The  present  membership  of  the  society  numbers  58. 

Oilier  Religious  Organizations. — In  1871  a  Protestant 
Episcopal  society  was  organized  m  Plainwell,  and  three 
years  later  a  neat  little  church  edifice  was  completed.  Some 
twenty  families  are  connected  with  this  church,  which 
stands,  relatively,  as  a  mission  of  the  Allegan  Episcopal 
Church.     Rev.  Walter  Scott,  rector,  officiates  here  weekly. 

The  Catholics  of  this  and  surrounding  townships  form  a 
parish,  of  which  their  church  edifice — formerly  the  old 
Presbyterian  church  building — is  pleasantly  situated  on  the 
north  side  of  the  river.  They  comprise  some  twenty  or 
more  families,  and  are  under  the  care  of  the  Battle  Creek 
Church. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


WILLIAM   A.  BELLINGHAM. 

William  A.  Bellingham  was  born  in  Rutherfield,  Sussex 
Co.,  England,  Nov.  19, 1824.  When  nine  years  old  his  father 
came  to  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.  A  history  of  their  voyage 
and  of  his  ancestors  will  be  found  in  the  biography  of  his 
father,  to  which  reference  is  here  made.  Growing  up  in 
a  new  country,  as  he  did,  his  chances  for  an  education  were 
necessarily  very  limited,  yet  he  made  the  most  of  his  oppor- 
tunities and  acquired  enough  to  fit  him  for  the  successful 
business  life  he  has  led.  Arrived  at  his  majority,  he  at 
once  bought  the  eighty  acres  on  which  he  now  resides,  and 
worked  by  the  month  in  Allegan  to  pay  for  it,  taking  his 
pay  in  lumber,  which  was  accepted  as  payment,  as  no  money 
was  to  be  had  for  work  in  those  days.  His  land  paid  for, 
he  at  once  commenced  to  improve  it,  and  had  made  consider- 
able advance  in  doing  so  when,  in  1852,  he  joined  a  party 
who  were  going  to  California  and  made  the  trip  across  the 
plains,  enduring  the  hardships  and  privations  then  attend- 
ing a  three  months'  trip  to  the  land  of  gold.  He  worked 
in  the  mines  and  at  teaming,  meeting  with  fair  success.  In 
the  spring  of  1855,  Mr.  Bellingham  returned  to  the  States, 
and  soon  afler  married  and  settled  down  on  his  farm, 
which  he  has  improved,  and  on  which  he  has  built  one 
of  the  finest  houses  in  the  township,  which,  with  good  out- 
buildings, makes  a  fine  home ;  a  view  of  which  appears  on 
another  page  of  this  work.     To   the   eighty  acres   then 


bought  he  has  added  until  he  now  owns  four  hundred  and 
eighty-six  acres,  with  three  diflFerent  sets  of  buildings.  Mr. 
Bellingham  is  called  by  his  fellow-townsmen  one  of  Gun 
Plain's  most  successful  farmers,  and  one  who  has  made  his 
wealth  by  hard  work  and  good  management,  and  whose 
honesty  and  integrity  are  above  suspicion.  He  is  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics,  but  not  a  politician.  On  the  4th  day  of 
March,  1856,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ann  Stewart,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Anna  (Underwood)  Stewart,  who  was 
born  May  30,  1826.  There  has  been  born  to  them  seven 
children,  viz.:  Eliza  A.,  born  May  8,  1858;  Hattie,  born 
April  27,  1860;  Ella,  born  Feb.  11,  1863;  Edgar,  born 
July  3,  1865;  Mary,  born  July  11,  1867;  Charles  E., 
born  Feb.  2,  1869  ;  and  Sarah  A.,  born  July  15, 1872. 


LEVI  ARNOLD. 


Levi  Arnold  was  born  July  11, 1844,  in  the  township  of 
Gun  Plain,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  where  his  father,  Dan 
Arnold,  settled  in  1833,  buying  the  farm  now  owned  by 
his  heirs,  and  occupied  by  Levi,  from  the  government.  On 
this  farm  Levi  has  grown  to  manhood,  seeing  much  of  early 
life  in  a  new  country,  and  growing  up  with  the  county  his 
family  has  done  so  much  to  clear  up  and  improve.  In 
1862,  Levi  and  his  brother,  George  T.,  bought  the  home- 
farm  of  the  heirs,  and  for  several  years  worked  it  in  com- 
mon. They  then  sold  back  to  the  heirs,  and  Levi  has  since 
then  rented  it  and  carried  it  on  successfully. 

On  the  11th  day  of  December,  1872,  Mr.  Arnold  was 
married  to  Miss  Julia  Starr,  who  was  born  Feb.  17,  1850. 
Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  one  child,  Harold  L., 
born  Feb.  14,  1878.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion, 
Mr.  Arnold  enlisted  in  the  First  Michigan  Infantry,  but 
was  thrown  out  on  account  of  size  and  a  broken  foot.  In 
1869,  with  an  idea  of  improving  his  own  stock,  he  bought 
of  E.  B.  Bissell  the  Poland  China  known  as  "  Old  Darkey," 
which  was  the  first  full-blood  Poland  brought  to  the  county. 
The  following  year  Mr.  Arnold  bought  of  F.  B.  Pratt  the 
Poland  China  known  as  '-  Lady  Pratt,"  and  the  same  year 
of  E.  B.  Bissell  "Long  John,"  and  soon  after."  Richard 
Jones,"  of  C.  W.  Jones,  of  Richland.  The  same  year, 
wishing  to  better  his  herd,  he  went  to  Ohio,  and  of  David 
Finch,  one  of  the  best  stock-breeders  in  that  State,  bought 
"  Old  Success,"  which  was  one  of  the  best  Polands  ever 
brought  into  the  State.  These  purchases  were  followed  by 
others  as  good,  making  his  herd  one  of  the  best  in  the 
State.  He  also  bought  in  Ohio,  of  Joseph  Morton,  another 
famous  breeder,  the  animals  known  as  "  Black  Bess"  and 
"Maid  of  Oxford;"  also  of  William  W.  Greer.  "Billy 
Greer  A,"  and  second  "  Queen  of  Butler."  These  pur- 
chases represent  the  Harkrader,  Pugh,  and  Perfection 
strain.  Mr.  Arnold  keeps  his  herd  well  filled  by  pur- 
chasing, from  time  to  time,  from  other  States,  the  best  ani- 
mals that  can  be  bought,  thus  keeping  up  the  reputation  of 
his  herd  and  increasing  his  popularity  as  a  breeder  of  pure- 
blooded  swine.  From  the  small  beginning  made  in  1869 
he  has  increased  his  business,  until  now  his  animals  are 
sent  to  all  parts  of  the  United  States,  and  his  patrons  are 
each  year  increasing. 


-JSSS^-.-, 


M  RS.  FRIEND   /VfS. 


FRIEND  IVES. 


HON.   FRIEND    IVES. 


Among  the  early  settlers  of  Allegan  County  we  find  the  name 
of  Friend  Ives,  who  may  well  be  ranked  as  one  of  the  self-made 
and  prominent  men  of  the  early  days  of  the  county.  His  an- 
'cestors  were  New  England  people,  he  himself  being  a  native  of 
Plymouth,  Conn.,  where  he  was  born  on  the  22d  day  of  De- 
cember, A.D.  1790.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  and  on  his  farm 
Friend  grew  to  manhood.  His  chances  for  an  education  were 
limited  to  the  district  schools  of  his  day,  yet  he  obtained 
enough  to  fit  him  for  the  active,  successful  business  life  he 
afterwards  pursued.  Arrived  at  his  majority,  he  started  out 
in  life  for  himself.  He  traveled  through  the  States  of  Maryland 
and  Virginia  selling  Yankee  clocks.  This  he  followed  several 
years,  acquiring  an  insight  into  the  ways  of  the  world  and  its 
people  which  afterwards  served  him  well.  In  after-years  he 
used  to  relate,  in  his  graphic  way,  incidents  of  his  wandering 
life  that  would  have  made  an  interesting  volume.  We  next 
find  him  and  his  family  living  among  the  Shakers  in  New  Leba- 
non, Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  stayed  a  few  years  pursuirg 
his  old  business.  In  1818,  becoming  desirous  of  settling  down 
with  his  family,  he  emigrated  to  Medina,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio, 
where  his  father-in-law  had  bought  for  each  of  his  children 
one  hundred  acres  of  wild  land.  Medina  County  was  then  a 
new  country,  and  Mr.  Ives  found  only  forests  of  heavy  timber 
awaiting  him.  It  was  thirty  miles  to  Cleveland,  where  they  had 
to  go  to  mill  and  for  their  supplies.  He  built  a  log  house  and 
at  once  commenced  to  improve  his  land.  Before  the  never- 
ceasing  strokes  of  his  strong  arm  the  forest  rapidly  disappeared, 
and  cleared  fields  and  fine  buUdings  soon  took  its  place.  In 
1833,  having  sold  his  Ohio  farm,  he  again  turned  his  face  west- 
ward, and  we  find  him  in  the  fall  of  that  year  bAilding  a 
log  house  in  the  town  of  Allegan,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,*  now  the 
town  of  Gun  Plain.  He  had  bought  a  section  of  land  and 
reared  his  home  on  the  beautiftil  burr-oak  plains  from  which 


the  town  derives  its  name.  There  were  but  few  in  the  town 
at  that  time,  and  he  had  his  choice  of  land,  all  of  which  he 
bought  from  the  government.  Again  he  cleared  up  a  farm  in 
a  new  country,  set  out  orchards,  and  erected  good  buildings, 
thus  doubly  earning  the  title  of  a  pioneer.  In  the  township  of 
which  he  became  one  of  its  most  prominent  citizens,  Mr. 
Ives  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days,  honored  and  respected 
by  all,  passing  away  Feb.  22,  1874,  in  his  eighty-fifth  year. 
In  politics  he  was  always  a  Democrat,  and  by  his  party  was 
elected  to  fill  many  oflBces  in  the  gift  of  his  fellow-citizens.  In 
1835  he  was  elected  assessor  of  the  then  town  of  Allegan,  and 
was  also  one  of  the  first  assessors  of  the  town  of  Plainfield. 
He  was  also  elected  one  of  the  associate  judges  of  the  county, 
and  subsequently  represented  his  district  in  the  lower  house 
of  the  State  Legislature,  all  of  which  were  fiUed  with  credit 
to  himself  and  his  constituents.  Mr.  Ives  married  Miss  Har- 
riet Warner,  who  was  born  Jidy  17,  1792,  and  died  March 
17,  1867.  Of  this  union  there  were  born  to  them  eight  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Jane,  June  22,  1812;  Charles  W.,  1814; 
•Sabra  D.,  Dec.  22,  1816;  Betsey,  1818;  Harriet,  May  15, 
1820;  Blnathan,  May  2,  1822;  James,  Sept.  17,  1824;  and 
Ann,  June  17,  1827.  Of  the  children  only  Harriet,  James, 
and  Ann  are  now  living.  Harriet  married  Joshua  Hill,  Nov. 
25,  1842  ;  their  children  were  Sarah,  born  Jan.  2, 1845,  James, 
who  died  in  infancy,  and  James  N.,  bom  April  9,  1849. 

Ann  married,  June  21,  1854,  Ira  Chichester,  an  old  resident 
of  the  county.  There  were  born  to  them  four  children,  viz. : 
Ernest  M.,  April  9,  1858  ;  Wilton,  April  8,  1861 ;  Leon,  Jan. 
15,  1863 ;  and  Fred,  Aug.  27,  1866. 

James  was  married,  Dec.  31,  1851,  to  Octavia  Chambers; 
they  had  but  one  child,  viz.,  George  T.,  born  Oct.  22,  1852. 
Married,  second.  Miss  Mary  Jane  Pierson,  who  was  bom  Nov. 
13,  1834. 


GUN  PLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 


233 


WILLIAM 
The  Delano  family  are  of  English  origin,  and  emigrated 
to  America  soon  after   the  great  fire  in   London  in  the 
fifteenth  century,  they  having,  it  is  said,  lost  their  all  by 
that  disaster.     Israel  Delano  was  born  in  Pembroke,  Mass., 
where  his  mother  resided  during  her  husband's  absence  at 
sea,  he  being  captain   of  a  whaling  vessel  and  dying  on 
board  ship.     Israel,  when  quite  young,  emigrated  to  On- 
tario Co.,  N.  Y.,  which  was  then  an  almost  unbroken  wilder- 
ness, and  was  called  Ontario  township  as  well  as  county. 
He   located  in  what    afterwards  was  known    as    Palmyra 
township,    subsequently    divided,    making    his    residence 
in    Macedon    township,    Wayne   Co.     He   thus   lived   in 
two  diflferent  counties  and  three  townships  without  ever 
changing  his  abiding-place.      He   bought  three   hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  land,  receiving  an  article  which  said 
he  should  have  a  deed  when  the  purchase-price  was  paid. 
He  was  the  possessor  of  only  an  axe  and  the  indomitable 
will  and  the  industry  for  which  the  pioneers  of  America 
have  always  been  noted.     He  went  into  Ontario  with  the 
family   of  Judge   Rogers,   whose   daughter,    Martha,   he 
afterwards   married.     The  judge's  mother  was  noted  far 
and  near  for  her  great  strength,  there  being  but  few  men 
in  the  country  around  that  she  could  not  master  in  a  trial 
of  strength.     Accounts  of  her  prowess  are  still  given  by 
the  descendants  of  the  early  settlers  of  that  part  of  New 
,  York.     On   the  land   thus  obtained  Mr.  Delano  resided 
until  his  death,  in  August,  1857,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
ninety-two  years.     He  cleared  up  and  improved  the  farm, 
which  ultimately  became  one  of  the  fine  farms  of  Wayne 
County.     There  were  born  to  them  eleven  children, — four 
sons  and   four  daughters,  growing  to  man's  and  woman's 
estate.     William  R.  Delano,  the  ninth  of  the  family,  was 
born  in  Macedon,  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  6,  1812.     His 
chances  for  an  education  were  very  limited,  as  the  children 
30 


.  DELANO. 

of  his  father's  family  were  put  to  work  as  soon  as  they 
were  old  enough  to  be  of  any  assistance.  Arrived  at  his 
majority,  he  commenced  life  on  his  own  account.  He 
cleared  and  cropped  land  on  his  father's  farm  a  couple  of 
years,  then,  in  the  fall  of  1835,  came  to  Michigan,  and 
bought  of  the  government  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land  in  Gun  Plain  township,  Allegan  County,  and  then 
returned  to  Washtenaw  County,  where  he  worked  at  jobbing 
during  the  winter.  The  following  spring  he  joined  a  sur- 
veying-party sent  out  by  the  government,  and  spent  the 
spring  and  summer  of  1836  surveying  in  Wisconsin.  The 
winter  of  1836-37  was  passed  in  Washtenaw  County,  work- 
ing at  whatever  he  could  get  to  do,  and  the  following  sea- 
son in  St.  Joseph,  Mich.  The  spring  of  1838  found  him  on 
his  land  in  Gun  Plain,  on  which  he  built  a  log  shanty  just 
large  enough  to  eat  and  sleep  in  and  keep  out  the  wolves. 
For  several  years  he  then  worked  on  his  farm  when  not 
working  for  other  parties,  to  earn  the  money  necessary  to 
keep  his  modest  establishment,  over  which  he  alone  pre- 
sided, in  running  order.  In  1848  he  returned  to  the  old 
home  in  Wayne  County,  and  worked  his  father's  farm, 
which  he  continued  to  do  until  the  death  of  his  father, 
when  he  bought  out  some  of  the  heirs  and  became  part 
owner  of  the  old  homestead.  In  1865  he  returned  to 
Michigan,  having  previously  sold  his  interest  in  his  Wayne 
County  property  and  bought  in  Gun  Plain  township  four 
hundred  acres  of  land  lying  in  sections  1, 10,  and  15.  The 
home-farm  is  nicely  situated  on  a  beautiful  little  creek 
which  meanders  through  it.  In  this  fine  home  Mr.  Delano 
will  probably  pass  the  remainder  of  his  days.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican, but  not  a  politician,  and  is  not  a  member  of  any 
church.  Of  him  his  neighbors  and  fellow-townsmen  say 
that  he  is  a  man  whom  to  know  is  to  respect  and  esteem, 
and  one  of  whom  naught  but  the  highest  praise  is  spoken. 


234 


HISTORY  OF   ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


GEORGE  H.  ANDERSON. 

The  Anderson  family  are  of  Scotch  origin,  Daniel  An- 
derson having  been  born  in  Scotland,  from  whence  he  emi- 
grated soon  after  his  marriage,  and  settled  in  the  town  of 
Mayfield,  Fulton  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  bought  a  tract  of 
wild  land,  Mayfield  being  then  a  newly-settled  country. 
His  son,  John  Anderson,  was  born  in  Mayfield,  Dec.  29, 
1797,  and  grew  to  manhood  on  the  home-farm.  He  was 
early  taught  that  work  was  one  of  God's  ordinances,  and 
that  boys,  though  small,  were  no  exceptions  to  the  rule.  His 
education  was  obtained  evenings  by  the  light  of  the  fire- 
place, and  by  a  close  observance  of  men  and  the  ways  of 
the  world.  He  was  a  natural  mechanic,  and  could  make 
anything  that  could  be  made  with  tools.  Arrived  at  his 
majority,  he  built  on  his  father's  farm  a  saw-mill,  which  he 
ran  until  about  the  time  of  his  marriage  to  Miss  Laura 
Rice,  which  occurred  Feb.  23,  1826.  Miss  Rice  was  born 
in  Fulton  Co.,  Feb.  19,  1799.  After  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Anderson  worked  at  the  carpenter  trade,  also  as  a  mill- 
wright, which  he  followed  until  the  spring  of  1834,  when, 
with  his  wife  and  two  children,  he  started  for  Michigan  in 
quest  of  a  home.  He  came  to  Grass  Lake,  in  Jackson 
County,  where  he  left  his  family  and  then  set  out  on  foot 
in  search  of  government  land.  He  came  to  Kalamazoo,  but, 
finding  the  desirable  land  occupied,  he  pushed  on  farther 
north  into  Allegan  County,  which  was  then  on  the  outskirts 
of  civilization,  and  in  what  is  now  Gun  Plain  township  he 
bought  of  the  government  four  hundred  acres  of  land.  He 
then  returned  for  his  family,  and  at  once  came  on  to  the  new 
home  in  the  wilderness.  Until  a  log  house  could  be  built 
they  lived  in  a  deserted  house,  then  moved  into  their  own 
home,  which  was  built  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
29,  part  of  which  is  now  the  village  of  Plainwell.  He  at 
once  commenced  to  improve  his  farm,  and 'Soon  cleared  fields 
made  beautiful  by  waving  grain  took  the  place  of  the  forest, 
while  on  every  hand  the  homes  of  new  settlers  were  spring- 
ing up.  Mr.  Anderson  cleared  up  one  hundred  acres  of  his 
farm  and  erected  on  it  good  buildings,  and  upon  it  he  lived 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  Jan.  17,  1877.  In  politics 
Mr.  Anderson  was  in  early  life  a  Whig,  and  joined  the  Re- 
publican party  on  its  organization,  and  was  always  one  of 
its  strongest  supporters.  He  was  for  many  years  postmas- 
ter at  Plainwell,  was  also  justice  of  the  peace,  school  inspec- 
tor, supervisor,  and  associate  judge.  He  is  spoken  of  by 
his  old  friends  and  neighbors  as  one  of  nature's  noblemen, 
a  man  whom  to  know  was  to  love  and  esteem,  and  against 
whom  no  evil  could  be  said. 

George  H.  Anderson  was  born  in  Mayfield,  Fulton  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Oct.  22,  1827.  In  1834  came  to  Michigan,  as  set 
forth  in  the  biography  of  his  father,  John  Anderson.  On 
the  farm  in  Gun  Plain  Mr.  Anderson  grew  to  manhood, 
going  to  school  with  his  sister  to  the  log  school-house  in 
the  woods,  they  being  the  only  scholars  from  their  part  of 
the  town.  When  eighteen  years  old  he  attended  Dr.  Stone's 
school  one  term,  and  four  years  after  passed  two  terms  in 
the  college  at  Olivet.  He  then  worked  on  his  father's 
farm  summers,  and  taught  school  winters  until  his  marriage, 
which  occurred  June  25, 1852,  his  bride  being  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Woodhams,  daughter  of  William  H.  and  Elizabeth 


(Chart)  Woodhams.  She  was  born  in  Croyden,  Surrey 
Co.,  England,  May  1,  1833.  In  September,  1852,  Mr. 
Anderson  and  his  wife,  in  company  with  a  party  of  friends, 
sailed  in  the  clipper -ship  "  Green  Point"  for  California,  going 
around  the  Horn,  and  being  five  months  on  the  way.  They 
arrived  in  San  Francisco  March  11,  1853,  and  soon  after 
went  into  a  ranch  in  Santa  Clara  Valley,  near  Redwood 
City.  Remained  on  the  ranch  one  year,  engaged  in  stock- 
raising.  He  then  returned  to  San  Francisco  and  bought  a 
mill-ranch  near  the  city,  on  which  he  remained  until 
the  fall  of  1859,  and  meeting  with  marked  success.  He 
then  sold  out  and  returned  home,  coming  vid  Panama. 
Soon  after  his  return  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness in  Plainwell,  also  carrying  on  his  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred acres  near  the  village.  In  1869,  Mr.  Anderson  sold 
out  his  mercantile  business,  since  which  he  has  managed  his 
farm  and  attended  to  his  property  in  the  village,  consisting 
of  tenant-houses  and  other  buildings.  He  is,  and  has  always 
been,  a  Republican,  but  not  a  politician,  never  having  sought 
or  desired  office. 

Mr.  Anderson  and  his  wife  are  consistent  members  of 
the  Baptist  Church.  There  have  been  born  to  them  six 
children,  as  follows:  George  W.,  born  March  29,  1853; 
Edward  J.,  born  Sept.  9,  1854;  Ella  E.,  born  Jan.  25, 
1857  ;  Ida  M.,born  Nov.  18, 1858,  all  born  in  California; 
Edith  A.,  born  Nov.  1,  1860  ;  and  Lewis  C.,born  Feb.  21, 
1876,  the  two  last  in  Plainwell,  Mich.  George  W.  is  a 
conductor  on  the  Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana  Railroad,  a  po- 
sition he  has  held  six  years.  Edward  J.  enlisted  in  the 
regular  army  when  fifteen  years  old,  and  served  five  years. 
After  his  return  he  entered  the  office  of  Silas  Stafford,  in 
Plainwell,  as  a  law  student,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1876, 
since  when  he  has  followed  his  profession  in  Plainwell,  where 
he  has  an  office  and  a  good  practice.  He  is  at  present  one  of 
the  Circuit  Court  commissioners  for  Allegan  County.  Mrs. 
Anderson's  father,  William  H.  Woodhams,  was  born  in  the 
county  of  Kent,  England,  Oct.  12, 1801.  He  is  of  Welsh 
descent,  his  ancestors  living  in  Wales  prior  to  their  removal 
to  England.  His  family  were  wealthy  farmers,  he  himself 
having  a  lease  of  a  farm  whitih  had  been  leased  by  his 
family  for  generations.  In  his  boyhood  days  he  was  a 
miller's  apprentice,  but  never  followed  the  business.  In 
1827  he  married  Elizabeth  Chart,  whrch  union  was  blessed 
with  six  sons  and  two  daughters.  In  1845,  Mr.  Woodhams 
bought  ninety-five  acres  of  land  in  Gun  Plain,  Allegan  Co., 
Mich.,  and  the  following  year  sold  his  lease,  and  with  his 
family  emigrated  to  America ;  he  at  once  moved  on  to  his 
farm,  which  he  improved,  and  on  part  of  which  he  laid  out 
a  portion  of  the  village  of  Plainwell.  The  growth  and  pros- 
perity of  this  flourishing  village  are  due  in  a  measure  to  Mr. 
Woodhams,  who  has  done  much  for  its  advancement.  He 
also  bought  other  tracts  of  land,  and  lots  in  Kalamazoo 
village,  a  good  deal  of  which  is  now  owned  by  his  sons. 
He  has  now  in  his  old  age  retired  from  business  with  more 
than  a  competency. 

Mrs.  Woodhams,  who  was  a  lady  of  fine  literary  abili- 
ties, and  noted  for  her  generous  and  noble  qualities,  died 
Dec.  15,  1873,  in  California,  whither  she  had  gone  for 
her  health,  mourned  by  a  large  circle  of  friends  and 
relatives. 


GUN  PLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 


235 


vs^&ix 


JOHN    MURPHT. 


MRS.   JOHN    JIUllPUV. 


JOHN  MURPHY. 


Among  the  self-made  men  of  Allegan  there  are  none  who 
better  deserve  the  title  than  John  Murphy,  of  whom  this 
brief  sketch  is  written.  He  was  born  in  Dutchess  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Oct.  19, 1794:.  He  was  of  Irish  descent,  his  grand- 
parents having  first  seen  the  light  of  day  on  the  Emerald 
Isle,  from  whence  they  emigrated  to  America  when  John's 
father  was  an  infant.  John  grew  to  manhood  in  Pennfield, 
Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  his  father  owned  a  farm  bought 
in  its  wild  state.  The  country  was  new  and  schools  were 
few  and  of  the  most  primitive  kind,  hence  Mr.  Murphy 
obtained  but  a  limited  amount  of  the  knowledge  derived 
from  books,  but  what  he  lacked  in  education  he  made  up  in 
energy  and  natural  ability.  Arrived  at  his  majority,  he 
bought  a  farm  in  Pennfield,  which  he  carried  on  a  number 
of  years.  During  this  time  he  served  as  constable  for 
several  years,  thus  becoming  proficient  in  a  line  of  work 
that  afterwards  made  him  useful  to  the  new  county  of  Al- 
legan. After  selling  his  farm  in  Pennfield  he  went  to 
Rochester  and  engaged  in  the  grocery  business,  which  he 
followed  a  few  years,  and  then  went  to  Ohio,  where  he  took 
jobs  in  building  the  Ohio  Canal.  He  also  helped  to  build 
the  Pennsylvania  Canal,  on  which  he  lost  a  large  sum 
through  the  dishonesty  of  a  partner.  Having  married 
while  in  Ohio,  and  being  somewhat  disheartened  by  his 
losses  in  Pennsylvania,  he  concluded  to  settle  down,  and  in 
a  new  country.  He  returned  to  Rochester  and  sold  out  his 
business  there,  and  in  the  spiing  of  1835  came  to  Michigan 
in  search  of  a  home,  leaving  his  wife  and  children  in  Ohio. 
He  came  to  Detroit,  and  thence  on  foot  through  the  country 
to  Allegan,  where  he  bought  80  acres  of  land  on  section 
34,  in  Gun  Plain  township.  Mr.  Murphy  stayed  in  Gun 
Plain  during  the  summer,  living  with  a  Mr.  Seeley,  whose 
house  he  helped  to  build.  In  the  fall  he  returned  to  Ohio 
for  his  family,  with  whom  he  at  once  returned  to  Mr.  Seeley 's, 
where  they  remained  while  he  built  a  house.     While  living 


with  Mr.  Seeley's  people  Mrs.  Murphy,  who  was  an  old 
teacher,  taught  her  own  and  Mr.  Seeley's  children,  they' 
occupying  seats  near  the  spinning-wheel,  which  she  ran  as  she 
taught.  This  was  the  first  school  in  their  part  of  the 
town,  and  the  lessons  then  learned  were  as  valuable  as  those 
received  in  the  costly  schools  of  to-day.  When  settled  in 
their  new  home  they  found  themselves  with  a  capital  of  twelve 
dollars  and  fifty  cents,  and  with  no  team,  stock,  or  tools,  but 
with  energy  and  perseverance  they  at  once  commenced  to 
make  for  themselves  a  home.  Fruit-trees  were  at  once  set 
out,  clearings  were  made,  and  fences  built.  Roads  and 
cleared  fields  soon  took  the  place  of  the  forests,  while  on 
every  side  the  homes  of  the  new-comers  were  springing  up 
as  if  by  magic,  and  Mrs.  Murphy  says  they  were  very  happy 
in  those  days,  with  none  of  the  jealousies  and  heart-burnings 
of  the  present  day.  Mr.  Murphy  was  a  Democrat,  and  was 
often  the  standard-bearer  of  his  party.  He  was  the  first 
supervisor  of  the  town,  and  held  other  township  ofiBces. 
When  the  county  was  organized  he  was  elected  its  first 
sheriff,  which  oflSce  he  held  two  terms,  the  first  term 
doing  the  entire  business  on  foot.  His  popularity  and  the  ■ 
efficiency  shown  in  the  offices  he  had  held  brought  him 
prominently  before  the  public,  and  in  the  fall  of  1852  he 
was  elected  to  represent  his  district  in  the  State  Legislature, 
which  position  he  filled  with  credit  to  himself  and  his  con- 
stituents. He  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  Indian 
affairs  during  the  time  of  his  service  in  the  house.  On  his 
return  from  Lansing,  Mr.  Murphy  retired  from  political 
life  and  gave  his  attention  to  his  farm,  until  his  son  finally 
took  entire  charge  of  it.  He  died  June  19,  1874,  mourned 
and  ren-retted  by  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances. 
Mr.  Murphy  was  married  Jan.  4,  1825,  to  Miss  Mary 
Ayers,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Hawkins)  Ayers. 
She  was  born  in  Bridgewatcr,  Windsor  Co.,  Vt.,  Dec.  19, 
1804.     There  were  born  to  them  the  following  children : 


236 


HISTORY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Irving  S.,  born  April  16, 1827,  died  in  California,  Oct.  25, 
1850  ;  Andrew  J.,  born  Dec.  21,  1828  ;  Mabala  J.,  born 
June  14,  1831 ,  died  Sept.  22,  1867  ;  James  H.,  born  July 
4,  1833 ;  and  Mary  Helen,  born  Nov.  14,  1839,  died  Oct. 
19,  1853.  Andrew  J.  married  Miss  Anna  Healy  ;  their 
union  has  been  blessed  with  two  children, — Irving  A.,  born 
Jan.  22,  1877,  and  Helen  M.,  born  Nov.  10,  1878. 


JUSTUS   B.   SUTHERLAND. 

Reuben  Sutherland  was' born  at  Horse  Neck,  on  the  sea- 
coast,  in  the  State  of  New  York,  where  he  grew  to  manhood. 
(His  father  was  born  in  Scotland,  and  wore  the  bonnet  and 
kilt.)  Arrived  at  his  majority,  he  went  to  Dutchess  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  bought  a  farm,  and  there  he  married.  He  was 
a  strong  Whig,  and  had  unboVinded  faith  in  the  Continental 
Congress  and  its  financial  policy.  To  prove  his  faith  he 
took  entire  pay  for  his  farm  (which  he  sold  about  the  be- 
ginning of  the  Revolution)  in  Continental  money,  and 
which  became  worthless  in  his  possession,  thereby  depriving 


JUSTL'S    15.    SUTHERLAND. 

him  of  his  all.  He  was  not  subject  to  the  draft,  but  en- 
listed in  the  patriot  army  and  served  as  a  private.  Was 
present  I  at  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne.  After  the  war  he 
moved  to  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  bought  ofle  hun- 
dred and  ten  acres  of  new  land,  which  he  partly  improved, 
and  where  he  died,  Sept.  10,  1799.  His  son,  Justus  B. 
Sutherland,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Lisle,  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  15,  1799.  Here  he 
grew  to  man's  estate,  living  with  his  mother  until  her  death, 
which  took  place  when  he  was  twenty-two  years  old.  After 
his  mother's  death  he  bought  a  small  farm  of  fifty  acres 
which  was  all  new.  This  farm  he  cleared,  and  upon  it 
he  lived  until  1833,  when  he  sold  out  and,  leaving  his 
family  behind,  canle  to  Michigan  in  search  of  a  home  where 
land  was  cheap  and  plenty.  Coming  to  what  was  then 
Allegan  township,  now  Gun  Plain,  he  bought  the  south 


half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  35.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Broome  County,  and  the  following  spring,  with 
his  wife  and  six  children,  started  for  the  new  home  in  the  wil- 
derness. They  came  by  water  to  Detroit,  where  he  bought 
a  yoke  of  oxen,  and  with  his  goods  and  family  loaded  in  the 
wagon  started  for  Allegan,  on  the  old  Territorial  road.  It 
was  not  then  the  road  it  is  to-day.  Its  bridges  were  of  the 
most  primitive  kind,  many  of  the  little  lakes  and  streams 
bein"-  bridged  only  with  floating  logs,  which  often  rolled 
under  the  oxen's  feet,  looking  at  times  as  though  a  duck- 
ing, if  nothing  worse,  awaited  the  whole  family. 

The  distance  from  Detroit  to  Gull  Prairie,  now  made  in 
five  hours,  then  took  Mr.  Sutherland,  with  his  ox-team,  as 
many  days,  and,  although  he  traveled  as  cheaply  as  possible, 
it  cost  him  sixty-four  dollars.  Arrived  in  the  town,  he 
stayed  a  few  days  with  old  Mr.  Dunham  while  he  built  a 
log  house  on  his  farm.  There  were  then  but  a  few  families 
in  the  town,  Mr.  Arnold's  family  being  the  nearest  one 
west,  while  east  of  him  there  was  no  one  living  in  the  town- 
ship. The  house  completed,  he  at  once  moved  his  family 
in,  and  life  in  the  new  home  had  begun.  Around  the  house 
the  deer  and  other  game  roamed  by  day,  while  the  wolves 
made  night  hideous  with  their  howling.  So  thick  were  the 
latter  that  Mr.  Sutherland  found  it  impossible  to  keep 
sheep  or  calves  unless  in  a  high  pen.  With  the  energy  and 
perseverance  for  which  the  pioneers  were  noted,  he  at  once 
commenced  to  clear  and  improve  his  farm.  His  land  and 
traveling  expenses  had  taken  nearly  all  his  means.  Still, 
his  family  never  went  hungry  or  knew  want.  Clothing 
then  was  hard  to  get,  and  often  buckskin  took  the  place  of 
cloth.  On  the  farm  he  then  bought  Mr.  Sutherland  has 
lived  nearly  half  a  century,  and  he  intends  to  pass  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days  where  so  many  pleasant  hours  have 
been  passed.  The  then  wilderness  has  changed  to  beautiful 
homes,  churches,  and  villages,  all  of  which  changes  he  has 
done  his  share  to  create.  He  is  now  in  his  eighty-second 
year,  and  a  man  respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who  know 
him.  In  politics  Mr.  Sutherland  is  a  Democrat.  When 
the  town  was  first  organized  he  was  elected  constable  and 
collector,  which  ofiices  he  held  at  different  times.  He  has  also 
been  treasurer  and  school  inspector.  For  his  first  wife  Mr. 
Sutherland  married  Elmira  Bliss,  daughter  of  Ebenezer 
Bliss.  She  was  born  Oct.  10,  1803.  They  had  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Bliss,  born  Jan.  1,  1824;  Abraham  K., 
born  Dec.  12,  1825 ;  Mercy,  born  March  1,  1827 ;  Louisi, 
born  April  30,  1829  ;  Francis  N.,  born  March  12,  1831 ; 
Morris  J.,  born  Oct.  10,  1832 ;  Lazetta,  born  Aug.  15, 
1834;  Pitt  D.,  born  Aug.  18,  1837,  killed  by  a  horse, 
Oct.  27,  1856  ;  Emily  M.,  born  Dec.  18,  1839 ;  Darwin 
D.,  born  Dec.  28,  1841  ;  Dewitt  C,  born  Aug.  28,  1842; 
Mortimer  W.,  born  Oct.  21,  1845.  Mrs.  Sutherland  died- 
March  1, 1853.  For  his  second  wife,  Mr.  Sutherland  mar- 
ried his  first  wife's  sister,  Mrs.  Esther  Allen,  who  was 
born  Oct.  11,  1796. 


ELIEZER   C.  KNAPP. 

Eliezer  C.  Knapp  was  born  April  14,  1828,  in  the  town 
of  Pine  Plains,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  is  of  Scotch 
origin,  his  ancestors  on  his  father's  side  having  emigrated 


GUN  PLAIN  TOWNSHIP. 


237 


from  Scotland.     Peter  Knapp,  the  father  of  Eliezer,  was 
bora  in  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  resided  on  the  farm 
of  his  father  until  183-i,  when  he  moved  into  Wayne 
County,  same  State,  and  bought  a  farm  in  the  town  of 
Arcadia,  on  which  he  resided  until  his  death,  in   1848. 
Eliezer  grew  to  manhood  on  the  home-farm,  learning  early 
that  boys  as  well  as  men  were  destined  to  earn  their  living 
by  the  sweat  of  their  brow.     Arrived  at  his  majority,  he 
started  out  in  life  for  himself,  his  capital  consisting  of  health, 
strength,  and  determination  to  carve  out  for  himself  a  suc- 
cessful future.     His  first  work  was  in  a  warehouse  in  tlie 
village  of  Newark,  where  he  worked  one  year.     Then  for 
a  couple  of  years  he  found  employment  in  a  machine-shop 
in  Newark,  and  at  the  carpenter's  trade  in  Clyde.      In  the 
spring  of  1852,  having  been  in  poor  health  for  several 
months,  he  started  for  California,  his  physician  having 
recommended  a  change  of  climate.     He  went  by  the  Nica- 
ragua route,  and  arrived  in  San  Francisco  in  July,  1852. 
Soon  after  his  arrival  he  went  up  the  north  fork  of  the 
American  River  and  engaged  in  mining.     In  the  fall  he 
went  to  Sacramento,  and  there  worked  at  his  trade  for  a 
short  time,  when  he  went  to  Marysville  and  took  charge  of 
a  machine-shop,  a  position  he  held  until  the  spring  of  1854, 
when  he  returned  to  the  States  with  but  little  more  money 
than  when  he  left  home.     Soon  after  his  return  he  came 
to  Michigan,  and  in  the  town  of  Gun  Plain  bought  the 
farm  he  now  owns,  running  almost  entirely  in  debt  for  it. 
There  were  no  buildings  and  but  twenty  acres  improved. 
By  his  management  and  labor  the  farm  has  become  one  of 
the  fine  farms  of  the  township,  with  good  buildings  and 
nearly  all  improved,  while  to  it  he  has  added,  until  it  now 
comprises  one  hundred  and  forty-six  acres,  the  result  of 
untiring  energy  and  industry. 

In  politics  Mr.  Knapp  is  a  Democrat,  although  he  now 
and  for  eight  terms  past  has  held  the  office  of  supervisor  in 
a  Republican  township,  filling  the  office  to  the  entire  satis- 
faction of  his  constituents.  On  the  16th  day  of  November, 
1851,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Charlotte  Harvey,  daughter 
of  Byron  and  Ruth  (Waite)  Harvey,  who  was  born  Oct. 
15,  1830.  To  them  was  born  Ida  E.,  Feb.  9,  1855.  She 
is  the  wife  of  Henry  Crosbie,  and  resides  in  Ionia.  Mrs. 
Knapp  died  Sept.  1, 1856.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Knapp 
married,  June  28, 18.58,  Miss  Frances  Linderman,  who  was 
born  Dec.  16, 1833,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Desire  (Conrad) 
Linderman.  Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  three  chil- 
dren, viz. :  Will,  born  Jan.  23,  1860 ;  Mabel,  born  Aug. 
11,  1862  ;  and  Genevieve,  born  March  16,  1865,  died  Oct. 
20,  1865. 


WILLIAM   BELLINGHAM. 

William  Bellingham  was  born  March  20,  1800,  in  the 
town  of  Rutherfield,  Sussex  Co.,  England,  where  his  ances- 
tors had  resided  for  more  than  a  century,  and  being  what  is 
called  in  England  small  farmers.  His  father,  Joseph  Bell- 
ingham, at  one  time  owned  a  small  farm,  which  he  sold,  and 
then  rented  a  large  farm,  which  he  was  working  at  the  time 
William  was  born.  They  were  men  in  moderate  circum- 
stances, but  always  bore  characters  which  were  above  re- 
proach.    William  grew  to  manhood  on  the  farm  in  Sussex 


County,  going  to  what  was  called  a  charity-school,  and  which 
was  kept  by  his  uncle.  His  father  paid  his  schooling,  al- 
though it  was  called  a  charity-school.  Arrived  at  his  ma- 
jority, he  started  out  in  life  for  himself,  at  one  time  working 
his  father's  farm,  then  taking  a  farm,  which  he  continued  to 
work  until  he  emigrated  to  America  in  1833.     Prior  to 


\     i  K 


!j|W    ^  ^s.N 


Photo,  by  J.  D.  Smith,  Phiiiiwell,  Mich. 
WILLIAM    BELLINGHAM. 


that  time  his  brother-in-law  had  emigrated  to  America,  and 
sent  back  such  glowing  accounts  of  their  farm  and  home  in 
the  New  World  that  Mr.  Bellingham  resolved  to  cast  his  for- 
tunes in  the  same  country,  and  with  his  wife  and  children 
■left  England  in  the  spring  of  1833.     They  landed  in  New 
York,  from  whence  they  went  to  Troy.     Their  money  being 
exhausted,  they  stopped  in  Troy,  where  Mr.  Bellingham 
worked  in  a  market-garden,  while  his  son,  William  A.,  then 
a  lad  of  eight  years,  worked  in  the  market  mornings,  recoiv- 
in"-  sixpence  a  morning  for  his  services,  which  consisted  in 
calling  out  in  his  English  way,  "  Here's  where  you  get  your 
nice  inyans  and  lettuce,"  which  attracted  much  attention  and 
a  good  deal  of  merriment.     In   August  they  came  on  to 
Detroit,  where  they  again  found  themselves  out  of  means, 
save  a  half-dollar.     The  family  and  goods  were  located  in 
the  street,  where  they  were  to  stay  until  Mr.  Bellingham  and 
William  A.  could  walk  to  the  brother-in-law's  (Mr.  John 
Young),  in  Washtenaw  County.     As  they  were  about  to  set 
out,  a  stranger  came  to  them  and  asked  what  they  were 
doing  in  the  street.     On  being  told  that  it  was  for  want  of 
means  to  do  any  better,  he  at  once  invited  them  into  his 
house,  to  stay  until  5Ir.  Bellingham  returned.     They  then 
invested  their  half-dollar  in  crackers  and  cheese,  and  set  out 
about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  for  Washtenaw.     That 
night  they  slept  in  a  straw-stack  and  the  next  day  reached 
their  destination.     William  A.  and  his  cousin  returned  for 
the  family,  whom  they  found  with  the  kind  stranger,  who 
refused  to  take  any  pay  for  his  kindness.     They  found  Mr. 
Young,  like  the  most  of  the  early  settlers,  the  owner  o    a 
farm  and  scarce  anything  else.     They  remained  with  him  a 


238 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


shoi.'-  time,  then  went  by  themselves,  Mr.  Bellingham  work- 
ing at  whatever  he  could  get  to  do,  mostly  ditching.  He 
finally  got  enough  ahead  so  that  he  bought  of  the  govern- 
ment forty  acres  in  the  town  of  Lima.  To  this  he  added 
eighty  acres,  all  of  which  he  traded  for  the  west  half  of  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  15  in  Gun  Plain  township, 
Allegan  Co.,  and  on  which  he  located  in  1844,  and  where 
he  resided  until  his  death,  Nov.  2,  1878.  His  farm  he 
cleared  and  improved  and  enlarged  to  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres.  He  was  a  Democrat,  and  held  the  offices  of 
justice  of  the  peace  and  township  clerk.  Was  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  Church.  He  was  highly  esteemed  by  his  neigh- 
bors and  fellow-townsmen,  and  is  spoken  of  as  one  whom 
to  know  was  to  admire  and  respect.  Mr.  Bellingham  was 
married  Jan.  18, 1819,  to  Miss  Phillis  Powell,  who  was  born 
March  28,  1800.  There  were  born  to  them  the  following 
children  :  Catherine,  born  April  9, 1822  ;  William  A.,  born 
Nov.  19,  1824 ;  Ellen,  born  April  20,  1827  ;  Ruth,  born 
July  19,  1829 ;  Esther,  born  May  9,  1832  ;  Ann,  born 
Sept.  28,  1834;  Sarah,  born  July  7,  1838;  and  Orpha, 
born  Jan.  6,  1843, — the  two  last  born  in  America.  Mrs. 
Bellingham  died  Jan.  2,  1844.  Sarah,  married  July  4, 
1853,  Ralph  Richmond,  who  was  born  in  Twinsburg,  Por- 
tage Co.,  Ohio,  Feb.  22,  1828.  Their  union  has  been 
blessed  with  two  children,  viz. :  Lucy,  born  Sept.  25,  1859, 
and  Ernest,  born  Oct.  15,  1869. 


RUSSEL  B.  FENNER. 

James  L.  Fanner  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  May  21, 
1777.  His  ancestors  originally  settled  on  Long  Island 
and  were  from  England,  but  at  what  time  is  not  known. 
After  his  marriage  to  Miss  Betsey  Perry,  James  emigrated 
to  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Man- 
lius,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade,  that  of  a  millwright, 
helping  to  build  many  of  the  first  mills  of  that  then  new 
country.  In  1818,  having  sold  his  land  in  the  town  of 
Pompey  (same  county),  where  he  had  been  living  for  some 
time,  he  moved  with  his  family  into  the  town  of  Lysander, 
Onondaga  Co.,  where  he  bought  a  large  tract  of  new  land. 
This  land  he  cleared  and  improved,  setting  out  orchards 
and  erecting  fine  buildings,  and  making  it  in  time  one  of 
the  fine  farms  of  his  township,  and  on  which  he  lived  until 
his  death,  Jan.  16,  1851.     There  were  born  to  them  nine 


children,  of  whom  Russel  B.  Fenner  was  the  sixth.     He 
was  born  in  Pompey,  Feb.  9,  1814,  and  grew  to  manhood 
on  the  farm  of  his  father,  for  whom  he  worked  until  he 
arrived  at  his  majority,  when   he  started  out  on  his  own 
account.     He  worked  one   year  for  his  father,  then  one 
season  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  after  which  he  worked  his 
father's  farm  on  shares  four  years.     In  1841  Mr.  Fenner 
bought  fifty  acres  of  land,  which  he  built  upon  and  im- 
proved, and  which  he  traded  with  his  father  for  one  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  wild  land  in  the  town  of  Martin, 
Allegan  Co.,  Mich.     In  1844  he  came  to  Martin,  and  soon 
after,  in  company  with  his  brother,  built  the  first  saw-mill 
in  the  town.     It  was  called  Fenner's  mill,  and  was  built  in 
what  was  laid  out  to  be  the  village  of  Smyrna.      The 
brothers  ran  the  mill  about  four  years,  when  Russel  sold 
his  interest  in  it  and  then  gave  his  attention  to  farming 
and  the  carpenter's  trade.     He  improved  about  seventy 
acres  of  his  farm,  and  built  on  it  a  large  log  house  and  a 
fine  barn.     In  1855  Mr.  Fenner  sold  his  Martin  farm  and 
bought  in  the  town  of  Gun  Plain  the  southeast  quarter  of 
the   southeast   quarter   of  section   5,  and   the  southwest 
quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  4,  which  was 
partly  improved.     On  this  place  he  has  erected  good  build- 
ings, planted  orchards,  and  made  himself  and  wife  a  beau- 
tiful home,  a  sketch  of  which  appears  on  another  page  of 
this  work.     Mr.  Fenner  is   in  every  sense  of  the  word  a 
self-made  man.     He  is  one  who  believes  that  what  one 
man  can  do  another  can,  and  he  has  never  hesitated  to 
attempt  any  work  that  place  and  circumstances  has  called 
upon  him  to  perform.     He  has  devoted  much  time  to  the 
study  of  medicine,  and,  though  he  has  no  diploma  as  a 
physician  and  does  not  hold  himself  out  as  one,  still  he 
has  in  his  day  performed   many   cures.     He   is  and  has 
always  been  a  Democrat,  and  has  been  for  three  years  road 
commissioner,  and  for  eleven  years  a  justice  of  the  peace 
in  a  Republican  township.     On  the  28th  day  of  Septem- 
ber, 1837,  Mr.  Fenner  was  joined  in   marriage  to  Miss 
Hannah  V.  Schenck,  who  was  born  in  Lysander,  Aug.  13 
1817.     She   is   a  daughter  of  Rulef  and   Elsie   (Baird) 
Schenck.     There  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fenner 
five  children,  viz. :  Byron  R.,  born  March  4,  1839;  Eliza 
E.,  April  1,  1842;  William  P.,  Dec.  22,  1844;  all  in  Ly- 
sander.    Rulef  James,  born  Sept.  17,  1850  ;  and  Franklin 
M.,  Oct.  11,  1854  ;  both  born  in  Martin. 


heath; 


The  township  of  Heath  has  grown  but  slowly  since  its 
settlement,  from  the  fact  that  its  first  residents  were  at- 
tracted by  the  prolific  growth  of  pine  timber,  and  located 
there  only  for  purposes  of  lumbering.  Finding  no  strong 
inducements  to  remain  after  the  forests  had  been  felled, 
they  departed  for  other  fields  of  labor.  In  point  of  conve- 
nience Heath  has  an  advantageous  location,  with  the  Grand 
Haven  Railroad  running  transversely  across  it,  and  afibrding 
at  the  stations  of  Dunningyille  and  Hamilton  opportunities 
for  the  shipment  of  produce.  It  is  designated  on  the 
United  States  survey  as  township  3  north,  of  range  14 
west,  having  Overisel  on  the  north.  Pine  Plains  on  the 
south,  Monterey  on  the  east,  and  Manlius  on  the  west. 
The  township  has  many  beautiful  and  expansive  views,  and 
a  considerable  variety  of  surface.  No  striking  elevations 
are  to  be  seen,  but  many  gentle  slopes  and  numerous  level 
plains  diversify  the  scenery.  A  portion  of  the  level  land 
is  swampy,  though  efibrts  are  being  made  to  drain  these 
tracts. 

Two  rivers  traverse  the  township,  the  Kalamazoo,  which 
passes  through  the  southwest  corner,  and  Rabbit  River, 
which  afi'ords  a  fine  water-power  in  the  northwest  portion. 
Silver  Creek,  in  the  northeast  quarter,  flows  in  a  northerly 
direction,  and  finds  an  outlet  in  the  last-named  river.  The 
Kalamazoo  River  is  fed  by  Deer  and  Bear  Creeks,  which 
flow  from  the  west  and  join  it  on  section  32.  Pine  has 
been  the  principal  timber  of  the  township  and  its  chief 
source  of  revenue.  The  largest  and  best  trees  have,  how- 
ever, been  generally  converted  into  lumber,  leaving  an  infe- 
rior quality  still  upon  the  ground,  and  even  this  is  rapidly 
disappearing.  In  the  northwest  and  southeast  portions 
beech,  oak,  and  maple  flourish  to  a  moderate  extent,  while 
the  swampy  land  produces  tamarack  and  other  timber 
peculiar  to  such  soil. 

The  prevailing  soil  of  Heath  is  a  sandy  loam,  with  oc- 
casional streaks  of  clay.  On  the  bottom-land  along  the 
rivers  and  creeks  an  alluvial  soil  is  found,  which  equals  in 
productiveness  any  in  the  county.  Wheat  and  corn  are 
the  staple  products  of  the  township,  a  large  portion  of  which 
is  not  yet  sufficiently  cleared  to  raise  crops.  Fine  crops  of 
corn  have  been  raised  on  the  clay  land  when  deeply  plowed, 
and  on  the  river-bottoms  an  unusual  yield  is  obtained. 

In  1874,  the  year  of  the  last  census,  196  acres  were 
sown  with  wheat  and  219  acres  were  planted  with  corn, 
which  gave  a  yield  of  1845  bushels  of  the  former  and 
7341  of  the  latter.  This  is  not  much  behind  the  average 
in  the  county.  Of  course,  however,  the  best  tracts  were 
selected  for  cultivation,  and  it  must  be  acknowledged  that 
there  is  considerable  land  which  would  hardly  pay  for  til- 

»  By  B.  0.  Wagnei-. 


lage  by  crops  of  corn  and  wheat.  Yet  potatoes  and  garden 
vegetables  find  here  a  congenial  soil  and  attain  great  size. 
Fruits  are  raised  to  a  considerable  extent,  many  fine  orchards 
being  found  on  the  farms  of  the  settlers.  Peach  crops  are 
engaging  the  attention  of  farmers,  both  the  soil  and  climate 
of  Heath  having  been  found  well  adapted  to  their  growth. 
Many  orchards  have  recently  been  started,  and  give  promise 
of  good  revenues  to  their  owners  ;  in  fact,  fruit-culture  bids 
fair  to  be  decidedly  successful,  and  to  redeem  Heath  from 
the  somewhat  dubious  agricultural  reputation  which  it  has 
heretofore  acquired. 

PURCHASERS  OF   LAND  FROM  GOVERNMENT. 

The  following  parties  were  the  first  purchasers  of  the 
land  embraced  in  the  present  township  of  Heath : 

(Section  1.— Bought  from  1837  to  1854  by  J.  S.  Smith,  G.  M.  Shaw,  J. 

B.  Rumsey,  S.  S.  Graham,  Fitch  Swan,  .John  MoCrary. 
Section  2. — Bought  from  1835  to  1854  by  Fotterman  and  Abbott,  Ben  - 

jamin  Eager,  Fitch  Swan,  D.  H.  Dowd. 
Section  3. — Bought  from  1833  to  1854  by  Bronson  and  Swan,  Daniels 

and  Fetterman,  Lucius  Abbott,  Benjamin  Eager,  Henry  Abbott. 
Section  4. — Bought  from  1833  to  1835  by  Butler  and  Swan,  Arthur 

Bronson,  Daniels,  Foster  and  Mills,  Samuel  Hubbard. 
Section  5. — Bought  from  1833  to  1836   by  Arthur  Bronson,  Samuel 

Hubbard,  Charles  Butler. 
Section  6. — Bought  in  1835  by  Charles  Butler. 
Section  7.— Bought  from  1854  to  1863  by  Heath  and  Albro,  Gilbert 

Miner,  W.  L.  Field,  Baldwin  Hyde,  R.  M.  Moore,  C.  E.  Brownell, 

John  Cummins. 
Section  8. — Bought  from  1852  to  1869  by  E.  Judson,  Heath  and  Albro, 

Ellen  Littlejohn,  P.  0.  Littlejohn,  M.  R.  Parkhurst,  Wm.  Lowrin, 

A.  W.  Judd,  W.  C.  Flanner,  J.  B.  Porter. 
Section  9. — Bought  in  1836  by  Samuel  Hubbard,  E.  Farnsworth. 
Section  ID. — Bought  from  1836  to  1854  by  Samuel  Hubbard,  Charles 

Butler,  B.  Farnesworth,  F.  A.  S.  Jones,  H.  Abbott. 
Section  11. — Bought  from  1835  to  1855  by  Fetterman  and  Abbott, 

David  Lafler,  Athiel  Mills,  F.  Nichols,  Mrs.  T.  S.  Atlee,  M.  H. 

Atlee. 
Section  12.— Bought  in  1854  by  A.  Graham,  M.  R.  Buffem,  C.  Holle- 

peta,  Lemuel  Daily. 
Section  13. — Bought  in  1836  by  Chandler  HoUister,  A.  L.  and  A. 

Ely,  Jr. 
Section  14.— Bought  from  1836  to  1854  by  C.  Hollister,  A.  L.  and  A. 

Bly,  Jr.,  Alex.  Beach,  E.  B.  Fox. 
Section  15.— Bought  from  1852  to  1864  by  J,  A.  R.  Clement,  J.  H. 

Mixer,  John  Feed. 
Section  16. — Bought  in  1866  and  1869  by  0.  R.  Johnson,  Johnson  and 

Stockbridge. 
Section  17. — Bought  from  1836  to  1854  by  E.  Farnsworth,  J.  J.  Little- 
john, J.  Littlejohn,  Jr.,  Henry  Fisher,  Daniel  Richardson,  Wil- 
liam Rider. 
Section  18. — Bought  from  1836  to  1868  by  B.  Farnsworth,  J.  J.  Little- 
john, P.  0.  Littlejohn,  J.  Richardson,  S.  R.  Powell,  I.  McDaniels. 
Section  19. — Bought  from  1836  to  1864  by  J.  R.  Kellogg,  Davis  and 

Fisher,  Ellen  Littlejohn. 
Section  20. — Bought  in  1836  by  Samuel  Hubbard. 
Section  21. — Bought  in  1836  and  1863  by  Samuel  Hubbard,  Chandler 

Hollister,  Charles  Butler. 
Section  22. — Bought  in  1836  and  1854  by  Samuel  Hubbard,  Charles 

S.  Mixer. 

239 


240 


HISTORY  OP  ALLEGAN   AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Seclion  23.— Bought  from  1836  to  ]854  by  Jonathan  Ilavt,  Hart  and 
Mcrritt,  E.  M.  Hamlin,  Curtis  Cady. 

Seclitm  24.— Bought  in  1S36  by  Samuel  Hubbard,  Chandler  Hollister. 

Seetiou  25.— Bought  from  1836  to  1854:  by  Hart  and  Merritt,  A.  S. 
Judd,  Daniel  Correll,  Daniel  and  James  Correll,  Stephen  Sutton, 
D.  A.  Fauslcr,  Epaphroditus  Hansom,  D.  A.  Fausler. 

Section  26.— Bought  in  1836  by  J.  Hart  .and  James  Merritt. 

Seclinii  27.— Bought  from  1833  to  1854  by  Arthur  Eronson,  Samuel 
Hubbard,  Andrew  Whisler. 

Section  28.— Bought  from  1833  to  1854  by  Arthur  Broiison,  Samuel 
Hubbard,  Samuel  Bigsby,  AViUard  Dodge. 

Section  29.— Bought  from  1833  to  1853  by  Arthur  Bronson,  Samuel 
Hubbard,  11  D.  Hill,  Alexander  H.  Edwards,  Samuel  Bigsby, 
Ellen  Littlejohn,  Davis  and  Fiiiher,  J.  B.  and  H.  Dumont. 

Section  30.— Bought  from  1836  to  1856  by  John  K.  Kellogg,  Leonard 
Strow,  Z.  L.  Griswold. 

Section  31.— Bought  from  1850  to  1855  by  L.  S.  Parker,  assignee, 
Z.  L.  Griswold,  Jarvis  Sperry,  Thomas  Graves,  James  Youngs, 
James  W.  Parker. 

Section  32.— Bought  from  1836  to  1866  by  J.  B.  Murray,  Frederick 
Booher,  Z.  L.  Griswold,  Moses  Sperry,  C.  D.  Phelps. 

Section  Z'i. — Bought  from  1833  to  1854  by  Arthur  Bronson,  Trow- 
bridge and  Porter,  J.  B.  and  II.  Dumont. 

Section  34. — Bought  from  1833  to  1854  by  Arthur  Bronson,  Trow- 
bridge and  Porter,  Henry  Power. 

Section  35.— Bought  from  1836  to  1854  by  Trowbridge  and  Porter, 
F.  H.  Heath,  Jesse  Clements,  Nathan  H.  Parks,  D.  H.  Daniels, 
Ambrose  Belden,  Wilson  Freed. 

Sectiim  36.— Bought  from  1837  to  1852  by  S.  D.  Webster,  Silas  Hub- 
bard, John  Sadler,  Daniel  Rhodabaugh,  John  M.  Heath,  J.  W. 
Fausler,  Epaphroditus  Ransom. 

EAKLT   SETTLEMENTS. 

Considerable  of  the  land  of  Heath  was  purchased  from 
the  government  as  early  as  1833,  but  the  first  settler  did 
not  appear  until  1850,  when  Simon  Howe  obtained  control 
under  a  contract  of  a  portion  of  section  6,  upon  which 
he  and  Col.  John  Littlejohn  erected  a  saw-mill  on  Rabbit 
River.  This  property  was  subsequently  leased  to  other 
parties,  and  after  a  brief  residence  in  the  hamlet  of  Rabbit 
River,  now  Hamilton,  Howe  moved  to  Kalamazoo  County, 
where  he  died.  He  passed  through  many  vicissitudes 
during  his  business  career  at  Rabbit  River,  and  ultimately 
left  the  place  with  his  exchequer  greatly  reduced  as  the 
result  of  his  commercial  schemes. 

The  second  settler  was  John  Sadler,  who  left  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  in  1841,  and  first  located  in  Allegan  township,  where 
he  remained  ten  years.  Having,  during  this  time,  pur- 
chased 80  acres  on  section  36,  in  Heath,  he  removed 
thither  in  1851.  With  him  came  his  three  sons,  Jonathan, 
Richard  A.,  and  Andrew  J.  Sadler.  They  found  Simon 
Howe  already  established  on  section  6  and  preparing  to 
build  his  saw-mill.  Mr.  Sadler  and  his  sons,  having  pre- 
viously lived  within  a  short  distance  of  their  new  purchase, 
had  found  it  easy  to  make  the  necessary  improvements  on 
the  land  before  becoming  residents.  They  had  already 
erected  a  log  house  and  cleared  a  considerable  tract.  Indi- 
ans were  still  quite  common  in  the  spring  and  fall,  usually 
chosing  their  spring  residence  in  the  vicinity  of  maple- 
groves,  where  they  made  considerable  quantities  of  sugar 
for  use  or  exchange.  Mr.  Sadler  died  in  1863  on  the 
homestead  which  is  now  occupied  by  his  son,  Andre*^. 
Jonathan  Sadler  resides  on  the  east  half  of  section  36. 

Porter  Shields  arrived  in  the  township  in  1852,  and  lo- 
cated upon  section  35.  He  was  afterwards  employed  in 
the  saw-mill  built  by  Ambrose  Belden  in  1856,  and  while 


at  work  there  he  met  with  an  accident  which  caused  his 
death. 

Joseph  Shank  and  Amos  S.  Judd,  who  had  previously 
been  residents  of  Hancock  Co.,  Ohio,  located  in  the  town- 
ship in  1853,  both  having  purchased  land  on  section  24. 
The  former  moved  some  years  afterwards  to  the  nortliern 
portion  of  the  State,  where  he  now  resides.  Mr.  Judd  is 
still  a  resident  of  the  township.  Stephen  Sutton,  a  former 
neighbor  in  Ohio,  followed  them  a  year  after,  and  improved 
a  farm  on  the  same  section.     He  survived  but  a  few  years. 

In  1854,  Allen  Beach  became  a  resident  of  section  14, 
where-  he  had  previously  purchased  1 60  acres.  He  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  the  township  until  his  death,  in  1879. 

Indiana  was  represented  among  the  early  pioneers  by  C. 
K.  Calkins,  who  purchased  a  farm  on  section  12,  which  he 
cleared  and  made  productive.  He  afterwards  relinquished 
the  occupation  of  a  farmer  for  that  of  a  landlord,  and  re- 
moved to  section  1 ,  where  he  opened  a  house  of  entertain- 
ment, known  as  the  "  Diamond  Springs  Hotel,"  of  which 
he  is  still  the  proprietor. 

Abram  Parkhurst,  previously  a  resident  of  Branch 
County,  moved  to  Heath  in  1854,  and  purchased  40  acres 
on  section  8.  The  work  of  farming  was  interspersed  with 
the  exciting  life  of  a  hunter  and  trapper,  in  which  occu- 
pations Mr.  Parkhurst  was  remarkably  skillful.  Deer  and 
other  game  were  still  plentiful,  and  his  revenue  was  mate- 
rially increased  by  the  various  furs  and  skins  which  he  cap- 
tured. The  opportunities  for  such  exploits  are  now  so  rare 
as  to  enable  him  to  devote  his  attention  exclusively  to  his 
farm,  upon  which  he  is  still  a  resident. 

Philander  Smith  settled  in  1854  upon  40  acres  in  section 
36,  which  he  purchased  of  Daniel  Rhodabaugh.  He  built 
a  shingle-mill,  which  was  run  by  horse-power,  and  for  a 
while  supplied  many  of  the  shingles  which  were  used  in 
that  portion  of  the  township. 

Daniel  Rhodabaugh  also  owned  a  farm  on  the  same  sec- 
tion, having  obtained  it  on  a  land-warrant  for  services  in 
the  Mexican  war.  He  entered  the  army  at  the  beginning 
of  the  late  war,  and  after  his  return  moved  to  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  where  he  now  resides.  His  farm  is  now  occupied  by 
Joseph  Taylor.  Peter  Rhodabaugh  came  in  1854,  and 
established  a  shingle-mill  on  section  12. 

Daniel  H.  Dowd,  who  now  resides  in  Allegan,  left  the 
city  of  Chicago  for  the  pine-forests  of  Heath  in  1856.  He 
chose  section  2  as  a  location,  where  he  purchased  320  acres 
of  land.  The  largest  log  house  in  the  county  (which  is 
still  occupied),  together  with  a  substantial  barn,  was  built 
by  him  soon  after  his  arrival.  Samuel  S.  Graham  had 
previously  erected  a  log  shanty  just  east  of  Mr.  Dowd's 
place,  which  he  had  been  in  the  habit  for  several  years  of 
occupying  in  the  summer,  removing  in  the  winter  to  his 
more  comfortable  residence  in  Branch  County.  Into  this 
cabin  Mr.  Dowd  arid  his  family  removed  until  his  own  resi- 
dence was  completed.  Mr.  Dowd  cleared  a  considerable 
portion  of  his  land,  much  of  it  having  been  covered  with 
pine  of  a  superior  quality.  A  part  of  it,  by  hard  labor,  he 
made  quite  productive.  On  Silver  Creek,  which  runs 
through  the  farm,  his  son,  Charles  S.  Dowd,  owns  and 
manages  a  large  saw-mill,  which  is  one  of  the  most  flourish- 
ing of  the  business  enterprises  of  the  township. 


HEATH  TOWNSHIP. 


241 


William  Lowrie  purchased  400  acres  on  sections  8  and 
9  in  1855,  upon  which  he  built  a  house  and  improved  40 
acres.  He  subsequently  sold  it,  however,  and  removed  to 
Monterey. 

Fitch  Swan  purchased,  in  1855,  the  north  half  of  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  1,  and  the  north  half  of  the 
nortTieast  quarter  of  section  2.  He  improved  this  land 
and  remained  upon  it  several  years,  after  which  he  ex- 
changed it  for  land  in  Branch  County,  owned  by  James 
Roblyer,  who  became  a  resident  of  Heath  in  1866,  and 
now  occupies  the  land  he  obtained  from  Mr.  Swan. 

George  H.  Phelps,  in  connection  with  his  son,  C.  D. 
Phelps,  erected  a  saw-mill  on  section  28  in  1855,  which 
was  for  many  years  in  operation,  but  is  now  in  ruins.  Mr. 
Phelps  resided  in  Heath  until  his  death,  in  1872. 

Charles  Davis  came  to  the  township  in  1862,  and  pur- 
chased land  at  Hamilton.  Mrs.  Davis  was  a  daughter  of 
James  M.  Heath,  from  whom  the  township  was  named. 
The  family  still  reside  near  the  hamlet  just  named. 

The  earliest  death  recalled  was  that  of  Jesse  Clements, 
who  fell  a  victim  to  the  brutality  of  his  son.  The  culprit 
was  sentenced  to  the  State  prison,  where,  after  repeated  ex- 
hibitions of  his  murderous  instinct,  his  existence  finally 

ended. 

HAMILTON. 

The  little  village  of  Hamilton  (formerly  known  as  Rabbit 
River),  dates  its  first  recorded  event  in  1835,  when 
Charles  Butler  entered  the  whole  section  upon  which  it  is 
located.  It  subsequently  came  into  the  possession  of  Anton 
Schorno,  Chauncey  W.  Calkins,  and  Elnathan  Judson. 
Simon  Howe  became  the  controller,  under  a  contract,  of  a 
certain  portion  of  the  land,  and,  in  connection  with  Col. 
John  Littlejohn,  built  the  saw-mill  known  throughout  the 
county  as  the  Rabbit  River  Mill,  which  contained  both  a 
circular  and  an  upright  saw.  This  mill  was  built  in  1852, 
but  the  same  year  the  dam  gave  out.  It  was  in  1855  re- 
built by  Col.  Littlejohn,  and  subsequently  purchased  and 
controlled  by  Howe,  by  whom  it  was  leased  to  Messrs. 
Allen  &  Jewett.  In  1857,  James  B.  Streeter  managed  it, 
and  at  the  expiration  of  his  period  of  ownership,  embracing 
eighteen  months,  it  became  the  property  of  H.  M.  Peck, 
who  sold  it  to  Robert  M.  Moore,  by  whom  Henry  Porter  was 
employed  to  superintend  the  enterprise.  In  1873  Charles 
R.  Brownell,  who  had  previously  rented  the  property,  pur- 
chased it,  and  is  now  the  proprietor.  The  capacity  of  the 
mill  is  12,000  feet  per  day. 

The  earliest  settler  was  a  man  who  was  engaged  to  board 
the  hands  employed  by  the  first  owners  of  the  mill.  His 
name  is  not  recalled.  A  shanty  was  erected  for  his  conve- 
nience on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  which  for  a  brief  time 
afforded  shelter  to  all  who  came  to  the  little  hamlet. 

G.  B.  Sheffield  came  from  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1852, 
and  after  a  brief  residence  in  Holland  removed  to  Hamil- 
ton. He  built  a  framed  house,  and  was  for  a  while  em- 
ployed in  the  mill.  In  1858  he  purchased  a  farm  in  the 
township  of  Fillmore,  where  he  at  present  resides,  though 
still  transacting  much  business  at  the  place  of  his  early 
residence. 

In  1855  a  man  named  Lockrey  came  to  the  place  and 
engaged  in  lumbering.     The  year  previous  Joseph  Jewett 
31 


was  employed  as  foreman  in  the  saw-mill,  and  at  nearly  the 
same  time  Aaron  Willards  became  interested  in  it,  and 
was  among  the  transient  residents  of  the  place.  W.  H. 
Mohn  arrived  later,  from  Wayne  Co ,  Ohio,  and  settled  in 
Hamilton.  He  removed  with  his  family  to  a  framed  house 
that  had  been  erected  and  vacated,  and  engaged  in  work  at 
the  mill.  He  afterwards  followed  his  trade  as  a  carpenter. 
Simeon  Howe  found  for  a  short  time  a  home  in  the  family 
of  Mr.  Mohn.  The  population  was  at  this  time,  and  has 
been  since,  transient  in  character,  very  few  of  those  em- 
ployed in  milling  or  lumbering  having  become  permanent 
residents.  The  present  supervisor,  C.  R.  Brownell,  is  a 
resident  of  the  place,  where  he  is  engaged  in  milling  and 
other  occupations.  He  removed  from  Allegan  in  1866,  where 
his  father  now  resides.  Mr.  Brownell  placed  the  writer 
under  many  obligations  for  aid  in  his  researches  after  facts. 

THE   GRIST-MILL. 

In  1861 ,  George  P.  Heath  built  a  grist-mill  on  Rab- 
bit River,  occupying  the  site  of  the  present  mill,  and  con- 
ducted it  until  1867,  when  Frank  Schorno  purchased  the 
property.  While  under  the  management  of  Lewis  Schorno 
the  mill  was  burned,  and  the  site  remained  unoccupied  until 
1879,  when  Messrs.  Kullen,  Kepple  &  Co.  purchased  the 
site  and  erected  one  of  the  most  complete  grist-mills  in  the 
county.  The  interest  of  the  first  partner  was  soon  after 
transferred  to  John  Schipper,  and  the  mill  was  in  active 
operation  during  the  same  year.  Its  power  is  supplied  by 
water  from  the  river,  and  with  four  run  of  stone  its  utmost 
capacity  is  100  barrels  per  day,  though  not  often  pressed 
to  this  limit.  It  has  also  a  feed-stone,  which  is  constantly 
in  use.  The  latest  improvements  in  making  flour  by  the 
most  recent  process  are  adopted,  and  a  ready  market  is  found 
in  Milwaukee,  Boston,  and  portions  of  Illinois.  The  home 
market  also  makes  large  demands  on  this  mill,  100  bar- 
rels per  week  being  disposed  of  at  Muskegon  and  Grand 
Haven. 

OTHER   BUSINESS. 

There  are  at  Hamilton,  in  addition  to  the  mill,  two  stores, 
containing  a  general  stock  of  goods,  kept  by  H.  J.  Fisher, 
who  is  also  postmaster,  and  by  Messrs.  Kolvoort  &  Baker ; 
one  hardware-store,  owned  by  Benjamin  Bosman ;  a  black- 
smith-shop, kept  by  Hiram  Lee ;  a  shoe-shop,  by  Eugene 
Lesperence  ;  and  a  cooper-shop,  by  Southwin.  The  school 
of  the  district  is  taught  by  Harry  Sears.  A  bcnding- 
works  doing  an  active  business  is  owned  by  W.  B.  Lin- 
coln, and  a  hotel  built  in  1872  is  kept  by  C.  M.  Wood- 
ruff. The  physician  of  the  place  is  Dr.  Charles  H.  Kimber, 
who  is  also  the  proprietor  of  a  public  hall  which  does  credit 
to  the  enterprise  of  Hamilton. 

SCHOOLS. 
The  first  school  was  opened  in  district  No.  1,  now  em- 
braced in  that  portion  of  the  township  known  as  Pine 
Plains.  The  second  district  embraced  what  was  known  as 
the  Sadler  neighborhood,  a  log  school-house  having  been 
early  built  in  this  locality.  None  of  the  early  teachers  are 
remembered.  Miss  Mercy  Bigsby  was  the  first  to  instruct 
the  little  ones  in  district  No.  1,  though  this  territory  would 
now  be  properly  regarded  as  a  portion  of  Pine  Plains,  and 


242 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


not  within  the  province  of  a  slceteh  of  the  township  of 
Heath.  The  third  school  was  opened  in  district  No.  3, 
and  the  school  building  formerly  located  on  section  12  was 
removed  to  the  township-line. 

Heath  is  divided  into  one  fractional  and  four  whole  dis- 
tricts, the  board  of  directors  being  B.  B.  Martin,  Jonathan 
Sadler,  0.  S.  Dowd,  D.  P.  Veach,  and  C.  M.  Woodruff. 
There  are  four  frame  school  buildings  in  the  township, 
valued  at  $1430.  The  number  of  children  who  are  in- 
structed is  170,  three  male  and  six  female  teachers  being 
employed  in  the  various  districts.  They  receive  in  salaries 
annually  the  sura  of  1776.  The  total  resources  of  the 
township  for  school  purposes  are  $1329.02,  of  which 
$107.44  is  derived  from  the  primary  school  fund. 
EAKLY   ROADS. 

Soon  after  the  Holland  colony  arrived  in  Michigan  an 
effort  was  made  to  divert  their  trade  to  Allegan,  and  thereby 
secure  a  portion  of  the  gold  with  which  many  of  them  were 
bountifully  supplied.  With  that  view,  two  highways 
were  surveyed  from  Allegan,  having  Holland  as  their  ob- 
jective point,  both  of  which  traversed  the  soil  of  Heath. 
The  first  was  known  as  the  Duniont  road,  and  was  sur- 
veyed by  John  B.  Dumont  in  1847.  It  began  at  Peter 
Dumont's  land,  on  section  6,  in  Allegan,  to  which  point  a 
road  had  been  already  surveyed  from  Allegan  village,  bore  to 
the  northwest  through  Pine  Plains,  and  entered  this  town- 
ship on  section  36.  It  ran  directly  north,  crossed  the  Rabbit 
River,  and  passed  out  of  the  township  on  the  section-line 
between  sections  1  and  2,  on  its  way  to  Holland. 

A  railroad,  known  as  the  Bee-Line  road,  was  projected 
by  James  M.  Heath,  which  also  had  Holland  as  its  terminus. 
It  be^an  near  the  residence  of  Maj.  Heath,  on  section  12, 
in  Pine  Plains  (then  Heath),  and,  passing  northwest  into 
Heath,  which  it  entered  on  section  35,  ran  diagonally 
through  the  township  in  a  northwesterly  direction,  passing 
out  near  the  northwest  corner,  on  section  6.  This  highway 
was  surveyed  a  few  months  later  than  the  Dumont  road, 
and  had  an  equal  share  of  the  public  travel. 

DUNNINGVILLB. 
This  hamlet  was  first  settled  by  Andrew  Whistler,  who 
arrived  early  (the  date  is  not  remembered)  and  purchased 
the  half  of  section  28,  upon  which  he  located  a  saw-mill. 
Bear  Creek  affording  the  water-power.  He  was  accom- 
panied by  his  nephew,  John  Whistler.  After  the  mill  had 
been  established  and  conducted  a  brief  time  by  Andrew 
Whistler,  it  was  sold  to  Martin  Miller  and  John  Whistler. 
Their  term  of  ownership  was  also  brief,  when  it  passed 
into  the  possession  of  Riley  Granger,  who  in  turn  disposed 
of  the  property  to  Messrs.  Dunning  and  Hopkins,  of  Sau- 
gatuck.  Their  successor  was  a  party  named  Brewer,  during 
whose  ownership  it  was  burned.  The  present  owner,  Wil- 
liam Scott,  then  purchased  the  property,  and  erected  on  the 
d6bris  of  the  old  mill  a  new  and  more  complete  structure, 
which  is  now  in  successful  operation.  William  A.  Earl 
erected  the  first  and  only  store  in  the  place,  which  has 
since  been  closed.  A.  hotel  affords  hospitality  to  the  trav- 
eler the  landlord  being  William  Scott,  who  is  also  post- 
master. A  religious  society  of  Wesleyan  Methodists  exists 
in  the  place,  who  worship  in  the  school-house  on  each 


alternate  Sabbath,  no  church  edifice  having  been  erected. 
The  district  school  is  presided  over  by  Nelson  Young,  whose 
skill  as  teacher  has  warranted  his  employment  for  a  succes- 
sion of  years. 

EEFORMED   (DUTCH)    CHUBCH. 

The  Society  of  the  Reformed  (Dutch)  Church  at  Over-  ^ 
isel,  having  observed  at  this  locality  the  want  of  conveni- 
ences for  worship,  determined  upon  the  erection  of  a  church 
edifice.  Aided  by  subscriptions  from  the  residents  of  the 
township,  they  erected  the  present  building,  and  also  a  con- 
venient parsonage,  at  a  total  cost  of  $3000.  The  work 
was  done  under  the  supervision  of  Rev.  Gerret  Dangre- 
mond,  who  after  the  dedication  of  the  edifice  was  installed 
as  its  first  pastor.  He  remained  until  1871,  when  the 
pulpit  was  supplied  by  the  Methodist  .Conference.  Rev. 
N.  D.  Marsh  was  the  pastor  from  1874  to  1876,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  H.  D.  Lawrence,  who  remained 
until  1878. 

At  present  there  is  no  regular  organization,  though  ser- 
vices are  held  each  alternate  Sabbath  by  clergymen  whose 
residences  are  adjacent  to  the  place.  A  flourishing  Sab- 
bath-school, embracing  50  members  and  a  corps  of  devoted 
teachers,  is  maintained,  and  much  interest  is  manifested  in 
the  work.  The  superintendent  is  B.  W.  Lincoln,  and  the 
secretary  C.  R.  Brownell. 

LODGE  OF  I.  0.  0.  E.,  No.  315. 
The  charter  of  this  lodge  bears  date  Oct.  19,  1878,  the 
following  gentlemen  having  held  office  when  it  was  insti- 
tuted: G.  B.  Sheffield,  N.  G. ;  C.  E.  Siple,  V.  G. ;  C.  W. 
Stone,  Sec. ;  J.  Bowman,  Treas.  It  has  27  members,  and 
holds  its  convocations  in  a  hall  fitted  for  the  purpose  and 
rented  for  five  years  from  G.  B.  Sheffield.  The  present 
officers  are  C.  R.  Brownell,  N.  G. ;  Albert  Helmer,  V.  G.; 
John  Boyd,  Sec. ;  J.  Bowman,  Treas. 

OEGANIZATION   AND   OEFICERS. 

The  survey  of  the  township  of  Heath  was  made  by  Cal- 
vin Britain,  and  completed  on  the  7th  of  March,  1831. 
It  was  formerly  included  in  the  township  of  Allegan,  having 
been  made  an  independent  township  by  an  act  of  the  State 
Legislature  approved  March  18,  1851,  which  reads  as  fol- 
lows :  "  That  all  that  portion  of  territory  lying  east  and 
north  of  the  Kalamazoo  River,  in  township  2  north,  of 
range  14  west,  together  with  the  whole  of  township  3  north, 
of  range  14  west,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  set  off  from 
the  township  of  Allegan  and  organized  into  a  separate 
township  by  the  name  of  Heath,  and  that  the  first  town- 
ship-meeting therein  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  James 
M.  Heath,  in  said  township."  In  1871  its  area  was 
diminished  by  as  much  territory  as  is  now  embraced  in 
Pine  Plains,  lying  north  of  the  Kalamazoo  River,  leaving 
it  with  a  boundary  six  miles  square.  It  was  named  in 
compliment  to  one  of  its  early  settlers,  Maj.  James  M. 
Heath. 

The  earliest  township-meeting  of  the  township  of  Heath 
was  held  on  the  first  Monday  in  April,  1851.  The  officers 
chosen  were:  Supervisor,  James  M.  Heath;  Township  Clerk, 
John  M.  Heath  ;  Treasurer,  George  P.  Heath  ;  Justices  of 
the  Peace,  Simon  Howe,  Samuel  Bigsby,  James  Albro, 


HEATH   TOWNSHIP. 


243 


James  M.  Heath ;  Highway  Commissioner,  Simon  Howe, 

who  was  also  elected  School  Inspector;    Directors  of  the 

Poor,  L.  P.  Ross,  Harvey  Howe ;  Constables,  Daniel  Rho- 

dabaugh,  Charles  Howe,  L.  P.  Ross,  Henry  Ammerman. 

The  remaining  township  officers  to  the  present  time  are  as 

follows : 

SUPERVISORS. 

1852,  Simon  Howe;  1853,  John  M.  Heath;  ]85i-55,  Ambrose  Bel- 
den;  1856-57,  J.  M.  Heath;  1858-59,  G.  H.  Phelps;  1860-61, 
J.Wilson;  1 862-65,  G.  C.  Smith  ;  1866,  G.  P.  Heath;  1867,  AV.  J. 
Shirley;  1868-69,  G.  H.  Phelps;  1870-72,  Charles  R.  Brownell; 
1873-74,  Jonathan  Sadler;  1875-76,  J.  F.  Gilchrist;  1877-79, 
C.  R.  Brownell. 

TOWNSHIP   CLERKS. 

1852,  Daniel  Rhodabaugh;  1853,  John  E.  Babbitt;  1854-55,  D.  Rho- 
dabaugh;  1856-58,  J.  A.  Whistler;  1859,  W.  B.  Smalley;  1860- 
62,  W.  J.  Shirley  ;  1863,  J.  M.  Heath ;  1864-66,  Wilson  Huntley ; 
1867-70,  J.  J.  Young;  1871,  H.  J.  Van  Valkenburg;  1872,  D.  S. 
Hopkins;  1873-76,  C.  R.  Brownell;  1877,  H.  W.  Fay;  1878-79, 
Si.  W.  Piorson. 

JUSTICES    OF   THE    PEACE. 

1852,  James  Albro,  John  E.  Babbitt;  185.3,  A.  S.  Judd ;  1854-55,  C. 
D.Clements;  1856,  Andrew  Whistler,  Andrew  Alexander ;  1857, 
James  M.  Heath;  1858,  L.  C.  Lemoin ;  1859,  R.  H.  Fuller,  Wil- 
liam Peet;  1860,  David  Spafford;  1861,  G.  H.  Phelps,  G.  C. 
Smith;  1862,  R.  B.  Jlinier,  G.  B.  Newman,  Fitch  Swan;  1863, 
G.  P.  Heath;  1864,  Samuel  Bigsby  ;  1865,  L.  C.  Lemoin,  Am- 
brose Belden  ;  1 866,  Jeptha  Bartholamew,  Ambrose  Bclden,  Julius 
Bigsby;  1867,  Andrew  Burnside,  William  Peet;  1868,  Franklin 
Schorno:  1869,  Jonathan  Sadler;  1870,  Isaiah  Willson;  1871, 
R.  W.  Martin,  D.  S.  Hopkins;  1872,  W.  A.  Earlc;  1873,  D.  H. 
Dowd,  C.  C.  Spears ;  1874,  C.  A.  Field,  John  McCrary  ;  1875,  R. 
W.  Martin,  C.  R.  Brownell;  1876,  John  McCrary,  C.  R.  Brow- 
nell ;  1877,  Washington  Cook,  J.  A.  Peek;  1878,  N.  L.  Foster, 
C.  R.  Brownell. 

TREASURERS. 

1852,  Charles  Howe  ;  1853,  G.  P.  Heath ;  1854-55,  C.  B.  Butler;  1856, 
G.  P.  Heath;  1857,  Otis  Holton  ;  1858,  Otis  L.  Holton;  1859-61, 
A.  W.  Judd;  1862-63,  Jonathan  Sadler;  1864,  Salmon  Thayer; 
1865,  A.  W.  Judd  ;  1866-69,  Salmon  Thayer ;  1870-72,  Jonathan 
Sadler;  1873-76,  D.  Spofford;  1877-78,0.  M.Woodruff;  1879, 
William  Dean. 

SCHOOL   INSPECTORS. 

1852,  John  M.  Heath;  1853,  Stephen  Sutton;  1854-55,  B.  M.  Ham- 
lin ;  1856,  Daniel  Rhodabaugh ;  1857,  Ozias  Lemoin;  1858,  John 
M.  Heath  ;  1859,  Samuel  Graham,  John  A.  Whistler;  1860,  John 
P.  Paris,  G.  H.  Phelps;  1861,  G.  H.  Phelps;  1862,  Ambrose  Bel- 
den; 1863,  Ozias  Lemoin;  1864,  J.  E.  Chapman;  1865,  Ambrose 
Belden;  1866,  John  J.  Young;  1867-68,  J.  E.  Bigsby;  1869, 
Charles  D.  Phelps;  1870,  Charles  A.  Field;  1871,  C.  R.  Brownell ; 
1872,  W.  W.  Heffron;  187.3,  Byron  Murray,  Ambrose  Belden; 
1874,  R.  W.  Martin,  ,C.  D.  Phelps;  1875,  J.  W.  Taylor;  187B,  C. 
A.  Field;  1877,  C.  R.  Brownell;  1878,  Walter  Burton;  1879,  H. 
C.  Howlet. 

HIGHWAY   COMMISSIONERS. 

1852,  Simon  Howe;  1853,  Joseph  Shank;  1854-55,  Alexander  Beach, 
G.  H.  Phelps  ;  1856,  J.  M.  Heath ;  1857,  Andrew  Whistler;  1858, 
Cyrus  Hollopeter;  1859,  Salmon  Thayer,  W.  L.  Field;  1860,  W. 
L.  Field;  1861,  Harvey  Howe;  1862,  John  McCrary ;  1863,  James 
Albro;  1864,  Valentine  Young;  1865,  Herbert  Howe;  1866,  Asa 
Estabrook ;  1867,  James  N.  Sullivan ;  1868,  Charles  Woodruff; 
1869-70,  James  Sullivan;  1871,  Charles  Gilchrist;  1872,  0.  J. 
Lemoin;  1873,  G.  W.  Platts;  1874,  William  Lowrie;  1875-76, 
William  Scott;  1877,  Joel  W.  Taylor;  1878,  George  N.  Plotts; 
1879,  William  M.  Scott. 

DIRECTOR   OF   THE   POOR. 
1852,  James  M.  Heath. 

DRAIN   COMMISSIONERS. 
1874,  Orange  H.  Powers;  1875,  E.  B.  Davis;  1876-77,  William  H. 
Dean;  1879,  Henry  J.  Plotts. 


SUPERINTENDENTS   OF   SCHOOLS. 
1875,  C.  D.  Phelps  ;  187B,  Joel  W.  Taylor;  1877-79,  Harvey  A.  Sears. 

CONSTABLES. 
1852,  Isaac  Crow,  George  P.  Heath,  James  Albro;  1853,  William 
Kelsey,  Jonathan  Sadler,  John  P.  Shields,  B.  Ingham;  1854 
-55,  Ashley  Babbitt,  George  Curtis,  J.  P.  Shields;  1856,  M.  V. 
Heath,  William  Lowrie,  Muer  Bigsby,  M.  F.  Bluffum;  1857,  A. 
Babbitt,  William  Dunton,  Peter  Rhodabaugh,  Martin  Miller; 
1858,  Martin  Miller,  S.  E.  Bailey,  Ashley  Babbitt,  James  Sulli- 
van; 1859,  Philander  Smith,  P.  Rhodabough,  Willard  Field, 
Volney  Young;  1860,  Daniel  Rhodabaugh,  Willard  Field, 
Horace  Beverley,  Martin  Miller;  1861,  Joseph  Withrow, 
George  W.  Kingsley,  W.  E.  Field,  John  Crow  ;  1862,  R. 
Flanner,  Alfred  Sorine,  W.  E.  Field,  Daniel  Wilson;  1863, 
William  Roxbary,  Schuyler  Bassett,  Ashley  Babbitt,  William  H. 
Mohn;  1864,  C.  C.  Clark,  R.  Sadler,  Joseph  Emmons,  Frank 
Schorno;  1865,  M.  6.  Mask,  L.  W.  Swezy,  0.  J.  Lemoin  ;  1866, 
G.  M.  Star,  Scth  F.  Smith,  James  Roe;  1867,  James  Roe,  Corwin 
Roxbury,  Charles  Woodruff,  0.  G.  Lemoin;  1868,  Corwin  Rox- 
bury,  Hiulow  Bills,  0.  J.  Lemoin,  William  H.  Mahn  ;  1869,  Jacob 
Holman,  L.  W.  Swezy,  Osmer  AVarner,  Charles  D.  Phelps  ;  1870, 
Peter  Rhodabaugh,  William  Planner,  A.  Warner;  1871,  Peter 
Rhodabaugh,  Joseph  M.  Labadie,  J.  N.  Sullivan,  William  Rox- 
bury; 1872,  Henry  Earl,  0.  J.  Lemoin,  William  Lowrie,  J.  M. 
Labadie;  1873,  John  Beardsley,  David  Dunning,  Levi  Tuttle, 
L.  C.  Schorno;  1874,  J.  M.  Labadie,  John  Beardsley,  W.  C. 
Flanner,  D.  McCrary;  1875,  J.  M.  Labadie,  W.  Scott,  John 
Beardsley,  Ambrose  Belden;  1876,  John  Beardsley,  William  II. 
Mohn,  W.  H.  Dean,  Edward  Rouse;  1877,  James  Granger,  W. 
H.  Dean,  H.  M.  Fay,  Charles  Conklin  ;  1878,  Johnson  Shank, 
Henry  W.  Piotis,  E.  J.  Ketchum,  Charles  Conklin;  1879,  A.  C. 
Bachelor,  H.  J.  Plotts,  II.  C.  Howlet,  Johnson  Shank. 


BIOGRATHICAL    SKETCHES. 


CHARLES  R.  BROWNELL. 

John  W.  and  Lovonia  (Sadler)  Brownell  were  natives  of 
New  York  ^  who  came  to  Allegan  township  in  1838  and 
engaged  in  farming.  The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Charles 
R.  Brownell,  was  born  Feb.  25,  1841,  and  continued  at 
home  and  school  until  twenty-two  years  of  age.  He  mar- 
ried Clarissa  A.  Moon,  of  Van  Buren  Co.,  Mich.     One 


244 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


(their  only)  child,  Horace  Brownell,  born  April  25,  1864, 
was  left  Mr.  Brownell  upon  the  death  of  his  wife,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1868,  and  is  now  attending  college  at  Kalamazoo, 
Mich.  Jan.  1,  1874,  Mr.  Brownell  married  Fidelia  M. 
Spencer,  daughter  of  Simeon  and  Mehitable  (Baker)  Spen- 
cer, known  as  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Clinton  Co.,  Mich. 
In  1873  Mr.  Brownell  purchased  the  Rabbit  River  Mills; 
previous  to  and  since  that  date  he  has  made  several  pur- 
chases of  pine-lands,  and  has  been  quite  extensively  en- 
gaged in  lumbering.  At  the  present  time  he  is  preparing 
to  engage  largely  in  peach-culture.  Aside  from  his  business 
interests,  Mr.  Brownell  has  served  his  townsmen  as  super- 
visor and  clerk  since  1869  ;  although  not  a  politician,  favors 
the  Democratic  party.  Is  known  and  recognized  amono-  a 
large  circle  of  acquaintances  and  friends  as  a  thorough  and 
conscientious  business  man. 


0.  J.  LEMOIN. 


The  parents  of  L.  C.  and  Rozilla  Lemoin  were  of  French 
descent,  and  resided  in  Geauga  Co.,  Ohio,  where  0.  J.  Le- 
moin was  born,  Dec.  31,  1834,  being  the  second  son  in  a 
family  of  five  children.  In  the  year  1853  the  family  re- 
moved to  De  Kalb  Co.,  111.,  where  they  remained  till  the  fall 


of  1855,  when  the  scarcity  of  timber  induced  them  to  re- 
move to   Allegan    Co.,   Mich.,  locating  in    the   township 
of  Heath.     0.  J.,  not  yet  of  age,  purchased  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  on  section  24,  making  a  small  payment, 
and  until  1859  devoted  his  time,  winters,  lumbering,  sum- 
mers returning  to  Illinois  to  work  at  his  trade  (masonry). 
December  9th  of  that  year  he  married  Harriet  A.,  daughter 
of  H.  G.  and  Amanda  M.  Howlett,  residents  of  Lee  Co.,  III., 
and  returned  to  his  wilderness  home  in  Michigan.     In  1867 
he  purchased  eighty  acres  on  section  26,  where  he  removed 
June  1,  1868.     This,  with  an  additional  purchase  of  two 
hundred  and  eighty  acres,  constitutes  his  farm.    Mr.  Lemoin 
was  influenced  to  his  purchase,  believing  that  the  location 
and  soil  were  adapted  to  fruit-culture,  which  has  proved  cor- 
rect.    He  first  began  by  planting  three  acres  of  peaches, 
pears,  and  grapes,  increasing  the  acreage,  until  today  he 
has  over  seventy  acres  planted.     He  may  proudly  call  the 
reader's  attention  to  his  view  as  illustrative  of  the  above. 
We  append  as  the  result  of   the  union  of   these   goodly 
people  their  family  record  :  Frank  F.,  born  May  6,  1861 ; 
James  E.,  born  Nov.  4,  1864,  died  Nov.  1,  1865;  Mary 
A.,  born  Jan.  5,  1866,  died  in  infancy;  Rosilia  A.,  born 
May  22,  1867  ;  Cornelia  C,  born  Deo.  20,  1869;  Jenette 
M.,  born  Aug.  29,  1874;  Cora  A.,  born  Dec.  11,  1877; 
Fred  H.,  born  Oct.  23,  1879. 


H  o  p  K  I  jsr  s; 


NATURAL  PEATUEES. 

Survey-township  No.  3,  range  12,  constitutes  the  civil 
township  of  Hopkins.  It  is  bounded  on  the  west  by  Mon- 
terey, on  the  east  by  Wayland,  on  the  north  by  Dorr,  and 
on  the  south  by  Watson.  It  ranks  among  the  foremost 
townships  of  the  county  in  the  quality  of  the  land  and  in 
the  amount  of  its  crops,  while  its  reputation  as  a  sugar-pro- 
ducing district  has  extended  beyond  the  limits  of  Allegan 
County. 

Portions  of  the  surface  of  Hopkins  are  level,  though  the 
larger  part  is  undulating.  Along  the  southern  boundary 
and  in  the  northwestern  portion  many  hills  and  valleys  are 
to  be  seen,  which  abound  in  picturesque  and  beautiful 
views.  The  level  lands  were  earliest  cleared,  and  are  now 
covered  by  fine  orchards  and  fertile  fields  of  waving  "-rain. 
On  the  west  side  of  the  township  there  is  some  swampy 
land,  which,  however,  easily  yields  to  the  excellent  system 
of  drainage  in  use,  and  is  rapidly  being  converted  into  pro- 
ductive acres. 

A  branch  of  Rabbit  River  enters  the  township  at  the 
northeast  and  another  at  the  southeast  corner.  They  unite 
on  section  20,  whence  the  combined  stream  passes  out  of 
the  township  near  the  northwest  corner.     These  streams 


«  By  E.  0.  Wagner. 


afibrd  ample  water-power  for  milling  or  other  purposes. 
There  are  two  or  three  lakes  of  great  magnitude  on  sections 
18  and  32,  and  numerous  springs.     The  prevailing  timber  ' 
is  beech,  oak,  basswood,  elm,  with  a  small  quantity  of  pine 
in  the  northwestern  portion. 

The  soil  of  Hopkins  varies  in  difi'erent  localities,  but  is 
well  adapted  to  the  growth  of  all  grains,  as  well  as  most 
vegetables  and  fruits.  A  species  of  vegetable  mould 
abounds  in  the  swamps ;  a  strong  clay  subsoil  is  found  on 
the  level  plains ;  and  sand  and  gravel,  interspersed  with 
clay,  yield  abunalant  crops  on  the  elevated  ground.'  The 
yield  of  wheat  is  quite  equal  to  the  average  throughout 
the  county,  while  oats  are  exceptional  in  their  prolific 
growth.  Much  fine  grazing-land  is  also  found  in  this  town- 
ship, and  the  hay  crop  is  generally  extremely  good.  In  the 
summer  of  1873,  771  acres  of  wheat  were  harvested,  which 
produced  9523  bushels  of  that  grain,  while  777  acres  of 
corn  yielded  18,770  bushels.  Of  other  grains  14,404 
bushels  were  produced.  Since  that  time  a  large  arel  of 
land  has  been  rendered  available,  and  the  crop  of  all  grains 
is  proportionally  increased.' 

Hopkins'  especial  boast,  however,  is  its  yield  of  maple- 
sugar,  not  being  approached  in  the  production  of  this  de- 
licious article  by  any  of  its  neighbors.  In  1874,  103,650 
pounds  was  made,  over  two  tons  having  been  the  yield  of  a 


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HOPKINS   TOWNSHIP. 


245 


single  grove.  Very  few  farms  are  without  a  sugar-bush , 
and  all  the  modern  appliances  are  used  for  converting  the 
sap  into  syrup,  and  afterwards  into  sugar. 

Most  varieties  of  fruit  thrive  ia  Hopkins,  especially  the 
apple,  which  has  yielded  extraordinary  crops  in  some  of  the 
orchards  on  the  level  lands.  Grapes  find  here  a  congenial 
soil  and  a  climate  well  adapted  to  their  perfect  growth. 

The  farm-residences  of  Hopkins,  while  making  no  pre- 
tensions to  elegance,  are  substantial  and  usually  spacious, 
with  excellent  barns  and  out-buildings.  Occasionally  a  log 
cabin  is  seen,  but  these  relics  of  pioneer  days  are  fast  dis- 
appearing. The  township  is  admirably  located  for  the 
purpose  of  exporting  its  products,  the  Kalamazoo  division 
of  the  Lake-Shore  and  Michigan  Southern  Kailroad  crossing 
the  western  portion,  with  two  stations  within  its  boundaries, 
while  the  Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana  Railroad  runs  within 
a  mile  of  its  eastern  line.  It  has  also  two  small  villages, 
one  of  which  is  the  centre  of  a  considerable  grain  trafiSc. 

LAND-ENTRIES. 

The  entries  of  government  land  in  townahip  3,  of  range 
12,  are  as  follows : 

Section  1. — Bought  in   1836  and  1837  by  Talcott  Howard,  James  L. 

Glen;  H.  S.  Morgan,  and  William  Huntington. 
Section  2. — Bought  in  1837  by  J.  L.  filen,  C.  S.  Phillips,  Ira  Camp, 

C.  I.  Walker. 
Section  Z. — Bought  from  1851  to  18.')8  by  Christopher  Johnson,  John 

Keis,  William  Truax,  John  Barber,  R.  M.  Congdon,  Henry  Frour, 

Peter  Meier,  David  F.  Heydenbeck. 
Section  4. — Bought  in  1835  by  Samuel  Hubbard, 
^ecft'on  5.— Bought   in    1834,  1835,     and    1836  by  Samuel   H.   Sill, 

George   Fetterman,  Lucius  Abbott,  Samuel  Hubbard,  Benjamin 

Eager. 
Section  6. — Bought  in  1835  by  Taloott  Howard,  A.  L.  Cotton,  Samuel 

Hubbard. 
Section  1. — Bought  in  1836  by  James  B.  Murray,  Cyrus  Smith. 
Section  8. — Bought  in   1835  and  1836  by  Charles  Butler,  James  B. 

Murray,  Cyrus  Smith. 
Section  9. — Bought  from  1835  to  1851  by  Samuel  Hubbard,  Charles 

J.    Lauman,  Hugh  Y.  Purvianoe,  William   Frue,    William    H. 

Parmalee. 
Section  10. — Bought  from  1836  to  1854  by  C.  J.  Lauman,  J.  L.  Glen, 

C.  S.  Phillips,  Silas  Trowbridge,  B.  Doten,  Ira  Chaffee,  B.  S. 

Whithead,  W.  H.  Parmalee,  R.  M.  Congdon. 
Section  11.— Bought  in  1839  by  Glen  and  Phillips,  C.  H.  Judson,  El- 
der P.  Dwight,  Silas  Chappel. 
Section  12.— Bought  from  1852  to  1861  by  Enoch  Spencer,  H.  H.  Pratt, 

G.  L.  Hicks,  H.  M.  Peck,  Jerome  Valentine,  W.  S.  March,  W.  S. 

Kenfield,  E.  H.  Gere. 
Seclion  13. — Bought  from  1852  to  1858   by  Merrick  Burton,  B.  A. 

Pratt,  H.  M.  Peck,  Alexander  McDonald,  S.  M.  Hall,  Jamei  A. 

McKay,  0.  D.  Parsons,  Abram  Buskirk. 
Section  14. — Bought  from  1837  to  1858  by  Silas  Chappell,  Hiram 

Loomis,   Jacob   Poucher,    J.    Moffatt,   Jr.,    Samuel    Grouwnon, 

Chauncey  White,  Anna  Haoket. 
Section  15.— Bought  from  1836  to  1852  by  F.  Armitage,  C.  J.  Lau- 
man, Erastus  Congdon,  Lather  Martin,  C.  P.  Staats. 
Section  16. — Bought  from  1854  to  1860  by  N.  N.  Dpson,  G.  Parmalee, 

E.  L.  Bull,  N.  S.  Atwater,  E.  Parmalee,  M.  Parmalee,  J.  P.  Par- 
malee, J.  W.  M.  Baird,  J.  W.  McBride,  Hiram  Satterlee,  N.  H. 

Wilson. 
Section  17. — Bought  in  1835  and  1836  by  Silsbee  and  Frost,  Charles 

Butler,  George  Brace,  Cyrus  Smith. 
Section  18. — Bought  in  1835  by  Silsbee  and  Frost. 
Section  19.— Bought  from  1835  to  1854  by  N.  Silsbee,  Elias  Streeter, 

Konrad  Krug,  John  Pierce. 
Section  20.— Bought  from  1835  to  1853  by  Samuel  Hubbard,  Blias 
Streetor,  Nelson  Sage,  John  Stevenson. 


Section  21. — Bought  in  1835  and  1837  by  Charles  Butler,  Esek  Baker, 
Morgan  and  Huntington. 

Section  22. — Bought  in  1836  by  Charles  Butler. 

Section  23.— Bought  from  1837  to  1853  by  Thomas  Moshier,  Nathaniel 
Barnard,  Olive  Alford,  Salmon  Kingsley,  Abram  Colman,  Wain- 
wright  Rabbitt. 

Section  24. — Bought  in  1851  and  1852  by  Samuel  C.  Lewis,  Parley 
Dean,  J.  B.  Harding,  W.  B.  Clark. 

Section  25. — Bought  from  1837  to  1852  by  Adam  and  Chrisholine,  Dan- 
ford  Dean,  L.  H.  Pratt,  S.  B.  Cram. 

Section  26. — Bought  from  1837  to  1853  by  Morgan  and  Huntington, 
C.  M.  Kimball,  Erastus  Congdon,  J.  0.  Round,  A.  A.  Ingerson,  S. 
Kingsley,  Jr.,  W.  R.  Ingerson. 

Section  27.— Bought  in  1837,  1853,  and  1854  by  C.  C.  Clute,  John 
Peer,  J.  M.  Baldwin,  Francis  Forbes. 

Section  28.— Bought  from  1836  to  1853  by  Henry  Damont,  Daniel 
Hawks,  Esek  Baker,  Armenius  Tice,  S.  W.  Mankin,  Jonathan 
Brewer. 

Section  29.— Bought  from  1836  to  1868  by  Henry  Dumont,  Charles 
Benson,  Justus  Noble,  Nathan  Smith,  Philo  Van  Keuren,  A.  Tice, 
Albert  Lane,  D.  C.  Ingerson,  D.  L.  Hilliard,  Ransom  Durkee,  J. 
M.  Smith. 

Section  30.— Bought  from  1836  to  1854  by  Daniel  Hawks,  Henry  Wil- 
son, Henry  Staring,  George  Wise,  Philo  Herlan. 

Section  31. — Bought  in  1854  by  Joseph  Thorn,  Philo  Herlan,  Lewis 
Halen. 

Seclion  32.— Bought  from  1837  to  1855  by  William  C.  Jenner,.D.  C. 
Ingerson,  John  Stevenson,  Leander  Brewer,  George  N.  Mason,  E. 
G.  Allen,  Lewis  Herlan,  Charles  Butler. 

Section  34.— Bought  from  1837  to  1858  by  John  I.  Barnard,  D.  M. 
iind  Laura  Booth,  Ralph  Emerson,  Fanny  Richardson,  Henry 
Powell,  J.  M.  Baldwin,  H.  J.  Baldwin,  J.  W.  McFarland,  John  B.. 
Finkor,  William  Perkins. 

Seclion  35. — Bought  from  1837  to  1855  by  Henry  Barnard,  J.  I.  Lard- 
ncr,  Nelson  Corbett,  Edwin  Daily,  Jr.,  Mary  J.  Corbctt,  Sylvester 
Finker,  Ira  Hill,  I.  M.  Perkins,  William  Simmons. 

Section  36. — Bought  from  1837  to  1853  by  Stephen  Vail,  Daniel  Ar- 
nold, R.  C.  Round,  Ira  Hill,  Blisha  Griswold. 

EAELY  SETTLEMENTS. 

As  late  as  the  fore-part  of  the  year  1838  the  area  now 
embraced  in  the  township  of  Hopkins  was  an  unbroken 
wilderness,  and  the  only  inhabitants  were  the  deer,  the 
wolf,  and  other  wild  animals,  and  their  formidable  foe  the 
red  man. 

During  the  year  above  mentioned,  Jonathan  Olin  Round, 
a  native  of  Vermont,  and  latterly  a  resident  of  Kalamazoo 
County,  made  his  advent  as  the  first  settler  of  Hopkins. 
Mr.  Round  had  come  the  previous  year  and  located  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  26,  where  he  had  erected  a 
lo"  cabin  and  made  a  small  clearing,  so  that  a  rude  home 
was  ready  for  his  family  when  they  arrived  in  1838.  The 
life  of  the  Round  family  was,  until  the  arrival  of  the  next 
settlers,  an  extremely  isolated  one,  it  being  no  less  than 
five  miles  to  the  nearest  neighbor.  Mr.  Round's  first  clear- 
in"-  was  necessarily  very  roughly  done,  and  his  first  crops 
grew  up  scattered  here  and  there  among  not  only  stumps, 
but  loo-s.  His  corn  was  husked  in  the  fields,  beside  a 
blazing  fire  of  logs.  He  dryly  remarks  that  he  gave  no 
invitation  to  husking-bees,  as  there  were  no  neighbors  to 
respond. 

In  the  family  of  Mr.  Round  occurred  the  first  birth  in 
the  township,  that  of  his  daughter,  Sarah  A.  Round,  now 
Mrs.  William  S.  Kenfield,  who  was  born  in  1838.  In 
June  1839,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Round  were  afflicted  by  the 
death  of  their  son,  Oziel  Hopkins  Round,  aged  two  and  a 
half  years,  his  being  the  first  death  in  the  township.     Mr. 


216 


HISTORY   OF  ALLKGAN  AND  BARRY   COUiNTIES,  iMICIIIGAN. 


and  Mrs.  Round  still  enjoy  a  vigorous  old  age,  surrounded 
by  their  children,  in  tlie  pleasant  homo  in  Hopkins  which 
they  made  for  themselves  out  of  the  wilderness. 

In  the  fall  of  1838  came  Erastus  Congdon,  who  built  a 
cabin  on  section  26,  the  northwest  quarter  of  which  he 
purchased,  and  on  which,  a  year  later,  he  became  a  perma- 
nent resident.  He  was  also  a  Vermonter,  and  had  been  a 
temporary  resident  in  Kalamazoo  County,  where  he  arrived 
in  company  with  Mr.  Round.  Mr.  Congdon  was  after- 
wards the  first  postmaster  in  the  township.  His  death 
occurred  at  Hopkins  in  1871,  where  his  two  sons,  Albert 
P.  and  Erastus  B.  Congdon,  now  reside. 

Among  the  earliest  pioneers  of  Hopkins  were  Esek 
Baker  and  two  sons,  Harvey  N.  and  Jason  Baker,  the 
first  of  whom  entered  160  acres  of  land  on  section  28 
in  1837,  to  which  he  subsequently  added  40  acres.  Har- 
vey N.  Baker  had  been  a  resident  of  Canada  previously  to 
1836,  when  he  came  to  Michigan.  After  a  short  stay  in 
Martin  he  removed  to  Hopkins  in  1838,  having  also  lo- 
cated on  section  28.  While  residing  in  Martin  he  had  built 
a  log  house  and  made  some  advances  towards  clearing  his 
land.  Jason  Baker  is  the  only  survivor  of  the  family,  and 
still  occupies  the  old  homestead,  which  he  has  made  one  of 
the  most  productive  farms  in  the  township.  Jackson 
Baker,  a  son  of  Harvey  N.  Baker,  resides  in  Hopkins,  on 
■  section  3,  where  he  has  100  acres,  which  he  purchased  in 
1854. 

The  first  wedding  in  the  township  occurred  at  the  house 
of  Mr.  Esek  Baker,  the  parties  being  his  daughter,  Miss 
Huldah  Baker,  and  Mr.  John  Lardner. 

T.  J.  Crampton  settled  in  Hopkins  in  1839,  having  pur- 
chased 40  acres  on  section  16. 

John  J.  Lardner  arrived  in  1841,  and  purchased  120 
acres  on  section  35,  and  an  additional  40  in  the  adjoinin"- 
townsliip  of  Watson.  He  found  the  same  obstacles  await- 
ing him  that  had  been  encountered  by  his  predecessors,  but 
devoted  much  energy  to  the  work  of  improving  his  land. 
Subsequently  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Kalamazoo  County, 
and  made  it  his  readence. 

William  Tyler  followed  soon  after,  and  found  a  home 
upon  80  acres  on  section  29.  John  Hicks  was  also  a 
pioneer  of  about  the  same  period,  but  does  not  appear  to 
have  become  a  land-owner  on  his  arrival.  Nelson  Corbitt 
and  his  family  made  their  weary  and  tedious  way  to  Hop- 
kins with  an  ox-team  in  the  fall  of  1846.  On  section  35 
he  purchased  120  acres,  and  the  family  obtained  shelter  at 
the  log  house  of  Jonathan  0.  Round  until  quarters  could 
be  erected  on  their  own  land.  Mr.  Corbitt  went  to  work 
resolutely  to  clear  his  place,  but  did  not  long  survive  his 
advent.  His  death  occurred  in  the  fall  of  1850,  and  his 
estate,  with  his  heritage  of  hard  labor,  passed  to  his  son. 
The  latter  died  in  1878,  and  left  the  farm  in  possession  of 
his  widow,  who  now  resides  upon  it. 

John  Parsons  became  a  resident  upon  1 60  acres  on  sec- 
tion 1  in  1843,  and  William  H.  Warner  purchased  and  oc- 
cupied 40  acres  upon  section  15  the  year  following,  which 
they  both  improved. 

For  many  years  there  was  little  emigration  to  Hopkins, 
although  the  neighboring  townships  were  being  rapidly 
populated,     Ip   1853  and  1854,  however,  a  considerable 


number  of  emigrants  arrivcil  from  Ohio,  who  located  within 
a  convenient  distance  fioni  the  centre  of  the  township,  and 
christened  the  locality  "  Ohio  Corners.'' 

Joel  Button,  a  former  resident  of  Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio, 
located  in  1853  upon  80  acres  on  section  15,  to  which  he 
afterwards  added  80  more.  It  was  partially  cleared,  and  a 
log  house  had  been  erected  upon  it  by  Luther  Martin,  who, 
after  a  brief  residence,  had  removed  to  Indiana.  J.  P. 
Lindsley  arrived  with  his  neighbor,  Mr.  Button,  in  1853, 
and  found  a  homo  on  30  acres  of  .xeciii)n  33.  He  was  one 
of  the  Ohio  (.•ulnny,  and  purchased  of  Zenas  Pratt,  who 
moved  to  another  part  of  the  township.  James  E.  Parma- 
lee,  formerly  of  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  located  in  1854  upon 
80  acres  on  section  22.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and 
found  many  demands  made  upon  his  time  and  skill.  Mr. 
Parmalee  erected  a  substantial  frame  house  upon  his  farm, 
and  also  speedily  demonstrated  that  the  labors  of  the  hus- 
bandman were  no  less  congenial  to  him  than  those  of  the 
carpenter.  H is  nearest  neighbors  were  Edward  Barbarow, 
who  purchased  50  acres  on  section  23  (where  he  died  in 
1850),  and  J.  P.  Lindsley,  already  mentioned. 

At  nearly  the  same  time  came  William  H.  Parmalee, 
who  located  120  acres  upon  sections  9  and  10,  which  he 
cleared  and  improved.  He  participated  actively  in  public 
afi'airs,  and  held  many  offices  of  trust  in  the  township. 

Among  the  leading  citizens  of  German  descent  in  the 
township  are  the  family  of  Hoffmasters,  who  removed  from 
Mahoning  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1854.  John  Hoffmaster  pur- 
chased 80  acres  on  section  1 9,  and  placed  his  family  under 
the  care  of  a  brother  in  Monterey  while  he  erected  a  com- 
fortable habitation  for  their  occupancy.  He  at  once  began 
the  labor  of  improving  his  land,  doing  all  this  labor  with 
his  own  hands,  as  he  had  neither  oxen  nor  horses  to  assist 
in  the  operation.  His  nearest  neighbor  was  Konrad  Krug, 
who  preceded  him  from  Ohio  in  1853,  and  had  settled 
upon  120  acres  on  section  19,  where  he  still  resides.  Mr. 
Hoffmaster  still  lives  in  Hopkins,  but  has  recently  moved 
to  the  southeast  portion  of  the  township. 

Gotlieb  Hoffmaster,  a  native  of  Wittenberg,  Germany, 
emigrated  to  America  with  his  father  in  1817,  and  arrived 
in  Hopkins  in  1854.  He  purchased  80  acres  on  section 
20,  and  the  log  house  of  his  brother  John  gave  him  tem- 
porary shelter  until  he  could  build  one  of  his  own.  He, 
too,  is  still  a  resident  of  the  township. 

Joseph  Hoffmaster  arrived  in  1855,  and  at  once  secured 
320  acres  on  section  18.  He  was  the  eldest  of  the  brothers, 
and  had  accumulated  property  in  Ohio,  which  of  course 
greatly  aided  him  in  his  Michigan  experience.  He  lived 
upon  the  farm  until  his  death,  in  1873,  having  previously 
divided  his  property  among  his  children. 

Albert  Lane,  another  Ohio  pioneer,  came  from  Summit 
County,  in  that  State,  in  1854,  purchased  80  acres  on  sec- 
tion 22,  120  acres  on  section  27,  and  80  acres  on  section 
29.  On  section  27  a  log  house  had  already  been  built  and 
10  acres  chopped.  This  dispensed  with  much  of  the  pre- 
liminary labor  of  the  settler,  and  enabled  Mr.  Lane  to  make 
rapid  progress.  Forty  acres  of  cleared  land  was  the  result 
of  his  first  year  of  toil.  His  nearest  neighbors  were  Jason 
Baker  and  Seralpha  C.  Buck,  the  latter  of  whom  had  pre- 
ceded him  and  located  upon  115  acres  on  section  27.     Mr. 


HOPKINS  TOWNSHIP. 


247 


Lane  afterwards  sold  a  portion  of  his  farm  and  removed  to 
section  22,  where  he  now  resides. 

H.  F.  White,  another  member  of  the  Ohio  colony, 
arrived  in  1854,  and  chose  a  residence  upon  section  22, 
where  he  purchased  80  acres  of  unimproved  land.  As  Mr. 
White  had  no  team,  he  could  improve  his  land  but  slowly, 
his  first  planting  being  done  without  any  plowing  whatever. 

Luther  Martin  early  located  on  section  15,  where  he 
owned  50  acres,  which  he  cleared  up.  He  then  repaired  to 
section  23,  and  finally  removed  to  Indiana,  where  he  died. 

Alonzo  Button  arrived  from  Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1855, 
and  purchased  240  acres  on  section  14,  a  small  portion  of 
which  had  been  cleared.  He  still  lives  on  the  place  he 
originally  selected. 

Among  the  enterprising  pioneers  of  1854  were  Abram, 
Peter,  and  Eliphalet  Buskirk,  who  like  so  many  others  had 
been  residents  of  Ohio.  Abram  and  Peter  purchased  land 
on  section  23,  the  former  owning  40  and  the  latter  60  acres. 
Eliphalet,  however,  made  his  home  upon  80  acres  on  sec- 
tion 13.  They  devoted  themselves  to  improving  their 
farms,  and  all  still  occupy  their  original  locations,  upon 
which  inviting  frame  houses  have  since  been  built.  Wil- 
liam Buskirk  came  one  year  later,  and  purchased  160  acres 
on  section  24,  where  he  now  resides. 

Dr.  James  M.  Baldwin  became  a  resident  of  the  town- 
ship in  1853,  and  immediately  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  Previous  to  this  date  the  health  of  the  towns- 
people was  cared  for  by  Drs.  Briggs  and  Bradley,  of  Way- 
land. 

S.  W.  Mankin,  a  native  of  Columbiana  Co.,  Ohio,  with 
his  wife  and  three  children,  emigrated  to  Hopkins  in  the  fall 
of  1853,  and  purchased  of  Jonathan  Brewer  80  acres  on 
section  28.  After  converting  the  uncultivated  land  of  1853 
into  a  fine  farm,  Mr.  Mankin  moved  to  Hopkins'  Station 
in  1877,  leaving  his  place  in  charge  of  his  son.  At  the 
station  he  engaged  in  carrying  on  the  business  of  black- 
smithing  and  repairing  wagons. 

William  R.  Ingerson,  a  native  of  Vermont,  emigrated  to 
Michigan,  in  1850,  and  purchased  land  near  Jonathan  0. 
Round,  where  he  still  resides.  His  brother,  D.  C.  Inger- 
son, came  in  1854,  and  located  160  acres  on  section  24, 
where  he  now  lives.  They  have  met  with  the  success  that 
always  follows  persistent  and  Well-directed  efforts.  L.  A. 
Atwater  became  a  resident  of  Hopkins  in  1856.  He 
worked  several  years  in  R.  A.  Baird's  saw-mill.  He  pur- 
chased 50  acres  of  land  on  section  14  from  Alonzo  Button, 
subsequently  added  40  more,  and  finally  moved  on  to  his 
place  in  1863. 

Robert  Ashley  Baird  arrived  from  Ohio  in  1856,  and  in 
connection  with  Dr.  E.  H.  Wait  erected  a  steam  saw-mill, 
the  first  in  the  township,  on  section  26,  of  which  he  soon 
became  the  sole  manager.  Afterwards  he  purchased  a  farm 
upon  the  adjoining  section,  on  which  he  resided  until  his 
death,  in  1872.  His  widow  still  occupies  the  place.  His 
brother,  J.  A.  Baird,  also  arrived  in  1850,  and  two  years 
later  secured  80  acres  on  section  15.  The  nearest  neighbor 
at  this  time  was  J.  H.  Avery,  who  was  then  located  upon 
section  15,  but  has  since  removed  to  Monterey.  Mr. 
Baird's  highly-cultivated  farm  and  attractive  appurtenances 
are  evidence  of  his  success  in  agricultural  pursuits. 


Samuel  Eggleston,  formerly  of  Geauga  Co.,  Ohio,  settled 
in  1858  upon  80«acres  of  wild  hind  on  section  9.  William 
Parmelee's  hospitality  was  gladly  accepted  while  Mr.  Eg- 
gleston was  engaged  in  erecting  a  habitation  of  his  own. 
There  were  no  near  neighbors,  with  the  e.xoeption  of  Wil- 
liam Frue  on  the  same  section,  whose  death  occurred  in 
1860.     Mr.  Eggleston  is  still  a  resident  of  the  township. 

Among  other  settlers  who  arrived  as  early  as  1853,  or 
earlier,  were  Jonathan  Brewer,  who  located  80  acres  on 
section  28  ;  John  Breslin,  who  resided  on  section  32 ;  R. 
B.  Congdon,  who  purchased  80  acres  on  section  28 ;  D.  C. 
Ingerson  ;  I.  Joy,  who  settled  upon  160  acres  on  section 
24 ;  Hiram  Loomis,  who  located  on  section  14 ;  John  Par- 
sons, whose  farm  embraced  160  acres  on  section  1  ;  John 
Truax,  who  owned  80  acres  on  section  3  ;  Matthew  Van 
Dusen,  who  made  his  home  on  section  1  ;  Thomas  Wilson, 
Benjamin  Truax,  Chester  B.  Storrs,  and  Edward  Daily,  Jr. 
Many  of  these  gentlemen  were  active  in^promoting  the  in- 
terests of  the  township,  but  it  is  impracticable  to  go  into 
further  details. 

Hopkins,  like  other  Michigan  townships,  could  not  dis- 
play much  wealth  in  its  early  days,  and,  perhaps  on  account 
of  its  slow  settlement,  had  a  longer  struggle  with  poverty  than 
some  townships  whose  prosperity  is  not  now  equal  to  its  own. 
Johnny-cake  was  the  staple  article  of  diet,  and  a  tattered 
garment  did  not  prove  an  obstacle  to  admission  to  the  best 
society  of  Hopkins.  Many  barefooted  worshipers  were 
seen  at  the  religious  services  on  Sabbath,  and  William 
Wheeler,  who  conducted  the  exercises  in  the  log  school- 
house  in  district  No.  2,  frequently  oflBciated  without  coat 
or  shoes.  Poverty  in  the  primitive  days  of  the  township 
history  was  accomoaniea  with  nc  disgrace. 

EAKLY  KOADS. 

The  earliest  recorded  highways  were  surveyed  in  1840, 
the  line  of  the  first  road  being  laid  out  by  S.  Barber,  in 
April  of  that  year.     It  pursued  the  following  course : 

*'  Commencing  at  the  northeast  corner  of  section  two,  in  township  four 
north,  of  range  twelve  west,  in  Allegan  County  and  State  of  Michigan  ; 
from  thence  south  five  miles  to  the  northeast  corner  of  section  thirty- 
five;  from  thence  south  forty-five  degrees  west  to  the  southwest  corner 
of  the  above-named  section,  all  in  the  above-named  township ;  thence 
south  between  sections  two  and  three  in  township  three  north,  of 
range  twelve  wdSt,  one  mile  to  the  northeast  corner  of  section  ten ; 
thence  south  forty-five  degrees  west  one  hundred  and  thirteen  chains, 
to  the  northeast  corner  of  section  sixteen ;  thence  south  sixty-three 
chains  to  an  iron-wood  post,  distant  from  a  white-oak  tree  twenty-four 
inches  in  diameter  ninety-seven  links,  course  from  post  to  tree  being 
north  forty-four  degrees  west;  thence  south  seventy-eight  degrees 
east  four  chains  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  links,  to  a  beech-tree 
three  inches  in  diameter,  distant  from  an  elm-tree  twelve  inches  in 
diameter  fifty-six  links  north  forty-eight  degrees  east;  thence  south 
thirty-one  degrees  five  minutes  east  three  chains  and  forty-six  links, 
to  a  thorn-apple  post  three  inches  in  diameter,  standing  on  the  north 
bank  of  Rabbit  River,  distant  eighty-five  links." 

The  next  road  began  at  the  northwest  corner  of  section 
28,  in  township  3,  range  12,  running  thence  east  on  the 
section-line  one  mile,  to  the  northeast  corner  of  the  same 
section.  This  road  was  surveyed  by  R.  T.  M.  Wells.  The 
record  of  its  adoption  is  dated  April  16, 1840,  and  is  signed 
by  William  S.  Miner  and  Clark  Corey,  as  highway  com- 
missioners. 


248 


HISTOKY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


SCHOOLS. 

The  first  account  of  any  action  taken  by  the  people  of 
Hopkins  in  reference  to  schools  is  in  the  township  records, 
from  which  the  following  items  are  gleaned : 

A  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Erastus  Congdon 
on  Tuesday,  the  1st  day  of  October,  1844,  and  a  contract 
for  the  construction  of  the  first  school  building  in  Hopkins 
was  awarded  to  Jason  Baker,  for  which  he  received  the 
sum  of  $26.50.  The  earliest  school  was  opened  on  the 
16th  day  of  December,  1844,  Miss  Josephine  Wait  being 
the  teacher.  This  building  was  erected  in  district  No.  1, 
and  was  known  as  the  "  Round  School-house,"  from  the 
fact  of  its  having  been  adjacent  to  the  residence  of  J.  0. 
Round,  the  earliest  settler  in  Hopkins.  It  was  many  years 
before  a  second  school  building  was  erected.  The  township 
is  now  divided  into  ten  whole  school  districts  and  one  frac- 
tional one,  with  the  following  board  of  directors:  Frederick 
Hodge,  Charles  W.  Button,  N.  W.  Smith,  Aaron  Kroug, 
Edward  Scofield,  H.  Avery,  W.  H.  Parmelee,  Henry  Bus- 
kirk,  L.  C.  Chadwick,  R.  L.  Taylor,  and  James  Huttlcston. 
There  are  nine  framed  school-houses  and  one  of  logs,  where 
443  scholars  receive  instruction.  The  salaries  of  the  teach- 
ers amount  to  $1796.50  annually. 

HOPKINS  STATION. 
The  hamlet  known  as  Hopkins  Station  is  built  on  section 
19,  and  principally  known  as  a  station  of  the  Kalamazoo 
division  of  the  Lake-Shore  and  Michigan  Southern  Rail- 
road. The  site  was  originally  owned  by  John  Hoffmaster, 
who  purchased  the  land  in  1854,  and  afterwards  sold  it  to 
his  nephews,  John  and  Philip  Hofimaster.  The  railroad 
company  established  a  station  there  in  1871,  and  appointed 
Royal  L.  Taylor  its  agent,  who  found  a  temporary  habita- 
tion in  the  log  house  originally  erected  by  John  Hoffmaster. 
In  1872  the  first  framed  house  was  erected  by  Henry 
Guyott.  Two  years  later  Mr.  Taylor  built  a  house  and 
store,  the  latter  of  which  was  filled  with  goods  before  it 
was  supplied  with  doors  and  windows.  Messrs,  Burnip  & 
Iliff  had  previously  built  a  cabin,  which  was  temporarily 
used  for  the  sale  of  a  small  stock  of  groceries.  Mr.  S.  A. 
Buck,  whose  advent  occurred  in  1873,  had  previously  been 
a  resident  of  Kent  County.  He  purchased  10  acres  of  the 
Hoffmasters,  a  plat  of  which  was  recorded  on  the  17th  of 
October,  1874.  John  Hoffmaster  recorded  an  addition  on 
the  10th  of  March,  1876,  and  another  was  made  by  George 
Wise  on  the  l'2th  of  May,  1877.  In  the  fall  of  1873, 
Mr.  Buck  built  a  wagon-  and  blacksmith-shop  and  engaged 
actively  in  business,  meanwhile  erecting  buildings  and  gen- 
erally advancing  the  interests  of  the  place. 

The  hamlet  has  since  become  of  considerable  impor- 
tance. Its  leading  places  of  business  are  a  hotel,  formerly 
kept  by  Abram  Hoffmaster,  and  now  managed  by  Wendle 
Ederly ;  a  saw- mill,  owned  by  Cooper  &  Konkle;  a  broom- 
handle  factory  ;  three  general  stores,  owned  respectively  by 
John  Bragenten,  J.  H.  Luddington,  and  Messrs.  Furber  & 
Kidder;  a  harness-shop,  the  proprietor  of  which  is  S.  V. 
Bourne ;  a  tin-shop,  kept  by  Andrew  Bee,  who  enjoys  con- 
siderable fame  as  one  of  the  heroes  of  the  Jefferson  Davis 
capture;  two  blacksmith-shops,  carried  on  by  S.  W.  Mankin 
and   Abram   Naggell;   a  wagon-shop,   owned  by  George    I 


Pratt ;  the  two  millinery-stores  of  Mrs.  L.  E.  Reed  and 
Mrs.  J.  H.  Luddington ;  and  a  market,  kept  by  Walter 
Kibby.  The  public  school  of  the  district,  kept  by  Miss 
Russell,  is  also  located  here. 

A  post-office  was  early  established  at  Hopkins  Station, 
Henry  Guyott  having  been  the  first  postmaster.  Royal  L. 
Taylor  now  holds  the  appointment.  The  physicians  of  the 
place  are  Drs.  Luddington  and  Leighton. 

HOPKINS. 

The  original  owners  of  the  land  embraced  in  the  present 
village  of  Hopkins  were  Erastus  Congdon  and  Elder  Buck. 
In  1856,  Dr.  E.  H.  Wait  purchased  a  tract  of  Mr.  Congdon, 
and  in  connection  with  Robert  A.  Baird  erected  a  steam 
saw-mill,  which  was  soon  after  entirely  controlled  by  the 
latter  gentleman.  Dr.  Wait  meanwhile  erected  a  store,  and 
placed  in  it  a  stock  of  goods.  This  business  he  conducted 
for  several  years,  and  then  sold  to  William  Richmond,  who 
in  1861  built  a  flouring-mill  and  began  to  operate  it.  Mr. 
Richmond  disposed  of  his  interest  in  the  store  to  a  Mr. 
Salisbury,  who,  however,  sold  it  to  its  former  owner.  It 
finally  became  the  property  of  parties  residing  at  Kalama- 
zoo. The  building  was  then  rented,  and  was  ultimately 
purchased  by  Messrs.  Aldrich  &  Baker.  On  the  retirement 
of  Mr.  Baker,  the  firm  became  Aldrich  &  Owen. 

The  second  store  in  the  hamlet  was  built  by  Messrs. 
Hopper  &  Smith,  who  engaged  for  a  while  in  business',  and 
had  a  liberal  trade,  but  at  length  disposed  of  the  property 
and  departed  for  Nebraska. 

Dr.  William  K.  Darling  arrived  in  1872,  having  previ- 
ously enjoyed  an  extensive  practice  in  Otsego.  For  five 
years  after  his  arrival  in  Hopkins  he  followed  his  profession, 
when  ill  health  compelled  him  to  relinquish  its  arduous  du- 
ties. He  then  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  building  the 
store  he  now  occupies,  and  placed  in  it  an  extensive  stock 
of  drugs  and  groceries.     This  business  he  still  carries  on. 

Charles  S.  Chadwick  purchased,  in  1878,  (he  building 
erected  by  Dr.  B.  H.  Wait,  and  is  now  extensively  engaged 
in  trade.     He  is  also  the  postmaster  of  the  village. 

Ira  Hill  conducts  a  hardware  business,  and  Thomas 
Hicks  has  a  blacksmith-shop.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  1857,  having  arrived  in  the  county  as  early  as  1839. 
Dr.  U.  R.  Fox  and  Dr.  Lafayette  Stuck  are  the  practicing 
physicians  of  this  locality.  The  public  school  is  taught  by 
Martin  Baldwin. 

CONGREGATIONAL  CHUECH. 
The  earliest  religious  meetings  preparatory  to  the  organ- 
ization of  a  society  were  conducted  in  the  various  school- 
houses  of  the  township,  clergymen  of  the  Methodist  Church 
and  the  Church  of  the  Disciples  having  officiated.  A  society 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Congregational  Church  was  formed 
Aug.  4,  1857,  embracing  13  members,  the  first  meeting 
having  been  held  at  the  Red  school-house  in  school  district 
No.  1.  On  this  occasion  the  Rev.  Edward  Taylor,  of  Kal- 
amazoo, delivered  the  formal  sermon,  while  Rev.  Thomas 
Jones  and  Rev.  E.  Andrew  assisted  in  the  exercises.  John 
Parsons  and  William  H.  Parmalee  were  at  this  time  chosen 
as  the  first  deacons.  The  little  band  continued  to  worship 
in  the  Red  school-house,  varying  the  routine  by  occasional 


HOPKINS  TOWNSHIP. 


249 


services  in  the  school  building  in  district' No.  2.  until  1860, 
when  an  effort  was  made  to  erect  a  church  edifice.  This 
undertaking  was  successfully  accomplished,  and  $700  cheer- 
fully subscribed  to  defray  the  expense  of  building.  The 
structure  was  enlarged  to  meet  the  growing  wants  of  the 
people  in  1871,  and  the  amount  necessary  very  readily  ob- 
tained. The  pastors  in  succession  since  the  organization  of 
the  church  have  been  Revs.  James  A.  McKay,  D.  W. 
Comstock,  Lewis  E.  Sikes,  S.  W.  Noycs,  Thomas  Nield, 
and  J.  S.  Kidder. 

WESLEYAN   METHODIST   CHURCH. 

A  class  under  the  auspices  of  this  denomination  was 
organized  in  1873  by  C.  G.  Fero,  services  having  been  held 
in  the  school-house  on  section  32.  These  services  were 
continued  under  the  successive  ministrations  of  Elders 
Harvey  Johnson  and  J.  Burke,  who  is  the  present  pastor. 

The  school  building,  which  had  for  a  season  been  the  place 
of  meeting  of  this  small  body  of  worshipers,  was  finally 
purchased  by  them,  remodeled,  and  converted  into  a  neat 
and  attractive  church  edifice,  in  which  services  are  now  held 
semi-monthly.  A  flourishing  Sabbath-school  is  also  con- 
nected with  the  society. 

Occasional  religious  services  are  held  in  other  portions  of 
the  township,  the  various  school-houses  affording  convenient 
places  of  meeting. 

HOPKINS  LODGE,  No.  270,  I.  O.  0.  F. 
This  lodge  was  organized  Feb.  19,  1876,  with  the  fol- 
lowing charter  members  :  James  Armstrong,  A.  P.  Varney, 
C.  B.  Eldred,  E.  B.  Congdon,  Richard  Redhead,  U.  R. 
Fox,  John  Hicks,  Erwin  Hill,  William  Edgell,  Thomas 
Hicks,  M.  T.  Smith,  H.  M.  Baker,  and  George  Blake. 
Its  first  officers  were  James  Armstrong,  N.  G. ;  C.  B.  El- 
dred, V.  G. ;  U.  R.  Fox,  Recording  Sec. ;  Richard  Red- 
head, Permanent  Sec. ;  Thomas  Hicks,  Treas.  The  present 
officers  are  James  Witter,  N.  G. ;  S.  M.  Eggleston,  V.  G. ; 
E.  B.  Congdon,  Recording  Sec. ;  Frank  White,  Permanent 
Sec. ;  Robert  Frea,  Treas.  The  lodge  embraces  a  member- 
ship of  38,  and  holds  its  meetings  in  a  hall  erected  for  the 
purpose  and  leased  by  its  members. 

HOPKINS    GRANGE,   No.   390,   PATEONS    OP  HUS- 
BANDRY. 

Hopkins  Grange  was  organized  as  early  as  1874,  with 
the  following  officers:  Silas  W.  Mankin,  Master;  J.  M. 
Baldwin,  Overseer;  Samuel  Baldwin,  Steward;  Jonathan 
Brewer,  Lecturer ;  William  Edgell,  Chaplain ;  Horatio 
Hodge,  Treas. ;  Erastus  Congdon,  Sec.  The  present  officers 
are  Erastus  Congdon,  Master;  Martin  Smith,  Overseer; 
William  Edgell,  Steward ;  G.  M.  Baldwin,  Lecturer ;  Al- 
bert Congdon,  Treas. ;  Mary  Edgell,  Sec.  The  meetings 
of  the  Hopkins  Grange  are  held  weekly  in  the  school  build- 
ing of  district  No.  9,  60  members  being  enrolled  on  its 

books. 

HILLIAKD'S. 

Capt.  Lonson  Hilliard,  a  previous  resident  of  the  Domin- 
ion of  Canada,  located  in  the  township  in  1860,  having 
formerly  been  an  extensive  operator  in  lumber  in  Kalama- 
zoo and  adjacent  portions  of  the  State.     He  purchased  160 
32 


acres  on  section  5,  which  was  then  covered  with  a  heavy 
growth  of  timber,  very  little  of  it  having  yet  been  cut.  A 
saw-mill  had  already  been  erected  on  the  Rabbit  River  by 
a  man  named  Potter. 

Capt.  Hilliard,  finding  this  a  favorable  locality  in  which 
to  carry  on  lumbering  interests,  increased  his  purchases  of 
land  until  he  owned  nearly  2000  acres.  He  erected  a  frame 
residence,  and  then  devoted  himself  with  his  accustomed 
energy  to  business  pursuits  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1871.     Mrs.  Hilliard  still  resides  upon  the  homestead. 

Capt.  Hilliard  had  in  early  life  attained  a  high  reputa- 
tion as  a  skillful  navigator  upon  the  St.  Lawrence  River. 
A  successful  voyage  in  1840  won  for  him  the  admiration 
of  the  men  of  his  craft  and  a  handsome  testimonial  bearing 
the  following  inscription : 

*'  Presented  to  Capt.  L.  Hilliard  by  John  Hamilton,  to  commemo- 
rate the  safe  arrival  of  the  steamboat  'Ontario'  at  Montreal  from 
Prescott,  tipper  Canada,  being  the  first  descent  over  the  rapids  of 
the  St.  Lawrence  by  steam. 

"Aug.  19,  1840." 

The  station  of  Hilliard's,  on  the  Kalamazoo  division  of 
the  Lake-Shore  and  Michigan  Southern  Railroad,  now  bears 
the  name  of  this  enterprising  pioneer.  Three  sons  are  still 
residents  of  the  township.  William  H.  is  the  proprietor 
of  the  mill  which  is  converted  into  a  handle-factory,  Eugene 
is  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  and  David  L.  cultivates 
the  farm.  A  fourth  son,  Charles  H.,  is  a  resident  of  Ot- 
tawa County.  At  the  station  are  two  stores,  owned  respec- 
tively by  Woodhams  &  Hilliard  and  Foot  &  Mudget ;  a 
blacksmith-shop,  owned  by  George  Lewis ;  a  saw-mill, 
owned  by  Willard  Sadler ;  a  stave-factory,  the  proprietor  of 
which  is  D.  W.  Lankton ;  and  a  shoe-shop,  kept  by  Charles 
Armstrong. 

ORGANIZATION   AND  OFFICERS. 

The  subdivision  lines  of  the  survey  of  survey-township 
No.  3  north,  of  range  12  west,  were  run  by  Lucius  Lyon, 
being  finished  on  the  14th  of  September,  1831.  Town- 
ship 3  was  at  first  a  part  of  the  township  of  Allegan,  and 
then  Otsego,  which  included  the  four  townships  in  range 
12.  After  two  divisions  of  that  territory, — the  first  sepa- 
rating the  three  northern  townships  from  Otsego  and  organ- 
izing them  as  Watson,  and  the  second  severing  the  two 
northern  from  Watson  under  the  name  of  Dorr, — No.  3  was 
set  off  from  Dorr  and  separately  organized  by  the  following 
ordinance : 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  supervisors,  held  Dec.  29,  1852,  it 
is  ordered  by  the  board  of  supervisors  of  the  county  of  Allegan,  two- 
thirds  of  all  the  members  voting  therefor,  that  township  No.  3  north, 
of  range  12  west,  in  the  said  county,  be,  and  the  same  is,  hereby  set 
off  from  the  township  of  Dorr,  and  organized  into  a  separate  town- 
ship by  the  name  of  'Hopkins,'  and  that  the  first  township-meeting 
for  the  election  of  township  oficers  shall  be  held  at  the  school-house 
known  as  the  *  Round  School-house,'  in  said  township,  on  the  first 
Monday  in  April  next,  and  Luther  Martin,  Jason  Baker,  and  Erastus 
Congdon  are  hereby  appointed  to  act  as  inspectors  of  election  at  said 
township-meeting.  It  is  further  ordered  that  the  next  township- 
meeting,  in  and  for  the  township  of  Dorr,  shall  be  held  at  the  dwelling- 
house  now  occupied  by  Orrin  Goodspeed,  in  said  township." 

The  first  annual  township-meeting  of  Hopkins  was  held 
at  the  log  school-house  on  section  26,  in  school  district 
No.  1.     Luther  Martin,  Jason  Baker,  and  Erastus  Cong- 


250 


HISTOKY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND  BAKKY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


don  were  chosen  inspectors  of  election,  and  the  following 
ofificers  were  elected :  Supervisor,  J.  0.  Round  ;  Township 
Clerk,  John  Parsons  ;  Treasurer,  Erastus  Congdon  ;  High- 
way Commissioners,  Hiram  Loomis,  William  R.  Ingerson ; 
Justices  of  the  Peace,  John  Truax,  Jason  Baker;  School 
Inspectors,  D.  C.  Ingerson,  M.  Vanduzen ;  Directors  of  the 
Poor,  Thomas  Wilson,  T.  J.  Crampton  ;  Constables,  0. 
Perry,  W.  R.  Ingerson. 

The  officers  elected  from  that  time  to  the  pre^nt  are  as 
follows : 

SUPERVISORS. 
1854,  Matthew  Vanduzen;  1855-56,  J.  0.  Round;  1867,  Joseph  M. 
Baldwin;  1858,  E.  H.  Wait;  1859,  Albert  Lane;  I860,  William 
H.  Parmalee;  1861,  Albert  Lane;  1862,  J.  M.  Baldwin;  1863, 
Robert  A.  Baird;  1864,  J.  M.  Baldwin;  1865-66,  Robert  A. 
Baird;  1867-69,  D.  C.  Ingerson;  1870,  Samuel  Baldwin  ;  1871, 
D.  C.  Ingerson;  1872,  J.  0.  Round;  1873,  D.  C.  Ingerson;  1874, 
Joseph  Hodge;  1875,  J.  0.  Round;  1876,  S.  W.  Mankin;  1877, 
S.  M.  Eggleston;  1878,  Alton  Warrington;  1879,  Herman  F. 
White. 

TOWNSHIP  CLERKS. 
1854,  Zenas  A.  Pratt;  1866-66,  J.  M.  Baldwin;  1857,  E.  H.  Wait; 
1858-69,  William  H.  Parmalee;  I860,  Albert  Lane;  1861,  Edwin 
Parmalee;  1862,0.  II.  Judd;  1863,  Edwin  Parmalee;  1864,  E. 
S.  Lindsley;  1865,  John  E.  Hopper;  1866,  George  Holoomb; 
1867-71,  U.  R.  Fox;  1872-73,  C.  B.  Eldred;  1874,  N.  H.  Faulk- 
ner; 1876-79,  0.  C.  Hodge. 

TREASURERS. 
1854,  William  Wheeler;  1855-56,  William  Perkins;  1857-68,  Stephen 
Carver;  1859-64,  S.  W.-  Mankin;  1866-66,  E.  II.  Wait;  1867-71, 
R.  A.  Baird;  1872-78,  H.  F.  White;  1879,  Albert  Lane. 

SCHOOL  INSPECTORS. 
1854-55,  John  Parsons;  1856,  Albert  Lane;  1867,  D.  C.  Ingerson; 
1858,  Albert  Lane;  1869,  F.  L.  Hicks;  1860,  0.  H.  Judd;  1861, 
W.  H.  Parmalee;  1862,  F.  L  Hickok ;  1863,  Albert  Lane,  W.  H. 
Parmalee;  1864,  Albert  Lane;  1865,  E.  S.  Lindsley;  1866,  D.  C. 
Ingerson;  1867,  W.  H.  Parmalee;  1868,  Albert  Lane;  1869,  E. 
Peters;  1870,  Albert  Lane;  1871,  F.  B.  Pickett,  Albert  Lane; 
1872,  Albert  Lane,  E.  Parmalee;  1873,  F.  E.  Pickett;  1874,  E. 
W.  Pickett;  1875,  C.  W.  Button;  1876,  Ephraim  Wilson;  1877- 
78,  Emerson  Chamberlain;  1879,  G.  P.  Baldwin. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 
1854,  Luther  Martin,  Edward  Daily ;  1865,  J.  P.  Lindsley,  S.  W. 
Mankin;  1856-67,  Matthew  Vanduzen;  1858,  E.  H.  Wait,  Wm. 
Buskirk;  1859,  J.  M.  Baldwin,  Samuel  S.  Baldwin  ;  1860,  Luther 
Martin;  1861,  Samuel  M.  Eggleston;  1862,  Lonson  Billiard,  0. 
D.  Parsons;  1863,  D.  E.  Ingerson,  Thomas  Hicks;  1864,  J.  P. 
Lindsley,  Alton  Warrington  ;  1865,  Jason  Baker;  1866,  Lonson 
Hilliard,  Ezra  Norton;  1867,  D.  C.  Ingerson,  H.  M.  Baker;  1868, 
R.  L.  Haines,  William  Parmalee;  1869,  Albert  Lane,  Morris  Todd; 
1870,  Henry  Rashmann;  1871,  D.  C.  Ingerson,  Harrison  B. 
Smith;  1872,  E.  W.  Pickett,  Alexander  Allen;  1873,  D.  L.  Hil- 
liard; 1874,  G.  P.  Baldwin,  J.  H.  Arery ;  1875,  D.  C.  Ingerson, 
H.  J.  Avery;  1876,  R.  L.  Taylor,  William  H.  Hilliard;  1877,  Jo- 
seph Woodhams;  1878,  George  P.  Baldwin;  1879,  D.  C.  Inger- 
son, Eugene  Hilliard. 

HIGHWAY  COMMISSIONERS. 
1864,  Abram  Buskirk,  R.  C.  Round,  John  Truax;  1866,  Ira  Hill; 
1856,  John  Parsons,  Silas  W.  Mankin;  1857,  Matthew  Vandu- 
sen;  1858,  Henry  Hoffmaster;  1859,  J.  M.  Baldwin  ;  1860,  S.  M. 
Eggleston;  1861,  John  Hoffmaster;  1862,  P.  L.  Hickok ;  1863, 
Volney  Hibbert,  S.  S.  Baldwin;  1864,  0,  Lewis;  1865,  Alton 
Warrington;  1866,  Philip  llerlan,  Volney  Hibbert;  1867,  N.  N. 
Upson;  1868,  Nelson  Herrick  ;  1869,  Philip  Hcrlan;  1870,  N.  N. 
Upson;  1871,  W.  L.  Gere;  1872,  F.  P.  Smith;  1873,  Harvey 
Anivay;  1874,  W.  R.  Ingerson;  1875-76,  S.S.Baldwin;  1877, 
W.  P.  Lindsley;  1878,  J.  W.  Lindsley;  1879,  William  Edgell. 


DIRECTORS  OF  THE  POOR. 
1854,  J.  H.  Corbitt,  Peter  Buskirk ;  1855,  Abram  Bnskirk,  Erastus 
Congdon;  1856,  William  Wheeler,  S.  C.  Buck;  1857,  S.  C.Buck, 
Luther  Martin ;  1858,  S.  C.  Buck,  Edward  Barber. 

SUPERINTENDENTS  OF  SCHOOLS. 
1876,  B.  W.  Pickett;  1876-78,  C.  W.  Button;  1879,  L.  C.  Chadwiok. 

DRAIN  COMMISSIONERS. 

1874-76,  F.  E.  Pickett;  1876,  William  E.  Ingerson;  1878,  S.  S. 
Baldwin. 

CONSTABLES. 

1864,  William  Truax,  Abram  Bnskirk,  C.  B.  Stone,  Luther  Martin ; 
1866,  W.  R.  Ingerson,  Joel  Button,  William  Truax;  1866,  W. 
R.  Ingerson,  William  Truax;  1857,  N.  S.  Atwater,  Alanson 
Tanner,  Alonzo  Button;  1858,  Jonathan  Brewer,  Alanson  Tan- 
ner; 1869,  Jackson-  Baker,  C.  B.  Stone,  Lyman  Atwater;  1860, 
Daniel  Buskirk,  William  R.  Ingerson,  Joel  Button,  0.  D.  Par- 
sons; 1861,  W.  R.  Ingerson,  Samuel  Eggleston,  Daniel  Buskirk, 
J.  H.  Dur-st;  1862,  Jason  Baker,  M.  Vandusen;  1863,  Lyman 
Attwater,  M.  Vandusen;  1864,  Joel  Button,  Robert  Carver; 
1865,  Joel  Button,  N.  W.  Smith  ;  1866,  James  H.  Avery,  Henry 
Smith;  1867,  H.  II.  Smith,  A.  Cochran;  1868,  H.  H.Smith, 
Gilbert  Hacket;  1869,  H.  Smith,  B.  Veers;  1870,  James  De 
Long,  J.  G.  EUinger;  1871,  James  De  Long,  Joseph  Hodge;  1872, 
James  De  Long,  Joseph  Hodge;  1873,  Joseph  Hodge,  James  De 
Long;  1874,  James  De  Long,  James  Frew,  E.  B.  Congdon;  1875, 
J.  W.  Avery,  E.  B.  Congdon,  W.  S.  Kenfield,  Henry  Smith ;  1876, 
E.  B.  Congdon,  H.  H.   Smith,  J.  E.  Richie,  Eugene  Hilliard; 

1877,  Joseph  Hodge,  James  Allen,  Myron  Finch; E.  B.  Congdon; 

1878,  Joseph  Hodge,  James  Frew,  Abram  Holfmaster,  E.  B. 
Congdon;  1879,  Abram  Hoffmaster,  Robert  Frew,  Joseph  Hodge, 
Seralpha  A.  Buck, 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


JONATHAN  OLIN  ROUND. 

The  name  of  Round  is  associated  with  the  earliest  efforts 
of  the  patriots  of  1776  to  establish  freedom  in  the  colonies. 
The  grandparents  of  Mr.  Jonathan  0.  Round  were  George 
and  Martha  Hopkins  Round.  The  first  participated  in  the 
war  of  the  Revolution,  and  the  second  was  a  sister  of  Ste- 
phen Hopkins,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence. The  father  was  Oziel  Hopkins  Round,  and 
the  mother  Anna  Olin,  a  descendant  of  Chief  Justice  The- 
ophilus  Harrington,  of  Vermont,  who  replied  when  requested 
to  return  a  fugitive  slave  he  harbored,  "  If  you  have  a  bill 
of  sale  from  God  Almighty,  you  can  take  this  negro ;  other- 
wise, not."  The  foregoing  names  very  aptly  illustrate  the 
character  of  the  stock  from  which  Mr.  Round  is  descended. 
He  was  the  first  son  in  a  family  of  fourteen  children,  and 
was  born  in  Clarendon,  Rutland  Co.,  Vt.,  Oct.  10,  1809. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he  married  Miss  Sallie 
Congdon,  who  was  born  July  10,  1810,  and  was  also  a  resi- 
dent of  Clarendon,  Vt. 

In  May,  1834,  Mr.  Round  followed  the  tide  of  emigra- 
tion to  Michigan,  and  purchased  one  hundred  and  fourteen 
acres  in  Kalamazoo  township  and  county.  Comstock  town- 
ship afforded  them  a  temporary  home,  where  the  material 
for  a  house  was  constructed  and  floated  down  the  Kalama- 
zoo River  to  its  destination.  To  this  he  removed  his 
family,  having  been  accompanied  by  his  brother-in-law, 
Erastus  Congdon.     In  the  spring  of  1837,  while  prospect- 


HOPKINS  TOWNSHIP. 


251 


ing,  he  became  impressed  with  the  excellence  of  the  land  in 
Hopkins,  and  Mr.  Round  located  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  26  in  that  township. 

A  log  cabin  was  erected  during  the  fall  of  the  same  year, 
in  which  the  family  were  comfortably  housed  the  suc- 
ceeding spring.  Mr.  Round  continued  his  agricultural  em- 
ployments until  the  year  1877,  when  he  retired  from  active 
labor  and  removed  to  his  present  home  in  the  hamlet  of 
Hopkins.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Round  have  been  blessed  with  an 
old-fashioned  number  in  their  family,  having  nine  children, 
who  were  born  in  the  following  order :  RoUin  C,  born  July 
13,  1831 ;  Avis  Ann,  born  Nov.  1,  1832  (now  Mrs.  W.  B. 
Andrews) ;  Henry  C,  born  July  27,  1834 ;  Oziel  H.,  born 
Nov.  25,  1836,  died  in  his  second  year;  Sarah  Ann,  born 
Nov.  5,  1838  (now  Mrs.  Wm.  Kenfield)  ;  Joseph  R.,  born 
Oct.  8,  1840,  died  while  serving  in  the  late  war ;  Amelia 
S.,  born  Dec.  26,  1842,  died  in  her  nineteenth  year ;  Delia 
E.,  born  July  1,  1844  (now  Mrs.  J.  A.  Lawrence)  ;  Olive 
M.,  born  May  1,  1846  (wife  of  Lyman  A.  Atwater). 

Mr.  Round  has  been  for  successive  terms  elected  super- 
visor, and  while  acting  as  assessor  severely  injured  his  sight 
by  devotion  to  his  arduous  duties. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Round  are  now  enjoying  the  autumn  of 
their  lives  among  their  children  and  friends  that  surround 
them,  age  having  no  perceptible  effect  upon  their  cheerful 
and  elastic  spirits. 

R.  C.  ROUND. 

The  above-named  gentleman  is  the  son  of  Jonathan  Olin 
Round,  the  earliest  pioneer  in  Hopkins,  and  was  born  July 
13,  1831,  being  a  lad  of  six  years  on  the  arrival  of  the 
family  in  the  wilderness  then  embraced  in  the  township. 
At  the  age  of  twenty  he  became  ambitious  for  a  more  ex- 
tended and  independent  sphere  of  usefulness  than  his  home 
afforded,  and  purchased  forty  acres  on  section  36.  A  year 
later  he  added  an  additional  forty  acres,  erected  a  log  house, 
and  planted  his  first  crop. 

In  May,  1854,  Mr.  Round  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Zarada  Andrews,  whose  parents,  Norton  and  Caroline 
(Root)  Andrews,  were  residents  of  Hopkins.  In  the  midst 
of  prosperity  and  happiness  death  entered  the  family  circle, 
and  on  Dec.  13,  1877,  Mrs.  Round  was  "summoned  to 
that  bourne  from  whence  no  traveler  returns."  Their  sur- 
viving daughter,  Clara  A.,  since  the  death  of  her  mother, 
has  assumed  the  entire  responsibility  of  the  household 
economy.  Mr.  Round  has  been  persevering  and  energetic, 
and  now  enjoys  a  highly-cultivated  estate  and  an  attractive 
home  as  the  result  of  his  laudable  efforts.  This  is  the  more 
gratifying  since  many  obstacles  were  met  during  his  career, 
all  of  which  his  buoyant  nature  and  unfailing  resources 
enabled  him  to  overcome. 


JAMES  M.  BALDWIN,  M.D. 
Dr.  Baldwin  was  a  native  of  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  where 
he  was  born  Dec.  4,  1810.  He  early  acquired  the  trade 
of  a  blacksmith,  and  devoted  to  it  the  energy  which  was 
characteristic  of  his  nature.  Having  been  unfortunate  in 
losing  the  use  of  one  wrist,  he  was  induced  to  abandon 


his  trade  for  th«  profession  of  medicine.     He  graduated 
from  the  Cleveland  Medical  College,  and  began  practice  in 
Solon,  Cuyahoga  Co.,  in  1851.     Two  years  later  he  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  the  township  of  Hopkins,  where 
he  had  previously  located  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of 
land.    In  January,  1 833,  Dr.  Baldwin  was  married  to  Miss 
Jane  Bissell,  of  Portage  Co.,  Ohio.     Two  sons  were  born, 
— James  H.,  whose  birth  occurred  July  13,  1835,  and  G. 
M.,  born  Dec.   15,   1836.     An   adopted   daughter.  Miss 
Ellen  D.  Patterson,  was  also  a  member  of  the  family  circle. 
On  his  arrival  in  Michigan  the  doctor  at  once  began  the 
arduous  duties  of  his  profession,  which  were  supplemented 
by  his  farming  interests,  in  which  he  was  greatly  aided  by 
the  younger  son.    The  country  was  then  in  an  almost  prim- 
itive condition,  which  rendered  the  practice  of  medicine 
one  of  much  hardship.     In  1865  he  relinquished  these 
active  duties  as  a  result  of  failing  health,  and  his  death 
occurred  some  years  later,  superinduced,  no  doubt,  by  exces- 
sive toil.     His  son,  G.  M.,  succeeded  to  the  possession  of 
the  homestead.     He  was  married  Nov.  7,  1858,  to  Miss 
Mary  E.  Ingerson,  and  has  a  family  of  three  children, — 
Martha  J.,  born  Sept.  20,  1859,  now  Mrs.  Buck,  of  Alle- 
gan;  Lotta  A.,  whose  birth  occurred  June  1,  1868;  and 
Blanch  A.,  born  Aug.  31,  1875.     James  H.  Baldwin  is  a 
prominent   citizen   of  Indianapolis,  Ind.     The  venerable 
mother  still  resides  upon  the  homestead. 


L.  A.  ATWATER. 


During  the  year  1836,  Jared  and  Sarah  Alderman  At- 
water, who  were  natives  of  the  State  of  Connecticut,  re- 
moved to  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  where  their  son,  L.  A. 
Atwater,  was  born,  Dec.  25,  1836.  In  the  year  1856 
the  family  removed  to  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  and  after 
a  residence  of  nine  years  at  the  county-seat  repaired  to 
Hopkins,  Allegan  Co.  The  father  of  Mr.  L.  A.  Atwater 
died  in  March,  1873,  and  his  wife  survived  him  but  three 
years,  her  death  having  occurred  in  1876.  On  his  arrival 
the  son  sought  employment  with  Robert  A.  Baird,  of 
Hopkins,  and  in  1856  he  purchased  fifty  acres  of  land 
of  Alonzo  Button,  on  section  14,  on  which  he  afterwards 
erected  his  buildings,  making  occasional  payments  as  the 
opportunity  offered  from  his  annual  earnings.  He  was 
married,  Jan.  11,  1863,  to  Miss  Olive,  daughter  of  Jona- 
than Olin  Bound,  and,  having  added  forty  acres  in  same 
section,  bought  of  R.  A.  Baird  in  1860,  to  the  original 
purchase,  the  young  pioneers  began  with  a  will  the  arduous 
labor  of  improving  their  land  and  making  for  themselves 
an  invitin"  home.  Mr.  Atwater  has  erected  a  convenient 
and  tasteful  residence  on  the  land,  a  view  of  which  accom- 
panies this  brief  sketch. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Atwater  have  three  children,  the  eldest, 
Olin  J.,  having  been  born  April  10,  1866.  Ida  D.,  the 
only  daughter,  was  born  Sept.  9, 1867,  and  the  birth  of  the 
younger,  Fred  R.,  occurred  Oct.  10,  1870.  Mr.  Atwater 
comes  of  distinguished  lineage,  a  genealogy  of  the  family 
having  been  published  some  years  since.  The  limits  of 
this  sketch  will  not  admit  of  more  than  an  allusion  to  this 
interesting  compilation, 


252 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BAllRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


WILLIAM    S.    KENPIELB. 


Plioto.  bylC.  G.  Agiell,  Allpgans. 


WILLIAM   S.  KENFIELD. 


MRS.    WlLLIASl    S.    KENFIELD. 


Mr.  Kenfield  may  with  pardonable  pride  refer  to  the  ca- 
reer of  his  grandfather,  Erastus  Kenfield,  who  was  one  of 
the  stalwart  soldiers  of  the  Revolution,  and  at  the  close  of 
the  conflict  retired  to  Hampshire  Co.,  Mass.,  where  he  sur- 
vived until  his  eighty-third  year.  The  father  of  William 
S.,  who  bore  his  parent's  name,  Erastus,  was  born  Feb.  19, 
1801,  at  Belcher,  Hampshire  Co.,  Mass.,  and  spent  his 
early  days  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  was  wedded  to 
Miss  Clarissa  Piper  in  November,  1828,  a  native  of  Glas- 
tenbury.  Conn.,  whose  father,  Samuel  Piper,  was  a  man  of 
ferwd  patriotism  and  suffered  severely  from  a  wound  re- 
ceived during  his  service  in  the  war  of  1776.  Erastus, 
Jr.,  and  his  wife  resided  in  Hampshire  County  until  1834, 
when  they  became  pioneers  to  Ohio,  having  purchased  un- 
improved land  in  Medina  County  in  that  State.  He  still 
resides  upon  this  farm  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years, 
while  his  companion  has  reached  her  seventy-fourth  year. 


William  S.,  th«  second  son,  was  born  in  Belcher,  Berk- 
shire Co.,  Mass.,  March  28,  1831.  After  a  varied  career 
of  industry  in  the  Buckeye  State  and' in  the  county  of  his 
birth  in  Massachusetts,  he  followed  the  tide  of  emigration 
to  the  West  in  1854. 

During  a  temporary  residence  in  Wayland,  Mich.,  he 
married  Miss  Sarah  A.  Round,  who  was  the  first  white 
child  born  in  the  township  of  Hopkins,  their  marriage 
having  occjirred  July  3,  1858. 

Soon  after,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kenfield  located  in  Hopkins, 
upon  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  on  section  12.  It  was  at  this 
early  date  little  else  than  a  wilderness,  but  industry-and  a 
spirit  of  progress,  which  has  been  evinced  to  a  remarkable 
degree,  have  changed  it  to  a  productive  and  inviting  home. 
One  child  graces  their  cheerful  fireside, — Carrie  A.,  born 
Deo.  20,  1859. 


JAMES  E.    PARMELEE. 

Alfred  and  Sylvia  (Rutley)  Parmelce  were  each  born  in 
Middlesex  Co.,  Conn.,  in  1798  and  1799,  respectively, 
where  they  were  united  in  marriage  in  1823.  Their  son, 
James  E.,  whose  life  forms  the  subject  of  this  brief  bio- 
graphical sketch,  was  the  third  of  seven  children,  having 
been  born  in  the  year  1828.  During  his  third  year  he 
became,  with  his  parents,  a  resident  of  Summit  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  later  of  Clay  Co.,  Ind. 

After  a  brief  residence  in  the  latter  State  he  was  left 
fatherless,  and  the  mother,  not  having  formed  attachments 
in  her  new  home,  determined  to  return  to  her  friends  in 
Ohio.  James  remained  with  the  family  until  twenty- 
one,  when  he  became  ambitious  for  a  more  independent 
life.  He  attained  proficiency  in  the  occupation  of  a  car- 
penter and  joiner,  and  for  five  years  labored  assiduously  at 
his  trade.     With  the  accumulation  of  these  years  he  em- 


barked for  Michigan,  and  chose  a  home  in  Hopkins  in  the 
spring  of  1854.  The  eighty  unimproved  acres  which  he 
purchased,  evinced  in  its  rapidly  improved  condition  his 
energy.  He  in  1858  erected  .a  comfortable  residence  (a 
view  of  which  will  be  found  on  another  page),  and 
speedily  returned  to  Ohio  to  bring  to  it  a  wife.  Mrs.  Par- 
melee  was  formerly  Miss  Catharine  White,  daughter  of 
Hanford  White,  Esq.,  who  was  born  in  Middlesex  Co., 
Conn.,  in  1797,  and  married  in  April,  1822,  Miss  Hepza- 
bah  Pratt.  Of  a  family  of  seven  children,  Mrs.  Parmelee 
is  the  fifth.  Mr.  Parmelee  has  added  to  the  dimensions  of 
the  farm  since  the  first  purchase,  which  now  embracer  a 
sugar-grove  of  nine  hundred  trees  that  has  been  for  years 
remarkably  productive.  The  buildings  upon  this  fine  estate 
were  erected  by  him  personally.  Their  pleasant  home  is 
enlivened  by  the  presence  of  two  children, — Gilbert  li., 
born  June  6,  18G0,  and  Otis  A.,  whose  birth  occurred 
June  19,  1864. 


HOPKINS  TOWNSHIP. 


253 


PHILIP  HEKLAN. 

Among  the  emigrants  from  Baden,  Germany,  to  the 

hospitable  shores  of  America  was  Mrs. Herlan,  with 

a  family  of  three  children,  who  arrived  in  1832,  and  at 
once  repaired  to  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  she  purchased  a 
small  tract  of  land.  Philip  was  the  sixth  child  in  order 
of  birth,  and  a  mere  lad  on  his  arrival.  Being  well  ad- 
vanced in  years,  the  mother  deeded  her  property  to  the 
elder  son,  leaving  the  remaining  two  without  an  inherit- 
ance. Endowed,  however,  with  good  health  and  a  deter- 
mination to  succeed,  Philip,  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  left  the 


Photo,  by  C.  G.  Agrell,  AUegau. 
PHILIP   HERLAN. 

home,  and  barefooted  pursued  his  way  in  search  of  em- 
ployment. He  reached  Jonesville,  Cattaraugus  Co.,  where 
he  remained  three  years,  and  then  returned  to  his  former 
residence.  In  1838  he  purchased  sixty  acres  of  timbered 
land  and  built  a  house,  to  which  his  mother  soon  repaired 
as  the  presiding  genius  of  the  family  cirtle.  In  January, 
1842,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  Zapp,  a  lady  also 
of  German  extraction.  In  18't4  he  removed  to  Calhoun 
Co.,  Mich.,  and  later  to  Kalamazoo  County,  where  he 
engaged  with  D.  S.  Walbridge  in  a  flouring-mill.  This 
em^ployment  was  followed  until  1857,  when  he  removed  to 
Hopkins  upon  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land 
previously  purchased.  In  this  wilderness  he  erected  a  log 
cabin  and  began  the  work  of  clearing. 

Mrs.  Herlan  died  June  12,  1870,  leaving  a- family  of 
five  children.  Their  family  circle  formerly  embraced  seven 
children,— two  having  died,— their  names  and  births  as 
follows:  George  L.,  born  May  28,  1845;  Mary  C,  born 
Feb  8  1847 ;  Alvina  C,  who  died  May  4,  1874,  having 
been  born  April  8,  1848;  David  P.,  born  Oct.  5, 1851 ; 
John  F.,  whose  birth  occurred  Nov.  28,  1852,  and  his 
death  Oct.  14,  1875.  Mr.  Herlan  in  August,  1871,  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  Moge,  of  Allegan,  also  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, from  whence  she  emigrated  in  1870  to  the  United 
States. 


At  the  present  time  his  elder  children  are  all  living,  and 
comfortably  established  in  homes  of  their  own  given  by  a 
generous  parent.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Herlan  have  one  daughter, 
Mena  B.,  born  April  25,  1874. 

Mr.  Herlan  enjoys  the  reputation  of  being  an  excellent 
farmer  and  a  man  of  uniform  integrity  of  character. 


ERASTUS  CONGDON. 
Erastus  Congdon  was  the  third  of  six  children  of  George 
and  Sallie  Palmer  Congdon,  and  was  born  Feb.  20,  1799, 
in  Clarendon,  Vt.  In  1823,  having  grown  to  manhood, 
he  emigrated  to  Yates  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Emma  Sperry,  in  the  fall  of  1830,  a  native  of  Ben- 
nington, Vt.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Congdon  remained  in  the  Em- 
pire State  until  1834,  when  the  vast  resources  of  the  West 
attracted  them,  and  influenced  their  removal  to  Michigan, 
where  they  purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  Kalamazoo  County. 


EEASTUS   CONGDON. 

In  the  spring  of  1839  they  disposed  of  this  property,  and 
followed  their  relative,  Mr.  J.  0.  Round,  to  Hopkins,  where 
Mr.  Congdon  secured  from  government  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  on  section  26.  To  the  business  of  farming  he 
then  devoted  his  attention,  with  occasional  speculations  in 
land.  Mrs.  Congdon  died  in  July,  1863,  and  her  husband 
survived  until  May  3,  1S71,  when  his  death  occurred. 
After  this  event  the  homestead  was  purchased  by  their  son 
Albert,  who  was  the  fourth  in  a  family  of  ten  children. 
Mr.  Congdon  was  the  earliest  postmaster  in  Hopkins,  and 
held  many  positions  of  responsibility  in  the  township. 

His  son  Albert  married,  in  1861,  Miss  Mary  A.  Inger- 
son,  whose  parents  were  among  the  pioneers  of  the  town- 
ship. Their  hearth  was  enlivened  by  the  presence  of  three 
children,— Lavinia,  born  Jan.  13,  1863;  Frank,  whose 
birth  occurred  Oct.  13,  1865;  and  Addie,.born  March  18, 
1869,  who  died  Dec.  30,  1869. 

The  family  of  Congdons  have  occupied  since  their  advent 
in  Hopkins  the  distinguished  position  their  ability  and  in- 
tegrity justly  entitle  them  to  enjoy,  the  sons  being  in  all 
that  is  excellent  worthy  successors  of  the  father. 


254 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


GEORGE  W.  CORBETT. 

Nelson,  and  his  wife,  Sabrina,  Corbett,  the  parents  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  were  natives  of  Vermont,  where 
George  W.  Corbett  was  born,  Feb.  25,  1831.  Seeking  a 
home  in  the  West,  they  removed  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where 
they  resided  for  a  short  time.  Determining  to  locate  in 
Michigan,  they  purchased  an  ox-team  and  journeyed  to 
Hopkins  township,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  where  they  arrived 
in  the  fall  of  1846.  They  purchased  forty  acres  of  land  on 
section  35,  and  proceeded  to  erect  a  log  cabin,  meantime 
making  their  home  with  Mr.  J.  0.  Round.  Once  installed 
in  their  new  home,  everything  seemed  to  prosper  until  Mr. 
Nelson  Corbett  sickened  and  died,  Sept.  23,  1850.  The 
management  of  affairs  then  devolved  upon  George  W.,  then 
nineteen  years  of  age.  He  continued  the  improvement  of 
the  farm,  purchased  additional  acres,  erected  commodious 
farm  buildings,  and,  Oct.  25,  1859,   married   Martha  A. 


Baldwin,  formerly  of  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  at  that  time  visit- 
ing a  brother,  who  resided  at  Allegan.  Everything 
seemed  to  prosper,  and  he  had  become  one  of  the  prominent 
and  substantial  men  in  this  portion  of  the  county.  Two 
children  had  come  to  gladden  their  hearts  and  enliven  their' 
home, — Ada  0.,  born  April  15,  1860,  and  Ella  M.,  born 
Sept.  20,  1872.  The  good  mother  had  continued  with 
them,  sharing  the  blessings  of  a  good  home,  until  Jan.  19, 
1877,  when  she  died.  Not  quite  one  short  year  after,  Mrs. 
George  W.  was  called  to  follow  her  husband  to  the  grave, 
having  the  sympathy  of  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  buried 
with  Masonic  honors  by  the  Bradley  Lodge,  of  which  he 
was  a  member,  and  to-day  a  fine  monument  marks  his 
resting-place,  erected  by  his  devoted  wife  and  companion, 
who  now  continues  alone  in  the  path  of  life,  endeavoring  to 
instruct  those  left  in  her  charge  to  fulfill  their  duty  to  God 
and  mankind.  A  sketch,  accompanied  with  their  portraits, 
may  be  seen  in  this  work. 


L  A  K  E  T  O  W  N; 


Town  4  north,  range  Ifi  west,  is  a  fractional  township  of 
eighteen  full  and  six  fractional  sections.  It  lies  upon  Lake 
Michigan,  and  has  upon  the  north  the  Ottawa  county-line, 
on  the  south  Saugatuck  township,  on  the  east  Fillmore,  and 
on  the  west  Lake  Michigan.  Although  settlements  were 
made  in  the  northeast  by  the  Dutch  as  early  as  1847,  there 
were  few,  if  any,  attempts  at  settlement  in  other  portions 
of  the  township  until  1859,  and  even  after  that  period  they 
progressed  slowly.  There  was  considerable  swamp-land  in 
the  township  at  an  early  day,  but  the  march  of  civilization 
has  brought  this  land  to  the  uses  of  agriculture. 

Laketown  is  just  beginning  to  assume  a  place  as  a  fruit- 
growing town,  and  in  the  matter  of  peach-growing  has  set 
forward  with  a  fair  promise  of  acquiring  valuable  imporr 
tance.  Carefully-compiled  statistics  in  the  spring  of  1879 
showed  the  following  report  touching  agricultural  products  : 

Acres,  improved 4,574      Potatoes,  bushels 2,366 

"        wheat 1,015      Hay,  acres... 851 

Bushels     "     17,805          "      tons 964 

Acres  corn 602       Horses ]92 

Uushels  "   18,870       Milch  cows 375 

Acres  oats 156       Other  cattle 313 

Bushels'*    3,855      Apples,  acres 83 

Potatoes,  acres 47       Peaches,    "    103 

Estimating  100  peach-trees  to  the  acre,  the  number  of 
trees  set  out  in  the  spring  of  1879  was  10,300,  and  that 
number  was  likely  to  be  doubled  by  the  spring  of  1880. 

Laketown  is  largely  peopled  by  Hollanders,  who  prevail 
chiefly  along  the  line  between  Laketown  and  Fillmore,  and 
at  Graafschap  village,  which  is  the  point  of  the  first  settle- 
ment, and  which  occupies  territory  in  both  townships. 
Although  there  is  no  railway,  nor  yet  a  mill,  within  the 
township  limits,  both  market  and  mill  conveniences  are  easy 


*  By  David  Schwartz. 


of  access,  from  the  north  to  Holland,  and  from  the  south  to 
Saugatuck. 

SETTLED   BY   THE   DUTCH. 

In  June,  1847,  several  members  of  the  Dutch  colony 
then  gathering  at  the  village  of  Holland  were  desirous  of 
seeking  locations  elsewhere,  but  near  at  hand,  and  were  ad- 
vised by  Dominie  Van  Raalte  to  settle  in  township  4,  range 
16,  then  a  part  of  Newark,  and  now  called  Laketown, 
that  township  being  then  unoccupied  by  white  settlers. 
The  people  thus  advised  to  make  their  first  permanent 
homes  in  the  New  World  had  come  in  company  across  the 
ocean  from  Holland  to  America,  and  naturally  desired  to 
continue  their  fraternity  as  settlers.  They  were  Aaron  J. 
Neerken  (a  bachelor),  Jans  Rutgers  and  family,  Lukas 
Tinholt  (a  bachelor),  Lampert  Tinholt  and  family,  Henry 
Brinkman  and  family,  Geert  Henevelt  (a  bachelor),  Stephen 
Lucas  and  family,  Henry  Kleeman  and  family.  As  before 
observed,  all  came  West  together  and  made  Holland  village 
their  destination,  where  they  found  temporary  accommoda- 
tions in  the  log  cabins  of  those  already  located  there.  In 
accordance  with  Dominie  Van  Raalte's  suggestion,  they 
agreed  to  settle  in  the  township  now  called  Laketown,  and 
so  he  entered  lands  for  them  according  to  their  means  and 
his  judgment. 

When  the  members  of  the  colony  had  completed  their' 
land-purchases  and  were  ready  to  begin  the  work  of  settle- 
ment, one  John  Robbus,  a  Hollander,  who  professed  to 
know  all  about  that  region  of  country,  volunteered  to  pilot 
the  pilgrims  to  their  new  possessions,  but  by  some  mis- 
chance he  located  some  of  them  upon  the  Fillmore  side  of 
the  town-line,  the  lands  they  had  bought  lying  close  to 
the  line  in  Laketown.    Kleeman  had  40  acres  in  the  north- 


LAKETOWN  TOWNSHIP. 


255 


eastern  corner  of  the  town ;  Neerken  and  Rutgers  were 
also  on  section  1,  and  the  rest  on  section  12.  The  mistake 
in  location  was  not  discovered  until  Tinholt,  Lucas,  and 
Neerken  had  built  their  cabins  on  the  Fillmore  side,  and 
then,  to  avoid  the  annoyance  of  moving,  they  made  fresh 
purchases  of  the  land  they  occupied  in  Fillmore.  In  the 
erection  of  cabins  each  assisted  the  other,  and  so  in  a  brief 
time  they  were  all  comfortably  domiciled  and  ready  for  the 
business  of  wrestling  with  the  forest  for  the  possession  of 
fruitful  farms  and  the  privileges  of  civilization. 

In  the  midst  of  a  densely-timbered  country  this  little  band 
of  hardy  pioneers  were  shut  in  by  themselves  and  a  dreary 
stretch  of  wilderness,  but  they  were,  after  all,  within  easy 
reach  of  neighboring  settlements.  There  were  people  east 
of  them,  in  Fillmore,  north,  in  Holland,  and  south  at 
Saugatuck,  where  the  advanced  stage  of  the  settlements 
gave  many  advantages  to  those  of  the  surrounding  country. 
The  pioneers  named  in  the  foregoing  as  members  of  the 
Dutch  colony  were,  therefore,  the  advance-guard  of  Lake- 
town's  settlers.  Of  their  number  those  living  in  February, 
1880,  were  A.  J.  Neerken,  Lukas  Tinholt,  Henry  Kleeman, 
and  Geert  Henevelt,  all  of  whom  reside  in  Laketown,  near 
Graafschap. 

Soon  there  came  to  that  locality  other  Hollanders,  who 
effected  locations  near  the  eastern  town-line  southward. 
Among  the  earliest  were  Berend  J.  Brinkman,  J.  H. 
Hatger,  G.  B.  Speet,  B.  H.  Scholte,  H.  J.  Brinkman,  J. 
H.  Slenk,  and  J.  H.  Lemmen.  Among  those  who  settled 
early  near  the  north  town-line  were  the  brothers  Hopkins, 
— Henry,  Elizur,  William  L.,  and  James, — who  located  on 
section  2,  where  James  and  William  L.  are  now  living. 
The  latter  was  among  the  early  government  contractors  in 
the  building  of  the  piers  at  Holland,  and  has  for  years  been 
interested  in  the  improvements  made  at  that  point. 

THE  SOUTHEEN  PORTION   OP   THE   TOWN. 

This  did  not  begin  to  receive  settlers  until  1859,  and  the 
same  statement  may  also  be  made  as  to  the  lake-shore  region. 
In  the  year  named  Nathan  Kendall,  Eli  Knowlton,  and 
John  Hogeboom  made  settlements  upon  section  22,  and  to 
the  close  of  that  year- were  the  only  residents  in  the  south- 
western portion  of  Laketown,  although  east  of  them,  on  the 
town-line,  there  were  a  few  Hollanders.  In  1859,  Lake- 
town  contained  69  resident  tax-payers,  and  had  an  assessed 
valuation  of  $31,123.  In  1879  the  assessed  valuation  was 
$114,780.  In  1861  the  tax-payers  in  the  south  included 
also  W.  H.  Rose,  James  Delvin,  and  George  Amesbury, 
and,  in  1862,  J.  H.  Tidd  and  Nathaniel  Stratton.  The 
first  saw-mill  Laketown  boasted  was  built  on  section  35  by 
John  and  Nicholas  Sutton.  The  town  has  never  had  a 
grist-mill,  and  has  now  no. mills  of  any  kind.  The  first 
death  in  the  Dutch  settlement  was  that  of  Garrit  Salmink, 
in  1847,  and  the  first  birth  that  of  a  daughter  of  H. 
Schroetenboer,  now  the  wife  of  Henry  Lubbers,  of  Fill- 
more. The  first  couple  married  were  Geert  Henevelt  and 
Gracia  Kropscott,  who  were  united  in  1847  by  Elder 
Dunnewind. 

SCHOOLS,  CHUKCHES,  Etc. 

The  first  school  at  which  the  children  of  Laketown's 
pioneers  imbibed  learning  was  in  school  district  No.  2,  in 


Fillmore.  In  1859  district  No.  1,  in  Laketown,  was  or- 
ganized, and  from  the  first  annual  report  it  is  learned  that 
out  of  an  enrollment  of  67  school  children  in  the  district 
but  36  attended  the  school.  From  the  school  records  it  is 
further  learned  that  the  first  school-teacher  employed  was 
Harriet  H.  Hudson,  and  the  second  Ann  E.  Leonard. 
District  No.  2  was  organized  November,  1860,  district 
No.  3  in  1870,  and  district  No.  4  in  1873.  From  the 
annual  school  report  for  1879  have  been  obtained  the 
subjoined  statistics : 

Number  of  districts ^ 

Enrollment 322 

Average  attendance 265 

Value  of  property $1900 

Teachers'  Tvages $913 

The  school  directors  for  1879  were  Gerrit  Rutgers,  Wm. 
Corvor,  Wm.  Van  Hoef,  and  J.  C.  Hoek. 

As  to  churches,  Laketown  is  singularly  destitute.  There 
is  at  present  no  church  edi^e  in  the  town,  and  but 
one  church  organization.  That  is  a  Wesleyan  Methodist 
Church  Society,  worshiping  in  a  school-house  on  section 
27.  They  erected  near  there,  in  1873,  a  church  frame, 
but  before  it  could  be  inclosed  a  wind-storm  leveled  it  to 
the  ground,  and  no  attempt  at  its  restoration  was  made. 
Two  churches  in  Graafschap,  on  the  Fillmore  side,  provide 
ample  conveniences  in  the  way  of  religious  worship  to  the 
Hollanders  of  that  neighborhood,  in  both  Fillmore  and 
Laketown. 

When  the  first  settlements  were  made,  there  were  no 
roads  save  such  as  each  incoming  settler  made  in  reaching 
the  place  of  his  location.  Presently,  however,  there  was  a 
road  between  Holland  and  Graafschap,  for  between  those 
points  there  was  considerable  communication.  There  was 
a  much-used  Indian  trail  between  Holland  and  Saugatuck, 
and  upon  that  trail  was  shortly  laid- what  was  from  the  first 
known  as  the  Colony  road,  and  which  is  now  a  much-used 
thoroughfare. 

Early  interments  were  made  near  the  Dutch  Reformed 
church,  but  in  1861  Laketown  and  Fillmore  purchased  and 
laid  out  in  common  a  cemetery  just  north  of  the  line  be- 
tween the  two  towns,  and  since  then  it  has  been  used  by 
both  towns. 

GEAAFSCHAP  VILLAGE. 

Graafschap  lies  upon  both  sides  of  the  line  between 
Fillmore  and  Laketown,  and  belongs  equally  to  both,  but, 
in  view  of  its  having  been  founded  by  the  early  settlers  of 
Laketown,  that  township  has  a  special  claim  on  it. 

These  early  settlers  came  from  the  region  lying  between 
the  kingdoms  of  Hanover  and  the  Netherlands,  and  in 
recollection  of  the  system  prevalent  in  that  country  of 
giving  small  principalities  to  the  rulership  of  graafs  (or 
counts),  whose  districts  were  known  as  graafschaps,  they 
gave  that  familiar  appellation  to  their  new  home  in  the 
Western  world. 

Geert  Henevelt  owned  81  acres  just  over  the  line  in 
Fillmore,  and  in  1848  he  sold  the  property  to  the  Dutch 
Reformed  Church  Society.  The  latter  erected  a  log  church 
upon  the  tract,  which  was  laid  out  as  Graafschap  village. 
Trade  was  inaugurated  in  1849  by  Mathias  Naaye,  who 
opened  a  store,  which  was,  however,  a  trivial  affair,  and 
endured  but  a  year  or  so.     After  that  there  was  no  pro- 


256 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


nounced  effort  towards  a  revival  of  the  enterprise  until 
1857,  vfhen  a  Mr.  Boer  undertook  to  prosecute  it,  and 
after  a  year's  trial  abandoned  it.  In  1860,  A.  H.  Brink 
took  hold,  and  made  it  a  success ;  continuing  it  for  some 
years,  much  to  his  own  profit  and  the  convenience  of 
the  village.  A  post-office  was  established  at  Graafschap  in 
1867,  when  A.  H.  Brink  was  appointed  postmaster.  Brink 
disposed  of  his  store  to  G.  W.  Mokma  in  1874,  when  the 
latter  received  also  the  appointment  as  postmaster,  and 
still  retains  the  office. 

In  1867  the  Laketown  portion  of  Graafschap  was  laid 
out  upon  land  belonging  to  A.  J.  Neerken. 

The  first  physician  to  locate  in  the  village  was  Dr.  Wil- 
liam Reus,  who  came  in  1869  and  remained  until  1872. 
The  present  village  doctor  is  Dr.  Mantingh.  Graafschaap 
is  now  a  small  but  active  village,  containing  three  general 
stores,  a  furniture-  and  hardware-store,  and  two  churches, 
and  gives  promise  of  steaay  growth,  now  that  the  neigh- 
boring country  is  developing  its  resources  as  a  "  fruit-belt." 

THE  FOREST  FIEES  OF  1871. 
The  wide-spread  forest  fires  which  raged  through  West- 
ern Allegan  in  the  autumn  of  1871  were  especially  disas- 
trous in  Laketown,  and  consumed  vast  quantities  of  stand- 
ing timber.  Remembrancers  of  that  fiery  epoch  are  still  to 
be  seen  upon  every  hand  in  charred  trees  and  blackened 
stumps,  which  blur  the  face  of  nature  and  inflict  upon  the 
prospect  a  dreary  and  desolate  presence. 

TOWNSHIP  ORGANIZATION. 
Laketown  was  a  portion  of  Newark  township  until  1859, 
when  it  was  set  off  with  a  jurisdiction  of  its  own.  At  the 
first  town  meeting,  held  April  4,  1859,  A.  J.  Neerken  and 
Gerrit  Rutgers  were  inspectors  of  election,  John  Lucas 
was  the  moderator,  and  Gerrit  Rutgers  and  John  Rouse 
clerks.  The  poll-list  on  that  occasion  included  the  follow- 
ing persons:  Harmon  Bouws,  Gabriel  Rosbach,  Hendrik 
Brinkman,  J.  H.  Arens,  M.  Van  Bie,  Harm  Klomparens, 
B.  J.  Brinkman,  William  Schelling,  Hendrik  Tuurlink, 
Jan  Wolbert,  G.  H.  Lubbers,  R.  Voorenkamp,  John 
ITogeboom,  Jan  Knol,  Lukas  Tinholt,  H.  J.  Brinkman, 
Arend  Arens,  Jan  Klomparens,  Berend  Steginck,  J.  D.  S. 
Heeringa,  Geert  Meyer,  J.  H.  Lampers,  John  Lucas, 
Albert    Klomparens,    John    Rutgers,    Geert     Henevelt, 


Berend  Lugers,  Hendrik  Bakker,  Geert  Heerspink,  Derk 
Ten  Cate,  A.  J.  Neerken,  Hendrik  Lucas,  Steven  Lucas, 
Hendrik  Lubbers,  J.  H.  Slenk,  Jan  Raterink,  John 
Brouse,  B.  H.  Soholte,  Gerrit  Rutgers,  J.  H.  Hartger, 
Jan  T.  Yippink,  Markus  Yippink,  Lukus  Haltger,  A.  J. 
Klomparens,  Cornelius  Zweemer,  G.  J.  Speet,  Jans  Rut- 
gers, Hendrik  Kleiman. 

The  officers  elected  at  that  meeting  were :  Supervisor, 
John  Rouse ;  Clerk,  Gerrit  Rutgers ;  Treasurer,  A.  J. 
Neerken ;  School  Inspectors,  A.  J.  Neerken,  John  Rouse, 
Harm  Rouse,  Albert  Klomparens  ;  Commissioners  of  High- 
ways, Reinderd  Voorenkamp,  Gerrit  Rutgers,  John  Lucas  ; 
Justices  of  the  Peace,  A.  J.  Neerken,  H.  J.  Brinkman, 
John  Rutgers,  and  Harm  Klomparens ;  Constable,  Geert 
Heneveld,  B.  J.  Brinkman,  Derk  Ten  Cate,  Hendrik 
Bakker ;  Overseers  of  Highways,  G.  H.  Lubbers  in  Dis- 
trict No.  1,  Gabriel  Rosbach  in  District  No.  2,  Harm 
Bouws  in  District  No.  3.  At  the  same  meeting  J75 
were  appropriated  for  the  incidental  expenses  of  the  town- 
ship, and  175  for  roads. 

Herewith  is  presented  a  list  of  the  persons  chosen  an- 
nually from  1860  to  1880  to  serve  as  supervisors,  clerks, 
treasurers,  and  justices  of  the  peace  : 

SUPERVISORS. 
1860-61,  John  Bouws;  1862-74,  A.  J.  Neerken;  1875-79,  Benjamin 
Neerken. 

CLERK. 
1860-79,  Gerrit  Rutgers. 

TREASURERS. 
1860-77,  John  Rutgers ;  1878-79,  H.  Brinkman. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 
1860,  John  Bouws;  1861,  John  Rutgers;  1862,  W.  H.  Rose;  1863, 
G.  Rutgers;  1884,  J.  Bouws;  1865,  J.  Rutgers;  1866,  S.  M. 
Corvor;  1867,  W.  Simpel;  1868,  F.  Van  Dewerp;  1869,  J.  Rut- 
gers; 1870,  C.  W.  Holmes;  1871,  A.  J.  Neerken;  1872,  F.N. 
Van  Dewerp  ;  1873,  J.  Rutgers;  1874,  0.  W.  Holmes;  1875,  A.  J. 
Neerken;  1876,  E.  Von  Balem;  1877,  Irvine  Bell;  1878,  Lueas 
Lugers;  1879,  J.  S.  Holmes. 

It  is  interesting  to  observe  that  since  its  organization  in 
1859  the  township  has  had  but  four  different  supervisors 
(A.  J.  Neerken  serving  in  that  office  thirteen  consecutive 
years)  ;  but  one  clerk  (Gerrit  Rutgers)  ;  and  but  three  dif- 
ferent treasurers, — John  Rutgers  filling  the  place  18  years 
in  succession  and  being  yet  in  the  office  (February,  1880). 


lee; 


Lee,  one  of  the  newest  townships  in  Allegan  in  respect 
to  settlement,  lies  upon  the  southern  border  of  the  county, 
having  Clyde  upon  the  north,  the  Van  Buren  county-line 
upon  the  south,  Cheshire  on  the  east,  and  Casco  on  the 
west.  It  was  surveyed  as  township  1  north,  range  15  west, 
but  by  reason  of  its  lack  of  desirable  farming-land  was 
far  behind  its  sister-townships  in  point  of  settlement,  being 
indeed  unpeopled  until  invaded  by  lumbermen,  which  was 
not  until  1858.  Measures  have  recently  been  set  on  foot 
looking  to  the  eventual  reclamation  of  great  tracts  of  swamp 
land  now  covering  a  large  portion  of  the  town's  area,  and 
towards  this  much-desired  consummation  the  eye  of  ex- 
pectation gladly  turns,  since  the  valuable  farming  region 
will  by  such  means  be  materially  enlarged,  and  the  best 
interests  of  Lee  will  accordingly  be  more  conspicuously 
advanced  than  by  any  method  now  within  contemplation. 

In  the  southeast  and  northwest,  however,  may  now  be 
found  tracts  of  excellent  farming  country,  and,  while  the 
west  promises  to  develop  into  an  important  fruit-producing 
region,  the  east  is  already  rich  in  the  production  of  wheat. 
Saw-mills  are  now  quite  active,  for  there  is  yet  considerable 
valuable  timber  uncut ;  but  this  branch  of  industry  must 
be  abandoned  in  a  brief  space,  and  leave  the  town's  pros- 
perity to  rest  upon  its  agricultural  resources  alone. 

Lee  has  no  church  within  its  limits,  but  is  provided 
with  five  schools, — one  of  them  created  only  in  January, 
1880.     The  other  four  have  an  average  attendance  of  110  . 
out  of  an  enrollment  of  144  school  children  in  the  four 
districts. 

The  Chicago  and  West  Michigan  Railroad  passes  from 
north  to  south  on  an  air-line,  while  numerous  water-courses, 
furnishing  in  some  instances  good  mill-power,  divide  the 
face  of  the  country  in  the  south. 

The  forest  fires  which  raged  through  Western  Allegan  in 
the  autumn  of  1871  played  sad  havoc  with  the  timber 
lands  of  Lee,  and  laid  waste  many  homes.  The  track  of 
the  flames  seemed  most  sharply  defined  along  the  route  of 
the  railway,  where  for  miles  one  may  now  observe  acres  of 
evidence  showing  the  resistless  march  of  the  fire-king  and 
his  victory  over  the  mon|rchs  of  the  forest,  whose  stately 
forms  are  now  replaced  by  charred  and  blackened  trunks. 

LEE'S  EAELY  SETTLEKS. 

The  nature  of  the  country  in  the  township  of  Lee  was 
not  such  as  to  attract  settlers  at  a  very  early  day.  There 
were  great  tracts  of  pine-lands  and  swampy  regions  whose 
only  virtue  was  the  stock  of  timber  they  contained,  so  that, 
while  the  tillers  of  the  soil  sought  more  favorable  localities, 
Lee  was  left  to  court  the  attention  of  lumbermen.     Even 


33 


»  By  David  Schwartz. 

I 


these  did  not  penetrate  the  swampy  recesses  of  the  town- 
ship until  about  1858,  and  up  to  that  time  the  six  miles 
square  of  solitude  remained  unbroken,  save  by  the  appear- 
ance of  a  single  settler,  Thomas  Scott  by  name.  Scott  lo- 
cated a  tract  of  land  between  the  two  lakes,  now  bearing 
his  name,  and,  although  aiming  to  do  something  in  the  way 
of  farming,  devoted  his  energies  chiefly  to  hunting,  in  which 
business  he  was  an  expert,  and,  as  there  was  ample  material 
upon  which  to  exercise  his  skill,  he  made  this  sport  quite 
profitable. 

Scott  was  known  as  "  the  man  with  the  wolfskin  cap," 
and  was  famous  for  his  success  in  the  capture  of  wolves,  upon 
whose  scalps  the  county  ofiered  a  handsome  premium.  He 
settled  in  Lee  about  1844,  and  between  farming  and  wolf- 
catching  passed  his  time  until  1849,  when  he  determined 
to  move  in  the  gold-seeking  throng  to  California,  his  wife 
returning  East  to  her  friends.  Scott  was  reported  to  have 
made  a  fortune  on  the  Pacific  Slope,  where  in  the  course  of 
time  he  died. 

As  before  remarked,  from  the  time  of  Scott's  advent  in 
1844  until  1858  nothing  was  done  towards  populating  Lee. 
In  the  year  last  named,  however,  the  South  Haven  Lumber 
Company,  having  become  possessed  of  considerable  quanti- 
ties of  land  in  the  township,  sent  out  a  company  of  lumber- 
men in  charge  of  J.  H.  Thistle,  and  then  came  too  Thomas 
Raplee,  Harmon  B.  Rice,  Michael  Hoy,  David  W.  Mat- 
thews, Henry  Davidson,  Winchester  d^enkins,  and  others, 
who  in  1859  organized  the  township. 

Thomas  Raplee  occupied  the  old  Scott  place  for  a  while, 
removed  afterwards  to  Ganges,  and,  returning  subsequently 
to  Lee,  lives  now  upon  the  place  of  his  earliest  settlement. 
Mr.  Raplee  was  prominently  identified  with  township 
afikirs  from  the  outset,  and  during  his  residence  in  Lee 
was,  to  the  close  of  1876,  a  town  official,  his  last  services 
being  given  as  supervisor  from  1872  to  1876,  inclusive. 

Reuben  Johnson,  of  Indiana,  moved  to  South  Haven  in 

1866,  and,  there  making  an  engagement  to  work  in  Lee 
for  Dickinson,  Rogers  &  Co.,  moved  to  that  township  in 

1867,  and  made  his  home  in  a  lumberman's  cabin  on  sec- 
tion 22.  At  that  time  the  firm  named  was  largely  engaged 
in  lumbering  in  Lee,  and  moved  great  quantities  of  logs 
down  the  Black  River  to  South  Haven.  After  working 
for  Dickinson,  Rogers  &  Co.  about  four  years,  Johnson  con- 
cluded to  become  a  tiller  of  the  soil,  and  bought  a  farm  on 
section  22,  where  he  has  lived  ever  since.  William  Rhodes, 
who  came  with  Johnson,  worked  with  him  for  a  time  as 
lumberman,  but,  tiring  of  the  business,  returned  to  South 
Haven,  where  he  died. 

When  Mr.  Johnson  came  to  Lee,  in  1867,  there  were 
not  above  a  dozen  settlers  in  the  township.  Among  them 
were  Michael  Hoy,  Robert  Hilton,  Robert  Crawford,  John 

257 


258 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Orr,  John  H.  Thistle,  Charles  Griffing,  and  0.  Hodgman. 
Town-meetings  were  frequently  held  at  Mr.  Johnson's  house, 
and  on  such  occasions  the  participants  were  furnished  with 
a  dinner  at  the  town's  expense.  Mrs.  Johnson  has  pre- 
pared many  such  dinners  on  election  days,  but  the  custom 
was  abandoned  after  the  number  of  voters  reached  beyond 
the  number  of  a  baker's  dozen,  although  periodically  revived 
thereafter. 

Until  lately  there  was  but  little  done  in  the  way  of  farm- 
ing. True,  there  was  some  agricultural  activity  in  the  east 
and  southwest,  where  there  were  a  few  sections  of  excellent 
tillable  land,  but  lumbering  was  the  main  industry,  highways 
were  chiefly  lumber-roads,  and  the  population  was  naturally 
of  a  constantly  changing  character,  for  the  inmates  of  the 
lumbering  camps,  without  any  fixed  location  or  permanent 
interests,  moved  in  and  out  as  the  notion  possessed  them. 
In  1864  the  inhabitants  north  of  the  river  were  few  and 
far  between,  and  one  might  have  then  journeyed  a  long  way 
without  encountering  a  settler.  South  of  the  river  there 
were  a  few  settlers  and  a  considerable  community  of  bark- 
peelers. 

G.  F.  Heath,  living  on  the  eastern  line  of  the  township, 
has  been  a  resident  of  Lee  since  1867,  since  when  he  has 
been  closely  connected  with  the  administration  of  township 
aflFairs  and  a  farmer  of  considerable  prominence. 

TOWNSHIP  ORGANIZATION. 

Lee  was  a  portion  of  Pine  Plains  township  until  Jan. 
3,  1859,  when  the  county  supervisors  set  it  oif  as  a  sepa- 
rate town.  Although  the  reason  for  giving  it  the  name  it 
_bears  docs  not  appear  clear,  it  is  likely  that  the  town  of 
Lee,  in  Massachusetts,  suggested  it. 

The  township  records  were  at  first  very  badly  kept,  and 
it  is  extremely  diflScult  to  obtain  information  from  them. 
The  best  information  obtainable,  however,  from  the  records, 
has  been  gathered  touching  township  proceedings  since 
1859,  and  is  now  presented. 

The  first  entry  in  the  records  reads  as  follows : 

"  That  the  Township  Board  of  Lee  and  Pine  Plains  met  at  the  house 
of  Michael  Hoy,  in  Lee,  August  11,  1859,  for  the  purpose  of  settling 
all  claims  between  the  above  named  townships.  Harmon  B.  Rice 
was  called  to  the  chair,  and  John  P.  Parish  appointed  Secretary.  It 
was  agreed  that  the  said  township  of  Pine  Plains  should  pay  $165.84 
school  and  other  funds,  due  school  district  No.  2,  of  what  was  Pine 
Plains.  It  was  further  agreed  that  Pine  Plains  should  have  the 
benefit  of  any  money  due  from  Allegan  County  at  the  time  of  the 
division,  and  to  pay  the  indebtedness  of  said  township  at  the  time  of 
division.  Further,  the  town  of  Pine  Plains  should  let  the  town  of 
Lee  have  one-third  of  the  library  books  of  said  town. 

(Signed)  Charles  Meadow,  |   Township  Board 

J.  P.  Parish,  L  „/ 

Jarvis  Sperky,  j      Pine  Plaint. 

Thomas  Eaplee,  ^   Township  Board 

Wm.  0.  Rice,  I  Jf 

H.  B.  Rice,  J  Zee." 

The  first  township-meeting  was  held  April  4, 1859,  when 
Thomas  Raplee  was  chosen  moderator,  Harmon  B.  Rice 
and  Henry  Davidson  inspectors  of  election,  Ezra  H. 
Heath  clerk,  and  John  Joslin  assistant  clerk.  At  that 
election  eight  votes  were  cast,  and  the  following  persons 
elected  officers :  Supervisor,  Thomas  Raplee ;  Clerk,  E.  H. 


Heath  ;  Treasurer,  H.  B.  Rice  ;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  H. 
B.  Rice,  Henry  Davidson,  Thomas  Raplee,  and  John  Orr 
(the  latter  subsequently  declared  an  alien)  ;  Highway  Com- 
missioners, Michael  Hoy  and  David  W.  Matthews;  School 
Inspector,  Henry  Davidson  ;  Constables,  David  W.  Mat- 
thews, Winchester  Jenkins,  and  Michael  Hoy ;  Overseers 
of  Highways,  District  No.  1,  H.  B.  Rice;  District  No.  2, 
Winchester  Jenkins ;  District  No.  4,  Michael  Hoy. 

At  that  meeting  $250  were  raised  for  township  purposes, 
and  a  similar  amount  for  highways  and  bridges. 

The  second  annual  election  was  held  on  section  22,  "in 
Dikeman,  Hale  &  Co.'s  block-house,''  in  which  place  also 
many  subsequent  elections  were  held. 

Although  the  votes  cast  in  1859  were  but  8,  there  were 
only  5  in  1860,  and  13  in  1861.  From  that  there  was  no 
material  change  until  1869,  when  there  was  a  sudden 
increase  to  27. 

A  list  of  the  names  of  the  persons  who  have  been  annu- 
ally elected,  from  1859  to  1880,  to  serve  as  supervisors, 
clerks,  treasurers,  and  justices  of  the  peace,  follows  here : 

SUPERVISORS. 

1859-60,  Thomas  Raplee;  1861-62,  G.  B.  Rust;  1863,  J.  A.  Thistle; 
1864,  J.  S.  Wagoner;  1865,  R.  Griswold;  1866,  J.  R.  Griswold; 
186r,  J.  E.  Babbitt;  1868-70,  A.  D.  Parker;  1871,  George  F. 
Heath ;  1872-76,  Thomas  Raplee ;  1877-79,  A.  D.  Parker. 

CLERKS. 

1859,  E.  H.  Heath;  1860,  J.  W.  Joslyn;  1861-6.S,  Henry  Spencer; 
1864-68,  A.  B.  Crawford;  1869-70,  0.  Ilodgman;  1871,  William 
Fritz;  1872-73,  G.  F.  Heath;  1874-79,  G.  W.  Baughman. 

TREASURERS. 

1359-60,  H.  E.  Rice;  1861,  J.  H.  Thistle;  1862-63,  S.  W.  Bennett; 
1864-67,  John  Orr;  1868-70,  E.  Deming;  1871,  A.  Dunn;  1872, 
A.  Borden;  1873,  A.  Rodarmel;  1874-76,  B.  Cook;  1877-78,  B. 
Deming;  1879,  G.  F.  Heath. 

JUSTICES   OF   THE   PEACE. 

1869,  H.  B.  Rice;  1860,  John  Stanton  ;  1861,  J.  G.  Ostrander;  1862 
-63,  G.  B.  Rust;  1864,  John  Orr;  1865-67,  R.  Griswold;  1868, 
A.B.Crawford;  1869,  M.  Sharp;  1870,  A.  Rodamel ;  1871,  G. 
F.  Heath  ;  1872,  T.  Raplee;  1873,  C.  Bryant;  1874,  E.  Deming; 
1875,  T.  Raplee;  1876,  R.  Snell ;  1877,  C.  Bryant;  1878,  W.  P. 
Rhodes;  1879,  G.  F.  Heath. 


HOPPERTOWN. 

Hoppertown,  so  called,  a  signal-station  on  the  Chicago 
and  West  Michigan  Railroad,  occupies  a  quarter  of  section 
9,  land  owned  by  Hopper  &  Bennett,  of  Michigan  City, 
upon  which  two  brothers  named  Clement  put  up  a  saw-mill 
in  1870.  They  sold  the  mill  to  Holden  &  Loney,  who  took 
the  job  of  clearing  Hopper  &  Co.'s  land.  In  1871,  Bon- 
foey  &  Hurlbut  erected  a  shingle-mill,  and  Sweet  &  Fer- 
guson a  saw-mill.  In  1872,  Hyatt  &  Anderson  helped 
matters  along  with  a  30  horse-power  saw-mill,  and  in  that 
year  Hoppertown  rose  to  the  dignity  of  a  hamlet, 
boasting  a  population  of  23  families  or  about  215  people 
all  told,  who  were  supported  by  the  industry  of  four  saw- 
mills,— a  prosperous  era  indeed  in  Hoppertown's  history. 
Afi'airs  flourished,  however,  in  this  fashion  only  about  four 
years.  In  the  summer  of  1876  the  mill  machinery  had 
ceased  to  perform  its  accustomed  functions,  business  had 


LEIGHTON  TOWNSHIP. 


259 


utterly  ceased,  and  of  the  population  there  remained  but 
two  families,  those  of  Aaron  Bowles  and  A.  D.  Hurlbut. 

In  the  winter  of  the  same  year  there  was  a  business  re- 
vival. Snell  &  Cobb  purchased  the  old  Bonfoey  &  Hurlbut 
shingle-mill,  and,  setting  it  once  more  in  motion,  restored 
Hoppertown  to  activity.  Now  the  place  boasts  two  saw- 
mills, which  have  produced  for  shipment  since  1877  from 
18  to  20  car-loads  of  lumber  each  week.  A  post-office  was 
established  at  Hoppertown  in  1876,  when  Bansom  Snell 
was  appointed  postmaster,  and  as  such  he  still  continues. 
This  station ,  besides  forwarding  considerable  lumber,  shipped 
during  1879  about  6000  baskets  of  peaches,  and  with  im- 
proved depot  conveniences  will  forward  thrice  that  number 
the  coming  season. 


BLACK  RIVER  STATION. 
George  Kraal  established  a  saw-mill  at  this  place  in  1871, 
and  presently  sold  it  to  William  Ferguson,  who  discontinued 
it  about  1874.  Nothing  more  was  done  at  the  place  until 
1875,  when  D.  J.  Dorkey  set  a  saw-mill  in  operation  there, 
and  has  carried  it  on  ever  since.  He  employs  at  times  as 
many  as  20  men,  and  ships  considerable  lumber.  A  post- 
office  was  established  here  in  1877,  and  called  Lee.  Mr. 
Dorkey,  who  was  appointed  postmaster,  is  yet  the  incumbent. 
About  a  mile  south  of  Black  Biver  Station,  Adam  White, 
of  Geneva,  carries  on  the  business  of  charcoal-burning. 
He  has  three  large  kilns,  owns  several  hundred  acres  of  land 
in  the  vicinity,  and  employs  an  aggregate  of  75  men  in 
clearing  land  and  burning;  coal. 


LEIGHTON. 


Leiqhton  is  prominent  as  the  northeastern  township  of 
Allegan  County,  and  in  the  field-notes  of  the  original 
survey  was  designated  as  township  No.  4  north,  of  range 
No.  11  west.  It  has  Kent  County  on  the  north,  Barry 
County  on  the  east,  and  the  townships  of  Wayland  and 
Dorr,  in  this  county,  for  its  eastern  and  southern  boundaries. 

The  surface  is  rolling,  rendering  drainage  both  easy  and 
practicable.  Originally,  it  was  heavily  timbered  with  the 
deciduous  trees  common  to  this  region,  and  many  acres  of 
the  primeval  forests  still  remain. 

The  soil  is  most  excellent,  and  well  adapted  to  all  the 
pursuits  of  agriculture.  This  is  shown  by  the  fact  that, 
although  it  was  one  of  the  most  recently  settled  and  organ- 
ized townships,  it  is  now  one  of  the  largest  wheat-producing 
and  fruit-growing  districts  in  the  county. 

Green  Lake,  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  embraces  portions 
of  sections  2,  3,  10,  and  11,  some  320  acres  in  all.  It  is 
of  great  depth,  and  an  excellent  fishing-place.  Several 
other  small  lakes  are  found  in  the  northeast  part  of  the 
township.  Green  Lake  Creek,  the  principal  stream  of 
Leighton,  takes  its  rise  from  Green  Lake,  and,  flowing  to  the 
southwest,  through  the  north  and  west  parts  of  the  town- 
ship, finally  becomes  tributary  to  the  Babbit  Biver.  It 
aifords  good  water-power  privileges  on  section  8,  where  are 
situated  Brown's  saw-mills. 

The  road-bed  of  the  Grand  Bapids  and  Indiana  Bailroad 
intersects  sections  18,  19,  30,  and  31,  but  no  depots  are 
located  in  this  township,  the  people  being  afforded  railway 
facilities  at  the  stations  of  Wayland  and  Moline. 

EVENTS    PRECEDING   PERMANENT    SETTLE- 
MENTS. 
ORIGINAL  SURVEYS. 
The  northern,  eastern,  and  western  boundary-lines  of  this 
township  were  run  by  Deputy  United  States  Surveyor  Lu- 

»  By  J.  S.  Schenok. 


cius  Lyon  in  the  year  1826,  but  the  field-work  was  not 
completed  until  the  spring  of  1831,  when  Sylvester  Sibley, 
also  a  deputy  United  States  surveyor,  ran  out  the  southern 
boundary-line  and  subdivided  the  territory  described  into 
sections. 

FIRST  AND  OTHER  EARLY  LAND-ENTRIES. 

The  first  entry  of  public  lands  in  township  4  north,  of 
range  11  west,  was  made  on  the  11th  day  of  July,  1835,  by 
the  well-known  Indian  trader,  Louis  Campau.  His  tract 
embraced  the  east  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
10,  and  lay  immediately  south  of  Green  Lake.  From  the 
fact  that  he  had  squatted  there  some  two  years  previously, 
and  erected  a  large  and  substantial  framed  building,  it  is 
very  probable  that  the  lands  in  this  township  were  not 
placed  upon  the  market  until  about  the  time  of  Campau's 
purchase. 

A  few  other  lots  were  purchased  during  the  same  year 
(1835),  but  it  was  not  until  the  year  1836  that  anything 
like  a  general  raid  of  "  land-lookers"  and  speculators  was 
made  upon  this  portion  of  the  public  domain,  and,  strangely 
enough,  some  entire  sections  remained  vested  in  the  general 
government  until  quite  a  recent  period. 

To  illustrate  still  further,  we  append  the  following  list  of 
first  and  other  early  entries  made  upon  each  section  : 

Section  1. — Frederick  Wilson,  November,  1850. 
Section  2.— N.  Sillsbee  and  I.  Frost,  Oct.  12,  1835. 
Section  3.— Louis  Campau,  Feb.  12,  1836  ;  Joel  Guild,  April  19, 1836  . 
Horace  Gray,  April  19,  1836;    George  Sheldon,  April  19,  1836; 
Alanson  Sumner,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  September,  1836. 
Section  i. — S.  Hubbard  and  I.  Parker,  May  3,  1836;    Lewis   Hoyt, 

Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  September,  1836. 
Section  5. — John  Beach,  Aug.  12,  1846. 
Section  6. — Seth  A.  Lucas,  Jan.  29,  1846. 
Section  7. — Joel  Brownson,  Aug.  24,  1852. 
Section  8. — Samuel  Payne,  May  25, 1836 ;  James  I.  Godfrey,  Monroe 

Co.,  N.  Y.J  November,  1836 ;  Philip  Edgcrton,  May,  1852. 
Section  9. — James  S.  Wadsworth,  April,  1836  ;  Martin  Ryerson,  April; 
1836;  David  Bunnell,  April,  1836;  T.  Robertson  and  I.  Miller, 


260 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


July,   1836;   John  J.  Covert,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April,  1836; 

Allen  A.  Robinson,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April,  1836. 
Secliun  10. — Louis  Campau,  Mioliigan,  July  11, 1836 ;  Natlianiel  Sills- 
bee  and  I.  Frost,  Oct.  12,  1835;    Charles  Eoss,  Jan.  18,  1836; 

Samuel  Payne,  May  25,  1836. 
Svclion  11.— George  W.  Barne?,  Nov.  12,  1849;    Charles  Rathbone, 

Nov.  12,  1849;    William   Jeffords,    Nov.  12,  1849;    Lawson   N. 

Wade,  1850. 
Section  12. — Peter  Craise,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  February,  1849  ;  Charles 

Covert,  December,  1849. 
Section  13.— Edwin  E.  Munn,  Nov.  5,  1836;  Richard  B.  Glaiser,  De- 
cember, 1838. 
Section  14. — Thomas  Emerson,  Jan.  27,  1830  ;  John  Street,  Jr.,  Jan. 

9,  1838. 
Section  15.— T.  Robertson  and  I.  Miller,  July  7, 1836  ;  John  Westcott, 

September,  1836 ;  James  Willson,  September,  1836. 
Section  16  was  school  lands. 
Section  n. — Oliver  Davenport,    July  15,  1836;    Allen  A.  Robinson, 

Nov.  5,  1836. 
Section  18. — James  J.  Godfrey,  Nov.  4,  1836. 
Section  19.— N.  Sillsbee  and  I.  Frost,  Oct.  12,  1835;  Alanson  Sumner, 

Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  September,  1836. 
Section  20. — Marshall  Chambers,  September,  1849. 
Section  21.— Nelson  Lester,  Oct.  16,  1848. 
Section  22. — Richard  Bragg,  Jan.  30,  1849. 
Section  23.— Ira  Sperry,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  27,  1836 ;  Johnson 

Sperry,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,   Sept.  27,   1836 ;    John   Ball,  Troy, 

N.  Y.,  Nov.  5,  1836 ;  Hiram  Sherman,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  8, 

1836. 
Section  24. — Samuel  D.  Webster,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  27,  1836; 

John  Ball,  Troy,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  6,  1836. 
Section  25.— James  Anderson,  Ionia,  Mich.,  Nov.  5, 1836 ;  John  Ball, 

Troy,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  5,  1836 ;  Horatio  M.  Monroe,  Nov.  5,  1836. 
Section  26.— John  Ball,  Troy,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  5, 1836 ;  William  W.  Dodge, 

Monroe,  Mich.,  Nov.  8,  1836. 
Section  27.— Martin  Lipe,  Feb.  9,  1848. 
^ecd'om  28.- William  H.  B.  French,  April  20,  1849;  Joseph  M.  C. 

Moore,  Nov.  6,  1849. 
Section  29.— Darwin  W.  Hooker,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  29, 1849. 
Section  30. — Alanson  Sumner,   Monroe  Co.,  Mich.,  Sept.  29,  1836  ■ 

James  I.  Godfrey,  Nov.  i,  1836;    Allen  A.  Robinson,  Nov.  5, 

1836. 
Section  31. — Isaac  and  George  W.  Barnes,  Dec.  26,  1835;  George  W. 

Barnes,  Feb.  19,   1836 ;   Alanson    Sumner,  Monroe,  Mich.,  Sep- 
tember, 1836;   Allen  A.  Robinson,  Monroe,  Mich.,  November 

1836.  ' 

Section  32. — Josiah  Hillman,  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Deo.  7, 1836. 
Section  33. — E.  Jackson,  Nov.  14,  1849. 
Section  34.— George  W.  Barnes  and  William  Logan,  Kalamazoo  Co., 

Mich.,  March  9, 1836 ;  Samuel  B.  Hooker,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich., 

Jan.  29,  1840. 
Section  36.— Isaac  and  George  W.  Barnes,  Deo.  26,  1835;  George  W. 

Barnes  and  William  Logan,  May  9, 1836;  James  Anderson,  Nov. 

5,  1836;  John  Ball,  Troy,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  5,  1836. 
Section  36.— Samuel  Centre,  Sept.  27,  1836;  James  Anderson  Nov.  5 

1836;  John  Colt,  Nov.  6,  1836. 

FIRST  SETTLEMENTS. 

Louis  Campau,  the  Indian  trader  whose  name  is  prom- 
inent in  the  history  of  Kent  County  and  other  sections  of 
Western  Michigan,  made  the  first  improvement  in  this 
township.  As  early  as  1833  or  '34  he  came  in  from  Grand 
Eapids  and  built  a  large  framed  building  on  the  north  part 
of  the  east  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  Section  10. 

This  house  stood  on  the  east  side  of  the  present  high- 
way, between  the  outlet  and  the  lake,  and  about  forty  rods 
from  the  latter.  The  timbers  and  other  material  of  which 
it  was  constructed  -were  sawed  out  by  means  of  the  old- 
fashioned  saw-pit  and  whip-saw.  Those  who  were  familiar 
with  the  appearance  of  this  old  structure  describe  it  as 
having  been  very  substantially  built.     It  was  a  long,  low 


building,  one  and  one-half  stories  in  height,  with  dormer 
windows,  a  style  of  architecture  peculiar  to  the  French 
Canadians  of  half  a  century  ago. 

It  is  a  difficult  matter,  now,  to  determine  what  his  objects 
were  in  the  choice  of  this  site  and  the  construction  of  so 
large  a  building  here  in  the  wilderness, — whether  as  a 
tradingpost,  or  the  nucleus  of  a  proposed  village  in  a 
locality  which  his  unerring  instinct  pointed  out  as  romantic 
and  rich  in  natural  beauties.  However  that  may  be,  he 
held  this  location  as  a  squatter  or  by  right  of  pre-emption 
until  July  11,  1835,  when  it  was  entered  in  his  name  upon 
the  land-office  records. 

On  the  12th  of  February,  1836,  he  purchased  the  north- 
east fractional  quarter  of  the  same  section,  also  the  south- 
east fractional  quarter  of  section  3.  Together,  his  pur- 
chases embraced  an  area  of  280  acres,  all  resting  upon 
Green  Lake. 

The  first  man  to  occupy  the  building  erected  by  Campau 
was  one  Watson.  He  remained  but  a  year  or  so,  and  then 
gave  place  to  a  man  named  Pelton.  About  1836  or  1837 
Campau  traded  his  property  here — or  part  of  it  at  least — 
with  E.  B.  Bostwick  for  lands  lying  within  the  limits  of  the 
present  city  of  Grand  Rapids.  Bostwick  erected  a  barn, 
also  a  small  building  which  he  occupied  as  a  store,  and  in 
1837  Lucius  A.  Barnes  found  him  installed  here  as  tavern- 
keeper  and  merchant.  His  hotel  patrons  were  those  un- 
happy creatures,  the  "  land-lookers,"  and  through  travelers 
from  Bronson*  to  "  the  Rapids,"  while  his  store  customers 
were  Indians.  Mr.  Bostwick  remained  at  the  lake  two  or 
three  years.  He  cleared  about  20  acres,  one  half  of  which 
was  brought  under  cultivation. 

During  subsequent  years  this  old  Campau  building  was 
occupied  by  several  different  parties  and  kept  as  a  hotel, 
and  among  the  landlords  of  that  early  period  was  L.  A. 
Barnes.  The  building  itself  has  long  since  disappeared ; 
not  a  vestige  of  it  now  remains. 

The  next  occupants   of  the    territory  now   known   as 

Leighton — and  they  were  here  but  temporarily were  found 

in  the  persons  of  George  W.  Barnes,  of  Wayland,  and 
William  Logan,  of  Gull  Prairie,  who  during  the  spring  of 
1836  entered  lands  situated  upon  sections  34  and  35. 

Messrs.  Barnes  and  Logan  were  here  in  the  summer  of 
1839,  engaged  in  lumbering,  and  the  first  assessment-roll 
of  Martin  informs  us  that  they  were  assessed  for  lands  be- 
fore described  and  one  yoke  of  cattle  valued  at  $70,  all  in 
township  4  north,  of  range  No.  11  west;  and  what  is  other- 
wise quite  conclusive,  no  other  portion  of  the  township  was 
then  assessed  as  resident  land. 

The  brothers  Samuel  B.  and  William  S.  Hooker  were 
natives  of  the  State  of  Vermont,  and  came  to  Michigan  in 
1838  or  '39,  stopping  a  short  time  at  Gull  Prairie,  where  their 
brother  Darwin  had  preceded  them  by  some  four  or  five  years. 
On  the  29th  of  January,  1840,  they  purchased  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  34  in  this  township,  and  began  an 
improvement  upon  their  land  during  the  same  spring,  which 
resulted  in  the  establishment  of  the  first  permanent  home- 
stead in  Leighton.  The  Hookers  were  prominent  and  re- 
spected citizens.  Both  held  offices  in  Wayland,  and  were 
conspicuous  in  the  organization  of  their  own  township. 
^^  Kalamazoo. 


LEIGHTON  TOWNSHIP. 


261 


Boughton  Wilson  seems  to  have  been  the  next  settler, 
and  came  in  soon  after  the  Hookers.  His  location  was  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  24.  He  was  a  plain,  unas- 
suming citizen,  not  given  to  oflSce-holding,  and  died  years 
ago,  while  still  a  young  man.  His  widow  still  owns  a  large 
portion  of  the  original  homestead. 

When  Wayland  was  organized,  in  1844,  the  Hooker 
brothers  and  Boughton  Wilson  were  the  only  resident  tax- 
payers in  township  4  north,  of  range  11  west.  The  per- 
sonal estate  of  the  former  was  valued  at  $174 ;  of  the  latter, 
at  $120. 

In  1845  the  population  was  further  increased  by  the 
settlement  of  George  W.  Lewis  on  section  34,  Alfred 
Mann  on  section  22,  and  John  Woodward  on  34.  Lucius 
A.  Barnes  and  H.  Gardner  were  also  here  at  that  time. 

Prior  to  the  first  township-meeting,  in  1848,  Levi  S. 
Bagnell  and  Seth  A.  Lucas  were  both  settled  on  section  6. 
Others  who  were  here,  but  were  not  real-estate  owners,  were 
John  Goodspeed,  Homer  Hulett,  Samuel  E.  Lincoln,  Jehu 
Wilson,  Warren  Spencer,  and  Stephen  Hartwell. 

Darwin  W.  Hooker,  a  brother  of  Samuel  and  William, 
came  from  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  Gull  Prairie,  Mich.,  in 
1834,  and  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  that  locality  until 
1849,  when  he  removed  to  his  present  place  of  residence  in 
this  township.  He  was  born  in  Rutland  Co.,  Vt.,  and 
early  in  life  became  a  tailor.  Afterwards,  at  Castleton,  Vt., 
and  Keeseville,  N.  Y.,he  carried  on  an  extensive  merchant- 
tailoring  establishment.  Since  his  settlement  in  Michigan, 
however,  he  has  devoted  all  his  energies  to  farming.  Here, 
as  well  as  in  Kalamazoo  County,  he  has  served  many  terms 
as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  with  great  gratification  asserts 
that  none  of  his  decisions  have  been  reversed  by  a  higher 
court.  Especially  was  he  triumphant  in  the  "  Leighton 
road  war." 

Among  other  well-known  citizens  of  Leighton  who  came 
in  during  the  sixth  decade,  and  in  years  which  are  believed 
to  be  correctly  given  below,  were  the  following : 

1849-50.— Charles  Forber,  Loren  M.  Lester,  M.  H.  Lester,  V.  N. 

Lester,  Ransford  Corning,  Marshall  Chambers,  Klihu  Nlck- 

erson,  R.  Watkins. 
jg52. Henry  E.  Wallace,  Thaddeus  Wade,  James  Thompson,  H.  F. 

Haney,  Chaunoey  Wade. 
1S53.— Franklin  Peck,  Amos  J.  Cook,  Frederick  Seyerance. 
1854.— Francis  Inglis,  Joseph  Elliott,  John  Heaney. 
1855.— John  Fales,  Reynolds  Kenyon,  F.  E.  Kenyon. 
1856.— Alfred  Chappell,  Orrin  Plumley,  Dan.  Rice. 
1857. — Roswell  Clement. 

1858.— John  A.  Rogers,  George  B.  Manchester,  David  V.  Lilly. 
1859.— Frederick  W.  Collins,  Lorenzo  D.  Pratt,  Horatio  N.  Tubbs. 

STATISTICAL. 

The  growth  of  population  and  the  development  of  the 
fine  farming-lands  of  this  township  have  not  been  marked 
by  any  period  of  activity  which  deserves  especial  mention. 
Gradually  but  surely,  however,  the  people  have  advanced 
in  population  and  prosperity,  until  to-day  they  point  with 
just  pride  to  theirs  as  being  one  of  the  best  agricultural 
districts  in  the  county  of  Allegan. 

Various  statistics,  therefore,  gathered  from  the  United 
States  Census  Reports,  will,  in  this  connection,  prove  of 
interest : 


1850. 

Number  of  dwellings 22 

"          families 22 

"          inhabitants 112 

Value  of  real  estate  owned $10,850 

Number  of  occupied  farms 5 

"          acres  improved 118 

"              "     unimproved 437 

Value  of  farm-lands $5,100 

"          farming  implements $270 

Number  of  horses 4 

"          milch  cows 11 

"          working  oxen 10 

"          other  cattle 24 

"          sheep 33 

**          swine 20 

Value  of  live-stock $1,164 

Number  of  bushels  of  wheat  produced  in  1849.  426 

"                "           rye             "                "  40 

"                "           corn           "                "  670 

"                "           oats           "                "  100 

"                «           barley       "                "  20 

"                "           potatoes   "                "  410 

','          pounds  of  wool          "                "  107 

Value  of  orchard  products           "                "  $30 

Number  of  pounds  of  butter       "                "  1,300 

''          tons  of  hay                "                "  62 

"          pounds  maple-sugar"                "  2,000 

Value  of  home-made  products     "                "  .   $130 

1860. 

Numberof  dwelling-houses 134 

"          families 129 

"          inhabitants 676 

Value  of  real  estate  owned '. $130,700 

Numberof  farms 92 

"          acres  improved 3041 

"            "      unimproved 5825 

Value  of  farming-lands $127,200 

"                "        implements $5,829 

Numberof  horses 65 

"          milch  cows 194 

**          working  oxen 141 

"          other  cattle 205 

"          sheep 394 

"          swine 579 

Value  of  live-stock $22,410 

Number  of  bushels  of  wheat  produced  in  1859.  7349 

"         rye           "               "  287 

"                  "          corn          "                "  14,564 

"                  "          oats           "                "  2350 

"                  "          barley       "                "  78 

«                  "          buckwheat                 "  508 

"                  "          potatoes    "                "  4599 

"          pounds  of  wool          "                "  574 

Value  of  orchard  products           "                "  $362 

Number  of  pounds  of  butter       "                "  15,962 

"               "            cheese       "                 "  1000 

tons  of  hay                "                "  808 

"          pounds  of  maple-sugar              "  23,120 

"          steam  saw-mills 1 

Capital  invested  in  the  business $10,000 

Number  of  feet  sawed  annually 2,000,000 

Value  of  annual  products $21,000 

Number  of  hands  employed 20 

The  State  census  of  1874  (the  latest)  returned  a  total 
population  of  1308.  An  approximate  estimate  of  the 
present  number  of  inhabitants  places  them  at  about  1700. 

Formerly  the  people  had  a  post-office  in  their  midst,  but 
the  township  of  to-day  boasts  neither  a  post-office,  railway 
station,  village,  store,  rum-shop,  nor  tavern.  One  small 
church  edifice — German  Evangelical — is  situated  on  the 
northwest  corner  of  section  12,  in  which  vicinity  quite  a 
number  of  families  of  that  nationality  and  faith  have 
settled. 

CIVIL  HISTORY. 
ORGANIZATION. 
Forming  successively  part  of  Allegan,  Plainfield,  Martin, 
and  Wayland  townships,  Leighton  was  finally  set  off  as 
an  independent  organization  by  an  act  of  the  State  Legis- 
lature which  was  approved  March  9, 1848.  The  following 
is  that  portion  of  the  act  applying  to  this  township : 


262 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BAKRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


"Section  3.  That  township  number  four  north,  of  range  number 
eleven  west,  in  the  county  of  Allegan,  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby  set 
off  from  the  township  of  Wayland,  and  organized  into  a  separate 
township  by  the  name  of  Leighton,  and  the  first  township-meeting 
therein  shall  be  held  at  the  Green  Lake  school-house,  in  said  town- 
ship." 

FIRST   TOWNSHIP-MEETING. 

The  electors  of  the  territory  thus  organized  as  the  town- 
ship of  Leighton  assembled  at  the  Green  Lake  school-house 
on  Monday,  April  3, 1848,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  town- 
ship officers.  Thereupon,  John  Goodspeed  was  chosen 
moderator,  Samuel  B.  Hooker  clerk,  John  Woodward 
and  Levi  S.  Bagnell  inspectors  of  election.  The  whole 
number  of  votes  polled  for  candidates  for  the  office  of 
supervisor  was  20,  of  which  George  W.  Lewis  received 
12,  and  Samuel  B.  Hooker  received  8.  The  final  result 
was  as  follows :  George  W.  Lewis,  Supervisor  ;  Samuel  B. 
Hooker,  Township  Clerk ;  George  W.  Lewis,  Treasurer ; 
John  Woodward,  Jehu  Wilson,  Assessors ;  Seth  A.  Lucas, 
Alfred  Mann,  School  Inspectors;  Levi  S.  Bagnell,  Samuel 
E.  Lincoln,  Jehu  Wilson,  Highway  Commissioners;  Ho- 
mer Hulett,  Seth  A.  Lucas,  Alfred  Mann,  Justices  of  the 
Peace ;  William  S.  Hooker,  John  Woodward,  Poormasters ; 
Pbiletus  W.  Wood,  John  Goodspeed,  Constables. 

The  further  business  of  this  meeting  was  concluded  by 
the  appointment  of  John  Woodward  roadmaster  of  dis- 
trict No.  1  and  Stephen  Hartwell  roadmaster  of  district 
No.  2,  by  voting  to  raise  $80  for  township  expenses,  to 
pay  a  bounty  of  $5  for  each  full-grown  wolf  killed  in  the 
township,  and  to  levy  a  tax  of  fifty  cents  for  each  child 
of  school  age  residing  in  the  township. 

FIRST  ASSESSMENT. 
The  names  of  resident  tax-payers  appearing  upon  the  roll 
in  June,  1848,  were  as  follows : 

Acres. 

George  W.  Barnes,  section  35 80 

Levi  S.  Bagnell,  section  6 117 

John  Goodspeed Personal 

William  S.  Hooker,  section  34 80 

Samuel  B.  Hooker,  section  34 80 

Homer  Hulett Personal 

George  W.  Lewis,  section  34 40 

Seth  A.  Lucas,  section  6 40 

Samuel  E.  Lincoln Personal 

Moaher  4  Barnes,  section  31 305 

Alfred  Mann,  section  22 40 

John  Woodward,  section  34 40 

Boughton  Wilson,  section  24 160 

Jehu  Wilson Personal 

Spencer  Warren Personal 

The  total  tax  levied  on  resident  and  non-resident  lands 
for  the  same  year  was  $396.83. 

TOWNSHIP   OFFICERS. 
The  following  is  a  tabulated  list  of  township  officers 
elected  annually  for  the  years  from  1849  to  1879,  inclusive: 

SUPEEVISOKS. 
1849,  George  W.  Lewis;  1850,  Charles  Furber;  1851-62,  George  W. 
Lewis;  1853,  M.  H.Lester;  1854-56,  Francis  Inglis;  1857-58, 
Franklin  Peck;  1859-60,  Frederick  W.  Collins;  1861-63,  Jere- 
miah B.  Haney;  1864-65,  Vespucius  N.  Lester;  1866-67,  Fred- 
erick W.  Collins;  1868-72,  George  B.  Manchester;  1873-76, 
Alexander  C.  Jones;  1877-79,  William  A.  Chappell. 

TOWNSHIP  CLERKS. 
1849-50,  Samuel  B.  Hooker;  1851^  L.  M.  Lester;  18.52,  Charles  Fur- 
ber;  1853,   L.  M.   Lester;  185  4-55,  William  S.  Hooker;   1856, 
Frederick  W.  Collins;  1857,  Roswell  Clement;  1858-59,  William 


S.  Hooker;  1860-63,  V.  N.  Lester;  1864,  Sidney  Jenkins;  1865 
-67,  George  B.  Manchester;  1868-74,  Francis  Inglis;  1875-76, 
Andrew  Brog;  1877-79,  Israel  J.  Cook. 

TBEASUEEES. 
1849-50,  Samuel  B.  Hooker;  1851-52,  John  Woodward;  1853-55,  A. 
J.  Cook;  1856,  William  S.  Hooker;  1857,  Loren  M.  Lester;  1858 
-61,  Francis  Inglis;  1862-63,  Frederick  W.  Collins;  1864,  Wil- 
liam S.  Hooker;  1865,  Frederick  W.  Collins;  1866-72,  George 
W.  Lewis;  1873-77,  John  A.  Rogers;  1878,  William  0.  Vree- 
land;  1879,  John  T.  Smith. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 
Homer  Hulitt,  1849 ;  Darwin  W.  Hooker,  Charles  Furber,  George 
W.  Lewis,  1850;  Homer  Hulitt,  Levi  S.  Bagwell,  1851;  R.Wat- 
kins,  1852;  Henry  E.  Wallace,  Darwin  W.  Hooker,  1853;  Joseph 
Elliott,  Darwin  W.  Hooker,  1854;  Thaddeus  Wade,  Darwin  W. 
Hooker,  1855  ;  Reynolds  Kenyon,  1856 ;  John  Woodward,  Alfred 
Chappell,  1857;  John  Woodward,  Apollos  P.  Brownson,  1858; 
David  V.  Lilly,  1859;  Lorenzo  D.  Pratt,  Francis  Inglis,  1860; 
Lorenzo  D.  Pratt,  Henry  F.  Haney,  1861 ;  H.  N.  Tubbs,  Thad- 
deus Wade,  1862;  Darwin  W.  Hooker,  Amos  J.  Cook,  1863; 
Amos  J.  Cook,  1864 ;  John  F.  Ellingwood,  Francis  Inglis,  1865  ; 
George  B.  Manchester,  1866;  Alexander  C.Jones,  1867;  Amos 
J.  Cook,  1868;  John  F.  Ellingwood,  1869;  George  B.  Manches- 
ter, 1870  ;  Harlow  J.  Dean,  1871;  Amos  J.  Cook,  1872;  Francis 
Inglis,  1873 ;  George  B.  Manchester,  Wade  P.  Hard,  1874 ;  Har- 
low J.  Dean,  1875;  Amos  J.  Cook,  Morell  C.  Smith,  1876;  Wil- 
liam W.  Paull,  1877 ;  Francis  A.  Kough,  William  R.  Olds,  1878 ; 
Amos  J.  Cook,  Samuel  C.  Seabring,  1879. 

HIGHWAY  COMMISSIONERS. 
Jehu  Wilson,  1849;  William  S.  Hooker,  Ransford  Corning,  1850; 
Elihu  Nickerson,  1851 ;  James  Thompson,  1852 ;  George  W. 
Lewis,  1853;  H.  F.  Haney,  Frederick  Severance,  1854;  John 
Heaney,  1855  ;  John  Fales,  Orrin  Plumley,  1856 ;  George  W. 
Lewis,  Dan.  Rice,  1857;  F.  E.  Kenyon,  1858;  John  A.  Rogers, 
1859;  Horatio  N.  Tubbs,  George  W.  Lewis,  1860;  George  B. 
Manchester,  1861;  George  W.  Lewis,  1862;  Francis  Inglis, 
1863;  Jonathan  Chamberlin,  Charles  A.  Orton,  1864;  William  0. 
Vreeland,  John  Fales,  1865 ;  John  Fales,  1866  ;  Charles  L.  Bar- 
ren, 1867;  J.  McMore,  1868;  John  A.  Rogers,  1869;  James 
Clark,  1870  ;  Joseph  Herrington,  1871 ;  John  A.  Rogers,  1872 ; 
Thomas  W.  Ronan,  1873;  Wade  P.  Hard,  Lewis  Henderson, 
1874;  Wade  P.  Hard,  1876;  Henry  Conrad,  1876;  Lewis  Hen- 
derson, 1877 ;  James  Pierce,  1878 ;  Andrew  J.  Brown,  1879. 

SCHOOL  INSPECTORS. 
Darwin  W.  Hooker,  1849;  Alfred  Mann,  1860;  Marshall  Chambers, 
1861 ;  M.  H.  Lester,  Alfred  Mann,  1852;  Chauncey  Wade,  1853; 
Francis  Inglis,  Franklin  Peck,  1854;  Chauncey  Wade,  1855; 
Francis  Inglis,  1856 ;  Vespucius  N.  Lester,  1857 ;  Alfred  Chap- 
pell, v.  N.  Lester,  1858 ;  Frederick  W.  Collins,  1859 ;  Lorenzo 
D.  Pratt,  1860  ;  Frederick  W.  Collins,  William  S.  Hooker,  1861 ; 
Lorenzo  D.  Pratt,  1862;  Jeremiah  B.  Haney,  1863;  V.  N.  Les- 
ter, Frederick  W.  Collins,  1864;  Lorenzo  D.  Pratt,  1865;  Fred- 
erick W.  Collins,  Alexander  C.  Jones,  1866-67  ;  Frederick  W. 
Collins,  1868;  William  W.  Paull,  1869;  Orville  Everson,  1870; 
George  R.  Lewis,  1871;  Orville  Everson,  Rush  Lewis,  1872; 
James  Clark,  1873  ;  Andrew  Brog,  Orville  Everson,  1874;  Amos 
Hunsberger,  1875 ;  Israel  J.  Cook,  1876 ;  Alexander  C.  Jones, 
1877;  William  W.  Pierce,  1878;  Francis  Inglis,  1879. 

ASSESSORS. 
Jehu  Wilson,  William  S.  Hooker,  1849.    Since  1850  the  supervisors 
have  acted  as  assessors. 

DIKBCTORS  OF  THE  POOR. 
Samuel   E.   Lincoln,   William   S.  Hooker,   1849-50;   Alfred   Mann, 
Stephen  Hartwell,  1851. 

DRAIN  COMMISSIONERS. 

Francis  Inglis,  1872;  Thomas  W.  Ronan,  1873;  Edward  Williams, 

1874;  Harlow  C.  Dean,  1875;  Samuel  C.  Sebring,  1876-78. 


LEIGHTON  TOWNSHIP. 


263 


TOWNSHIP  SOPERINTENDENTS  OF  SCHOOLS. 
Alexander  C.  Jones,  1875-76;  Joseph  B.  Weber,  1877;  Lorenzo  D. 
Pratt,  1878 ;  Edward  L.  Cook,  1879. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

In  May,  1844,  school  district  No.  1,*  of  Wayland,  was 
organized,  and  included  sections  34,  35,  and  36  in  town- 
ship 4  north,  of  range  11  west.  The  school-house,- which 
was  built  soon  after,  was  a  small  plank  building,  and  stood 
in  the  vicinity  of  Barnes'  saw-mill.  Here  the  children  of 
the  earliest  settlers  in  the  Hooker  neighborhood  obtained 
their  first  school  advantages. 

Prior  to  the  organization  of  Leighfon,  in  1848,  a  school- 
house  known  as  the  Green  Lake  school-house  had  been 
erected.  But  it  seems  that  no  schools  were  taught  in  it 
prior  to — or  for  a  year  or  more  succeeding — the  date  men- 
tioned. Seth  A.  Lucas  and  Alfred  Mann,  the  school  in- 
spectors elected  in  1848,  made  no  record  of  their  official 
acts,  and  it  is  very  probable  they  performed  none.  On  the 
19th  of  March,  1849,  Darwin  W.  and  Samuel  B.  Hooker, 
school  inspectors,  met  at  the  township  clerk's  office  "  for 
the  purpose  of  forming  a  school  district  in  said  township," 
and  ordered 

"That  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  21,  the  whole  of  section  22 
and  23,  the  west  half  of  24  and  25,  the  whole  of  sections  26,  27,  28, 
and  the  east  half  of  section  29,  shall  constitute  and  form  a  school  dis- 
trict, to  be  known  as  school  district  No.  1." 

This  was  the  first  school  district  organized  within  the 
township.  It  was  enlarged  March  23,  1850,  by  annexing 
the  north  half  of  sections  34  and  35,  territory  which  had 
previously  belonged  to  the  Wayland  and  Leighton  frac- 
tional districts.  On  the  26th  of  June,  1850,  the  first  teacher 
was  licensed  by  the  Leighton  authorities,  but  unfortunately 
her  name  was  not  placed  on  record.  The  next  teacher  in 
district  No.  1  was  Miss  F.  M.  Jones,  who  received  a  certifi- 
cate April  28,  1851.  District  No.  2  was  formed  Nov.  1, 
1851,  and  district  No.  3,  Dee.  20,  1851.  On  the  latter 
date  Miss  Frances  M.  Ralph  and  Mr.  M.  H.  Lester  re- 
ceived teachers'  certificates.  Other  early  teachers  were 
licensed  as  follows :  Sarah  Jane  Freeman,  May  4,  1852 ; 
Susan  A.  Matteson,  Nov.  22,  1852 ;  Miss  Caroline  Barton, 
April  9,  1853;  Elizabeth  Stokes,  May  2,  1853;  Amanda 
Brownson,  Nov.  5,  1853 ;  Charity  Cowan,  Alfred  Brown- 
son,  Nov.  12,  1853. 

District  No.  4  was  formed  March  10,  1853;  district 
No.  5,  December,  1855  ;  No.  6,  October,  1856.  Since  the 
latter  date  many  changes  have  occurred  in  the  numbers 
and  boundaries  of  districts. 

Many  other  quite  early  teachers  were  licensed,  whose 
names  are  given  in  the  following  list : 

1854. — Jone  Beach,  Harriet  Page,  Iretta  Shaw,  TJretha  Dexter,  Sarah 

Johnson,  Horace  Haney. 
1855. — Helen   Snyder,  Pamelia   Cranson,  Laura  J.  Brewer,  Emily 

Chase. 
1856.— Harriet  Page,  Sarah  Nickerson,  Jane  Nickerson,  Lucy  J.  EI- 

dred,  Vespucius  N.  Lester,  Miss  Arnold. 
1857.— Charity  A.  Cowan,  Alice  M.  Strykec,  Mary  Bosworth,  Elvira 

Brewer,  Susan  A.  Matteson. 
1858.— Jane  Nickerson,  Sarah  Nickerson,  Emily  Nickerson,  Martha 

M.  Darling,  Julia  A.  Williams,  Amelia  Swett,  Mr.  J.  Alden. 
1859.— Charlotte  P.  Barrett,  Julia  A.  Williams,  Aaron  Clark. 


«■  See  history  of  Wayland. 


I860.— Helen  Everhart,  Jane  T.  Worden,  Elizabeth  Hendricks,  H.  0. 
Whitney,  Miss  Terrell,  Euth  M.  Hall,  Emily  Chambers,  Harriet 
Smith,  Mary  Rice. 

1861. — Mary  Rice,  Emily  Nickerson,  Jane  Nickerson,  Eliza  J.  Bisbee, 
B.  v.  Stone,  Parmelia  Cranson,  Nancy  Crosby,  Jane  T.  Worden, 
Jane  Bullock,  Vespucius  N.  Lester,  Jeremiah  B.  Haney,  Adeline 
Kemp,  Hattie  Wilcox,  Harriet  Smith,  S.  Nichols,  Isabella  Chap- 
pell. 

1862. — Helen  Arnold,  Mary  J.  Bice,  Isabella  Chappell,  Emma  Wade, 
Luey  J.  Joslyn,  Julia  Williams,  Jane  T.  Worden,  Emma  Shef- 
field, Charles  A.  Orton,  Ellen  C.  Avery,  Sarah  Dillenbeck,  Eliza 
A.  Rounds,  Jane  M.  Hooker,  Julia  B.  Williams. 

Since  the  first  organization  of  the  township  it  has  been 
supplied  with  a  public  school  library,  to  which  yearly  addi- 
tions have  been  made. 

As  showing  the  present  condition  of  school  interests  in 
Leighton,  the  following  statistics,  taken  from  the  school 
inspectors'  annual  report  for  the  year  ending  Sept.  1, 1879, 
are  appended : 

Number  of  districts  (whole,  9  ;  fractional,  2) 11 

"            children  of  school  age  residing  in  the  township..  484 

"                  "        attending  school  during  the  year 365 

"            school-houses  ( brick,  1 ;  frame,  8) 9 

"            teachers  employed  (male,  5 ;  female  10) 15 

Paid  male  teachers $696.25 

"    female      "     $747.00 

Resources,  from  moneys   on  hand  Sept.  2,  1878,  two-mill 
tax,  primary  school  fund,  tuition  of  non-resident  scholars, 

district  taxes,  and  from  all  other  sources $34-16.90 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH. 


WILLIAM  B.  HOOKER. 

William  S.  Hooker,  the  father  of  the  immediate  subject 
of  this  brief  sketch,  was  born  in  the  State  of  Vermont, 
Aug.  17,  1818.  After  residing  for  some  years  in  E.'ssex 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  he  removed  to  Gull  Prairie,  Mich.,  about  1838- 
39.  In  1840,  together  with  his  brother  Samuel  B.,  he  pur- 
chased of  the  general  government  lands  situated  upon  sec- 
tion 34  in  the  present  township  of  Leighton,  and  during 
the  same  year,  accompanied  by  his  father  (Josiah)  and 
mother,  began  the  first  improvement  in  the  southern  half 
of  the  township.  He  was  an  active,  energetic  citizen,  was 
prominent  as  a  township  official,  and  also  served  as  sheriif 
of  Allegan  County. 

On  the  17th  of  January,  1844,  he  married  Miss  Mary 
Betterly,  of  Battle  Creek,  Mich.  Of  this  union  six  chil- 
dren were  born,  as  follows:  Dorinda,  Aug.  18,  1847,  died, 
April  14,  1850;  Marcia  C,  Aug.  14,  1849;  Dorinda  A., 
April  27,  1851 ;  Lucy  F.,  Jan.  14, 1853  ;  William  B.  and 
Mary  B.,  Feb.  10,  1856.  Mary,  the  wife  and  mother,  died 
Feb.  22,  1856. 

On  the  14th  of  May,  1857,  he  married  Mrs.  Hannah 
Watkins,  of  Leighton  ;  but  one  child  was  born  of  this  mar- 
riage, viz.:  Emma  J.,  Sept.  12,  1859.  At  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  March  21,  1874,  Mr.  Hooker  was 
the  owner  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres. 

His  son  William  B.  Hooker,  who  married  Miss  Isabella 
Crittenden,  of  Martin,  March  24,  1880,  now  owns  and  oc- 
cupies the  homestead.  It  is  situated  on  the  old  stage-route 
between  Kalamazoo  and  Grand- Rapids,  and  is  one  of  the 
most  pleasant  locations  in  the  township. 


M  A  N  L I  u  s; 


Manlius,  known  on  the  United  States  survey  as  township 
No.  3  north,  in  range  15  west,  is  bounded  by  Fillmore  on 
the  north,  by  Clyde  on  the  south,  by  Heath  on  the  east,  and 
by  Saugatuck  on  the  west.  It  contains  considerable  wild 
land  and  some  swampy  tracts,  but,  judging  from  the  past,  it 
appears  very  probable  that  much  of  the  unimproved  land 
will,  within  the  next  ten  years,  be  brought  under  cultiva- 
tion and  devoted  to  the  fruit  business,  which,  although  of 
comparatively  late  development  in  this  township,  is  rapidly 
expanding.  The  traffic  in  lumber  has  heretofore  been  im- 
portant, but  is  now  declining,  and  is  being  succeeded  by  the 
more  important  industry  of  fruit-culture,  especially  the  cul- 
ture of  the  peach,  from  which  very  profitable  results  are, 
with  reason,  anticipated. 

The  Chicago  and  West  Michigan  Railroad,  which  runs 
across  the  township  almost  due  north  and  south,  has  a 
station  in  Manlius,  called  Richmond,  from  which  there  is 
easy  communication,  both  by  stage  and  by  river,  with  the 
villages  of  Saugatuck  and  Douglas.  The  Kalamazoo  River, 
which  passes  through  Manlius  from  east  to  west,  is  naviga- 
ble for  steamboats  from  the  mouth  to  Richmond. 

Manlius  first  attracted  attention  because  of  its  importance 
as  a  lumbering  region,  and  its  timber-lands  were  early  pur- 
chased in  large  tracts  by  Eastern  capitalists,  who  for  years 
carried  on  extensive  operations  in  the  country  bordering  the 
Kalamazoo  River,  which  afforded  an  excellent  highway  upon 
which  to  transport  both  logs  and  lumber  to  the  lake.  The 
valuable  timber  has  well-nigh  disappeared,  yet  the  mill- 
business  still  retains  a  place  among  the  industries  of  the 
township,  although  farming  and  fruit-raising  are  fast 
superseding. 

The  largest  fruit-grower  in  the  township  is  James  Mc- 
Cormick,  on  section  31,  who,  in  the  spring  of  1880,  had  40 
acres  set  out  to  peaches  and  11  to  apples.  Charles  Hanson, 
E.  J.  Stow,  Allen  Owen,  G.  Veeder,  and  P.  C.  Whitbeck, 
although  smaller  producers,  have,  in  all,  several  thousands 
of  peach-trees. 

JOHN  ALLEN'S   CITY  OF    RICHMOND. 

*  The  first  movement  looking  towards  the  permanent 
settlement  of  Manlius  was  made  by  John  Allen,  of  Ann 
Arbor,  in  connection  with  three  Eastern  capitalists  and 
land-owners, — Lucius  Boltwood,  Luke  Sweetzer,  and  a 
Mr.  Morgan.  These  gentlemen  owned  large  tracts  of  land 
in  the  western  part  of  Allegan  County,  and  John  Allen  made 
arrangements  with  them  by  which  he  took  on  himself  the 
charge  of  starting  a  city  on  sections  7  and  8,  in  township  3. 
Early  in  1836  he  visited  the  locality,  and  upon  the  whole  of 
section  8  and  the  eastern  half  of  section  7  laid  out  a  town, 


*  By  David  Schwartz. 


264 


which  he  called  Richmond,  after  the  place  of  that  name  in 
Virginia,  whence  he  had  come  to  Michigan.  He  returned 
to  Ann  Arbor,  where  he  caused  handsome  maps  of  his  in- 
tended city  to  be  made  and  circulated  wherever  he  thought 
that  men  might  be  induced  to  migrate  thither. 

At  Ann  Arbor  he  encountered  Ralph  R.  Mann,  who 
had  just  come  out  from  Connecticut  with  his  family  in 
search  of  a  Western  location,  and  bargained  with  him  to 
go  to  Richmond  and  superintend  the  improvements  to  be 
made  there,  and  also  to  open  a  store  and  boarding-house  for 
the  benefit  of  the  laborers  to.  be  sent  thither.  Preparations 
were  speedily  made,  and  in  October,  1836,  Mann  embarked 
at  Marshall  upon  a  scow,  with  a  dozen  laborers  and  a  full 
cargo  of  supplies,  and  set  out  by  way  of  the  Kalamazoo 
River  for  Richmond.  Allen,  with  Mann's  wife  and  sister- 
in-law,  proceeded  overland  to  Otsego,  where  they  expected 
to  meet  the  scow.  From  Marshall  to  Kalamazoo  the  river- 
trip  was  a  tedious  one,  and,  what  with  snags  and  low  water  to 
obstruct  their  progress,  Mann  and  his  men  were  ten  days  in 
reaching  the  latter  point.  Twice  during  the  trip  from 
Kalamazoo  to  Richmond  the  craft  ran  upon  rocks  and  came 
very  near  sinking,  but  the  desperate  exertions  of  the  ama- 
teur mariners  prevented  this  misfortune,  and  afler  a  three 
weeks'  journey  the  party  landed  safe  and  sound  at  Rich- 
mond. 

There  had  been  an  Indian  trading-post  kept  at  that  point 
some  time  before,'}'  and  of  the  abandoned  cabin  previously 
occupied  as  a  trading-house  Mann,  Allen,  and  the  rest  took 
immediate  possession.  It  served  them  for  shelter  until 
something  better  could  be  provided,  which  was  speedily 
done.  Not  much  could  be  done  that  fall  and  winter,  but  the 
next  spring  the  work  of  city-building  was  begun  with  great 
vigor.  Allen's  laborers  cleared  some  land,  Mann  carried 
on  a  boarding-house  and  store,  a  few  houses  were  put  up, 
timbers  were  got  out  for  what  was  to  be  a  monster  saw- 
mill, work  was  begun  upon  a  mill-race,  and  for  a  time 
everything  went  on  swimmingly.  In  1838,  however,  just 
before  the  improvements  in  Richmond  reached  their  full 
development,  Allen  failed,  his  brilliant  enterprise  came  to  a 
sudden  halt,  and  the  magnificent  prospects  of  tlie  city  of 
Richmond  faded  into  nothingness.  Allen  remained  a  year 
after  that,  and  then  betook  himself  to  other  scenes.  Mann 
lived  upon  the  site  of  the  ruined  city  until  1844,  when  he 
moved  to  a  place  a  mile  and  a  half  south,  afterwards  known 
as  Manlius,  where  he  still  resides. 

JAMES  Mccormick. 

Following  close  upon  the  advent  of  Allen  and  Mann, 
James   McCormick,  of  New  York,  came  to  Manlius  in 

t  See  Chapter  VIII.  of  general  history. 


f^r^^'^'^^fM^r^M  ^^^-^^^p 


^^ 


OiO    HO  Ml 


MRS.  JAMES  M°.  CORMICK 


ft„f  ;„,J.-„;,^^?.'?'./?^-nA  -^ 


FiEStDEncE  OF  JAMES    MSCORMK 


JAMES    M9    CORMICK. 


^<*^^^5.f  slJfe'^^^^'^^""^^  '^*^^^4i«Ml^^i^^ifc5*-A^  xttj.t^tv^-.t 


Unuus,    Au£gan  Co.,   Mich 


MANLIUS  TOWNSHIP. 


265 


1838,  having  come  to  Michigan  in  1837.  He  made  his 
way  with  his  family  overland  from  Allegan  to  section  31, 
where  he  had  bought  160  acres,  and,  although  he  was  com- 
pelled to  cut  out  the  road  a  portion  of  the  journey,  the 
generally  open  character  of  the  woodland  made  traveling 
tolerably  convenient.  When  Mr.  McCormick  made  his 
settlement,  Jacob  Bailey  was  operating  a  saw-mill  on  sec- 
tion 10,  in  Clyde,  for  a  New  York  company,  but  there  was 
not  at  that  time,  to  Bailey's  knowledge,  even  one  settler 
between  him  and  South  Haven.  Shortly  after  McCormick's 
location,  however,  he  had  near  neighbors  in  Ganges,  where 
Harrison  Hutchins  and  four  or  five  other  pioneers  led  the 
march  of  civilization. 

John  H.  Billings,  just  mentioned,  settled  in  Ganges  in 
1838,  but  in  1841  removed  to  Manlius,  where  he  lived  on 
section  31,  becoming  ultimately  a  resident  of  Saugatuck 
village,  where  he  died  in  1874. 

MANLIUS   VILLAGE. 

When  Ralph  R.  Mann  moved  to  a  location  south  of  the 
site  of  Richmond  City,  he  erected  a  water  saw-mill — the 
first  in  the  township — there,  and  there  soon  after  came  to 
the  same  locality  a  number  of  settlers,  of  whom  Jonathan 
Wade  located  in  1844  and  Asa  Bowker  in  1845,  the  latter 
having  come  to  the  township  in  1841.  Mrt>  Bowker  was 
afterwards  drowned,  in  the  lake,  oflF  the  mouth  of  the 
river,  by  the  capsizing  of  a  vessel  in  which  he  had  taken 
passage  for  Chicago.  James  Harris  opened  a  blacksmith- 
shop  on  section  21,  and  W.  C.  Meeker,  a  hand  in  the  mill, 
became  a  settler  on  section  16,  where  he  died  in  1870. 
Johnson  Parsons  built  the  first  store  opened  in  Manlius  vil- 
lage, and  John  Roe  the  first  tavern,  which  T.  S.  Coates 
afterwards  bought  and  enlarged. 

When  the  Chicago  and  West  Michigan  Railroad  was 
completed  to  that  point,  Manlius  was  made  a  station,  but 
the  mill  being  abandoned  in  1874,  by  reason  of  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  dam,  and  the  tavern  being  burned  the  same 
year,  Manlius  village  became  gradually  of  less  and  less  im- 
portance, and  in  1879  the  railway  company  discontinued 
the  station  at  that  point.  It  now  bears  a  deserted  appear- 
ance, but  the  very  excellent  water-power  has  more  than 
once  caused  an  efibrt  to  be  made  for  the  erection  of 
a  grist-mill  there.  The  property,  however,  is  owned  by 
New  England  people,  who  do  not  appear  anxious  to  sell, 
and  so  the  water-power  is  suflFered  to  remain  idle.  The 
township  has  never  had  a  grist-mill,  and  the  people  are  still 
obliged  to  go  to  Saugatuck  to  have  their  grain  ground. 

John  T.  Gidley,  who  came  to  Michigan  in  1836,  became 
a  settler  in  Manlius  during  the  "  hard  winter"  of  1842-43 
upon  an  80-acre  lot  on  section  28.  He  died  in  1862, 
leaving  a  widow,  who  still  resides  in  Manlius  with  her  son, 
A.  P.  Gidley. 

Daniel  Lamoreux,  a  New  Yorker,  came  to  Michigan  in 
1844,  and  located  in  what  is  now  Fillmore  township.  In 
1845  he  moved  to  section  8,  in  Manlius,  and  there,  during 
the  same  year,  was  joined  by  his  brother  Thomas,  who  built 
on  section  8  the  framed  house  now  occupied  by  Charles 
Hanson.  When  Thomas  Lamoreux  came,  there  were  living 
in  the  neighborhood  only  his  brother  Daniel  and  a  Mr. 
Price,  who  moved  away  soon  after.  Thomas  Lamoreux's 
34 


children  now  in  the  town  are  Isaac,  Lyman  M.,  and  George, 
and  Mrs.  B.  Coif;  Daniel's  children  are,  Ebenezer,  M°rs.' 
James  Smead,  and  Mrs.  E.  J.  Stow.  George  Veedor  also 
came  from  the  State  of  New  York  in  1845,  in-company  with 
Charles  T.  Billings,  and  after  stopping  a  while  in  the  shanty 
of  John  H.  Billings,  on  section  31,  bought  of  the  latter  a  tract 
of  30  acres  on  the  same  section,  where  he  still  lives.  Amono- 
the  settlers  who  came  into  Manlius  at  a  later  date  may  be  men- 
tioned E.  J.  Stow  (a  resident  since  1847),  Allen  Owen 
(since  1858),  and  the  Whitbecks.  Down  to  the  year  1861 
there  were  but  few  settlers  in  the  northern  portion  of  the 
township.  At  that  time  there  were  in  that  locality  John 
and  Frederick  Gretzinger,  Charles  Eisner,  Amos  Brooks, 
Thomas  Lamoreux,  and  Eldredge  Stanton.  In  the  east 
were  the  Woodcocks,  the  Shermans,  and  the  Hammonds. 

EICHMOND  VILLAGE. 
The  little  village  known  as  Richmond,  at  which  is  located 
the  post-office  of  New  Richmond,  was  created  by  the  com- 
pletion of  the  Chicago  and  Western  Michigan  road,  being 
chosen  as  a  station  because  of  its  easy  access  by  river  from 
Saugatuck.  H.  F.  Marsh,  who  owned  land  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, laid  out  the  village,  called  it  Richmond,  built  a  saw- 
mill, and  soon  afterwards  a  few  people  came  in  and  put  up 
residences.  Mr.  Marsh  then  opened  a  store,  and  in  a  short 
time  Gilbert  Lamoreux  stocked  a  second  store  and  erected 
the  commodious  tavern  now  known  as  the  "  Western  Hotel." 
B.  F.  Wheelock  also  opened  a  hotel,  called  the  "  Richmond 
House." 

Richmond  was  quite  a  brisk  place  at  one  time,  obtaining 
its  support  from  the  lumbering  and  farming  business  around. 
At  least  four  extensive  firms  were  then  engaged  in  lumbering 
in  the  vicinity,  employing'a  small  army  of  men.  Although 
the  business  of  the  village  is  not  now  as  large  as  it  has 
been,  it  is  steadily  improving  by  reason  of  the  increase  of 
fruit-shipments  there.  During  the  season  of  1879  upwards 
of  11,000  baskets  of  peaches  were  shipped  at  the  station, 
while  there  were  also  forwarded  considerable  amounts  of 
other  products. 

EARLY  MAILS. 
The  first  post-office  within  the  present  township  of  Man- 
lius was  established  in  1837  at  Richmond, — i.e.,  the  old 
village  of  that  name.  Jonathan  Stratton,  a  surveyor  in 
the  employ  of  Allen  &  Co.,  was  the  first  postmaster,  and  a 
Mr.  Pairchild  was  the  mail-carrier.  The  latter  was  popu- 
larly supposed  to  carry  a  mail  from  Allegan  down  the  river 
on  a  raft  to  Saugatuck  once  every  week,  stopping  en  route 
at  Richmond,  but,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  he  carried  the  mail 
as  convenience  suited,  and  frequently  neglected  the  busi- 
ness for  a  month  at  a  time. 

Ralph  R.  Mann  became  postmaster  at  Richmond  in  1838 
and  remained  so  until  1843,  when,  being  convinced  that  a 
post-office  was  useless  at  a  point  where  little,  if  any,  mail 
was  directed,  he  refused  to  serve  any  longer,  and  the  office 
was  wisely  abolished.  Once  during  his  term  he  was  ad- 
vised from  Washington  that  he  had  failed  to  make  his 
"  returns."  Mann  replied  that  he  hadn't  made  any  returns 
for  the  reason  that  he  had  not  seen  the  mail-carrier  for  a 
month. 

The  next  post-office  in  the  township  was  at  Matilius  vil- 


266 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


lage,  Raodall  Curtis,  who  had  put  up  a  tannery  there  in 
1846,  being  appointed  postmaster.  On  his  removal  the 
position  was  given  to  William  C.  Meeker.  Ralph  R.  Mann 
succeeded  Mr.  Meeker,  and  was  in  turn  followed  by  T.  S. 
Coates,  David  Signer,  Norman  Bowker,  and  James  W. 
Sackett.  In  1872  the  office  at  Manlius  was  discontinued, 
and  one  was  established  at  Richmond,  the  name  of  New 
Richmond  being  given  to  it,  as  there  was  already  a  Rich- 
mond post-office  in  this  State.  Gilbert  Lamoreux  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster  and  served  until  1878,  when  William 
Delvin,  the  present  incumbent,  succeeded  him. 

EAST  SAUGATUCK. 

East  Saugatuck,  a  village  peopled  almost  exclusively  by 
Hollanders,  and  a  station  on  the  Chicago  and  West  Mich- 
igan Railroad,  lies  upon  both  sides  of  the  line  between  Fill- 
more and  Manlius,  but  chiefly  in  the  latter  township.  In 
1859  the  town-line  road,  although  chopped  out  at  an  earlier 
day,  was  a  mere  cattle-path.  The  settlements  made  upon 
it  about  that  time  were  by  G.  F.  and  John  A.  Gretzinger 
and  Charles  Eisner,  in  Manlius,  and  Christian  Arzt,  Fred- 
erick Kern,  and  Jacob  lUg,  in  Fillmore.  The  Gretzingers 
moved  into  an  abandoned  log  shanty  upon  a  clearing  made 
some  time  before  by  William  P.  Sherman,  the  only  clearing 
upon  the  road  in  1859. 

In  the  northern  part  of  Manlius,  as  indeed  in  nearly 
every  other  portion,  the  land  had  been  taken  up  at  an  early 
day  by  speculators,  and  had  afterwards  fallen  into  the  hands 
of  lumbermen.  In  1859  the  business  of  lumbering  was 
briskly  carried  on  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town  by 
Stockbridge  &  Johnson,  who  employed  a  large  number  of 
men.  At  that  time  the  settlers  north  of  the  Kalamazoo 
River  in  Manlius,  besides  those  "already  enumerated,  were 
Theophilus  Harrington,  Thomas  Lamoreux,  William  Wood- 
cock, John  Hammond,  and  John  Boyles.  Traveling  in 
that  region  was  an  extremely  difficult  matter,  and  neighbors 
living  within  three  miles  of  each  other  rarely  met  except 
at  log-raisings.  The  settlers  named  as  being  on  the  town- 
line  in  1859  remained  about  the  only  ones  until  1867, 
when  the  Hollanders  began  to  gather  in  the  vicinity  and 
locate  in  considerable  numbers  upon  both  sides  of  the  line. 
When  the  railway  was  completed  and  East  Saugatuck 
station  established,  Schelter  Bergsma  built  a  store  at  that 
place,  and  in  1873  a  post-office  was  established  there,  W. 
C.  Sempel,  who  had  opened  the  second  store  in  the  village, 
being  appointed  postmaster.  In  1874  he  was  succeeded  by 
Jacob  Heeringa,  the  present  incumbent.  The  railway-sta- 
tion, post-office,  and  one  store  are  on  the  Manlius  side  of 
the  line,  another  store  being  located  on  the  Fillmore  side. 
Near  the  village,  in  Manlius,  the  Bangor  Furnace  Company 
have  eight  large  coal-kilns,  which  have  been  making  char- 
coal since  1874,  and  which  have,  moreover,  rendered  ex- 
cellent service  in  causing  the  clearing  up  of  the  country 
round  about. 

Until  1867  there  were  no  roads  in  the  vicinity  worth 
mentioning,  and  in  1871  the  country  was  still  so  wild  that 
the  railway-station  was  built  in  the  woods.  The  first  school- 
house  was  a  log  cabin,  put  up  on  the  Manlius  side  in  1867, 
to  which  the  children  from  both  sides  turned  their  youthful 
steps. 


There  is  a  Methodist  class  south  of  East  Saugatuck,  of 
which  Horace  Belcher  is  the  leader,  and  to  which  Rev. 
Thomas  Collins  has  preached  every  Sunday  since  1877. 

EAELY   KOADS. 

The  first  public  highway  in  the  town  was  cut  out  in 
1838  by  Ralph  R.  Mann  and  two  laborers.  It  extended 
from  the  then  village  of  Richmond  towards  Allegan  for  a 
distance  of  eight  miles. 

According  to  the  records,  the  roads  first  regularly  estab- 
lished were  the  Allegan  road,  the  McCormick's  road  from 
section  17  to  section  31,  the  Rabbit  River  road,  the  Singa- 
pore road,  and  the  Black  River  road.  These  all  were  estab- 
lished May  23,  1839,  by  John  Allen,  Samuel  Town,  and 
Truman  D.  Austin,  road  commissioners. 

In  1840  the  township  was  divided  into  two  road  districts. 
In  1845  there  were  four  road  districts,  in  which  the  high- 
way overseers  returned  an  aggregate  of  $313.08  as  non- 
resident highway  taxes. 

MINOR    ITEMS. 

Mention  has  been  made  in  Chapters  VII.  and  X. 
of  the  general  history  of  the  habits  of  the  Indians  and 
of  the  principal  Indian  traders  of  the  early  days.  Among 
the  subordinate  traders  were  George  Campau,  a  relation 
of  Joseph  Campau,  and  John  Godfrey,  who  used  to  cir- 
culate among  the  Indian  camps,  usually  traveling  afoot 
with  their  packs  on  their  backs.  Campau  had  a  longing 
for  the  soothing  fire-water,  and  had  a  fashion  of  pleading 
for  "  something  that  would  not  freeze  a  man's  heart." 

Thomas  Lamoreux  was  the  popular  coffin-maker  for  the 
Indians,  and  charged  ten  shillings  a  coffin,  big  and  little. 
The  Indians  had  a  fancy  for  elaborate  coffin-decorations, 
and  often  had  those  which,  though  cheap,  were  quite 
gorgeous. 

For  a  long  time  Ralph  R.  Mann  owned  the  only  horse 
in  his  neighborhood,  and  whenever  a  doctor  was  wanted 
Mann's  horse  was  invariably  borrowed  to  hunt  up  the  man 
of  medicine.  Dr.  Goodrich,  of  Ganges,  was  the  main  de- 
pendence in  time  of  sickness,  and  when  he  was  persuaded 
to  locate  at  Manlius  village  it  was  upon  the  pledge  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  surrounding  country  that  he  should 
receive  a  yearly  compensation  to  a  certain  amount. 

At  the  general  election  in  1840  only  eight  votes  were 
cast,  and  they  were  equally  divided  between  the  Whigs  and 
Democrats.  The  question  of  conveying  the  returns  to  Al- 
legan coming  up  for  consideration,  it  transpired  that  no  one 
desired  to  undertake  the  tedious  task.  Thereupon  some- 
body suggesting  that,  as  the  votes  were  evenly  divided,  their 
return  would  have  no  efi'ect  upon  the  result,  it  was  ac- 
cordingly resolved  not  to  send  any  returns,  and  that  was 
the  end  of  the  matter. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  the  township  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Jonathan  Stratton,  the  surveyor,  in  1838.  Two 
weeks  later  David  R.,  a  son  of  Ralph  R.  Mann,  was  born, 
the  first  white  male  child  born  in  range  15.  He  now  lives 
in  Plainwell.  Susan  L.,  daughter  of  Ralph  R.  Mann,  was  the 
first  person  who  died  in  the  township,  the  date  of  her  death 
being  Jan.  1,  1837.  She  was  buried  in  the  woods  on  the 
hill  back  of  the  then  village  of  Richmond,  but  was  subse- 


MANLIUS   TOWNSHIP. 


267 


quently  removed  to  the  cemetery  near  Manlius.      Near 
where  she  was  first  buried  was  also  interred  the  body  of  a 
German  killed  by  the  fall  of  a  tree,  and  there  his  bones  still . 
rest. 

TO  WIS  SHIP  ORGANIZATION. 
The  township  of  Manlius,  previously  a  part  of  Newark, 
was  organized  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature  approved  March 
6,  1838.  It  received  its  name  from  John  R.  Kellogg,  a 
member  of  the  Legislature,  who  presented  the  petition  for 
organization,  and  who,  having  been  born  in  Manlius,  N.  Y., 
desired  to  honor  his  native  place.  John  Allen  wanted  the 
town  named  Richmond,  but,  as  there  was  already  a  Rich- 
mond in  Michigan,  his  desire  was  not  gratified.  Manlius 
was  originally  of  the  same  size  as  now,  embracing  only  sur- 
vey-township No.  3,  in  range  15.  Township  No.  4  was 
subsequently  added,  but  was  at  a  still  later  date  given  a 
separate  organization  as  Fillmore.* 

The  first  town-meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  R.  R. 
Mann,  April  1,  1839,  when  John  Allen  and' Samuel  Town 
were  chosen  moderators  or  inspectors  of  election,  and  Ralph 
R.  Mann  clerk.     The  oflScers  chosen  were  John  Allen,  Su- 
pervisor ;  James  A.  Poage,  Clerk ;  Samuel  Town,  Orren 
Ball,  and  John  Allen,  Assessors  ;  R.  R.  Mann,  John  Allen, 
and   Truman   D.    Austin,    Commissioners   of  Highways ; 
Orren  Ball,  Constable  and  Collector ;  Samuel  Town,  Paul 
Shepard,  and  Isaac  Vredenberg,  School  Inspectors;  Paul 
Shepard,  Treasurer;  R.  R.  Mann,  Samuel  Town,  James  A. 
Poage,  and  J.  W.  Palmer,  Justices  of  the  Peace ;  R.  R. 
Mann  and  Isaac  Vredenberg,  Directors  of  the  Poor ;  John 
Allen,  Overseer  of  Highways  for  District  No.  1 ;  James 
McCormlck,  for  District  No.  2  ;  Truman  D.  Austin,  Pound- 
Master.     Although  there  appear  to  have  been  10  voters  in 
the  township  at  this  time,  less  than  that  number  of  votes 
were  cast,  since  the  successful  candidates  received  but  four 
votes  each.     At  the  same  meeting  the  sum  of  $50  was 
raised  for   the  support  of  the  poor   and  other  expenses. 
Following  is  a  list  of  those  elected  annually  from  1840  to 
1880  to  serve  as  supervisors,  clerks,  treasurers,  and  justices 

of  the  peace : 

SUPERVISORS. 

1840-41,  R.  R.  Mann  ;  1842,  J.  H.  Billings;  1843,  R.  R.  Mann  ;  1844, 
J.  H.  Billings;  184!J-46,  R.  R.  Mann;  1847-52,  Jolinson  Parsons; 
1853  J.  H.  Billings;  1854,  T.  Lamoreux;  1855-56,  Elisha  Mix; 
1857,  I.  H.  Lamoreux;  1858,  T.  Lamoreux;  1859-70,  L  H.  Lam- 
oreux; 1871-72,  A.  Brooks;  1873-79,  G.  F.  GreiUinger. 

CLERKS. 
1840  I.  Vredenberg;  1841-43,  G.  N.  Smith;  1844,  J.  H.  Billings; 
1845-46,  Randall  Curtis;  1847,  A.  P.  Gidley;  1848,  R.  G.  Winn; 
1849-50,  R.  R.  Mann;  1851,  A.  P.  Gidley;  1852,  R.  R.  Mann; 
1853,  D.  Lamoreux;  1854,  I.  H.  Lamoreux;  1855-56,  William 
Shearman;  1857,  Asa  Bovfker;  1858-61,  Elisha  Mix;  1862,  G. 
A.  Coif ;  1863,  B.  S.  Ketoham;  1864,  William  Sherman;  1865, 
LH.  Lamoreux;  1866-71,  G.  Myer;  1872-75,  A.  A.  Burhans; 
1876-78,  D.  L.  Reynolds;  1879,  P.  C.  Witbeok. 

TREASURERS. 
1840,  Samuel  Town;  1841,  J.  Horton;  1842-43,  Asa  Bowker;  1844, 
James  Harris;  1845-46,  Asa  Bowker;  1847,  D.  Lamoreux;  1848, 
J  H  Billings;  1849,  Walter  Billings ;  1850-52,  J.  H.  Billing.-; 
1853,  W.  C.  Meeker;  1854,  B.  B.  Mann;  1855-56,  T.  Lamoreux; 
1857-58,  E.  Lamoreux;  1859,  W.  C.  Meeker;  1860-61,   E.  A. 

»  See  Chapter  XIII.  of  the  general  history  ;  also  the  session-laws 
of  1838. 


Fenn;    1862-64,    E.    Lamoreux;    1865-68,    J.    G.    Lamoreux; 
1869-70,  B.  Crawford;  1871-77,  L.  Benson  ;  1878-79,  A.  Turrell. 

JUSTICES. 
1840,  R.  R.  Mann ;  1841,  G.  N.  Smith ;  1842-43,  Josiah  Martin  ; 
1844,  J.  A.  Dimook;  1845,  George  N.  Smith;  1846,  Daniel  Lam- 
oreux ;  1847,  R.  R.  Mann  ;  1848,  J.  H.  Billings ;  1849,  T.  S.  Coate  s ; 
1850,  R.  R.  Mann;  1851,  J.  Parsons;  1852,  J.  H.Billings;  1853, 
Randall  Curtis  ;  1854,  B.  F.  Wheeloek  ;  1865,  J.  W.  Daily  ;  1856, 
Jesse  Earl;  1857,  J.  Hammond;  1858,  T.  S.  Coates ;  1859,  R.- 
R.Mann; 1860,  T.  Lamoreux;  1861,  William  Sherman;  1862, 
B.  Crawford;  1863,  D.  R.  Mann;  1864,  W.  C.  Meeker;  1865,  J. 
W.  Saokett;  1866,  J.  Delvin ;  1867,  M.  K.  Stiokney;  1868,  J.  L. 
Barker;  1869,  G.  Myer;  1870,  F.Nichols;  1871,  J.  Delvin;  1872, 
J.  L.  Barker;  1873,  W.  C.  Sempel ;  1874,  B.  Ranse;  1875,  J. 
Delvin;  1876,  J.  Heeringa;  1877-78,  P.  C.  Whitbeck;  1879,  G. 
Myer. 

The  total  number  of  votes  cast  in  1840  was  10  ;  there 
were  23  in  1847  ;  in  1848,  lU  ;  in  1849,  21 ;  in  1851,  10  ; 
in  1852  the  number  rose  to  14;  in  1854,  to  31  ;  in  1855, 
to  50  ;  in  1856,  to  64 ;  in  1859,  to  87  ;  in  1866  there  was 
a  decline  to  75  ;  in  1868,  an  advance  to  119  ;  and  in  1872, 
to  150.  The  voters  at  the  election  in  1843  were  R.  R. 
Mann,  James  McCormick,  Josiah  Martin,  Ira  Ogle,  Asa 
Bowker,  John  S.  Gidley,  Robert  G.  Winn,  and  John  H. 
Billings.  Those  who  voted  at  the  election  in  1846  were 
Asa  Bowker,  A.  V.  Benham,  R.  R.  Mann,  Daniel  Lamo- 
reux, Thomas  Lamoreux,  Randall  Curtis,  George  N.  Smith, 
Josiah  Martin,  James  McCormick,  E.  W.  Gillman,  J.  H. 
Billings,  Isaac  Fairbanks,  Jonathan  Wade,  W.  C.  Meeker, 
Ahaz  Williams,  and  Luther  Holman. 

CHURCHES. 
There  was  a  Methodist  Episcopal  class  at  Manlius  village 
in  1846,  of  which  Randall  Curtis  and  Daniel  Lamoreux 
were  the  leaders,  but  it  exists  no  more.  A  Wesleyan 
Methodist  society  has  been  organized  at  Richmond,  and, 
although  now  worshiping  in  a  school-house,  will  presently 
build  a  church  edifice.  A  Methodist  class  was  organized 
about  1850,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Mosher,  of  Allegan,  in  a  school- 
house  in  Manlius,  upon  the  Clyde  line.  The  class  had  7 
members,  of  whom  5  were  C.  T.  Billings  and  wife,  John 
Billings  and  wife,  and  Harrison  Hutchins.  Worship  was 
held  i°n  the  school-house  until  1870,  when  Walters  Hall, 
near  Fennville,  was  occupied,  and  in  1871  the  society  built 
the  church  now  standing  in  Fennville  on  the  Manlius  side. 
The  membership  is  now  very  small.  Preaching  is  supplied 
once  a  fortnight  by  Rev.  N.  B.  Steele.  The  church  trus- 
tees are  James  Withrow,  Edward  Cotton,  C.  T.  Billings, 
Stephen  Atwater,  and  Loomis  Benson.  The  Sabbath-school, 
in  charge  of  Edward  Cotton,  has  regular  weekly  sessions, 
and  enjoys  a  flourishing  prosperity. 

SCHOOLS. 
Manlius  is  well  supplied  with  six  schools,  which  in  1879 
provided  instruction  for  281  pupils.  The  school-houses  are, 
as  a  rule,  commodious  and  well  conditioned,  and  a  credit  to 
the  town.  Appended  are  statistics  taken  from  the  official 
reports  for  the  year  1879  : 

Number  of  districts  (whole,  4;  fractional,  2) ^^6 

Enrollment jgj 

Average  attendance ^g 

Value  of  property $938 

Teachers'  wages 


268 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BAllRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


The  school  directors  for  1879  were  G.  Coif,  N.  Arnold, 

C.  D.  Reynolds,  P.  C.'  Whitbeck,  C.  Hanson,  and  P.  Brink. 

PENNVILLE  GEANGE,  No.  461, 
was  organized  in  June,  1874,  with  30  members.  W.  H. 
McCormick  was  chosen  Master,  and  George  W.  Whitbeck 
Secretary.  Meetings,  which  were  first  held  in  Walters'  Hall, 
at  Fennville,  are  now  held  in  a  public  hall  on  the  Manlius 
side  of  the  village.  J.  N.  McCormick  was  Master  of  the 
grange  from  1874  until  the  election  in  1879.  The  mem- 
bership is  now  about  60,  and  the  oiEcers  are  as  follows :  J. 
R.  Goodrich,  M. ;  S.  W.  Bryan,  0. ;  N.  D.  Benson,  L. ; 

D.  A.  French,  Sec. ;  J.  K.  Purdy,  Treas. ;  Charles  Shoe- 
maker, Steward ;  Peter  Sargent,  A.  S. ;  Philetus  Purdy, 
G. ;  Mrs.  J.  R.  Goodrich,  Ceres;  Mrs.  Israel  Staufi'er^ Po- 
mona; Mrs.  Susan  Purdy,  Flora;  Mrs.  Milo  Barker, 
Stewardess.  Rev.  Looniis  Benson,  the  grange  chaplain, 
died  Jan.  22,  1880.  His  death  was  the  first  one  in  the 
grange  membership. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES!. 


JAMES  Mccormick. 

Mr.  McCormick,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the  eldest 
in  a  family  of  eleven  children.  A  Canadian  by  birth,  he  was 
born  Feb.  7,  1806.  His  father,  Nathaniel  McCormick,  a 
native  of  Belfast,  Ireland,  emigrated  to  the  hospitable 
shores  of  America  at  an  early  day,  and  settled  in  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania.  He  subsequently  removed  to  Canada, 
where  he  married  Miss  Elinor  Campbell,  a  lady  of  Scottish 
descent,  as  the  name  implies.  When  James  was  a  small 
boy  his  parents  removed  to  the  town  of  Porter,  Niagara 
Co.,  in  the  State  of  New  York,  where  he  spent  his  early 
life  under  the  shadow  of  the  paternal  roof.  After  he  came 
to  manhood's  estate  he  divided  his  time  for  two  years  be- 
tween Ulster  and  Dutchess  Counties,  after  which  he  went 
to  Canada  and  was  employed  at  carpenters'  work,  building 
locks  on  the  Welland  Canal.  Returning  to  the  scenes 
of  his  former  home,  he  purchased  a  farm,  and  at  the  age 
of  twenty-six  years  chose  for  a  wife  Miss  Maria  Billings. 
She  was  born  March  25,  1816,  near  Albany,  N.  Y.,  as  were 
also  her  parents.  They  subsequently  removed  to  Monroe 
County,  where  is  located  the  family  burial-place.  In  1833 
Mr.  McCormick  disposed  of  his  Eastern  home,  and,  with 
his  family,  emigrated  to  the  then  far  West,  locating  in 
Michigan,  where,  after  several  changes  of  location,  he  set- 
tled upon  the  splendid  farm  he  now  occupies.  It  was 
then  a  dense  forest,  unbroken  by  the  woodman's  axe,  and 
the  tall  hemlocks  marked  the  spot  where  now  stands 
his  beautiful  residence.  Mr.  McCormick  possessed,  how- 
ever, the  requisite  energy  to  carve  a  home  out  of  the 
wilderness ;  this,  combined  with  his  indomitable  will,  has 
worked  the  transformation. 

He  has  given  much  attention  to  the  raising  of  fine  fruits, 
especially  peaches,  having,  during  the  past  year,  shipped 
(to  Chicago)  fourteen  thousand  baskets,  produced  from  his 
own  orchards,  of  this  delicious  fruit.  This  land  is  also 
well  adapted  to  the  raising  of  the  various  grains,  of  which 
very  bountiful  harvests  are  reaped. 


Mr.  McCormick  has  few  political  aspirations ;  he  formerly 
voted  the  Whig  ticket,  and  is  generally  known  as  a  Re- 
publican, though  not  a  partisan  ;  his  vote  is  a  matter  of 
right  rather  than  that.of  party.  He  has  held  several  minor 
township  ofiices,  but  is  not  ambitious  for  political  preferment. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCormick  have  been  cheered  by  the  pres- 
ence of  thirteen  children,  eight  of  whom  are  now  living; 
these  are  married  and  settled  near  the  paternal  home,  with 
the  exception  of  the  youngest  son,  who  resides  upon  the 
old  homestead.  Though  not  a  man  of  stroi^g  religious 
fervor,  Mr.  McCormick  is  inclined  to  the  belief  of  the 
Spiritualists. 

H.    F.    MARSH. 

Mr.  Marsh  was  a  former  resident  of  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut, and  became  a  Michigan  pioneer  in  1853.  He  was 
identified  soon  after  his  arrival  with  the  interests  of  the 
village  of  Allegan,  having  purchased  the  hotel  known  as 
the  "  Exchange,"  which  was  for  a  period  of  nine  years 
under  his  management.  In  1862  he  relinquished  the  duties 
of  host  for  the  congenial  pursuits  of  a  farmer.  The  land 
in  the  township  to  which  he  removed  was  wholly  unim- 
proved on  his  advent,  but  very  speedily  yielded  to  the  axe 
and  the  plow.  Mr.  Marsh  has  continued  its  cultivation  since 
that  time,  and  is  fast  developing  one  of  the  most  attractive 
estates  in  Manlius.  His  industry  and  energy  are  being 
well  rewarded. 


EDWARD  J.  STOW. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  Mr.  Stow,  who  was  Capt. 
William  Stow,  formerly  of  Connecticut,  removed  to  Stow, 
Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  at  an  early  day,  where  the  subject  of 
this  biography  was  born,  March  18,  1823,  being  the  eldest 
child  and  only  son.  The  father  of  Edward  having  died 
when  the  lad  was  in  his  fifth  year,  he  a  few  years  later 
removed  to  the  home  of  a  Mr.  Eldred,  and  remained  for 
four  years  under  his  protection.  He  afterwards  returned  to 
the  family  of  his  stepfather,  and  ultimately  learned  the 
trade  of  a  carriage-trimmer.  His  removal  to  Michigan  oc- 
curred at  a  later  period,  where,  having  chosen  Allegan 
County  as  a  place  of  residence,  he  engaged  in  lumbering 
and  rafting  upon  the  Kalamazoo  River.  This  occupation, 
having  proved  a  congenial  one,  was  pursued  for  seven  con- 
secutive years,  after  which  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah 
M.  Lamoreux,  a  native  of  Yates  Co.,  N.  Y.,  from  whence 
her  parents  came  to  Michigan  in  1844. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stow's  household  has  been  brightened  by 
the  presence  of  three  children, — Allen  C,  born  April  17, 
1859;  William  H.,  whose  birth  occurred  Oct.  4,  1874; 
and  Mary  A.,  born  June  28,  1878.  Two  years  after  his 
marriage  Mr.  Stow  located  upon  his  present  farm,  in  Man- 
lius, which  then  embraced  eighty  acres,  and  has  since  been 
increased  to  two  hundred. 

He  was  a  soldier  in  the  late  war,  and  much  of  the  time 
detailed  for,  special  service.  During  this  period  Mrs.  Stow 
manifested  much  ability  in  her  administration  of  the  farm- 
ing interests.  Mr.  Stow's  industry  and  acknowledged  in- 
tegrity of  character  have  won  for  him  an  enviable  place 
among  the  citizens  of  the  township  of  Manlius. 


martin; 


That  portion  of  Allegan  County  known  as  the  township 
of  Martin  is  situated  on  the  east  border,  south  of  the  cen- 
tre, and  is  adjoined  on  the  north  by  Wayland,  on  the  south 
by  Gun  Plain,  on  the  west  by  Watson,  in  this  county,  and 
on  the  east  by  Orangeville,  in  the  county  of  Barry.  In 
no  important  particular  does  its  general  surface  differ  from 
that  of  neighboring  townships,  having  all  the  natural  fea- 
tures which  distinguish  Michigan  lands, — that  is,  plains, 
swamps,  rolling  land,  etc.,  at  irregular  intervals.  Originally, 
it  was  termed  a  hard-wood  township,  the  predominating 
varieties  of  timber  being  beech,  maple,  oak,  sycamore,  ash, 
white-wood,  linn,  and  elm.  On  section  11  was  a  grove  of 
handsome  pine,  and  in  the  southwestern  part  many  acres  of 
"  oak-openings."  The  soil  is  excellent,  especially  the  cen- 
tral and  western  portions  of  the  town,  and  is  not  surpassed 
by  any  other  part  of  Allegan  County. 

Gun  Kiver — its  most  important  water-course — takes  its 
rise  in  an  extensive  lake  of  the  same  name,  and  soon  after 
enters  this  township  from  the  east  border  of  section  1. 
From  thence  it  flows  in  a  general  southerly  direction, 
passing  out  near  the  southwest  corner  of  section  36. 
This  stream  is  sluggish,  and  in  this  township  alone  is 
bordered  by  swamp-lands  more  than  2000  acres  in  extent. 

Fenner  and  Pratt  Lakes  and  Lake  No.  16  are  situated  on 
sections  15  and  16,  and  together  embrace  an  area  of  per- 
haps 160  acres.  Gun  Lake  includes  within  its  surface  the 
extreme  northeast  corner  of  section  1. 

The  railroads  intersecting  Martin  are  the  Grand  Rapids 
and  Indiana  and  the  Michigan  Lake-Shore.  The  former 
passes  from  north  to  south  across  sections  5,  8,  17,  20,  29, 
and  32.  The  latter,  running  in  a  northwest  and  southeast 
course,  crosses  sections  30, 32,  33,  34,  and  35.  Those  roads 
effect  a  crossing  at  Monteith.  The  other  stations — which 
are  on  the  line  of  the  Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana  Railroad 
— are  Martin  Corners  and  Shelbyville. 

EVENTS  PRECEDING  SETTLEMENT. 

The  United  States  surveying-party,  led  by  John  Mullett, 
ran  the  township-lines  of  Martin  in  January,  1826,  and 
designated  territory  supposed  to  include  an  area  of  23,040 
square  acres  as  township  No.  2  north  of  the  base-line,  in 
range  No.  11  west  of  the  principal  meridian. 

In  the  winter  of  1830-31,  Sylvester  Sibley  led  another 
surveying-party  into  this  still  unoccupied  region,  and  com- 
pleted the  government  survey  by  subdividing  the  township 
into  sections. 

EABLT   LAND-ENTBIES. 

As  will  be  shown,  Mumford  Eldred  purchased  the  first 
land  in  this  township,  Jan.  8,  1836.     The  following  list, 

*  By  J.  S.  Schenck. 


however,  comprises  the  first  and  other  early  entries  of  land 
upon  each  section  in  the  township : 

Section  1. — William  H.  Cummings,  Ealamazoo  Co.,  Mioh.,  Deo.  14, 
1836. 

Section  2. — Friend  Ives  and  William  TJpoon,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan. 
24,  18,37;  Thomas  Hubbard  and  Asa  Patrick,  Jr.,  Hampden  Co.,. 
Mass.,  Feb.  18,  1837;  Orrin  Orton,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  May  10, 
1837. 

Section  3. — Leman  G.  Orton,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  13,  1837 ;  Lu- 
cien  Minor,  Charlotteville,  Va.,  February,  1837;  Asa  Norton, 
Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  March,  1837;  Hubbard  D.  Edgerton, 
Oneida  Co.,  N.Y.,  April,  1837. 

Section  4. — John  H.  Adams,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  Dee.  17,  1836 ;  Am- 
brose W.  Post,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1837;  Henry  Crit- 
tenden, Allegan  Co.,  Mioh.,  January,  1837;  Merrit  Barrett,  Kala- 
mazoo Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1837. 

Section  6. — William  Porter,  Oswego  Co.,  N.Y.,  Deo.  14,  1836;  George 
Sturgess,  Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y.,  February,  1837;  Eli  Arnold,  Al- 
legan Co.,  Mleh.,  March,  1837 ;  Shubael  Ladd,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y., 
April,  1837. 

Section  6.— Cotton  M.  Kimball,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  14,  1836 ; 
AVilliam  Porter,  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  14, 1836;  Joseph  S.  Ly- 
man, Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1837;  Hiram  Dewey,  Lewis 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  May,  1839. 

Section  7.— Allen  Kennicott,  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  26,  1836; 
Ichaboil  Hart,  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  7,  1837;  Oliver  Bostwick, 
Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  7, 1837 ;  William  Forbes,  Allegan  Co., 
Mich.,  January,  1837. 

Section  8. — Jacob  Woodworth,  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  26, 1836 ; 
William  Forbes,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1837;  John  Wil- 
son, Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  March,  1837;  Henry  Ladd,  Oneida  Co., 
N.  Y.,  April,  1837;  Martin  Blanchard,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  Sep- 
tember, 1843. 

Section  9. — L  Frost,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  14,  1836  ;  Lathrop  S. 
Bacon,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  11,  1836;  Alfred  Chappell,  Al- 
legan Co.,  Mich.,  December,  1838. 

Section  10. — Leman  G.  Orton,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  Deo.  17,  1836  ; 
Moore  and  Xewman,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  July,  1837;  Frank 
Sanford,  Boston,  Mass.,  July,  1837;  Richard  P.Hart,  Rensselaer 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  July,  1837. 

Section  11. — Michael  A.  Patterson,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  28, 1836; 
George  B.  Chandler,  Caledonia  Co.,  Vt.,  June  6,  1836. 

Section  12. — Swamp-lands. 

Section  13. — William  I.  Humphrey,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Dec.  3, 
1847. 

Section  14. — George  B.  Chandler,  Caledonia  Co.,  Vt.,  June  6,  1836  ; 
Lewis  Auger,  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  23,  1837. 

Section  15. — Thomas  Christy,  New  York  City,  May  4.  1836;  Cotton 
M.  Kimball,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  14,  1836;  Joseph  S.  Ly- 
man, Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1837;  E.  G.  D.  Giudings,- 
Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1837;  C,  M.  Kimball  and  Sidney 
Stafford,  January,  1837. 

Section  16.— L.  W.  Fenner,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  June  19,  1847;  J.  S. 
Fenner,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  June  19,  1847. 

Section  17. — Allen  Kennicott,  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  26,  1836; 
Jaiues  H.  Kennicott,  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  26,  1836; 
Timothy  G.  Crittenden,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  Dec.  16,  1836;  Cot- 
ton M.  Kimball,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  16,  1836;  Merrit 
Barrett,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1837. 

Section  IS. — Lancaster  Gorton,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  13,  1836 ;  Ed- 
ward S.  Chase,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y  ,  May  13,  1836;  Albert  Com- 
stock,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  13,  1836;  Nelson  Sage,  Monroe 

269 


270 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  13,  1836;  James  and  Allen  Kennioott,  Mont- 
gomery Co.,  N.  Y.,  May,  1836. 

Section  19. — Luke  Sweetser  and  Lucius  Boltwood,  Hampshire  Co., 
Mass.,  Feb.  9,  1836;  Ostrom,  Palmer,  and  Martin,  Oneida  Co., 
N.  Y.,  April,  1836  ;  Harvey  W.  Chase,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May, 
1836;  Nelson  Sage,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May,  1836;  Timothy  G. 
Crittenden,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  December,  1836;  L.  Buckley, 
Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  June,  1837. 

Section  20. — Sweetser  and  Boltwood,  Hampshire  Co.,  Mass.,  Feb.  9, 
1836;  Matthew  Shellman,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Feb.  10,  1836; 
Sweetser  and  Boltwood,  Hampshire  Co.,  Mass.,  Feb.  29,  1836; 
James  H.  Calkins,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  May,  1836;  J.  Frost, 
Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May,  1836;  Darius  Hinds,  Bennington,  Vt., 
July,  1836  ;  Isaac  Parks,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1837; 
James  Strang,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1837. 

Section  21. — Chauncey  W,  Calkins,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  May,  1836; 
Erastus  H.  Chappell,  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July,  1836;  Albert  G. 
Myrick,  Rutland,  Vt.,  July,  1836;  Ichabod  Hart,  Wayne  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  July,  1836  ;  Timothy  G.  Crittenden,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan- 
uary, 1837. 

Section  22.— Albert  G.  Myrick,  Rutland,  Vt.,  July,  1836;  Ichabod 
Hart,  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July,  1836;  Stephen  Hammond,  Wayne 
Co.,  Mich.,  July,  1837. 

SectioH  23. — Hiram  Dewey,  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.,  January,  1837;  Darius 
P.  Fenner,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  September,  1 839. 

Section  24. — Samuel  Hubbard  and  Isaac  Parks,  Boston,  Mass.,  May 
13,  1836. 

Section  25. — William  Forbes,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  2a,  1837. 

Section  26. — Darius  P.  Fenner,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  14,  1839. 

Section  27.— Phineas  L.  Sherman,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  11,  1836; 
Stanton  Renzarr,  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  11,  1836. 

Section  28.— John  McKee,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  14,  1836; 
John  Law,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  14,  1836;  Calvin  White, 
Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  May  16,  1836;  Orrln  Roberts,  Allegan  Co., 
Mich.,  July,  1836;  Lyman  Prindle,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July, 
1836;  Horace  Jaynes,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  January,  1837. 

Section  29. — Mumford  Eldred,*  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  8,  1836; 
Mumford  Eldred,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Feb.  6,  1836;  Sweetser 
and  Boltwood,  Hampshire  Co.,  Mass.,  Feb.  9, 1836 ;  Matthew  Shel- 
man,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich,  Feb.  10,  1836;  Amos  Gould,  Erie 
Co.,  Pa.,  April  28,  1836;  William  Monteith,  Livingston  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  May  13,  J  836. 

Section  30. — Sweetser  and  Boltwood,  Hampshire,  Mass.,  Feb.  9,  1836; 
Ostrom,  Palmer,  and  Walker,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April,  1836; 
Daniel  C.  MoVean,  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May,  1836;  John  D. 
McVean,  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May,  1836;  Allen  T.  Lacey, 
Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May,  1836. 

Section  31. — Daniel  C.  MoVean,  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  13, 1836; 
John  D.  McKean,  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  l.S,  1836 ;  Joseph 
Divine,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  June,  1846. 

Section  32. — Thomas  Monteith,  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  entire  section. 
May  13,  1836. 

Section  33.— Calvin  White,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  May  6,  1836;  John 
Law,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  14,  1836. 

Section  34. — John  MoKee,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  14,  1836 ; 
Ross  Allard,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Dec.  17,  1836. 

Section  35. — Clark  K.  Thornton,  Hancock  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  29,  1853; 
Pike  and  Sloane,  Hancock  Co.^  Ohio,  Aug.  29,  1853. 

Section  36. — William  Forbes,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  15,1836;  Hub- 
bard and  Parker,  Boston,  Mass.,  June  6,  1836;  William  Dibble, 
Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  December,  1836;  Frederick  Rice,  Kala- 
mazoo Co.,  Mich.,  December,  1836. 

FIRST  AND  OTHER  EARLY   SETTLEMENTS. 

Mumford  Eldred,  the  first  settler  within  the  limits  of  this 
township,  was  a  native  of  Pownal,  Bennington  Co.,  Vt.,  and 
passed  his  boyhood  days  in  sight  of  the  Green  Mountains. 
After  arriving  at  manhood's  estate,  he  engaged  for  some 
time  in  buying  and  selling  live-stock.  Subsequently,  the 
brothers  Caleb  (afterwards  the  well  known  Judge  Caleb 

«•  The  first  purchase,  being  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  northwest 
quarter. 


Eldred,  of  Kalamazoo  County)  and  Mumford  Eldred  es- 
tablished a  meat-market  in  the  village  of  Catskill,  Greene 
Co.,  N.  Y.  By  his  first  marriage,  Mumford  became  the 
father  of  four  children,  viz. :  Norman,  Mumford,  Jr.,  Cor-- 
nelia,  and  Margaret.  While  a  resident  of  Catskill  he  mar- 
ried, for  his  second  wife,  Miss  Jane  Whitaker.  About 
1832  he  removed  to  Delaware  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years.  In  the  fall  of  1834,  accompanied  by 
his  wife  and  five  children,  viz. :  Andrew,  Stephen,  Belinda, 
Elizabeth,  and  Catherine,  he  journeyed  to  Kalamazoo  Co.> 
Mich.,  where  his  brother  Caleb,  his  son  Mumford,  Jr.,  and 
many  other  relatives,  had  already  became  conspicuous  as 
among  the  first  settlers  and  the  most  active  business  men 
of  that  region.  Mumford  Eldred  first  located  his  family  in 
the  Gull  Prairie  settlement,  where  they  remained  about 
eighteen  months. 

On  the  8th  day  of  January,  1836,  he  made  the  first  pur- 
chase of  land  in  township  2  north,  of  range  11  west,  it 
being  a  tract  of  40  acre.s  known  as  the  northwest  quarter  of 
the  northwest  quarter  of  section  29.  Four  weeks  later, 
however,  he  bought  40  acres  more,  a  tract  described  as  the 
southwest  quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  same  sec- 
tion. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1836  (March)  a  substantial  log 
house  was  erected  upon  the  land  fii«t  purchased,  and  soon 
after,  assisted  by  Hugh  Kirkland,  of  Gull  Prairie,  and 
James  Flockhart,  o£  Plainfield,  Mr.  Eldred  and  family 
were  duly  installed  within  its  walls  as  the  first  white 
family  in  the  township.  The  live-stock  brought  in  con- 
sisted of  a  horse, — "  old  Black  Hawk," — one  yoke  of  cattle, 
and  a  cow.  The  land  first  chosen  by  Mr.  Eldred  was 
prairie-like  in  appearance,  or  in  other  words  contained  an 
"  opening,''  some  30  acres  in  extent,  which  invitingly 
awaited  the  approach  of  the  pioneer's  plow. 

To  observers  the  improvement  of  these  lands  seemed  an 
easy  matter,  and  Mr.  Eldrod's  real  estate  was  then  con- 
sidered the  most  desirable  one  in  the  township.  But  with 
the  completion  of  his  cabin — which  stood  upon  or  near  the 
site  of  William  Nesbit's  present  residence — and  the  re- 
moval of  his  family  to  it,  his  difficulties  had  but  just  com- 
menced. A  small  band  of  Indians,  remnants  of  the  once 
powerful  Ottawa  and  Pottawattamie  tribes,  occupied  the 
opening  and  claimed  it  as  their  own.  Here,  on  the  northern 
border,  was  their  little  village  of  bark  wigwams,  and  farther 
out  their  scattered  patches  of  broken  soil,  where  the  women 
had  cultivated  for  many  years  corn,  pumpkins,  potatoes, 
etc.  Here  had  been  celebrated  victories  gained  over  their 
enemies,  and  the  surrounding  forests  had  doubtless  re- 
echoed many  times  with  lamentations  when  defeat  had 
attended  their  warlike  expeditions.  Their  children  had 
been  born  here,  and  here  their  dead  had  been  prepared  for 
the  happy  hunting-ground.  The  little  prairie  was  their 
home ;  they  were  loth  to  depart  from  it.  Who  can  blame 
them? 

Yet  had  Mumford  Eldred  been  less  austere  and  more 
gracious  in  his  bearing  towards  them,  this  would  not  have 
been  one  of  the  exceptional  cases  in  the  history  of  the  set- 
tlement of  Southern  Michigan  in  which  the  white  settler 
and  his  Indian  neighbors  were  at  enmity.  But  Mr.  Eldred 
chose  a  different  course  ;  he  considered  the  land  his  own. 


MARTIN  TOWNSHIP. 


271 


the  Indians  as  interlopers,  and  ordered  them  away.  They 
demurred,  and  moved  not.  He  plowed  their  little  patches 
of  loose  soil  and  planted  his  crops.  Upon  their  appearance 
above  the  surface  the  corn  and  potatoes  were  pulled  up  and 
the  stalks  scattered.  His  hogs,  and  for  a  truth  "  old  Black 
Hawk,"  at  last  disappeared.  After  vain  searches  they  were 
given  up  as  gone  forever,  and  he  declared  the  Indians  had 
stolen  them. 

Terribly  enraged,  he  again  ordered  his  dusky  neighbors 
from  his  vicinity,  threatening  that  unless  they  did  so  within 
a  time  specified,  he  would  fell  an  immense  tree  upon  their 
wigwams,  or  such  of  them  as  its  trunk  and  branches  would 
reach.  At  the  expiration  of  the  time  allowed  them  the 
Indians  were  still  there,  stoical  and  unconcerned  in  danger 
as  only  Indians  can  be.  Eldred  seized  his  axe,  and  with 
lusty  blows  began  the  fulfillment  of  his  threat.  They 
watched  him  intently  for  a  few  moments.  The  chips  fiew 
rapidly  from  the  incisions  made  with  his  keen  axe,  and  at 
last  they  seemed  to  understand  that  he  was  in  earnest,  that 
it  was  only  a  question  of  moments  when  the  tree  would 
come  crashing  upon  them,  demolishing  in  its  fall  wigwams 
and  household  idols.  They  called  to  him  to  desist,  prom- 
ising that  if  permitted  to  remain  until  their  chief,  who  was 
sick,  was  able  to  be  removed,  they  would  depart  in  peace. 
With  this  understanding  they  remained  a  few  days  longer, 
and  then  removed  to  the  present  township  of  Wayland. 

As  soon  as  vacated,  their  wigwams  were  burned  by 
Eldred,  and  thus  did  he  with  his  family  become  the  sole 
occupant  of  the  "opening."  He  was  not  fairly  rid  of  the 
Indians,  however,  for  they  made  frequent  visits  to  the  local- 
ity, and  his  crops  and  stock  were  always  in  danger.  He 
had  aroused  a  life-long  enmity,  and  had  not  the  Michigan 
Indians  been  so  completely  cowed,  abject,  and  in  fear  of  the 
white  man's  power,  dating  from  the  time  of  Tecumseh's 
defeat,  Mr.  Eldred's  career  would  have  terminated  ere  he 
had  a  neighbor  in  sight  of  his  opening. 

Upon  the  death  of  the  sick  Indian  before  mentioned, 
his  body  was  brought  to  the  near  vicinity  of  Mr.  Eldred's 
house.  A  square  pen  of  logs  was  constructed,  roofed  with 
bark,  and  inside  the  inclosure,  in  a  sitting  posture,  was 
placed  the  remains  of  the  dead  chief,  covered  with  his 
blanket.  Mrs.  Eldred,  who  is  still  living  in  the  township, 
wherein  at  that  time  she  was  the  only  white  woman,  relates 
that  the  sight  of  this  dead  warrior  keeping  his  lonely  vigil 
was  a  most  distressing  one  to  her.  She  could  not  step  out- 
side her  house  without  looking  in  that  direction.  About 
one  year  after  the  death  of  the  chief,  Mr.  Eldred  had 
helping  him  one  or  two  young  men  from  Gull  Prairie. 
Arising  early  one  morning,  they  filled  the  pen  with  dry 
wood  and  brush,  and  then,  setting  the  whole  on  fire,  finally 
succeeded  in  cremating  the  remains. 

In  1837,  Mr.  Eldred  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace  of 
Plainfield,  and  while  Martin  formed  part  of  the  old  town- 
ship he  held  other  responsible  positions.  As  justice  of  the 
peace  of  the  latter  township  he  presided  at  the  first  election 
in  Martin,  in  1839,  and  was  also  elected  assessor.  He  died 
Jan.  24,  1870,  aged  eighty-four  years.  Mrs.  Eldred  still 
survives,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years.  A  son,  Samuel, 
who  was  born  Dec.  10, 183U,  bears  the  distinction  of  having 
been  the  first  white  child  born  in  Martin.     Rev.  Andrew 


Eldred,  the  first  child  of  Mumford  by  his  second  marriage, 
is  now  a  distinguished  divine  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

Dr.  Calvin  White,  from  Canada,  was  the  next  to  settle. 
He  purchased  100  acres,  situated  on  sections  28  and  33, 
May  16, 1836,  and  became  a  resident  during  the  fall  of  the 
same  year.  Although  a  graduate  of  a  medical  college,  he 
practiced  but  little  here,  devoting  his  time  and  energies 
chiefly  to  the  clearing  and  improvement  of  his  land.  He 
was  a  man  of  many  eccentricities,  antagonistic  in  principles 
to  a  large  majority  of  those  who  were  his  friends  and  neigh- 
bors, and  seeking  every  opportunity  to  express  his  opinions 
concerning  politics  and  religion.  Consequently,  although 
ambitious  to  wear  official  honors,  he  found  great  difficulty 
in  obtaining  votes  when  he  most  needed  them.  It  is  be- 
lieved, however,  that  he  was  the  first  postmaster  of  the 
"  Martin''  office,  which  was  established  some  time  during 
the  administration  of  Martin  Van  Buren.  Walter  Mon- 
teith  was  also  an  early  postmaster. 

Cotton  M.  Kimball  was  born  in  Marlborough,  Windham 
Co.,  Vt.  About  1805,  with  his  parents,  he  removed  to 
Rutland,  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.  His  father,  Ruel  Kimball, 
was  a  teacher,  and  afterwards  became  a  minister  of  the 
gospel  in  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  preached  for  thirty 
years.  Having  resided  in  Lewis  and  Jefferson  Counties, 
N.  Y.,  until  the  spring  of  1836,  Cotton  M.  Kimball  then 
journeyed  to  Michigan.  He  arrived  in  the  present  town- 
ship of  Martin  in  May,  1836,  and  made  choice  of  lands 
situated  on  sections  15  and  17. 

The  land  on  section  15  was  bought  in  partnership  with 
one  Sidney  Stafford,  and  included  a  mill-site.  During  the 
summer  of  1836,  assisted  by  Stafford  and  residents  of 
Plainfield,  Mr.  Kimball  erected  a  log  house  on  the  latter 
section,  18  by  24  feet  in  size.  This  house  was  built  of 
whitewood  logs,  and  was  the  second  dwelling  erected  in  the 
township,  although  not  the  second  one  occupied. 

Mr.  Kimball  remained  in  the  State  until  Jimuary,  1837, 
in  order  to  obtain  a  hearing  at  the  land-office  and  get  a  title 
to  his  land.  He  then  returned  to  the  State  of  New  York 
on  foot.  In  April,  1837,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  three 
children,  Huldah  C,  Edward  R.,  and  Henry,  he  began  a 
second  journey  to  Michigan,  vid  the  Erie  Canal  and  Lake 
Erie  to  Detroit.  The  family,  while  en  route,  suffered 
much  inconvenience  and  considerable  sickness. 

At  Detroit  he  hired  a  man  named  Stonehouse  to  take 
himself  and  family  to  that  portion  of  Plainfield  now  known 
as  Martin,  for  which  he  paid  him  $45.  The  wagon-journey 
from  Detroit  required  nine  days  to  accomplish,  and  from 
Mumford  Eldred's  to  the  log  cabin  awaiting  them  they  had 
to  cut  their  own  road.  During  the  interval  from  the  build- 
ing of  his  house  until  its  occupation.  Dr.  Calvin  White, 
William  and  Walter  Monteith  had  settled  in  the  township. 
Mathew  Shelman  and  family  settled  the  same  year  (1837). 

Upon  the  organization  of  Martin,  in  1839,  Mr.  Kimball 
was  elected  the  first  supervisor,  and  during  a  long  residence 
there  was  prominent  in  many  other  positions  of  trust  and 
honor.  In  1843  he  removed  from  his  first  location  to  the 
premises  on  section  17  now  occupied  by  his  son,  Edward 
R.  Kimball.  Mr.  Kimball  and  wife  were  prominent  mem- 
bers of  an  early  Methodist  Episcopal  class,  and  were  also 


272 


HISTORY   OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


largely  instrumental  in  the  establishment  of  the  first  Sab- 
bath-schools. 

Mathew  Shelman  and  his  sons,  who  were  prominent  in 
the  early  history  of  Martin,  established  themselves  .first 
upon  sections  20  and  29,  a  location  purchased  by  the  former, 
Feb.  10,  1836,  and  upon  which  he  settled  in  the  fall  of 
1837. 

Monteith  is  a  name  which  has  ever  been  conspicuous  in 
the  annals  of  this  township  since  its  first  settlement.  The 
progenitors  of  the  numerous  descendants  living  here  came 
from  Scotland  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  struggle,  and  set- 
tled in  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  very  naturally  es- 
poused the  cause  of  the  colonies.  The  brothers,  Thomas 
and  William  Monteith,  the  fathers  and  eldest  members  of 
the  Monteith  family  who.  settled  in  Allegan  County,  both 
participated  in  the  war  of  1812.  During  the  early  settle- 
ment of  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  members  of  this  family,  to- 
gether with  many  other  people  of  Scotch  descent,  emigrated 
to  it  from  Montgomery,  and  impressed  their  nationality 
upon  a  portion  of  old  Livingston's  surface,  by  naming  their 
place  of  settlement  Caledonia.  Here  we  find  them  in  the 
year  1835.  An  exodus  from  the  northwestern  counties  of 
New  York  to  the  "  far  West"  was  then  in  full  progress,  and 
the  Monteiths  of  Livingston,  too,  soon  joined  the  multi- 
tude of  emigrants  bearing  down  upon  Michigan  Territory. 

In  the  fall  of  1835,  William  T.  and  Walter  Monteith 
journeyed  by  the  usual  route  from  Caledonia,  Livingston 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  Moscow,  Hillsdale  Co.,  Mich.,  where  they 
remained  during  the  following  winter.  Meantime,  their 
father,  Thomas  Monteith,  Sr.,  had  proceeded  to  the  State 
of  Illinois  to  view  land  in  that  region.  The  season  was 
unpropitious,  mud  and  water  predominated  everywhere, 
and,  utterly  disgusted  with  Illinois,  he  returned  eastward  as 
far  as  Kalamazoo.  He  visited  the  Gun  Plain  settlement, 
and  prospected  for  desirable  lands  in  this  township.  As  a 
result,  his  sons  at  Moscow  were  invited  to  meet  him  at 
Kalamazoo,  and  on  the  13th  day  of  May,  1836,  Thomas 
Monteith,  Sr.,  purchased  the  whole  of  section  32,  while 
William  T.  entered  280  acres  situated  upon  section  29, 
being  all  that  then  remained  of  the  latter  section.  Early 
in  the  spring  of  1837,  the  brothers,  William  T.,  Walter, 
and  Thomas,  Jr.,  began  their  first  improvements  here. 
Their  father  did  not  become  a  resident  of  Martin  until 
several  years  later. 

As  before  mentioned,  this  family  have  numerous  repre- 
sentatives in  the  township,  a  majority  of  them  being  lo- 
cated in  the  southwest  part,  or  the  vicinity  of  Monteith 
Station,  and  they  are  the  possessors  of  some  of  the  best 
farming-lands  in  Allegan  County. 

Prior  to  holding  the  first  township-meeting,  which  oc- 
curred April  13,  1839,  John  H.  Adams,  John  C.  White, 
Orrin  Roberts,  Adam  W.  Miller,  Peter  Hanmer,  and  Orrin 
Hart  became  residents,  and  during  the  years  1840-41  and 
42,  Darius  P.  Fenner  and  Thomas  J.  StanclifF. 

Horace  Sornbury,  James  Patterson,  Thomas  Monteith, 
Sr.,  Duncan  A.  McMartin,  Thomas  A.  Drayton,  Tyler 
Johnson,  Daniel  Cook,  Eli  Arnold,  John  Cook,  Joseph 
Divine,  Nicholas  Skinner,  Lovinus  Monteith,  Martin  Blan- 
chard,  Richard  H.  Warn,  and  Rensselaer  G.  Smith  still 
further  increased  the  population  of  the  township  by  the  ar- 


rival and  settlement  of  themselves  and  families.  The  town- 
ship of  Wayland,  including  townships  3  and  4  north,  of 
range  1 1  west,  was  set  off  in  1844,  and  the  remaining  resident' 
tax-payers,  as  shown  by  the  assessment-roll  completed  in 
June,  1844,  were  44  in  number,  with  property  as  follows : 

Acres. 

John  Monteith,  section  32 160 

K.  B.Wiggins Personal 

Joseph  Divine Personal 

Tyler  Johnson,  section  17 80 

Thomas  Monteith,  sections  31,  32 318 

Duncan  MoMartin,  section  32 2 

Richard  H.  Warn,  section  30 160 

James  Monteith,  section  20 160 

Asa  N.  Carpenter,  flection  5 80 

Addison  Carpenter,  section  6 80 

Philip  Miller,  section  18 80 

JohnBaird Personal 

Orrin  Hart,  section  7 161 

Adam  W.  Miller,*  section  7 120 

Lcverett  Johnson,*  section  21 160 

B.  P.  Chase,  section  19 100 

William  Russell,*  section  19 80 

Lovinus  Monteith,*  section  30 160 

Mumford  Eldred,  section  29 40 

Henry  Crittenden,  section  19 160 

M'illiam  T.  Monteith,*  section  29 280 

Lafayette  Shelman,  sections  20,  29 120 

M.L.  Shelman Personal 

Mathew  Shelman Personal 

Nicholas  Shelman,  section  20 80 

Cotton  M.  Kimball,*  sections  15,  17 149 

Darius  P.  Fenner,*  sections  10,  20,  15,  23,  26 569 

Eli  Arnold,  sections  5,  16 100 

John  H.  Adams,  section  4 140 

Thomas  A.  Drayton,*  section  8 80 

Martin  Blanchard,  section  8 80 

Abraham  Shelman,  section  28 40 

Walter  Monteith,*  section  32 160 

Thomas  Monteith,  Jr.,*  section  32 160 

John  C.White Personal 

Calvin  White,  sections  33,  28 100 

Horace  Sornbury,  sections  28,  33 — — 

John  Patterson,  section  22  80 

John  Casson,  section  22 40 

John  Bloom,  section  22 40 

Hubbard  Pratt,*  section  15 40 

James  L.  Fenner,  sections  11,  15 119 

Rensselaer  G.  Smith,*  section  10 80 

Roby Personal 

During  the  years  from  1845  to  1850,  Orrin  A.  Porter, 
William  S.  Wheeler,  David  Wylie,  John  Patterson,  John 
Redpath,  John  B.  Nicholson,  Miland  Gurley,  Robert  Patter- 
son, Thomas  Shepherd,  John  E.  Borie,  Joseph  B.  Cook,  Eli 
H.  Chase,  Samuel  S.  Whitlock,  Mathew  Wylie,  and  Jason 
Gillespie  also  became  conspicuous  as  residents  and  office- 
holders. 

At  the  close  of  the  fourth  decade  of  the  present  cen- 
tury the  township  still  contained  but  a  limited  population, 
as  the  following  statistics  from  the  United  States  census 
report  of  1850  will  show  : 

Number  of  dwelling-houses 62 

"           families 64 

"           inhabitants 329 

Value  of  real  estate $71,000 

Number  of  occupied  farms 34 

"          acres  improved 1497 

Value  of  farms $52,870 

"         farming  implements,  etc $3410 

Number  of  horses 35 

"          milch  cows 85 

"          working  oxen 70 

"           other  cattle 103 

"           sheep 482 

"           swine 257 

Value  of  live-stock $8035 

Number  of  bushels  wheat  produced  in  1849 5051 

"       rye              "                 "    120 

"                 "       Indian  corn  prod,  in  1849...  6000 

"       oats  produced  in  1849 3105 

"                 "       barley       "               "     124 

*  Still  living. 


MARTIN  TOWNSHIP. 


Number  of  bushels  buckwheat  prod,  in  1849...  120 

"                 "       potatoes  produced  in  1849..  4430 

"           pounds  of  wool             "              "  1363 

A'alue  of  orchard  products              "               "  80 

Number  of  pounds  butter               "               "  8320 

"                "       cheese               "               "  420 

"          tons  hay                         "              "  288 

**          bushels  clover-seed      *'              "  15 

"          pounds  maple-sugar    "              "  13,610 

"          water-power  saw-mills 1» 

In  1860  the  inhabitants  had  increased  to  794  in  number, 
and  the  amount  and  value  of  their  products  and  resources 
in  proportion.  The  census  of  1874:  (the  latest)  reported 
a  total  population  of  1160. 

Although  more  than  2000  acres  of  swamp-lands  lie 
within  its  borders,  the  central  and  western  parts  of  Martin 
are  conceded  to  be  among  the  fairest  and  most  productive 
found  in  Allegan  County.  Neat  farm  buildings  and  well- 
cultivated  fields  abound  as  a  rule,  and  the  inhabitants  seem 
to  be  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  high  degree  of  prosperity. 

CIVIL  AND   POLITICAL. 

By  an  act  of  the  State  Legislature  approved  March  22, 
1839,  the  township  of  Martin  was  formed  from  Plainfield. 
Section  1,  of  an  act  to  organize  certain  townships,  reads  as 
follows : 

"That  all  that  part  of  the  county  of  Allegan  designated  by  the 
United  States  survey  as  townships  number  two,  three,  and  four  north, 
of  range  number  eleven  west,  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby  set  off  and 
organized  into  a  separate  township  by  the  name  of  Martin,  and  the 
first  township-meeting  therein  shall  be  held  at  the  bouse  of  John  H. 
Adams." 

To  Mrs.  Mumford  Eldred,  the  first  white  woman  to  reside 
here,  was  accorded  the  honor  of  naming  the  new  township. 
She  suggested  several  names,  but  when  the  Hon.  George 
W.  Barnes — the  member  of  the  State  Legislature  from  this 
district — arrived  in  Detroit,  he  found  that  those  chosen  by 
Mrs.  Eldred  had  already  been  adopted  by  other  localities. 
He  therefore  sent  in  the  name  of  Martin,  as  a  compliment 
to  the  then  President  of  the  United  States,  Martin  Van 
Buren, — a  name  which  was  universally  approved  by  the 
pioneers  then  within  its  borders,  and  which  the  township 
bears  to-day. 

FIRST  TOWNSHIP-MEETING,  Etc. 
In  accordance  with  the  act  before  quoted,  17  legal  voters, 
residents  of  the  territory  described,  assembled  at  the  house 
of  John  H.  Adams,  on  the  13th  day  of  April,  1839,  and 
organized  by  choosing  Timothy  Gregg,  George  W.  Barnes, 
and  John  H.  Adams  inspectors  of  election.  Mumford 
Eldred,  Esq.,  and  Calvin  White,  Esq.,  took  seats  as  mem- 
bers of  the  board  of  canvassers  by  virtue  of  their  oflSces  as 
justices  of  the  peace,  they  having  been  elected  to  that 
position  in  the  township  of  Plainfield  in  1837.  This  first 
meeting  resulted  in  the  election  of  the  following  oflScers : 
Cotton  M.  Kimball,  Supervisor ;  Timothy  Gregg,  Township 
Clerk  ;  John  H.  Adams,  Treasurer ;  George  W.  Barnes, 
John  H.  Adams,  Mumford  Eldred,  Assessors;  Nicholas 
Shellman,  Collector;  George  W.  Barnes,  John  C. White, 
Cotton  M.  Kimball,  School  Inspectors;  Abraham  Shellman, 
Adam  W.  Miller,  Walter  Monteith,  Highway  Commission- 
ers; Timothy  Gregg,  Abraham  Shellman,  Directors  of  the 


*  Darius  P.  Fenner's,  on  section  15. 


Poor;  George  W.  Barnes,  Abraham  Shellman,  Justices  of 
the  Peace ;  Nicholas  Shellman,  Oziel  H.  Rounds,  Con- 
stables. 

At  the  same  meeting  the  following  resolutions  were 
adopted : 

"That  $100  be  raised  for  the  support  of  the  poor  the  ensuing  year." 
"  That  the  sum  of  $3  be  paid  as  a  bounty  on  each  and  every  wolf 
taken  and  killed  in  said  township,  and  half  that  sum  for  each  wolf- 
whelp." 

The  total  expenses  incurred  by  the  township  during  the 
year  ending  April  1,  1840,  were  $139.65,  as  follows: 

Paid  to  township  officers $126.77 

"     "  E.  Robinson  (surveyor) 11.00 

"     "E.G.Hill  "         1.88 

$139.65 

Thirty-one  votes  were  polled  at  the  Presidential  election 
of  1840,  and  9  additional  ones  in  1841.  The  gubernatorial 
election  in  1845  (after  the  separation  of  Wayland)  resulted 
as  follows :  For  Stephen  Vickery,  26  votes ;  for  Alpheus 
Felch,  17  votes. 

FIKST    HIGHWAYS,  EOAD  DISTRICTS,  Etc. 

In  1837,  Road  District  No.  6,  of  the  township  of  Plain- 
field,  embraced  within  its  boundaries  the  present  towns  of 
Martin,  Wayland,  and  Leighton ;  Mumford  Eldred,  overseer. 
No  highways  recognized  by  authority  existed ;  only  the 
by-paths  of  early  settlers  and  the  trails  of  the  aborigines 
traversed  the  region  mentioned.  Consequently  Mr.  Eidred's 
duties  as  overseer  could  not  have  been  onerous. 

"  Road  No.  12,"  of  the  town  of  Plainfield,  seems  to  have 
been  the  first  regularly  laid  highway  to  penetrate  town- 
ship 2  north,  of  range  11  west.  It  was  surveyed  by  Wil- 
liam Forbes  in  January,  1838,  by  order  of  Mumford  El- 
dred and  George  F.  Nichols,  highway  commissioners  of 
Plainfield.  This  road  commenced  84  rods  north  of  the 
southwest  corner  of  section  8,  in  the  present  township  of 
Gun  Plain,  and  ran  in  a  general  northerly  direction  through 
the  Monteith  Settlement  and  Martin  Corners,  to  the  north 
line  of  Martin  township,  a  distance  of  seven  and  three- 
fourth  miles. 

Roads  numbered  in  the  Plainfield  records  as  13, 14,  15 
16,  17,  and  several  others,  were  also  laid  out  during  the 
year  1838. 

The  first  road  laid  by  the  authorities  of  Martin  began  22 
rods  north  of  the  quarter  post  between  sections  15  and 
16,  in  township  No.  2  north,  of  range  11  west;  running 
thence,  as  described  by  field-notes,  to  a  post  near  Col. 
Barnes'  saw-mill,  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  2,  in 
the  same  township. 

Another  road  began  on  the  county-line  between  Allegan 
and  Barry  Counties,  at  the  corner  of  sections  25  and  36 
in  township  3  north,  range  11  west;  thence  to  quarter 
post  of  section  33,  on  the  south  line  of  said  township. 
These  roads  were  surveyed  by  E.  Robinson,  surveyor,  on 
the  1st,  2d,  3d,  and  4th  days  of  May,  1839. 

The  first  road  districts  in  Martin  were  established  by 
Commissioners  Abraham  Shellman  and  Adam  W.  Miller, 
March  20,  1840,  and  were  described  as  follows  : 

"District  No.  1.     To  consist  of  sections  6,  7,  18,-19,  30, 31,  and,  the 


85 


274 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


west  half  of  sections  5,  8,  17,  20,  29,  and  32,  in  township  2  north, 
range  11  west. 

"  District  No.  2.  To  consist  of  all  that  part  of  said  township  not 
comprised  in  District  No.  1. 

"  District  No.  3.  To  consist  of  the  east  half  of  townships  3  and 
4  north,  of  range  11  west,  also  sections  28  and  33,  in  township  3 
north,  range  11  west. 

"  District  No.  4.  Shall  consist  of  all  that  part  of  townships  3  and 
4  north,  range  11  west,  not  comprised  in  District  No.  3." 

During  the  intervening  forty  years  many  changes  have 
gradually  taken  place  in  respect  to  highways  and  road  dis- 
tricts, but  it  would  hardly  interest  our  readers  to  follow 
them  farther. 

TOWNSHIP   OFFICERS. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  principal  township  officers 
elected*  during  the  years  from  1840  to  1879,  inclusive: 

SUPERVISORS. 
1840,  George  W.  Barnes;  1841-42,  Joel  Brownson;  184.3,  Duncan  A. 
McMartin;  1844,  Abraham  Shellman  ;  1845,  Cotton  M.  Kimball ; 
1846,  William  T.  Monteith;  1847,  Orrin  A.  Porter;  1848-49, 
William  T.  Monteith;  1860,  William  S.  Wheeler;  1851,  Richard 
H.  Warn;  1852,  Eli  H.  Chase;  1853-57,  William  S.Wheeler; 
1858,  Luther  R.  Delano ;t  1859,  Orrin  Brown;  1860-61,  Thomas 
Shepherd;  1862,  Orrin  Brown;  1863,  Thomas  Shepherd;  1864 
-65,  AVilliam  E.  Harden;  1866-67,  Orrin  Brown;  1868-69,  Wm. 
¥.  Harden;  1870,  Thomas  Shepherd;  1871,  Henry  Shultes;  1872 
-79,  William  E.  Harden. 

TOWNSHIP  CLERKS. 
1840,  Timothy  Gregg;  1841,  Darius  P.  Fenner;  1842-43,  John  H. 
Adams;  1844,  Horace  Sornbury;  1845,  Lovinus  Monteith;  1846, 
Cotton  M.  Kimball;  1847,  William  S.  Wheeler;  1848,  Chester 
Bovie;  1849,  William  S.Wheeler;  1850,  Chester  Bovie;  1851, 
David  Wylie;  1852,  Lovinus  Monteithj  1853,  Silas  Stafford; 
1854,  William  T.  Montieth;  1855,  George  G.  Tuthill  ;t  1856-58, 
David  Wylie;  1859-60,  George  B.  Nichols;  1861-65,  William 
Mathews;  1866,  William  T.Allen;  1867-73,  AVilliam  Mathews; 
1874-75,  Andrew  Patterson;  1876,  James  R.  Wylie;  1877-79, 
Thomas  H.  Shepherd. 

TREASURERS. 

1840,  Peter  Hanmer;  1841,  John  H.  Adams;  1842,  Joseph  Heyden- 
berk;  1843,  Richard  H.  Warn;  1844,  Orrin  Hart;  1846-50, 
Richard  H.  Warn;  1851,  Horace  Sornbury;  1852,  Ebenezer 
Wilder;  1863,  John  W.  Cook;  1854-56,  John  B.  Nicholson; 
1857-58,  John  W.  Cook;  1859,  Horace  Sornbury;  1860-61, 
Harvey  A.  Sweetlahd;  1862,  Horace  Sornbury;  186.3,  Ebenezer 
Wilder;  1864,  George  T.  Bruen  ;?  1865,  Charles  H.  Howe;  1866 
-67,  Frederick  Faling;  1868-69,  Andrew  Templeton;  1870-73, 
William  H.  Southwick ;  1874,  George  F.  Patterson;  1875-76, 
Morris  Van  Gelder;  1877-78,  Robert  A.  Patterson;  1879,  Arthur 
Anderson. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 

Adam  W.  Miller,  1840;  Darius  P.  Fenner,  1841 ;  George  W.  Barnes, 
1842;  William  T.  Monteith,  John  Patterson,  Thomas  A.  Dray- 
ton, 1843;  Martin  L.  Shellman,  John  Patterson,  1844;  John  H. 
Adams,  1845  ;  Rensselaer  G.  Smith,  1846 ;  William  T.  Monteith, 
Cotton  M.  Kimball,  1847 ;  William  S.  Wheeler,  1848;  John  H. 
Adams,  John  Redpath,  1849 ;  Rensselaer  G.  Smith,  1850 ;  Wil- 
liam T.  Monteith,  1851;  William  S.  Wheeler,  1852;  Thomas 
Shepherd,  1853;  Rensselaer  G.  Smith,  1854;  Darius  P.  Fenner, 
1856;  William  S.  Wheeler,  1856;  Thomas  Shepherd,  1857;  Orrin 
Brown,  1868;  Peter  Hatfield,  Benjamin  P.  Wheeler,  1859  ;  John 
Blair,  Orrin  Brown,  1860  ;  William  T.  Monteith,  1861 ;  Thomas 
Shepherd,  1862;  Frederick  A.Stanford,  1863;  John  Blair,  1864; 

^  This  list  does  not  show  alt  vacancies  and  appointments, 
f  Thomas  Shepherd  appointed  to  fill  vacancy,  April  16,  1858. 
J  David  Wylie  appointed  to  fill  vacancy,  June,  1855. 
§  John  Monteith  appointed  to  fill  vacancy,  Aug.  25,  1864. 


Orrin  Brown,  1865;  L.  Monteith,  1866;  John  Hunt,  1867;  John 
Blair,  Horace  Woodworth,  1868  ;  George  W.  Green,  1869;  Joseph 
H.  Wylie,  1870 ;  Cyrus  L.  Tousey,  John  L.  Wheeler,  1871 ;  Luman 
W.  Fox,  Orrin  Brown,  1872;  Walter  Monteith,  Rensselaer  G. 
Smith,  1873;  John  L.  Wheeler,  1874;  Orrin  Brown,  1875; 
Thomas  Shepherd,  1876  ;  John  Blair,  Rensselaer  G.  Smith,  1877 ; 
Thomas  Shepherd,  1878;  William  Nesbit,  1879. 

HIGHWAY  COMMISSIONERS. 
Orrin  Hart,  George  W.  Barnes,_Horaoe  Sornbury,  1840;  Nelson 
Chambers,  Martin  L.  Shellman,  Darius  P.  Fenner,  1841;  Isaac 
Barnes,  Joseph  M.  Gregg,  Orrin  Orton,  1842;  Martin  Blanchard, 
Tyler  Johnson,  Lovinus  Monteith,  1843  ;  Joseph  Divine,  Nicho- 
las Shellman,  Darius  P.  Fenner,  1844;  Rensselaer  G.  Smith, 
Thomas  A.  Drayton,  Henry  Crittenden,  1845;  John  Cook, 
Thomas  Monteith,  Jr.,  John  B.  Nicholson,  1846 ;  John  Cook, 
Henry  Crittenden,  Thomas  J.  Stanolifi^,  1847;  Miland  Gurley, 
1848;  Robert  Patterson,  1849;  Thomas  Shepherd,  1850 ;  Lafay- 
ette Shellman,  1851;  Robert  Patterson,  1852;  Adam  W.Miller, 
1853;  William  Russell,  1854;  Milo  B.  Harding,  William  White, 
1855;  John  Hunt,  John  E.  Bovie,  1856;  Stephen  Eldred,  1857; 
Milo  E.  Harding,  1858;  David  Bradley,  1859;  William  F. 
Harden,  1860;  Orrin  Brown,  1861  ;  John  Hunt,  1862;  Timothy 
G.  Crittenden,  1863;  Edward  R.  Kimball,  1864;  R.  B.  Wallace, 
1865;  H.  A.  Walker,  1866;  Robert  Patterson,  Thomas  Monteith, 
1867;  Stephen  Eldred,  1868;  James  T.  Batchelder,  1869;  Wil- 
liam T.  Monteith,  1870;  Edward  R.  Kimball,  1871;  Israel  S. 
Harding,  Avery  A.  Dwight,  1872;  Avery  A.  Dwight,  1873; 
James  T.  Batchelder,  1874;  Avery  A.  Dwight,  1875;  Samuel 
Chase,  1876;  Ralph  PoUitt,  1877-78;  Martin  M.  Harding,  1879. 

.  DRAIN   COMMISSIONERS. 

Arthur  Anderson,  1873;  Luther  R.  Delano,  1874;  Robert  Patterson, 

1875;  Cyrus  L.  Tousey,  1876;  Thomas  Shepherd,  1877-78. 

COLLECTOR. 
Oziel  H.  Rounds,  1840-41. 

ASSESSORS. 
Orrin  Hart,  William  T.  Monteith,  George  W.  Barnes,  1840;  Orrin 
Hart,  Nelson  Chambers,  John  H.  Adams,  1841 ;  David  Cook, 
M%rtin  L.  Shellman,  John  Patterson,  1842;  Orrin  Hart,  Walter 
Monteith,  1843 ;  Joseph  Divine,  John  C.  White,  1844;  Adam  W. 
Miller,  Walter  Monteith,  1845;  Adam  W.  Miller,  William  S. 
Wheeler,  1846 ;  Walter  Monteith,  Adam  W.  Miller,  1847  ;  Adam 
W.  Miller,  William  Russell,  1848;  John  E.  Bovie,  Adam  W. 
Miller,  1849;  Joseph  B.  Cook,  Thomas  J.  Stancliff,  1850;  Adam 
W.  Miller,  Thomas  J.  Stancliff,  1851;  Uri  Baker,  John  Patterson, 
1852;  William  S.  Wheeler,  Thomas  Monteith,  1861.  All  other 
years  the  supervisor  has  made  the  assessment. 

TOWNSHIP  SUPERINTENDENTS  OP   SCHOOLS. 
George  B.  Nichols,  1875  ;  Henry  Shultes,  1876;  Freeman  D.  Harding, 
1877-78;  Mahlon  D.  Harden,  1879. 

SCHOOL   INSPECTORS. 
Adam  W.  Miller,  Cotton  M.  Kimball,  Oziel  H.  Rounds,  1840 ;  James 
Selkrig,  Isaac  Barnes,  William  H.  Warner,  1841 ;  James  Selkrig, 
George  W.  Barnes,  Adam  W.  Miller,  1842  ;  Darius  P.  Fenner, 
Duncan  A.  McMartin,  1843 ;  Darius  P.  Fenner,  1844 ;  Orrin  A. 
Porter,  1845;  Lovinus  Monteith,  1846;  Cotton  M.  Kimball,  David 
Wylie,  1847-48;  Addison  Carpenter,  1849;  David  Wylie,  Lovi- 
nus Monteith,  1850;  Jason  Gillespie,  1851;  Orrin  A.  Porter,  1852; 
David  Wylie,  1863;  Alexander  Gillia,  1854;  Darius  P.  Fenner, 
David  Wylie,  1855 ;  Addison  Carpenter,  William  Anderson,  1856  ; 
William  Anderson,  1867;  Jason  Gillespie,  1858;  George  B.  Hat- 
field, 1869;  DavidWylie,  1860;  William  F.  Harden,  1861;  David 
Wylie,  1862;  William  F.  Harden,  1863;    David  Wylie,   1864; 
GeorgeB.  Nichols,  1865;  C.  B.  Smith,  1866  ;  David  Wylie,  Cyrus 
L.  Tousey,  1867;  George  B.  Nichols,  1868;  DavidWylie,  1869 
William  F.  Harden,  George  B.  Nichols,  1870;  C.  B.  Smith,  1871 
Burt  Van  Gelder,  1872;  David  Wylie,  Martin  M.  Harding,  1873 
Morris  Van  Gelder,  1874;  George  P.  Patterson,  1875-77 ;  Arthur 
Anderson,  1878;  Peter  D.  Campbell,  1879. 


MARTIN  TOWNSHIP. 


275 


DmECTORS  OF  THE  POOR. 
Cotton  M.  Kimball,  Timothy  Gregg,  1840;  Calvin  White,  Mumford 
Eldred,  1841;  Abraham  Shellman,  Mumford  Bldred,  1842;  Cal- 
vin White,  Mumford  Eldred,  1843-44;  Eli  H.  Chase,  Addison 
Carpenter,  184^ ;  John  Cook,  Thomas  Monteith,  1846 ;  Thomas 
A.  Drayton,  Samuel  S.  Whitlook,  1847 ;  Thomas  A.  Drayton, 
Thomas  J.  Stanoliff,  1848  ;  Mathew  Wylie,  Joseph  B.  Cook,  1849  ; 
Jason  Gillespie,  Adam  W.  Miller,  1850 ;  Asa  A.  Carpenter,  Walter 
Monteith,  1851;  Mumford  Eldred,  Cotton  M.  Kimball,  1852; 
Thomas  J.  Stanoliff,  Lafayette  Shellman,  1853;  John  Mathews, 
Mathew  Wylie,  1854;  William  Russell,  William  S.  Wheeler,  1855; 
Lorinus  Monteith,  Walter  Monteith,  1856;  Adam  W.  Miller, 
Miland  Gurley,  1857 ;  Miland  Gurley,  Adam  W.  Miller,  1858. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The  first  action  taken  by  township  authorities  regarding 
schools  and  school  districts  in  township  No.  2  north,  of 
range  11  west,  was  in  the  year  1837.  On  the  19th  day 
of  September,  William  Forbes,  John  Nichols,  and  George 
W.  Kennicott,  school  inspectors  of  Plainfield,  met  and 
determined  the  boundaries  of  nine  school  districts.  Dis- 
tricts numbered  from  1  to  7,  inclusive,  were  all  located  in 
the  present  township  of  Gun  Plain,  while  district  No.  8 
embraced  the  south  half  of  township  2  north,  range  11 
west,  and  district  No.  9  included  the  remainder  or  northern 
half  of  the  latter  township. 

It  is  possible  that  schools  were  taught  in  one  or  both 
districts  last  mentioned  prior  to  the  organization;  but, 
if  they  were,  we^ave  not  been  able  to  learn  the  names  of 
teachers  or  any  statistics  regarding  them.  It  is  quite 
certain,  however,  that  no  school  moneys  were  apportioned 
to  any  districts  in  this  township  while  it  formed  part  of 
Plainfield.* 

Upon  the  organization  of  Martin,  in  1839,  George  W. 
Barnes,  John  C.  White,  and  Cotton  M.  Kimball  were 
elected  school  inspectors.  In  August  of  the  same  year 
this  board  of  education,  represented  by  Messrs.  Kimball 
and  White,  met  and  organized  two  school  districts,  de- 
scribed as  follows : 

"District  No.  1  will  embrace  sections  31,  32,  33,  34,  35,  and  the 
south  half  of  sections  25,  26,  27,  28,  29,  and  30,  in  township  number 
two  north,  of  range. number  eleven  west,  and  the  first  meeting  in  said 
district  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  William  T.  Monteith  on  the  14th 
day  of  September,  1839. 

"  District  No.  2  will  embrace  sections  24,  23,  22,  21,  20,  and  19,  and 
the  north  half  of  sections  25, 26,  27,  28,  29,  and  30,  in  township  num- 
ber two  north,  of  range  number  eleven  west,  and  the  first  meeting  in 
said  district  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  Mumford  Eldred,  Sept.  14, 
1839." 

Since  1840  changes  have  been  made  almost  yearly  of 
districts  and  their  boundaries.  The  records  preserved 
relating  to  school  matters  are  meagre  and  incomplete,  and 
to  the  chronicler  afibrd  but  little  satisfaction.  It  is  credibly 
stated  that  John  McVeanf  taught  the  first  school  at  Mar- 
tin Corners,  or  old  district  No.  2,  about  1842-43,  and  the 
first  school  in  district  No.  1,  or  the  Monteith  neighborhood, 
was  opened  at  about  the  same  time. 

At  thf  close  of  the  township  election  held  in  April, 
1847,  it  was  voted  that  the  next  annual  meeting  "  be  held 
in  the  new  school-house  near  Lafayette  Shellman's."     In 


*  See  history  of  Gun  Plain. 

f  It  is  also  claimed  that  Miss  Chichester  taught  the  first  school  in 

this  district. 


this  house  Miss  Huldah  Kimball  taught  the  first  school, 
probably  during  the  summer  of  1847.  On  the  11th  of 
December,  1847,  Elizabeth  Adams,  Alsina  Rose,  and  Jason 
Gillespie  received  teachers'  certificates. 

From  an  apportionment  of  school  moneys  made  in  Sep- 
tember, 1848,  we  gather  the  following  : 

District  No.  1,  having  39  scholars,  received $27.71 

"        "    2,       "       31         "  "       22.02 

"        "    3,       "       26         "  "        18.46 

Fractional  district  No.  3  ( Wayland),  having  4  scholars,  received      2.84 

The  teachers  receiving  certificates  during  the  same  year 
were  Huldah  C.  Kimball,  Delia  Divine,  and  Belinda  El- 
dred. The  total  primary  school  fund  apportioned  during 
the  year  1849  was  $48  18. 

During  the  past  thirty  years,  the  schools  of  Martin  have 
advanced  in  common  with  those  of  other  sections.  Their 
present  condition  is  shown  by  statistics  gathered  from 
the  school  inspectors'  report  for  the  year  ending  Sept. 
1,  1879: 

Number  of  whole  districts 5 

"  fractional  districts 3 

"  children   of    school    age   residing    in 

the  township 374 

"  children  attending  school  during  the 

year 329 

"  frame  school-houses 8 

"  male  teachers  employed 8 

"  female      "  "         10 

Paid  mate  teachers $898.25 

"     female     "       $326.50 

Total  resources  for  the  year  ending  Sept.  1,1879, 
including  money  on  hand  Sept.  2,  1878,  two- 
mill  tax,  primary  school  fund,  district  taxes, 
and  from  all  other  sources $1919.91 

MEDICAL. 

Dr.  Calvin  White,  one  of  the  first  settlers,  was  the  first 
physician  to  reside  in  the  township  of  Martin.  He  came  from 
Canada  in  1836,  and  continued  a  resident  until  his  death. 
He  never  practiced  here  to  any  extent,  however,  as  the  early 
residents  were  attended  by  Dr.  L.  B.  Coats,  of  Otsego,  and 
Dr.  Erastus  N.  Upjohn,  of  Gun  Plain. 

Dr.  Alexander  Gillis,  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  a  grad- 
uate of  Edinburgh  Medical  College,  practiced  here  at  an 
early  period.  He  finally  removed  to  Hickory  Corners, 
Barry  Co.,  Mich.,  where  he  died. 

Dr.  David  Bradley  removed  here  in  1854,  from  Way- 
land  township,  where  he  had  been  conspicuous  as  the  first 
resident  physician,  an  early  postmaster,  merchant,  and  tav- 
ern-keeper. He  was  not  a  medical  graduate,  yet  was  quite 
successful  in  the  treatment  of  ordinary  ailments. 

Dr.  George  B.  Nichols  graduated  at  the  Castleton  (Ver- 
mont) Medical  College,  in  1852,  and  thereafter  until  the 
spring  of  1858,  practiced  his  profession  in  Ontario  Co., 
N.  Y.  He  then  settled  at  his  present  place  of  residence, — i.e., 
Martin  Corners, — where  he  has  long  been  known  as  the 
principal  physician  of  the  township.  His  field  is  an  ex- 
tensive one,  and  one  in  which  he  has  been  uniformly  suc- 
cessful. 

Among  other  disciples  of  the  healing  art  who,  since  Dr. 
Nichols'  settlement,  have  practiced  at  various  periods,  there 
have  been  Drs.  S.  W.  Thompson,  George  W.  Houghton, 
and  F.  E.  Rosenkrans.  The  first  now  resides  in  the  village 
of  Otsego,  the  latter  in  Plainwell. 


276 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


VILLAGES  AND  EAILEOAD-STATIONS. 

The  villages  and  railroad-stations  of  Martin  are  known 
as  Martin  Corners,  Monteith,and  Shelbyville.  The  former 
is  the  most  important,  and  includes  within  its  limits  a  por- 
tion of  the  lot  first  settled  upon  by  Mumford  Eldred,  in 
1836.  A  few  years  later,  a  school-house,  situated  one-half 
mile  south  of  the  Corners,  was  built,  and,  as  a  crossing  of 
country  roads  occurred  here,  the  locality  was  convenient 
for  holding  caucuses  and  township-meetings,  and  conse- 
quently became  an  early  resort  of  the  townspeople  for  vari- 
ous purposes. 

But  it  was  not  until  the  building  of  the  Kalamazoo  and 
Grand  Rapids  plank-road,  in  1853  and  '54,  that  the  "  Cor- 
ners" took  on  the  appearance  of  even  a  hamlet. 

In  the  year  last  named,  John  Gray  began  the  construc- 
tion of  a  hotel.  When  it  was  only  partially  built,  A. 
Haggart  bought  the  property  and  finished  the  building. 
He  then  rented  it  to  Messrs.  Bradley  &  Pratt.  In  1856 
David  Bradley  became  proprietor  of  the  house,  and  a  few 
months  later  it  was  burned  with  all  its  contents.  The 
present  hotel  was  rebuilt  by  Bradley  soon  after.  A  man 
named  Phittleplace  sold  the  first  goods  in  1854.  Tuthill 
McClelland  and  William  Mathews  were  also  early  mer- 
chants here.  The  Martin  post-oE5ce  was  removed  to  this 
point  upon  the  completion  of  the  plank-road.   • 

In  1858  the  business  men  at  the  Corners  were  Fred- 
erick Faling,  hotel-keeper;  Hugh  Finley,  merchant,  in 
the  building  now  occupied  by  Wylie  &  Shepherd ;  Wil- 
liam Mathews,  merchant  and  postmaster ;  Drs.  David  Brad- 
ley and  George  B.  Nichols,  physicians;  and  Peter  and 
Stephen  Hatfield,  blacksmiths. 

Since  the  completion  of  the  Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana 
Railroad,  in  1870,  the  population  has  gradually  increased. 
The  village  of  to-day  contains  two  church  edifices, — Meth- 
odist Episcopal  and  United  Presbyterian,— two  stores  of 
general  merchandise,  one  hotel,  one  drug-store,  several 
small  mechanical  shops,  one  grist-mill,  one  saw-mill,  grain- 
elevators,  and  a  population  of  about  200  inhabitants. 

MONTEITH    STATION 
is  situated  near  the  southwest  corner  of  the  township,  and 
is  prominent  only  as  being  the  point  of  crossing  of  the 
Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana  and  the  Allegan  and  Southeastern 
Railroads. 

SHELBYVILLE, 
also  a  station  on  the  line  of  the  Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana 
Railroad,  is  situated  near  the  northwest  corner  of  Martin 
township.  It  contains  an  extensive  saw-mill,  a  store  of 
general  merchandise,  several  small  mechanical  shops,  a  post- 
o£Gice,  and  some  half-dozen  dwelling-houses. 

RELIGIOUS. 
UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  OP  MARTIN.* 
The  original  elements  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church 
in  North  America  run  back  through  diflFerent  organizations 
to  the  best  days  of  the  Reformed  Church  of  Scotland. 
Owing  to  corruptions  in  the  Established  Church  of  that 
country,  the  Associate  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized 


»  Contributed  by  Rev.  Wm.  M.  Ritchie. 


in    1733,  under  the  leadership  of  the   Erskines,    Fisher, 
and  others;  and  in  1743  another  branch  broke  off,  called 
the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church,  but   more  commonly 
known  as  Cameronians  or  Covenanters  ;  Renwick,  Cameron, 
and   others   being   the  leaders.      In   the   course  of  time 
members  of  these  two  churches  found  their  way  to  the 
United  States,  and  at  their  request  ministers  were  sent  to 
preach  to  them.     Thus  these  two  bodies  were  transplanted 
into  this  country, — the  Associate  Presbyterian  in  1753,  and 
the  Reformed  Presbyterian  in  1774.     They  differed  mainly 
on  the  subject  of  civil  government.     But  during  the  Revo- 
lutionary war  they  both  united  in  the  support  of  one  gov- 
ernment, and  thus  the  way  was  prepared  for  an  organic 
union,  which  took  place  in  1782,  the  united  body  taking 
the  names  of  the  two  churches, — Associate  Reformed  Pres- 
byterian.    Some  of  the  Associate  Presbyterians,  not  enter- 
ing into  this  union,  continued  the  existence  of  their  church, 
so  that  the  two  churches — the  Associate  Presbyterian  and 
the  Associate  Reformed  Presbyterian — existed  side  by  side, 
holding  substantially  the  same  doctrines  and  using  the  same 
foi-ms  of  worship.     Descending  from  the  same  source,  it 
was  but  natural  that  these  two  streams  should  eventually 
flow  together,  which  they  did  in  a  formal  union  in  1858, 
the  resultant  body  taking  the  name  which  it  bears  to  day, 
"  The  United  Presbyterian  Church."     The  church  of  Mar- 
tin having  had  an  existence  prior  to  1858,  and  under  both 
of  the  previously  existing  bodies,  it  will  be  necessary  to 
notice— 1.  The  Associate  Reformed  Presbyterian ;  2.  The 
Associate  Presbyterian  ;  and  3.  The  United  Presbyterian 
Church. 

1.    The   Associate    Reformed   Presbytenan    Church 

As  early  as  1838  we  read  of  Rev.  T.  C.  McCaughan 
preaching  in  this  vicinity.  But  what  may  be  regarded  as 
the  origin  of  this  church  was  the  removal,  in  1841,  of 
Thomas  Monteith,  Sr.,  to  this  place  from  Caledonia,  Liv- 
ingston Co.,  N.  Y.  A  ruling  elder  in  the  church  and 
devoted  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  to  him,  and  to  his  wife  and 
family,  the  church  ot  Martin  is  very  largely  indebted  for 
its  existence  and  prosperity.  The  first  meetings  were  held 
in  his  house  and  barn.  Among  the  first  ministers  we  find 
the  names  of  Revs.  Wilson  Blain,  T.  F.  Kerr,  J.  Barnett, 
W.  Lind,  Jeremiah  Dick,  John  N.  Dick,  D.  B.  Jones,  J. 
A.  Campbell,  and  J.  A.  Frazier.  The  first  members  came 
mainly  from  Caledonia,  N.  Y.,  and  Peterhead,  Scotland. 

In  the  year  1842,  in  answer  to  a  petition  for  the  organ- 
ization of  a  church,  the  Rev.  Wilson  Blain  was  appointed 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Michigan  to  perform  the  duty  of 
organization,  which  he  did  on  the  5th  of  February,  in  the 
house  of  Thomas  Monteith.  The  original  members  were 
as  follows:  Thomas  Monteith,  Jane  A.  Monteith,  Isaac 
Maston,  Jane  Maston,  William  Walker,  Elizabeth  Walker, 
William  Russell,  Margery  Monteith,  Lovinus  Monteith',. 
Jennett  Monteith,  William  Hay,  and  Mary  Hay  by  certifi- 
cate, and  William  T.  Monteith,  Walter  Monteith,  Elisabeth 
Monteith,  and  Daniel  D.  McMartin  by  profession.*  Thomas 
Monteith  seems  to  have  been  the  only  elder  elected  at  the 
organization.  Of  the  16  original  members,  but  7  remain. 
The  additions  to  the  Session  were  as  follows:  1843 
William  T.  Monteith  and  William  Russell  were'  elected] 
their  ordination  taking  place  June  10,  1843.     In  1847 


MARTIN  TOWNSHIP. 


277 


David  Wylie,  an  elder  from  Fawn  River,  St.  Joseph  Co., 
Mich.,  was  received,  elected,  and  installed.  In  1849,  Jason 
Gillespie,  an  elder  from  Graham's  Church,  Orange  Co., 
N.  Y.,  was  received,  elected,  and  installed.  May  8,  1854, 
John  Wylie,  an  elder  from  Ontario,  Ind.,  was  received, 
elected,  and  installed. 

The  first  pastor  was  James  A.  Frazier,  a  licentiate  of  the 
First  Presbytery  of  Ohio.  He  was  ordained  in  1848.  His 
pastorate  was  of  short  duration,  but  successful  in  building 
up  the  church.  Having  had  his  attention  directed  to  the 
work  of  foreign  missions,  when  the  church  resolved,  in 
1850,  to  establish  a  mission  in  Palestine,  he  offered  him- 
self, and  was  elected.  He  went  out  in  1851.  In  1860, 
owing  to  the  disturbances  in  that  country,  he  returned  to 
America,  but  in  a  few  months  resumed  his  work.  He  died 
at  his  post  Aug.  30,  1863. 

The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  William  T.  Canning,  who 
came  from  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Nova  Scotia,  and 
was  installed  in  1853.  He  labored  in  this  place  about 
three  years.  In  1856  he  resigned  his  charge,  when  he 
removed  to  Canada  and  connected  himself  with  the  Canada 
Presbyterian  Church,  where  he  is  still  laboring. 

The  first  church  building  in  Martin  was  erected  by  this 
society  in  1846,  mainly  by  the  labors  and  generosity  of 
Thomas  Monteith,  Sr.  It  is  a  comfortable  framed  building, 
erected  at  a  cost  of  about  $800,  with  a  seating  capacity  of 
about  200.  It  is  located  one  mile  south  of  Martin's  Cor- 
ners, and  is  now  used  as  a  common  school-house. 

2.  The  Associate  Presbyterian  Church. — In  the  year 
1851  a  number  of  persons  petitioned  the  Home  Mission 
Board  of  the  Associate  Presbyterian  Church  for  the  preach- 
ing of  the  gospel.  Their  petition  was  granted,  and  Rev. 
D.  S.  McHenry  was  sent  to  supply  them  for  six  months. 
The  first  services  were  hold  in  the  house  of  Robert  Pat- 
terson, Sr.  Some  time  in  the  fall  of  that  year  a  petition 
was  sent  to  the  nearest  Presbytery — that  of  Richland, 
Ohio — for  the  organization  of  a  congregation.  The  petition 
was  granted,  and  Rev.  Samuel  Anderson  appointed  to  or- 
ganize. The  organization  was  effected  on  the  8th  of 
March,  1852,  at  which  time  12  members  were  received, 
8  by  certificate  and  4  by  profession.  The  following  are 
the  names :  Robert  Patterson,  Jennett  Patterson,  Orin  A. 
Porter,  Jennet  Porter,  John  Redpath,  James  Redpath,  N. 
Davidson  Redpath,  Maria  Redpath,  Lovinus  Monteith, 
Jennet  Monteith,  Charles  Davidson,  and  Robert  Davidson, 
— the  last  four  by  profession. 

At  the  organization  Orin  A.  Porter  and  N.  D.  Redpath 
were  chosen  ruling  elders.  These  two  elders  having  been 
removed  by  death,  James  Redpath  and  John  Blair  were 
ordained  to  that  oflSce  Feb.  5,. 1855.  A  house  of  worship 
was  erected  in  1855,  at  a  cost  of  about  $1000,  capable  of 
seating  about  250  persons.  It  is  now  used  as  a  carriage- 
manufactory. 

This  church  never  had  a  settled  pastor,  but  was  furnished 
with  preaching  in  accordance  with  the  home  mission  reg- 
ulations of  the  church.  Among  the  names  of  the  supplies 
are  some  of  the  first  men  in  the  denomination,  such  as 
Revs.  D.  S.  McHenry,  James  M.  Smeallie,  Samuel  Ander- 
son, J.  B.  Clark,  J.  H.  Andrew,  Samuel  Patten,  J.  A. 
Shankland,  Gilbert  Small,  and  others. 


3.  The  United  Presbyterian  Church. — The  Presbyteries 
of  the  two  churches  having  agreed  on  a  basis  of  union,  the 
highest  courts  of  these  bodies  completed  the  consolidation 
in  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  May  26,  1858.  Where  both  these 
churches  had  existed  in  the  same  place,  an  adjustment  in 
regard  to  church  property,  officers,  etc.,  was  necessary.  To 
effect  this  in  Martin,  Rev.  Thomas  Calahan  was  commis- 
sioned by  the  United  Presbyterian  Presbytery  of  Michigan. 

On  the  25th  of  November,  1858,  the  churches  agreed  on 
a  union,  the  Session  consisting  of  the  elders  of  both  of  them, 
as  follows :  William  T.  Monteith,  William  Russell,  David 
Wylie,  John  Wylie,  James  Redpath,  and  John  Blair.  The 
members  of  the  Associate  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church 
numbered  45  ;  of  the  Associate  Presbyterian,  34  ;  total,  79. 

The  first  pastor  of  the  United  Church  was  Rev.  T.  J. 
Wilson,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Chartiers,  who  was 
ordained  and  installed  May  5, 1864.  On  account  of  feeble 
health  he  was  obliged  to  resign.  He  removed  to  Oregon 
in  1868,  where  he  has  been  engaged  most  of  the  time  in 
preaching;  first  at  Salem,  at  present  at  Halsey,  in  that 
State.  Mr.  Wilson's  work  was  very  successful,  and  he  is 
affectionately  remembered. 

The  second  pastor  was  Rev.  John  Anderson.  Mr.  An- 
derson was  ordained  by  the  Associate  Reformed  Presbytery 
of  Michigan.  June  20,  1857,  and  labored  in  Northern  In- 
diana until  after  Mr.  Wilson's  resignation,  when  he  accepted 
a  call  from  Martin.  He  was  installed  in  1869.  He  labored 
with  great  acceptance  until  troubles  arose,  when  he  was 
obliged  to  resign.  He  was  released  April  10, 1877.  Since 
then  he  has  been  connected  with  the  reunited  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  is  laboring  at  Kalamazoo.  Since  Mr.  Ander- 
son's resignation  the  pulpit  has  been  supplied  by  the  Pres- 
bytery, the  present  incumbent,  Rev.  William  M.  Richie, 
being  appointed  for  a  year,  commencing  Nov.  20,  1879. 

The  present  church  building  was  erected  and  dedicated 
in  1871,  at  a  cost  of  about  $6000.  It  is  a  large,  well- 
proportioned  edifice,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  500  or  600, 
finely  frescoed,  the  inside  work  being  of  ash  and  walnut. 
It  is  surmounted  by  a  cupola  with  a  good  bell,  and  is  heated 
by  furnaces  in  the  basement.  Around  the  church  are  about 
40  sheds,  in  good  order,  for  the  comfort  of  teams. 

Mr.  Thomas  Shepherd  was  elected  and  ordained  to  the 
Session  in  1875.  He,  with  the  surviving  members  of  the 
former  one,  make  the  Session  as  follows ;  William  T.  Mon- 
tieth,  David  Wylie,  Thomas  Shepherd.  The  present  su- 
perintendent of  Sabbath-schools  is  John  S.  Monteith.  Num- 
ber of  officers  and  teachers,  12 ;  number  of  scholars,  60 ; 
contributions  for  the  year,  $34. 

Whilst  many  have  been  received  into  the  communion  of 
the  church,  many  have  died  and  others  have  moved  away. 
The  number  of  church  members  reported  for  April  1, 1880, 
was  124.  From  published  records,  this  society  has,  in  the 
last  twenty  years,  contributed  to  pastors'  salaries  over 
$13,000,  and  for  the  spread  of  the  gospel  in  other  parts  of 
our  own  land  and  in  foreign  countries,  over  $5000.  The 
church  is  at  present  in  a  prosperous  condition. 

Four  young  men,  members  of  this  church,  have  given 
themselves  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  have  met  with 
much  acceptance  by  the  church :  Revs.  Thomas  Wylie, 
Hebron,  N.  Y.,  died  April  3, 1877 ;  Thomas  W.  Monteith, 


278 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Port  Huron,  Mich. ;   Robert  C.  Monteith,  North  Kort- 
right,  N.  Y. ;  Robert  T.  Wylie,  Oxford,  Pa. 

THE  MARTIN  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.* 
This  body  was  organized  in  1840  by  Rev.  William  Todd, 
the  preacher  in  charge  of  the  Allegan  Circuit.  The  first 
members  of  the  Martin  class,  who  were  Ashbel  Gates  (leader) , 
Phoebe  Gates,  Abram  Shellman,  Mary  A.  Shellnian,  and  a 
Mrs.  Hanmer,  held  their  first  meeting' in  a  small  log  house, 
situated  one  mile  and  a  quarter  southeast  of  Martin  Cor- 
ners. Until  a  school-house  was  built  in  the  vicinity,  other 
early  meetings  were  held  in  the  dwelling-houses  of  the  pio- 
neers. In  time  the  school-house  afforded  them  a  conve- 
nient place  for  worship,  and  there  their  usual  services  were 
held  until  the  building  of  a  church  edifice,  in  18B8. 

In  September,  1811,  Rev.  F.  Gage  became  the  preacher 
in  charge.  He  remained  one  year,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  Daniel  Bush,  in  September,  1842.  Other  pastors 
were  Thomas  Jakeways,  who  came  in  September,  1843  ; 
Jacob  Parker,  September,  1844  ;  George  King,  September, 
1845  ;  M.  B.  Camburn,  September,  1846 ;  Curtis  Mosher, 
September,  1847  ;  A.  J.  Eldred,  September,  1849  ;  and 

Godell,  in  September,  1850.     At  the  close  of  the 

year  1850  the  charge  was  divided,  and  Otsego  became  the 
head  of  this  circuit,  the  pastors  of  the  Otsego  Circuit 
being  T.  H.  Bignell,  who  came  in  September,  1851 ;  A. 
Wakefield,  September,  1852 ;  W.  F.  Jenkins,  September, 
1853,  who  remained  two  years.  In  September,  1855,  the 
charge  was  again  divided,  Otsego  being  set  off  and  Martin 
attached  to  Wayland,  the  circuit  assuming  the  name  of 
the  Wayland  Circuit,  with  Porter  Williams  preacher  in 
charge.     He  was  succeeded  by  A.  C.  Beach  in  September, 

1856 ;  L.  M.  Bennett,  September,  1858 ;  Cleveland, 

September,   1860 ;   J.    Billings,   September,   1861 ;  

Blowers,  September,  1862;  C.  H.  Fisher,  September, 
1864;  D.  R.  Latham,  September,  1866;  and  J.  R.  A. 
Wightman,  in  September,  1867. 

The  Martin  class  was  attached  to  Plain  well  charge  in 
September,  1868,  and  the  last-named  pastor  appointed  to 
Plainwell,  thus  retaining  the  pastorate  over  the  Martin 
class  for  the  term  of  three  years.  In  September,  1870, 
B.  S.  Mills  was  appointed,  and  he  was  succeeded  in  Sep- 
tember, 1871,  by  J.  W.  Miller,  who,  after  a  few  months, 
was  called  to  Grand  Traverse  district.  J.  C.  Hartley  was 
appointed  to  fill  out  the  year,  and  was  succeeded  by  J.  T. 
Iddings  in  September,  1872. 

This,  with  other  appointments,  became  Martin  charge  in 
September,  1873,  with  Abraham  J.  Van  Wyck  pastor. 
He  served  for  a  short  period,  when,  having  located  D.  M. 
Ward  was  appointed  in  his  stead,  who  served  until  May  5 
1874.  An  exchange  was  then  made,  and  N.  Saunders 
filled  out  the  year.  The  subsequent  pastors  have  been  G.  W. 
Hoag,  appointed  in  September,  1874;  T.  Clark,  appointed 
in  September,  1876 ;  and  0.  E.  Wightman,  the  present  in- 
cumbent, who  was  appointed  in  September,  1877. 

Under  the  pastorate  of  J.  R.  A.  Wightman,  in  January, 
1868,  a  house  of  worship  was  completed  and  dedicated.  It 
is  a  neat  wooden  structure,  pleasantly  situated  in  the  vil- 


*  From  data  furnished  by  Rev.  0.  E.  Wightman. 


lagc  of  Martin  Corners,  and  contains  about  225  sittings. 
The  church  is  in  a  prosperous  condition.  It  has  a  present 
membership  of  165  persons. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


HON.  WILLIAM   F.  HARDEN. 

Hiram  Harden  was  born  in  the  township  of  Hartford, 
Washington   Co.,  N.   Y.,  where  his  ancestors  had  lived 
many  years.     About  the  year  1820  he  emigrated  to  the 
town  of  Williamson,  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  his  son, 
William  F.,  was  born  July  19,  1830.     At  that  early  day 
(1820)  Wayne  County  was  a  new  country,  and  Mr.  Harden 
bought  a  farm  in  the  midst  of  an  almost  unbroken  wilder- 
ness.    This  farm  he  cleared  up  and  improved,  living  on  it 
half  a  century,  leaving  it  to  go  into  the  village  of  William- 
son a  few  years  previous  to  his  death.     Wm.  F.  grew  to 
manhood  on  his  father's  farm,  receiving  a  good  common- 
school  education.     Arrived  at  his  majority,  he  worked  for 
seven  years  his  father's   farm  on  shares,  teaching  school 
winters.     In   this  way  he  got  his  first  start  in  life.     In 
1858,  Mr.  Harden  and  his  wife  came  to  Martin  township, 
Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  on  a  visit,  and  while  here  bought  of 
his  brother-in-law  one  hundred  acres  of  the  farm  on  which 
he  now  resides.     It  was  partly  improved,  and  embraced  a 
small  barn  and  a  log  house.     To  the  farm  then  bought  Mr. 
Harden  has  since  added,  until  he  now  owns  three  hundred 
and  ten  acres,  of  which  two  hundred  and  fifty-five  acres  are 
under  a  splendid  state  of  cultivation,  with  a  large  house 
and  many  and  fine  out-buildings,  while  he  stands   high 
as  one  of  Martin's  most  successful  farmers  and  business 
men. 

In  politics  Mr.  Harden  was  in  early  life  a  Whig,  as  were 
his  ancestors  before  him.  On  the  organization  of  the  Re- 
publican party  he  became  one  of  its  most  ardent  supporters, 
and  still  believes  it  to  be  the  party  of  progress  and  civil 
liberty.  He  has  been  many  times  its  standard-bearer,  hav- 
ing been  in  his  township  school  inspector,  highway  com- 
missioner, and  for  twelve  years  supervisor, — eight  years 
successively.  In  1876  he  represented  his  county  on  the 
Slate  board  of  equalization,  and  in  1875  was  elected  to 
represent  his  district  in  the  lower  house  at  the  special  ses- 
sion of  the  State  Legislature,  to  which  he  was  again  elected 
for  the  full  term  of  1875-76.  He  served  as  chairman  on 
the  committee  on  federal  relations,  and  as  a  member  of  the 
committee  on  local  taxation.  All  of  which  positions  Mr. 
Harden  has  filled  with  credit  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction 
of  his  fellow-citizens. 

On  the  29th  day  of  September,  1852,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Mary  J.  Wilcox,  who  was  born  in  Wayne  County, 
where  her  parents  were  among  the  earliest  settlers.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Earl  and  Jane  (Stewart)  Wilcox,  and 
was  born  Aug.  21,  1830.  Their  union  has  been  blessed 
with  five  children,  as  follows  :  Josephine  J.,  born  March 
31,  1853 ;  Malon  D.,  Nov.  6,  1855 ;  Jennie  E.,  Sept.  19, 
1860  ;  Hattie  M.,  May  7,  1866;  and  Cora  B.,  Mav  ll' 
1872.  '       ' 


DE.  G.  B 

Dr.  G.  B.  Nichols  was  born  in  Naples,  Ontario  Co., 
N.  Y.,  June  12, 1827. 

His  father,  Alfred  Nichols,  was  born  in  Suffield,  Hart- 
ford Co.,  Conn.,  July  27,  1802,  and  is  still  living.  In 
the  year  1825  he  emigrated  to  Naples,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  March  8, 1826,  was  married  to  Miss  Angeline  Lyon, 
who  waji  born  in  Naples,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  7, 
1808,  and  died  Oct.  21,  1873, 

G.  B.  Nichols,  who  was  the  oldest  of  their  family, 
during  his  boyhood  attended  the  best  schools  his  town 
and  vicinity  afforded,  and  while  in  his  teens  commenced 
teaching  Eichool  winters  and  working  by  the  month,  farm- 
ing, sumoaers.  In  the  spring  of  1848  he  entered  the 
office  of  his  uncle,  Dr.  Lester  Sprague,  an  old  and  suc- 
cessful practitioner  in  Naples,  and  commenced  reading 
medicine,  continuing  to  teach  winters  to  furnish  the 
"  sinews"  to  pursue  his  studies  and  enter  college.  He 
attended  the  se^ion  of  1850-51  at  Geneva  Medical 
College,  New  York,  and  graduated  at  Castleton  Medical 
College,  Vermont,  in  November  1852,  and  from  that  time 
has  practiced  his  profession. 

After  his  graduation  he  returned  and  practiced  with 
Dr.  Sprague  until  1858.  On  Dec.  21,tl853,  he  was 
married  tct  Miss  Eunice  M.  Watkins,  daughter  of  Bing- 
ham and  Mary  Watkins.  She  was  born  in  Naples, 
Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  1, 1832.  She  has  ever  since 
been  the  ^villing  helper,  noble  woman,  and  &ithful  wife. 


NICHOLS. 

contributing  much  to  the  success  and  prosperity  of  fol- 
lowing years. 

In  the  spring  of  1858,  Dr.  Nichols  thought  it  best  to 
seek  a  new  field  of  labor,  and  started  for  the  "West, 
driving  his  horse  and  sulky,  and  arrived  at  Martin, 
Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  in  due  time.  He  was  in  a  strange 
land,  poor  in  purse,  but  rich  in  energy,  willing  to  work, 
and  strong  in  confidence  of  success.  Strangers  extended 
the  friendly  hand,  gave  the  cheery,  heartfelt  welcome, 
while  the  latchstring  hung  out  from  every  door  of  all 
the  nationalities  that  constituted  the  then  sparse  popula- 
tion of  the  town  of  Martin.  Soon  friendships  and  asso- 
ciations were  formed,  which  grew  warmer,  stronger,  and 
more  dear  and  mature  as  succeeding  years  paspedf  the 
recollections  of  which  are  freighted  with  pleasure  and 
gratitude  that  his  lot  was  cast  among  such. 

Dr.  Nichols  has  for  over  twenty-two  years  practiced 
medicine  in  Martin  and  its  surrounding  towns,  and  by 
his  energy  and  untiring  perseverance  met  with  marked 
success,  and  now  has  an  extensive  and  lucrative  practice. 

Dr.  Nichols  is  and  has  been  throughout  his  life  a  hard 
student,  thus  keeping  up  with  the  times  and  making 
himself  proficient  in  the  profession  he  loves. 

He  has  always  beeii  an  active  Republican,  preferring 
rather  to  work  in  the  "  ranks"  than  to  hold  a  "  com- 
mission." Gave  his  first  vote,  in  1848,  for  "Free-Soil," 
Van  Buren,  and  Adams. 


MARTIN  TOWNSHIP. 


WALTER   MONTEITH. 


Among  the  early  settlers  of  Allegan  County  there  are 
few,  if  any,  who  have  done  more  to  advance  the  best  in- 
teresfs  of  the  county,  its  growth  and  prosperity,  than  Walter 
Monteith.  Of  Scotch  descent  and  born  in  the  town  of 
Caledonia,  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  he  grew  to  manhood 
among  the  sturdy  Scotsmen  by  whom  that  town  was  set- 
tled, and  from  them  learned  lessons  of  industry  and  sterling 
honesty  which  havefollowed  him  through  life,  making  him 
one  of  that  class  from  which  the  ranks  of  American  pioneers 
have  been  recruited.  His  educational  advantages  were 
limited  to  the  common  schools  of  his  day,  while  his  knowl- 
edge of  the  world  and  its  people  have  never  been  limited, 
but  have  expanded  year  by  year.  In  the  fall  of  1835, 
Mr.  Monteith,  in  company  with  his  Isrother  William,  came 
to  Michigan,  stopping  first  in  Hillsdale  County,  where  they 
remained  until  the  following  July,  working  at  whatever 
they  could  find  to  do.  They  then  returned  to  New  York. 
While  in  Hillsdale,  Mr.  Monteith  cast  his  first  vote',  it  being 
for  town  oflBces  and  he  voting  the  Whig  ticket.  In  the 
spring  of  1837  the  brothers  again  came  West,  driving 
through  with  a  team.  From  Detroit  they  came  to  Kala- 
mazoo, and  from  there  to  Plainwell.  In  the  town  of  Martin 
their  father  had  bought  of  the  government  section  32  ;  to 
this  land  they  followed  an  Indian  trail  from  Gun  Plain,  no 
road  having  been  cut  through  at  that  time.  There  were 
then  but  two  families  in  the  township,  those  of  Mr.  lilldred 
and  Mr.  White.  On  the  farm  now  owned  by  W^alter  the 
brothers  built  a  log  house,  and  at  once  commenced  to  im- 
prove and  clear  their  land.  They  broke  up  and  the  same 
season  sowed  ten  acres  to  wheat,  which  was  their  start  in 
life.    Their  father  afterwards  gave  each  of  his  boys  a  quarter 


section,  which  was  their  only  help.  The  first  four  years 
Mr.  Monteith  boarded  himself  part  of  the  time,  being  im- 
pelled thereto  by  the  low  state  of  his  finances.  At  that 
time  the  people  of  Martin  went  to  Plainwell  to  vote,  and 
to  Kalamazoo  and  Plainwell  for  their  supplies,  while 
their  nearest  mill  was  at  Pine  Creek.  The  new  farm  Mr. 
Monteith  then  moved  on  to,  has  now  bficomeone  of  the  fine 
farms  of  Martin,  and  is  the  work  and  management  of  he 
who  cut  upon  it  the  first  tree,  and  who  now  in  the  evening 
of  life  sees  around  him  cleared  fields,  fences,  and  buildings, 
and  who  has  gained  more  than  a  competency, — the  result, 
not  of  speculation,  but  of  honest  toil,  good  management,and 
adherence  to  the  calling  which  he  so  well  understands. 
His  farm  now  consists  of  three  hundred  and  thirty  acres 
of  land  in  Martin  and  a  large  tract  in  Nebraska. 

In  politics  Mr.  Monteith  is  a  Republican ;  he  was  the 
first  assessor  in  the  town,  and  one  of  the  first  road  commis- 
sioners. He  lias  been  fnr  thirty-five  years  a  member  of 
the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  he  was  many 
years  a  trustee.  He  has  always  taken  a  deep  interest  in 
church  matters,  and  has  done  his  share  towards  building 
three  churches.  On  the  14th  day  of  March,  1840,  Mr. 
Monteith  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  McMartin,  daughter 
of  Duncan  and  Margaret  (McArthur)  McMartin.  Their 
ancestors  were  born  in  Scotland,  from  whence  they  emigrated 
to  Johnstown,  N.  Y.,  where  Elizabeth  was  born,  April  14, 
1814. 

Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  five  children,  as 
follows:  Margaret  E.,  born  May  15,  1844;  Arthur,  June 
2,  1848  ;  Mary,  July  26,  1850  ;  Millard,  Sept.  15,  1855  ; 
and  Catherine  A.,  Sept.  26,  1859. 


280 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


WILLIAM  T.   MONTEITH. 

Among  the  old  and  prominent  families  of  Allegan 
County  are  the  Monteiths,  who  settled  in  the  town  of  Mar- 
tin when  there  were  but  two  families  in  the  township.  They 
are  of  Scotch  origin.  William,  the  grandfather  of  the 
present  William  T.,  was  born  in  Stirling,  in  the  lowlands 
of  Scotland,  June  4,  1743,  and  was  one  of  a  long  line  of 
Monteiths  who  trace  their  lineage  back  to  the  early  days  of 
Scotch  history.  He  emigrated  to  America  and  settled  in 
Broadalbin,  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y.,  prior  to  the  Revolu- 
tion, in  which  war  he  took  an  active  part.  He  took  up  and 
improved  a  farm  in  Broadalbin,  where  he  was  among  the 
first  settlers,  and  where  he  lived  until  his  death,  at  the  ripe 
old  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  His  fiimily  consisted  of 
five  sons  and  two  daughters,  Thomas,  the  father  of  Wil- 
liam T.,  being  the  youngest,  and  born  March  10,  1792,  oh 
the  old  homestead  in  Montgomery  County,  where  he  grew 
to  manhood.  In  1812  he  married  Miss  Jane  Allen,  and  a 
couple  of  years  later  moved  into  Caledonia,  Livingston  Co., 
N.  Y.,  then  an  almost  unbroken  wilderness,  where  he  bought 
from  the  government  a  tract  of  wild  land,  which  he  cleared 
and  improved,  and  on  which  he  resided  until  about  1840, 
when  he  sold  out  and  moved  into  Martin  township,  where 
he  had  previously  bought  from  the  government  and  divided 
among  his  sons  the  entire  section  32.  He  bought  more  land, 
which  he  cleared  up  and  on  which  he  lived  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  Feb.  13, 1858.  Mr.  Monteith  was  a  Scotch 
Presbyterian  of  the  old  school,  and  did  much  to  advance 
the  cause  of  religion  in  his  vicinity.  His  wife  still  resides 
on  section  32,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-nine  years. 
There  were  born  to  them  five  sons  and  three  daughters,  of 
whom  William  T.  was  the  oldest  child. 

He  was  born  Aug.  7,  1813,  in  Broadalbin,  but  grew  up 
on  the  farm  in  Caledonia.  His  education  was  such  as  could 
be  obtained  at  the  winter  schools  of  his  district.  In  the 
fall  of  1835  he  came  to  Michigan  in  company  with  his 
brother  Walter,  stopping  during  the  winter  in  Hillsdale 
County,  working  at  anything  they  could  get  to  do.  The 
following  summer  they  returned  to  New  York,  where  they 
remained  until  the  next  spring,  when,  as  set  forth  in  Wal- 
ter's  biography,  they  returned  to  Michigan,  and  settled  on 
the  land  previously  entered  in  Martin  by  their  father.  Wil- 
liam helped  his  brother  get  started  on  his  land,  and  then 
returned  again  to  New  York,  where,  on  the  16th  day  of 
May,  1839,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Margery  Sinclair,  who 
was  born  in  Caledonia,  June  9,  1813.  Her  parents  emi- 
grated from  Scotland.  Soon  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Mon- 
teith returned  to  Martin,  and  settled  on  the  quarter-section 
where  he  still  resides,  and  on  which  he  intends  to  pass  the 
remainder  of  his  days.  To  the  farm  he  has  added  until  he 
now  owns  one  of  the  fine  large  farms  for  which  Martin  is 
noted,  the  work  of  his  own  hands  and  management. 

He  is,  and  for  forty  years  has  been,  a  member  and  elder 
of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  to  the  advancement  of 
which  he  has  ever  done  his  share.  He  has  also  been 
prominent  in  Sabbath-schools,  of  which  he  has  been  super- 
intendent for  twenty-five  years. 

In  politics  Mr.  Monteith  is  a  stalwart  Republican,  in 
early  life  a  Whig.     He  was  among  the  first  supervisors  of 


his  township,  which  ofiSce  he  held  four  terms,  justice  of  the 
peace  sixteen  years,  town  clerk  one  year,  and  road  commis- 
sioner one  term.  By  the  old  residents  of  the  town  he  is 
spoken  of  as  one  who  did  much  to  help  the  new-comers 
in  an  early  day, — not  by  words  alone,  but  by  efficient  aid, 
enabling  them  to  get  a  start  in  a  new  country, — and  there 
are  many  who  remember  him  with  gratitude  and  affection. 
There  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Monteith  the  fol- 
lowing children :  Margaret  Ann,  July  9,  1841 ;  Thomas 
W.,  Dec.  3, 1843 ;  John  L.,  Feb.  15,  1846 ;  Jane,  July  27, 
1848 ;  William  H.  and  Margery  L.  (twins),  Sept.  1,  1851 
(William  H.  died  Dec.  31,  1851);  Elizabeth  S.,  Nov.  26, 
1855;  and  Eudora,  born  Dee.  30,1861. 


ARTHUR  ANDERSON. 

Among  the  enterprising  farmers  of  Martin  township, 
there  are  none  who  have  done  more  to  show  that  success  de- 
pends upon  energy,  industry,  and  enterprise  than  Arthur 
Anderson,  who  was  born  in  Aberdeenshire,  Scotland, 
Nov.  22,  1838.  In  1852  his  father,  William  Anderson, 
left  his  home  in  the  lowlands  of  Scotland,  where  many 
generations  of  Andersons  had  lived  and  died,  and  in  a  sail- 
ing vessel  embarked  for  the  New  World  beyond  the  sea. 
They  landed  in  Quebec,  Canada,  on  the  24th  day  of  May, 
1852,  and  soon  after  came  to  Gun  Plain  township,  in  Alle- 
gan County,  where  the  elder  Mr.  Anderson  bought  a  farm, 
and  on  which  Arthur  grew  to  manhood,  receiving  a  com- 
mon-school education.  He  remained  with  his  father  until  his 
marriage,  March  28, 1865,  to  Miss  Ann  Robertson,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Jannette  (M'Donald)  Robertson,  who  was 
born  in  Scotland  (from  whence  her  family  emigrated  in 
1856),  Dec.  30,  1846. 

In  1865,  Arthur  bought  of  Mr.  Patterson  two  hundred 
acres  of  land  in  Martin  township,  running  in  debt  for  the 
most  of  it.  To  this  he  has  since  added  eighty  acres, 
making  a  large  farm,  and  one  well  adapted  to  stock-raising, 
which  Mr.  Anderson  is  now  making  a  specialty.  In  1873, 
wishing  to  improve  his  stock,  he  bought  of  the  State  Ag- 
ricultural College  a  fine  short-horned  Durham,  called  Capt. 
Absolute,  and  numbered  13,599.  The  following  year  he 
purchased  the  Crown  Prince,  numbered  13,738.  Previous 
to  this  he  had  purchased  of  E.  L.  Smith,  of  Kalamazoo,  the 
Roan  Beauty  and  Minnie  Harris.  In  1877  Mr.  Anderson, 
wishing  to  still  improve  his  herd  of  short-horns,  bought  of 
Isaac  Runyan  two  very  fine  animals,  known  as  May  Flower 
and  Sturgis  Maid.  Two  years  later,  becoming  more  inter- 
ested in  the  handling  of  blooded  cattle,  and  believing  that 
money  expended  in  improving  his  herd  was  means  well 
spent,  he  purchased  Clement,  numbered  11,519,  of  Richard 
Daugherty  This  animal  was  one  of  the  finest  ever 
brought  into  the  State,  he  having  taken  the  first  premium 
at  the  Northern  Ohio  Fair  when  two  years  old,  and  after- ; 
wards  sold  for  one  thousand  dollars.  The  same  year  he 
bought  the  Hampton  Lad,  numbered  23,388,  sired  by  the 
second  Duke  of  Oneida,  who  sold  for  twelve  thousand  dol- 
lars at  the  New  York  Mills'  sale.     Other  fine  animals  have 


MARTIN  TOWNSHIP. 


281 


at  different  times  been  added  to  the  herd,  thereby  keeping 
up  the  reputation  of  his  stock,  which  has  given  Mr.  Ander- 
son many  customers  and  ranks  him  among  the  successful 
breeders  of  fine  stock.  In  politics  Mr.  Anderson  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  has  filled  the  offices  of  drain  commissioner 
and  town  treasurer,  and  is  now  president  of  the  Martin 
Protection  Society.     He  is,  and  has  been  since  he  was 


twenty  years  old,  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church. 

There  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson  six  chil- 
dren, viz.;  William  H.,  Dec.  15,  1865,  died  Dec.  27, 
1870  ;  John  C,  Dec.  16,  1868  ;  Jessie  J.,  July  29, 1870  ; 
Jennie  M.,  April  24,  1873;  Ann  E.,  May  11,  1876;  and 
Arthur,  March  31,  1880. 


ANDREW  TEMPLETON. 


On  the  Cauldhame  farm,  in  Ayrshire,  Scotland,  there 
has  resided  for  generations  the  Templetons,  one  of  the  old 
and  honored  families  of  that  historic  land.  On  this  farm 
generation  after  generation  of  the  family  have  been  born, 
have  lived,  and  died.  From  time  to  time  different  members 
of  the  family  on  reaching  manhood  have  left  the  old  farm  and 
emigrated  to  the  New  World  beyond  the  sea,  where  they 
have  become  useful  and  influential  members  of  society. 
Such  an  one  was  Andrew  Templeton,  of  whom  this  brief 
sketch  is  written.  He  was  born  on  the  old  farm  Jan.  29, 
1825,  and  remained  there  until  he  arrived  at  his  majority, 
receiving  a  fair  education.  In  1852  he  emigrated  to 
America;  Upon  landing  in  New  York  City,  Mr.  Tem- 
pleton went  to  Martin  township,  in  Allegan  County,  where 
he  had  cousins  living.  In  July,  1854,  he  bought  of  a  Mr. 
Wolcott  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  19. 
It  was  all  new,  and  Mr.  Templeton  at  once  commenced  to 
improve  his  farm  and  erect  buildings.  That  his  efforts 
were  crowned  with  success  is  shown  by  one  of  the  finest 
36 


farms  in  Martin,  with  a  beautiful  house  and  grounds  and 
fine  out-buildings.  He  was  brought  up  in  the  United  Pres- 
byterian faith,  with  which  church  he  united  at  an  early  age, 
and  of  which  he  remained  an  esteemed  and  consistent 
member  until  his  death.  In  politics  Mr.  Templeton  was 
a  Republican,  and  was  by  that  party  elected  to  different 
offices,  which  he  filled  with  credit  and  ability.  He  was  a 
man  of  sterling  worth,  of  fine  business  qualities,  and  one 
esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  died  March  25, 1873, 
mourned  and  regretted  by  many  friends  and  acquaintances. 
On  the  23d  day  of  May,  1855,  Mr.  Templeton  was  joined 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Susan  G.  McFarlan,  daughter  of 
Alexander  D.  and  Elizabeth  (Allen)  McFarlan.  She 
was  born  in  Broadalbin,  Fulton  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  3, 
1829.  Her  parents  were  of  Scotch  descent,  her  father 
having  been  born  in  Scotland,  from  whence  his  parents 
emigrated  when  he  was  an  infant.  They  settled  in  Broad- 
albin when  that  country  was  new,  and  where  Mr.  McFar- 
lan lived  and  died. 


282 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


DUNCAN   C.  McVEAN. 

Among  the  pioneers  of  America  who  left  the  old  country 
to  make  for  themselves  and  their  posterity  homes  in  a  coun- 
try where  land  was  plenty  and  cheap,  there  came  from  the 
highlands  of  Scotland  representatives  of  the  McVean  and 
Creighton  families.  Daniel  McVean  came  with  the  British 
army  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  he  having  enlisted  on 
condition  that  at  the  close  of  the  war  he  could  return  or 
remain,  as  he  saw  fit.  He  was  a  sergeant,  but  remained 
with  the  army  only  until  he  could  honorably  leave  it.  After 
the  war  he  emigrated  to  Montgomery  Co.,  N.  Y.,  which  was 
then  new,  and  where  he  was  among  the  first  settlers.  He 
bought  three  hundred  acres  of  land,  which  he  cleared  and  im- 
proved, and  on  which  he  died.  His  son  Duncan  was  born 
on  the  old  homestead,  in  Johnstown,  where  he  remained  until 
after  his  marriage  to  Miss  Jennette  Creighton,  when  he 
moved  into  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  a  pioneer. 
His  wife's  father,  Daniel  Creighton,  came  from  Scotland  soon 
after  Daniel  McVean,  Sr.,  and  also  settled  in  Montgomery 
County.  Duncan  McVean  bought  one  hundred  and  fifty 
acres  of  land  in  Livingston  County,  which  he  made  into  one 
of  the  fine  farms  of  that  county,  and  where  he  passed  the 
remainder  of  his  days.  There  were  born  to  them  seven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Duncan  C.  was  the  sixth.  He  was  born  in 
Caledonia,  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  29,  1826 ;  remained 


with  his  father  until  he  was  twenty  years  old,  receiving  a  com- 
mon-school education,  with  one  year  at  the  Genesee  Acad- 
emy. In  1846,  Mr.  McVean  came  to  Michigan,  coming 
to  Buffalo  with  a  team  and  wagon.  At  Buffiilo  he,  with 
his  team,  took  passage  on  a  steamer  for  Detroit;  then,  follow- 
ing the  old  Territorial  road,  he  came  to  Allegan  County, 
arriving  in  Martin  in  September,  where  he  bought  of  the 
government  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  30,  in  partner- 
ship with  his  brothers  John  and  Daniel  C,  whose  interest 
he  afterwards  purchased.  To  this  farm  he  has  added,  until 
he  now  owns  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  well- 
improved  land,  one  hundred  acres  of  which  he  has  chopped 
and  cleared  himself,  and  on  which  he  has  built  a  fine  house 
and  out-buildings,  a  view  of  which  appears  on  another  page 
of  this  work.  In  politics  Mr.  McVean  is  an  ardent  Repub- 
lican, but  not  a  politician ;  in  religion  a  Presbyterian,  of 
which  church  he  has  been  a  member  twenty-five  years. 
In  1852,  Mr.  McVean  was  married  to  Mary  Johnson,  who 
died  March  24,  1853.  On  the  29th  day  of  November, 
1855,  he  was  again  married,  his  choice  being  Miss  Mary 
Davidson,  who  was  born  in  Pavilion,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Oct.  16,  1836,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary  (Simpson) 
Davidson,  who  emigrated  from  Scotland.  There  have  been 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McVean  nine  children,  viz. :  Frank- 
lin D.,  Daniel  J.,  Mary  A.,  Flora  A.,  Elizabeth,  Hugh  D., 
Jennette  F.,  Millard  C.  and  Marion  S.,  twins. 


M  O  N  T  E  K  E  Y; 


NATURAL  FEATUKES. 

Monterey,  which  is  designated  on  the  United  States 
survey  as  township  No.  3  north,  in  range  13  west,  is  one 
of  the  most  important  townships  of  Allegan  County,  not 
only  from  the  excellence  of  its  -land,  but  from  the  wealth 
and  intelligence  of  its  citizens.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Salem,  on  the  east  by  Hopkins,  on  the  south  by  Allegan, 
and  on  the  west  by  Heath.  Its  surface  is  remarkable  for 
its  varied  aspect,  the  township  containing  numerous  hills  of 
moderate  elevation  and  valleys  of  rich  and  luxuriant  ver- 
dure. Some  of  these  hills  are  sufiiciently  high  to  afford  an 
extended  view  of  the  surrounding  landscape  ;  but  it  is  only 
at  a  few  points  that  the  land  is  so  rugged  as  to  offer  any  obsta- 
cles to  cultivation.  There  are  some  small  bodies  of  water  to 
be  found  in  Monterey,  but  no  large  ones.  The  most  impor- 
tant is  Dumont  Lake,  a  portion  of  which  lies  on  sections  32 
and  33,  the  remainder  being  in  the  township  of  Allegan. 
There  are  one  or  two  smaller  sheets,  but  they  can  hardly  be 
dignified  by  the  name  of  lakes.  A  creek  of  some  importance 
flows  from  the  northwest  corner  of  the  township,  which 
has  a  fall  rapid  enough  so  that  it  might  be  utilized  for  mills 
or  manufactories.  The  township  is  also  well  watered  by 
numerous  smaller  streams. 

»  By  E.  0.  Wagner. 


The  soil  of  Monterey  is  varied,  the  level  land  being  com- 
posed of  clay,  sand,  and  gravel,  with  a  large  proportion  of 
gravel  also  in  the  hills.  There  is  occasionally  a  bit  of 
swampy  land,  but  much  of  this  has  since  been  made  arable. 
This  sodl  is  especially  adapted  to  the  growth  of  grain,  of 
which  it  produces  large  crops.  Wheat  is  the  staple  pro- 
duct of  the  township,  some  of  the  residents  claiming  pre- 
cedence for  Monterey,  in  this  regard,  over  all  the  rest  of  the 
county.  The  enormous  amount  of  51 J  bushels  of  wheat  to 
the  acre  was  produced  on  a  small  tract  of  land  by  one  of 
its  farmers,  though  this  is  of  course  very  exceptional. 

Monterey  was  formerly  especially  well  supplied  with  tim- 
ber, but  the  larger  portion  of  this  has  been  cut  for  market. 
It  was  composed  of  beech,  oak,  elm,  basswood,  pine,  black 
walnut,  and  white  and  black  ash,  and  there  are  considerable 
quantities  of  these  kinds  of  timber  still  standing.  A  strip 
of  pine-land  is  found  on  the  western  boundary  of  the  town- 
ship, and  the  northeast  corner  also  has  a  limited  amount. 

The  soil  and  climate  of  Monterey  are  well  adapted  to 
the  culture  of  fruit,  and  fine  orchards  adorn  nearly  all  the 
farms  of  the  township.  Apples  are  a  staple  crop,  and 
peaches  are  grown  with  so  much  success  as  to  warrant 
many  farmers  in  devoting  much  time  and  labor  to  their 
growth.  Grapes  and  cherries  also  find  here  a  congenial 
soil. 


MONTEREY  TOWNSHIP. 


283 


OEIGINAL   PURCHASES   OF   LAND. 
Monterey  was   surveyed  September,   1831,  by  Lucius 
Lyon,  and   the   lands   of  the    township    were   originally 
purchased   from   the   government  by  the  following  indi- 
viduals : 

Sectwti  1. — Bought  from  1835  to  1836  by  Charles  B.  Stuart,  Samuel 
Hubbard,  James  B.  Murray,  Willard  Dodge,  E.  C.  Lowrie,  George 

C.  Stevenson,  John  Stevenson  (assignee),  Charles  A.  Clark. 
Section  2.— Bought  from  1835  to  185i  by  Samuel  Hubbard,  Taloott 

Howard,  Benjamin  Eager,  Cornelius  Ogin,  Charles  AV.  Lowrie. 
Section  3.— Bought  from   1835  to  1854  by  Taloott  Howard,  Philip 

Davis,  Edwin  Callender,  David  Smith-,  Bennett  Beard,  Ava  Jones, 

Charles  W.  Lowrie. 
Section  4.— Bought  from  1835  to  1854  by  Taloott  Howard,  David  D. 

Davis,  Rodney  D.  Hill,  Oramel  Griffin,  Era zier  Luce  and  Charles 

S.  Mixer. 
Section  5. — Bought  from  1835  to  1854  by  Samuel  Hubbard,  Rodney 

D.  Hill,  James  Seymour,  FrazierLuce  and  Charles  S.  Mixer. 
Section  6. — Bought  from  1836  to  1854  by  Niram  Abbott,  William 

Hayer,  G.  M.  Thompson. 
Section  7.— Bought  from  1836  to  1854  by  Z.  C.  Priest,  Abel  Drenton, 

George  B.  Swan,  Otis  Harrington. 
Section  8.— Bought  from  1836  to  1854  by  R.  D.  Hill,  Z.  C.  Priest, 

Horace  M.  Bureh,  F.  Luce  and  C.  S.  Mixer. 
Section  9. — Bought  in   1836  by   C.  C.  Trobridge,  Frederick  Booher, 

R.  D.  Hill,  Nelson  Aldrioh,  Horace  M.  Burch. 
Section  10. — Bought  in  1836  by  Frederick  Booher,  R.  S.  Parks,  Nelson 

Aldrich,  Elias  Streeter,  Edrick  Atwater,  H.  P.  Alexander. 
Section  11.— Bought  from  1836  to  1852  by  Samuel  Hubbard  and  Isaac 

Parker,  Horatio  Price,  'William  Merryman,  Josiah  White,  John 

Howard  (assignee). 
Section  12.— Bought  from  1835  to  1854  by  Samuel  Hubbard,  N.  H. 

Brown,   E.  T.  Throop,   Josiah   White,    Reuben   Clark,   Gibson 

Brown. 
Section  13. — Bought  from  1836  to  1847  by  Daniel  Wooden,  S.  Hub- 
bard and  Isaac  Parker,  Thomas  Brown,  E.  T.  Throop. 
Section  14. — Bought  in  1836  by  Hamilton  White,  S.  Hubbard  and  I. 

Parker,  Calvin  Miller. 
Section  15.— Bought  from  1835  to   1836  by   Horace  Wilson,   C.  C. 

Trowbridge. 
Section  16.— Bought  from  1S47  to  1856  by  A.  F.  Briggs,  N.  Goodell, 

F.  Day,  E.  Hagmin,  William  Briggs,  A.  Moreheart,  M.  Henton, 

J.  Plotts  and  G.  W.  Plotts,  James  Bggleston,  Osraan  Smith,  A. 

F.  Briggs  and  C.  Briggs,  Hiram  Plotts,  John  Bggleston. 
Section  17.— Bought  from  1836  to  1852  by  Alfred  Mann,  Elias  Beach 

and  Horace  M.  Beach,  William  Hoyer. 
Section  18.— Bought  from  1836  to  1855  by  Charles  HoUister,  Z.  C. 

Priest,  G.  W.  Secoucarte,  F.  H.  Rider,  G.  C.  Rush. 
Section  19.— Bought  from  1836  to  1854  by  Chandler  HoUister,  Am- 
brose Belden. 
Section  20.— Bought  in  1836  by  Chandler  HoUister,  Elias  Beach. 
Section  21.— Bought  in  1835  and  1836  by  Nelson  Sage,  Justus  Bond, 

Elias  Beach,  Edward  L.  Day,  0.  C.  Atwater,  Richard  Taloott. 
Section  22.— Bought  in  1835  and  1836  by  CM.  Cooper,  Hiram  Sabin, 

Gilblas  Wilcox,  Martin  Loder,  Hiram  Hiokox,  Benjamin  Eager. 
Section  23.— Bought  in  1836  by  Charles  Butler. 
Section   24.— Bought    in    1836    by    Chas.   Butler,    John   Alury   and 

Horatio  G.  Wolcott. 
SeelioH  25.— Bought  in  1836  by  Charles  Butler,  Nelson  Sage. 
Section  26.— Bought  in  1836  by  Samuel  Wilcox,  Charles  Butler. 
Section  27.— Bought  in  1835  and  1836  by  Nelson  Sage,  James  B. 

Murray,  Edward  H.  Macy. 
Section  28.— Bought  from  1835  to  1854  by  Nelson  Sage,  J.  B.  Murray, 

Elias  Beach,  Isaac  Dexter,  Philo  Van  Keuren,  Frazier  Luce  and 

C.  S.  Mixer. 
Section  29.— Bought  from  1836  to  1851  by  L.  H.  Sanford,  Spencer 

March,  D.  A.  MoMartin,  Jesse  Benjamin. 
Section  30.— Bought  from  1836  to  1854  by  Chandler  HoUister,  Wil- 
lard Dodge,  Frazier  Luce. 
Section  31.— Bought  from  1836  to  1854  by  Peter  Dumont  and  John 

Robinson,  Jr.,  Chester  Wetmore,  Chandler  HoUister,  Silas  Hub- 
bard, Wm.  A.  Stewart,  Frazier  Luce. 
Section  32.— Bought  from  1836  to  1855  by  Peter  Dumont  and  John 


Robinson,  Milo  Winslow  and  Amos  Brownson,  Osman  D.  Good- 
rich, Phineas  Searl,  James  McCenly. 
Section  33.— Bought  in  1835   and  1836  by  Samuel  Hubbard,  C.  C. 

Trowbridge,  A.  T.  McReynoIds,  Richard  Talcott. 
Section  34. — Bought  in  1835  and  1836  by  Samuel  Hubbard,  Charles 

Butler,  Isaac  R.  Elwood. 
Section  35. — Bought  from  1836  to  1848  by  Alexander  Crocker,  Edwin 

M.  Clapp,  Lorid  Austin,  Huram  Ross. 
Section  36.— Bought  from  1837  to  1867    by  E.  P.    Dwight,  Robert 

Calvin,    Henry  Manty,  Bethel  P.   Dean,  John  Cummint,  Fred'k 

Webber. 

EAELY  SETTLEMENTS. 

The  year  1836  witnessed  the  first  settlement  of  Monte- 
rey, the  earliest  pioneer  to  make  a  permanent  location  being 
Gil  Bias  Wilcox.  He  had  removed  from  Rochester,  N.  Y., 
the  same  year,  and  after  remaining  a  few  days  in  Allegan 
repaired  to  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  22,  in  township 
3  (now  Monterey),  which  had  been  previously  entered  for 
him  by  John  Swezy.  Several  choppers  had  been  employed 
by  Alexander  L.  Ely  to  clear  a  tract  of  land  in  the  town- 
ship, owned  by  him,  who  remained  only  during  their  term 
of  labor,  and  did  not  become  permanent  settlers. 

Mr.  Wilcox  had  provided  himself  with  a  cloth  tent,  under 
which  he  obtained  temporary  shelter,  devoting  himself  at 
once  to  the  work  of  clearing  some  garden-ground  and  build- 
ing a  house,  and  repairing  once  a  week  to  Allegan  for  pro- 
visions. At  the  expiration  of  a  month  he  had  completed 
a  very  comfortable  log  structure,  to  which  his  family,  which 
had  meanwhile  remained  in  Allegan,  was  removed.  A 
sufficient  tract  had  also  been  cleared  to-  provide  them  with 
garden  products. 

Indians,  wolves,  bears,  deer,  etc.,  were  of  course  abun- 
dant. There  was  not  a  road  in  the  township,  one  which 
had  been  surveyed  in  1832  not  having  been  opened. 
Messrs.  Wilcox  and  Swezy  obtained  a  contract  to  open  this 
road  for  a  distance  of  six  miles.  The  following  summer 
Mr.  Wilcox  built  a  barn,  the  cost  of  which  was  liquidated 
by  the  sale  of  corn  and  potatoes  he  had  raised.  He  was 
for  a  while  diverted  from  his  farming  by  the  excitements  of 
a  boatman's  life  on  the  Kalamazoo  River,  but  returnedere 
long  and  worked  steadily  to  improve  his  land.  He  re- 
mained in  Monterey  until  his  removal  to  Trowbridge,  where 
he  now  resides.  The  first  birth  in  the  township  was  that 
of  a  son  of  Mr.  Wilcox  (whom  he  named  Elijah),  an  event 
which  occurred  on  the  1st  day  of  October,  1837.  Another 
early  birth  occurred  in  the  family  of  John  Swezy.  The 
first  death  in  the  township  was  that  of  one  of  the  choppers 
employed  by  Alexander  L.  Ely,  on  section  34,  the  name  of 
the  individual  having  been  Tanney  or  Penney,  as  nearly  as 
can  be  recollected.  His  disease  was  similar  to  that  known 
to  modern  science  as  diphtheria,  though  unfamiliar  to  the 
practitioners  of  that  day.  This  was  unquestionably  the 
first  death  in  the  township. 

The  next  pioneer  who  made  Monterey  his  home  was 
Henry  Wilson.  He  came  from  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in  1836, 
and  took  possession  of  160  acres,  which  had  been  previ- 
ously entered  by  his  brother  Horace,  on  section  15.  He 
built  a  house  and  remained  upon  the  place  where  he  re- 
sided three  years.  He  then  moved  to  section  26,  where  he 
lived  several  years,  and  finally  took  up  his  residence  in 
Heath,  where  he  died.  His  brother,  Horace  Wilson,  who 
has  already  been  alluded  to  as  having  cleared  the  plat  on 


284 


HISTORY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


which  the  village  of  Allegan  is  located,  moved  to  the  farm 
which  Henry  had  vacated,  and  remained  there  a  few  years. 
He  subsequently  located  upon  section  26,  but  ultimately 
moved  back  to  Allegan,  where  he  died. 

John  Swezey  was  the  third  settler  in  Monterey.  He  en- 
tered 160  acres  of  land  on  section  22  (which  he  reached 
by  following  the  Indian  trail  from  Allegan)  in  1836,  but 
did  not  make  a  permanent  location  upon  it  until  1837, 
having,  on  his  arrival  in  1835  from  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  his 
former  home,  taken  up  his  residence  in  Allegan.  After 
working  for  two  years  for  Mr.  Ely  he  built  a  house  on  his 
land  and  removed  thither  with  his  family. 

The  earliest  preaching  in  the  township  occurred  at  his 
home  in  1837,  Rev.  Bradley  Granger  having  officiated  on 
that  occasion.  Elders  Tyler  and  Gage  also  preached  occa- 
sionally in  Monterey  in  the  pioneer  days.  The  foregoing 
facts  are  obtained  from  Messrs.  Swezy  and  Wilcox. 

From  Akron,  Ohio,  came  Leonard  Ross  in  1837,  who 
located  upon  80  acres  on  section  27,  which  he  found  entirely 
uncleared.  Like  others,  while  building  his  cabin  and  making 
his  first  clearing  he  had  to  depend  on  Allegan  for  supplies, 
which  were  so  extravagant  in  price  as  to  render  it  almost 
impossible  to  obtain  more  than  the  bare  necessaries  of  life. 
Pork,  the  staple  article  of  diet  for  the  laboring-man,  was 
818  per  hundred,  salt  cost  the  same  sum  per  barrel,  and 
other  articles  were  proportionately  high. 

One  of  the  earliest  settlers  was  Noah  Briggs,  whose  ad- 
vent in  Allegan  occurred  in  1836,  he  having  been  a  former 
resident  of  Oswego,  N.  Y.  Two  years  later  he  located 
upon  80  acres  on  section  15.  His  household  goods  had 
been  shipped  from  his  New  York  home  by  lake,  and  had 
been  lost  during  a  storm,  so  that  when  the  family  moved  to 
Monterey  they  were  almost  destitute  of  the  articles  neces- 
sary for  keeping  house.  Mr.  Briggs  and  his  family,  how- 
ever, struggled  bravely  with  adverse  circumstances,  and 
soon  made  themselves  a  comfortable  home.  He  increased 
his  original  80  acres  to  240,  but  ultimately  removed  to 
Kalamazoo  County,  where  he  died  in  1875. 

Nicholas  Brown  came  from  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1838, 
and  settled  on  125  acres  of  uncleared  land  on  section  12. 
Lemuel  Wilcox,  the  father  of  Gil  Bias  Wilcox,  came  from 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in  1836,  and  made  his  temporary  resi- 
dence in  Allegan.  In  1837  he  moved  to  Monterey  with 
his  family,  where  he  had  purchased  80  acres  on  section  21. 
His  son,  Samuel  Wilcox,  then  a  lad,  was  with  him.  In 
1849  the  latter  bought  50  acres  on  section  36,  but  soon 
exchanged  it  for  a  tract  on  section  28,  where  he  cleared  up 
a  farm.  He  afterwards  removed  to  Monterey  Centre,  where 
he  now  resides. 

Frederick  S.  Day,  another  Rochester  pioneer,  removed 
from  that  city  in  1838  to  Watson,  Allegan  Co.,  where 
he  remained  three  years,  after  which  he  purchased  120 
acres  in  Monterey,  on  section  21.  On  this  land  a  small 
piece  had  been  chopped,  but  the  larger  portion  was  still 
uncleared.  No  road  had  yet  been  opened,  and  the  Indian 
trail,  along  which  the  whites  had  cut  away  the  underbrush, 
was  the  main  highway  to  Allegan. 

Small  bands  of  Indians  frequently  stopped  at  Mr.  Day's 
residence  on  their  way  to  Grand  Rapids,  where  government 
money  and  supplies  were  apportioned  to  them,  but  they 


were  always  friendly  to  the  whites.     Sylsbre  Rumery  pur- 
chased land  on  section  34  in  1839,  and  still  resides  upon  it. 

From  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Hiram  Sabin  came  to  Alle- 
gan village  in  1835,  and  the  year  following  entered  80 
acres  on  section  22,  but  did  not  then  take  up  his  residence 
upon  it.  He  devoted  his  time  principally  to  lumbering, 
but  occasionally  did  some  work  on  his  place,  until  in  1843 
he  had  a  comfortable  house  and  12  acres  under  cultiva- 
tion. In  that  year  he  married,  and  the  very  next  day  he 
repaired  with  his  young  wife  to  his  farm  and  began  life 
amid  the  forests  of  Monterey.  His  nearest  neighbor  was 
Harvey  Kenyon,  who  had  53  acres  upon  section  15.  Mr. 
Sabin  had  raised  a  bountiful  crop  of  grain  and  vegetables 
the  year  before  their  advent,  and  the  young  couple  was, 
therefore,  better  supplied  than  the  average  of  new  beginners 
iu  the  wilderness. 

Mr.  John  Swezy  and  Mr.  Sabin  are  the  only  ones  among 
the  surviving  pioneers  of  Monterey  now  residing  upon  their 
original  farms. 

Another  representative  of  Ohio  is  the  venerable  William 
Briggs,  a  brother  of  Noah  Briggs,  who  located  upon  section 
21  in  1845,  where  he  had  previously  secured  80  acres.  His 
brother's  house  affijrded  him  a  shelter  until  he  could  build 
a  residence  on  his  own  land,  the  lumber  for  which  came  from 
Peter  Dumont,  in  Allegan.  Afterwards  he  moved  to  sec- 
tion 21,  near  the  centre  of  the  township,  where  he  now  re- 
sides. 

Joseph  Tanner,  another  pioneer  of  1845,  located  west  of 
the  centre,  upon  section  21.  The  following  season  he  pur- 
chased the  farm  which  had  formerly  belonged  to  Gil  Bias 
Wilcox,  on  section  28,  where  he  remained  until  his  death, 
in  1872. 

James  McAlpine  came  from  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1845, 
and  settled  upon  80  acres  on  section  28,  remaining  with  the 
family  of  Fluskey  Atwell  until  he  made  his  own  land  hab- 
itable. He  chopped  20  acres  the  first  year,  which  he 
speedily  made  productive.  With  Mr.  McAlpine  came  his 
brother  Willis,  who  assisted  him  in  the  improvement  of  his 
land  and  afterwards  returned  to  his  old  homo  in  New  York. 

Ira  Miller  came  with  two  sons  to  the  township  in  1847, 
having  been  a  former  resident  of  Ohio.  On  section  14  he 
purchased  160  acres  of  wild  land.  On  section  15  lived 
Lewis  Huttleston,  his  nearest  neighbor,  who  afterwards  re- 
moved to  Kalamazoo  County.  Mr.  Miller  died  at  the  resi- 
dence of  his  son,  Chandler  F.  Miller,  on  section  23.  An- 
other son,  Madison  Miller,  resides  upon  section  15. 

Among  the  most  successful  of  the  pioneers  of  Monterey 
is  John  M.  Granger.  He  removed  from  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y., 
in  1849,  and,  in  connection  with  his  brother,  purchased 
400  acres  of  Charles  Howard,  of  Detroit,  on  sections  21, 
22,  and  28.  Of  this  land  Mr.  Granger  retained  120  acres, 
on  which  he  now  resides.  The  township  at  this  time  was 
being  rapidly  settled,  and  the  work  of  the  laborer  was  ap- 
parent in  the  fields  of  lofty  corn  and  waving  grain  that  had 
superseded  the  ancient  monarchs  of  the  forest. 

John  M.  Granger's  brother,  Eli  D.  Granger,  came  soon 
afterwards,  and  located  upon  a  portion  of  the  original  400 
acres.  Mr.  Granger  was  a  graduate  of  the  New  York  State 
Normal  School,  and  a  gentleman  of  scholarly  attainments. 
He,  however,  adapted  himself  to  the  rugged  life  of  a  pioneer, 


■-'^-^l>'^':^^0r^''^'  MRS.  JOSEPH  THORN 


Residence  of  J  0£ 


JOSEPH  THOftN. 


THOHN,   ,v,u-v.<.-^Ev,    Mich. 


MONTEREY  TOWNSHIP. 


285 


built  him  a  house,  and  at  once  began  the  labor  of  clearing 
his  land.  His  death  occurred  in  Kalamazoo  County  in 
1866. 

B.  F.  Granger,  another  brother,  located,  in  1852,  upon 
section  26,  where  he  owned  80  acres,  which  were  purchased 
of  William  Knapp,  of  Allegan. 

Christian  Renzehousen  emigrated  from  Ohio  in  1852, 
and  settled  upon  section  25,  where  he  became  the  possessor 
of  70  acres  of  land.  His  original  purchase  was  160,  which 
he  divided  with  his  brother,  who  has  90  acres.  The  latter, 
August  Renzehousen,  came  two  years  later. 

John  Goodell,  on  his  arrival  from  Cleveland,  first  settled 
in  Trowbridge,  but,  in  1849,  came  to  Monterey,  where  he 
secured  40  acres  on  section  10.  To  this  he  has  added  at 
various  times,  uutil  he  now  has  220  acres  in  the  immediate 
neighborhood.  Mr.  Goodell  had  no  neighbor  for  a  distance 
of  sixteen  miles  north  and  for  twenty  miles  west.  Noah 
Briggs  was  near  him  on  the  south,  and  Thomas  and  Nicholas 
Brown  had  located  on  the  east,  two  and  a  half  miles  away. 
Mr.  Goodell  removed  to  his  present  farm  in  1858. 

John  Chase,  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York,  became 
a  resident  of  Monterey  in  1851,  having  purchased  80  acres 
on  section  36.  After  making  many  improvements  upon  it 
he  finally  removed  to  Kansas.  Mr.  Chase  was  a  public- 
spirited  citizen,  and  very  active  in  promoting  the  interests 
of  the  township. 

Joseph  Thorn,  formerly  of  Ohio,  purchased  of  Robert 
Weeks  160  acres  on  section  25.  He  was,  for  some  time 
after  his  advent,  a  member  of  Horace  Wilson's  family, 
but  finally  removed  to  his  own  land,  where  he  at  present 
resides. 

C.  F.  Kenyon,  another  native  of  the  Buckeye  State,  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  William  Hoyer,  which  had  previously 
been  entered  by  Osman  Smith  on  section  16,  but  boasted 
no  other  improvement  than  a  log  house.  William  Hoyer 
resided  south  of  him,  on  section  21,  and  was  his  nearest 
neighbor.  Mr.  Kenyon  still  resides  upon  his  original  pur- 
chase. 

The  largest  landed  proprietor  in  Monterey  is  George  T. 
Lay,  who  includes  in  his  possessions  960  acres  of  land,  his 
residence  being  located  on  section  25.  Mr.  Lay  came  from 
Pennsylvania  in  1844,  but  remained  for  ten  years  in  the 
village  of  Allegan,  following  the  occupation  of  a  boatman 
on  the  river.  In  1851  he  purchased  160  acres  of  land  in 
Monterey,  and  employed  a  man  to  chop  100  acres,  building 
a  log  house  for  his  use.  To  this  house  Mr.  Lay  moved 
his  family  in  1854.  Sylsbre  Rumery  and  Horace  Wilson 
were  their  nearest  neighbors.  At  this  time  two-thirds  of 
Monterey  was  still  uncultivated.  Mr.  Lay  is  one  of  the  few 
who  mention  any  special  bad  behavior  of  the  Indians  beyond 
getting  drunk.  He  says  that  when  he  was  working  on  the 
river  they  would  frequently  board  his  raft  and  purloin 
whatever  eatables  or  drinkables  could  be  found.  He 
passed  through  a  varied  experience  with  them,  and  was 
sometimes  exposed  to  much  danger  from  their  violent 
tempers.  Especially  was  this  the  case  when  they  resolved 
to  resent  any  fancied  injury. 

Christian  Sebright  and  Henry  Mentz  were  among  the 
pioneers  of  1854,  each  of  whom  purchased  80  acres  of 
land,  which  they  at  once  improved.     Mr.  Sebright  died  in 


1872.  Mr.  Mentz,  who  still  resides  in  the  township,  has 
during  the  larger  portion  of  his  life  been  a  minister  of  the 
gospel,  and  officiated  as  pastor  of  the  German  Methodist 
Church  in  the  township. 

Hiram  Bailey  came  in  1855  and  located  upon  section 
20,  where  he  owns  80  acres,  besides  land  on  the  adjoining 
section.  He  had  previously  been  a  resident  of  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  and  had  followed  the  occupation  of  a  boatman. 

Among  other  prominent  settlers  in  the  township  during 
the  years  attached  to  their  respective  names  may  be  men- 
tioned the  following :  L.  Huttleston  in  1841 ;  S.  Squires  and 
S.  J.  Reed  in  1842  ;  S.  B.  Guyot  in  1849  ;  J.  Thome, 
C.  Gibson,  and  J.  H.  White  in  1851 ;  M.  Reed,  J.  G. 
Merrifield,  Adam  Knoblock,  and  G.  Shank  in  1853 ;  C. 
Atwell  and  S.  J.  Stranahan  in  1854  ;  G.  Huskinson,  P.  Fel- 
tenbarger,  J.  Pierce,  A.  Symonds,  F.  Webber,  and  H.  Mer- 
rifield in  1856. 

BAELY  KOADS. 

The  earliest  highway  in  the  township  was  the  one  from 
Allegan  to  Grand  Rapids,  which  passed  through  Monterey 
from  north  to  south,  angling  slightly  near  the  township-line 
of  Allegan.  It  was  originally  surveyed  by  Pierce  Barber, 
in  1832,  and  marked  by  blazed  trees,  but,  not  being  cleared, 
the  lines  became  so  obliterated  as  to  make  a  re-survey 
necessary.  This  was  made  by  F.  J.  Littlejohn  in  1841. 
The  weather  at  the  time  this  was  done  happened  to  be  ex- 
tremely cold ;  the  members  of  the  surveying  party  sufiered 
severely,  and  on  reaching  a  place  of  shelter  at  night  one  of 
them  fell  senseless  upon  the  floor,  while  the  remainder  were 
rendered  almost  speechless  by  the  cold.  The  same  year  a 
contract  was  awarded  John  H.  Swezy  for  opening  that  por- 
tion of  the  road  which  passed  through  Monterey.  The 
second  road,  which  was  surveyed  soon  after  (probably  by 
Mr.  Littlejohn),  began  on  the  southeast  corner  of  section 
24,  and  ran  west  on  section-lines  through  the  township. 

BtJEIAL-PLACES. 

In  1842  the  meagre  population  of  the  township  deter- 
mined to  set  apart  a  tract  of  ground  for  burial-purposes. 
A  spot  was  accordingly  selected  on  section  28,  which  was 
neatly  fenced  and  improved  so  as  be  suitable  for  the  purpose 
to  which  it  was  devoted. 

The  first  interment  occurred  soon  after,  Lemuel  Wilcox, 
one  of  the  township's  oldest  residents,  being  the  first  to 
find  a  resting-place  in  the  new  cemetery.  It  has  since  been 
maintained  as  a  burial-ground,  and  is  adorned  with  many 
beautiful  tablets  and  memorial  stones.  A  cemetery  located 
in  Hopkins  is  also  used  by  the  residents  of  the  eastern  por- 
tion of  the  township. 

EARLY  SCHOOLS. 
The  first  school  in  Monterey,  if  the  meagre  information 
relating  to  the  subject  be  correct,  was  established  upon  sec- 
tion 22,  on  land  belonging  to  John  Swezy.  A  log  structure 
was  erected,  and  school  established  in  it,  which  was  patron- 
ized by  the  few  residents  of  the  district,  including  the 
families  of  Messrs.  Ross,  Wilson,  and  Huttleston.  Mr. 
Horace  Wilson  cut  a  road  from  his  place  to  the  school- 
house  to  enable  his  children  to  reach  it  with  ease.     The 


286 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARKY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


first  teacher  was  Miss  Mary  Jane  Kenyon,  afterwards  Mrs. 
Brooks,  who  taught  hut  one  season. 

The  township  is  now  divided  into  eight  whole  districts 
and  one  fractional  one,  of  which  the  directors  are  Joseph 
Chamberlain,  Fred.  Miller,  C.  F.  Miller,  Frank  Lay,  Zopher 
Cornell,  Josiah  Feltenbarger,  John  W.  Avery,  F.  P.  Heath, 
and  A.  0.  Reed.  There  are  9  school  buildings  in  the  town- 
ship and  359  scholars  receiving  instruction,  23  of  whom  are 
non-residents.  The  teachers  arc  paid  an  aggregate  annual 
salary  of  $1430.20. 

MONTEKEY  CENTRE. 

The  hamlet  of  Monterey  Centre  is  located  on  the  four 
corners  of  sections  15,  16,  21,  and  22,  its  geographical 
position  being  the  exact  centre  of  the  township.  It  was 
first  settled  by  Horace  Wilson,  who  purchased  in  1835  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  15.  He  made  some  improve- 
ment on  the  land  and  then  disposed  of  it  for  a  location  on 
sections  26  and  27.  He  was  followed  by  Justus  W.  Bond, 
who  entered  the  northeast  corner  of  section  21.  He  em- 
ployed Eli  Grifiith  to  do  the  first  chopping,  to  whom  he 
gave  40  acres  of  uncleared  land  as  compensation  for  his 
services.     Mr.  Bond  afterwards  removed  to  California. 

George  W.  Kibby  became,  in  1847,  the  owner  of  80 
acres,  embracing  the  northwest  corner  of  section  22,  which 
he  improved  and  on  which  he  built  a  house.  In  1860  he 
erected  a  hotel,  the  upper  portion  of  which  is  now  used  as 
a  public  hall.  Andrew  Briggs  located  40  acres  on  the 
southeast  corner  of  section  16  in  1848,  upon  which  he 
built  an  ashery.  He  subsequently  removed  to  Allegan, 
where  his  death  occurred  in  1877. 

The  earliest  store  was  opened  by  Andrew  Briggs,  on  the 
corner  of  section  21..  After  conducting  it  for  a  brief  time 
he  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  See.  It  subsequently  passed  under 
the  control  of  Messrs.  Ferguson  and  Moore,  who  were  fol- 
lowed by  Messrs.  HolTmaster  and  Miller.  After  a  few 
years  one  of  the  proprietors  died,  when  the  business  was 
closed  up.  A  store  was  next  erected  by  Abram  Berry, 
which  he  afterwards  disposed  of  to  Henry  Guyot.  The 
local  lodge  of  Odd-Fellows  purchased  the  building  and 
converted  it  into  a  hall  for  the  use  of  that  organization. 

In  1869  a  store  was  built  by  Messrs.  0.  R.  Johnson  & 
Co.,  which  is  at  present  occupied  by  F.  B.  Watkins,  his 
stock  embracing  all  goods  suited  to  a  country  tiade.  A 
store  of  a  similar  character  is  kept  by  Frank  Hewitt,  in 
which  the  post-office  is  located,  Samuel  A.  Hewitt  being 
postmaster.  There  is  also  a  district  school,  presided  over 
by  W.  F.  Benson ;  one  blacksmith-shop,  kept  by  Squire 
Bishop  ;  a  wagon-shop,  owned  by  John  Frey  ;  and  a  boot- 
and-shoe  shop. 

CHUKCHES. 
GEEMAN  METHODIST  CHUIICH. 
The  earliest  missionary  of  the  German  Methodist  Church 
who  labored  in  Monterey  was  Rev.  G.  Berthrams,  whose 
advent  occurred  in  1856.  His  successor.  Rev.  Jacob  Kre- 
bill,  was  instrumental  in  the  organization  of  the  first  class  in 
the  township,  his  assistant  at  the  time  being  Rev.  H.  Krill. 
These  clergymen  who  had  already  inaugurated  the  good 
work  were  succeeded, by  Rev.  Nathaniel  Myer,  and  later  by 


Rev.  V.  Jahraus,  all  four  being  during  their  pastorates  resi- 
dents of  Allegan.     Next  came  Rev. Laas,  with  whom 

was  associated  Rev.  Henry  Mentz,  who  is  still  a  resident  of 
Monterey. 

Rev.  William  Burns  then  became  pastor,  after  which 
Rev.  Henry  Krill  was  recalled.  In  1868  the  charge  was 
under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Conrad  Wauas,  who,  during 
the  second  year  of  his  pastorate,  made  strenuous  efforts 
which  resulted  in  the  erection  of  a  church  edifice,  the 
building  committee,  who  labored  assiduously  in  the  enter- 
prise, having  been  Christian  Renzehousen,  Peter  Deudel, 
and  August  Renzehousen.  The  cost  of  the  edifice  was 
$1400,  exclusive  of  much  labor  volunteered  by  members  of 
the  congregation. 

Rev.  Henry  Mentz  became  the  pastor  afler  the  completion 
of  the  church,  and  remained  in  charge  three  years,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  G.  C.  Herzer,  now  the  presiding 
elder  of  the  district.  Rev.  Andrew  Myer  was  then  in- 
stalled, and  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service  Rev.  C. 
A.  Militzer,  of  Allegan,  the  present  pastor,  began  his  labors. 

The  church  has  upon  its  roll  the  names  of  40  members. 
A  flourishing  Sabbath-school  is  connected  with  it. 

The  present  board  of  trustees  is  composed  of  Christian 
Renzehousen,  Peter  Deudel,  Claus  Buck,  Henry  Mentz, 
August  Renzehousen. 

SEVENTH-DAY  ADVENTIST    CHURCH. 

The  first  meetings  held  with  a  view  to  introducing  the 
faith  of  the  Seventh-Day  Adventists  occurred  in  the  winter 
of  1855,  under  the  auspices  of  Elder  M.  E.  Cornell.  As 
a  result  of  his  labors  a  church  was  organized  the  following 
year  with  35  members,  Charles  Jones  and  John  Russ 
being  installed  as  local  elders.  ^ 

In  the  summer  of  1858  a  small  church  edifice  was 
erected,  and  in  1860,  Elder  Joseph  Bates,  who  was  one  of 
the  earliest  to  embrace  the  faith,  located  at  Monterey  as 
pastor  of  the  little  flock.  He  remained  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1872,  John  Russ,  one  of  the  local  elders, 
having  died  the  same  year.  The  dimensions  of  the  house 
of  worship  proving  inadequate  to  the  wants  of  the  congre- 
gation, which  had  considerably  increased  in  numbers,  a  new 
edifice  was  erected  in  1862,  io- which  they  at  present  wor- 
ship. The  membership  numbers  71,  Elder  H.  M.  Kenyon 
being  the  pastor. 

METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  society  in  Monterey,  which 
was  formerly  a  part  of  Allegan  charge,  was  made  a  separate 
one  by  the  action  of  the  Michigan  Conference  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  held  at  Lansing  in  the  fall  of 
1867.  Rev.  Joseph  Wood  was  the  first  preacher  in  charge. 
During  the  year  a  house  and  lot  at  Monterey  Centre  were 
purchased  for  a  parsonage  at  a  cost  of  $600.  It  has  since 
been  improved,  and  its  value  increased. 

The  present  church  edifice  on  section  26  was  erected 
during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  E.  Hayes.  It  was  completed 
in  September,  1862,  at  a  cost  of  $2700,  being  dedicated 
by  Rev.  E.  B.  Jocelyn,  D.D.,  president  of  Albion  College. 

The  church  has  a  present  membership  of  75,  and  is  in 
a  flourishing  condition,  the   residents  of  Monterey  being 


MONTEREY  TOWNSHIP. 


287 


eminently  a  church-going  people.  Siuce  its  separation 
from  the  Allegan  charge  the  church  has  been  served  by 
the  following  pastors  :  Kevs.  Joseph  Wood  in  1867,  H. 
Hurbert  in  1868  and  1869,  G.  W.  Cathorne  in  1870, 
E.  Hayes  from  1871  to  1873,  N.  D.  Marsh  from  1874  to 
1877,  W.  A.  Bronson  in  1877  and  1878,  and  B.  A. 
Tanner  (the  present  incumbent),  installed  in  March,  1880. 

SECKET   SOCIETIES. 
LODGE   No.   337,    F.   AND   A.   M. 

This  lodge  was  organized  under  a  dispensation  in  1876, 
its  first  officers  having  been  Ransom  Harrington,  W.  M. ; 
Hiram  Bailey,  S.  W. ;  Samuel  Goyt,  J.  W.  Its  present 
officers  are  Allen  Mosher,  W.  M. ;  Hiram  Bailey,  S.  W. ; 
Aaron  Krug,  J.  W. ;  C.  C.  Lindsley,  Sec. ;  Philip  Felten- 
barger,  Treas. 

The  meetings  are  held  in  a  well-appointed  hall,  and  the 
body  is  in  a  prosperous  condition. 

LODGE  No.   130,   L   0.   OF   0.   F. 

A  lodge  of  this  order  was  first  established  in  Monterey 
in  1869  and  organized  in  April  of  that  ~year,  the  first 
officers  under  a  dispensation  having  been  Fayette  S.  Day, 
N.  G. ;  M.  A.  Powell,  V.  G. ;  Daniel  Loeb,  Sec. ;  Oliver 
Gordon,  Fin.  Sec. ;  Joseph  Hoofmaster,  Treas. 

The  charter  was  obtained  a  year  later,  the  charter 
officers  having  been  M.  A.  Powell,  V.  G. ;  Joseph  Hoof- 
master, V.  G.  The  present  officers  are  Clifton  Chamber- 
lin,  N.  G. ;  Abner  Warner,  N.  G. ;  Zelotes  Ship,  Sec. 

The  lodge  has  80  members  on  its  roll. 

LODGE  No.  983,  I.  0.  OF  6.  T. 
The  charter  for  the  organization  of  a  lodge  of  Good 
Templars  was  granted  June  12,  1876,  its  first  officers  hav- 
ing been  Edward  Eggleston,  W.  C.  T. ;  Libbie  Marsh,  W. 
V.  T. ;  N.  D.  Marsh,  W.  C. ;  Orin  L.  Foster,  Sec. ;  Sarah 
Briggs,  Assist.  Sec. ;  Hiram  Sabin,  Treas.  Its  present 
officers  are  Fred.  Wilcox,  W.  C. ;  Sarah  Briggs,  V.  T. ; 
M.  A.  Powell,  Sec. ;  Amy  Wilcox,  Treas. 

MONTEREY  GRANGE,  No.  247,  PATRONS  OF  HUSBANDRY. 
Monterey  Grange  was  organized  by  a  dispensation  granted 
Feb.  19,  1874,  by  S.  F.  Brown,  Master  of  the  Michigan 
State  Grange,  its  first  officers  having  been  William  M. 
White,  W.  Master ;  B.  F.  Granger,  W.  Overseer ;  M.  V. 
B.  McAlpine,  W.  Lecturer ;  W.  F.  Benson,  Sec. ;  James 
McAlpine,  Treas. ;  F.  J.  Strong,  Steward ;  S.  B.  Guyot, 
Assistant  Steward.  Its  present  officers  are  Martin  McAl- 
pine, Master ;  Samuel  H.  Wilcox,  Overseer ;  David  Corn- 
well,  Sec;  W.  F.  Benson,  Lecturer;  Joseph  Chamberlin, 
Treas.  •  Noah  Briggs,  Steward ;  Earl  Ross,  Assistant  Stew- 
ard. The  organization  now  embraces  150  members,  and 
has  since  its  inception  been  one  of  the  most  popular  enter- 
prises in  the  township. 

DIAMOND  SPRINGS. 
Diamond  Springs  is  a  small  hamlet,  located  on  the  four 
corners  of  Salem,  Overisel,  Monterey,  and  Heath.  It 
claimed  some  years  ago  considerable  attention  as  the  centre 
of  a  large  milling  business,  but  boasts  at  present  only  one 
establishment  of  this  character,  a  saw-  and  grist-mill,  owned 


by  W.  E.  Sawyer,  which  enjoys  some  patronage  from  the 
residents  of  the  northwest  corner  of  the  township.  A 
store  containing  a  general  stock  was  formerly  kept  by  J. 
Clark,  but  this  has  since  been  discontinued.  The  school 
building  of  the  district  embracing  this  portion  of  the  town- 
ship is  located  liere.  The  spot  takes  its  name  from  a  spring 
of  clear,  delicious  water,  which  attracted  the  first  settler 
to  this  locality. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The  act  organizing  the  township  of  Monterey  was  ap- 
proved March  16,  1847,  and  reads  as  follows: 

"  Be  it  enacted  bj  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
State  of  Michigan,  That  townships  number  three  and  four  north,  of 
range  thirteen  west,  and  township  four  north,  of  range  fourteen  west, 
in  the  County  of  Allegan,  be  and  the  same  are  hereby  set  off  from 
the  township  of  Allegan,  and  organized  into  a  separate  township,  by 
the  name  of  Monterey,  and  the  first  township-meeting  therein  to  be 
held  at  the  block  meeting-house  in  said  township." 

This  territory  embraced  Salem  and  Overisel,  the  former 
of  which  was  organized  as  a  separate  township  in  1855,  and 
the  latter  attached  to  Fillmore,  leaving  the  township  of 
Monterey  as  it  at  present  exists.  On  its  organization  sev- 
eral names  were  proposed,  among  them  Wilson,  in  honor 
of  Horace  Wilson,  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers.  This  not 
proving  acceptable  to  the  committee  who  were  appointed 
to  christen  the  new  township,— consisting  of  Horace  Wil- 
son, Hiram  Sabin,  Sylsbre  Rumery,  John  Chase,  and  Isaac 
Dexter, — Hiram  Sabin  suggested  the  name  of  Lynn,  which 
was  accepted,  and  Blessrs.  John  Chase  and  Sylsbre  Rumery 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  convey  the  intelligence  to 
the  county  clerk,  who  was  to  forward  the  name  to  the 
Legislature.  They  were  apprised  of  the  existence  of  a 
township  of  Lynn  in  St.  Clair,  which  precluded  the  use 
of  that  name.  Burlington  was  then  suggested,  but  proved 
amenable  to  the  same  objection.  The  clerk  then  informed  the 
committee  of  the  triumph  of  American  arms  in  Mexico 
under  Gens.  Taylor  and  Worth,  and  the  victory  won  on  the 
field  of  Monterey.  Mr.  Rumery  suggested  that  in  honor  of 
this  event,  the  township  be  called  Monterey,  which  met 
the  approval  of  his  colleague,  and  the  name  was  adopted 
and  confirmed  by  the  Legislature. 

CIVIL  LIST'. 

The  first  township-meeting  was  held  April  19,  1847, 
Isaac  Dexter  having  been  appointed  moderator  and  John 
Chase  clerk.  Horace  Wilson  and  Lemuel  Ross  were  chosen 
as  inspectors  of  election. 

The  following  officers  were  elected:  Supervisor,  John 
Chase;  Township  Clerk,  Noah  Briggs;  Treasurer,  Freder- 
ick Day ;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  James  M.  McAlpin,  Hor- 
ace Wilson,  N.  H.  Brown,  Gil  Bias  Wilcox ;  Highway 
Commissioners,  Gil  Bias  Wilcox,  James  M.  McAlpin, 
George  W.  Kibby ;  School  Inspectors,  John  Chase,  Henry 
Wilson;  Directors  of  the  Poor,  Thurum  Ross,  Joseph 
Tanner  ;  Constables,  George  M.  Kibby,  Silas  Reede,  Harvey 
Kenyon,  Horace  Dexter. 

The  remaining  officers  of  the  township  to  the  present 
time  are  as  follows  : 

SUPERVISORS. 
1848,  John  Chase;  1849,  Noah  Briggs;  1850,  James  M.  McAlpin; 
1851,  Noah  Briggs;  1852,  E.  D.  Granger;  1853,  Frederick  Day; 


288 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


185-i,  John  M.  Granger;  1855,  Eli  D.  Granger;  1856,  George  T. 
Lay;  1857,  William  White;  1858,  James  M.  McAlpin;  1859, 
William  White;  1860,  Benjamin  F.  Granger;  1861,  John  M. 
Granger;  1862-63,  Cyrus  D.  Clements;  1864,  John  S.  Day; 
1865,  James  M.  MeAlpin ;  1866-67,  Myron  Powell;  1868-70, 
James  Eggleston ;  1871,  Isaac  Maxfield ;  1872,  George  Cady; 
1873,  William  White;  1874,  James  Eggleston;  1875,  Hiram 
Bailey;  1876,  William  White;  1877,  Isaac  Maxfield  ;  ^1878,  B.  F. 
Granger;  1879,  William  White. 

TOWNSHIP    CLERKS. 
1848,  Noah  Briggs;  1849,   Charles  Tanner;  1850-51,   S.  H.  Shaw; 
1852-53,  S.  H.  Wilcox;    1854,  John  S.  Day;  1855,  Ira  Plotts; 
1856,  B.  F.  Granger;  1857-58,  William  A.  Mallory  ;  1859,  Fred- 
erick Day;  1860,  William  White;  1861-62,  William  H.  Briggs; 

1863,  James  Eggleston;  1864,  Wesley  Moored;  1865,  John  B. 
Moore;  1866,  James  Eggleston;  1867-70,  Edward  Eggleston; 
1871-72,  Wilbur  F.  Benson;  1873-74,  Edward  Eggleston ;  1876, 
Hiram  Bailey ;  1876-79,  Henry  Quist. 

TREASURERS. 
1848,  Frederick  Day;  1849-51,  William  Briggs;  1852,  John  Guyot; 
1853,  Hiram  Sabin;  1854,  Fluskey  Atwell;  1855,  Silas  I.  Reed; 
1856,  Sylsbre  Rumery;  1867-68,  Frederick  Day;  1859,  Samuel 
H.Wilcox;  1860-62,  John  Goodell;  1863-64,  E.  M.  Braden  ;  1866, 
Charles  Gibson;  1866,  John  Goodell;  1867,  Isaac  Maxfield; 
1868-70,  Joseph  Hoofmaster;  1871-72,  Seth  K.  Tanner;  1873-75, 
S.  H.  Wilcox;  1876,  M.  B.  MoAlpin ;  1877,  George  W.  Sweezy; 
1878,  S.  B.  Guyot;  1879,  W.  S.  Patterson. 

JUSTICES    OF    THE    PEACE. 
1848,  William  Briggs;  1849,  John  Chase;  1850,  John  Guyot;  1861, 
Ira  Miller;  1852,  William  Long,  George  W.  Kibby  ;  1863,  James 
M.  MeAlpin,  William  Briggs ;  1 864,  S.  S.  Stranahan,  John  Guyot ; 

1856,  George  T.  Lay,  Eli  T.  Granger;  1866,  John  S.  Day;  1857, 
Jacob  Garlock,  William  Briggs;  1868,  John  Guyot,  William 
White;  1869,  E.  D.  Granger;  1860,  William  White,  William  A. 
Chamberlain;  1861,  Horace  Wilson,  M.  N.  Cutler,  William 
Briggs;  1862,  John  Henderson,  Thomas  Gibson;  186.3,  John 
Goodell;  1864,  E.  D.  Granger,  D.  H.  Pierce;  1865,  Henry  Day, 
William  Dodge;  1866,  H.  W.  Durand,  Sylvester  Ferguson;  1867, 
John  Henderson,  William  E.  Sawyer,  Joseph  Thorn ;  1868,  Joseph 
Thorn;  1869,  Myron  A.  Powell;  1870,  William  A.  Chamberlain; 

1871,  John  Henderson;  1872,  W.  E.Sawyer,  H.  M.  Durand,  John 
Henderson;  1873,  William  E.  Sawyer,  Isaac  Maxfield;  1874,  H. 
W.  Durand,  George  K.  Johnson,  C.  H.  Reynolds;  1876,  Schuyler 
Bassett,  William  Jackson,  Albert  B.  Town;  1876,  Charles  Fufen- 
thal,  W.  F.  Benson,  Charles  Gibson ;  1877,  John  S.  Day,  Edward 
Eggleston ;  1878,  W.  F.  Benson,  William  Johnson ;  1879,  Al- 
bertus  Symonds. 

HIGHWAY   COMMISSIONERS. 
1848,  Hiram  Sabin;  1849,  Horace  Wilson;  1850-51,  William  Long; 
1852,  Hiram  Sabin,  Horace  Wilson;  1863,  Charles  Gibson;  1854, 
John  N.  Chase;  1855,  William  Briggs;  1856,  Charles  Gibson; 

1857,  G.  W.  Plotts;  1858,  Jacob  Hoofmaster,  Hiram  Bailey;  1859, 
J.  C.  Symonds;  1860,  Joseph  Thorn  ;  1861,  Cyrus  D.  Clements; 
1862,  Myron  A.  Powell;  1863,  Alonzo  Gregory,  Alanson  Reed; 

1864,  Sylsbre  Rumery;  1865,  T.  J.  Strong;  1866,  George  Cady; 
1867,  Sylsbre  Rumery;  1868-69,  Henry  A.  Gregory;  1870, 
Charles  Gibson  ;  1871,  Hiram  Plotts,  Peter  Cady,  John  Goodell ; 

1872,  A.  G.  Mallory,  Peter  Cady,  Hiram  Plotts;  1873,  John 
Goodell;  1874,  Hiram  Bailey;  1875,  B.  F.  Granger;  1876, 
George  W.  Platts;  1877,  Henry  Sebright;  1878,  Henry  A. 
Gregory ;  1879,  Albert  B.  Town. 

SCHOOL   INSPECTORS. 

1848,  Henry  Wilson ;  1849,  John  Chase;  1850,  Noah  Briggs;  1861, 

Eli  D.  Granger;  1862,  Leland  H.  Shaw,  Eli  D.  Granger;  1863, 

John  Chase,  John  S.  Day ;  1854,  H.  F.  Guyot,  S.  J.  Stranahan ; 

1855,  William  White;    1856,  Eli  D.   Granger;  1857,   F.  Day; 

1858,  I.  Plotts;  1859,  William  White,  Eli  D.  Granger;  I860, 
Joseph  Thorn;  1861,  Peter  Kuoblock;  1862,  Ebenezer  Braden; 
1863,  M.  S.  Burnham;  1864,  J.  C.  McCave,  L.  M.  Comstook; 


1866,  John  M.  Granger;  1866,  Joseph  Thorn;  1867,  Myron  A. 
Powell;  1868,  John  S.  Day;  1869,  Myron  A.  Powell;  1870,  John 
S.  Day;  1871,  Joseph  Thorn;  1872,  Joseph  Thorn,  James  Eggle- 
ston; 1873,  Joseph  Thorn;  1874,  Joseph  Thorn,  George  K. 
Johnson;  1875,  M.  V.  B.  MoAlpin;  1876,  John  M.  Granger; 
1877-78,  Thomas  G.  Strong;  1879,  Lee  Rumery. 

DIRECTORS   OF   THE   POOR. 
1848,  Joseph  Tanner,  Huram  Ross;   1849,  Huram  Ross;    1850-51, 

Hiram  Sabin,  John  Chase;  1862,  William  Briggs,  John  Chase; 

1853,  Sylsbre  Rumery,  Hiram  Sabin;  1854,  S.  J.  Reed,  Jacob 

Hoofmaster;  1865,  Hiram  Sabin,  Frederick  Day;  1856,  Henry 

Mautz,  Hiram  Sabin;  1857,  Lewis  Zimmerman,  paries  Gibson; 

1858,  Hiram  Sabin,  Lewis  Zimmerman;  1859,  F.  Hilbar,  Hiram  * 

Sabin. 

DRAIN   COMMISSIONERS. 
1873-74,  George  W.  Kibby;  1875-77,  Frederick  Wilbur;  1878,  James 

M.  Stone;  1879,  Sylsbre  Rumery. 

SUPERINTENDENTS  OF  SCHOOLS. 

1875,  George  W.  Brewer;  1876,  M.  V.  B.  MoAlpin ;  1877,  Henry  W. 
George;  1878,  James  C.  Clemens;  1879,  Wilbur  F.  Benson. 

CONSTABLES. 

1848,  George  W.  Kibby,  Levi  Wilcox,  John  N.  Chase;  1849,  Harvey 
Kenyon,  Caleb  Atwell;  1850,  Marvin  Guyot,  G.  W.  Kibby,  F. 
Atwell;  1861,  Frederick  Day,  George  W.  Kibby,  John  N.  Chase; 
1852,  James  F.  Pierce,  Hiram  Chesley,  Hiram  Sabin;  1853,  C. 
Briggs,  Lewis  Huttleston,  John  N.  Chase,  F.  Atwell;  1854,  C. 
Renzenhousen,  William  Guyott,  B.  F.  Granger,  William  Hoyer; 
1856,  Henry  Mentz,  J.  M.  MoAlpin,  Frederick  Day,  James 
White;  1866,  C.  Renzenhousen,  John  Henderson,  Frederick  Day, 
Fluskey  Atwell;  1857,  John  Merrifield,  David  Woodbeck,  H.  H. 
Cooly,  Henry  Sebright;  1858,  David  Woodbeck,  Oliver  Plotts, 
John  Merrifield,  Peter  Starring ;  1859,  S.  Knowlton,  George  W. 
Sweezy,  A.J.  Mallory,  David  Woodbeck;  I860,  William  Gibson, 
John  Warner,  George  Cady,  R.  H.  Symonds;  1861,  M.  P.  Guyot, 
G.  M.  Kenyon,  Frederick  Day,  A.  J.  Mallory;  1862,  Frederick 
Day,  C.  F.  Miller,  G.  M.  Kenyon  ;  1863,  F.  P.  Tompkins,  Albertus 
Symonds,  Lyman  Reed,  Alfred  Wilson;  1864,  Isaac  Reed,  A.  J, 
Miller,  William  Briggs,  Frederick  Day;  1866,  Silas  J.  Reed, 
Joseph  H.  White,  George  W.  Kibby,  William  Briggs;  1866,  H. 
A.  Gregory,  William  Jones,  J.  H.  White,  Isaac  Maxfield;  1867, 
Addison  Gates,  William  L.  Hart,  B.  F.  Dalrymple,  Joseph  Hoof- 
master; 1868,  Jacob  Sprou,  Addison  Gates,  C.  F.  Miller,  Albertus 
Symonds;  1869,  Joseph  Hoofmaster,  Sylsbre  Rumery,  W.  F.  Cal- 
kins, William  Thomas,  Sr.;  1870,  F.  J.  Shaw,  H.  W.  Durand, 
Frank  Keesler,  James  Holdsworth ;  1871,  William  L.  Hart,  Wil- 
liam H.  Dwight,  H.  C.  Lince,  Sylsbre  Rumery;  1872,  Chauncey 
Reynolds,  H.S.  Pierce,  Sylsbre  Rumery,  James  Eggleston;  1873, 
William  L.  Hart,  H.  C.  Lince,  Chauncey  Reynolds,  F.  J.  Shaw; 

1874,  Noah  Briggs,  Andrew  Jones,  F.  A.  Sawyer,  F.  J.  Shaw ; 

1875,  Noah  Briggs,  George  W.  Smith,  George  W.  Sweezy,  John 
C.  Symonds;  1876,  Noah  Briggs,  Michael  Stroyer,  Horatio 
Rumery,  Henry  Kibby;  1877,  Horace  Pierce,  Henry  Kibby, 
James  Eggleston,  Horace  Plotts;  1878,  Horace  Pierce,  Noah 
Briggs,  Zopher  Cornell,  Lee  Rumery ;  1879,  Noah  Briggs,  John 
A.  Gibson,  Eugene  McOmber,  John  Starring. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


GEORGE  T.  LAY. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  (George  T.  Lay)  was  born 
Oct.  28,  1822,  near  Lockport,  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.  His 
father,  Abner  Lay,  emigrated  to  that  place  from  Vermont 
when  a  young  man,  at  which  time  that  portion  of  the  State 
was  a  dense  wilderness.  He  afterwards  took  an  active 
part  in  the  war  of  1812,  being  engaged  in  a  number  of 


MONTEREY   TOWNSHIP. 


289 


battles  along  the  lines  near  Buffalo  and  Black  Rock.  The 
settlers  of  that  portion  of  the  State  were  inclined  to  look 
■with  great  discredit  upon  the  project  of  a  canal  from  Al- 
bany to  Buffalo,  and  hooted  at  the  idea  of  raising  the  boats 
by  a  system  of  locks  as  fanaticism  of  the  wildest  character, 
many  of  the  settlers  along  the  line  of  survey  declaring  that 
they  asked  no  longer  lease  of  life  than  to  be  spared  to  see 
the  idea  in  successful  operation.  The  mother  of  George  T. 
Lay,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mehitable  Talbot,  was  a 
native  of  Massachusetts,  and  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  one 
of  three  Talbot  brothers  who  were  among  the  very  earliest 
settlers  of  Massachusetts. 

In  the  fall  of  1832,  Abner  Lay  purchased  a  tract  of 
wild  land  in  Erie  Co.,  Pa.,  and  contracted  with  certain  par- 
ties to  erect  a  cabin  thereon,  to  be  occupied  liy  liis  I'auiily 
the  following  winter.  A  few  weeks  aCt.or  liis  return  to  New 
York,  he  fitted  out  a  train  composed  of  two  yoke  of  oxen 
and  a  long  sled  loaded  with  necessary  liou.schold  goods  and  a 
limited  supply  of  provision.  There  were  to  accompany  this 
load  six  head  of  cattle,  twenty  sheep,  a  man  to  drive  the 
oxen,  and  a  boy  fifteen  years  old  to  drive  the  cattle  and 
sheep.  That  boy  has  since  been  a  member  of  the  Legislature 
of  this  State.  George  T.  (then  a  lad  of  ten  years)  was  di- 
rected to  accompany  this  train  to  assist  in  driving  the  live- 
stock to  Pennsylvania,  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles,  which  journey  he  accomplished  on  foot  in  the  dead 
of  winter.  The  remainder  of  the  family  were  to  make 
the  trip  with  a  horse-team,  and  arrive  in  advance  of  the 
above-described  train.  However,  on  the  day  before  that 
set  for  their  departure,  they  met  with  an  accident  while  re- 
turning from  a  visit  to  a  near  relative.  The  sleigh-tongue 
slipped  from  the  neck-yoke,  capsizing  the  sleigh  and  its  con- 
tents, and  seriously  injuring  the  mother.  The  horses,  being 
very  spirited  and  badly  frightened,  immediately  separated ; 
one  of  them,  running  some  distance  into  the  woods,  was 
found  the  next  day  checked  up,  having  tramped  one  acre 
of  two-feet  snow  to  a  solid  road-bed.  The  other  ran  a  short 
distance  and  entered  the  hall  of  Muldo's  hotel,  where  he 
was  found  apparently  waiting  for  further  orders.  The 
above-named  hotel  enjoys  the  reputation  of  being  the  place 
where  the  abductors  of  William  Morgan  stopped  to  change 
horses  at  midnight,  and  it  is  said  that  Muldo's  fancy  team 
conveyed  him  from  thence  to  the  Niagara  River. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  ox-train  at  the-  new  home,  they 
found  only  the  log  body  of  the  cabin,  without  a  roof,  and 
two  feet  of  snow  inside.  The  snow  was  shoveled  out,  a 
single  board  roof  put  on,  a  fire  built  in  one  end,  and  the 
first  meal  eaten  in  the  house  was  composed  of  flour  mixed 
with  water,  placed  upon  a  board  and  turned  up  to  the  fire 

to  bake. 

Notwithstanding  its  primitive  character,  this  meal  was 
eaten  with  very  evident  relish.  The  next  step  was  to  cut 
a  large  hemlock-tree  so  as  to  lodge  it  in  a  similar  one,  which 
device  formed  a  shelter  for  the  stock  until  spring.  After 
a  week  of  suspense  the  horse-team  appeared  with  the  rest 
of  the  family  to  share  their  pioneer  life,  to  the  great  delight 
of  young  George,  who  had  begun  to  feel  the  pangs  of  home- 
sickness. Eleven  years  later,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  he 
left  the  cleared  and  well-improved  farm  in  Pennsylvania  to 
seek  his  own  fortune  farther  west.  He  landed  first  at  Jack- 
37 


son,  Mich,  (at  that  time  the  terminus  of  the  Michigan 
Central  Railroad),  and  with  satchel  in  hand  traveled  on 
foot  through  different  towns  and  counties,  landing  finally 
at  Allegan  in  May,  1844.  The  best  outlet  Kalamazoo  then 
had  for  her  flour  was  by  shipping  in  keel-boats  to  Allegan, 
transferring  from  boats  above  the  dam  to  boats  below,  and 
thence  down  the  river  to  Lake  Michigan.  Our  hero  shipped 
on  board  the  keel-boat  "  Pioneer,''  and  spent  his  first  sum- 
mer in  Michigan  sailing  up  and  down  the  Kalamazoo  River 
before  a  stiff  white-ash  breeze,  or,  more  properly,  a  stiff 
white-ash  pole  manipulated  by  his  own  hands.  He  then 
engaged  in  the  lumber  trade,  and  for  the  succeeding  nine 
years  worked  in  all  its  branches,  from  taking  it  from  the 
stump  in  the  forest  of  Allegan  County  to  retailing  the  lum- 
ber on  the  docks  at  the  head  of  Lake  Street,  Chicago  (now 
the  site  of  large  and  valuable  blocks  of  buildings),  and 
found  hard  labor  in  all  departments,  except  that  of  carry- 
ing home  the  money  received  for  the  lumber.  About  this 
time  the  failure  uf  the  wildcat  banks  left  Allegan  without 
any  currency  that  would  pass  for  money. 

Numerous  saw-mills  were  in  operation,  and  lumber  became 
the  fiat-money  that  kept  Allegan  alive  through  that  financial 
crisis.  During  this  time  a  certain  head-sawyer  found  him- 
self at  the  close  of  his  week's  labor  with  his  pockets  full 
of  wildcat,  yet  without  the  means  to  buy  even  a  pound  of 
sugar,  whereupon  he  loaded  his  broad  shoulders  with  as 
much  clear  siding  as  he  could  carry,  which  he  exchanged 
at  the  store  for  a  supply  of  groceries,  and  for  the  balance 
due  him  received  as  change  a  2  by  4  scantling.  This  sys- 
tem of  exchange  kept  Allegan  from  bankruptcy  until  the 
finances  of  the  county  became  settled. 

After  residing  in  Allegan  for  a  few  years,  and  exercis- 
ing great  economy,  Mr.  Lay  became  able  to  purchase  by 
contract  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  the  town- 
ship of  Monterey,  on  section  25.    Instead  of  paying  for  his 
land  immediately,  he  used  what  means  he  had  in  hiring   , 
men   to  chop,  and  adding  to  this  his  own  labor  he  suc- 
ceeded in  clearing  up  one  hundred  acres  at  once.    The  first 
and  second  crops  from  this  paid  for  the  land  and  cleared 
him  from  debt.     He  was  married  in  Allegan,  Oct.  5, 1851, 
to  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Chester  and  Nancy  Barber.     She 
was  born  in  Old  Canaan,  Conn.,  July  14,  1825,  and  at  the 
age  of  nine,  with  her  father's  family,  emigrated  to  Free- 
dom, Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  afterwards  to  Allegan  in   1844, 
and  after  their  marriage  remained  there  until  the  birth  of 
their  first  child,  which  occurred  May  27,  1853.     At  the 
time  of  its  birth  the  father  was  at  work  on  his  present 
home  in  Monterey,  preparing  a  place  to  move  his  family. 
On  his  return  home,  Saturday  night,  he  found  a  little  blue- 
eyed  daughter  two  days  old  waiting  to  welcome  him.     At 
the  age  of  twenty  this  child  was  married  to  E.  Brackett, 
and  two  years  later  a  daughter  was  born  to  her  in  the 
same  house  and  room  where  she  was  born.     Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Brackett  are  now  residents  of  Van  Buren  Co.,  Mich.     His 
other  three  children  are  now  residents  of  Monterey,  and 
married  as  follows :  Alta  R.  to  J.  C.  Clemens,  formerly  of 
Iowa  ;  Frank  B.  to  Belle  M.  Barclay,  of  Allegan  ;  and  Ida 
E.  to  M.   H.  Lane,  of  New  York.     Mary  E.,  the  wife  of 
George  T.  Lay,  died  Nov.  27, 1862.    On  the  5th  of  April, 
1864,  he  was  married  to  his  present  wife,  who  was  the 


290 


HISTOKY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


daughter  of  Daniel  and  Hannah  Finch  Stone,  and  was  born 
Feb.  11,  1833,  in  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1834  re- 
moved with  the  family,  by  way  of  Erie  Canal  and  Lake 
Erie,  to  Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  and  in  1843,  with  her  parents, 
brother  James  S.  Stone,  now  a  resident  of  Kewanee,  111., 
and  sister  Harriet,  now  Mrs.  Stephen  Gardner,  and  resi- 
dent of  this  town,  emigrated  to  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich., 
performing  the  journey  in  a  covered  wagon,  and  passing 
through  what  was  then  known  as  Maumee  Swamp.  She 
afterwards  resided  for  some  years  in  Erie-Co  ,  Pa.,  and  re- 
moved from  there  to  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  in  1856. 

Mr.  Lay's  fine  orchards  and  large  productive  fields 
have  amassed  to  him  wealth  ;  while  his  extensive  dealin" 
in  agricultural  implements  has  made  him  very  generally 
known  throughout  the  county  and  adjoining  towns. 


LEONARD   ROSS. 

Among  the  pioneers  of  Moritcrey  meriting  conspicuous 
mention  is  Leonard  Ross,  a  native  of  the  State  of  New 
York.     He  was  the  eldest  in  a  family  of  six  children  of 
Huram  and  Nancy  Bidwell  Ross,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  July  3,  1796,  in  Vermont,  and  died  Aug.  8,  1866, 
in  Monterey;    the  latter's  birth  occurred  April  3,  1798, 
and  her  decease  took  place  in  January,  1858.    The  birth  of 
their  son  Leonard  occurred  during  their  residence  in  Ban- 
gor, Franklin  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  25,  1821.     He  remained 
at  home  during  the  early  years  of  his  life,  and  aided  his 
father  in  the  improvement  of  his  land.     In  1837  the  latter 
gentleman  determined  to  cast  his  fortunes  with  the  Mich- 
igan pioneers,  and  purchased  the  south  half  of  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  28,  in  Monterey,  upon  which  his 
son,  the  subject  of  this  biography,  still  resides. 

The  details  of  the  journey  from  their  Eastern  home,  the 
adventures  they  encountered,  and  the  discouragements  they 
met  are  too  voluminous  to  come  within  the  province  of  a 
brief  sketch  of  this  character.     They  were  subjected,  how- 
ever, to  all  the  privations  common  to  pioneer  life  which  are 
recounted  in  the  pages  of  this  volume,  braved  all  dangers, 
were  indifi'ercnt  to  obstacles,  and  ultimately  arrived  at  their 
destination,  where  they  were  comfortably  settled  in  a  house 
erected  by  Mr.  Ross  and  his  son.     On  the  10th  of  August, 
1848,  Leonard  Ross  was  married  to  Miss  Laura  Ann  Tan- 
ner, daughter  of  Joseph  and  Lydia  Kenyon  Tanner,  their 
daughter  having  been  born  in  Granville,  Washington  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Aug.  27,  1820,  and  was   the   oldest  in   a   family 
of  nine  children.     The  father  of  Mrs.  Ross  claimed  the 
same  village  as  a   birthplace  in  the  year  1799,  and  died 
in    Monterey    at   the   age   of  seventy-three  years.      The 
mother,  also   a   native   of  the   Empire   State,  died   Oct. 
17,  1856,  in  her  fifty-sixth  year.     The  home  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Leonard  Ross  has  been  cheered  by  the  presence  of 
seven  children.     Myron  A.  Ross  was  born  June  23,  1849 
and  married  April  20,  1873,  to  Miss  Mida  Jane  Brewer; 
Mary  M.  was  born  July  26,  1851,  and  married  in  Decem- 
ber  of  1874   Nelson    M.    Bartlett;    Harris   Earl,  whose 
birth  occurred  Oct.  23,  1853,  and  his  marriage  to  Miss 
Orsa  Goblie,  Oct.  22,  1875  ;  Seth  Adelbert,  who  was  born 
March  31, 1856,  and  married  to  Miss  E.  Barber,  April  14, 
1877 ;    Emma   Jane   Ross,    whose    birth    occurred   May 


16,  1858,  and  her  marriage  to  Clifton  Chamberlain,  Deo. 
22,  1874 ;  Franklin  J.,  born  in  1860,  who  died  in  1863 ; 
and  Jesse  A.,  born  in  1862,  and  whose  death,  the  result 
of  diphtheria,  also  occurred  in  1863.  Mr.  Ross  was  for- 
merly a  Democrat,  but  espoused  the  principles  of  the  Re- 
publican party  in  1860. 

Both  himself  and  wife  were  originally  Baptists  in  faith, 
but  have  more  recently  connected  themselves  with  the 
Seventh-Day  Adventists,  who  have  a  flourishing  society  in 
Monterey. 

JAMES  McALPINE. 
The  Empire  State  seems  to  have  been  the  home  not  only 
but  the  permanent  abiding-place  of  the  McAlpine  family 
previous  to  the  arrival  of  the  subject  of  the  present  biog- 
raphy in  Michigan.,  His  father,  William  McAlpine,  was 
born  in  1792,  and  died  in  1867.  His  mother,  Lydia,  whose 
birth  occurred  about  1790,  died  in  1869,  both  having  re- 
mained in  their  native  State  of  New  York  all  their  lives. 

Of  their  five  children,  James  was  born  in  Windham, 
Greene  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  6,  1820,  and  at  the  age  of  eleven 
years  departed  from  th«  paternal  roof  and  sought  employ- 
ment abroad,  his  father  receiving  the  proceeds  of  his  labor. 
At  the  age  of  twenty  he  married  Lucinda  M.  Granger, 
who  was  born  Oct.  17,  1819,  in  Sodus,  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y., 
and  was  the  sixth  of  a  family  of  ten  children.  Her  father. 
Noble  Granger,  was  a  native  of  the  Bay  State,  as  was  also 
her  mother,  both  bearing  the  family  name  of  Granger, 
though  not  related. 

James  McAlpine  after  his  marriage  spent  some  time  in 
agricultural  pursuits  in  his  native  State,  first  in  Ontario 
County,  and  later  in  Monroe  County,  where  he  cultivated 
farms  on  shares.  In  1845  he  came  to  Michigan  on  a  pros- 
pecting-tour.  Having  been  favorably  impressed  with  the 
soil  of  Monterey,  he  purchased  land  in  that  township,  and 
later  returned  for  his  wife  and  child.  On  their  arrival  in 
Michigan  they  found  a  hospitable  welcome  at  the  house  of 
Flasky  Atwell,  a  near  neighbor,  until  a  substantial  frame 
house  could  be  erected  by  Mr.  McAlpine  on  his  recent 
purchase,  to  which  they  removed  Nov.  25,  1845. 

After  his  arrival,  thirty  dollars  was  the  cash  balance  re- 
maining with  which  to  engage  in  the  work  of  improvement. 
However,  Mr.  McAlpine  was  equal  to  the  emergency.  Em- 
ployment was  found  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  which  en- 
abled him  to  provide  for  the  wants  of  the  household,  while 
the  intervals  were  devoted  to  cultivating  the  land  and  se- 
curing crops  which  should  afi'ord  them  a  subsistence.  By 
industry  and  excellent  judgment  this  land  was  soon  con- 
verted into  the  productive  farm  upon  which  he  now  resides. 
Mr.  McAlpine's  political  convictions  have  caused  him  to 
affiliate  with  the  Democratic  party.  He  has  devoted  much 
time  to  the  interests  of  the  township,  and  held  many  im- 
portant public  trusts.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McAlpine  have  had 
three  children,  the  first  of  whom,  Martin  V.  B.,  was  born 
June  23,  1843;  William  Noble's  birth  occurred  Nov.  23, 
1849,  and  his  death  in  October,  1853  ;  Henry  C.  was  born 
Feb.  24,  1856  ;  he  is  still  residing  with  his  parents,  while 
the  elder  son  is  married  and  located  near  them.  These 
children  have  each  been  educated  in.  the  faith  of  their 
parents,— that  of  the  Methodist  denomination. 


MONTEKEY  TOWNSHIP. 


291 


HIRAM   SABIN. 


MRS.    niRAM   SABIN. 


HIRAM   SABIN. 

The  progenitor  of  the  Sabin  family  in  Monterey  was 
Ziba  Sabin,  who  was  born  in  the  State  of  Massachusetts 
in  1784,  and  in  July,  1809,  married  Miss  Hannah  Phillips, 
who  was  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York,  where  she 
was  born  in  1788.     Mr.  Sabin's  death  occurred  in  1847, 
while  his  wife  survived  until  1868,  and  died  in  Monterey. 
A  family  of  four  children  graced  their  home, — Hiram, 
whose  brief  biography  is  here  traced ;   Oliver,  who  is  a 
resident  of  New  York  State ;  and  two  daughters,  Eunice 
and   Clarissa,  both  residents  of  Allegan  County.     Hiram 
Sabin  was  born  in  Plymouth,  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb. 
21, 1815,  and  during  his  early  life  assisted  his  father  upon 
the  farm.     At  the  age  of  twenty  he  became  ambitious  for 
a  wider,  and  at  the  same  time  more  independent,  field  of 
usefulness,  and  departed  for  Michigan,  reaching  Allegan 
in  November,  1835.     Here  he  found  a  village  projected, 
and  aided  in  the  first  clearing  of  the  ground  upon  which 
it  was  subsequently  built.     In  March,  1836,  he  entered 
the  land  embraced  in  his  present  farm,  described  as  the 
east  half  of  northwest  quarter  of  section  22.     He  began 
in  1839  the  clearing  of  this  tract,  and  in  the  winter  of 
1842-43  erected  a  house,  to  which,  in  February,  1843,  he 
brought  his  wife,  who  was  formerly  Miss  Deidamia,  daughter 
of  Josiah  and  Sarah  Potter,  natives  of  New  Hampshire. 
Mrs.  Sabin  came  to  Michigan  in   1837,  having  been  at- 
tracted thither  by  the  presence  of  her  sister,  Mrs.  William 
Allen,   who  was  a  resident  of  Allegan.     Mr.   and   Mrs. 
Sabin  have  four  children :  Sarah  H.  was  born  July  20, 
1844,    and   is   married   to   Noah    Briggs,   of   Monterey; 
Martha  D.,  whose  birth  occurred  May  16,  1847,  and  is 
the  wife  of  Morris  Price,  of  Isabella  Co.,  Mich.;  Harlan 
I.,  born  Oct.  15,  1851 ;  and  Hattie  A.  Sabin,  born  Aug. 
27,  1859.     The   two   latter   remain  at  home  with  their 
parents.     Mr.  Sabin  is  an  earnest  Democrat  in  his  political 
convictions,  and  has  been  all  his  life  active  in  the  public 


interests  of  the  township.  He  has  occupied  in  succession 
the  various  ofiices  of  road  commissioner,  township  treasurer, 
and  justice  of  the  peace  in  Monterey,  each  of  which  posi- 
tions he  has  filled  with  ability  and  credit. 

Since  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sabin  have  been  de- 
voted members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  have  ex- 
emplified in  their  lives  the  teachings  of  the  faith  they 
espoused.  He  has  always  been  a  strong  advocate  of  tem- 
perance and  its  principles.  This  rare  unity  and  consistency 
of  character  have  gained  for  them  the  affection  and  respect 
of  all  who  know  them. 


CALEB   F.   KENYON. 

The  father  of  the  gentleman  who  is  the  subject  of  this 
biography  was  Elijah  Kenyon,  who  was  born  in  Rhode 
Island  in  1793,  and  died  in  1875,  reaching  the  good  old 
age  of  eighty-two  years.  He  married  first  Miss  Hannah 
Calkins,  of  Vermont,  who  died,  as  nearly  as  can  be  de- 
termined, in  1824,  and  later  Miss  Mary  Briggs.  From  the 
first  marriage  there  were  three  children,  one  of  whom  was 
Caleb  F.  Kenyon,  who  was  born  in  Vermont,  Feb.  8, 1822. 
Six  children  blessed  the  latter  union,  and  Mrs.  Kenyon  still 
sur.vives  and  resides  in  Monterey.  Caleb  F.,  early  having 
a  desire  to  fulfill  the  duties  of  a  faithful  son,  remained  with 
his  father  until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  having  accompa- 
nied him  to  Ohio  in  1832.  The  two  following  years  after 
having  attained  his  majority  he  devoted  to  chopping  and 
clearing  land.  He  was  married  May  22,  1845,  to  Miss 
Jane  Eggleston,  daughter  of  Newell  and  Mary  Eggleston, 
who  was  born  July  12,  1828,  in  Ohio,  and  was  the  first  in 
a  family  of  seven  children,- — two  boys  and  five  girls.  Caleb 
and  Jane  were  married  in  the  village  of  Medina,  Ohio. 
Her  father  died  in  1871  ;  the  mother  is  still  living,  and 
resides  at  Battle  Creek,  Michigan. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Kenyon  purchased  cattle,  and 


292 


HISTORY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


conducted  the  business  of  a  butcher  for  three  years  in  the 
county  of  Cuyahoga,  Ohio;  and  in  the  year  1850  he  came 
with  his  family  to  Michigan,  and  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
land  on  section  20,  and  later  exchanged  it  for  their  attrac- 
tive home.  Coming  into  the  country  at  an  early  day,  they 
endured  the  many  privations  and  hardships  of  a  pioneer  life, 
the  entire  township  being  nearly  a  wilderness.  They  have 
had  seven  children  ;  four  of  them  died  in  infancy,  and  the 
survivors  are  Hiram,  born  April  27,  1846,  and  was  married 
to  Katie  Johnson,  of  Allegan,  Oct.  6,  1874,  the  latter  of 
whom  died  Oct.  17,  1878  ;  and  Freeman,  born  April  6, 
1850,  and  was  married  to  Inez  Pierce,  the  only  child  of 
Horace  and  Harriet  Pierce,  March  30,  1876,  and'  is  now 
living  opposite  the  homestead ;  and  Almeda,  who  was  born 
April  29,  1857,  and  is  now  married  to  E.  F.  Ferris,  and 
living  at  Grand  Traverse.  In  politics  Mr.  Kenyou  is  a  Re- 
publican. Tlicy  are  respected  citizens,  and  by  economy  and 
patient  industry  have  acquired  a  sufficient  competency  for 
their  declining  years. 


JOSEPH  THORN. 


Joseph  Thorn  was  born  in  Liberty,  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio, 
May  16,  1830.  His  father  died  when  he  was  but  two 
months  old.  Joseph  remained  with  his  mother,  on  the 
farm,  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  attending  the 
district  school  winters.  When  he  had  attained  his  nine- 
teenth year  his  time  was  given  him  by  his  stepfather.     He 


subsequently  attended  the  Kinsman  Academy,  in  Trumbull 
Co.,  Ohio,  for  one  term.  The  two  years  following  he  was 
employed  by  the  month  on  a  dairy-farm.  He  inherited 
from  his  father  a  tract  of  land  of  about  fifty  acres,  located 
in  Ohio ;  this  he  traded  July  4, 1851,  for  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  25,  in  Mon- 
terey "township,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.  In  the  month  of  Oc- 
tober following  he  visited  Michigan,  looked  at  his  new 
possessions,  and  returned  to  Ohio,  being  but  nine  days  absent 
from  home.  In  November,  1852,  he  came  to  Monterey, 
Mich.,  and,  boarding  with-  Horace  Wilson,  commenced 
chopping  on  his  own  place.  He  did  not  commence  the 
clearing  until  1854,  which  year  he  planted  two  acres  of 
corn  and  twenty-four  of  wheat.  In  1855  he  harvested  six 
hundred  and  ten  bushels,  as  the  yield  of  twenty-four  acres, 
the  seed  being  dragged  in  without  plowing. 

He  married,  Dec.  20, 1855,  Mary  Louisa  Wilson,  daughter 
of  Horace  Wilson,  an  early  settler  (who  cleared  the  village 
plat  in  Allegan  in  1836).  Mr.  Thorn  had  raised  a  log 
house  the  November  previous,  and  soon  after  his  marriage 
moved  into  it ;  this  remained  his  humble  home  until  De- 
cember, 1869,  when  he  moved  into  his  present  residence. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thorn  have  had  but  one  child,  which  is  de- 
ceased. Mr.  Thorn  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  "  first,  last, 
and  always."  Both  himself  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  is  now,  as  he  has 
always  been,  active  in  all  the  material  interests  of  the  town 
in  which  he  lives. 


OTSEGO. 


This  township,  prominent  as  the  seat  of  the  first  im- 
portant settlement  in  the  county  of  Allegan,  derives  its 
name  from  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  embraces  territory 
designated  in  the  original  survey  as  township  No.  1  north, 
of  range  No.  12  west. 

It  is  situated  on  the  southern  border  of  the  county,  east  of 
the  centre,  is  bounded  on  the  south  by  Kalamazoo  County, 
and  for  about  a  mile  in  the  southwest  corner  by  Van  Buren 
County ;  on  the  north,  east,  and  west  it  is  bounded  by  the 
townships  of  Watson,  Gun  Plain,  and  Trowbridge,  respect- 
ively, in  Allegan  County. 

Its  surface  is  generally  rolling,  and  originally  that  part 
north  of  the  Kalamazoo  River  was  covered  with  dense 
forests  of  beech,  maple,  oak,  ash,  whitewood,  lynn,  black- 
walnut,  and  many  other  deciduous  varieties.  Along  Pine 
Creek  were  many  acres  of  handsome  pines,  while  to  the 
eastward  of  the  same,  and  south  of  the  Kalamazoo,  was  an 
extensive  tract  of  oak-openings. 

The  Kalamazoo  and  Gun  Rivers,  Schnable  Brook,  and 
Pine  Creek  are  its  principal  water-courses.  The  former  river, 
in  its  course  towards  Lake  Michigan,  passes  from  east  to 
west,  bearing  a  little  north,  through  the  central  part  of  the 

»  By  J.  S.  Schenck. 


township.  It  has  been,  and  ever  will  be,  the  most  import- 
ant natural  feature  of  Otsego.  Its  descent  and  flow  are 
rapid.  High  banks  on  either  side  keep  it  within  its  channel  at 
the  highest  stage,  and  by  means  of  dams  and  artificial  chan- 
nels at  the  village  of  Otsego  excellent  water-power  privileges 
are  secured,  which  are  among  the  best  in  the  State  of  Mich- 
igan. Gun  River  enters  the  township  by  crossing  the  east 
line  of  section  13,  and  after  flowing  one  mile  to  the  south- 
west empties  into  the  Kalamazoo. 

Schnable  Brook  comes  in  from  Watson  township,  and, 
flowing  to  the  southwest  for  a  distance  of  some  two  miles, 
pours  its  waters  into  the  Kalamazoo,  near  the  centre  of 
section  7.  Pine  Creek  enters  the  township  near  the  south- 
west corner,  and,  taking  a  northeasterly  direction,  empties 
into  the  Kalamazoo  River  on  section  21. 

The  soil  of  Otsego  is  excellent.  It  is  well  adapted  to 
grazing,  and  in  the  cultivation  of  fruit,  corn,  and  cereals 
the  inhabitants  are  very  successful. 

EARLY  HISTORY. 
ORIGINAL  SURVEYS. 
The  first  survey-party  to  visit  this  region  was  led  by 
John  MuUett,  of  Detroit,  who,  as  deputy  United  States  sur- 
veyor, ran  out  the  east  boundary-line  of  this  township,  as 


OTSEGO  TOWNSHIP. 


293 


well  as  the  lines  of  other  townships'  lying  to  east  and  north, 
in  December,  1825,  and  January,  1826.  The  south  line 
was  traced  by  William  Brookfleld,  May  4,  1827  ;  the  north 
line  by  Lucius  Lyon,  Dec.  29,  1830;  the  west  line  by 
Lyon,  Dec.  31,  1830;  and  on  the  27th  day  of  January, 
1831,  Mr.  Lyon  completed  the  government  survey  by  fin- 
ishing the  subdivision  of  the  township  into  sections.  The 
following  interesting  description  of  this  township  as  it  ap- 
peared to  him  in  January,  1831,  will  be  of  interest  to 
present  residents : 

"  The  township  of  which  the  foregoing  ar4'  the  field-notes  is  a  fine 
tract  of  land  for  a  new  settlement.  Three  families  have  already  lo- 
cated themselves  within  it,  and  more  are  coming  in  the  spring.  So 
that  before  the  close  of  next  summer  this  township  will  probably  con- 
tain thirty  families. 

"Sections  twenty-eight,  thirty-one,  and  thirty-three  contain  some 
groves  of  valuable  pine-timber,  which  is  much  needed  in  the  oak- 
opening  country  to  the  south  and  east. 

"A  Mr.  Turner  Aldrich  is  now  erecting  a  saw-mill  on  Pine  Creek, 
in  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  twenty-eight,  and,  it  is  understood, 
is  designing  to  out  off  most  of  the  pine  before  the  land  comes  into 
market.  In  this,  however,  the  inhabitants  about  here  feel  an  interest 
in  preventing  the  waste  of  this  timber,  and  hope  he  will  be  disap- 
pointed by  the  early  sale  of  the  land. 

"  Mef^srs.  Sherwood  &  Scott  are  also  making  preparations  to  erect  a 
saw-mill  and  grist-mill  on  Pine  Creek,  near  its  mouth,  on  section 
twenty-one. 

"  There  is  also  a  mill-site  on  Gun  Eiver,  in  section  twenty-four  and 
the  south  part  of  section  thirteen ;  and  another  good  one  on  the  Grrand 
Kapids  of  the  Kalamazoo  River,  in  the  west  part  of  section  twenty- 
three  j  and  another  in  sections  five  and  six,  on  a  stream  running 
southwest  into  the  Kalamazoo  River. 

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

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

FIRST   AND   OTHER   EARLY  LAND-ENTRIES. 

The  public  lands  lying  in  Otsego  were  not  placed  upon 
the  market  until  in  September,  1832.  On  the  11th  day  of 
the  latter  month  the  first  entries  were  made  as  follows: 
Giles  Scott,  east  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
21 ;  Hull  Sherwood,  west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of 
the  same  section  ;  and  John  B.  Yeomans,  a  portion  of  sec- 
tion 33. 

During  the  succeeding  days  of  September,  1832,  many 
other  entries  were  placed  on  record.  Following  is  a  list  of 
the  earliest  entries  made  on  each  section  in  the  township, 
as  obtained  from  the  records,  but  it  does  not  include  all 
who  purchased  of  the  general  government : 

Section  l.-^John  Forbes,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  March,  1836 ;  Walker, 
Ostrom  and  Palmer,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  T.,  April,  1836;  Samuel  Fos- 
ter, Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  1836. 

Section  2.— Leicester  Buckley,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April,  1836 ;  Samuel 
Foster,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  1836;  Anthony  Schuyler,  Cal- 
houn Co.,  Mich.,  June,  1836;  Chester  Buckley,  Allegan  Co., 
Mich.,  July,  1836;  Edmund  Hawks,  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July, 
1836. 

Section  3.— Sylvester  Clark,  June  6,  1836;  Edmund  Hawks,  Oswego 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  July,  1836. 


Section  4.— Almon  Allen,  Jackson  Co.,  Mich.,  July,  1836 ;  Jeremy 
Drew,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  1837;  David  Merrill,  Allegan  Co., 
Mich.,  1837;  William  B.  Clymer,  Bucks  Co.,  Pa.,  1837. 

Section  5.— Myron  Short,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July,  1834;  Arthur  and 
Frederick  Bronson,  New  York  City,  April,  1834;  Almon  Allen, 
Jackson  Co.,  Mich.,  July,  1836. 

Section  6. — George  Schnable,  Union  Co.,  Pa.,  July,  1834;  Beers  and 
Sherwood,  New  York  City,  August,  1835;  A.  and  F.  Bronson,  New 
York  City,  April,  1836. 

Section  7.— Eurotas  P.  Hastings,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  Sept.  22, 1832; 
George  Schnable,  Union  Co.,  Pa.,  July,  1834;  George  Redfield, 
Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July,  1834;  George  Redfield  and  Myron  Short, 
July,  1834;  A.  L.  Ely  and  J.  D.  Beers,  June,  1835;  Samuel  Sher- 
wood, New  York  City,  August,  1835. 

Section  8. — Sidney  Smith,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  July,  1835  ;  Thomas 
Smith,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  August,  1835;  Sidney  Smith,  Allegan 
Co.,  Mich.,  September,  1835. 

Section  9. — Thomas  Smith,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  September,  1835 ;  Ezra 
Sibley,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  November,  1835  ;  Stokes  White,  Monroe 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  November,  1835 ;  Joel  Eaton,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  No- 
vember, 1835 ;  John  Almy  and  Horatio  G.  Wolcott,  Wayne  Co., 
Mich.,  May,  1836. 

Section  10. — Warren  Walston,  Chittenden  Co.,  Vt.,  September,  1835; 
Charles  Elis,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  November,  1835  ;  Ichabod  Clark, 
Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  1836;  Justio  Ely,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  1836; 
Sylvanus  Aldrich,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  1836. 

Section  11. — Charles  Elis,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  November,  1835  ;  Horace 
H.  Comstock,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  1836 ;  Samuel  Foster, 
Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  May,  1836. 

Section  12. — William  Forbes,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  March,  1836  ;  Ben- 
jamin S.  Organ,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  1836;  Samuel 
Foster,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  May,  1836 ;  Samuel  D.  Foster,  Allegan 
Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1837 ;  Thomas  Goadley,  New  York  City, 
January,  1837. 

Section  13. — Beers  and  Sherwood,  New  York  City,  August,  1835;  Ira 
Chaffee,  Medina  Co.,  Ohio,  November,  1835;  Samuel  Foster,  Al- 
legan Co.,  Mich.,  February,  1836;  Alexander  Kelsey,  Monroe 
Co.,  N.Y.,  February,  1836;  James  R.  Gary,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y., 
February,  1836. 

Section  14. — ^Eurotas  P.  Hastings,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  November,  1832  ; 
Horace  H.  Comstock,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  July,  1834 ;  Charles 
Elis,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  November,  1 835 ;  L.  C.  Anderson,  Wayne 
Co.,  Mich.,  February,  1836;  Samuel  D.  Foster,  Allegan  Co., 
Mich.,  March,  1836;  Samuel  Foster,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  April, 
1836. 

Section  15. — Austin  Smith,  Hampden  Co.,  Mass.,  August,  1834; 
Samuel  Foster,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  May,  1835  ;  Royal  Sherwood, 
Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  June,  1835  ;  J.  H.  Hatch,  New  York  City, 
June,  1835;  Samuel  Foster,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  July,  1835;  Gain 
R.  Allen,  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  September,  1835 ;  Warren  Walston, 
Chittenden  Co.,  Vt.,  September,  1835  ;  Charles  Elis,  Ontario  Co., 
N.  Y.,  November,  1835. 

Section  16. — E.  E.  Chapman,  B.  H.  Martin,  J.  L.  Pratt,  W.  P.  Ward, 
George  W.  Holland,  all  in  1853 ;  H.  Hoag  and  J.  G.  Miller,  in 
1854. 

Section  17. — Abijah  Chichester,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Sept.  22, 1832;' 
Joel  Wheeler  and  Joel  Wright,  Bennington  Co.,  Vt.,  July,  1834  ; 
William  Brown,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  November,  1834;  Samuel  E. 
Town,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  June,  1835 ;  Beers  &  Sherwood,  New 
York  City,  August,  1835 ;  Jeremiah  Richardson,  Ontario  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  June,  1833. 

Section  18. — Thomas  James,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  December,  1833 ; 
George  Redfield  and  Myron  Short,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July,  1834; 
James  Shear,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  September,  1834;  Samuel 
Hubbard,  Boston,  October,  1834;  Hull  Sherwood,  Allegan  Co., 
Mich.,  December,  1835 ;  Hubbard  and  Parker,  Boston,  May,  1836. 
Section  19.~William  Finch,  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1835 ;  Andrew 
Mack,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  1836;  Hubbard  and  Parker, 
Boston,  May,  1836 ;  Edmund  Hawks,  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July, 
1836 ;  Hull  Sherwood,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  July,  1836. 
Section  20. — Hull  Sherwood,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Oct.  10,  1832 ; 
Simeon  Newman,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  July,  1834 ;  Almirau  Lake 
Cotton,  Michigan,  September,  1834;  Horace  H.  Comstock,  Michi- 
gan, November,  1834 ;  William  Finch,  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June, 
1835;  Almiran  L.  Cotton,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  May,  1835;  Justus 


294 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Burdick,  Ealnmazoo,  Mich.,  April,  1836;  A.  L.  Cotton,  Septem- 
ber, 1835. 

Section  21.— Giles  Scott,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Sept.  11,  1832;  Hull 
Sherwood,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mieh.,  Sept.  11,  1832;  Warren  Cas- 
well, Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Sept.  16, 1832;  Horace  H.  Comstock, 
Otsego  Co.,  N.  T.,  Sept.  22,  1832;  Henry  L.  Ellsworth,  Hartford 
Co.,  Conn.,  November,  1832;  Hull  Sherwood,  Michigan,  July, 
1834;  Lewis  Adams,  Michigan,  .July,  1834;  Simeon  Newman, 
Michigan,  July,  1834. 

Section  22. — Hull  Sherwood,  Jr.,  Michigan,  Sept.  15,  1832;  Eurotas 
P.  Hastings,  Michigan,  Sept.  22,  1832;  Erastus  A.  Jackson, 
Michigan,  Sept.  22,  1832;  Horace  H.  Comstock,  Michigan,  July, 
1834;  Isa.ac  Fisher,  Jr.,  Windsor  Co.,  Vt.,  August,  1834;  Eber 
Sherwood,  Michigan,  August,  1834;  H.  H.  Comstock,  Michigan, 
October,  1834;  Nelson  Sage,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  November, 
1835. 

Section  23.— Horace  11.  Comstock,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  September,  1832, 
the  entire  section,  excejit  Island  No.  2,  in  the  Kalamazoo  Kiver, 
which  was  entered  by  Henry  Booher,  Aug.  18,  1851. 

Seciimi  24. — James  Pickett,  Aug.  18,  1851;  Jeremiah  Richardson, 
Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1833;  Randall  Crosby,  Michigan, 
August,  1833;  Samuel  Foster,  Michigan,  October,  1833;  H.  H. 
Comstock,  Michigan,  July,  1834;  L.  B.  Coats,  Michigan,  July, 
1834. 

Section  25. — Edric  Atwater,  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June,  1834;  Spencer 
Herrington  and  Albert  Eldrcd,  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July,  1834;  H. 
H.  Comstock,  Michigan,  October,  18.34;  John  Weare,  Orleans, 
Vt.,  May,  1835. 

Section  26. — Horace  H.  Comstock,  Michigan,  July,  1824;  Orsamus 
Eaton,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  October,  1834;  Jeremiah  Lindsey, 
Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  October,  1834;  Horace  H.  Comstock,  Michi- 
gan, October,  1834;  Calvin  White,  Michigan,  June,  1835;  Beers 
and  Sherwood,  New  York  City,  August,  1835;  Samuel  Foster, 
Michigan,  February,  1836. 

Section  27. — Eber  Sherwood,  Michigan,  June,  1835;  Oka  Town,  Michi- 
gan, November,  1835;  Eber  Sherwood,  Michigan,  March,  1836; 
H.  H.  Comstock,  Michigan,  April,  1836;  Eber  Sherwood,  Michi- 
igan,  April,  1836;  John  E.  Erackett,  Michigan,  July,  1837; 
Hosea  B.  Huston  and  L.  H.  Moore,  Kalamazoo,  Mich.,  April, 
1837. 

Section  28.— John  H.  Smith,  Michigan,  Sept.  12,  18.32;  Hull  Sher- 
wood, Michigan,  Sept.  24,  1832 ;  Turner  Aldrich,  Jr.,  Michi- 
gan, Oct.  8,  1832;  Turner  Aldrich,  Jr.,  and  Charles  Miles,  Michi- 
gan, Sept.  19,  18.32 ;  John  Gibhs,  Michigan,  Nov.  27,  1832;  Beers 
and  Sherwood,  New  York  City,  August,  1835. 

Seelio,!  29.— Hull  Sherwood,  Michigan,  Oct.  10,  1832;  Lebbeus  Sher- 
wood, Michigan,  March,  1834;  Giles  Sherwood,  Michigan,  June, 
1835;  J.  II.  Howard,  March,  1836;  Edwin  Hawks,  Michigan, 
April,  1836;  Alexander  Campbell,  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  1836; 
Edmond  Hawks,  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  1836 ;  Jeremiah  Richardson, 
Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  1836. 

Section  ZQ. — Minton  Hicks,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  November,  1835; 
Almy  and  Wilcox,  May,  1836;  George  Ashley,  July,  1836;  Jer- 
emy Drew,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  January,  1837. 

Section  31. — Royal  Sherwood,  Michigan,  Oct.  10,  1832;  Thomas  W. 
Barnard,  Michigan,  Nov.  16,  1832;  Minton  Hicks,  Ontario  Co., 
N.  Y.,  November,  1835;  L.  H.  Moore,  Michigan,  April,  1836; 
Beers  and  Sherwood,  New  York  City,  April,  1836 ;  James  Parker, 
Jr.,  Michigan,  February,  1837. 

Section  32. — Horace  H.  Comstock,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  24,  1832; 
Eber  Sherwood,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Oct.  10,  1832;  Randall 
Crosby,  Michigan,  September,  1834;  Charles  Miles,  Michigan, 
September,  1834;  Seneca  Peck,  Michigan,  September,  1834; 
Rockwell  May,  Michigan,  February,  1836;  Edmund  Hawks, 
Michigan,  April,  1836;  L.  H.  Moore,  Michigan,  April,  1836. 

Section  33. — John  B.  Yeomans,  Michigan,  Sept.  11,  1832;  Beers  and 
Sherwood,  New  York  City,  April,  1836;  Edmund  Hawks,  Oswego 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  July,  1836." 

Section  34.— John  G.  Bixby,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April,  1836;  A.  L. 
Cotton,  Michigan,  April,  1836;  H.  H.  Comstock,  Michigan, 
April,  1836;  Beers  and  Sherwood,  New  York  City,  April,  1836. 

SectionZb. — Beers  and  Sherwood,  New  York  City,  August,  1835;  John 
G.  Bixby,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April,  1836;  Horace  H.  Comstock, 
Michigan,  April,  1836;  James  Clements,  Michigan,  April,  1837; 
Leicester  Buckley,  Michigan,  April,  1837. 


Section  36. — Beers  and  Sherwood,  New  York  City,  August,  1835 ; 
Samuel  D.  Foster,  Michigan,  April,  1836;  Ebenezer  Parkhurst, 
Michigan,  April,  1836;  Samuel  Foster,  Michigan,  April,  1836; 
Elisha  Tyler,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  January,  1837 ;  Leicester  Buck- 
ley, Michigan,  April,  1837 ;  Abraham  Edwards,  Michigan,  March, 
1837. 

FIRST  AND  SUBSEQUENT  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS. 

Among  those  men  who  traversed  and  looked  over  a  large 
portion  of  this  county  prior  to  the  first  settlement  were 
Giles  Scott  and  the  Sherwoods,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y., 
Samuel  Foster,  from  Vermont,  and  Turner  Aldrich,  Jr., 
from  Cattaraugus  Co.,  N.  Y. 

They  were  here  during  the  winter  of  1829  and  1830, 
and  explored  the  Kalamazoo  River  and  its  tributaries,  look- 
ing for  mtU-sites,  and  for  pine  tracts  in  their  immediate 
vicinity ;  likewise  for  good  farming-lands.  Of  all  the 
region  examined,  this  locality  suited  them  best.  They 
returned  to  their  homes  early  in  the  spring  of  1830,  and  we 
may  believe  that  during  the  intervening  months  all  due 
preparations  were  made  for  the  removal  of  themselves  and 
families,  and  their  permanent  settlement  in  the  then  wild 
Territory  of  Michigan. 

Giles  Sci)tt,*  the  son-in-law  of  Hull  Sherwood,  Sr.,  seems 
to  have  eclipsed  all  others  in  his  preparations,  for  we  find 
that,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  one  or  two  small  children, 
he  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  Pine  Creek  parly  in  the  fall  of 
1830,  and  constructed  a  small  log  house,  described  by  Lucius 
Lyon  in  January,  1831,  as  situated  "  on  the  bottom-lands, 
about  ten  chains  back  from  the  river."  Edmund  Sherwood, 
son  of  Hull,  Sr.,  then  a  boy  of  fourteen  years,  came 
with  Mr.  Scott,  and  probably  some  other  members  of  the 
Sherwood  family.  Their  place  of  settlement  was  on  the 
north  part  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  21,  and  was 
held  by  right  of  pre-emption  until  the  lands  of  this  town- 
ship came  into  the  market,  in  September,  1832.  Mr.  Scott 
was  a  genial  spirit  among  the  early  pioneers,  an  excellent 
fiddler,  and  many  "  hoe-doivus"  were  tripped  o'er  his  punch- 
eon floor  by  the  lads  and  lasses  of  early  times.  He  built  a 
tavern  at  Pine  Creek  in  1836,  over  which  he  presided  until 
his  death. 

Following  Mr.  Scott  by  but  a  few  day,g  came  Turner 
Aldrich,  Jr.,  from  Lodi,  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  was  accom- 
panied by  two  daughters  as  housekeepers,  and  besides  house- 
hold goods  brought  with  him  mill-irons,  a  saw,  and  all  other 
fixtures  necessary  to  construct  and  put  into  operation  one 
of  those  primitive  water-power  saw-mills  so  common  fifty 

years  ago.    Mr.  Aldrich  was  an  experienced  lumberman, 

his  father  having  constructed  and  managed  one  of  the 
very  earliest  saw-mills  in  Western  New  York  (on  Cattarau- 
gus Creek), — and  immediately  began  building  a  saw-millf 


«■  His  was  the  first  white  family  in  the  county  excepting  that  of 
William  Gay  Butler,  who  located  at  Saugatuok  in  the  spring  of  the 
same  year.  The  only  surviving  member  of  Mr.  Scott's  family  who 
came  in  with  him  is  his  daughter  Rachel,  then  nearly  four  years  old, 
afterwards  married  to  William  II.  Carter,  and  now  residing  in  the 
village  of  Otsego.  As  none  of  Mr.  Butler's  family  are  now  living  in 
the  county,  Mrs.  Carter  is  its  earliest  surviving  resident.  - 

t  This  mill  was  burned  in  July,  1832,  while  being  operated  by 
Cyrenius  Thompson  and  Charles  Miles.  (See  history  of  Gun  Plain.) 
It  was  immediately  rebuilt  by  Mr.  Aldrich,  and  was  then  operated  by 
Orlando  Weed  prior  to  his  removal  to  the  Gun  Plain  settlement. 


OTSEGO  TOWNSHIP. 


:;)5 


on  Pine  Creek,  one  mile  from  its  mouth.  It  was  completed 
in  the  spring  of  1831,  and  probably  cut  the  first  lumber  in 
all  Western  Michigan.  Uri  Baker,  now  a  resident  of  Mar- 
tin township,  came  in  with  Mr.  Aldrich ;  also  Sloan  Eaton, 
a  Mr.  Hill,  and  John  B.  Yeomans. 

During  the  fall  of  1831,  Hull  Sherwood  moved  in  with 
the  remainder  of  his  numerous  family.  He  came  from 
Rochester,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was  accompanied  by 
his  married  sons  Eber  Sherwood,  Hull  Sherwood,  Jr.,  and 
Royal  Sherwood,  with  their  families,  Lebbeus  Sherwood, 
an  unmarried  son,  and  a  young  man  named  J.  McCormick, 
now  a  resident  of  Gun  Plain  township.  The  Sherwoods 
also  settled  near  the  mouth  of  Pine  Creek,  and,  assisted  by 
Mr.  Scott,  commenced  building  a  dam  and  saw-mill  at  the 
mouth  of-that  creek.  Their  saw-mill  was  completed  in  the 
winter  of  1831-32,  and  was  followed  in  ISS-i  by  a  grist- 
mill,* of  which  J.  Volentine  was  the  master-mechanic. 

For  some  two  or  three  years  the  settlement  at  the  mouth 
of  Pine  Creek  was  the  most  important  one  in  the  county, 
and  a  village  known  as  New  Rochester  was  platted  by  Hull 
Sherwood  at  a  very  early  day.  Here  were  established  the 
first  grist-mills,  stores,  shops,  etc.,  and  doubtless  Mr.  Sher- 
wood secretly  entertained  the  hope  that  some  day  the  little 
hamlet  might  emulate,  if  it  did  not  rival,  its  great  name- 
sake. 

The  next  family  to  settle  in  the  township,  and  the  first 
on  the  site  of  the  present  village  of  Otsego,  was  that  of  Dr. 
Samuel  Foster.  Dr.  Foster  was  a  native  of  the  State  of 
Maine.  Early  in  life  he  removed  to  Vermont,  and  there 
married  Miss  Pamelia  Camp,  of  Barre.  He  was  a  regu- 
larly educated  physician,  and  practiced  his  profession  in 
Montgomery,  Franklin  Co.,  Vt.,  until  his  removal  to  the 
State  of  Michigan.  He  was  accompanied  here  by  his  wife 
and  the  following-named  children,'}'  Samuel  D.,  Gould  C, 
Pamelia,  Betsey,  Benjamin  W.,  George  H.,  and  Everissa, 
and  by  Norman  Davis,  a  young  unmarried  man.  Dr.  Fos- 
ter's youngest  child,  Albert  R.,  the  first  child  born  in 
the  village  of  Otsego,  was  ushered  into  this  troublesome 
world  during  the  year  1834.  The  trials  and  vexations  ex- 
perienced by  Dr.  Foster  and  his  family  in  their  removal  to 
and  settlement  in  Otsego  were  about  the  same  as  attended 
all  Michigan  pioneers  of  that  date.  They  and  their  house- 
hold goods,  farming  implements,  etc.,  were  conveyed  on 
boats,  vi&  the  Erie  Canal  and  Lake  Erie,  to  Detroit.  In 
the  latter  city  the  doctor  bought  a  yoke  of  oxen,  some  In- 
dian ponies,  and  a  wagon,  and  after  all  his  goods  and  the 
younger  members  of  the  family  were  snugly  arranged 
therein  he  started  westward  along  the  Territorial  road. 
But  very  few  white  families,were  seen  after  passing  Ann 
Arbor.  At  Battle  Creek  a  halt  was  made,  while  Mr.  Fos- 
ter and  his  party  erected  two  log  houses.J     From  there 

*  Oka  Town  and  three  other  men  went  with  four  o.x-teams  to  De- 
troit to  procure  the  iron  and  machinery  for  this  mill,  the  trip  requir- 
ing three  weelts'  time.  This  mill  for  several  years  supplied  a  wide 
extent  of  country.  It  was  strongly  built,  and  having  since  been 
repaired  and  enlarged,  is  still  at  work. 

■|-  These  children  all  grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood,  married, 
and  became  beads  of  families,  except  Benjamin  W.,  who  was  drowned, 
at  the  ago  of  thirteen  years,  in  the  Kalamazoo  Eiver. 

J  These  houses  were  built  for  Messrs.  Guernsey  and  Converse,  and 
were  the  first  buildings  erected  at  Battle  Creek. 


the  journey  was  continued,  vid  Gull  Prairie,  to  the  forest 
home  on  the  banks  of  the  Kalamazoo,  where  all  arrived 
safely  in  the  fall  of  1831. §  Dr.  Foster  pre-empted  a  large 
portion  of  section  23,  and  built  his  first  house  on  the  south 
bank  of  the  river,  in  rear  of  the  Lutkins  House. 

After  his  settlement  here  he  gave  up  the  practice  of 
medicine,  devoting  his  time  and  energies  principally  to 
farming.  In  1832  he  was  appointed  the  first  justice  of  the 
peace  and  the  first  postmaster  in  the  territory  now  com- 
prising the  county  of  Allegan.  His  house  was  the  rally- 
ing-point  for  all  important  meetings  of  the  early  pioneers, 
and  he  was  one  of  Otsego's  most  prominent  citizens. 

During  the  year  1832  the  settlement  thus  commenced 
was  still  further  increased  by  the  arrival  of  Charles  Miles, 
the  first  supervisor  elected  in  the  county,  and  a  most  prom- 
inent man  at  an  early  day  in  many  other  respects ;  Martin 
W.  Rowe,  an  early  merchant,  and  the  first  constable  and 
collector  in  the  county  ;  Abijah  Chichester,  one  of  the  first 
township  officials ;  A.  L.  Cotton,  who  came  here  first  as 
one  of  Lyon's  surveying-party,  and  afterwards  married  one 
of  Hull  Sherwood's  daughters;  John  L.  Shearer,  who 
served  as  one  of  the  first  inspectors  of  election  in  1833, 
and  was  afterwards  prominent  as  an  official  in  the  township 
and  county ;  and  Warren  Caswell. 

This  was  the  year  of  the  celebrated  Sauk  or  Black-Hawk 
war,  and  the  few  white  families  then  settled  at  Pine  Creek, 
at  the  rapids  ||  of  the  Kalamazoo,  and  in  the  Gun  Plain 
neighborhood  were  kept  in  a  fearful  state  of  suspense  and 
trepidation  during  the  early  summer,  while  awaiting  the 
decision  of  the  surrounding  bands  of  Ottawa  and  Potta- 
wattamie Indians  whether  they  were  for  war  as  allies  of 
Black  Hawk,  or  for  peace  and  the  friends  of  the  Michigan 
pioneers.  At  a  council  of  several  days'  duration,  held  on 
Gun  Plains,  the  Indians  at  last  decided  to  remain  quiet  and 
peaceable,  and  thereafter  no  trouble  was  apprehended  or 
experienced  by  the  whites  at  their  hands.  Meantime, 
while  the  excitement  was  at  its  height,  a  worthless  half- 
breed  named  Pricket  or  Picket,  then  living  near  the  mouth 
of  Gun  River,  assured  his  white  neighbors  again  and  again 
that  the  Indians  meant  mischief,  that  they  were  bent  on 
war,  and  advised  the  settlers  to  fly  with  their  families  from 
the  country  and  avoid  massacre.  As  it  proved,  he  belied 
the  dusky  race  with  whom  he  was  connected.  His  purpose 
was  supposed  to  be  to  inaugurate  a  precipitate  flight  of  the 
whites,  and  afterwards  appropriate  to  himself  such  articles 
as  they  might  leave  behind. 


§  There  seems  to  be  some  discrepancy  in  the  statement  made  by 
Mr.  S.  D.  Foster  concerning  the  date  of  his  father's  settlement  here 
and  the  transcribed  field-notes  of  Lucius  Lyon's  original  survey  and 
subdivisiOQ  of  the  township.  Under  date  of  Jan.  27,  1831,  Mr  Lyon 
says:  "In  section  twenty-three,  opposite  Foster's  house,  is  a  spring, 
and  the  river  here  is  very  rapid."  Therefore,  of  the  three  queries, — 
viz.,  whether  Mr.  Foster  built  his  house  during  Ms  first  visit  to  Michi- 
gan, whether  he  settled  here  In  the  fall  t^  18.S0,  instead  of  1831,  or 
whether  a  mistake  has  been  made  in  transcribing  the  original  field- 
notes  of  Mr.  Lyon,  and  that  the  date  should  be  Jan,  27,  1832,  instead 
of  Jan.  27,  1831, — we  cannot  undertake  to  answer  either.  Mr.  S.  D. 
Foster  avers  that  after  their  settlement  Mr.  Lyons  and  his  surveyino"- 
party  were  here  at  work.  This  may  be  true,  and  yet  Lyon  may 
have  been  doing  unfinished  work  in  adjoining  townships  while  mak- 
ing his  headquarters  here  in  the  settlement. 

II  Now  Otsego. 


296 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


In  September  of  the  same  year  the  lands  of  this  town- 
ship were  placed  upon  the  market.  The  choicest  tracts 
soon  found  purchasers,  and  from  that  time  the  population 
and  importance  of  these  heretofore  outlying  settlements 
rapidly  increased.  By  an  understanding  with  Horace  H. 
Comstock,  formerly  a  resident  of  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  the 
lands  pre-empted  by  Dr.  Foster  were  entered  in  the  name 
of  the  former. 

The  event  of  1833  was  the  organization  of  the  township 
of  Allegan  and  the  election  of  township  officers.  The  first 
meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Samuel  Foster,  and,  as 
the  electors  all  resided  in  the  present  townships  of  Otsego 
and  Gun  Plain,  the  full  proceedings  of  this  and  subsequent 
meetings  held  before  the  subdivision  of  Allegan  into  four 
townships  will  be  found  upon  succeeding  pages. 

Among  the  settlers  of  1834  was  Oka  Town,  from  Ver- 
mont. He  was  elected  an  assessor  in  th«  spring  of  1835, 
was  appointed  the  first  probate  judge  of  Allegan  County 
the  same  year,  was  chosen  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  1836, 
and  a  supervisor  in  1837,  and  has  since  most  worthily  filled 
many  other  positions  of  trust  and  honor.  And  now,  after 
forty-six  years  of  continuous  residence  in  the  township,  he 
still  remains  one  of  its  most  active  and  prominent  citizens. 
Randall  Crosby  also  settled  here  in  1834. 

Dr.  Lintsford  B.  Coats,  the  first  practicing  physician, 
and  the  first  school-teacher  to  reside  in  the  county,  settled 
on  the  site  of  Otsego  village  in  the  fall  of  1833,  where  he 
soon  after  erected  the  first  framed  house.  He  was  thoroughly 
educated,  was  a  successful  physician,  and  most  efficiently 
served  both  his  township  and  county  in  many  responsible 
civic  positions. 

Albert  Eldred,  from  Vermont,  Jeremy  Lindsley,  from 
Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  who  still  resides  upon  the  land  pur- 
chased by  him  in  October,  1834,  and  Orsamus  Eaton,  from 
the  same  place,  also  settled  here  in  1834.  Mr.  Eaton 
established  the  first  store*  at  Pine  Creek  immediately  after 
his  settlement. 

In  1835,  Chester  and  Lester  Buckley  established  the 
first  store  on  the  site  of  Otsego  village.  J.  S.  Higgins 
built  a  saw-mill  on  a  branch  of  Pine  Creek,  some  three 
miles  from  the  river,  where  was  sawed  the  lumberf  to  build 
the  first  framed  house  in  Battle  Creek.  The  first  bridge 
over  the  Kalamazoo  was  completed  at  Pine  Creek.  Janus 
Hawks  also  settled  at  the  latter  place  the  same  year,  and 
the  following  year  (1836)  established  himself  in  business 
there  as  a  grocer. 

RESIDENTS  IN  1836. 

The  township  of  Otsego,  including  surveyed  townships 
1  to  4,  inclusive,  of  range  12,  was  organized  in  the  spring 
of  1836.     The  assessmentj  was  made  in  June,  and  the 

*  Previous  to  the  coming  of  Mr.  Eaton,  Eber  Slierwood  had  sold  at  the 
Creek  some  goods  he  had  brought  to  Michigan  when  he  came  with  his 
family,  but,  as  he  did  not  replenish  his  stock  when  exhausted,  we  do 
.not  think  he  earned  the  title  of  merchant. 

f  Willard  Higgins,  son  of  J.  S.,  then  but  twelve  years  of  age, 
hauled  this  lumber,  shingles,  etc.,  brought  back  provisions  on  his 
return,  and  safely  traversed  roads  which  now  would  be  considered 
impassable. 

j  The  total  tax  levied  on  resident  and  non-resident  property 
apioupted  to  §1379.88. 


following  table  shows  the  names  of  all  who  were  then 
assessed  as  resident  tax-payers,  also  the  number  of  acres 
owned  and  the  value  of  real  and  personal  estate  possessed 
by  each  at  that  time. 

Albert  Eldred,  acres,  80;  value  of  real  estate,  $320;  value  of  personal 

estate,  $80 ;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $400. 
John  W  eare,  acres,  280;  value  of  real  estate,  $1120;  value  of  personal 

estate,  $320 ;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $1440. 
Oka  Town,  acres,  100;  value  of  real  estate,  $400;  value  of  personal 

estate,  $77 ;.  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $477. 
Chester  Buckley,  in  the  village;  value  of  real  estate,  $420;  value  of 
personal  estate,  $200;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate, 
$620. 
L.  B.  Coats,  acres,  30i;  value  of  real  estate,  $222;  value  of  personal 

estate,  $70;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $292. 
Timothy  Coats,  acres,  117;  value  of  real  estate,  $468;  value  of  per- 
sonal estate,  $100;  total  v.alue  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $568. 
Samuel  Foster,  in  the  village;  value  of  real  estate,  $1500;  value  of 
personal  estate,  $345;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate, 
$1845. 
S.  D.  Foster,  acres,  80 ;  value  of  real  estate,  $320 ;  value  of  personal 

estate,  $55;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $375. 
Sloan  Eaton,  value  of  personal  estate,  $40. 
J.  S.  Higgins,  value  of  real  estate,  $200;  value  of  personal  estate, 

$95  ;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $295. 
Gilbert  Higgins,  value  of  real  estate,  $1000;  value  of  personal  estate, 

$55 ;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $1055. 
Hull  Sherwood,  Jr.,  acres,  93 ;  value  of  real  estate,  $440 ;  value  of 
personal  estate,  $135;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate, 
$675. 
Eber  Sherwood,  acres,  359;    value  of  real  estate,  $1486;   value  of 
personal  estate,  $230;   total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate, 
$1716. 
Samuel  Town,  acres,  41 ;  value  of  real  estate,  $200 ;  value  of  personal 

estate,  $90  ;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $290. 
James  Hawks,  acres,  240  ;  value  of  real  estate,  $960 ;  value  of  per- 
sonal estate,  $100 ;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $1060. 
M.  W.  Rowe,  acres,  36;  value  of  real  estate,  S130. 
Orsamus  Eaton,  acres,  80;  value  of  real  estate,  $320;  value  of  per- 
sonal estate,  $15;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $336. 
Koyal  Sherwood,  acres,  120;  value  of  real  estate,  $660;  value  of  per-       , 

sonal  estate,  $100  ;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $660. 
A.  L.  Cotton,  acres,  316 ;  value  of  real  estate,  $1260 ;  value  of  per- 
^  sonal  estate,  $120 ;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $1380. 
Abijah  Chichester,  acres,  76;  value  of  real  estate,  $304;    value  of 
personal  e8tate,.$70 ;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $374. 
Sophia  Sherwood,  acres,  197;  value  of  real  estate,  $788;  va'lue  of 
personal  estate,  $125;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate, 
$913. 
Hull  Sherwood,  Sr.,  acres,  270;  value  of  real  estate,  $1160;  value  of 
personal  estate,  $136;   total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate 
$1295. 
Levin  Adams,  acres.  111 ;  value  of  real  estate,  $444 ;  value  of  personal 

estate,  $70 ;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $514. 
Giles  Scott,  acres,  105;  value  of  real  estate,  $420;  value  of  personal 

estate,  $190 ;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $610. 
Edrio  Atwater,  value  of  personal  estate,  $75. 
Charles  Miles,  acres,  120 ;  value  of  real  estate,  $480  ;  value  of  personal 

estate,  $250 ;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $730. 
Norman  Davis,  value  of  personal  estate,  $60. 
James  Kendall,  value  of  personal  estate,  $15. 
Jeremy  Lindsley,  acres,  80 ;  value  of  real  estate,  $320. 
Thomas  James,  acres,  71;  value  of  real  estate,  $284. 
James  Smith,  Jr.,  acres,  240;  value  of  real  estate,  $1760.. 
J.  L.  Shearer,  acres,  i;  value  of  real  estate,  $50;  value  of  personal 

estate,  $200;  total  value  of  real  and  personal  estate,  $250. 
Sherwood  A  Co.,  acres,  140 ;  value  of  real  estate,  $2560. 
H.  J.  Sherwood,  administrator  of  Jackson's  estate,  acres,  60  •  value 
of  real  estate,  $300.  ' 

EAKLY   BUSINESS   MEN. 
Those  persons,  residents  of  Otsego,  subject  to  the  pay- 
ment of  a  specific  State  tax  during  the  third  quarter  of 


OTSEGO  TOWNSHIP. 


207 


1836  ("  there  being  no  persons  liable  for  the  payment  of 
such  tax  within  the  second  quarter  of  said  year")  were 
Kowe  &  Eaton;  time  of  commencing,  August  1st;  occu- 
pation, retail  store.  Eaton  &  Chichester;  time  of  commenc- 
ing, September  13th  ;  occupation,  retail  store.  D.  L.  Case; 
time  of  commencing,  September  13th  ;  occupation,  retail 
store.  The  additional  names  reported  for  the  last  quarter  of 
1836  were  J.  S.  Higgins ;  time  of  commencement,  Octo- 
ber 14th  ;  business,  inn-keeper.  John  Hawks ;  time  of 
commencing,  October  10th  ;  business,  grocer. 

In  1838  those  assessed  for  the  same  tax  were  Roswell 
Crane,  inn-keeper  ;  time  of  commencing,  Dec.  18, 1837.  L. 
Buckley,  merchant,  Jan.  1,  1838.  S.  and  S.  D.  Foster  & 
Co.,  merchants,  Jan.  1, 1838.  H.  and  E.  Sherwood  &  Co., 
merchants,  Jan.  1,  1880.  Turner  Aldrich,  business  not 
specified,  Jan.  1,  1880. 

RESIDENTS   OF   TOWNSHIP   A.ND  VILLAGES  IN 


1840. 


Section 

A.  L.  Cotton 18,  20 

Eber  Sherwood 22,  27,  28,  29 

Oka  Town 21,  27,  31,  34 

Albert  Eldred 25 

Timothy  Coats 24 

John  Demarest 36 

Jeremy  Lindsley 26 

E.  Eaton 27 

Henry  Fisher 13 

Isaac  Fisher 13 

Samuel  Beckwich 15,  34 

Edward  Sherwood 21 

Benjamin  Martin 17 

Graines  Rose Personal 

T.  B.  Pierce,  tavern-keeper 

Jeremy  Drew 4,  30 

H.  D.  Pierce 30 

Orsamus  Eaton 8 

N.  N.  White 9 

Turner  Aldrich 28 

Boyal  Sherwood 15,  20,  28 


Section 

Crawford  &  Packard 24 

E.  B.  Wiggins 14,  23 

E.  H.  House Personal 

E.  Aldrich 19 

Luke  Bailey 14 

Samuel  Foster 25 

H.  H.  Comstock 14,  23,  24 

Daniel  Wing 36 

Widow  Weare 25 

Heman  Parkhurst 8,  22 

H.M.Sherwood 22 

Levin  Adams 21 

Charles  Miles 32 

E.  Bragg 32 

Martin  W.  Rowe 32 

Abijah  Chichester 17 

Abram  Chichester 18 

W.  Clark 29,  32 

James  Hawks 29 

John  Hawks .T 32 

Giles  Scott 21 


VILLAGE   OP   OTSEGO,*  ON  SECTION  23. 


RoswoU  Crane. 
Samuel  F.  Drury. 
L.  C.  Anderson. 

Bostwick. 

Samuel  Foster,  inn-keeper. 
lis  B.  Coats. 
Gilbert  Higgins. 
Wait  Franklin. 
James  Franklin. 


Henry  Green. 
L.  Buckley. 
William  Orr. 
Samuel  D.  Foster. 
C.  C.  Bronson. 
Samuel  Beckwith. 
J.  Wade. 
C.  D.  Parkhurst. 
H.  H.  Comstock. 


VILLAGE   OF   NEW  ROCHESTER,  ON  SECTION  21. 
Philip  Burlingham.  J.  Stratton. 


Orsamus  Eaton. 

M.  Hawks. 

Martin  W.  Rowe. 

E.  Hawks. 

Giles  Scott,  tavern,  etc. 

Royal  Sherwood. 


Samuel  Burlingham. 
R.  S.  Burlingham,  mills. 
Sophia  Sherwood. 
Stokes  P.  White. 
N.  N.  White. 
P.  Ross. 
Samuel  B.  Town. 

Watson,  which  at  the  time  of  its  organization  included 
the  present  towns  of  Watson,  Hopkins,  and  Dorr,  was  set 
off  in  1842.  This  considerably  diminished  the  numbers  of 
the  old  township,  but  its  agricultural  and  manufacturing 
interests  were  rapidly  developed,  and  in  1850,  with  158 
dwellings  and  818  inhabitants,  it  took  the  first  place,  in 
point  of  numbers,  among  Allegan  County  townships.  Three 
years  later  its  tax-paying  inhabitants  were  as  follows : 


*  Those  who  owned  property  in  the  township  and  villages  are  men- 
tioned in  both. 

38 


Section 

Anderson,  Austin 10 

Allen,  Ethan 10 

Allen,  Charles  K 2 

Allen,  Obadiah vil. 

Aldrich,  Isaac 13 

Booher,  Henry vil. 

Brewster,  T.  S vil. 

Buck,  Ira vil. 

Beard,  John 10 

Baird,  John  D 2 

Baird,  J.  W 11 

Baird,  Albert U 

Benson,  Charles 12 

Barto,  Carlton 10 

Brundsige,  William  C 10 

Burlingham,  Philip 20 

Baker,  John 13 

Brundage,  Harry 15 

Barnes,  A.  M 32 

Buck,  A.  M 22 

Ballon,  Byron vil. 

Botsford,  A.  D 3 

Belcher,  Widow vil. 

Batchelor,  Joel vil. 

Blackmond.  A.  W vil. 

Chapman,  Ezra  B 16 

Cary,  Willard  E 22 

Chadbourn,  Benjamin 11,  12 

Carter,  William 19 

Craiie,  Henry  F 13 

Chapman,  Joseph  H 22 

Coffin,  Mathew 25 

Crissy,  W.  H vil. 

Coney,  W.  H vil. 

Coats,  L.  B vil. 

Coats,  Boyd vil. 

Chichester,  Ira 22 

Crittenden,  Nelson 22 

Cotton,  A.  L 20,  18 

Duncan,  John 13 

Duncan,  Simeon 13 

Drew,  Jeremy 4,  30 

Drew,  Joseph  W 20 

Drew,  Darwin Per. 

Dunn,  David 13 

Dunning,  C.  F 25 

Dean,  David  W vil. 

Day,  T.  S vil. 

Edsell,  Wilson  C 14,  23 

Eldred,  Ferdinand 24,  25 

Engel,  John 19 

Engel,  William 19 

Eaton,  Ebenezer 34 

Eaton,  Willard  G 22 

Edson,  Charles 21,  28 

Eager,  Benjamin,  Jr vil. 

Eaton,  Orsamus vil. 

Eaton,  R.  C vil. 

Edwards,  T.  A.  H vil. 

Fuller,  Samuel 36 

Fort,  Daniel 14 

Farnsworth,  Moses 17 

Fox,  C.  D vil. 

Fitch,  James vil. 

Foster,  Lenora vil. 

Foster,  Samuel  D 26,  vil. 

Foster,  George  H.,  furnace  and 
fixtures  on  mill-race. 

Foster,  Widow vil. 

Foster,  A.  R.,  store. 

Poster,  Nathaniel vil. 

Possel,  Peter vil. 

Prankliii,  James 34 

Gray,  James 12 

Gaylor,  Russell 30 

Gates,  George  C 14 

Gillman,  Ezekiel 13 

Gibbs,  John 31 

Green,  Henry 35 

House,  E.  H 14 

House.  William  A 25 

Hart,  Nathaniel 30 

Hendrickson,  Levi 3 

Hendriokson,  Daniel ^ 3 

Hendrickson,  David 3 

Hicks,  Thomas 1 

Hager,  P.  A 22 

Houghton,  Rufus 35 

Hall,  Daniel  M.,  tannery 13 

Hard,  Jonathan 14 

Hawks,  James 29 

Higgins,  J.  S 32 

Higgins,  Willard vil. 

Hill,  Joshua viL 


Section 

Hopkins,  C.  D vil. 

Hoiig,  Abram vil. 

Hawks,  Mrs.  L.  A 33 

Houghton,  Lewis vil. 

Hanmer,  John vil. 

Hanmer,  James vil. 

Haines,  C.  C vil. 

House,  John vil. 

Johnson,  Israel 2 

Johnson,  Henry  S 2 

Johnson,  Herman 36 

Lane,  Leland 11 

Lemm,  S.  C 26 

Lindsley,  Jeremy 26 

Lewis,  AdamS 8  ~ 

Lewis,  Alpheus 8 

Leigbton,  George 29,  32 

Leighton,  Samuel 29,  32 

Lamphier,  Benjamin 21 

Lane,  James  P 11 

Munn,  John 24 

Martin,  Benjamin 17 

McGary,  James 26 

Myers,  Charles  T 26,  27 

Mansfield,  L.,  shop  on  race.. ..vil. 

Mansfield,  Alpheus vil. 

Mansfield,  William Per. 

Mead,  Michael vil. 

Monteith,  William  J vil. 

Moulton,  Henry vil. 

Monteith,  James vil. 

Mansfield,  William,  saw-mill.. vil. 

Newton,  D 8,  9 

Nelson,  Robert 26 

Norton,  James,  store  and  grist- 
mill  vil. 

Otto,  George  D 30,  29 

Orr,  William vil. 

Prior,  Joseph 9 

Palmer,  A.  T.  B 28,  32,  33 

Pierce,  Henry 20,  30 

Porter,  James  B vil. 

Richmond,  Nelson 20 

Russell,  Lester 28,  33 

Rose,  Almon .34 

Rose,  Hiram  B 34 

Rose,  Charles 34 

Ross,  Raphael 29 

Rex,  George 18 

Richards,  Peter 17 

Rouse,  Amos vil. 

Rowe,  Widow vil. 

Stoughton,  Henry  C,  grist-  and 

saw-mills,  Pine  Creek 21 

Sherwood,  Eber 22 

Stockwell,  Seth 30 

Stokes,  Thomas 22 

Sebring,  William 32 

Skinner,  Ezekiel 19 

Stratton,  Thomas 19 

Sherarts,  George 20,  21 

Scott,  Justin 21 

South,  John  G 34 

Sherwood,  Edmond 21 

Sherwood,  S.  W 27 

Sherwood,  William 27 

Stark,  Henry 2 

Smith,  M.D vil. 

Stephens,  Solomon vil. 

Squires,  Alonzo 22 

Sherwood,  Sophia 21 

Smith,  Osmand,  factory  on  mill- 
race vil. 

Stoner,  Charles Per. 

Town,  Oka 6,  24,  23,  31 

Town,  Samuel 8 

Tompkins,  Daniel  D 21 

Tyler,  William vil. 

Tompkins,  Samuel,  tavern. .21,  32 

Whitcomb,  Alfred 24 

WiBg,  Daniel 36 

Wicks,  L.S 28 

Wakefield,  Harvey 2 

Warn,  George 21 

Wasson,  Robert 26 

Wasson,  Johnson 27,  34 

White,  Josiah  W 23,  24 

White,  Nathan 9 

Wiley,  Edward 19 

Witch,  Francis vil. 

White,  Widow vil. 

Warrant,  Thomas  M 24 

Wiggins,  R.  B vil. 


298 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARKY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


The  population  had  increased  to  1429  in  1860.  In  1874 
there  were  2118  inhabitants.  With  700  voters,  its  present 
population  will  approximate  3500. 

INITIAL  EVENTS. 
Among  the  first  events  of  their  kind  to  occur  in  the  ter- 
ritory just  described,  and  not  already  noticed,  were  the  fol- 
lowing :  Lucius  C.  Scott,  son  of  Giles,  who  was  born  in  the 
winter  of  1830-31,  and  died  three  years  later,  was  the  first 
child  born  in  the  township.     The  first  female  child  was 
Amanda,  a  daughter  of  Eber  Sherwood,  born  in  November, 
1832.     The  first  marriage  was  that  of  John  B.  Yeomans 
to  Miss  Aldrich,  a  daughter  of  Turner  Aldrich,  in  the 
spring  of  1831.     The  first  bridge  across  the  Kalamazoo 
was  built  at  Pine  Creek  in  1835;  the  first  at  Otsego  in 
1836.     Oka  Town  assisted  to  build  both,  also  the  one  at 
Plainwell,  and  all  were  constructed  with  money  contributed 
by  the  people,  no  taxes  being  levied.     Samuel  Town  built 
the  first  framed  dwelling  at  Pine  Creek ;  Dr.  L.  B.  Coats 
the  first  at  Otsego.     Eber  Sherwood  sold  the  first  goods  in 
town  at  Pine  Creek  in  1832.     Royal  Sherwood  and  John 
L.  Shearer  were  also  early  merchants  there.    Elisha  Belcher, 
who  settled  soon  after  1840,  was  the  first  resident  attorney 
in  the  township.     Samuel  D.  Foster  carried  the  first  mail 
in  1832,  which  was  received  once  a  week  from  Kalamazoo. 
After  the  Allegan  ofiice  was  established  he  bought  a  team 
of  horses  and  wagon,  and  made  semi-weekly  trips  between 
Allegan  and  Kalamazoo,  carrying  the  mails  and  passengers. 

CIVIL  AND  POLITICAL  HISTORY. 

PROCEEDINGS   OF   THE   FIRST   TOWNSHIP   ELECTION 
HELD   IN   ALLEGAN   COONTY. 

Pursuant  to  an  act  of  the  Legislative  Council  approved 
March  29,  1833,  the  inhabitants  of  the  township  of  Alle- 
gan,* according  to  previous  notice,  met  at  the  house  of 
Samuel  Foster  on  Saturday,  April  6,  1833,  and  organized 
by  choosing  Hull  Sherwood  moderator  and  Cyrenius  Thomp- 
son clerk.  By  virtue  of  his  oflBce  as  a  justice  of  the  peace 
of  Michigan  Territory,  Samuel  Foster  became  one  of  the 
board  of  inspectors,  and  administered  the  oath  to  other 
members  of  the  board.  This  meeting  resulted  in  the  elec- 
tion of  the  following-named  officers : 

Charles  Miles,  Supervisor ;  Cyrenius  Thompson,  Town- 
ship Clerk  ;  Martin  W.  Rowe,  Collector ;  Eber  Sherwood, 
Calvin  C.  White,  D.  A.  Plummer,  Assessors;  Giles  Scott, 
Calvin  C.  White,  Overseers  of  thePoor ;  Turner  Aldrich,  Jr., 
Norman  Davis,  Royal  Sherwood,  Highway  Commissioners ; 
Charles  Miles,  Samuel  Foster,  Cyrenius  Thompson,  School 
Inspectors ;  Martin  W.  Rowe,  Constable ;  Orjjmdo  Weed, 
Eber  Sherwood,  U.  Baker,  Abijah  Chichester,  Overseer  of 
Roads.  The  meeting  then  adjourned  "to  be  convened 
again  at  ten  o'clock  a.m.  on  the  first  Monday  of  April 
next." 

FIRST  GENERAL   ELECTION. 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  electors  of  the  town  of  Allegan,  in  the  county 

of  Allegan,  Jlichigan  Territory,  held  at  the  house  of  Samuel  Foster, 

on  the  8th  day  of  July,  1833,  it  was  found,  after  duly  canvassing  the 

Totes,  that  Lucius  Lyon  had  for  delegate   to  Congress  twenty-two 

*  This  township  included  all  the  territory  in  the  present  county  of 
Allegan. 


votes ;  and  for  delegate  to  the  Legislative  Council,  Calrin  Britain  re- 
ceived twenty  votes,  and  H.  S.  Steward  two  votes. 

(Signed)  "Samuel  Foster, 
"  JoHif  L.  Sheaher, 
"Almekine   L.  COTTOIf, 
"  Cyrenius  Thompson, 

"  luftpectors  of  JBlectiort. 

FIRST  HIGHWAYS   SURVEYED. 

The  first  highway  was  surveyed  by  S.  Viokery,  July  2, 
3,  and  4,  1833,  and  was  described  in  his  field-notes  as 
follows : 

"  Commencing  at  a  point  S.  12°  B.  6  chains  from  the  month  of  Pine 
Creek,  and  running  thence 

1.  S.  77°  1 0'  E.  distance    8  chains  50  links 

2.  N.  72°  11'  E.       "         82       "       64     " 

3.  N.  85°  00'  E.       "         50       "       00     " 

4.  S.  75°  00'  E.       "         30       "       00     " 
6.    S.  46°35'  E.        "         55       "       50     " 

6.  S.  52°  53'  E.  "  166  "  00  " 

7.  S.  34°  18'  -E.  "  27  "  50  " 

8.  S.    2°30'W.  "  7  "  60  " 

9.  S.  11°  00'  E.  "  4  "  50  •• 
10.  S.  10°  24' W.  "  41  "  93  " 

to  a  point  on  the  "Base- Line  8  chains  67  links  east  of  the  northwest 
corner  of  section  six,  township  one  south,  of  range  eleven  west.  Va- 
riation of  magnetic  needle,  5°  B." 

Road  No.  2,  in  township  No.  1  north,  of  range  No.  12 
west,  was  also  surveyed  by  Mr.  Vickery,  July  4, 1833.  It 
began  39  chains  50  links  south  of  a  quarter  section  post  on 
the  south  side  of  section  21 : 

"  Thence  south  39  chains  50  links  to  said  quarter-post ;  same  course, 
15  chains  50  links  to  Cotton's  Brook  ;  south  46°  00'  W.  30  chains  to  a 
stake  near  Aldrich's;  south  14°  40'  W.  45  chains  to  a  point  5  chains 
68  links  east  of  the  southwest  corner  of  section  28  in  said  township." 

During  the  months  of  February  and  March,  1834,  Col. 
Isaac  Barnes,  of  Gull  Prairie,  surveyed  six  highways  in 
township  1  north,  of  range  11  west,_roads  designated  in 
the  old  records  as  number  5  to  10  inclusive. 

TOWNSHIP  ELECTION  OP  1834. 

On  the  first  Monday  in  April,  1834,  the  people  again 
assembled  at  the  house  of  Samuel  Foster  for  the  purpose 
of  electing  township  officers  and  the  transaction  of  such 
business  as  might  be  deemed  necessary.  Charles  Miles 
was  chosen  moderator.  The  meeting  was  then  adjourned 
to  the  school-house.  The  officers  elected  at  this  meeting 
were  Hull  Sherwood,  Supervisor ;  John  L.  Shearer,  Town- 
ship Clerk;  Almerin  L.  Cotton,  Collector;  Giles  Scott, 
Eber  Sherwood,  Cyrenius  Thompson,  Assessors  ;  Orlando 
Weed,  Samuel  Foster,  Giles  Scott,  Highway  Commission- 
ers ;  Samuel  Foster,  Giles  Scott,  Cyrenius  Thompson,  School 
Commissioners;  Ezekiel  Metcalf,  Norman  Davis,  Directors 
of  the  Poor;  Orlando  Weed,  Calvin  C.  White,  Giles  Scott, 
Charles  Miles,  Fence- Viewers ;  John  H.  Adams,  Almerin 
L.  Cotton,  Martin  W.  Rowe,  Constables. 

Overseers  of  Highways.— Diatnat  No.  1,  Lebbeus  Sher- 
wood ;  No.  2,  Giles  Scott;  No.  3,  Almerin  L.  Cotton  ;  No. 
4,  Jonathan  Russell;  No.  5,  Friend  Ives;  No.  6,'Dan 
Arnold. 

After  passing  various  resolutions  regarding  stock  run- 
ning at  large,  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting  were  closed 
by  voting — 


OTSEGO  TOWNSHIP. 


299 


"That  $1.50  bounty  shall  be  paid  by  the  township  for.  each  wolf 
scalp  of  the  large  kind,  and  $0.75  for  every  wolf  scalp  of  the  species 
commonly  called  Prairie  Wolf,  and  for  ev^ery  whelp  of  the  large  kind 
the  same  amount." 

At  a  special  township-meeting  held  April  28,  1834,  for 
the  purpose  of  filling  vacancies  caused  by  the  non-qualifi- 
cation of  two  or  three  elected  to  unimportant  offices,  it 
was — 

'*  Voted,  That  the  township  shall  raise  no  money  for  contingent 
purposes." 

TOWNSHIP  ELECTION,  1835. 
Monday,  April  6,  1835,  the  electors  assembled  for  the 
purpose  of  holding  their  third  and  last  township-meeting 
under  territorial  rule.  They  met  "  at  the  school-house  near 
Eber  Sherwood's."  Charles  Miles  was  chosen  moderator, 
and  the  meeting  resulted  in  the  election  of  the  following 
officers:  Hull  Sherwood,  Jr.,  Supervisor;  John  L.  Shearer, 
Township  Clerk;  Almerin  L.  Cotton,  Collector;  Friend 
Ives,  Eber  Sherwood,  Oka  Town,  Assessors ;  Abijah  Chi- 
chester, Almerin  L.  Cotton,  Silas  Dunham,  Highway  Com- 
missioners ;  Alexander  L.  Ely,  School  Commissioner ;  Mar- 
tin W.  Rowe,  Dan  Arnold,  Directors  of  the  Poor ;  Almerin 
L.  Cotton,  John  H.  Adams,  William  G.  Butler,  Benjamin 
Plummer,  Constables. 

Overseers  of  Highways. — District  No.  1,  Charles  Miles ; 
District  No.  2,  Royal  Sherwood ;  District  No.  3,  Randal 
Crosby ;  District  No.  4,  Calvin  C.  White ;  District  No.  5, 
John  H.  Adams ;  District  No.  6,  William  Still ;  District 
No.  7,  Leander  S.  Prouty ;  District  No.  8,  Rensselaer  S. 
Crosby. 

At  this  meeting  the  supervisor  was  authorized  "  to  raise 
$80  for  contingent  purposes." 

With  the  exception  of  placing  upon  record  the  survey  of 
roads  laid  in  ranges  12, 13,  14, 15,  and  16  during  the  year 

1835,  no  further  action  seems  to  have  been  taken  by  the 
authorities  of  Allegan  township  other  than  already  noted. 
It  was  divided  in  March,  1836,  and  the  townships  of  Plain- 
field,  Otsego,  Allegan,  and  Newark  formed  in  its  stead. 

ORGANIZATION  OF   OTSEGO   TOWNSHIP. 
By  an  act  of  the  State  Legislature  approved  March  23, 

1836,  Otsego  was  erected  from  Allegan  township  and  its 

boundaries,  etc.,  defined  as  follows : 

"  All  that  portion  of  the  County  of  Allegan  designated  by  the 
■  United  States  survey  as  townships  number  one,  two,  three,  and  four 
north,  of  range  number  twelve  west,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  set 
off  and  organized  into  a  separate  township  by  the  name  of  Otsego, 
and  the  first  township-meeting  therein  shall  be  held  at  the  school- 
house  in  said  township  on  the  first  Monday  in  April  next." 

FIRST  TOWNSHIP-MEETING. 
In  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  foregoing  act, 
the  electors  convened  at  the  school-house  on  Monday, 
April  4,  1836.  On  motion  of  Oka  Town,  Esq.,  the  meet- 
in"  was  adjourned  to  the  dwelling-house  of  Eber  Sherwood, 
where  the  following  officers  were  chosen :  Hull  Sherwood, 
Jr.,  Supervisor;  L.  B.  Coats,  Township  Clerk;  Gilbert 
Higgins,  L.  B.  Coats,  Samuel  Foster,  Assessors ;  Samuel 
E.  Town,  Collector  j  John  Weare,  Norman  Davis,  Samuel 
Foster,  Highway  Commissioners;  Charles  Miles,  Isaac 
Fisher,  L.  B.  Coats,  School  Commissioners;  Abijah  Chi- 
chester, Almerin  L.  Cotton,  Directors  of  the  Poor;  Samuel 


E..  Town,  J.  M.  Smith,  Constables ;  Oka  Town,  Charles 
Miles,  Martin  W.  Rowe,  Samuel  Foster,  Justices  of  the 
Peace. 

It  was  further  voted  that  the  overseers  of  highways  be 
fence-viewers  and  pound-master.  The  meeting  was  then 
adjourned  for  one  year  to  the  house  of  Samuel  E.  Town. 

TOWNSHIP-MEETING   EXTRAORDINARY. 

On  the  11th  of  April,- 1836,  it  was  discovered  that  the 
proceedings  of  the  recent  township-meeting  were  illegal  and 
void  throughout.  Thereupon  twelve  electors  presented  a 
petition  to  the  custodian  of  the  township  records  asking  that 
a  meeting  be  called.  Accordingly,  L.  B.  Coats  advertised 
for  a  meeting  to  be  held  April  22,  1836. 

On  the  date  last  mentioned  the  electors  met  at  the  school- 
house.  Samuel  E.  Town  was  chosen  chairman,  and  L.  B. 
Coats  clerk  pro  tern.  The  meeting  then  adjourned  to  the 
house  of  Eber  Sherwood.  After  examining  the  proceedings 
of  the  first  meeting  aforesaid  it  was  ascertained  that  the 
said  township  board  throughout  had  neglected  taking  the 
usual  oath  prescribed  by  law  before  receiving  votes,  etc. 

"It  was  therefore  unanimously  agreed  that  the  said  meeting  be 
rendered  '  uiUla  bona.'  It  was  also  resolved  unanimously  that 
the  first  township-meeting  in  the  township  of  Otsego  he  held  at 
the  school-house  in  said  township,  on  Monday,  the  2d  day  of  May 
next,  agreeably  to  an  act*  of  the  Legislature  of  Michigan,  making 
provisions  for  the  organization  of  townships,  etc.,  approved  Mareh 
23,  1836. 

"  It  was  also  motioned  and  carried,  that  twelve  of  the  electors 
present  advertise  in  three  of  the  most  public  places  for  a  township- 
meeting  to  he  held  at  the  school-house,  on  the  first  Monday  in  May 
next,  at  ten  of  the  clock  a.m.,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  all  township 
ofiicers." 

Agreeably  to  public  notice,  the  electors  of  the  township 
again  met  at  the  school-house  on  Monday,  May  2,  1836, 
and  then  adjourned  to  the  dwelling  of  Eber  Sherwood. 
Charles  Miles  was  chosen  chairman,  and  John  L.  Shearer 
clerk  pro  (em.  As  a  result  of  this  meeting  the  officers 
elected  were  Hull  Sherwood,  Jr.,  Supervisor;  L.  B.  Coats, 
Township  Clerk;  Oka  Town, -P.  Higgins,  Edric  Atwater, 
Assessors ;  Oka  Town,  Jabin  S.  Higgins,  Charles  Miles, 
Almerin  L.  Cotton,  Justices  of  the  Peace;  Richard  Weare, 
Collector ;  John  Weare,  Samuel  Foster,  Thomas  H.  Thomas, 
Highway  Commissioners  ;  Abijah  Chichester,  John  Weare, 
Charles  Miles,  School  Commissioners  ;  Hull  Sherwood,  Jr., 
Giles  Scott,  Directors  of  the  Poor;  Richard  Weare,  J.  M. 
Smith,  Constables.  Charles  Miles,  of  District  No.  1,  John 
L.  Shearer,  of  District  No.  2,  and  John  Weare,  of  District 
No.  3,  were  appointed  overseers  of  highways,  fence-viewers 
pound-masters,  and  field-drivers. 

RESULTS  OF  EARLY  ELECTIONS. 
On  Sept.  12,  1836,  a  special  meeting  was  held  for  the 
election  of  a  delegate  to  the  State  convention.  After  can- 
vassing the  votes  it  was  ascertained  that  Richard  Weare 
had  received  34  votes.  The  vote  was  unanimous,  no  other 
person  having  received  a  ballot. 

*  Section  53  of  an  act  to  organize  certain  townships,  approved  March 
23, 1836,  reads  as  follows : 

"  If  in  any  of  the  townships  organized  at  the  present  session  of  the 
Legislature  there  shall  not  be  held  a  township-meeting  on  the  first 
Monday  of  April  next,  then  said  township-meeting  may  be  held  on 
I     the  first  Monday  of  May  next." 


300 


HISTORY   OF  ALLEGAN   AND   BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


At  a  general  election,  held  at  the  house  of  Eber  Sher- 
wood, Nov.  7,  1836,  the  total  number  of  votes  polled  for 
candidates  for  State  and  county  officers  was  32.  On  the 
21st  and  22d  of  August,  1837,  an  election  was  held  to 
choose  a  representative  to  Congress.  As  candidates,  Heze- 
kiah  G.  Wells  received  35  votes,  and  Isaac  E.  Crary  18 
votes.  At  the  gubernatorial  election  held  Nov.  6  and  7, 
1837,  Charles  C.  Trowbridge  received  40  votes,  and  Stevens 
T.  Mason  28.  Candidates  for  State  and  county  officers  at 
an  election  held  Nov.  5  and  6,  1838,  received  a  total  of  75 
votes. 

TOWNSHIP   OFFICERS. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  principal  township  officers 
elected  annually*  for  the  years  from  1837  to  1879,  in- 
clusive : 

SnPERVISOBS. 
183r,  Oka  Town;  1838,  Hull  Sherwood;  1839-40,  Oka  Town;  1841, 
Hull  Sherwood;  1842,  L.  B.  Coats;  1843,  Osmond  Smith;  1844, 
Henry  Sheldon  ;t  1845-46,  Hull  Sherwood;  1847,  Leland  Lane; 
1848-49,  Oka  Town;  1850,  Willard  G.  Eaton;  1851-52,  Randall 
F.  Kellogg;  1853-57,  Abram  Hoag ;  1858-59,  Ira  Chichester; 
1860,  Philip  Burlingham  ;J  1861-66,  Ira  Chichester;  1867,  Mar- 
vin G.  Higgins ;  1868,  Edwin  M.  Allen  ;  1869,  James  Franklin  ; 
1870,  Wilson  C.  Edsell ;  1871-72,  Alva  D.  Botsford  ;  1873,  Abra- 
ham J.  Van  Wyok;  1874-76,  Alva  D.  Botsford;  1877,  Abram 
Hoag;  1878,  John  F.  Hale;  1879,  Alva  D.  Botsford. 

TOWN  CLEKKS. 
1837,  L.  B.  Coats ;  1838,  Orsamus  Eaton ;  1839,  Charles  D.  Park- 
horst;  1840,  Lucius  0.  Anderson ;  1841,  Henry  Sheldon ;§  1842 
-43,  James  Fitch ;  1844,  Willard  «.  Eaton ;  1845,  Daniel  M.  Hall ; 
1846,EollinC.  Dennison;  1847,  Abram  Hoag;  1 848,  James  Fitch ; 
1849,  Orsamus  Eaton  ;  1850,  Abram  Hoag;  1851,  Willard  Hig- 
gins; 1852-55,  Clark  D.  Fox;  1856,  James  Monteith ;  1857, 
Cyril  N.  White;  1858-60,  Clark  D.  Fox;  1861,  Irving  T. 
Clapp;l|  1862-64,  James  Smith;  1865,  Alva  D.  Botsford;  1866 
-72,  James  Smith;  1873-74,  Stacey  K.  Potter;  1875-78,  James 
Smith;  1879,  Abraham  J.  Van  Wyck. 

TREASUKEES. 
1839-42,  Eber  Sherwood;  1843,  Henry  Sheldon;  1844-46,  Leland 
Lane;  1847,  Rollin  C.  Dennison  ;  1848,  Abram  Hoag;  1849-52, 
James  B.  Porter;  1853,  Willard  Higgins;  1854^58,  Darwin  a! 
Drew;  1859-60,  Joel  S.  Pratt;  1861-62,  Turner  S.  Day;  1863, 
Alfred  Ried;  1864^69,  Nabum  Gilbert;  1870,  Henry  M.Pratt; 
1871,  Byron  Ballou ;  1872,  Abram  Hoag;  1873-75,  James  Frank- 
lin; 1876,  Abram  Hoag;  1877-78,  Albert  T.  B.  Palmer;  1879, 
Stephen  B.  Hoag. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 
Oka  Town,  Roswell  Crane,  1837;  Lucius  C.Anderson,  Almerin  L. 
Cotton,  1838;  Lucius  C.  Anderson,  Eli  Watson,  Osmond  Smith, 
Philip  Burlingham,  1839;  Osmond  Smith,  1840;  Daniel  Leggctt, 
1841;  Daniel  Wing,  James  Hawks,  1842;  James  M.  Packard, 
1843;  Osmond  Smith,  1844;  Aaron  Chichester,  Philip  Burling- 
ham, 1845;  Abram  Hoag,  1846;  Charles  P.  West,  Samuel  F. 
Drury,  1847;  Willard  G.  Eaton,  James  Fitch,  1848;  Elisha  Bel- 
cher, 1849;  Orsamus  Eaton,  Henry  Moulton,  Jeremy  Drew,  1850; 
Benjamin  Chadbourn,  1851 ;  Wilson  C.  Edsell,  Franklin  Chad- 
sey,  1852;  George  C.  Gates,  Seth  Stockwell,  Samuel  D.  Foster, 
1853;  George  C.Gates,  Osmond  Smith,  1854;  Samuel  D.  Foster, 
Joel  S.  Bennett,  1855;  Henry  C.  Stoughton,  1866;  Wilson  c! 
Edsell,  K.  W.  Mansfield,  1857;  K.  W.  Mansfield,  1858;  Oka 
Town,  1869;  Willard  G.Eaton,  1860;  Wilson  C.  Edsell,  1861; 
Samuel  M.  Hubbard,  Johnson  Wasson,  Phineas  A.  Hager,  1862  • 
Stephen  M.  Shurtleff,  William  Cross,  1863;  Mathew  CofBn,  Asa 


*A11  vacancies,  appointments,  etc.,  are  not  shown. 

t  Osmond  Smith  appointed  to  fill  vacancy  September,  1844. 

t  Joseph  H.  Chapman  appointed  to  fill  vacancy  September,  1860. 

g  Osmond  Smith  appointed  to  fill  vacancy  October,  1841. 

II  James  Smith  appointed  to  fill  vacancy  June,  1861. 


W.  Blaokmond,  1864;  Wilson  C.  Edsell,  1865;  Samuel  M.  Hub- 
bard, 1866;  Frank  Plogart,  1867;  Orsamus  Eaton,  1868;  Wil- 
liam Cross,  Charles  Ross,  1869;  Henry  Stark,  1870;  M.  Eldred, 
Moses  K.  Stickney,  1871 ;  Oscar  Hare,  John  F.  Hale,  Asa  W. 
Blaokmond,  1872;  Julius  M.  Baton,  William  Cross,  1873;  Asa 
W.  Blaokmond,  1874;  Gustavus  A.  Morgan,  Oka  Town,  1875; 
William  Cross,  1876;  Herman  Johnson,  1877;  Daniel  M.Hall, 
Horace  T.  Monroe,  1878;  Horace  T.  Monroe,  1879. 

HIGHWAY  COMMISSIONERS. 
Jeremy  Drew,  Roswell  Crane,  Abijah  Chichester,  1837;  E.  H.  House, 
Aaron  Chichester,  Eli  AValson,  1838:  Daniel  Wing,  Hull  Sher- 
wood, Almerin  L.  Cotton,  1839;  William  S.  Miner,  Abijah  Chi- 
chester, Clark  Corey,  1840 ;  Daniel  Wing,  Jesse  D.  Stone,  Roswell 
Crane,  1841;  Hull  Sherwood,  Daniel  Wing,  Roswell  Crane,  1842; 
Eber  Sherwood,  Nathaniel  Hai-t,  H.  B.  Seymour,  1843 ;  Joshua 
Hill,  James  Franklin,  Philip  Burlingham,  1844 ;  Jabin  S.  Hig- 
gins, James  M.  Packard,  Daniel  Wing,  1845 ;  William  Carter, 
Oka  Town,  Almerin  L.  Cotton,  1846;  Eber  Sherwood,  William 
Carter,  Henry  Monlton,  1847;  Harvey  N.  Crawford,  1848;  Samuel 
Beokwith,  1849;  Eber  Sherwood,  1850  ;  Josiah  W.  Beard,  1851 ; 
Benjamin  Eager,  1862;  Charles  T.  Myers,  Seth  Stockwell,  1853; 
Philip  Burlingham,  Ethan  Allen,  1854;  William  Carter,  1855; 
Benjamin  Eager,  1856;  Joel  S.  Bennett,  1857;  Charles  D.  Hop- 
kins, 1858;  Henry  Pieroe,"l859  ;  Levi  B.  Shaw,  1860;  Hall  Gil- 
bert, Benjamin  Eager,  1861;  Chester  D.  Hopkins,  Theodore  D. 
Hart,  1862;  Edward  Wyley,  1863;  Horace  T.  Monroe,  1864; 
Eber  Sherwood,  1865 ;  Wallace  L.  Stockwell,  1866  ;  Jabin  S.  Hig- 
gins, 1867;  Henry  D.  Stuck,  1868;  Harvey  H.  French,  1869 ; 
Benjamin  F.  Benn,  1870;  Chauncey  Scott,  1871;  Harvey  H. 
French,  1872;  Benoni  Merryfield,  1873;  Chauncey  Scott,  1874; 
M.  Eldred,  1875 ;  Salmon  C.  Webster,  1876 ;  John  Chambers, 
1877-78;  George  E.  Patten,  1879. 

ASSESSORS. 
James  Hawks,  Charles  Miles,  Roswell  Crane,  1837;  N.  E.  Mathews, 
Eli  Watson,  Martin  W.  Rowe,  Orsamus  Eaton,  1838;  Eber  Sher- 
wood, Charles  D.  Parkhurst,  Almerin  L.  Cotton,  1839;  Eber 
Sherwood,  Daniel  Wing,  Moses  Hawks,  1840;  Eber  Sherwood, 
William  Allen,  John  Weaver,  Jr.,  1841 ;  Charles  D.  Parkhurst, 
Philip  Burlingham,  1842;  Hull  Sherwood,  Henry  Pierce,  1843; 
Hull  Sherwood,  Almerin  L.  Cotton,  1844;  James  Hawks,  Henry 
Sheldon,  1845;  James  Hawks,  Samuel  F.  Drury,  1846;  Benjamin 
Chadbourn,  Samuel  Beckwith,  1847;  Nathaniel  Hart,  Willard 
G.  Eaton,  1848;  Elisha  Belcher,  W.  G.  Baton,  1849;  Supervisor, 
1850;  Samuel  Beckwith,  Joel  Batchelor,  1851;  Supervisors, 
1852-64  ;  L.  B.  Coats,  Jeremy  Drew,  1865  ;  Thomas  M.  Warrant, 
Eber  Sherwood,  1856;  Supervisor,  1857;  James  Hawks,  Abram 
Hoag,  1858;  Supervisors,  1859-70;  Charles  H.  Prentiss,  Benoni 
Merryfield,  1871;  M.  Eldred,  Benoni  Merryfield,  1872;  M.  El- 
dred, Horace  Phelps,  1873;  Supervisors,  1874^79. 

COLLECTORS. 
Frederick  Coats,  1837  ;1f  H.  H.  Upham,  1838;  George  Warner,  1839; 
Osmond  Smith,  appointed  to  fill  vacancy  Nov.  8,  1839  •  T.  B. 
Pierce,  1840  ;  Henry  Weare,  1841. 

SCHOOL  INSPECTORS. 
Lucius  C.  Anderson,  L.  B.  Coats,  Aaron  Chichester,  Moses  Hawks, 
Orsamus  Eaton,  1837;  L.  B.  Coats,  Samuel  Foster,  Moses 
Hawks,  1838;  L.  B.  Coats,  Daniel  Ming,  Philip  Burlingham, 
1839 ;  Clark  Corey,  Moses  Hawks,  L.  B.  Coats,  1840 ;  R.  M.  Bige- 
low,  John  B.  Wheeler,  Solomon  Case,  1841 ;  Charles  D.  Park- 
hurst, Jacob  M.  Cooper,  Henry  Sheldon,  1842 ;  C.  P.  West,  Henry 
Sheldon,  1843;  C.  P.  West,  1844;  Willard  G.  Eaton,  1845;  Le- 
nora  Foster,  1846;  Henry  Moulton,  1847;  L.  B.  Coats,  1848; 
L.  W.  Lorell,  1849;  Ira  Chichester,  Lenora  Foster,  1860;  Wil- 
lard G.  Eaton,  1851;  Wilson  C.  Bdsell,  1852;  Henry  C.  Stough- 
ton, 1853;  Abel  C.  Roberts,  1854;  Courtland  B.  Smith,  1855- 
Abel  C.  Roberts,  Horace  C.  Clapp,  1866 ;  Willard  G.  Eaton' 
1857;  William  B.  Thomas,  1858;  Lenora  Foster,  Phineas  A 
Hager,  1859;  Willard  G.  Eaton,  1860;  Phineas  Hager,  1861- 
Gustavus  A.  Morgan,  1862;  James  M.  Ballou,  1863;  Franklin 


1[  Benjamin  F.  Baldwin  elected  to  fill  vacancy  Nov.  29,  1837. 


OTSEGO  TOWNSHIP. 


301 


Chadsey,  Wilson  C.  Edaell,  1864;  Lenora  Foster,  Charles  F. 
Whitney,  1865 ;  James  M.  Ballon,  Grustavus  A.  Morgan,  1866; 
Dnniel  M.  Hall,  1867;  Willard  Higgins,  1868;  Leander  A. 
Leighton,  1 869 ;  James  M.  Ballon,  1870 ;  Julius  A.  Anderson,  1 871 ; 
William  H.  Coleman,  1872;  Julius  A.  Anderson,  1873;  Nelson 
L.  Sprague,  1874;  James  M.  Ballou,  1875;  Harvey  H.  French, 
1876;  James  M.  Ballou,  1877;  Nelson  L.  Sprague,  1878;  Oliver 
Wise,  1879. 

TOWNSHIP  SUPERINTENDENT  OE  SCHOOLS. 
Gustavus  A.  Morgan,  1875-77;   Charles  Temple,  1878;   Alfred  E. 
McNett,  1879. 

DRAIN  COMMISSIONERS. 

Willard  Higgins,  1873;  William  H.  Sherwood,  1874-76;  Harmon  L. 
Ishman,  1877-78 ;  Henry  D.  Stuck,  1879. 

DIRECTORS  OF  THE  POOR. 
Almerin  L.  Cotton,  Turner  Aldricb,  Jr.,  1837 ;  Almerin  L.  Cotton, 
Moses  Hawks,  1838-39  ;  Abijah  Chichester,  Daniel  Wing,  1840; 
Eber  Sherwood,  Abijah  Chichester,  1841;  Leland  Lane,  Abijah 
Chichester,  1842-43;  Charles  Miles,  Abijah  Chichester,  1844; 
Eber  Sherwood,  Leland  Lane,  1845;  Eleazur  H.  House,  Leland 
Lane,  1846;  Daniel  Wing,  Hull  Sherwood,  1847;  L.  Mansfield, 
Almerin  L.  Cotton,  1848;  Eber  Sherwood,  Eleazur  H.  House, 
1849;  Chester  D.  Hopkins,  Leland  Lane,  1850;  H.  N.  Crawford, 
Leland  Lane,  1851;  Almerin  L.  Cotton,  Eleazur  H,  House, 
1852;  Michael  Mead,  Joseph  W.  Drew,  1853;  Michael  Mead, 
Israel  Johnson,  1854;  Benjamin  Eager,  Joshua  Hill,  1855-56; 
Jonathan  Hare,  James  C.  Elliott,  1857;  Benjamin  Eager,  Mi- 
chael Mead,  1858. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

In  the  fall  of  1833  a  small  log  school-house  was  erected 
near  Eber  Sherwood's,  and  in  this  building  Dr.  L.  B.  Coats* 
taught  the  first  school,  in  the  winter  of  18.-J3-34.  He  re- 
ceived $30  per  month.  Prom  25  to  30  pupils  attended, 
among  whom  were  several  married  men  living  in  the  neigh- 
borhood. It  is  claimed  that  Miss  A.  M.  House,  afterwards 
Mrs.  S.  F.  Drury,  taught  the  first  school  in  the  village  of 
Otsego, — a  private  school,  the  sessions  being  held  in  the 
old  store  building  which  formerly  stood  on  Hall's  corner. 
Be  that  as  it  may,  the  first  recorded  proceedings  concerning 
public  schools  in  this  township  show  that  on  the  17th  day 
of  December,  1836,  School  Commissioners  Charles  Miles 
and  Abijah  Chichester  met  at  the  township  clerk's  office, 
and  described  the  boundaries  of  three  school  districts  as 
follows : 

"  District  No.  1  shall  include  sections  15,  16,  21, 22,  east  half  of  20, 
north  half  of  29,  28,  27,  and  the  southeast  quarter  of  17. 

"  District  No.  2  to  include  sections  13, 14,  23,  24,  25,  and  26. 

"  District  No.  3  to  include  sections  7,  8,  9,  18,  and  the  north  half 
and  the  southwest  quarter  of  17,  the  west  half  of  20,  and  the  whole 
of  19. 

It  is  probable  that  schools  were  taught  in  districts  1  and 
2  the  following  winter. 

On  the  10th  of  April,  1837,  School  Commissioners  Lucius 
C.  Anderson,  Charles  Miles,  and  Abijah  Chichester  changed 
the  boundaries  of  the  districts  before-mentioned  and  estab- 
lished the  fourth  district. 

Oct.  10,  1837,  Almerin  L.  Cotton,  director  of  district 
No.  1,  made  the  first  school  district  report  as  follows: 

"  Scholars  between  the  ages  of  five  and  seventeen  years  residing  in 
the  district,  30;  scholars  under  five  and  over  seventeen  years  residing 
in  the  district,  not  known;  scholars  attending  school,  35;  time  school 


*  His  portrait  most  appropriately  graces  the  rooms  of  the  Union 
High  School  building  in  Otsego  at  the  present  time. 


has  been  kept  by  a  qualified  teacher,  6  months.     No  money  received 
from  State  or  county." 

The  following  day  Dr.  L.  B.  Coats  rendered  his  report 
as  director  of  school  district  No.  2,  as  follows: 

"Scholars  between  the  ages  of  five  and  seventeen  years  residing  in 
the  district,  28  ;  scholars  attending  school  of  ages  under  five  and  over 
seventeen  years,  18;  whole  number  attending  school,  33;  time  school 
baa  been  kept  by  qualified  teacher,  6  months.  No  money  received 
from  State,  county,  or  township.  The  books  used  in  said  school  are 
the  Elementary  Spelling-Book,  English  Reader,  Woodbridge's  Geog- 
raphy, Kirkham's  Grammar,  and  DaboH's  Arithmetic." 

Trumbull  Wells  was  granted  a  certificate  to  teach  in 
district  No.  2,  Dec.  5,  1837. 

Miss  Angelina  M.  Hare  received  the  next  teacher's  cer- 
tificate, Feb.  17,  1839. 

The  school  inspectors  made  their  second  annual  report, 
Oct.  15,  1839,  as  follows: 

"  Whole  number  of  districts  in  township,  4 ;  number  from  which 
reports  have  been  made,  2,  viz  ,  Nos.  1  and  2 ;  number  of  scholars  of 
school  age  in  district  No.  1,  27  ;  in  district  No.  2,  25 ;  number  attend- 
ing school  under  and  over  school  age  in  district  -No.  1,  4;  in  district 
No.  2,  5;  whole  number  attending  school  in  district  No.  1,  31;  in 
district  No.  2,  30 ;  time  school  has  been  taught  in  district  No.  1,  six 
months  and  three  weeks;  in  district  No.  2,  three  months;  money 
received  from  school  inspectors,  district  No.  1,  $19.63 ;  district  No.  2, 
$15.50  ;  money  raised  in  district  No.  1,  $590  ;  in  district  No.  2,  $430  ; 
purposes  for  which  raised  in  district  No.  1,  $500  for  a  school-house, 
and  $90  for  support  of  schools;  in  district  No.  2,  $430  for  a  school- 
house;  books  used  in  district  No.  1,  Elementary  Spelling-Book  and 
English  Reader ;  in  district  No.  2,  National  Reader,  Elementary 
Spelling-Book,  Olney's,  Woodbridge's  and  Parley's  Geographies,  Da- 
boll's  Arithmetic,  and  Kirkham's  Grammar. 

(Signed)  "  L.  B.  Coats, 

"  Philip  Bdelingham, 
"  Daniel  Wing, 

"  School  Iiiapectora.*' 

In  the  annual  report  of  1840, 129  scholars  were  reported 
as  attending  schools,  and  the  apportionment  of  public  funds 
in  1843  was  as  follows: 

District.                                                            Scholars.  Amt. 

No.  1 38  $24.36 

"     2 62  39.74 

"     3 17  ^  10.90 

Other  early  teachers  to  whom  were  granted  certificates 
were  as  follows : 

B.  S.  Dunham,  for  district  No.  1,  Dec.  27,  1839 ;  Isaac  N.  Butter- 
field,  for  district  No.  2,  same  date;  Miss  Lovanna  Cronkite,  for  dis- 
trict No.  3,  May  9, 1840;  Jonas  Chamberlin,  district  No.  2,  and  John 
Walker,  district  No.  1,  Dec.  10,  1840;  Miss  Laura  Parkhurst,  district 
No.  3,  June  4,  1842  ;  A.  C.  Roberts,  district  No.  2,  November,  1842. 
1843.— Alva  D.  Botsford,  Eunice  House,  Willard  G.  Eaton,  William 
J.  Bliss. 

1844. — Elizabeth  Hoffman,  Willard  G.  Eaton,  Carpenter,  Levi 

Culver. 

1845.— Elizabeth  Gray,  Sally  A.  Eldred,  Elizabeth  HoSman, In- 

gersoll,  L.  Farrar. 
1846. — Sophronia  Beckwitb,  Julia  Cole,  Betsey  McFarlin,  A.  D.  Bots- 
ford, Ira  Chichester. 
1847. — Sally  M.  Woodard,  Amanda  Town,  Almeda  Baird,  Constance 

A.  Bingham. 
1848. — John  Chandler,  Gould  W.  Eaton,  Amelia  S.  Day,  Mary  La- 
peer, Almeda  Baird,  Myra  E.  Thompson,  Harriet  Blackman, 
Marian    Fyfe,    Henry   Moulton,    Helen    Fyfe,   Henry   M. 
Stimpson,  Ezekiel  Skinner. 
1849. — Betsey  A.  Chichester,  Miss  C.  Russell,  Willard  G.  Eaton. 
1850. — Ann  Burnett,  Ann  M.  Ives,  Sarah  Phetteplace,  Mary  Lapeer, 
Jane  Smith. 

Since  1836  many  changes  in  boundary-lines  of  districts 


302 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


and  their  numbers  have  taken  place,  which  it  would  be  im- 
possible to  describe.  The  following  was  the  apportionment 
of  the  primary  school  fund  in  1850  : 


District 

Scholars. 

Amt. 

District.                Scholars.           Amt. 

No.  1... 
"    2... 
"    3.. 

34 

128 

23 

$11.56 

43.52 

7.82 

No.  4 35            $11.90 

"    5 53               18.02 

"    6  23                 8.50 

In 

1860  the  two-mill  tax  was  distributed  as  follows: 

District 

Scholars. 

Amt. 

District.                Scholars.           Amt. 

No.  1.. 
"    2.. 
"    3.. 

40 

212 

29 

S2.36 

12.50 

1.70 

No.  6 53            $3.13 

"    7 32               1.89 

"    9 53               3.13 

The  apportionment  of  the  primary  school  fund  in  1870 
resulted  as  follows : 


District. 

Scholars. 

Amt. 

District. 

Scholars. 

Amt. 

No.  1 

55 

$26.40 

No.  6 

48 

$23.04 

"    2 

373 

179.04 

"    7 

33 

15.84 

"    3 

28 

1.3.44 

"    8 

47 

22.56 

"    4 

53 

25.44 

"    9 

68 

27.84 

"    5 

67 

32.16 

As  showing  the  present  status  of  schools  and  their  re- 
sources, the  following  statistics,  taken  from  the  school  in- 
spectors' annual  report  for  the  year  ending  Sept.  1,  1879, 
are  appended : 

Number  of  school  districts 9 

"  children  of  school  age  residing  in 

the  township 715 

"  children  attending  school   during 

the  year , 642 

"  children,  non-residents,  attending 

school 56 

"          brick  school-houses 1 

"          frame             "           9 

"  male    teachers    employed    during 

year 7 

"  female  teachers  employed  during 

year 19 

Paid  male  teachers $1198.00 

Paid  female  teachers $1805.110 

Total  resources  for  the  year $4559.91 

VILLAGE  OF   OTSEGO. 

The  village  of  Otsego,  an  incorporated  municipality  of 
some  1200  inhabitants,  is  an  important  station  on  the  line 
of  the  Kalamazoo  division  of  the  Lake-Shore  and  Michi- 
gan Southern  Railway,  and  is  pleasantly  located  on  the 
Kalamazoo  River,  which  here  flows  rapidly  to  the  west- 
ward. 

The  surface  on  the  south  side  rises  some  fifteen  feet  above 
the  river,  and,  stretching  back  to  the  southward,  presents  a 
beautiful  level  plain, — lands  denominated  by  the  pioneers 
"  oak-openings."  Here  was  established  the  original  village 
plat.  On  the  north  side,  after  going  back  some  forty  rods 
from  the  stream,  the  land  rises  into  a  considerable  hill  ele- 
vation, furnishing  unsurpassed  sites  for  private  residences 
and  abundant  opportunities  for  lawn  and  landscape  garden- 
ing. This  elevation,  too,  upon  which  is  located  the  ceme- 
tery,* oae  of  the  most  beautiful  places  of  interment  in  the 
county,  gives  a  wide  panoramic  view  of  the  village  and  of 
the  surrounding  country  for  miles  in  either  direction.  Min- 
eral springs  famous  for  their  medicinal  properties  are  also 
located  on  the  north  side  of  the  river. 

The  streets  are  broad  and  well  shaded.  Allegan  Street 
is  seven  rods  wide,  another  is  six  rods  wide,  while  nearly 

*  A  little  burial-place  on  the  banks  of  Pine  Creek  contains  the 
remains  of  many  of  the  early' settlers. 


all  the  others  are  five  rods  in  width.  Several  handsome 
brick  blocks  are  to  be  seen,  and  the  private  residences  evince 
taste  and  refinement.  The  manufacturing  structures,  large, 
commodious  buildings,  are  situated  on  both  sides  of  the 
river.  These,  together  with  the  beautiful  iron  bridge  span- 
ning the  waters  of  the  swiftly-flowing  Kalamazoo,  present 
a  fine  appearance  to  travelers  passing  on  the  railway.  Nine 
feet  head  of  water  is  here  obtained,  with  a  plentiful  supply 
throughout  the  year.  The  race  on  the  south  side,  which 
was  excavated  in  1836,  is  eighty  rods  in  length;  that  on 
the  north  side  is  of  more  recent  origin,  and  is  sixty  rods 
long. 

With  its  great  and  unsurpassed  water-power  privileges, 
Otsego  is  rapidly  moving  to  the  front  as  a  manufacturing 
centre.  The  flouring-mills  manufacture  flour  from  more 
than  200,000  bushels  of  wheat  yearly.  There  are  mills 
for  planing  and  for  the  manufacture  of  sash,  doors,  blinds, 
and  fanning-mills,  and  an  extensive  chair-factory,  which  em- 
ploys 100  hands.  Hoes,  corn-knives,  and  rakes  are  made 
in  large  quantities, — also  carriages,  wood-turnings,  etc., — 
and  there  is  an  ample  supply  of  all  the  smaller  mechanical 
shops  usually  found  in  country  villages. 

Among  the  professional  and  business  men  of  the  present 
day  are  A.  D.  Botsford  &  Son,  P.  K.  Cloud,  W.  C.  Edsell  & 
Co.,  Samuel  D.  Foster,  Albert  R.  Foster,  Nelson  W.  Mills, 
George  B.  Norton,  Rouse  Bros.,  Charles  D.  Gaylord,  Charles 
Shepherd,  E.  W.  Sherwood,  and  Abraham  J.  Van  Wyck, 
merchants ;  James  M.  Ballou,  Mills,  Peck  &  Co.,  C.  H. 
Prentiss  &  Co.,  Sprague  &  Yeckley,  A.  B.  &  C.  D.  Stuart, 
manufacturers ;  William  L.  Blair  and  A.  &  P.  G.  Hoag, 
flouring-mill  owners ;f  M.  D.  Prindle,  saw-mill  owner;  E. 
H.  Botsford,  postmaster ;  Charles  H.  Harris,  proprietor  of 
the  Weekly  Union;  Julius  M.  Eaton,  attorney;  Milton 
Chase,  John  H.  Fulton,  S.  W.  Thomp.son,  physicians ; 
Edsell  &  Peck,  bankers ;  A.  M.  Buck,  D.  W.  Comstock^ 
F.  L.  McCoy,  clergymen. 

ITS   BAELT    HISTORY. 

As  already  mentioned,  Samuel  Foster  and  his  family  were 
the  first  settlers  upon  the  village  site,  locating  here  in  the 
fall  of  1831.  About  one  year  later,  by  an  understanding 
with  Samuel  Foster,  who  pre-empted  it,  Horace  H.  Com- 
stock  purchased  the  land  from  the  general  government,  and 
through  his  influence  a  post-office  named  Otsego  was  soon 
after  established,  Dr.  Foster  becoming  the  postmaster. 
Mr.  Comstock  was  a  native  of  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  came 
to  the  Territory  of  Michigan  in  1831  or  1832,  and  during 
the  early  days  of  both  this  and  Kalamazoo  County  he  was 
a  most  prominent  actor,  and  operated  largely  in  purchasing 
lands,  platting  villages,  erecting  mills,  store-houses,  dwell- 
ings, etc. 

It  seems  that  he  early  contemplated  using  the  magnifi- 
cent water-power  privileges  here  afforded  by  the  Kalamazoo, 
and  the  establishment  of  a  village  upon  its  banks,  and  in 
furtherance  of  this  plan  obtained  the  enactment  of  the 
following  law : 

"SBOTIO^f  1.  Be  it  enacted  hy  tlie  Legislative  Council  of  the  Territory 

t  H.  Hall  operates  a  flouring-mill  two  miles  west  of  the  village, 
and  Messrs.  Higgins  &  Scott  another,  four  miles  southwest  of  the 
same  place. 


OTSEGO  TOWNSHIP. 


303 


of  Michigan,  That  Horace  H.  Comstock  and  his  heirs  and  assigns  be 
and  they  are  hereby  authorized  to  build  a  dam  across  the  Kalamazoo 
River  at  Otsego,  in  the  county  of  Allegan. 

"Section  2.  The  said  dam  shall  not  exceed  fire  feet  in  height  above 
Common  low  water,  and  shall  contain  a  convenient  lock  for  the  pass- 
age of  boats,  barges,  canoes,  rafts,  or  other  water  craft,  not  less  than 
seventy-five  feet  in  length  and  fourteen  feet  in  width,  and  shall  be  so 
constructed  as  to  receive  boats  in  slack  water  of  sufQcient  depth  below 
the  ripple,  and  pass  them  to  slack  water  above  the  ripple,  for  all  the 
purposes  of  navigation  on  said  river. 

"Section  3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  owners  of  said  dam,  at  all 
times,  after  the  building  of  the  same  shall  have  been  so  far  prosecuted 
as  to  obstruct  the  navigation  of  said  river,  to  keep  said  lock  in  repair, 
and  to  pass  any  water  craft  or  raft  which  can  be  admitted  therein 
through  the  same  without  any  unnecessary  delay,  free  of  all  toll;  and 
the  said  owners  of  said  dam  shall  be  liable  to  the  owner  or  master  of 
any  water  croft  or  raft,  in  double  the  amount  of  such  damages  such 
owner  or  master  may  sustain  from  any  unnecessary  detention  of  said 
water  crnft  or  raft  at  said  lock,  to  be  recovered,  with  cost  of  suit,  be- 
fore any  court  having  competent  jurisdiction. 

"Section  4.  Any  person  who  shall  destroy  or  in  any  wise  injure 
said  lock  or  dam  shall  be  deemed  to  have  oommiltcd  a  trespass  upon 
the  owners  thereof,  and  liable  accordingly  j  and  any  person  who  shall 
willfully  and  maliciously  destroy  or  injure  the  said  lock  or  dam  shall 
be  deemed  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and  on  conviction  he  punishable 


cess  of  Mr.  Comstock's  enterprise.  But  the  crowning 
event  of  the  year  was  the  survey  and  platting  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Otsego.f  This  was  completed  on  the  22d  day 
of  December,  1836,  by  0.  J.  Wilder,  surveyor.  The  map 
of  this  plat  shows  the  bridge,  dam,  and  mill-race,  and  a 
"  bed  of  first-rate  iron  ore"  on  the  north  bank  of  the  river, 
some  forty  rods  above  the  bridge.  Also  roads  leading  to 
Portsmouth,  Kalamazoo,  Paw  Paw,  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Kalamazoo,  and  to  the  rapids  of  Grand  River. 
The  surveyor  says, — 

"This  town  is  laid  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  on  section  23,  in 
township  No.  1  north,  of  range  No.  12  west.  Allegan  Street  is  seven 
rods  wide,  Wilmot  is  six  rods  wide,  and  all  the  others  are  five." 

Other   streets   were   named   Court,  Orleans,  Franklin, 
Morell,  Hammond,  Kalamazoo,  Farmer,  Fair,  and  Piatt. 
In  another  "  note"  we  learn  that — 

"This  town  is  situated  on  the  rapids  of  the  Kalamazoo  Kiver,  im- 
mediately below  its  junction  with  Gun  River,  and  at  the  head  of 
steamboat  navigation.  The  water-power  of  Otsego  is  not  surpassed 
by  any  in  Michigan,  having  a  fall  of  fifteen  feet,  the  whole  river  for 


A.  B.  &  C.  D.  STUAKT,  CHAIB  MANUrACTUEERS,  OTSEGO,  ALLEGAN  COUNTY,  MICHIGAN. 


by  fine  or  imprisonment,  in  the  discretion  of  the  court;  Provided, 
The  imprisonment  shall  not  exceed  the  term  of  three  months. 

"  Section  5.  Nothing  herein  contained  shall  authorize  the  individual 
named  in  the  first  section  of  this  act,  or  his  heirs  and  assigns,  to  enter 
upon  or  flow  the  lands  of  any  person  without  the  consent  of  such  per- 
son ;  and  the  Legislature  may  at  any  time  so  alter  or  amend  this  act 
as  to  provide  for  the  further  improvement  of  the  navigation  of  the  said 
Kalamazoo  River. 

"Approved  March  28,  1835." 

During  the  next  year  (1836)  a  dam,  mill-race,  and  saw- 
mill were  constructed.  A  bridge  was  built  across  the  river 
at  this  point.  The  Buckleys  were  selling  goods.  Samuel 
Foster,  in  anticipation  of  future  requirements, — the  influx 
of  "  land-lookers," — already  had  in  active  operation  his 
little  hostelry,  known  as  "Otsego  Hall;"*  and,  to  still 
further  increase  hotel  accommodations,  J^  S.  Higgins  came 
in  and  built,  a  tavern,  the  building  since  (remodeled)  occu- 
pied by  Dr.  Chase.  Dr.  Coats  was  here  to  attend  to  the 
bodily  ailments  of  the  afiBicted.  A  school-house  was 
erected  near  the  site  of  the  present  Congregational  church 
edifice  and  the  start  thus  made  promised  well  for  the  sue-, 

*  Since  enlarged  and  known  as  the  Lutkins  House. 


a  race,  and  requiring  no  dam,  thus  affording  sufBcient  power  to  drive 
any  number  of  stone  that  can  ever  be  wanted.  Its  peculiar  location, 
in  respect  to  other  towns  and  the  adjoining  country,  the  concentration 
of  roads  leading  to  it,  in  connection  with  its  immense  water-power, 
render  it  one  of  the  most  desirable  points  in  Michigan." 

Samuel  D.  Foster  began  selling  goods  in  the  latter  part 
of  1836.  Koswell  Crane  took  charge  of  the  saw-mill  in 
1837,  and  built  the  Exchange  Hotel  for  Mr.  Comstock  the 
same  year.  The  hotel  was  then  managed  by  Mr.  Comstock 
for  a  few  months,  after  which  Mr.  Crane  assumed  control 
of  it.  The  first  flouring-mill  was  built  by  Mr.  Comstock 
in  1839.  The  resident  tax-payers  of  1840  have  been 
mentioned  in  preceding  pages,  also  a  large  majority  of  all 
other  early  settlers  who  settled  subsequently ;  to  them  the 
reader  is  referred. 

The  original  school-house  was  burned  in  1863.  The 
present  Union  school  building,  a  brick  structure  50  by  80 
feet,  was  built  in  1868.  It  is  surrounded  by  spacious 
grounds,  some  three  or  four  acres  in  extent,  well  shaded  with 

■(•  Philip  Burlingham's  addition,  embracing  lands  on  the  east  side 
of  section  22,  was  made  May  9,  1845. 


304 


HISTORY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


native  oaks.  Franklia  Chadsey  opened  a  classical  school 
in  1855,  but  after  a  few  years  of  financial  difficulty  he  sold 
the  school-house  to  the  district. 

The  first  newspaper  established  in  the  county,  the  Alle- 
gan County  Democrat,  was  published  at  Otsego,  by  Moses 
Hawks,  April  12,  1842.  It  was  removed  to  Allegan  soon 
after.  Several  other  newspaper  enterprises  have  originated 
here,  which  are  mentioned  in  Chapter  XX.  of  the  general 
history. 

Dr.  Foster  continued  as  postmaster  until  about  1840. 
Dr.  Coats  succeeded  him,  and  he  in  turn  was  succeeded  by 
Willard  G.  Eaton.* 

Although  the  village  suffered  severely  by  fire  in  June, 
1863,  also  in  1875,  and  again  in  December,  1877,  it  pos- 
sesses no  fire  department  or  water  supply  that  is  at  all  effi- 
cient or  worthy  of  notice. 

INCORPORATION. 

By  an  act  of  the  State  Legislature  approved  March  15, 
1865,  the  territory  described  in  the  act  was  incorporated  as 
the  village  of  Otsego. 

The  first  charter  election  was  held  in  the  boot-and-shoe 
store  of  A.  W.  Blackmond,  on  the  15th  of  April,  1865,  and 
the  president,  trustees,  and  marshal  then  elected  were  as 
follows :  Willard  Higgins,  President ;  William  H.  Ingram, 
Franklin  Chadsey,  Ethan  Allen,  Lenora  Foster,  Henry 
C.  Houghton,  Wilson  C.  Edsell,  Trustees ;  Byron  Ballon, 
Marshal. 

The  following  officers  have  been  subsequently  elected : 

1866.— William  H.  Ingram,  Pre.sident;  Myron  MoCorn,  Joseph  H. 
Chapman,  Edwin  M.  Allen,  Trustees;  Byron  Ballon,  Mar- 
shal, 

1867.— Abram  Hoag,  President;  Chester  S.  Cressy,  Alva  Sweetland, 
William  R.  Darling,  Trustees;  Alva  D.  Botsford,  Marshal. 

1868. — Willard  Higgins,  President;  Norman  L.  Travis,  James  Clark, 
John  M.  Cloud,  Trustees ;  M.  G.  Higgins,  Marshal. 

1869.— Willard  Higgins,  President;  Chester  M.  Cressy,  Andrew  H. 
Chase,  Nelson  L.  Sprague,  Trustees;  Leander  A.  Leighton, 
Marshal. 

1870.— Willard  Higgins,  President;  Stacy  R.  Potter,  A.  D.  Botsford, 
J.  M.  Ballou,  Trustees ;  A.  W.  Blackmond,  Marshal. 

1871.— T.  B.  Hinkson,  President ;  E.  D.  Veckley,  Alfred  Whitcomb, 
R.  R.  Rich,  N.  W.  Mills,  Trustees ;  John  M.  Cloud,  Mar- 
shal. 

1872.— T.  B.  Hinkson,  President;  James  Franklin,  H.  M.  Pratt,  H. 
Hall,  Trustees;  Z.  A.  Higgins,  Marshal. 

1873. — R.  R.  Rich,  President;  Abraham  J.  Van  Wyck,  Charles  E. 
Franklin,  C.  N.  Russell,  Trustees;  John  B.  Millard,  Mar- 
shal. 

1874.— Lenora  Foster,  President;  A.  J.  Van  Wyck,  J.  M.  Ballou,  J. 
F.  Hale,  H.  M.  Woodard,  I.  H.  Lamereaux,  William  H.  In- 
gram, Trustees ;  John  B.  Millard,  Marshal. 

1875.— H.  Hall,  President;  I.  0.  Owen,  A.  T.  B.  Palmer,  J.  H.  Ful- 
ton, Trustees ;  A.  L.  Reese,  Marshal. 

1876. — Hermon   L.   Isham,  President;    George  B.  Norton,   George 
Hadden,  James  Smith,  Trustees;  William  J.  Monteith,  Mar- 
shal. 
1877.— Daniel  M.  Hall,  President;  Chauncey  L.  Cook,  John  F.  Hale, 

Peter  G.  Hoag,  Trustees;  William  Van  Blaroom,  Marshal. 
1878.— Daniel  M.  Hall,  President ;  A.  T.  B.  Palmer,  C.  H.  Prentiss, 

Lewis  Haddon,  Trustees;  Milton  Chase,  Marshah 
1879.— Stephen  B.  Hoag,  President;  N.  W.  Mills,  George  B.  Norton, 

S.  W.  Thompson,  Trustees ;  D.  Bowen,  Marshal. 
1880.— Abraham   J.    Van    Wyck,    President;    P.  W.  Travis,    C.  A. 
Barnes,  L.  W.  Sherwood,  Trustees ;  Abram  Staley,  Marshal. 


*  Killed  at  battle  of  Bentonville,  N.  C,  March  19, 1865.    (See  Chap- 
ter XXV.  of  the  general  history.) 


RELIGIOUS. 
THE  FIRST  BAPTIST  CHURCH  IN  OTSEGO  .f 
This  body  dates  its  history  from  the  formation  of  the  First 
Baptist  Church  in  Plainfield,  which  was  organized  at  the 
house  of  Silas  Dunham  in  PlainfieldJ  (now  Gun  Plain)  Djc  . 
26, 1835.  The  names  of  the  constituent  members  were  Silas 
Dunham,  Curtis  Brigham,  S.  Calkins,  Elisha  B.  Seely,  James 
Calkins,  Alfred  S.  Dunham,  Edwin  S.  Dunham,  Tirza 
Dunham,  Lydia  Brigham,  Joanna  Calkins,  Sarah  Seely, 
and  Matilda  Calkins.  Their  meetings  during  the  first  few 
years  were  held  at  different  points  over  the  wide  field  which 
this  church  then  covered, — sometimes  in  the  Gun  Plain 
school-house,  sometimes  at  the  dwellings  and  school-houses 
in  Cooper,  in  Otsego,  and  in  Allegan, — Otsego  being 
made  the  central  point  and  permanent  location  in  1842. 

The  first  pastor  was  Elder  Jeremiah  Hall,  who  was 
the  moderator  of  the  council  held  Feb.  4,  1836,  for  the 
recognition  of  the  church.  After  Elder  Hall,  Elder 
Harvey  Munger  was  pastor  for  several  years,  preaching  only 
a  portion  of  the  time.  Deacon  Curtis  Brigham,  though 
not  an  ordained  minister,  preached  acceptably  during  the 
early  years  of  the  society's  history.  Elder  William  A. 
Bronson  was  called  to  the  pastorate  June  24,  1844,  and 
served  about  one  year.  Elder  Harvey  Munger  followed 
him.  In  1851,  Rev.  A.  M.  Buck  became  the  pastor, 
and  resigned  in  1857.  Rev.  H.  Stanwood  was  called  in 
1858,  and  served  one  year.  Rev.  A.  M.  Buck  was  recalled 
in  April,  1859,  and  resigned  in  December,  1863.  Rev. 
0.  S.  Wolfe  was  called  in  1864,  served  until  August,  1864, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  H.  B.  Taft  in  November  of 
the  same  year,  who  remained  one  year.  Rev.  A.  M.  Buck 
was  again  called  in  November,  1872,  and  is  the  present 
incumbent. 

This  was  the  mother-church  in  Allegan  County,  and  was 
probably  the  first  church  of  any  denomination  formed 
within  its  limits.  In  December,  1840,  a  branch  was  set  oflF 
to  form  a  church  in  Cooper.  In  January,  1841,  a  branch 
was  set  ofi'  to  form  the  Baptist  Church  in  Allegan.  In 
April,  1864,  a  branch  was  set  ofiF  to  form  a  church  in 
Trowbridge,  and  in  May  of  the  same  year  another  branch 
was  set  off  to  organize  the  present  Baptist  Church  in  Plain- 
well. 

The  house  of  worship  now  in  use  was  built  in  1855,  and 
dedicated  October  28th  of  that  year.  It  has  250  sittings, 
and  is  valued  at  $1000.  The  church  now  numbers  65 
members. 

THE  FIRST  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH  OF  OTSEGO.^ 
This  organization  was  formed  in  the  Gun  Plain  school- 
house,  township  of  Plainfield,  now  Gun  Plain,  on  the  8th 
day  of  January,  1837.  At  this  meeting  Rev.  M.  Knappen, 
of  Gull  Prairie,  presided  as  moderator,  while  George  N. 
Smith  served  as  secretary. 

The  first  meeting  held  in  Otsego  was  on  the  26th  of 
February,  1837.  Among  the  original  members  of  this 
church  were   Rev.  A.  S.  Ware   and  wife,  Mr.  and   Mrs. 


t  From  information  furnished  by  Rev.  A.  M.  Buck. 

X  Then  Allegan  township. 

J  From  data  furnished  by  W.  OT.  Bdaell,  Esq. 


^-^^^Sd^-cVb 


OTSEGO  TOWNSHIP. 


305 


Cliamberlin  and  son,  John  Forbes  and  wife,  William  Orr, 
Cyrenius  Thompson  and  wife,  George  N.  Smith  and  wifei 
Peter  Head,  Mrs.  Foster,  Mrs.  Parsons,  Mrs.  Adams,  and 
others.  The  first  house  of  worship,  in  the  village  of  Ot- 
sego, was  built  in  1846.  It  was  burned  in  March,  1865. 
The  present  church  edifice  was  completed  in  1867,  and 
has  sittings  for  300  persons.  Present  membership  of  the 
church,  80. 

The  following-named  pastors  have  at  various  periods 
been  settled  here ;  Kevs.  A.  S.  Ware,  F.  L.   Fuller,  J. 

Bliss,  McMath,   S.  Stevens,    F.  L.  Fuller,   David 

S.  Morse,  Charles  Temple,  A.  B.  Allen,  Thomas  Fowler, 
A.  M.  Buck,  and  D.  W.  Comstock,  the  present  incum- 
bent. 

THE  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  OF  OTSEGO.» 

This  church  was  organized  in  1842,  the  original  mem- 
bers being  Lucius  Anderson  and  wife,  Miss  M.  Bailey, 
Sidney  Ketehum,  and  Angeline  Lane.  The  house  of 
worship  was  commenced  in  1843  and  completed  in  1847. 
It  will  seat  250  persons,  and  is  valued  at  f2000.  Present 
membership  of  the  society,  110. 

Among  the  pastors  who  have  administered  to  the  spiritual 
wants  of  this  church  there  have  been  Revs.  Frank  Sage, 
Charles  Bush,  Edward  Kellogg, Parker,  J.  C.  Ab- 
bott,    King,  Myron  B.  Camburn,  Virgil  S.  Boynton, 

Charles  Mosher,  John  Eichanback,  Benjamin  F.  Doughty, 
Andrew  J.  Eldrcd,  William  C.  H.  Bliss,  Ransom  Goodell, 
Thomas  Bignell,  Amos  Wakefield,  William  F.  Jenkins, 
N.  C.  Ethridge,  S.  Hendrickson,  L.  M.  Bennett,  Eri  H. 
Day,  George  A.  Van  Horn,  L.  H.  Pearce,  Abraham  J. 
Van  Wyck,  N.  M.  Steele,  George  L.  Haight,  William  Pad- 
dock, Wright  Barrett,  C.  T.  Van  Antwerp,  I.  B.  Tallman, 
and  Frank  L.  McCoy,  the  present  pastor,  who  kindly  fur- 
nished the  foregoing  data. 

SEVENTH-DAT  ADVENTISTS. 

A  society  of  this  denomination  was  organized  by  Elder 
Joseph  Bates,  of  Monterey,  on  the  28th  of  December, 
1861,  the  original  members  being  Aaron  Hilliard,  Lydia 
Hilliard,  George  Leighton,  Rocksilda  Leighton,  Margaret 
Shepard,  Lewis  Hadden,  Mary  Hadden,  Hettie  Hadden, 
Martin  Leach,  Esther  Leach,  Amanda  Felshaw,  Malinda 
Felshaw,  Francis  Felshaw,  George  Felshaw,  Mary  Russell, 
Paulina  Russell,  William  Russell,  Leroy  Russell,  Olive 
Russell,  Augusta  Haddeu,  Elizabeth  WeUjh,  Nathan  An- 
way,  Harriet  Auway,  John  D.  Pearson,  Sally  F.  Pearson, 
Sarah  Travis,  Sidney  Hilliard,  Cynthia  Hilliard,  Seymour 
Hilliard,  Trecia  Hilliard,  and  Sophronia  Chappel. 

Their  first  meetings  were  held  at  the  house  of  George 
Leighton.  In  June,  1863,  Elder  M.  E.  Cornell  held  a 
successful  series  of  tent-meetings  at  a  point  not  far  away 
from  their  present  house  of  worship.  Their  church  edifice 
is  of  brick,  and  situated  on  Farmer  Street,  in  the  village  of 
Otsego.  It  was  erected  in  1867.  The  members  of  this 
organization  number  74  at  the  present  time. 


*  See  history  of  the  Methodist  Episoop-ol  Church  of  Plainwell  for  a 
more  complete  list  of  pnstors,  etc. 

39 


SECRET  BENEVOLENT  ASSOCIATIONS. 
OTSEGO  LODGE,  No.  78,  F.  AND  A.  M.f 

This  lodge  began  work  under  a  dispensation  dated  Oct. 
15,  1855.  The  first  meeting  was,  held  in  the  oflSce  of  Dr. 
A.  C.  Roberts,  Nov.  1,  1855,  and  among  the  officers  first 
installed  were  A.  C.  Roberts,  W.  M. ;  D.  A.  Drew,  S.  W. ; 
C.  D.  Fox,  J.  W. ;  L.  B.  Coats,  Sec.  ;  and  Samuel  Ellis, 
Treas. 

The  lodge  was  chartered  Jan.  10,  1856,  and  the  W.  M.'s 
since  the  first  installation  to  the  present  time  have  been  as 
follows  :  A.  C.  Roberts,  1856-58  ;  H.  C.  Clapp,  1859  ;  Wil- 
lard  G.Eaton,1860;  O.Eaton,  1861-62;  Henry  C.  Stough- 
ton,  1863;  A.  M.  Alexander,  1864;  Willard  Higgins, 
1865-66;  E.  M.Allen,  1867-68;  0.  Eaton,  1869-70;  S.  N. 
Mahan,  1871-73;  S.  W.  Thompson,  1874-76;  William 
Sherwood,  1877-80.  Other  present  officers  are  Hiram 
Hall,  S.  W. ;  C.  M.  Edmonds,  J.  W. ;  C.  H.  Harris,  Treas. ; 
A.  T.  B.  Palmer,  Sec. ;  Calvin  Burlingham,  S.  D. ;  William 
Fisher,  J.  D. ;  Sidney  Rouse,  Tyler.  Present  members 
number  63. 

OTSEGO  LODGE,+  No.  164,  L  0.  0.  F.g 
This  society  was  instituted  as  Henry  Day  Lodge,  June 
7, 1871,  the  officers  then  installed  being  Henry  Day,  N.  G.  ■ 
A.  S.  Tompkins,  V.  G. ;  A.  B.  Way,  R.  S. ;  Nahum  Gilbert' 
Treas.  Other  charter  members  were  John  B.  Millard,  D. 
F.  Sweet,  and  Charles  E.  McKay.  The  name  was  changed 
to  Otsego  Lodge  in  1873. 

Its  presiding  officers  since  the  first  installation  are 
named  in  the  order  of  their  succession,  as  follows :  Henry 
Day,  A.  S.  Tompkins,  Nahum  Gilbert,  Silas  Philley,  Jr., 
C.  I.  Fuller,  S.  R.  Potter,  Silas  Philley,  Jr.,  C.  N. 
Russell,  Charles  D.  Drew,  W.  J.  Rice,  Nahum  Gilbert, 
A.  T.  Yeckley,  J.  H.  Fulton,  Andrew  Copp,  A.  W.  Black- 
mond,  C.  I.  Fuller,  J.  B.  Lindsley,  and  W.  R.  Ingalls. 
The  lodge  occupies  rooms  over  Potter  &  Norton's  store, 
where  its  first  meeting  was  held.   Present  membership,  40. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH. 


HON.  WILSON  C.  EDSELL. 

This  gentleman,  whose  name  is  so  prominently  associated 
with  the  history  of  Otsego  and  Allegan  Counties,  was  born 
in  Bradford  Co.,  Pa.,  July  8,  1814.  The  family  are  of 
German-American  origin.  His  parents  were  natives  of 
New  York  and  Connecticut,  and  reared  a  family  of  nine 
children.  The  elder  Edsell  was  a  farmer,  and  his  family 
were  brought  up  to  habits  of  industry  and  thrift.  Our 
subject's  advantages  for  education  were  confined  to  the 
common  schools  of  that  day,  but  his  thoughtfulness  and 
close  observation  made  amends  for  other  deficiencies.  At 
the  age  of  eighteen  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  vocation  of 
a  carpenter  and  joiner,  and  upon  attaining  his  majority  he 

■)■  From  data  furnished  by  Dr.  S.  W.  Thompson. 
J  Name  changed  to  Otsngo  Lodge  in  1873. 
g  From  data  furnished  by  Silas  Philley,  Jr. 


306 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


was  in  possession  of  a  strong  pair  of  hands,  a  good  consti- 
tution, and  was  master  of  his  trade.  In  1835  he  started 
West,  stopping  at  Cleveland  to  recruit  his  finances  ;  leaving 
Cleveland,  he  went  to  Sandusky,  and  entered  the  employ  of 
George  Lawton,  a  successful  mill-builder,  with  whom  he 
remained  four  years.  lie  gained  the  reputation  of  a  faith- 
ful, competent  workman,  and  spent  his  leisure  time  in  study- 
ing Nicholson's  "  Operative  Mechanics,"  chemistry,  natural 
philosophy,  drawing,  and  history.  In  1839  he  built  a 
large  floufing-mill  at  Monroeville,  Ohio.  Here  also  he  met 
his  destiny  in  Miss  Julia  A.,  daughter  of  David  Cleck,  Esq., 
whom  he  married  the  following  year.  Soon  after  their  mar- 
riage they  entered  Oberlin  College,  and  began  a  four  years' 
course.  In  1844  they  joined  a  colony  of  thirty  persons, 
who  emigrated  from  Oberlin  to  Olivet,  Mich.,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  establishing  a  similar  college  at  that  place,  where 
Mr.  Edselljin  company  with  Rev.  John  J.  Shipard,  founder 
of  Oberlin  College,  Carlos  Reed,  and  William  Hesford,  pur- 
chased about  twelve  hundred  acres  of  land  for  college,  mill, 
and  kindred  purposes.  Mr.  Edsell  was  made  treasurer,  sec- 
retary, and  trustee,  and  pushed  forward  the  work  amid  many 
discouragements  until  it  had  gained  a  firm  hold  upon  the 
confidence  of  the  people.  Its  admirable  discipline  and  su- 
perior educational  advantages  now  render  it  a  power  for 
good,  and  much  of  its  after-success  is  attributable  to  the 
self-sacrifice  and  untiring  energy  of  its  first  secretary.  In 
1849,  Mr.  Edsell  removed  to  Otsego,  where  his  energy  and 
ability  were  soon  recognized.  He  was  admitted  to  practice 
in  all  the  State  courts,  was  justice  of  the  peace  sixteen  years, 
trustee  of  the  State  Asylum  for  the  Insane,  and  twice 
elected  member  of  the  State  Senate.  As  a  jurist  he  mani- 
fested clearness  of  perception,  sound  common  sense,  and  in- 
defatigable perseverance.  In  1870  he  was  admitted  to 
practice  in  the  United  States  courts,  thus  proving  that 


though  advanced  in  years  he  is  both  aggressive  and  progres- 
sive. He  has  not  confined  his  efforts  solely  to  the  practice 
of  his  profession,  but  has  been  one  of  the  largest  real-es- 
tate owners  in  the  county,  and  in  1869  he,  in  company 
with  H.  N.  Peck,  established  the  first  banking-house  in 
Otsego.  In  1866,  Mrs.  Edsell  died.  She  was  a  lady  of 
refinement  and  education,  and  esteemed  highly.  She  was 
the  mother  of  four  children,  two  of  whom  are  still  living, 
— Chas.  W.,  of  the  firm  of  W.  C.  Edsell  &  Son,  and 
Sarah,  wife  of  H.  N.  Peck.  In  1867  he  was  again  mar- 
ried, to  Mrs.  Clara  Hughes,  of  Kalamazoo.  By  the  last 
union  one  daughter,  Esther,  was  born.  The  salient  points 
in  the  character  of  Mr.  Edsell  are  industry  and  economy, 
to  which  he  attributes  his  success.  Starting  in  at  twenty- 
one  with  only  his  natural  resources  and  five  dollars,  he  has 
attained  success  in  all  departments  of  life.  He  is  one  of 
whom  the  Latin  phrase  ^"-Faher  sux  fortunse"  is  eminently 
true.  In  his  political  and  religious  convictions  he  is  a  Re- 
publican and  a  Congregationalist.  Socially,  he  is  genial 
and  courteous,  and  his  hospitality  and  good  nature  are  pro- 
verbial. He  possesses  that  quality  of  bearing  and  manner, 
united  with  a  fine  presence,  which  not  only  favorably  im- 
presses the  stranger,  but  endears  him  to  those  who  enjoy  his 
society.  Public  spirited  in  the  fullest  sense  of  the  word, 
he  is  one  of  those  whose  identification  with  any  community 
is  always  productive  of  good. 

Among  the  most  prominent  things  of  his  life-work,  as 
well  as  being  the  most  satisfactory  to  himself,  are,  he  says, 
the  following  ;  The  pleasure  and  satisfaction  of  assisting 
and  taking  care  of  his  aged  mother,  who  lived  to  be  ninety- 
four  years  old ;  the  part  he  took  in  the  founding  and  es- 
tablishing of  the  Olivet  College  ;  and  his  untiring  eflForts  in 
the  anti-slavery  cause,  and  the  organization  and  perpetuity 
of  the  Republican  party. 


o  V  E  R  I  s  E  l; 


This  is  one  of  the  three  townships  of  Allegan  County 
populated  chiefly  by  Hollanders,  and  may,  perhaps,  be  re- 
garded as  the  stronghold  of  the  people  of  that  nationality 
in  the  county.  It  is  described  in  the  United  States  survey 
as  township  4  north,  of  range  14  west,  being  bounded  on 
the  north  by  Ottawa  County,  south  by  Heath,  east  by  Salem, 
and  west  by  Fillmore. 

The  surface  of  Overisel  is  quite  varied,  the  elevations  in 
the  southeastern  portion  often  reaching  the  dignity  of  hills, 
while  in  the  centre  the  slopes  are  more  gentle.  There  are  a 
few  swamps,  so  small,  however,  as  not  materially  to  lessen 
the  value  of  that  district.  The  northern  and  southwestern 
portions  are  level  and  productive,  and  afford  many  advan- 
tages to  the  agriculturist. 
No  lakes  diversify  the  surfape  of  Overisel,  which  is,  in 

»  By  E.  0.  Wagner. 


that  regard,  different  from  most  of  the  townships  of  Allegan 
County. 

Rabbit  River,  which  makes  its  way,  with  many  windings, 
through  the  southeastern  portion,  enters  the  township  from 
Salem  on  section  25,  flows  southwestward,  and  passes  out 
into  Heath  on  the  southern  line  of  section  34.  This  stream 
is  fed  by  several  small  creeks,  which  rise  in  the  northern 
portion  of  the  township,  while  the  tributaries  of  the  Black 
River  water  the  northwestern  corner  of  the  township. 

A  considerable  portion  of  the  soil  of  Overisel  is  a  sandy 
loam,  while  in  many  localities  a  strong  clay  loam  abounds 
and  in  others  the  clay  is  mixed  with  gravel,  a  composition 
which  produces  as  good  crops  as  are  to  be  found  anywhere 
in  Allegan  County. 

Wheat  finds  a  congenial  soil  in  Overisel,  the  average 
crop  being  quite  equal  to  that  of  neighboring  townships. 
Corn  is  also  grown  to  profit,  and  other  grains  are  cultivated 


"1     »V""'^,3> 


OVERISEL  TOWNSHIP. 


307 


with  like  success.  In  some  localities  the  wheat-crop  has 
yielded  35  bushels  to  the  acre,  though  it  is  not  claimed  that 
the  average  production  will  reach  that  figure.  The  last 
available  census — that  of  1874 — reported  that  1305  acres 
of  that  grain  had  been  harvested  during  the  previous  year, 
which  had  yielded  22,418  bushels.  Seven  hundred  and 
forty-six  acres  of  corn  had  produced  26,059  bushels  of  that 
cereal,  while  of  other  grains  19,224  bushels  had  been  raised. 
Grass  is  grown  with  much  success,  and  hay  of  a  superior 
grade  is  produced,  the  yield  in  1873  having  been  1990  tons. 

On  nearly  all  the  farms  there  are  fine  orchards,  which 
generally  produce  very  fine  apples,  that  fruit  being  the  one 
principally  in  favor  among  the  Hollanders.  There  are  very 
few  peach-trees,  hardly  any  one  raising  more  peaches  than 
are  desired  for  home  consumption. 

The  timber  of  Overisel  embraces  most  varieties  found 
elsewhere  in  the  county.  Beech  and  maple  are  the  staple 
woods,  while  ash,  elm,  hemlock,  and  pine  also  abound. 
The  last-named  timber  is  principally  found  alohg  the  bor- 
ders of  Babbit  River,  though  most  of  what  formerly  grew 
there  has  been  used  for  building  or  exported. 

The  population  of  Overisel  is  chiefly  composed  of  Hol- 
landers, who  emigrated  from  their  native  land  direct  to 
Michigan,  though  a  small  band  of  settlers  of  American  de- 
scent are  found  in  the  southeastern  portion.  The  industry, 
order,  and  neatness  of  this  people  are  apparent  even  in  a 
hasty  survey  of  the  township.  The  lands  are  mostly  well 
improved  and  substantially  fenced,  while  comfortable  dwell- 
ings of  brick  or  wood,  together  with  capacious  barns  and 
out-buildings,  are  seen  on  nearly  every  farm.  The  popula- 
tion has  increased  materially  since  the  census  of  1874,  and 
is  now  estimated  to  exceed  2000  persons. 

The  hospitality  and  civility  which  are  marked  character- 
istics of  the  Dutch  race  are  fully  maintained  by  the  people 
of  Overisel,  as  the  writer  can  most  willingly  testify.  There 
was  only  a  single  exception  to  the  courtesy  and  friendliness 
with  which  he  was  received.  There  is  among  the  Holland- 
ers of  this  township  but  little  rotation  in  oflBce.  Those 
who  have  filled  positions  of  trust  with  ability  and  integrity 
are  secure  in  their  tenure  of  office,  and  are  but  slightly 
affected  by  political  changes,  as  may  be  seen  by  a  glance  at 
the  list  of  officers  which  closes  the  township  history. 

GOVERNMENT  ENTEIES. 

The  following  list  embraces  the  original  purchasers  of 
land  in  the  township  of  Overisel : 

Section  1. — Bought  from  1S54  to  1856  by  K.  Dejunge,  John  Luhbers, 
P.    Knighthof,  Jan  Van  Dau,  Jan   Rodoss,  Hendrik    Hinman, 
Cornelius  Vorhorst. 
Seclion  2.— Bought  from  1836  to  1849  by  E.  Ilawley,  R.  Mast,  A. 

Vredevelt,  N.  H.  Fredwelt,  R.  Weurding. 
Section  3. — Bought  in  1836  and  1848  by  L.  J.  Rosenorantz,  Van  Rhu 

and  Van  Dau. 
Section  4.— Bought  from  1836  to  1854  by  R.  S.  Hawkins,  J.  Davis, 
William  Larzalere,  Jan  Van  Dau,  W.  Van  Deroolk,  A.  Dosimer. 
Section  5. — Bought  from  1836  to  1864  by  Robert  Hawkins,  Niram 
Abbott,  Klas  Halst,   G.  Broaderhouet,  W.  Vanderoolk,  Henry 
Kollen. 
Section  6.— Bought  in  1836  and  1837  by  E.  Doubleday,  R.  M.  Men- 
tern,  Niram  Abbott. 
Section  7. — Bought  from  1836  to  1862  by  Niram  Abbott,  B.  Zimmer- 
man, C.  J.  Vorhorst,  L.  H.  Hendriok,  Simeon  Barrow,  B.  Sohad- 
deler. 


Section  8.— Bought  from  1836  to  1849  by  Niram  Abbott,  S.  Bolks,  H. 

Klemhekisle,  G.  J.  Figuervever,  C.  J.  Vojrhorst. 
Section  9. — Bought  in  1848  and  1854  by  Gorrit  Peters,  Aaron  Barnes, 

G.  Scholton,  G.  Pelaker,  H.  Browers. 
Section  10. — Bought  in  1836  by  E.  Parnsworth,  William  Jaokson,  A. 

Leonard,  S.  S.  Hopkins,  John  Mullen. 
Section  11.— Bought  from  1836  to  1854  by  E.  Parnsworth,  P.  M.  Bos, 

Klaus  Boerman,  Henry  Boerman,  Henry  Misger,  Simeon  Gard. 
Section  12. — Bought  from  1836  to  1854  by  Henry  Cole,  Nelson  Sage, 

B,  Dredorel,  John  Lubbers,  Simeon  Gard. 
Section  13. — Brought  from  1836  to  1867  by  0.  Sage  and  E.  Fancoaet, 

John  Clark,  Samuel  Hunt,  Koning  and  Kollen. 
Section  14. — Bought  in  1836  and  1855  by  John  W.  Curtis,  L.  J.  Gard. 
Section  15.— Bought  from  1836  to  1855  by  David  Cole,  J.  U.  Curtis, 

D.  0.  Knowlton,  William  Vugteveen,  Hendriok  Kork. 

Section  16. — Bought  in  1863  and  1864  by  L.  Hopman,  P.  Copeman, 

E.  Kalen,  M.  Slotman,  A.  Pooustra,  H.  Lankherst,  G.  Nyhuir, 
John  Kaves,  J.  Howner,  J.  H.  Berkel,  Jan  Korterink,  J.  Kiek- 
enfeld. 

Section  17.— Bought  in  1836  and  1848  by  S.  V.  R.  Trowbridge,  Moses 
Rowe,  Samuel  Barnes,  G.  J.  Haller,  S.  Bolks. 

Section  18.— Bought  from  1836  to  1864  by  Moses  Rowe,  S.  Bolks,  H. 
D   Post,  C.  J.  Vorhorst,  S.  Barrone,  R.  De  Kouney. 

Section  19.— Bought  in  1837  and  1848  by  Kneland  Townsend,  S. 
Bolks. 

Section  20.— Bought  in  1836  by  J.  Miller,  S.  V.  Miller,  Charles  East- 
man, Jacob  Cole,  Marvin  Allen. 

Section  21.— Bought  in  1836  and  1854  by  Elisha  Moody,  Charles  Bast- 
man,  George  Patterson,  G.  H.  Slotman. 

Section  22. — Bought  from  1836  to  1867  by  John  Dixon,  James  Dixon, 
William  Ungterelu,  H.  Comson,  T.  B.  Morse,  C.  J.  Vorhorst,  R. 

D.  Koning. 

Section  23.— Bought  in  1836  by  Daniel  S.  Wilder,  Orrin  Moody. 
Section  24.— Bought  in  1836  and  1855  by  F.  Booker,  E.  Parnsworth, 

Niram  Abott,  C.  H.  Hibbard. 
Section  25.— Bought  in  1835  and  1836  by  Charles  Butler,  M.  Schuyler, 

E.  Parnsworth,  Elisha  Moody. 

Section  26. — Bought  in  1836  by  Elisha  Moody. 

Section  27. — Bought  from  1836  to  1865  by  Joshua  Clark,  Charles 
Butler,  Elisha  Moody,  Kinnig  and  Kollen,  P.-  B.  Stockbridge. 

Section  28.— Bought  in  1836  by  D.  S.  Wilder,  S.  V.  R.  Trowbridge, 
Charles  Eastman. 

Section  29. — Bought  in  1836  by  S.  V.  R.  Trowbridge,  Moses  Rowe,  S. 
S.  Hopkins,  David  Childs,  Hugh  Supple. 

Section  30.— Bought  in  1836  by  D.  S.  Wilder,  H.  Hastings. 

Section  31. — Bought  in  1836  and  1866  by  Winslow  and  Porter,  Sumner 
Sherwood,  Titus  Merritt. 

Section  32. — Bought  in  1836  by  Winslow  and  Porter,  Charles  Butler. 

Section  33.— Bought  in  1834  and  1836  by  P.  C.  Mills,  Winslow  and 
Porter,  Trowbridge  and  Parker,  Ely  and  Moody. 

Section  34.— Bought  in  1834,  '35,  and  '36  by  H.  Y.  Britain,  William 
P.  Patrick,  Petterman  and  Abbott,  Trowbridge  and  Parks,  Ben- 
jamin Eager,  Norman  Allen. 

Section  35. — Bought  in  1835  and  1836  by  Alanson  Sumner,  L.  A. 
Mills,  Petterman  and  Abbott,  Joel  Bowker,  Elisha  Moody,  Trow- 
bridge and  Parks,  Silas  Trowbridge,  Charles  Butler. 

Section  36. — Bought  in  1835  by  Charles  Butler. 

EARLY   SETTLEMENTS. 

During  the  year  1847  a  colony  of  twenty  families,  under 
the  leadership  of  Rev.  S.  Bolks,  embarked  from  Holland 
for  the  hospitable  shores  of  America.  They  remained  a 
year  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  during  this  interval 
Rev.  Mr.  Bolks  came  to  Western  Michigan,  a  larger  colony 
of  his  countrymen  having  located  in  the  southern  part  of 
Ottawa  County  a  short  time  before.*  He  first  determined 
upon  Fillmore  as  a  location  for  his  colony,  but  finally  de- 
cided on  Overisel. 

His  followers  met  a  cordial  welcome  from  the  colony  of 
Hollanders  who  had  already  established  themselves  in  Hol- 

*  See  Chapter  XI  [.  of  the  general  history. 


308 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BAKRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


land,  Ottawa  Co.,  and  received  temporary  shelter.  Here 
they  remained  until  log  houses  could  be  constructed  on  the 
ground  they  had  selected  for  each  family,, when  they  imme- 
diately moved  into  them.  The  colonists  brought  with  them 
Holland  gold,  with  which  they  desired  Dominie  Bolks  to 
enter  2000  acres  of  land  at  Ionia,  Mich.,  where  the  land- 
office  for  this  district  was  then  located.  This  land  was  then 
distributed  by  lot  to  the  various  heads  of  families,  and  all 
seem  to  have  been  entirely  content  with  the  tracts  that  this 
method  of  division  assigned  him.  In  this  tract  was  em- 
braced a  farm  of  63  acres,  which  was  given  to  Dominie 
Bolks  as  a  pledge  of  esteem  by  the  colonists. 

The  families  who  accompanied  Rev.  Mr.  Bolks  to  Over- 
isel  and  made  the  first  settlement  there  in  1848  are  here 
enumerated,  with  their  location :  Egbert  Nykerk,  with  a 
wife  and  one  child,  who  located  upon  the  east  half  of  the 
northwest  fractional  quarter  of  section  19.  In  his  family 
also  lived  Aarand  Teeslink,  his  wife's  father,  with  a  wife 
and  four  children.  Gerret  Veldhuis,  with  his  wife  and 
four  children,  located  upon  the  southwest  fractional  quarter 
of  section  1 9.  Gerret  H.  Lankheit,  with  his  wife  and 
two  little  ones,  became  a  resident  of  the  south  half  of  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  19.  He.  lived  upon  this  land 
until  his  death,  in  1865. 

Henry  Beldman,  accompanied  by  a  wife  and  one  child, 
settled  upon  the  east  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 20.  Berend  Wieldrayer,  with  five  children,  found  a 
home  upon  section  18,  of  which  he  had  received  half  of 
the  southeast  quarter,  embracing  80  acres.  Mr.  Wieldrayer 
died  in  1879,  having  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
one  years.  Gerett  J.  Immink,  accompanied  by  a  wife  and 
six  children,  settled  upon  the  west  half  of  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  20,  and  afterwards  bought  the  east  half 
of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  19.  He  is  now  de- 
ceased, as  is  also  his  wife,  who  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty- 
four  years.     A  son  of  the  same  name  occupies  the  farm. 

William  Hulsman,  with  his  wife,  removed  to  the  west 
half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  17,  embracing  80 
acres.  Hendrick  Klumper,  with  his  wife  and  three  chil- 
dren, located  upon  the  east  half  of  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  18,  on  which  he  lived  until  his  death,  in  1875. 
His  son  now  occupies  the  homestead.  Gerret  J.  Figuer- 
vever,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  child,  found  a  home  on 
section  8,  of  which  he  received  the  west  half  of  the  south- 
west quarter.  With  him  came  his  father  and  mother,  who 
are  since  deceased. 

Evert  J.  Fokkert,  wife,  and  child  became  residents  of 
40  acres  on  section  7.  He  died  many  years  since,  and  left 
his  son,  Manues  Fokkert,  in  possession  of  the  farm,  upon 
which  he  now  resides.  John  W.  Agteres,  with  his  wife  and 
three  children,  removed  to  the  west  half  of  the  east  half 
of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  8.  He  died  some  years 
since,  and  left  the  farm  to  his  widow,  who  now  resides  upon 
it.  Henry  Kleinheksel,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  five 
children,  settled  upon  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  8.  He  enjoyed  the  distinction  of 
having  been  the  earliest  pioneer  in  Ovcrisel,  and  lived 
upon  his  land  until  1875,  when  his  death  occurred.  His 
son  is  now  the  owner  of  the  farm. 

Gerret  Peters,  with  a  family  consisting  of  a  wife  and 


two  children,  found  a  home  upon  section  9,  where  he  owned 
160  acres.  His  son  now  resides  upon  the  same  farm, 
Henry  Kroezre,  with  a  wife  and  three  children,  owned  the 
east  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  8.  He  died 
very  early,  and  the  widow,  with  her  son,  has  since  cultivated 
the  farm.  Jan  Sohipper,  accompanied  by  a  wife  and  five 
children,  settled  on  40  acres  on  section  20. 

Hendricus  Maatman,  his  wife  and  three  children,  located 
upon  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  17,  and  also  purchased  the  northwest  quarter  of  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  20.  His  death  occurred 
during  an  early  period  of  the  colony's  history,  and  his  son 
has  since  cultivated  the  land.  L.  Slatman,  one  of  the  early 
pioneers  who  left  Holland  in  1847,  died  in  Syracuse,  N. 
Y.,  soon  after  his  arrival.  His  widow  and  five  children  re- 
moved to  Michigan  with  the  colony,  and  settled  upon  the 
northeast  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  19. 
William  Oolbekkirck,  who  was  unmarried  on  his  arrival, 
located  upon  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  19. 

Mannes  Kleinheksel  resided  upon  section  20,  where  he 
had  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  southwest  quarter.  Gerret  * 
J.  Haller,  also  an  unmarried  man,  had  the  east  half  of  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  17.  Gerret  Maatman  and 
his  wife  established  themselves  upon  section  8,  where  40 
acres  was  allotted  to  them.  He  lived  upon  his  farm  until 
his  death,  in  1876,  when  his  son  became  owner  of  the 
property.  John  Schwuurusau  did  not  locate  land  with  the 
colony,  but  soon  after  entered  a  tract  in  the  township  which 
he  improved  and  made  his  residence. 

In  the  fall  of  1848  the  following  families,  who  had  re- 
mained in  New  York,  joined  the  colony : 

Mannes  Boers  and  two  children  settled  upon  the  west 
fractional  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  6,  his 
wife  having  died  in  New  York.  Berend  Timmerman,  with 
his  wife  and  four  children,  located  upon  the  east  half  of 
the  northwest  fractional  quarter  of  section  7. 

Gerret  M.  Brouwer,  with  his  wife  and  two  children, 
chose  a  farm  on  section  24,  in  the  township  of  Fillmore. 
These  last  four  settlers  purchased  their  lands  direct  from 
the  government,  and  not  through  the  agency  of  Rev.  S. 
Bolks. 

The  same  fall  there  arrived  from  Holland  William  Heck- 
man,  wife  and  four  children,  who  settled  upon  the  east 
half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  6 ;  Hendrick  Eskes, 
his  wife  and  three  children,  who  chose  a  home  in  Fillmore ; 
John  Bolks,  who  was  unmarried,  and  also  located  in  Fill- 
more, on  section  24;  Gerret  Schoten,  his  wife  and  five 
children,  who  purchased  160  acres  on  section  17;  Gerret 
Vreelink,  with  a  wife  and  five  children,  who  entered  80 
acres  on  section  8. 

In  1849  came  Hans  Kok,  his  wife  and  six  children,  who 
located  upon  section  7  ;  Mannes  Slotman,  with  a  wife  and 
four  children,  who  became  settlers  on  section  20  ;  and  Rev. 
Gerret  J.  Nykerk,  who  is  still  living,  and  officiates  as  pastor 
of  the  Reformed  Church  of  Overisel. 

Hendrick  Brouwers,  who  came  from  Hanover  in  1848 
remained  in  Allegan  until  the  fall  of  1850,  having  mean- 
while purchased  land  on  section  17  in  Overisel,  where  he 
then  settled.     In  1854  he  bought  115  acres  upon  section 


OVEKISEL  TOWNSHIP. 


309 


9,  on  which  he  at  present  resides.  Henry  Michmer- 
ehuizen  built  a  house  upon  his  land,  on  section  18,  as  early 
as  1848,  but  did  not  remove  to  it  until  later,  having  re- 
mained two  years  in  Allegan.  Cornelius  J.  Voorhorst  left 
the  province  of  Overisel,  in  Holland,  in  the  spring  of  1847, 
and  came  direct  to  Holland,  Mich.,  where  he  remained 
until  his  settlement  upon  his  farm,  in  1848. 

Fred  Copeman  came  in  1851,  and  with  his  wife  located 
upon  80  acres  on  section  7.  Lucas  Daugremond  preceded 
him  by  a  year,  and  with  his  family  settled  upon  section  18, 
where  he  built  a  blacksmith-shop  and  conducted  a  thriving 
business.  Mannes  Kok  settled  upon  the  land  formerly 
owned  by  Dominie  Bolks.  Doon  Nieuwenhuis  located 
with  his  family  upon  section  7.  Z.  Vujteveen  and  family 
settled  upon  section  20,  and  John  W.  Neveuzel  upon  sec- 
tion 30.  John  Von  Eerde  and  Gerret  Kooiker  were  also 
among  the  later  settlers. 

R.  Koning  came  from  Zeeland,  Mich.,  in  1866,  and  em- 
barked in  mercantile  pursuits.  He  soon  after  erected  a 
substantial  building,  and  conducted  the  business  of  a  gen- 
eral store,  adapted  to  the  country  trade,  for  a  period  of  eight 
years.  Later  he  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land,  and  is 
now  extensively  engaged  in  real-estate  operations. 

Jan  Van  Dau  settled  upon  section  3,  and  resided  upon 
his  farm  during  his  lifetime.  Jan  and  Geraud  Van  Rhu 
also  located  on  the  same  section.  Roeluf  A.  Weurding, 
with  his  family,  found  a  home  on  section  2,  where  he  pur- 
chased the  south  half  of  the  southeast  quarter,  and  Albert 
Vredevelt  secured  the  east  half  of  the  southwest  quarter 
on  the  same  section. 

OVEKISEL. 

The  hamlet  of  Overisel  is  located  upon  section  18.  It 
was  first  begun  in  1848,  when  a  temporary  structure  was 
erected  by  the  men  of  the  colony,  who  located  in  the  town- 
ship, and  desired  a  place  of  shelter  while  employed  in  erect- 
ing log  houses  for  the  reception  of  their  families.  This 
house  was  a  structure  of  the  rudest  description.  In  lieu 
of  beds  the  pioneers  were  content  to  repose  upon  hemlock 
bouo'hs,  while  their  food  was  of  such  a  character  as  could 
be  easily  transported  from  Holland,  Ottawa  Co.,  at  which 
place  they  rejoined  their  families  at  the  expiration  of  each 
week's  toil.  As  soon  as  the  structure  was  rendered  habit- 
able, Henry  Kleinheksel  came  with  his  wife  and  established 
themselves  in  the  house,  or  "  tavern,"  as  it  was  called, 
and  remained  until  their  own  log  structure,  on  section  18, 
was  completed,  to  which  they  then  removed.  They  may 
therefore  be  regarded  as  having  been  the  first  permanent 
settlers  in  the  township.  Soon  after  occurred  the  birth  of 
Mr.  Kleinheksel's  son  William,  who  was  the  first  child  born 
in  the  township. 

There  was  at  this  time  no  saw-mill  in  Overisel,  and  the 
lumber  used  in  constructing  the  earliest  buildings  was 
drawn  from  Dumont's  mill,  in  Allegan,  by  ox-teams,  there 
being  then  no  fodder  for  horses.  But  two  horse-teams 
were  owned  in  the  township  during  the  first  year  of  its  set- 
tlement. In  the  fall  of  1848  Cornelius  J.  Voorhorst  re- 
moved to  the  hamlet.  He  had  previously  been  a  resident  of 
Holland,  Ottawa  Co.,  and  had  been  importuned  by  Dominie 
Bolks  to  embark  with  him  in  a  mercantile  enterprise.   They 


opened  a  small  store  containing  a  supply  of  groceries  and 
other  articles  adapted  to  a  country  trade.  This  business 
was  conducted  for  a  period  of  three  years.  In  1853  Mr. 
Voorhorst  purchased  40  acres  on  section  18.  His  resi- 
dence until  his  marriage  was  with  Dominie  Bolks.  After 
that  event  he  removed  to  a  log  house  he  had  erected  on  the 
site  of  his  present  comfortable  brick  residence,  on  section 
18.  To  this  land  he  added  until  he  was  the  owner  of  124 
acres,  which  is  all  in  an  improved  condition. 

Other  buildings  sprang  up  in  the  little  hamlet  as  the 
demand  for  them  was  apparent,  a  church  was  erected,  a 
school  opened,  and  the  general  business  of  the  burg  steadily 
increased. 

There  are  now  two  stores  keeping  a  general  stock, — one 
owned  by  Henry  Schotten,  the  other  by  P.  M.  &  E.  Van 
Zee  ;  one  hardware  store,  owned  by  Daugremond  &  Nykerk  ; 
two  shoe-shops,  kept  by  John  Ensing  and  Peter  Dyck,  re- 
spectively ;  one  blacksmith-shop,  owned  by  H.  Brinkman  ; 
and  a  paint-shop  belonging  to  Peter  Ranken. 

OTHER  ITEMS. 
On  section  11  in  the  township  is  also  a  general  store  kept 
by  John  Dozeman.  The  first  physician  who  practiced  here 
and  in  the  township  was  Dr.  Boerth,  who  resided  in  Zeel- 
and, Ottawa  Co.,  and  made  occasional  pilgrimages  to  Over- 
isel as  his  services  were  in  demand.  Dr.  R.  B.  Best  be- 
came a  resident  practitioner  in  1874,  and  after  a  brief 
absence  has  returned  again  to  his  former  field  of  labor. 
The  earliest  marriage  was  that  of  John  Schipper  to  Miss 
Jennie  Nykerk.   The  exact  date,  however,  is  not  recollected. 

EEFORMED   (DUTCH)   CHURCH. 

The  organization  of  this  church  dates  back  to  the  advent 
of  the  first  emigrants  from  the  province  of  Overisel,  in  the 
Netherlands,  to  Allegan  County,  in  1847.  Rev.  S.  Bolks, 
the  pastor  of  the  church  in  the  Fatherland,  with  a  large 
part  of  his  congregation  and  three  members  of  his  Consis- 
tory, had  left  their  place  of  birth  for  the  purpose  of  im- 
proving their  secular  and  religious  condition,  and  as  has 
been  previously  stated  selected  the  township  of  Overisel  as 
their  home. 

In  the  fall  of  1848  a  house  of  worship  of  logs  was  begun, 
but  was  not  completed  before  the  snows  of  winter  had 
appeared,  services  being  meanwhile  held  at  the  houses  of 
the  settlers.  In  1849  the  edifice  was  rendered  habitable, 
and  from  that  time  used  as  a  place  of  worship,  some  im- 
provements being  made  in  the  course  of  time.  Rev.  Mr. 
Bolks  was  the  pastor,  and  also  directed  the  educational  in- 
terests of  the  township.  In  1851  the  congregation  united 
with  the  denomination  known  as  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church.  In  the  same  year,  Rev.  Mr.  Bolks  having  re- 
moved from  the  township,  one  of  the  elders  of  the  church, 
Mr.  G.  J.  Nykerk,  was  chosen  as  pastor,  and  to  enable  him 
the  better  to  fulfill  the  duties  of  this  sacred  calling  was 
sent  by  the  colony  to  the  then  Holland  Academy,  now  Hope 
College,  to  perfect  himself  in  theology  and  the  languages. 
The  elders  of  the  church,  during  the  interval,  officiated  and 
guarded  the  religious  interests  of  the  colony. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Nykerk  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  and 
installed  as  pastor  of  the  church  at  Overisel,  in  1858,  by 


310 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


the  Classis  of  Holland.  He  is  still  filling  that  sacred  oflfice 
in  Overisel,  being  assisted  in  his  clerical  labors  by  Rev.  P. 
Lepeltak,  who  was  educated  by  the  congregation  to  the 
work  of  the  ministry,  and  was  called  to  the  church  at  Over- 
isel in  1877.  Other  young  men  who  have  been  educated 
by  this  church  have  entered  the  ministry,  or  are  engaged 
in  teaching  at  Hope  College,  Holland. 

The  membership  of  the  church  has  steadily  increased 
until  its  roll  now  embraces  489  names.  A  successful  Sab- 
bath-school is  also  maintained,  with  375  scholars.  Since 
1859  the  congregation  has  contributed  to  the  support  of  its 
own  church  and  parish,  and  to  various  benevolent  enter- 
prises, a  sum  exceeding  |50,000.  It  has  a  spacious  and 
well-appointed  church  edifice  and  a  very  desirable  parson- 
age, which  is  about  to  be  rebuilt. 

The  following  gentlemen  have  served  as  members  of  the 
Consistory  since  the  organization  of  the  church  : 

Elders. — Dark  Agteres,  Gerret  H.  Lankheit,  Gerret  J. 
Wollerink,  L.  Daugremond,  Gerret  Nuviker,  Jan  Bolks,  B. 
J.  Lankheit,  Mannes  Kok,  Egbert  Nykerk,  Jan  H.  HoflF- 
man.  Harm  Klomparens,  Hendrikus  Kok,  Gerret  J.  Im- 
mink. 

Deacons. — Gerret  H.  Weldhuis,  Berend  Timmerman, 
Gerret  H.  Kluinsteker,  Mannes  Veldhuis,  Weigert  Van 
Derkolk,  Hendrik  Klomparens,  Arnoldus  Lammers,  Jan 
Vugteveen,  Hendrik  J.  Kollen,  Hendrik  Scholten. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The  territory  embraced  in  the  present  township  of  Over- 
isel was  surveyed  by  Noah  Brookfleld  for  Calvin  Britain, 
March  17,  1832.  It  was  formerly  connected  with  Mon- 
terey, and  subsequently  with  Fillmore.  The  act  of  the 
State  Legislature  creating  it  an  independent  township  was 
passed  during  the  session  of  1857. 

Many  of  the  early  settlers  came  from  the  province  of 
Overisel,  Holland  (signifying  "  over  the  Yssel,"  a  river  of 
that  name),  and  christened  the  new  township  in  memory  of 
the  district  in  the  fatherland  from  whence  they  emigrated. 

The  following  list  embraces  the  earliest  electors  after  the 
organization  of  Overisel  as  an  independent  township : 


Egbert  Van  Dam. 
Mannes  Kleinheksel. 
Mannes  Kok. 
Garret  Peters. 
Gerret  I.  Polakkers. 
ITendrick  J.  Kallen. 
Arent  J.  Nyenhous. 
John  Prielink. 
Cornelius  J.  Voorhorst. 
Albert  Vredevelt. 
Henry  Brouwcrs. 
John  W.  Acteres. 
Gerret  J.  Figuervever. 
John  Boers. 

Henry  G.  Michmershuizen. 
Hendrik  Beltman. 
Gerret  H.  Kluinsteker. 
Wieger  Van  Der  Kolk. 
Gerret  Van  Rhee. 
■\Villein  Oldebekking. 
Kulof  De  Koning. 
Hannes  Kok. 
Gerret  J.  Ualler. 
Hendrick  J.  Hulsman. 
Gerret  Seholtcn. 


Mannes  Maatman. 
Henry  Scholten. 
Barteld  Vredeveld. 
Fred  J.  Koopman. 
Mannes  Lankhut. 
Mannes  Hulsman. 
"William  Hulsman. 
Egbert  Nykerk. 
Albert  Doseman. 
Hendrik  Vredeveld. 
Andreas  Toonstra. 
Gerret  Nyenhuis. 
Mannes  Slatman. 
Gerret  J.  Wolterink. 
Harm  Schepers. 
Zwier  Vugteveen. 
Harm  Kok. 
Lucas  Vredeveld. 
Gerret  J.  Immink. 
Hendrik  Kok. 
William  Vugteveen. 
Evert  J.  Fokkert. 
Geert  Vredeveld. 
Klaus  J.  Redder. 
John  Shcpers. 


Gerret  Maatman. 
Harm  Walters. 
Albert  Woerding. 
Hendrik  Klumper. 


Hendrik  Boerman, 
John  Boerman. 
KuloflF  Van  Dam. 
Lukas  Daugermond. 


CIVIL   LIST. 


The  first  meeting  of  the  township  of  Overisel  was  held 
at  the  school-house  in  district  No.  1,  April  6,  1857.  Cor- 
nelius J.  Voorhorst  was  appointed  moderator,  and  Hen- 
drick Brouwers  and  Jan  Boers  were  appointed  inspectors 
of  election.  The  officers  elected  for  the  year  were  C.  J. 
Voorhorst,  Supervisor ;  Jan  Boers,  Township  Clerk  ;  Hen- 
drick Brouwers,  Treasurer;  Lucas  Daugermond,  Hendrik 
Brouwers,  School  Inspectors ;  Harm  Walters,  R.  Van  Dam, 
Hendrik  Bellman,  Highway  Commissioners ;  Gerret  J. 
Wolterink,  Barteld  Vredeveld,  Justices  of  the  Peace ;  Eg- 
bert Nykerk,  Harm  Schepers,  Directors  of  the  Poor ; 
Mannes  Hulsman,  Albert  Woerding,  Constables.  The 
remaining  township  officers  to  the  present  time  are  as  fol- 
lows : 

SUPERVISORS. 

1858-71,  Cornelius  J.  Voorhorst;  1872-73,  Hendrik  Kok;  1874-77, 
C.  J.  Voorhorst;  1878-79,  Hendrik  Kok. 

TOWNSHIP   CLERKS. 
1858-62,  Jan  Boers;  1863-71,  Hendrick  Kok;    1872-76,   Hendricus 
Kok ;  1877-79,  Hendrick  Brouwers. 

TREASURERS. 
1858-67,  Gerret  J.  Wolterink;  1868-75,  Hendrick  Brouwers;  1876-78, 
Jan  Scholten;  1879,  Gerret  H.  Nykerk. 

JUSTICES   OF   THE   PEACE. 
1858,  Gerret  J.  Wolterink,  Lucas  Vredeveld;  1859,  C.  J.  Voorhorst; 

1860,  Hendrik  Kok  ;  186 1,  Lucas  Vredeveld ;  1862,  Gerret  J.  Wol- 
terink; 1863,  C.  J.  Voorhorst;  186-1,  Hendrik  Kok;  1865,  Lucas 
Vredeveld;  1866,  Gerret  J.  Woltorink;  1867,  C.  J.  Voorhorst, 
Jan  Boers;  1868,  Hendrick  Brouwers;    1869,  Lucas  Vredeveld ; 

1870,  Jan  Boers;  1871,  C.  J.  Voorhorst;  1872,  C.  J.  Voorhorst, 
Hendrick  Brouwers,  Jan  Boers ;  1873,  Lucas  Vredevelt ;  1874,  Jan 
Boers;  1875,  C.  J.  Voorhorst;  1876,  Egbert  Van  Dam;  1877, 
Francis  Selby;  1878,  Seymour  Butler,  Jan  Boers;  1879,  C.J. 
Voorhorst. 

SCHOOL  INSPECTORS. 
1858,  Lucas  Daugermond;  1859,  Hendrik  Brouwers;  1860,  Gerret 
J.  Wolterink ;  186 1,  Gerret  J.  Nykerk ;  1 862,  Gerret  J.  Wolterink  ; 
1863,Gerret  J.  Nykerk;  1864,  Gerret  J.  Wolterink;  1865,  Gerret 
J.  Nykerk  ;  1866,  Gerret  J.  Wolterink ;  1867,  Gerret  J.  Nykerk ; 
1868,  Gerret  J.  Wolterink;  1869,  Gerret  J.  Nykerk ;  1870,  Gerret 
J.  Wolterink;  1871,  Gerret  J.  Nykerk;  1872,  H.  G.  Miohmer- 
huizen ;  1873,  Gerret  J.  Nykerk ;  1874,  6.  J.  Wolterink ;  1875 
-76,  Hendrik  Kok;  1877,  G.  J.  Wolterink;  1878-79,  Hen- 
drik Kok. 

HIGHWAY   COMMISSIONERS. 
1858,  Harm  Wolters;   1859,  Harm  Schepers;  1860,  Henry  Beltman; 

1861,  Henry  Scholten;  1862,  Albert  Wuerdink ;  1863,  Henry 
Beltman;  1864,  J.  H.  Hulsman:  1865,  Albert  Wuerdink;  1866, 
Hendrick  Beltman;  1887,  William  Vugteveen;  1868,  Albert 
Wuerdink ;  1869,  Hendrick  Beltman  ;  1870,  William  Vugteveen  ; 

1871,  Albert  Wuerdink;  1872,  Hendrik  Beltman;  1873,  John 
Scholten;  1874,  Albert  Wolkotte;  1875-76,  John  Scholten;  1877 
-78,  John  11.  Slotman  ;  1879,  John  Scholten. 

DIRECTORS   OF   THE   POOR. 
1858-59,  Harm  Schepers,  Egbert  Nykerk. 

SUPERINTENDENTS   OP   SCHOOLS. 
1875,  Hein  Laukheet;  1876,  Henry  Boers;  1877,  John  H.  Kleinhek- 
sel; 1878,  Pieter  Lepeltak;  1879,  Klaus  Scholten. 


OVERISEL  TOWNSHIP. 


311 


CONSTABLES. 
185S,  Mannes  Hulsman,  Henry  Vredeveld;  1859,  Maones  Hulsman, 
Mannes  Kok,  Henry  Vredeveld,  John  Meyaard;  1860,  Mannes 
Kok,  H.  Vredeveld ;  1861,  Dirk  Boerman,  H.  G.  Michmershnizen ; 
1862,  Albert  Wuerdink,  H.  G.  Miohmershuizen;  1863-66,  H.  G. 
Michmerehuizen,  A.  Wuerdink;  1867,  Frederick  Wolkotte,  J.  H. 
Slotman,  H.  G.  Miokmershuizen ;  1868,  Hendrick  Pelter,  John 
H.  Slotman,  Mannes  Kok;  1869,  H.  G.  Miokmershuizen,  Hen- 
drick Petter ;  1870,  John  H.  Slotman,  Hendrick  Fetter,  Gerret 
J.  Klumper,  John  SohoUen;  1871,  H.  G.  Miohmershuizen,  John 
H.  Slotman,  Hendrick  Petter;  1872,  H.  G.  Miohmershuizen, 
Remmelt  Koning,  Hendrick  Petter;  1873,  H.G.  Miohmershuizen, 
Albert  Wolkotte,  John  Schipper;  1874,  H.  G.  Miohmershuizen, 
Hendrick  Dannenberg,  Klaus  J.  Redder;  1875,  Frederick  Voor- 
horst,  Frederick  Wolkot'e,  John  H.  Slotman,  H.  J.  Miohmer- 
shuizen; 1876,  Frederick  Voorhorst,  J.  II.  Slotman,  Frederick 
Wolkotte,  H.  J.  Miohmershuizen;  1877,  John  H.  Slotman,  Fred- 
erick Wolkotte,  Florida  Hinton,  M.  Velthuis:  1878,  Hein  Brink- 
man,  J.  H.  Slotman,  Frederick  Wolkotte,  J.  K.  Dangremond; 
1879,  John  H.  Slotman,  Henry  A.  Wiltse,  Hein  Brinkman,  Jan 
K.  Daugremond. 

SCHOOLS. 
The  earliest  school  was  taught  very  soon  after  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  colony,  in  a  log  school-house,  in  district 
No.  1.  It  had  as  teacher  Miss  Bingham,  now  Mrs.  George 
E.  Jewett,  of  Allegan  township.  The  building  was  located 
on  section  17,  on  the  section-line,  and  later  gave  place  to  a 
substantial  frame  structure,  to  which,  in  response  to  the  de- 
maud  for  more  extended  quarters,  a  wing  has  been  added. 
Two  teachers  are  employed  in  this  district,  and  find  here  an 
ample  field  for  their  energies. 

The  second  school  opened  in  Overisel  was  for  the  in- 
struction of  the  children  living  within  the  boundaries  of 
district  No.  2.  The  building  was  constructed  of  logs,  and 
located  on  section  2.  Soon  after,  in  response  to  the  de- 
mands of  the  residents  of  district  No.  3,  a  school-house 
was  built  on  section  9.  The  earliest  teacher  is  not  remem- 
bered. The  township  is  divided  into  six  whole  school  dis- 
tricts, which  are  under  the  supervision  of  a  board  of  the 
following  directors  :  H.  G.  Miohmershuizen,  H.  Weurding, 
H.  Brouwers,  H.  Beltman,  W.  C.  Planner,  H.  Eigterink. 
406  children  receive  instruction,  11  of  them  being  non- 
residents, for  which  purpose  5  male  and  4  female  teachers 
are  employed,  who  receive  annually  in  salaries  the  amount 
of  $2010.50.  The  value  of  school  property  is  $3400,  and 
the  total  resources  of  the  township  for  school  purposes 
$3037.74,  of  which  $258.24  is  derived  from  the  primary 

school  fund. 

BURIAL-PLACES. 

The  earliest  burial-place  was  begun  in  1848,  an  exchange 
having  been  made  with  Cornelius  J.  Voorhorst,  by  which 
an  acre  of  land  on  his  farm,  and  adjoining  his  residence, 
was  devoted  to  purposes  of  burial.  This  was  neatly  fenced, 
has  since  been  adorned  with  many  neat  tablets,  and  is  still 
in  use.  The  first  interment  was  made  in  1848,  a  little 
child  of  Gerret  H.  Veldhuis  having  there  found  a  last 
resting-place.  It  was  speedily  followed  by  the  father  and 
two  other  children,  who  were  the  chosen  victims  to  a  pre- 
vailing epidemic. 

A  second  burial- spot  was  set  apart  on  section  11,  a  half- 
acre  having  been  purchased  for  the  purpose  on  the  quarter- 
line.  It  was  subsequently  controlled  by  the  township,  and 
a  half-acre  added,  the  whole  being  neatly  fenced  and  made 
attractive  by  the  watchful  care  of  the  neighboring  residents. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH. 


R.  KONING. 

Mr.  Geert  Koning,  accompanied  by  his  wife,  Blrs.  Mary 
Jane  Haskels  Koning,  and  seven  children,  embarked  at 
Rotterdam,  Holland,  for  America,  Feb.  27,  1847,  and 
landed  in  Baltimore  after  a  tedious  voyage  of  thirty-six 
days.  The  oldest  of  their  family  was  Remmett,  whose 
birth  occurred  in  the  province  of  Trent,  Netherlands,  July 
24,  1826.  On  their  arrival  they  began  the  westward 
journey,  Michigan  having  been  their  objective  point.  The 
father's  health  for  a  year  previous  had  been  poor,  and 
seven  days  later  he  died  on  a  canal-boat  at  Millington,  Pa., 
where  he  was  buried,  leaving  the  little  band  under  the 
protecting  care  of  the  oldest  son.  They  continued  their 
journey,  and  ultimately  arrived  at  Kalamazoo  with  but  ten 
guilders,  or  four  dollars,  of  their  small  capital  left.  They 
removed  to  a  small  house  and  Remmett  found  employment 
in  a  brick-yard,  where  he  earned  twelve  dollars  a  month, 
that  having  been  the  maximum  sum  paid  at  that  time  for 
labor.  The  following  fall  he  removed  to  Saugatuck  and 
was  employed  by  John  Roberts  upon  a  scow  running  from 
Allegan  around  the  lake  to  Holland,  Mich.  Having  a 
desire  to  become  the  owner  of  land,  he  borrowed  of  a 
friend,  Mr.  Harm  Smith,  sufficient  money  with  which  to 
enter  and  pay  for  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  18,  in 
Zeeland.  This  he  intrusted  to  the  care  of  a  would-be 
friend,  v.'ho  appropriated  it  to  his  own  use  and  left  him 
minus  the  land.  However,  with  the  assistance  of  his 
brother  Jacob,  a  fractional  eighty  was  preempted,  and 
finally  paid  for  after  much  anxiety  and  effort  on  the  part 
of  the  young  emigrants.  Previous  to  this  time  Mr.  Koning 
had  assumed  the  burden  of  the  family  support,  depending 
entirely  upon  his  good  health  and  his  strong  arms  for  aid. 
A  change,  however,  occurred  in  the  family  relations  by 
the  marriage  of  his  mother  to  John  Van  Vleet  in  1851. 
Mr.  Koning's  talent  for  speculation  was  first  developed  in 
the  purchase  of  twenty-six  fat  hogs,  which  he  sold  soon  after 
at  a  fine  profit  and  enabled  him  to  purchase  thirty-seven 
more.  He  then  repaired  to  Kalamazoo  County  and  sought  em- 
ployment, chopping  in  a  single  winter  three  hundred  and 
sixty-five  cords  of  wood,  and  also  engaging  soon  after  at 
labor  in  a  furnace.  On  the  23d  of  July,  1854,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Janette  Immink,  the  third  in  a  family  of 
six  children  who  came  from  the  Netherlands  to  America  in 
1847  and  settled  in  Overisel  in  1848,  where  her  brother 
still  resides.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Koning  have  had  six  children, 
two  of  whom  are  living.  Gerrit  was  born  July  9,  1855, 
and  died  the  following  month ;  a  little  one,  whose  advent 
and  departure  from  the  world  both  occurred  in  September, 
1856  ;  Gerrit,  born  Sept.  8,  1857,  whose  death  occurred 
in  November  of  the  same  year;  Gerrit  J.,  whose  birth 
occurred  Aug.  29,  1858;  Diana  J.,  born  Feb.  4,  1861; 
and  William,  whose  birthday  was  Sept.  9,  1864,  and 
whose  death  took  place  in  January  of  the  following 
year. 

During  the  first  tea  years  after  Mr.  Koning's  marriage 
he  lived  upon  his  former  home  and  engaged  in  stock-buying 
and  other  speculations.     In  1862  he  made  a  purchase  em- 


312 


HISTOEY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


bracing  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land,  and  in 
1864  secured  an  additional  forty  acres  in  Overisel,  where 
his  present  residence  is  located.  He  then  embarked  both 
in  farming  and  mercantile  pursuits,  having  opened  a  small 
store  with  a  general  assortment  of  goods  adapted  to  the 
country  trade.  The  latter  enterprise  he  conducted  for  a 
period  of  eight  years,  and  then  disposed  of  his  interest  to 
a  partner.  Mr.  Koning  had  by  industry  and  excellent 
judgment  accumulated  a  competency,  which  was  further 
increased  by  the  sale  of  his  land  in  Zeeland  for  the  sum  of 
six  thousand  dollars.  Since  that  time  he  has  added  to  his 
landed  estates,  until  he  is  now  the  possessor  of  fourteen 
hundred  and  sixty-seven  acres,  a  portion  of  which  is  highly 
cultivated.  His  tax-roll  is  among  the  largest  paid  in  the 
county.     In  the  Fatherland   both   Mr.  Koning  and  his 


father  have  a  military  record,  the  former  having  been  for 
seven  years  a  soldier,  and  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Waterloo.  His  son  was  drafted  at  eighteen  and  deserted, 
his  desire  to  embark  for  America  overcoming  his  patriotic 
instincts.  The  English  language  was  to  him  an  unknown 
tongue  on  his  arrival,  but  by  perseverance  and  application 
he  has  become  proficient  in  its  use.  This  was  greatly 
aided  by  a  substantial  education  in  his  early  years.  Mr. 
Koning's  children  have  also  received  a  liberal  education, — 
Gerrit,  at  Hope  College ;  the  latter  has  chosen  farming  as 
his  vocation,  and  been  presented  with  a  four-hundred-acre 
farm.  In  politics  Mr.  Koning  is  an  active  Republican,  and 
has  been  since  the  organization  of  the  party.  Both  himself 
and  wife  are  members  of  the  Reformed  (Dutch)  Church  in 
Overisel,  and  contribute  liberally  towards  its  support. 


PINE     PLAINS. 


Among  the  most  heavily  timbered  townships  of  the 
county  is  that  of  Pine  Plains,  known  on  the  U.  S.  survey 
as  township  2  north,  in  range  14  west.  It  is  bounded  north 
by  Heath,  south  by  Cheshire,  east  by  Allegan,  and  west  by 
Clyde.  It  was  surveyed  iu  July,  1831,  by  Calvin  Britain, 
and  was  organized  as  a  separate  civil  township  in  1850,  then 
embracing  the  territory  of  Clyde  and  Lee,  but  not  includ- 
ing that  part  of  its  present  territory  northeast  of  Kalamazoo 
River.  In  1859  the  two  townships  just  mentioned  were 
separated  from  Pine  Plains,  which  then  embraced  only 
that  portion  of  township  2,  range  14,  lying  southwest  of 
the  Kalamazoo  River.  In  1871  the  portion  lying  north- 
west of  the  river  was  taken  from  Heath  by  an  act  of  the 
Legislature  and  annexed  to  Pine  Plains,  making  its  present 
area  six  miles  square. 

The  township  is  well  watered,  the  Kalamazoo  River  en- 
tering it  from  the  east,  flowing  through  it  to  the  northwest, 
and  leaving  it  on  the  north  line  of  section  5.  Its  course  is 
tortuous, — perhaps  even  more  so  in  this  township  than  else- 
where in  the  county,  except  in  Allegan.  The  most  impor- 
tant of  the  smaller  streams  is  Swan  Creek,  which  enters 
the  township  on  the  south  line,  of  section  32,  follows  a 
northerly  course,  and  empties  into  the  Kalamazoo.  It 
affords  good  water-power,  and  saw-mills  have  at  various 
times  been  erected  upon  its  banks.  Other  smaller  creeks 
are  found  in  the  northern  portion  of  the  township,  and 
there  is  a  small  sheet  of  water  on  the  western  boundary 
which  is  known  to  the  residents  of  that  locality  as  Round 
Lake. 

The  quality  of  the  soil  in  the  timbered  land  is  quite 
good,  being  a  mixture  of  clay  and  sand,  which  by  cultiva- 
tion has  been  rendered  very  productive.  Much  of  the  land 
is  a  sandy  loam,  though  at  times  there  are  found  streaks  of 
clay  which  are  very  productive.     The  river-lands  are  annu- 

«-  By  E.  0.  Wagner. 


ally  overflowed  and  thus  enriched,  forming  a  soil  the  fer- 
tility of  which  rivals  that  of  any  other  land  of  the  county. 

Wheat  is  grown  with  considerable  success  in  various  parts 
of  the  township,  the  average  crop  being  quite  equal  to  that 
obtained  in  neighboring  territories.  Corn,  however,  seems 
to  be  cultivated  to  even  better  advantage,  and  it  is  even  said 
that  in  some  favored  localities  160  bushels  of  ears  have  been 
produced  to  the  acre.  In  less  fertile  districts  the  corn- 
crop  is  still  abundant. 

The  surface  of  Pine  Plains  is  undulating,  hills  and  val- 
leys of  varying  height  diversifying  the  scene.  The  eleva- 
tions are  frequently  utilized  for  fruit-growing,  and  many 
fine  peach-orchards,  some  of  them  of  considerable  extent, 
cover  the  sloping  ground.  The  township  was  originally 
remarkable,  as  its  name  indicates,  for  its  excellent  pine-tim- 
ber land.  Oak,  beech,  maple,  and  basswood  are  also  occa- 
sionally found  in  the  township.  Much  of  the  pine  has  been 
already  cut,  but  enough  still  remains  to  attract  lumbermen 
from  other  regions  to  this  locality.  Not  only  are  the  trees 
themselves  utilized,  but  the  stumps  have  in  many  districts 
been  used  for  making  fences, — fences  which  are  supposed  to 
be  quite  as  durable  as  stone  walls  and  less  liable  to  fall  down. 
In  1874  Pine  Plains  had  nearly  2000  acres  of  improved  land 
and  62  farms.  These  numbers  are  now  considerably  larger, 
and  will  be  still  further  increased  as  the  lands  in  the  central 
and  western  portion  are  brought  under  cultivation. 

EAELY  SETTLEMENTS. 

The  first  settler,  as  nearly  as  can  be  determined,  who  un- 
dertook to  make  a  home  in  the  territory  of  Pine  Plains 
was  Mr.  A.  Nobles,  who  located  upon  a  tract  of  land  on 
section  13,  just  north  of  the  Kalamazoo  River,  about  1837. 
It  is  probable  that  his  purchase  was  made  from  an  early 
speculator,  as  he  does  not  appear  to  have  made  a  govern- 
ment entry.     Mr.  Nobles  built  a  log  bouse  on  the  bank  of 


PINE  PLAINS  TOWNSHIP. 


313 


the  river,  and  remained  about  a  year,  when  he  abandoned 
his  temporary  abode  and  departed.  The  house  was  for  a 
long  time  afterwards  used  as  a  temporary  shelter  by  the 
river  raftsmen  and  occasional  itinerant  fishermen.  It  was 
at  length  consumed  by  fire,  through  the  carelessness  of  some 
of  its  temporary  occupants.  John  Onderkirk  was  employed 
by  Nobles  to  clear  his  land,  and  for  several  months  made 
his  headquarters  at  the  house  above  mentioned. 

The  next  settlement  was  made  by  T.  M.  West,  who  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  land  on  section  14,  north  of  the  river, 
now  occupied  by  W.  N.  Ingham.  As  near  as  can  be  ascer- 
tained, Mr.  West's  advent  occurred  in  1838.  He  had  pre- 
viously resided  in  Allegan,  to  which  place  he  returned  after 
a  brief  experience  in  Pine  Plains. 

Daniel  Amerman  came  from  Wayne  Co.,  Pa.,  in  1836, 
and  located  in  Allegan  on  the  line  of  Pine  Plains.  In 
1845  he  removed  to  the  latter  township  and  purchased  80 
acres  on  section  13.  Upon  this  he  built  a  house  and  re- 
mained two  years,  when  he  removed  to  Osceola  County. 
His  son  then  occupied  the  farm  until  1878,  when  he  be- 
came a  resident  of  the  village  of  Allegan. 

In  1844,  Samuel  Bigsby  arrived  from  Allegany  Co., 
N.  Y.,  and  located  upon  section  12,  where  he  purchased  of 
Oramel  GriflBn  160  acres.  He  found  a  temporary  abode 
with  Peter  Dumont,  in  Allegan,  while  he  cleared  five  acres 
of  land,  after  which  he  returned  to  the  East,  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  brought  his  family.  They  also  enjoyed  the 
hospitality  of  their  Allegan  neighbors  until  a  comfortable 
residence  could  be  built,  into  which  they  at  once  moved. 
For  nearly  a  year  they  had  no  neighbors  except  a  band  of 
Indians  who  had  pitched  their  camps  on  the  river-bank, 
and  were  constantly  roaming  the  forest  in  pursuit  of  game. 
With  game  and  fish  procured  of  the  Indians,  Mrs.  Bigsby 
was  able  to  set  forth  a  repast  which  would  have  delighted 
the  heart  of  a  modern  epicure.  The  first  framed  house  and 
barn  in  the  township  were  built  by  Mr.  Bigsby,  the  erection 
of  which  was  then  considered  as  an  achievement' of  which 
he  might  reasonably  be  proud.  It  was  all  the  more  com- 
plimentary to  his  industry  and  energy  that  his  ready  cash 
after  paying  for  his  land  was  reduced  to  25  cents  in  cur- 
rency. During  the  time  that  Mr.  Bigsby's  family  was 
living  in  Mr.  Dumont's  house  in  Allegan,  his  daughter 
Amelia  was  married  to  George  P.  Heath.  This  could 
hardly  be  called  the  first  marriage  in  Pine  Plains,  but  it 
would  have  been  if  the  bride's  father  had  moved  into  his 
new  house  a  little  quicker. 

There  were  as  yet  no  religious  services  held  in  Pine 
Plains;  but  as  settlers  came  in  their  ox-teams  were  fre- 
quently seen  conveying  them  to  Allegan  for  worship.  Later, 
Elder  Bingham,  of  the  latter  place,  held  services  in  the 
school-house,  which  had  been  built  in  the  mean  time. 

An  early  death  occurred  in  the  household  of  Mr.  Bigsby, 
which  was  probably  the  second  in  the  township.  A  sick 
stranger  from  Hillsdale  presented  himself  at  Mr.  Bigsby's 
door°and  begged  assistance.  His  suffering  condition  so 
moved  the  hearts  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bigsby  that  he  was 
made  welcome  and  tenderly  nursed  by  them  and  the  neigh- 
bors, who  volunteered  their  services.  Their  ministrations, 
however,  proved  unavailing,  as  he  survived  but  four  weeks. 
Mr.  Bigsby  died  during,  the  year  187Y.     His  wife,  still 


40 


vigorous  and  active,  survives  him,  and  resides  with  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  George  Peet. 

Maj.  James  M.  Heath  came  West  from  Alleghany  Co., 
N.  Y.,  in  1845,  and  purchased  400  acres  on  section  12. 
Mr.  West  was  at  this  time  the  only  resident  in  the  town- 
ship, Mr.  Bigsby  having  not  yet  returned  from  the  East 
with  his  family.  Mr.  Heath  occupied  a  log  house  on  Mr. 
Dumont's  farm  until  his  own  was  completed,  when  he 
removed  to  it  with  his  family.  Even  as  late  as  1845, 
within  two  or  three  miles  of  Allegan  village,  wild  animals 
were  not  only  abundant,  but  very  obtrusive.  Bears  were 
especially  destructive  in  the  corn-fields,  and  would  occa- 
sionally visit  the  dwellings  of  the  settlers.  The  house  of 
Maj.  Heath  in  his  absence  was  visited  by  one  of  these 
marauders,  which  came  close  up  to  the  door,  coolly  made  a 
survey  of  the  premises,  badly  frightened  the  inmates,  and 
then  walked  off  at  his  leisure. 

The  first  death  in  the  township  was  that  of  Maj.  Heath's 
son,  Frank,  who  died  near  the  close  of  the  Mexican  war 
from  sickness  contracted  while  serving  as  a  soldier  in  that 
conflict.  His  remains  were  the  first  which  were  interred 
in  the  new  cemetery. 

Peter  Rhodabaugh  arrived  very  soon  after,  and  settled 
on  a  farm  adjoining  Mr.  Bigsby's.  In  his  family  occurred 
the  earliest  birth  in  the  township. 

A  saw-mill  was  built  as  early  as  1837  in  Pine  Plains  by 
David  B.  Stout.  It  was  located  on  Swan  Creek,  on 
the  site  of  the  property  known  as  the  Bush  Mills,  on  sec- 
tion 29  (now  owned  by  Armitage  &  Co.),  and  was  run  for 
five  years,  during  which  time  it  supplied  lumber  for  most 
of  the  settlers.  A  saw-mill  was  at  a  later  date  erected  by 
H.  Bower  on  section  17  upon  the  same  creek,  which  was 
subsequently  purchased  by  P.  G.  Paris  &  Co. 

John  B.  Babbitt  removed  from  Mercer  Co.,  Pa.,  to  Pine 
Plains  in  1849,  and  lived  a  while  with  Maj.  Heath.  In 
1851  he  entered  53  acres  in  the  northeast  corner  of  section 
2,  upon  which  he  built  a  house  and  barn,  and  a  considerable 
portion  of  which  he  cleared.  Two  years  later  his  father 
became  a  resident  of  the  township.  Mr.  Babbitt  remained 
upon  his  farm  until  1859,  when  he  removed  to  Allegan 
and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law.  He  served  for  a  term 
in  the  Union  army,  and  has  ever  since  been  an  active 
member  of  the  bar. 

Arad  Hitchcock  came  from  the  State  of  New  York  and 
purchased  from  A.  J.  Kellogg  80  acres  on  section  13. 
He  remained  a  few  weeks,  and  during  that  time  made  a 
beginning  in  the  work  of  clearing  his  land.  This  brief 
season  of  labor,  however,  proved  fatal,  as  he  contracted  a 
malarial  fever  which  ended  his  life  one  month  later.  Mrs. 
Hitchcock  was  not,  however,  dismayed.  Under  the  care 
of  her  father  she  removed  to  her  land  in  Pine  Plains  four 
years  later,  and  has  since  resided  upon  it. 

The  first  settler  who  cleared  a  farm  on  the  portion  of 
Pine  Plains  south  of  the  river  was  Giles  H.  Hills,  who 
came  from  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1853,  and  located  345 
acres  on  section  24.  He  found  no  neighbors  in  that  town- 
ship, but  in  Allegan  lived  Loren  Sage,  who  had  located  on 
section  30,  very  near  Mr.  Hill's  own  purchase.  Mr.  Hill 
beo-an  life  in  Pine  Plains,  almost  as  a  matter  of  course,  in 
a  log  house.     Four  years  later  he  built  a  hot«l.     The  year 


314 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


following  came  George  Muma  and  located  on  section  23, 
where  he  purchased  80  acres.  He  now  resides  with  his 
son-iu-law,  G.  H.  Hill. 

Mr.  Muma  was  soon  followed  by  John  Frank,  who 
located  upon  130  acres  on  section  14,  but  subsequently 
removed  from  the  township.  J.  W.  Palmer  purchased  and 
improved  160  acres  on  section  6,  but  did  not  become  a 
permanent  resident.  Jabez  Pettit  made  an  early  location 
upon  140  acres  on  section  30. 

George  Peet  was  a  former  resident  of  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y., 
which  he  left  in  1844,  and  ten  years  later  selected  Pine 
Plains  as  a  home,  purchasing  120  acres  on  section  11,  and 
finding  a  welcome  at  the  house  of  George  P.  Heath  while 
erecting  a  house  for  himself.  His  brother,  William  Peet, 
who  came  somewhat  later,  purchased  an  adjoining  farm  on 
the  same  section,  which  he  improved,  and  upon  which  he 
still  resides. 

Burroughs  Ingham,  a  native  of  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y., 
moved  to  Allegan  County  in  1853,  and  purchased  80  acres 
on  section  14,  in  Pine  Plains,  where  he  took  up  his  resi- 
dence. Across  the  river  from  Mr.  Ingham's  place,  Rev. 
William  Page  had  tried  to  build  a  saw-mill  and  factory  as 
early  as  1849.  A  race  had  been  dug,  but,  the  water-power 
proving  insuflBcient,  the  enterprise  was  abandoned  and  the 
property  disposed  of.  It  is  now  owned  by  Ira  Wilcox.  The 
latter  gentleman  served  four  years  in  the  army,  and  with 
the  proceeds  of  this  service  liquidated  the  indebtedness  on 
his  purchase. 

Salmon  Thayer  had  been  a  pioneer  in  Saugatuck  in  1855. 
In  1857  he  purchased  of  Myron  Hinckley  80  acres  on 
section  13,  in  Pine  Plains,  on  which  he  established  his 
family,  though  at  first  he  continued  to  work  most  of  the 
time  at  his  mill  in  Saugatuck.  'Afterwards  he  permanently 
occupied  his  place,  where  he  resided  until  1875.  Alfred 
Sirrine  purchased  a  farm  south  of  Mr.  Thayer,  and  was  one 
of  his  nearest  neighbors. 

Jabez  Parish  located  30  acres  upon  section  8,  a  por- 
tion of  which  he  improved,  but  finally  sold  to  a  band  of 
Indians  who  lived  on  and  cultivated  the  land.  Many  of 
them  were  industrious  and  enterprising,  and  raised  good 
crops.  At  the  expiration  of  a  few  years  they  removed  from 
the  township. 

Asa  Estabrook  came  from  Allegany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1856, 
and  remained  in  Allegan  until  1861.  He  then  removed  to 
Pine  Plains  and  purchased  of  L.  S.  Weaver  66  acres  on 
section  15,  upon  which  he  built  a  house.  Soon  afterwards 
he  enlisted  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  for  the  Union.  Dur- 
ing this  time  his  parents  removed  from  the  East  and  made 
the  farm  their  home,  Mr.  Estabrook,  Sr.,  having  assisted 
his  son  in  the  purchase  of  the  land.  Their  son-in-law,  Mr. 
Valentine  Youngs,  also  came  at  the  same  time,  and  located 
upon  an  adjoining  farm.  His  life  was  terminated  by  an 
accident  while  engaged  at  labor.  Mr.  Asa  Estabrook,  after 
his  return  from  the  war,  purchased  80  acres  on  section  13, 
upon  which  he  lives. 

Harvey  Howe  located  on  section  2  about  the  year  1852, 
and  met  a  tragic  death  by  the  accidental  falling  of  a  tree 
upon  him.  C.  C.  Clark  moved  West  from  the  State  of  New 
York  in  1839,  and  settled  at  Mill  Grove  in  1855,  when 
he  purchased  an  interest  in  the  saw-mill  at  that  point. 


This  he  afterwards  disposed  of,  but  has  continued  his  resi- 
dence at  the  place. 

H.  C.  Beverley,  previously  of  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  located  at 
Mill  Grove  in  1856,  where  he  still  resides.     W.  J.  Shirley 
removed  from  Massachusetts  in  1859,  and  purchased  100 
acres  on  section  2,  residing  upon  it  until  1878,  when  he/ 
removed  to  Mill  Grove. 

The  township  was  slowly  settled,  and  on  the  occasion  of 
the  first  election,  held  at  the  Pine  Plains  House,  kept  by 
T.  S.  Coates,  but  two  ofBces  were  filled,  from  the  fact  that 
the  population  did  not  afford  material  for  a  full  comple- 
ment of  officers.  For  some  time  after  but  eight  electors 
presented  themselves  at  the  polls,  and  frequently  a  single 
individual  would  be  burdened  with  official  honors. 

SCHOOLS. 

Several  years  elapsed  after  the  first  settlement  of  Pine 
Plains  before  the  first  school  was  opened.  In  1853,  a 
school  district  having  been  established  on  the  fraction 
northeast  of  the  Kalamazoo  (then  a  part  of  Heath), 
Samuel  Bigsby  was  awarded  a  contract  for  the  construc- 
tion of  a  school-house  on  section  12.  On  its  completion 
a  school  was  opened  in  it,  with  Miss  Mercy  Bigsby  as  the 
earliest  teacher.  Miss  Bigsby,  however,  did  not  long  oc- 
cupy the  position  of  a  teacher.  A  severe  illness  proved 
fatal  a  few  weeks  after  she  began  teaching,  and  Miss 
Martha  Piatt  became  her  successor,  who  soon  established 
herself  as  a  favorite  with  the  little  ones.  It  may  be  difficult 
to  ascertain  how  much  knowledge  she  imparted,  but  the 
devices  she  employed  to  amuse  children,  and  the  marvelous 
playhouses  she  erected,  are  still  fresh  in  the  recollection  of 
her  admirers. 

There  are  now  three  whole  and  two  fractional  districts 
in  the  township,  the  board  of  directors  being  William  J. 
Shirley,  A.  P.  Randall,  E.  B.  Estabrook,  A.  Muma,  and 
G.  W.  Place.  One  hundred  and  seventy  scholars  are  in 
daily  attendance  at  the  various  schools,  who  are  instructed 
by  5  teachers  receiving  annually,  in  salaries,  the  sum  of 
$608.  The  school  property  of  the  township  is  valued  at 
$2790. 

BUKIAL-PLACES. 
Two  cemeteries  have  been  laid  out  in  the  township,  one 
on  the  west  line  of  section  12,  and  another  near  the  western 
township-line  of  section  6.  The  former  was  purchased  by 
the  township  of  Maj.  Heath  in  1848,  and  was  inclosed  and 
improved  by  that  gentleman.  As  it  is  the  oldest  of  the  two, 
many  of  the  early  settlers  have  found  there  a  last  resting- 
place,  and  it  is  now  well-nigh  filled  with  graves.  A  neat 
fence  incloses  it,  and  many  handsome  memorial  stones  re- 
mind the  spectator  of  the  pioneers  of  the  township.  The 
latter  cemetery  is  comparatively  new,  and  as  yet  but  few 
interments  have  taken  place  within  its  borders. 

EARLY   BOADS. 

The  early  records  give  no  survey  of  highways  prior  to 
1850,  though  roads  were  undoubtedly  kid  out  and  used 
before  that  time.  The  first  surveyed  road  was  that  from 
Allegan  to  Saugatuck,  which  entered  the  township  on  sec- 
tion 28;    ran  thence  northwestwardly,  and  left  it  at  the 


PINE   PLAINS  TOWNSHIP. 


315 


northeast  corner,  on  section  6.     It  was  probably  surveyed 
as  early  as  1834  or  1835. 

MILL  GROVE. 
The  hamlet  of  Mill  Grove  is  located  on  the  township- 
line  between  Allegan  and  Pine  Plains,  the  business  of  the 
place  being  done  principally  in  the  former  township,  while 
the  scanty  population  resides  principally  in  the  latter.  It 
has  had  a  store  owned  by  Alonzo  Vosburgh,  which  is  closed, 
at  least  for  the  present.  It  possesses  a  blacksmith-shop  con- 
nected with  the  mills,  which  occasionally  does  custom-work, 
a  post-office  (the  present  deputy  being  H.  C.  Beverly),  a 
school  building,  and  a  few  residences.  The  Grand  Haven 
Railroad  has  a  station  at  this  point. 

The  founder  of  the  hamlet  and  first  settler  was  Levi  M. 
Comstoek.  He  made  a  contract  with  Chester  Wetmore, 
the  date  of  which  is  not  obtainable,  by  which  he  became 
the  possessor  of  the  land  whereon  the  saw-mill  now  stands, 
and  soon  after  erected  a  small  mill  with  an  upright  saw. 
It  was  not  very  successful,  and  did  but  little  business. 
The  property  was  abandoned  by  Mr.  Comstoek,  and  reverted 
to  Mr.  Wetmore.  It  was  soon  after  sold  to  Harris  &  Fuller, 
who  erected  a  mill,  placed  in  it  a  circular  saw,  and  ran  it 
for  a  year,  depending  upon  the  land  adjacent  to  the  mill  for 
their  timber.  A  party  named  Wheeler  purchased  the  in- 
terest of  Mr.  Fuller,  and  soon  after  that  of  Mr.  Harris. 
His  ownership  ceased  at  the  close  of  the  second  year,  as 
the  result  of  financial  disaster. 

John  M.  Heath,  George  P.  Heath,  and  C.  C.  Clark  next 
embarked  in  the  enterprise,  and  added  a  shingle-mill,  which 
proved  a  profitable  investment.  George  P.  Heath  soon 
after  retired,  and  the  property  finally  came  into  the  hands 
of  Alonzo  Vosburgh.  Vosburgh,  Harrington  &  Bo  wen  be- 
came the  owners  in  1861,  but  soon  afterwards  Mr.  Vos- 
burgh purchased  the  entire  property.  John  M.  Heath 
went  into  partnership  with  Mr.  Vosburgh  in  1864,  the  firm 
becoming  for  one  season  Vosburgh  &  Heath,  after  which 
the  property  was  transferred  to  Cole  &  Dean.  It  reverted 
to  Vosburgh  &  Heath,  the  latter  of  whom  disposed  of  his 
interest  to  Alby  Rossman.  Messrs.  Vosburgh  &  Rossman 
leased  the  property  for  a  brief  time  to  Messrs.  Davis  & 
Hooker,  but  in  1865,  Mr.  Vosburgh  became,  and  has  con- 
tinued, sole  proprietor.  ^  He  has  since  built  two  mills,  the 
first  of  which  was  of  very  considerable  dimensions,  with  a 
circular  saw.  Connected  with  it  was  a  shingle-mill  of  large 
capacity,  and  also  a  lath-mill. 

These  mills  were  burned  in  1872,  and  rebuilt  the  same 
season.  Another  conflagration,  in  1873,  consumed  a  vast 
amount  of  material,  including  a  stave-,  heading-,  and 
planing-miU,  and  involved  a  loss  of  $30,000.  The  des- 
troyed works  were  again  rebuilt.  The  property  now  em- 
braces a  saw-mill,  a  shingle-mill,  a  heading-  and  planing- 
mill,  and  a  stave-mill,  which,  with  the  exception  of  the 
last 'named,  are  run  by  water.  When  the  supply  of  the 
latter  is  insufficient  steam-power  is  applied.  The  average 
capacity  of  the  mill  is  20,000  feet  per  day.  During  the 
active  season  40  men  are  employed  in  the  various  depart- 
ments of  labor.  Connected  with  the  business  is  a  farm 
of  1500  acres,  400  of  which  is  improved.  There  is  a 
large  home  demand  for  the  products  of  the  mills,  though  a 


retail  branch  has  been  established  at  Three  Rivers,  where 
the  principal  market  is  found. 

METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH. 

This  church  had  its  beginning  in  1872,  and  as  the  number 
of  worshipers  increased  the  little  band  was  attached  to  the 
Monterey  charge.  Preaching  was  at  first  held  in  the 
school-house,  but  an  efibrt  was  later  made  to  erect  an  edifice, 
and  with  so  much  success  that  $700  was  subscribed,  while 
Mr.  Alonzo  Vosburgh  donated  the  sawing  of  all  the  material. 
The  funds  subscribed  not  having  proved  available,  Mr. 
Vosburgh  himself  bore  the  expense  of  completing  the  edi- 
fice, and  was  given  a  mortgage  of  $1100  by  the  trustees  to 
secure  his  investment.  The  class  was  then  transferred  to 
the  Allegan  charge,  with  which  it  is  still  connected. 
An  efibrt  was  subsequently  made  to  pay  the  mortgage,  and, 
Mr.  Vosburgh  having  consented  to  receive  $800  in  pay- 
ment, the  amount  was  raised.  An  accession  of  60  members 
strengthened  the  church  under  the  preaching  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Edwards,  who  were  received  on  probation.  The  present 
pastor  is  Rev.  W.  A.  Hunsberger,  of  Allegan,  and  the 
trustees  are  Alonzo  Vosburgh,  B.  Calkins,  T.  W.  Sites. 
The  present  membership  is  54. 

LAND  PURCHASES. 
The  lands  of  the  township  were  early  purchased  by  the 
following  parties : 

Section  1. — Bought  in  1835  by  Peter  Dumont  and  John  Robinson,  Jr., 

Chester  Wetmore,  John  Higgins,  Oramel  Sriffiu,  Ephraim  GrifBn, 

Jr.,  John  Brownell,  Orsa  Babbitt,  L.  P.  Ross. 
Section  2.— Bought  from  1836  to  1852  by  Trowbridge  &  Foster,  P. 

B.  Littlejohn,  0.  Griffin,  M.  A.  Babbitt,  William  Dana,  W.  B. 

Clark. 
Section  3. — Bought  in  1836  by  Trowbridge  and  Porter,  Leonard  Stow, 

J.  R.  Langdon. 
Section  4.— Bought  in  1836  by  Trowbridge  and  Porter. 
Section  5.— Bought  from  1836  to  1854  by  William  Sabin,  James  B. 

Murray,  A.  H.  Edwards,  E.  Judson,  E.  D.  Follett. 
Section  6.— Bought  from   1839  to  1854  by  John  Law,  Mary  Wood, 

David  Palmer  (assignee),  Edward  Pratt,  L.  B.  Coats  (assignee), 

James  Sperry,  Ransom  Sperry. 
Section  7 — Bought  in  1854  by  J.  P.  Woodbury,  P.  0.  Littlejohn,  D. 

Duncan,  Charles  Middah. 
Section  8. — Bought  from  1836  to  1854  by  Trowbridge  and  Porter,  John 

Mead,  F.  M.  Wade,  Henry  Bower,  S.  L.  Chase,  Ira  P.  Parish. 
Section  9.— Bought  in  1836, 1853,  and  1854  by  Trowbridge  and  Porter, 

William  G.  Butler. 
Section  10.— Bought  in  1836  by  S.T.  Foster,  Trowbridge  and  Porter,  R. 

S.  Parks,  J.  R.  Langdon,  Orin  Southwell. 
Section  11.— Bought  in  1836  and  1837  by  Trowbridge  and  Porter, 

Oramel  Griffin. 
Section  12.— Bought  in  1836  and  1837  by  same. 
Section  13.— Bought  in  1834,  1835,  and  1836  by  Samuel  Hubbard, 

Samuel  Foster,  A.  L.  Cotton,  Elias   Streeter,  J.  P.  Austin,  Ben- 
jamin Eager,  L.  A.  Daniels,  John  R.  Kellogg,  A.  F.  Lewis. 
Section  14.— Bought  in  1835  and  1836  by  William  Page,  Willard  and 

Austin,  Jonathan  Peabody,  Trowbridge  and  Porter,  L.  J.  Daniels, 

E.  J.  Baker,  John  R.  Kellogg. 
Section  16.— Bought  in  1836  by  George  Y.  Warner,  R.  0.  Hubbard, 

Elias  Streeter,  James  Hutchins,  Samuel  Foster,  Warren  Hill, 

Simeon  Newman,  Trowbridge  and  Porter. 
Section  16.— Bought  from  1853  to  1868  by  F.  B.  Stookbridge,  Henry 

Bowen,  Lewis  Borton,  Samuel  Paris. 
Section  17.— Bought  from  1834  to  1854  by  Samuel  Hubbard,  Thomas 

Armitage,  L.  S.  Barker,  Henry  Bower,  J.  P.  Woqdbury. 
Section  18.— Bought  in   1837   and  1854   by  Oramel    Griffin,  J.   P. 

Woodbury. 


316 


HISTORY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


^ec(!o«  19.— Bought  from  1836  to  1855  by  D.  W.  Wetmore,  George 
Dwight,  William  Orne,  Joseph  Withrow,  James  W.  Sackett. 

Section  20.— Bought  from  1335  to  1855  by  Samuel  Hubbard,  N.  S. 
Pettengill,  J.  P.  Woodbury,  Silas  Hubbard,  G.  W.  Cummings, 
Thomas  Cummings,  Edwin  Grauburger. 

Section  21.— Bought  from  1836  to  1854  by  George  T.  Warner,  Petten- 
gill &  Burdiclt,  T.  C.  Sheldon,  Ellery  HicliS,  Sr. 

Section  22.— Bought  from  1836  to  1855  by  George  Y.  Warner,  Shelden 
and  Burdick,  Chauncey  Pratt,  S.  Van  Houten,  H.  H.  Rosa. 

&cHon  23.— Bought  from  1835  to  1855  by  Harvey  Blasbfleld,  C.  C. 
Trowbridge,  J.  M.  Thomas,  A.  M.  Muma,  B.  A.  Saokett,  Alfred 
Mum  a. 

Section  24.— Bought  from  1834  to  1837  by  Samuel  Hubbard,  Warren 
Hill,  Bernard  Case,  James  Armitage,  Oramel  Griffin. 

Section  25. — Bought  in  1836  and  1837  by  Bernard  Case,  Wm.  Larze- 
lard,  H.  M.  Burch,  Oramel  Griffin,  Ralph  Emerson. 

Section  26.— Bought  from  1836  to  1855  by  C.  C.  Trowbridge,  Alanson 
Billings,  Pliny  Billings,  William  Flagg,  Wm.  Healy,  Jr.,  Loren 
l/oughley,  George  Muma,  Arvilla  Ballou. 

Section  27. — Bought  in  1854  and  1855  by  Isaac  Comstook,  A.  J.  Gil- 
son,  Elisha  Frisbie,  M.  A.  Lyon,  Joseph  Averill,  A.  W.  Dailey. 

Section  28. — Bought  from  1836  to  1855  by  Sheldon  and  Burdick,  John 
R.  Kellogg,  S.  Edwards,  D.  M.  Dunn,  Fhineas  Hoskins,  Smith 
Beardman,  Andrew  Robinson,  Charles  Makepeace. 

Section  29.— Bought  from  1836  to  1854  by  Francis  Fitts,  Moody  Em- 
erson, Thomas  Armitage,  Delamore  Duncan. 

Section  30.— Bought  from  1836  to  1855  by  Francis  Fitts,  Zeba  Fisher, 
Peter  Kunkel. 

Section  3 1  .—Bought  from  1835  to  1855  by  Chas.E.  Stuart,  John  Jack- 
son, Silas  Hubbard,  George  Paine. 

Section  32, — Bought  from  1835  to  1854  6y  Chas.  E.  Stuart,  Francis 
Fitts,  Robert  Wall. 

Section  33. — Bought  from  1836  to  1854  by  Charles  Butler,  Isaac  Parks, 
J.  P.  Chapman,  Sylvester  Edwards,  Martin  Phillips,  Dudley  M. 
Dunn. 

Section  34. — Bought  in  1854  by  Leander  S.  Prouty,  Josiah  L.  Hawes, 
A.  J.  Gibson. 

Section  35.— Bought  from  1835  to  1864  by  Chas.  E.  Stuart,  Bernard 
Case,  Wm.  Larzelard,  Leander  S.  Prouty,  Samuel  Earl,  A.  S.  Hays. 

Section  36.— Bought  in  1835  and  1836  by  James  B.  Hunt,  Chas.  B. 
Stuart,  Horace  M.  Burch,  George  Buroh,  Thomas  Burch  and  H.  M. 
Burch. 

The  following  names  embrace  the  resident  tax-payers  of 
the  township  the  first  year  after  its  organization  : 


Walter  Billings. 
Chas.  T.  Billings. 
L.  S.  Barker. 
T.  S.  Coates. 
Eli  Hathaway. 
Sylvester  Hill. 
G.  H.  Hill. 


Elisha  Ely. 
Osmand  Smith. 
Edward  Pratt. 
D.  Palmer. 
Marmaduke  Wood. 
Jno.  H.  Billings. 
Ebenezer  Scott. 


CIVIL  LIST. 
The  earliest  township-meeting  of  the  township  of  Pine 
Plains  was  held  April  1,  1850,  Eli  Hathaway  and  M. 
Wood  having  been  appointed  inspectors  of  election  and 
Edward  Pratt  clerk.  Timothy  Coates  was  elected  super- 
visor and  Eli  Hathaway  township  clerk.  No  other  oflScers 
were  chosen.  The  remaining  officers  until  the  present  time 
are  as  follows : 

SUPERVISORS. 
1851-53,  Timothy  S.Coates;  1854,  David  Palmer  ;  1855,  Peter  Kunkel; 
1856,  Zeba  Fisher;  1857,  Giles  H.  Hill;  1858,  Josiah  L.  Hawes; 
1859-63,  Charles  Middaugh;  1864-66,  Peter  Kunkel;  1867,  B. 

F.  Graves;  1868,  John  Gilchrist;  1869,  W.  B.  Davis;  1870-74, 

G.  H.  Hill;  1875-78,  Wm.  J.  Shirley;  1879,  J.  J.  Littlejohn. 

TOWNSHIP   CLERKS. 
1851-55,  G.    H.   Hill;  1856,  Peter  Kunkel;  1857-69,  J.    P.   Paris; 
1860-61,  Peter  Konkle;  1862,  P.  G.  Paris;  1863-64,  S.  A.  Paris; 
1865,  H,  p.  McAlistcr;  1866-68,  S.  A.  Paris;  1869,  G.  H.  Hill; 


1870,  S.  A.  Paris;  1871,  J.  J.  Young;  1872-74,  J.  W.  Shirley, 
1875-76,  W.  H.  Ely;  1877-78,  J.  J.  Littlejohn;  1879,  George 
Thorp. 

TOWNSHIP  TREASURERS. 

1851-58,  Charles  T.  Billings;  1859-61,  P.  G.  Paris;  1862,  John  Boy- 
Ian;  1863-71,  P.  G.  Paris;  1872-78,  George  Peet;  1879,  J.  R. 
La  Force. 

JUSTICES  OF   THE   PEACE. 

1851,  J.  S.  Coates,  Eli  Hathaway,  Sylvester  Hill;  1852,  Eli  Hath- 
away, J.  W.   Palmer ;   1853,  J.   S.   Coates,  Edward  Pratt, 

Hill;    1854,  Jarvis  Sperry,  J.  H.   Hill;    1855,  J.  W.  Sackett; 

1856,  Daniel  Clark,  James  Thistle,  Elihu  Frisbee;  1857,  J.  A. 
Thistle,  J.  L.  Hawes,  Zeba  Fisher;  1858,  B.  W.  Phillips,  J.  W. 
Sackett,  J.  L.  Hawes;  1859,  Jarvis  Sperry,  John  H.  Defriest; 
1860,  Loren  Lee,  Samuel  Paris;  1861,  Alfred  Muma,  Silas  Mid- 
daugh; 1862,  John  Boylan,  Wilson  Flagg;  1863,  A.  N.  Van 
Patten;  1864,  S.  W.  Bryan,  Peter  Kunkel;  1865,  Samuel  Paris, 
J.  P.  Parish;  1866,  S,  W.  Bryan,  Peter  Hawks;  1867,  N.  0. 
Brown,  R.  M.  Morse;  1868,  John  Gilchrist,  E.  McNutt:  1869, 
W.  B.  Davis,  George  Muma,  Samuel  Paris ;  1870,  Ira  Wilcox, 
Charles  Middaugh,  Samuel  Paris;  1871,  Wm.  Peet,  R.  M.  Moore; 
1872,  Porker  G.  Paris;  1873,  John  J.  Young;  1874,  R.  M.  Moore, 
Alfred  Muma,  John  J.  Young;  1875,  J.  C.  Stoddard;  1876,  H. 
C.Beverly;  1877,  William  Peet;  1878,  John  Mann;  1879,  John 
Foster. 

HIGHWAY  COMMISSIONERS. 
1851,  Charles  T.  Billings;  1852,  Marmaduke  Wood;  1853,  G.  H.  Hill, 
C.T.Billings;  1854,  Jarvis  Sperry;  1855,  Alfred  Muma;  1856, 
John  Jackson;  1857,  Moses  Patterson;  1858,  Thomas  Popple, 
Boyd  W.  Phillips;  1859,  Peter  Kunkel,  Jarvis  Sperry;  1860, 
James  II.  Lee;  1861,  Silas  Middaugh,  Alfred  Muma;  1862, 
Samuel  Paris;  1863,  Silas  Middaugh  ;  1864,  Alfred  Muma;  1865, 
Alfred  Muma,  Samuel  Paris;  1866,  Samuel  Paris;  1867,  Charles 
H.  Lamper,  Cecil  A.  Flower;  1868,  Ira  Wilcox,  Jacob  Shafer; 
1869,  Alfred  Muma;  1870,  Parker  G.  Paris;  1'871,  William  Peet; 
1872,  Asa  Estabrook;  1873,  Jacob  Shafer,  Ira  Wilcox;  1874^ 
A.  W.  Judd;  1875,  B.  Calkins;  1876,  G.  H.  Hill;  1877,  B.  Cal- 
kins; 1878,  H.  C.  Beverly. 

SCHOOL  INSPECTORS. 
1851,  T.  S.  Coates;  1852,  David  Palmer;  1853,  T.  S.  Coates;  1854, 
David  Palmer;  1866,  no  record;  1856,  B.  P.  Chase,  J.  L.  Hawes ; 
1858,  Henry  Bushnell,  Thomas  Raplee;  1859,  Norman  Darland, 
H.  B.  MoAlister  ;  1860-61,  Charles  Middaugh,  P.  G.  Paris;  1862, 
Samuel  Paris  ;  1863,  Charles  Middaugh ;  1864,  H.  B.  McAlister, 
Peter  Kunkel;  1865,  John  P.  Parish;  1866,  H.  B.  MoAlester; 
1867,  Francis  MoNitt;  1868,  Clark  0.  Bush;  1869,  Charles  Mid- 
daugh ;  1870,  Clark  0.  Bush ;  1871,  James  Crill ;  1872,  Seneca 
Paris,  George  Newman;  1873,  Asa  Estabrook,  Charles  Mid- 
daugh; 1874,  B.  Calkins;  1875,  Alfred  Muma;  1876,  John  L. 
Gardiner;  1877,  Theophilus  Lythes;  1878,  Prank  M.  Ikeler; 
1879,  Asa  Estabrook. 

SUPERINTENDENTS   OF   SCHOOLS. 

1875,  William  J.  Shirley;  1876,  A.  P.  Randall;  1877-78,  John  J. 
Young  ;  1879,  William  Eely. 

DRAIN   COMMISSIONERS. 

1876,  William  Peet;  1877,  W.  H.  Eely;  1878,  J.  Henry  Amerman; 
1879,  William  Peet. 

ASSESSORS. 
1851-52,  Sylvester  Hill,  Edward  Pratt. 

CONSTABLES. 
1851,  Marmaduke  Wood,  C.   T.  Billings,  Edwin    Pratt,  Orry  Hill ; 

1852,  David  Palmer,  C.  T.  Billings,  Edwin  Pratt,  Charles  Davies; 

1853,  David  Palmer,  Edwin  Pratt,  C.  T.  Billings;  1854,  Ransom 
Sperry,  C.  T.  Billings,  David  Palmer,  Peter  Staring;  1855,  C.  T. 
Billings,  Orry  Hill,  Smith  Jennings,  E.  G.  Muma;  1856,  Joseph 
Witherow,  Walter  Allen,  Morgan  Thistle,   Silas  Van   Houlen  ; 

1857,  Michel  Hoy,  Morgan  Thistle,  Ebenezer  Muma,  William 
Birch;  1858,  Charles  Middaugh,  Charles  T.  Billings,  E.  H. 
Heath,  Elisha  Wells;  1859,  James  Hayes,  Russell  Dyer,  Moses 
Sperry;    1860,  James   Lee,  Johnston   Miller,   H.  L.  Trumball, 


PINE  PLAINS   TOWNSHIP. 


317 


Samuel  Piper;  1861,  John  Frank,  Sr.,  Silna  Middangh,  Charles 
Pettit,  William  Flannee ;  1862,  Charles  Pettit,  A.  N.  Vanpatten,  P. 
P.  Paris,  Charles  Middaugh ;  1863,  Daniel  Middaugh,  Alfred 
Muma,  P.  P.  Paris,  J.  M.  Flower;  1864,  Silas  Middaugh,  Alfred 
Muma,  A.  N.  Vanpatten,  J.  W.  Palmer;  1865,  E.  MoNitt,  Walter 
Allen,  Parker  G  Paris,  John  Boylan ;  1866,  Parker  G.  Paris, 
Alfred  Muma,  S.  A.  Paris;  1867,  Patrick  Quigley,  Dennis  Hawley, 
George  D.  De  Wolf,  George  S.  King;  1868,  Daniel  Middaugh, 
Aaron  Vanpatten,  William  F.  Downing,  Robert  Waterman; 
1869,  Joseph  Mead,  Joseph  Anson,  William  Wood,  Stuart  Davis; 
1870-71,  R.  M.  Moore,  B.  T.  Lott,  R.  M.  Moore,  Silas  Middaugh, 
S.  C.  Butler,  Phoenix  Pettit;  1872,  William  Bassett,  James  Clark, 
Isaac  Stringer,  Jesse  Palmer;  1873,  C.  Hitchcock,  Lyman  Mid- 


daugh, Alfred  Muma,  Alonzo  Kidder;  18M,  William  Van  Etta, 
Walter  Ingham,  Jacob  Shufer,  E.  M.  Moore;  1875,  Lyman  Mid- 
daugh, C.  Hitchcock,  R.  M.  Moove,  George  Muma;  1876,  Shed- 
rick  Morris,  John  Mann,  Wilford  Cracker,  C.  C.  Clark  ;  1877, 
William  Kline,  Wilford  Cracker,  C.  Hitchcock,  Lyman  Middaugh  ; 
1878,  Frank  Mann,  Henry  Youngs,  Roliert  Whittemyre,  C. 
Hitchcock ;  1S79,  Edwin  Estabrook,  C.  Hitchcock,  E.  M.  Collins, 
J.  H.  Vanpatten. 

DIRECTORS  OF   THE   POOR. 

1851,  Marmaduke  Wood;  1855,  R.  Sperry ;  1857,  Samuel  Paris;  1858, 
Jarvis  Sperry,  Samuel  Paris. 


BIOGRAPHICAL     SKETCHES. 


DANIEL  G.  PLATT. 


MRS.  M.  S.  PLATT. 


MR.   AND  MES.   DANIEL  G.  PLATT. 

In  the  quiet  little  town  of  Jackson,  Susquehanna  Co., 
Pa.,  devoting  their  time  to  instructing  others  in  following 
the  true  path  of  life  as  laid  down  in  the  Good  Book,  lived 
the  Rev.  Daniel  and  his  good  wife  Almira  (Skinner)  Piatt, 
the  parents  of  Daniel  G.  Piatt,  horn  March  11, 1827.  In 
the  early  settlement  of  Michigan  the  Rev.  D.  Piatt  saw  a 
wider  field  for  labor  in  the  good  cause,  and  accordingly 
emigrated  with  his  family  to  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.  Later, 
he  removed  to  the  north  part  of  Allegan  township, 
where  he  lived  the  remainder  of  his  life,  devoted  to 
the  service  of  his  Master.  Daniel  G.,  becoming  of  age, 
located  eighty  acres  in  Heath  township,  since  included 
within  the  township  of  Pine  Plains,  on  section  No.  1. 
Nov.  9,  1858,  he  married  Mary  Sophronia  Tanner,  whose 
parents,  Joseph  and  Lydia  (Kenyon)  Tanner,  came  from 
Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1845,  and  settled  in  the  town- 
ship of  Monterey,  both  having  since  passed  away.  Daniel 
G.  and  Mary  S.  Piatt  had  unitedly  put  forth  every  eflFort  to 
build  up  a  home  in  the  wilderness  until  March,  1865,  when 
he  was  called  to  serve  his  country  in  the  capacity  of  a  sol- 
dier. Renting  their  little  home,  Mary  with  her  two  chil- 
dren, Warren  Alson,  born  Dec.  8,  1859,  and  Elmor  J., 


born  Jan.  7,  1862,  returned  to  her  parents,  intending  to 
remain  until  peace  should  restore  them  to  each  other  again 
in  their  home.  But  fate  decreed  otherwise.  Mr.  Daniel  G. 
Piatt  sickened  and  died  at  Newbern,  N.  C,  May  10,  1865. 
To  Mrs.  Piatt  there  seemed  but  one  course  to  pursue,  that 
of  devoting  her  life  to  the  rearing  of  her  orphaned  children. 
She  returned  to  the  home  now  so  desolate,  and  began  the 
struggle  bravely,  the  results  of  which  are  before  us, — a  well- 
improved  farm  conducted  by  her  sons,  now  grown  to  man- 
hood, for  whom  we  bespeak  honorable  places  among  their 
townsmen,  all  due  to  the  untiring  devotion  of  a  mother. 


WILLIAM  PEET. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  April,  1827,  and  is 
a  native  of  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.  His  parents,  John  and 
Mary  (Davis)  Peet.  were  of  English  and  Welsh  extraction. 
In  1838  the  family  removed  from  Oneida  to  Cattaraugus 
County,  same  State,  where  William  engaged  in  lumbering 
upon  the  Alleghany  River,  but  in  1849  he  returned  to  farm- 
ing, also  doing  carpenter  and  joiner  work.  Feb.  11, 1852, 
he  married  Fidelia  L.  Vahue,  daughter  of  Philip  and 
Arminta   (Gillett)  Vahue,  residents  of  Cattaraugus  Co., 


318 


HISTORY   OP  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


N.  Y.  In  October,  1854,  he  removed  to  Pine  Plains 
township,  and  purchased  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  on  section 
11.  This  was  then  an  unbroken  wilderness,  and  after 
making  a  small  payment  on  his  purchase  he  erected  a  board 
shanty,  14  by  21,  and  entered  upon  the  work  of  clearing 
and  improving  his  farm.  After  remaining  about  one  year, 
necessity  compelled  him  to  leave  it  and  adopt  some  means 
which  would  enable  him  to  make  his  payments.  Accord- 
ingly, he  rented  a  small  place  and  chopped  cord-wood  for 
that  purpose,  and  at  the  end  of  a  year's  time  had  made 
enough  to  get  a  deed  of  his  place,  and  returned  to  it  and 
the  work  of  improving  and  clearing  this  land.  Year  after 
year  the  work  went  on,  seemingly  slow,  but  eventually  re- 


sulting in  a  home, — such  an  one  as  their  fancy  had  pictured, 
—which  at  this  time  is  one  of  the  finest  in  this  township. 
He  has  also  added  ninety-five  acres  to  his  first  purchase. 
Mr.  Peet  has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  twenty  years, 
also  in  minor  offices,  and  is  to-day  one  of  the  most  enter- 
prising and  trustworthy  citizens  of  Pine  Plains.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Peet  are  the  parents  of  six  children,  viz. :  Judson  A., 
born  Nov.  22,  1852;  Aminta  M.,  March  19,  1855  ;  Mary 
E.,  Jan.  21,  1859  ;  Edward  C,  Sept.  20, 1861 ;  Flora  M., 
March  30, 1868  ;  John  P.,  June  20, 1876.  Upon  another 
page  of  this  work  we  give  a  view  of  the  residence  of  Mr. 
Peet  and  his  family,  also  portraits  of  himself  and  estimable 
wife. 


■—♦i 


SALEM. 


GEOGEAPHY  AND  TOPOGRAPHY. 

This  is  one  of  the  northern  tier  of  townships  of  Allegan 
County,  and  is  designated  on  the  United  States  survey  as 
township  No.  4  north,  in  range  13  west.  It  is  bounded  on 
the  east  by  Overisel,  west  by  Dorr,  north  by  Ottawa  County, 
and  south  by  Monterey. 

Salem  presents  a  great  variety  of  surface,  some  portions 
of  it  being  level  and  easily  tilled,  while  considerable  undu- 
lating ground  is  to  be  seen  elsewhere,  and  in  still  other  sec- 
tions numerous  lofty  bluffs  and  deep  ravines  strike  the  eye 
of  the  spectator. 

It  does  not  boast  a  single  lake,  but  many  streams,  a 
few  of  considerable  magnitude,  fertilize  its  territory.  Black 
Creek  flows  through  the  northwest  portion  of  the  "township, 
and  passes  thence  into  Overisel.  The  two  branches  of 
Rabbit  River,  called  respectively  the  Big  and  Little  Rabbit 
Rivers,  flow,  the  first  from  the  southeast  and  the  latter  from 
the  northeast,  and  unite  on  section  29,  the  combined  stream 
leaving  the  township  on  the  west  line  of  section  30.  Both 
of  these  streams  afford  much  good  water-power. 

The  soil  of  Salem  is  quite  equal  to  the  average  land  of 
the  county,  embracing  sand  loam  and  clay  loam,  with  more 
or  less  of  gravel.  The  districts  formerly  covered  with  a 
mixed  growth  of  timber  have  a  strong,  rich  soil,  while  a 
light  sandy  loam  is  the  characteristic  of  those  tracts  where 
pine  has  principally  flourished.  The  wheat-crop  has  gen- 
erally been  a  satisfactory  one,  both  as  regards  quantity  and 
quality,  and  occasionally  a  small  piece  of  land  producing  a 
yield  which  was  almost  phenomenal.  Corn  is  also  among 
the  staples,  and  both  oats  and  hay  are  profitably  raised. 
The  census  of  1873  gives  1265  as  the  number  of  acres  of 
wheat  sown  for  that  year,  from  which  18,353  bushels  were 
harvested,  while  801  acres  of  corn  produced  a  yield  of 
29,977  bushels.  Of  other  grains,  12,682  bushels  were 
raised. 

»  By  B.  0.  Wagner. 


The  timber  of  the  township  embraces  many  varieties. 
In  the  north  are  found  beech,  maple,  black-walnut,  butter- 
nut, and  basswood.  Many  of  these  trees  grow  to  an  un- 
usual size,  and  are  a  source  of  large  revenue  to  the  owners. 
The  section  in  which  pine  has  flourished  borders  on  the 
Rabbit  River  and  its  tributaries.  But  the  woodman  has 
been  busy  in  this  locality,  and  the  larger  proportion  of  these 
gigantic  oaks  and  pines  have  yielded  to  his  sturdy  blows. 

PRESENT  APPEARANCE,  Etc. 

The  township  boasts  some  of  the  best  and  most  produc- 
tive farms  in  the  county,  many  of  which  are  adorned  with 
tasteful,  and  even  elegant,  residences.  Among  the  various 
industries  the  keeping  of  bees  deserves  prominent  mention. 
Several  of  the  residents  have  become  extensively  engaged  ^ 
in  the  business,  and  find  that  it  well  repays  the  time  and 
labor  expended  upon  it. 

The  number  of  farms  in  the  township  in  1876  was  136, 
which  has  been  largely  increased  during  the  succeeding 
four  years.  A  large  proportion  of  the  population  is  com- 
posed of  Germans,  whoso  productive  and  well-maintained 
estates  extend  over  most  of  the  northern  portion  of  Salem. 

LAND-ENTRIES. 

The  lands  embraced  in  the  present  township  of  Salem 
were  entered  by  the  following  parties : 

Section  1. — Bought  from  1836  to  1865  by  Z.  L.  Griswold,  Benjamin 
Pratt,  Albert  Kruse,  Joseph  Alloock,  Anthony  Bender,  David 
Schnable,  John  Staffes. 

Section  2. — Bought  in  1836  by  Benjamin  B.  Keroheval. 

Section  3. — Bought  in  1836  by  Francis  Dwight,  B.  B.  Kercheval. 

Section  4. — Bought  from  1836  to  1858  by  Francis  Dwight,  Kereheval 
and  Church,  John  Lendecker,  A.  M.  Kirkland. 

Section  5.— Bought  from  1835  to  1856  by  D.  S.  Wilder,  B.  B.  Kerehe- 
val, S.  M.  Kenney,  S.  J.  Gard,  Philip  Young. 

Section  6.— Bought  in  1836  and  1854  by  D.  S.  Wilder,  S.  McKenney, 
Simeon  Card,  C.  P.,  L.  L.,  Lnoy  S.,  and  I.  P.  Church. 

Section  7. — Bought  in  1836  by  Daniel  S.  Wilder,  Nelson  Sage,  Charles 
Butler. 


SALEM  TOWNSHIP. 


319 


Section  8.— Bought  in  ]836  by  Daniel  S.  'Wilcler,  B.  B.  Kerchevol. 
Section  9.— Bought  in  1836  by  Francis  Dvright,  B.  B.  Keroheval. 
Section  10. — Bought  in  1836  by  Francis  Dwight,  A.  A.  Wells,  B.  B. 

Kercheval. 
Section  U.— Bought  in  1836  by  Charles  BuUer,  B.  B.  Kercheval,  John 

B.  Porter. 
Section  12.— Bought  from  1853  to  1855  by  Albert  Krone,  S.  Herwick, 

Jeane  Brimaker,  James  Laraway. 
Section  13. — Bought  in  1854  nnd  1865  by  John  DeardofF,  Jacob  Bre- 

dingam,  Frank  Goldbery,  John  Hendges  and  Jacob  Bredigan,  J. 

Shoemaker. 
Section  14. — Bought  in  1836  and    1854   by  Montgomery  Schuyler, 

Charles  Butler,  John  Hendges,  C.  6.  Base,  M.  Hausen,  William 

Kuts/she. 
Section  15.— Bought  in  1836  by  Francis  Dwight,  B.  B.  Kercheval, 

John  B.  Porter. 
Section  16.— Bought  from  1854  to  1860  by  Isaac  Bear,  E.  Hinton,  J. 

C.  Jones,  Elias  Smith,  Timothy  Bliss,  Lawrence  B.  Green,  William 

Bowman,  R.  Weiss,  Jacob  Mooney,  Isaiah  Mannes. 
Section  17.— Bought  from  1852  to  1854  by  Ira  H.  Smith,  Thomas  Gib- 
son, William  Goodman,  A.  A.  Goodman,  Amos  Showelter,  Chris- 
topher Striokfaden,  Frederick  Miller. 
Section  18.- Bought  from  1836  to  1854  by  Nelson  Sage,  Charles  But- 
ler,   Elisha    Smith,   William    Goodman,   Jacob    Moyer,  Adam 

Stiokley. 
Section  19. — Bought  from  1836  to  1855  by  Samuel  Hubbard,  John 

Wiufilow,  Winslow  and  Bronson,  Joseph  Schoyel,  Adam  Strickley, 

M.  S.  Brown,  C.  C.  Pieroe. 
Secthn  20.— Bought  from    1836   to  1863    by  Oliver   Edwards,  Milo 

Winslow  &  Co.,  Winslow  and  Bronson,  William  Arnold,  H.  G. 

Bliss,  James  Kennedy. 
Section  21. — Bought  in  1836  and  1836  by  George  Y.  AVarner,  Samuel 

Brown,  Milo  Winslow. 
Section  22.— Bought  from  1835  to  1855  by  G.  Y.  Warner,  Francis 

Fitts,  J.  K.  Kellogg,  John  Kreiser. 
Section  23.— Bought   from  1836  to  1867  by  Cornelius  Wendell,  Eli 

Wait,  S.  Dusendung,  H.  D.  Norris,  Joseph  Shoemaker,  D.  J. 

Bugel,  Quiren  Weber,  G.  T.  Lay. 
Section  24.— Bought  from  1836  to  1866  by  George  Brace,  Peter  Keefer, 

Peter  Kasbers,  Jacob  Keitz,  Peter  Weber,  Charles  Russel,  E.  A. 

Perkins,  William  Gates,  Stockbridge  and  Johnson. 
Section  25.— Bought  from  1835  to  1863  by  C.  E.  Stewart,  C.  C.  Trow- 
bridge, V.  Bicker,  M.  Alften,  J.  J.  and  P.  Allten,  Peter  Maas, 

Ja>mes  Kennedy. 
Section  26. — Bought  in  1836  and  1856  by  J.  R.  Kellogg,  Samuel  Pettl- 

bone,  C.  C.  Trowbridge,  R.  E.  Ward. 
Section  27. — Boughtin  1835  andl836by  James  Anderson,  G.  Y.  War- 
ner, J.  R.  Kellogg,  C.  C.  Trowbridge,  Daniel  Prindle. 
Section  28. — Bought  in  1835  and  1836  by  G.  Y.  Warner,  Samuel  Brown, 

Benjamin  Eager. 
Section  29. — Bought  in  1836  by  James  M.  Nelson,  Elisha  Moody, 

James  Anderson,  Milo  Winslow,  Daniel  Winslow. 
Section  30. — Bought  in  1835  and  1836  by  Charles  Butler. 
Section  31.— Bought  from  1834  to  1864  by  P.  J.  Desmyer,  N.  Silsbee, 

C.  B.  Ressequire,  R.  E.  Wood,  J.  R.  Kellogg. 
Section  32. — Bought  from  1835  to  1856  by  Fetterman  and  Abbott,  N. 

Silsbee,  C.  B.  Resequier,  David  Irwin,  R.  E.  Wood. 
Section  33. — Bought  from  1835  to  1856  by  Fetterman  and  Abbott,  Dyer 

Goodman,  C.  B.  Resequier,  John  Proper,  Ransom  E.  Wood. 
Section  34.— Bought  from  1835  to  1856  by  Fetterman  and  Abbott,  N. 

Eggleston,  George  Sturges,  Henry  Wilson,  N.  MoKenney,  C.  B. 

Resequier,  D.  0.  Burton,  Abner  Hunt,  R.  B.  Wood. 
Section  35.— Bought  from  1835  to  1866  by  Fetterman  and  Abbott,  Tal- 

cott  Howard,  Sweeter  and  Boltwood,  A.  A.  Wells,  R.  E.  Wood. 
Section  36.— Bought  in  1835  by  Charles  E.  Stewart,  Samuel  Hubbard. 

EAELY  SETTLEMENTS. 
The  axe  of  the  pioneer  was  first  heard  to  re-echo  through 
the  forests  of  Salem  in  1851.  Michael  Straher,  after  pros- 
pecting in  various  portions  of  the  county,  finally  selected 
an  ""eligible  site  on  section  34,  where  he  located  upon  160 
acres.  He  evidently  bought  of  a  previous  purchaser,  as  his 
name  does  not  appear  among  the  ofiScial  entries  of  land. 


Mr.  Straher  built  a  log  house  and  a  shanty  and  began 
to  clear  off  his  land,  but  soon  became  weary  of  the  life  of 
monotony  and  hardship  which  opened  before  him.  He 
accordingly  sold  his  land  to  Henry  "Wilson,  who  after  a 
brief  ownership  in  turn  disposed  of  it  to  its  present  occu- 
pant, John  Teed. 

Mr.  Straher's  advent  was  followed  by  that  of  William 
Goodman  and  Charles  Strickfaden,  who  found  him  on  his 
land  when  they  were  looking  for  a  location  in  1852,  and 
again  when  they  became  permanent  settlers  in  1853. 
Charles  Strickfaden,  from  Hancock  Co.,  Ohio,  located  upon 
80  acres  on  section  17,  and  occupied  Michael  Straher's 
shanty  while  erecting  a  log  house  of  his  own,  to  which  his 
family  removed  on  its  completion.  He  still  resides  on  the 
same  farm.  Two  sons  likewise  have  farms  in  the  town- 
ship. 

William  Goodman,  who  left  the  cultivated  fields  of  Ohio 
for  a  home  in  the  forests  of  Michigan,  chose  80  acres  on 
section  17,  and,  like  Mr.  Strickfaden,  accepted  the  hospi- 
tality of  Mr.  Straher,  who  assisted  him  in  the  raising  of  his 
log  dwelling.  Many  neighbors  from  the  adjoining  town- 
ship of  Monterey  also  volunteered  their  services  on  this 
occasion.  Not  a  tree  had,  at  this  date,  been  cut,  on  the 
north  of  the  Rabbit  River,  and  the  obscure  trail  of  the  few 
remaining  Indians  who  occasionally  traversed  their  old  hunt- 
ing-ground was  the  only  guide  to  the  traveler.  Deer  were 
abundant,  and  afibrded  a  constant  supply  of  meat  for  the 
table.  Wolves  were  regular  nocturnal  visitors,  while  oc- 
casionally a  bear  was  discovered  invading  the  cornfield ;  yet 
this,  it  will  be  remembered,  was  but  little  more  than  twenty- 
five  years  ago. 

Mr.  Goodman  has  continued  since  his  settlement  a  resi- 
dent of  the  farm  he  first  purchased.  He  is  now  in  his 
eighty-fourth  year,  and  has  recently  taken  up  his  abode 
with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Joseph  Slagel.  Two  sons  also 
reside  in  the  township. 

Albert  Kraus,  a  former  resident  of  Dorr,  was  at- 
tracted to  Salem  in  1853  by  the  good  prospects  of  that  new 
district.  He  located  in  the  fall  of  1853  upon  240  acres 
on  section  12,  which  was  at  that  time  wholly  unimproved. 
He  resided  upon  it  until  his  death,  in  1868. 

Matthias  Castor  had  also  been  a  resident  of  Dorr  before 
coming  to  Salem,  where  he  chose  a  home  in  1854.  He 
purchased  120  acres  of  unimproved  land  on  sections  1  and 
12,  where  he  erected  a  temporary  shelter  of  poles  and  similar 
material,  his  family  remaining  in  Dorr  until  it  was  made  ready 
for  occupation.  There  was  no  window,  and  the  door  was  com- 
posed of  two  or  three  basswood  slabs ;  earth  was  the  only 
floor, of  this  primitive  structure.  Here  Mr.  Castor  and 
his  three  sons  led  an  isolated  life.  On  section  11  there  was 
a  village  of  Chippewa  Indians,  who  still  found  opportunity 
to  indulge  their  love  of  hunting  and  -fishing.  But  from 
this  time  the  savages  rapidly  diminished,  and  in  1858  the 
CMppewas  departed  forever. 

Mr.  Castor  and  his  son  Jacob  still  occupy  the  old  home- 
stead. His  son  Peter  has  a  farm  of  160  acres  on  sections 
12  and  14,  while  Theodore  Castor,  the  present  super- 
visor, is  actively  engaged  in  buisiness  at  Burnip's  Corners. 
John  Hendges  and  John  Biermaker  soon  followed  Mr.  Cas- 
tor, and  located  in  the  northeast  portion  of  the  township, 


320 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEQAN  AND  BAKEY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


where  they  purchased  farms.     The  former  succeeded  Theo- 
dore Castor  in  his  mercantile  venture  at  New  Salem. 

Jacob  Hoffman  and  Fred  Miller  also  arrived  from  Ohio, 
which  furnished  most  of  the  pioneer  stock  in  Salem,  in 
the  spring  of  1854,  the  former  purchasing  land  on  section 
8  and  the  latter  on  section  17.  Mr.  Hoffman  did  not  long 
survive  his  advent,  and  left  his  farm  to  his  widow,  who 
now  resides  upon  it.  Mr.  Miller  is  still  actively  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits.  Henry  Bear,  another  Ohio  set- 
tler, arrived  in  1854,  and  found  a  home  on  section  16, 
where  he  had  40  acres.  He  built  a  log  house,  and  had  ' 
made  some  progress  in  the  improvement  of  his  land,  when 
he  entered  the  army,  and  died  soon  after  his  discharge  from 
the  service. 

Jacob  Raab  came  from  Ohio  to  Salem  in  1854,  and  pur- 
chased 60  acres  on  section  8,  which  he  at  once  began  to 
clear,  but  made  little  progress  the  first  year.  He  found  a 
home,  while  building  a  log  house,  with  his  father-in-law, 
John  Oesterley,  Sr.,  who  had  preceded  him  by  a  few  months, 
and  who  had  purchased  60  acres  on  section  8.  Mr.  Oes- 
terley's  death  occurred  in  1864.  Mr.  Kaab  had  but  $17  when 
he  arrived  in  Salem,  and  owed  for  nearly  all  his  land.  He 
recalls  with  satisfaction  the  obstacles  he  has  overcome,  but  is 
not  desirous  to  repeat  his  experience  as  a  Michigan  pioneer. 
It  was  not  unusual  for  him  to  carry  on  his  back  for  family 
use  fifty  pounds  of  corn-meal  and  a  bag  of  potatoes  a  distance 
of  nine  miles.  There  were  no  cows,  and  butter  was  not 
easily  procurable.  Two  pounds  was  all  the  family  was  able 
to  obtain  during  a  period  of  two  years.  The  proceeds  from 
the  sale  of  half  a  pig  enabled  Mr.  Raab  to  purchase  seed 
wherewith  to  sow  his  first  field  of  wheat.  He  now  has  240 
acres  of  excellent  land  and  a  substantial  house,  built  in 
1867. 

The  brother  of  Mrs.  Raab,  John  Oesterley,  Jr.,  died  on 
his  father's  farm  in  1856,  and  was  buried  at  Burnip  Centre. 
His  death  was  the  earliest  in  the  township.  Adam  Raab, 
also  an  Ohioan,  was  a  pioneer  of  1855,  and  settled  in  the 
spring  of  that  year  upon  60  acres  on  section  8.  He  still 
occupies  the  same  tract. 

In  1855  came  L.  P.  Brown,  who  located  upon  section  3. 
His  neighbor,  Mr.  Castor,  did  not  know  of  his  arrival  until 
the  sound  of  his  axe  was  heard  in  the  forest.  Mr.  Brown 
was  active  in  the  cultivation  of  his  land,  but  also  partici- 
pated largely  in  affairs  connected  with  the  welfare  of  the 
township. 

Peter  Rusch,  who  came  in  1856,  purchased  40  acres  on 
section  23.  He  followed  the  vocation  of  a  teacher,  and  ul- 
timately removed  from  the  township.  John  Fix  located 
upon  a  farm  on  section  12,  containing  80  acres.  After 
making  some  improvements  he  sold  it  to  John  Weust,  who 
occupies  it  and  an  adjacent  piece,  and  now  has  120  acres, 
together  with  40  acres  in  Dorr. 

Among  the  early  settlers  on  section  1  were  J.  Metzen 
and  M.  Ulman,  both  of  whom  owned  fractional  quarters 
on  it.  Mr.  Ulman  died  some  years  ago  ;  his  widow  still 
occupies  the  farm. 

Quiren  Weber  came  from  Prussia  in  1856,  and  purchased 
40  acres  on  section  24,  to  which  he  removed  two  years  later. 
After  a  residence  of  ten  years  upon  it  he  removed  to  his 
present  location,  on  section  13. 


Among  other  settlers  we  would  also  mention  Christian 
Sutter,  Casper  Raab,  R.  Pettingall,  J.  and  W.  Slagel, 
J.  N.  York,  Isaiah  Mannes,  Nicholas  Kreiser,  Amos  True, 
H.  G.  Bliss,  and  Wm.  Linden. 

Diligent  inquiry  has  failed  to  discover  the  youth  or  dam- 
sel ambitious  of  the  honor  of  having  been  the  first  to  see 
the  light  of  day  in  Salem.  Undoubtedly  there  was  an  in- 
dividual thus  favored,  but  he  or  she  was  apparently  "  born  ' 
to  blush  unseen."  The  earliest  marriage  festivities  are  en- 
veloped in  like  obscurity. 

EAKLY  KOADS. 

The  first  road  through  the  township  of  Salem  was  known 
as  the  State  road,  from  Allegan  to  Grand  Rapids,  and  was 
surveyed  by  F.  J.  Littlejohn  in  1837.  It  entered  the 
township  at  the  middle  of  its  southern  boundary,  and  ran 
due  north  on  the  section-line  to  the  middle  of  the  west  line 
of  section  1 0.  There  it  diverged  to  the  west,  and  passed 
out  of  the  township  near  the  northeast  corner  of  section  3. 

The  earliest  road  recorded  in  the  town  book  was  laid  out 
by  the  highway  commissioners  April  26,  1856,  and  is  de- 
scribed as  a  road  running  on  the  line  between  sections  11 
and  12.  A  contract  for  cutting  out  this  highway  and  piling 
the  logs  was  made  the  same  date,  at  the  rate  of  $9.75  per 
acre.  The  next  recorded  road  was  surveyed,  by  direction 
of  the  highway  commissioners,  in  September  of  the  same 
year,  and  is  described  as  "  commencing  at  the  quarter-stake 
on  the  west  side  of  section  16,  and  running  east  one  mile 
through  the  section." 

In  October,  1856,  a  road  was  surveyed  by  Dorr  Skeels, 
which  is  thus  described  : 

"  Beginning  at  a  stake  where  the  Allegan  road  intersects  the  line 
between  the  counties  of  Allegan  and  Ottawa,  and  following  an  east- 
erly course  on  the  countj-line  to  the  corners  of  sections  2,  3,  34,  and 
35;  thence  running  east  again  on  the  same  line  to  the  quarter-section 
corners  between  sections  2  and  35,  and  continuing  on  the  same  line 
to  the  corners  of  sections  1,  2,  35,  and  36 ;  thence  on  the  same  line  to 
the  corners  of  sections  1  and  36." 

Many  private  roads  w-ere  cut  for  the  convenience  of  in- 
dividuals, running  as  convenience  dictated  ;  but  no  offi- 
cial survey  of  them  was  made,  and  as  the  farms  were 
successively  fenced  up,  these  roads  were  necessarily  aban- 
doned. 

Highways,  the  larger  number  of  which  are  in  excellent 
condition,  now  traverse  every  portion  of  the  township. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  earliest  school  building  in  the  township  was  located 
on  section  3,  which  is  now  embraced  in  district  No.  4.  The 
residents  of  the  vicinity,  feeling  the  necessity  of  obtaining 
educational  advantages  for  their  children,  erected  in  1857 
a  shanty  building  and  employed  a  Miss  Brown  as  teacher. 
The  families  of  L.  P.  Brown,  James  Burnham,  Jacob 
Sch wander,  Sr.,  and  Robert  Pettingall  were  represented  at 
this  school.  A  log  school-house  was  afterwards  substituted 
in  this  district,  the  location  of  which  was  on  section  10. 
A  substantial  framed  building  has  since  taken  its  place. 

Salem  is  now  divided  into  six  whole  districts  and  one 
fractional  one,  with  a  board  consisting  of  the  following 
directors :  William  H.  Goodman,  Ira  Stokes,  Jacob  Schwan- 


SALEM    TOWNSHIP. 


321 


der,  Aaron  Hearley,  Allen  Twining,  John  Hendges, 
and  Luewin  Weber.  The  number  of  children  receiving 
instruction  is  363.  The  teachers  receive  in  salaries  an 
aggregate  sum  of  11161. 

BUENIP'S   CORNERS. 

This  is  the  most  important  hamlet  in  Salem,  being  located 
on  the  line  between  sections  15  and  16,  and  extending  south 
to  the  geographical  centre  of  the  township.  The  latter 
point  was  for  a  while  known  as  Salem  Centre,  but  has  now 
no  identity  distinct  from  the  Corners.  The  land  on  which 
the  village  was  begun  was  first  purchased  by  Timothy  Bliss, 
who  in  1858  entered  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  southeast 
quarter  and  southeast  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  16.  He  sold  it  to  F.  P.  Brown,  who  in  turn  dis- 
posed of  it  to  Philip  Ferguson.  The  latter  disposed  of  the 
property  to  K.  E.  Beard,  and  shortly  afterwards  20  acres 
came  into  the  possession  of  James  Burnip.  That  gentle- 
man in  a  short  time  sold  a  lot  for  building  purposes  to 
George  Broughton.  Adjacent  lands,  owned  by  Thomas 
Hinton  and  other  parties,  were  then  purchased,  and  a 
demand  for  property  in  this  immediate  locality  created, 
which  resulted  in  the  growth  of  the  hamlet. 

Dr.  See  had  already  built  a  store  and  transacted  a  lim- 
ited business,  which  he  subsequently  abandoned.  In  1856, 
James  Burnip  opened  a  store,  furnished  with  a  suitable 
stock  of  goods,  which  he  managed  for  three  years,  and  then 
sold  to  J.  S.  Warner.  The  latter  conducted  it  until  1879, 
and  then  sold  it  to  Messrs.  Wells  &  Dibble.  As  the  busi- 
ness of  the  Corners  increased  another  store  was  opened  by 
Messrs.  Briggs  &  Martiny,  of  which  firm  James  Briggs 
became  the  successor. 

In  1866  a  saw-mill  was  built,  which  was  carried  on  until 
1875,  when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire.  This  was  not  the 
earliest,  however,  one  having  been  built  on  section  34,  by 
John  Doge,  in  1859.  In  1867  another  was  erected  by 
George  and  William  Heck  and  Charles  Fisher,  and  the 
next  year  a  grist-mill  was  built  on  the  Little  Rabbit  River. 

The  place  at  the  present  time  has  one  drug-store,  kept 
by  Dr.  C.  C.  Lindsley  ;  three  dry-goods  and  grocery-stores, 
kept  respectively  by  Theodore  Castor  &  Co.,  Messrs.  Wells 
&  Dibble,  and  Mr.  James  Briggs ;  one  blacksmith-  and 
wagon-shop,  of  which  J.  F.  Gardner  is  the  proprietor;  one 
harness-shop,  owned  by  W.  H.  Lear ;  a  .shoe-shop,  belong- 
ing to  Joshua  Myers ;  a  hardware-store,  kept  by  W.  H. 
Goodwin;  the  millinery  establishment  of  Miss  Van  Zee; 
a  cabinet-shop,  in  which  Peter  Martiny  exercises  his  skill ; 
and  a  printing-office,  owned  by  Frank  Sturges.  The  Cor- 
ners also  boasts  two  hotels,  over  which  0.  J.  Hardy  and 
0.  Titsworth  preside  as  landlords. 

A  grist-mill,  owned  by  William  Heck,  is  located  on  the 
Little  Rabbit  River,  and  does  an  extensive  custom  business, 
to  which  it  is  exclusively  devoted,  and  the  saw-mill  of 
George  Heck  has  for  many  years  been  actively  employed 
in  the  production  of  lumber.  A  steam  saw-  and  grist-mill 
is  about  being  erected  by  Ebmeyer  &  Castor,  which  will 
probably  add  largely  to  the  business  of  the  place. 

Two  physicians  also  enjoy  a  lucrative  practice  in  Salem, 
Dr.  Palmer  and  Dr.  Lindsley,  the  latter  of  whom  belongs 
to  the  eclectic  school. 
41 


A  spacious  town-hall  is  located  in  the  south  part  of  the 
village. 

NEW  SALEM. 

This  hamlet  owed  its  beginning  to  the  enterprise  of 
Theodore  Castor  in  1865.  His  brother,  Peter  Castor, 
owned  120  acres  of  land  at  this  point,  5  of  which  was 
purchased  by  Theodore  Castor,  who  erected  a  store  upon  it. 
In  this  a  stock  of  goods  was  placed,  for  which  a  ready  sale 
was  found.  Mr.  Castor  carried  on  the  business  five  years, 
and  then  disposed  of  his  property  to  John  Hendges,  who 
still  remains  the  proprietor,  and  is  also  the  postmaster. 
Frank  Heibel  came  in  1867,  and  built  a  house,  in  which 
he  soon  after  opened  a  shoe-shop.  He  also  owns  a  farm  in 
the  township.  John  Schweigert  also  provided  the  towns- 
people with  a  market  in  this  locality. 

In  1870,  William  Hofi"man  established  the  first  black- 
smith-shop, which  he  is  still  carrying  on.  Adam  Storm 
came  in  1871,  and  went  to  work  as  the  second  shoemaker 
in  the  place. 

There  are  now  two  schools  in  the  little  village,  one  be- 
longing to  the  district,  the  other  a  private  enterprise  where 
instruction  in  the  German  language  is  given.  Adam  En- 
dries  has  also  a  store  containing  a  general  stock  half  a  mile 
from  New  Salem. 

RELIGIOUS. 
ST.  MAEY'S   ROMAN   CATHOLIC   CHURCH. 

This  society  had  its  beginning  as  early  as  the  year  1856, 
under  the  fostering  care  of  Father  Marco,  of  Grand  Rapids, 
who  removed  to  the  township  to  minister  to  the  little  flock. 
A  log  building  for  worship  was  erected  during  the  first 
year  of  his  presence,  each  contributing  towards  the  expenses 
of  building  and  adorning  it.  The  trustees  at  this  date 
were  Anton  Weber,  A.  Kraus,  and  M.  Castor.  Father 
Marco  was  succeeded  by  Father  AUgyer,  who  was  in  turn 
followed  by  Father  Beeshorst.  Father  Herwick  next  be- 
came pastor,  after  whom  Father  Kluck  ministered  to  the 
flock.  Father  Tohma  succeeded,  and  after  him  came  Father 
Sclosick,  who  was  followed  by  Father  Tillig,  and  he  by 
Father  Seybold.  Next  in  succession  came  Father  Rohr, 
and  later  Father  Lietner.  The  present  pastor  is  Father 
Buechman.  The  substantial  framed  church  edifice  on 
section  1  was  erected  in  1865,  and  improved  and  enlarged 
in  1876.     The  church  at  present  contains  110  members. 

CHURCH    OF   THE    UNITED    BRETHREN. 

The  Society  of  the  United  Brethren  organized  in  Salem 
in  1856,  and  the  earliest  meetings  were  held  in  one  of  the 
school-houses  built  prior  to  that  time.  It  was  at  first  poorly 
sustained,  but  an  increasing  interest  was  manifested  in  the 
enterprise,  and  under  the  ministrations  of  Elder  Stephen 
Fersjuson  a  house  of  worship  was  erected  in  1869,  upon 
ground  secured  on  section  9.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev. 
S.  B.  Irving,  who  holds  services  each  Sabbath.  The  society 
numbers  55  members  and  embraces  a  flourishing  Sabbath- 
school  with  77  scholars  upon  its  roll,  of  which  Allen  Twin- 
ing is  superintendent.  The  present  trustees  are  Isaac  Bear, 
William  Fleetwood,  and  Allen  Twining. 

GERMAN   LUTHERAN   CHURCH. 
The  Lutheran  Church  in  Salem -became  an  organization 
under  the  early  ministrations  of  Rev.  Mr.  Eberhart  at  a 


322 


HISTORY  OF   ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


date  which  may  be  fixed  at  1860,  and  possibly  prior  to 
that  time.  The  society  were  content  to  find  the  hospitable 
doors  of  a  school-house  open  to  them  until  their  numbers 
warranted  the  erection  of  a  building  on  section  9  in  1872. 
Rev.  John  Bowman  was  at  that  time  pastor.  The  present 
officiating  clergyman  is  Rev.  August  Schernberg.  A  Sun- 
day-school, which  is  well  attended;  holds  its  sessions  in  the 
summer.  The  trustees  of  the  society  are  John  Schmidt, 
Williatn  Brainard,  and  T.  Slagel. 

GERMAN  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 

Early  meetings  held  at  the  house  of  Casper  Raab  formed 
the  nucleus  for  the  later  organization  of  the  German  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  in  Salem.  Afterwards  the  hospitable 
doors  of  Jacob  and  Adam  Raab  were  opened  to  the  small 
circle  of  worshipers.  But  four  individuals  comprised  the 
early  membership,  those  being  embraced  in  the  families  of 
Jacob  and  Adam  Raab.  In  18ty8  a  very  attractive  church 
edifice  of  brick  was  erected  on  section  8,  in  which  services 
are  regularly  held.  The  earliest  pastor  was  Rev.  Mr.  Kreibel, 
and  the  present  officiating  clergyman  is  Rev.  C.  A.  Militzer, 
of  Allegan.  The  trustees  are  Adam  Raab,  Fred'k  Low, 
Jacob  Milheim. 

CHURCH  OF  GOD. 

This  church  was  first  organized  by  D.  W.  Lincoln  and 
wife,  with  a  membership  of  twelve  persons,  in  1868,  the 
early  meetings  having  been  held  in  the  school-house  at 
Burnip's  Corners.  The  first  officers  elected  were  Charles 
Fisher,  Ruling  Elder ;  William  Heck  and  Wesley  Moored, 
Deacons. 

The  following  preachers  have  since  that  time  officiated  as 
pastors :  Elders  J.  H.  Basore,  R.  H.  Bolton,  B.  D.  Bright, 

Irons,  S.  D.  C.  Jackson,  J.  E.  Moffit,  William  Reading, 

A.  J.  Hull  (the  present  pastor),  and  C.  C.  Lindsley,  asso- 
ciate pastor.  Elders  J.  Omens,  H.  Oliver,  and  J.  M.  B. 
Gillespie  have  also  officiated  in  the  same  capacity. 

A  house  of  worship  was  erected  at  Burnip's  Corners,  and 
dedicated  in  October,  1873,  by  Elder  A.  X.  Shoemaker. 
The  trustees  of  the  society  are  William  Heck,  Isaac  Stur- 
ges,  and  Wesley  Moored. 

SECRET  SOCIETIES. 
ENCAMPMENT  No.  84,  I.  0.  0.  F. 
This  organization  received  its  charter  Feb.  11,  1876, 
its  charter  officers  having  been  George  Heck,  Chief  Patri- 
arch ;  C.  A.  Ball,  High  Priest ;  J.  F.  Gardiner,  Senior 
Warden  ;  William  Heck,  Junior  Warden  ;  Theodore  Castor, 
Scribe ;  C.  Sutter,  Treas.  Its  present  officers  are  Charles 
C.  Lindsley,  Chief  Patriarch  ;  John  W.  Sprau,  High  Priest ; 
Francis  Goodman,  Jr.,  Senior  Warden ;  C.  A.  Ball,  Junior 
Warden ;  J.  Myres,  Scribe ;  C.  Sutter,  Treas.  Its  meetings 
are  held  on  the  second  and  fourth  Wednesday  of  each 
month.  Its  present  membership  is  16.  The  organization 
is  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

SALEM  LODGE,  No.  169,  I.  0.  0.  F. 

This  lodge  received  its  charter  Aug.  18,  1871,  the  first 

officers  having  been  Joshua  Myers,  N.  G. ;  Jesse  Bond, 

V.  G. ;  James  Eavens,  Sec. ;  Wm.  H.  Gordon,  Treas.     A 

building  committee  was  soon  after  appointed  to  superintend 


the  erection  of  a  hall,  for  which  subscriptions  to  the  amount 
of  81500  had  been  secured.  On  the  occasion  of  its  com- 
pletion it  was  dedicated  on  the  24th  of  August,  1874,  with 
imposing  ceremonies,  conducted  by  G.  W.  Griggs,  Grand 
Master  of  the  State.  The  prayer  was  by  the  Rev.  C.  C. 
Lindsley,  and  addresses  were  delivered  by  Hon.  E.  P.  D. 
Holden  and  Rev.  A.  M.  Buck. 

The  present  officers  are  W.  H.  Goodman,  N.  6. ;  George 
Ball,  V.  G. ;  Elijah  Gordon,  Rec.  Sec;  George  Heck, 
Perm.  Sec. ;  H.  A.  Ball,  Treas. ;  C.  C.  Lindsley,  M.D., 
Chaplain.  The  lodge  now  numbers  26  members,  and  its 
convocations  are  held  on  Saturday  evenings  of  each  week. 

OEGANIZATION    AND   OFMCBRS. 

A  survey  of  the  township  was  made  in  January,  1832, 
by  Lucius  Lyon,  and  the  first  lands  were  entered  on  sec- 
tion 31  in  1834. 

Township  No.  4,  in  range  13,  was  at  first  embraced  in 
Allegan  and  afterwards  in  Monterey  ;  but  by  an  act  of  the 
Legislature  approved  on  the  10th  day  of  October,  1855,  it 
became  a  separate  civil  township  by  the  name  of  Salem. 

The  first  township-meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of 
James  Burnip  on  the  7th  day  of  April,  1856.  L.  P.  Brown 
was  chosen  moderator,  Henry  Wilson  inspector  of  election, 
and  Henry  Bear  clerk.  The  ballot  resulted  as  follows : 
For  Supervisor,  L.  P.  Brown  ;  Clerk  of  the  Towniship, 
Henry  Bear ;  Treasurer,  James  Burnip ;  Justices  of  the 
Peace,  Henry  Wilson,  John  Schwagert;  Highway  Com- 
missioners, A.  A.  Goodman,  Robert  Pettitigall,  Aaron  Bas- 
sett;  School  Inspectors,  A.  A.  Goodman,  Isaiah  Mannes ; 
Director  of  the  Poor,  Thomas  Henton ;  Constables,  Florida 
Henton,  A.  A.  Goodman,  Abner  Hunt,  Jacob  Brandegara. 
The  remaining  township  officers  until  the  present  time  are 

as  follows : 

SUPERVISORS. 

185?-58,  L.  P.  Brown;  1859,  John  N.  York;  1860,  Isaiah  Mannes; 
1861,  John  N.  York ;  1862,  Peter  Castor;  1863-64,  Francis  Good- 
man; 1865-66,  Peter  Castor;  186?-68,  John  Hendges;  1869-70, 
Peter  Castor;  1871,  Adam  A.    Goodman;    1872,  Peter  Castor; 

1873,  Francis  Goodman ;  1874,  no  record;  1875-78,  Francis  Good- 
man; 1879,  Theodore  Castor. 

TOWNSHIP  CLERKS. 
1857,  Isaiah  Mannes;  1858,  Henry  Bear;  1859,  Isaiah  Mannes;  1860, 
Albert  D.  Rust;  1861-63,  Michael  Hinton  ;  1864,  Henry  Bear  ; 
1865,  Theodore  Castor;  1866,  John  Hendges;  1867,  Edward 
Lutts;  1868,  Wesley  Moored;  1869-70,  C.  H.  Long;  1871,  Jesse 
H.  Bond;  1872,0.  H.  Long;  1873,  John  P.  Marliny;  1874,  no 
record;  1875-76,  John  Sprau;  1877,  no  record;  1878-79,  John 
P.  Martiny. 

TREASURERS. 

1857-59,  James  Burnip;  1860-61,  Peter  Castor;  1862-6.3,  William 
Linden  ;  1864,  Peter  Castor  ;  1 865,  Joseph  Slagel ;  1866,  William 
H.  Gorden;  1867,  Thomas  Hinton;  1868,  Peter  Castor;  1869-70, 
John  Hendges;   1871,  Thomas  Hinton;    1872,  Jesse  H.  Bond; 

1874,  no  record;  1875,  Theodore  Castor;  1876,  Elijah  Gordon; 
1877,  no  record;  1878-79,  Elijah  Gordon. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 
1857,  Henry  Bear,  Amos  True;  1858,  John  Hendges;  1859,  Isaiah 
Mannes;  1860,  Henry  G.  Bliss;  1861,  Albert  D.  Rust,  John.N. 
York;  1862,  Michael  Hinton,  John  Hendges,  John  C.  Barclay; 
1863,  Roger  McVoy  ;  1864,  Joseph  Slagel,  William  Hills;  1865, 
John  Hendges,  Theodore  Castor;  1866,  Michael  Hinton,  Hugh 
Mannes;  1867,  Peter  G.  Rowe ;  1868,  John  Hendges,  Fenelon 
Bruce,  A.  P.  Waterhousc;  1869,  C.  H.  Long;  1«70,  Elias  Stil- 


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SALEM  TOWNSHIP. 


323 


well;  1871,  Ransom  Herrington;  1872,  Peter  Castor;  1873, 
James  Evans;  1874,  no  record;  1875,  John  Hendges;  187fi,  F. 
G.  Bond;  1877,  no  record;  1878,  C.  H.  Long;  1879,  Joseph 
Felley. 

HIGHWAY   COMMISSIONERS. 

1857,  A.  A.  Goodman,  Robert  Pettengall,  John  Hendges ;  1858,  no 
record;  1859,  William  Lindon;  1860,  Orrcn  L.  Foster;  1861, 
James  C.  Jones;  1862,  Hugh  Mannes,  Joseph  Slagel ;  1863, 
Florida  Hinton,  Hugh  Mannes,  Aaron  Bassett ;  1864,  Nicholas 
Kreiser;  1865,  no  record;  1866,  Jacob  Fleser,  Joseph  Slagel; 
1867,  Franois  Goodman;  1868,  Nicholas  Kreiser ;  1869,  Gabriel 
Cole,  Thomas  G.  Bond;  1870,  L.  P.  Brown;  1871,  N.  W.  Wea- 
ver; 1872,  Nicholas  Kreiser;  1873,  F.  Herrington;  1874,  no 
record;  1875,  F.  Herrington;  1876,  Christian  Sutter;  1877,  no 
record ;  1878,  George  Heck ;  1879,  John  Bacon. 

SCHOOL  INSPECTORS. 
1857,  L.  P.  Brown,  Francis  Goodman;  1858,  John  N.  York;  1859, 
Henry  Bear,  John  N.York;  1860,  John  Hendges;  1861,  John 
N.  York;  1862,  Julius  Geadeohen;  1863,  Michael  Hinton,  Peter 
Castor,  Roger  MoVoy ;  1864,  Peter  Castor,  Wm.  Hills;  1865, 
James  Hutton;  1866,  Gabriel  Cole,  Peter  Castor;  1867,  Peter 
Castor,  Theodore  Castor;  1868,  Fenelon  Bruce,  Peter  Castor; 
1869,  Theodore  Castor,  Elijah  Gordon;  1870,  Elijah  Gordon; 
1871,  Thomas  G.  Bond;  1872,  Wesley  Moored;  1873,  Theodore 
Castor;  1874,  no  record ;  1875,  James  Evans ;  1876,  Peter  Cas- 
tor; 1877,  no  record ;  1873-79,  Gabriel  Cole. 

DIRECTORS   OF   THE   POOR. 
1857,  AVm.  Goodman,  Thomas  Hinton ;  1858,  Amos  Truce. 

DRAIN   COMMISSIONERS. 
1872,  Fenelon  Bruce;  1873, S.  Johnson ;  1874,  no  record;  1875,  Over- 
ton Fitsworth;  1876,    F.  W.    Binley;  1877,   no    record;    1878, 
Thomas  W.  Binley. 

SUPERINTENDENTS  OF  SCHOOLS. 
1875,  H.  W.  George;  1876,  C.  C.  Lindsley  ;  1877,  no  record;  1878,  Ir- 
vin  W.  Wells;  1879,  F.  M.  Gray. 

CONSTABLES. 
1857,  Florida  Hinton,  Abner  Hunt,  Joseph  Slagel,  Jacob  Schwander; 

1858,  H.  G.  Bliss,  L.  B.  Green,  Florida  Hinton,  Nicholas  Frasier  ; 

1859,  Jacob  Bradigan,  Emory  Hinton,  P.  G.  Bliss,  James  C. 
Jones;  1860,  Jacob  Bradigan,  Hugh  Mannes,  R.  L.  M.  Griver, 
Joseph  Slagel;  1861,  Joseph  Shoemaker,  Emory  Hinton,  Adam 
Bndres;  1862,  George  M.  Mittel,  Emory  Hinton,  Adam  Endres, 
Peter  Rhodabaugh ;  1863,  Hugh  Mannes,  Florida  Hinton,  John 
Martiny ;  1864,  John  Strickfaden,  Quiren  Weber,  Wesley  Hinton  ; 
1865,  John  Strickfaden,  Nicholas  Kreiser;  1866,  David  Goodman, 
Philander  Palmer,  George  W.  Shmitt;  1867,  Adam  Endres, 
Florida  Hinton,  George  Stockhill;  1868,  John  Strickfaden, 
Adam  Endres;  1869,  Quiren  Weber,  Emory  Hinton,  James 
Briggs,  John  Slagel ;  1870,  J.  H.  Bond,  James  Briggs,  Quiren 
Weber,  S.  Stilwell;  1871,  William  Wise,  Quiren  Weber,  J.  H. 
Bond,  J.  N.  Smith;  1872,  Joseph  Slagel,  W.  Eaton,  Elias  Stil- 
well, Quiren  Weber;  1873,  0.  Titsworth,  F.  G.  Bond,  James 
Burnip,  Joseph  Slagel ;  1874,  no  record;  1875,  James  Briggs, 
Jacob  Castor,  John  Evans,  0.  Titsworth;  1876,  Joseph  Slagel, 
James  Briggs,  Jacob  Castor,  G.  W.  Smith;  1877,  no  record; 
1878,  James  Briggs,  Jacob  Castor,  John  Clauns,  James  Burnip; 
1879  J.  W.  Binley,  0.  Titsworth,  Jacob  Castor,  William  Teed. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


GEORGE  HECK. 

For  enterprise  and  business  capacity  none  of  the  residents 
of  Salem  take  higher  rank  than  do  the  brothers  Heck,  who 
were  natives  of  Ohio,  having  both  been  born  in  Hancock 
County,  in  that  State.  The  birth  of  George,  the  younger, 
occurred  Feb.  22,  1850,  the  seventh  in  a  family  of  ten 


children.  He  assisted  his  father  upon  the  home-farm  and 
in  milling  pursuits  until  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  the 
land  was  sold  for  county  purposes,  the  father  having  been 
appointed  keeper  of  the  property.  At  the  age  of  eighteen 
George  determined  to  migrate  to  Michigan,  his  brother 
William  having  previously  purchased  the  mill-site  at  Salem, 
Allegan  Co.  The  brothers  became  partners  in  the  enter- 
prise, and  continued  their  business  relations  until  1872, 
when  a  dissolution  of  the  partnership  occurred. 

George  then  assumed  control  of  the  saw-,  shingle-,  and 
planing-mill,  introducing  a  circular  saw  and  making  other 
substantial  improvements.  He  also  purchased  an  extensive 
tract  of  pine  timber,  located  adjacent  to  the  mills.  Mr. 
Heck  was  married  Sept.  20,  1869,  to  Miss  Helen  McDon- 
ald, formerly  of  Sturges,  Mich.,  and  later  of  Allegan  County. 
Three  children  brighten  their  hearth,  Ernest  J.,  Lulu  J., 
and  a  babe.  Mr.  Heck  has  occasionally  filled  township 
offices,  but  prefers  the  quiet  of  his  own  home  circle  to  the 
cares  and  excitements  of  public  life. 


WILLIAM   HECK. 


The  father  of  the  enterprising  citizen  of  Salem,  Mr. 
William  Heck,  was  a  native  of  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  and 
removed  to  Hancock  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1844,  where  he  con- 
ducted an  extensive  farming  and  milling  enterprise.  He 
has  since  retired  from  active  commercial  life,  and  is  enjoy- 
ing a  competency  as  the  result  of  his  industry,  having 
chosen  Firidley,  Ohio,  as  his  residence.  William,  the  fifth 
in  order  of  the  children,  was  born  in  Hancock  Co.,  Ohio, 
Feb.  28,  1845.  He  became  at  the  age  of  eighteen  a  part- 
ner with  his  father  in  milling  pursuits,  and  two  years  later 
purchased  the  entire  interest,  which  he  conducted  for  three 
years.  A  brother-in-law  then  became  the  owner,  and  Mr. 
Heck  in  1868,  with  his  brother  George,  removed  to  Salem, 
Allegan  Co.,  having  the  fall  previously  purchased  the  mill- 
site  of  Edward  Lutts  where  now  stand  the  Little  Rabbit 
Mills.  They  began  at  once  the  arduous  labor  of  clearing, 
erecting  a  dam,  and  constructing  a  saw-mill  which  was  in 
successful  operation  the  year  following. 

The  succeeding  year  the  flouring-mills  were  built,  a  delay 
having  been  inevitable  as  the  result  of  serious  injury  to  the 
dam  which  occurred  a  short  time  previously.  In  March, 
1872,  the  copartnership  between  the  brothers  was  dissolved 
and  a  harmonious  division  of  the  property  took  place,  Wil- 
liam having  retained  the  flouring-mill.  He  has  since  that 
erected  a  comfortable  and  commodious  dwelling,  which  is 
illustrated  in  this  work. 

Mr.  Heck  has  during  his  leisure  hours  developed  con- 
siderable power  of  invention,  and  succeeded  in  perfecting 
a  self-feeding  furnace  which  enables  him  to  use  corn-cobs 
as  a  substitute  for  other  fuel.  It  is  the  first  successful 
invention  of  this  character,  and  letters  patent  have  been 
granted  to  the  projector. 

Mr.  Heck  was  married  Dec.  31,  1866,  to  Miss  Elmira 
Twining,  a  former  resident  of  Hancock  Co.,  Ohio.  Ida 
G.,  Hattie  II.,  and  Dellie  D.  are  the  only  surviving  children 
of  their  pleasant  family  circle,  two  daughters  and  an  only 
son,  Cartia,  having  died  early.  Mr.  Heck  is  devoted  to  his 
business  projects,  and  gives  but  little  attention  to  public  life. 


S  AU  G  ATU'CK 


This  township,  which  was  the  earliest  one  settled  in  Alle- 
gan County,  was  surveyed  as  township  3  north,  range  16 
west.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Laketown,  south  by 
Ganges,  east  by  Manlius,  and  west  by  the  waters  of  Lake 
Michigan. 

It  contains  two  incorporated  villages,  Saugatuck  and 
Douglas,  situated  on  either  side  of  Kalamazoo  Lake,  three 
miles  by  the  course  of  the  stream  from  the  mouth  of  the 
river  of  that  name,  but  less  than  a  mile  from  the  lake-shore. 
These  villages  are  important  shipping-points  for  lumber  and 
fruit,  and,  although  without  immediate  railway  facilities, 
have  easy  water  'communication  with  all  important  lake 
points  by  steamers  and  sailing-vessels  throughout  the  sea- 
son of  navigation.  A  regular  line  of  steamers,  owned  and 
managed  by  Captain  E..  C.  Brittain,  plies  between  the  two 
villages  mentioned  and  Chicago.  The  lumber  business, 
which  has  been  very  important,  is  now  declining,  but  the  loss 
on  that  account  has  been  made  good  by  the  rapid  develop- 
ment of  fruit-culture.  The  peach-producing  qualities  of 
Western  Allegan  are  remarkably  conspicuous,  even  in  so  cele- 
brated a  fruit- bearing  State  as  Michigan,  and  that  section  is 
likely  to  improve  materially  in  value  for  an  indefinite  time  to 
come.  Although  general  farming  is  carried  on  to  some 
extent,  the  cultivation  of  fruit — especially  peaches — is  the 
great  feature  in  rural  industry  throughout  the  township  of 
Saugatuck. 

The  Kalamazoo  River  is  navigable  for  large  craft  to  the 
two  villages  named,  where  it  expands  into  a  lake,  and  is 
also  navigable  to  Richmond  for  light-draught  steamers,  al- 
though latterly  not  much  used  for  that  purpose.  The  town- 
ship sought,  in  1869,  by  an  offered  donation  of  $40,000, 
to  bring  the  Chicago  and  West  Michigan  Railroad  within 
its  borders,  but  other  influences  prevailed,  and  close  railway 
communication  is  still  a  much-desired  privilege. 

SAUGATUCK  VILLAGE— ITS  ORIGIN  AND  EARLY 
SETTLEMENT. 

William  G.  Butler,  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  came  to  the  site 
of  Saugatuck  village  as  the  first  white  settler,  in  the  spring 
of  1830.f  Mr.  Butler  had  pre-empted  the  tract  now  occu- 
pied by  the  village,  and  brought  his  wife  and  two  children 
with  him  by  way  of  the  lakes,  a  vessel  landing  him  with 
his  family  and  household  effects  at  the  mouth  of  the  river. 
He  speedily  erected  a  log  cabin  on  a  spot  now  in  the  mid- 
dle of  the  street  in  front  of  the  Saugatuck  House,  and 
began  at  once  the  business  of  trading  with  the  Indians,  who 
swarmed  in  great  numbers  in  that  region,  and  were  always 

'*  By  David  Schwartz. 

j"  There  was  then  do  other  permanent  white  reeident  of  Allegan 
County;  the  township  of  Otsego  not  being  settled  until  the  ensuing 
autumn. 

324 


ready  to  barter  game,  furs,  and  sugar  for  the  white  man's 
goods.  Butler  had  brought  but  few  goods  with  him,  but 
had  some  whisky,  which  latter  suited  the  red  man  better  than 
anything  else,  and  the  demand  for  it  was  unfailing. 

We  may  designate  Mr.  Butler  as  the  first  permanent 
resident  of  the  county.  There  were  already  some  French 
traders  with  the  Indians  within  the  county  limits,  but 
these  did  not  locate  with  a  view  to  permanent  residence, 
and  are  therefore  not  counted  as  settlers.  Mr.  Butler,  on 
the  other  hand,  although  for  Several  years  he  did  nothing 
but  trade  with  the  Indians,  had  purchased  land  with  the 
intention  of  remaining  after  the  Indians  had  gone — as  he 
did.  It  was  doubtless  the  presence  of  a  natural  harbor 
that  led  Mr.  Butler  to  locate  where  he  did,  for  it  appears 
that  he  counted  from  the  first  upon  founding  a  village  there. 
It  is  also  likely  that  the  abundance  of  hemlock  bark  and 
ship  timber  near  at  hand  strengthened  his  hopes  touching 
the  ultimate  importance  of  the  place.  However  that  may 
have  been,  it  is  certain  that  the  capitalists  who  came  a  few 
years  later  were  attracted  by  the  opportunities  for  lumber- 
ing and  tanning  which  existed  in  the  vicinity,  and  which 
were  promptly  improved,  those  occupations  having  for 
nearly  fifty  years  been  important  factors  in  promoting  the 
prosperity  of  the  Saugatuck  country. 

Mr.  Butler's  business  with  the  Indians  frequently  took 
him  away  from  home,  and  sometimes  he  was  obliged  to  be 
absent  several  days,  his  wife  meanwhile  remaining  alone 
with  her  children  in  their  log  cabin,  a  voluntary  exile  from 
her  race,  her  only  neighbors  Indians,  and  her  only  sur- 
roundings the  forest.  For  three  years  the  Butlers  lived  by 
the  side  of  the  river,  the  only  white  inhabitants  in  the 
western  part  of  the  county,  and  during  that  time  Mrs. 
Butler  saw  no  woman's  face  save  the  dusky  countenances 
of  Indian  squaws,  who  visited  her  frequently,  and  with 
whom,  as  well  as  with  the  braves,  she  was  on  the  most 
kindly  terms  of  friendship. 

Although  Mr.  Butler  succeeded  well  enough  in  his  trade 
with  the  Indians  and  experienced  no  extraordinary  hard- 
ships, he  was  always  greatly  troubled  when  brought  face  to 
face  with  the  stern  necessity  of  going  to  mill.  During  the 
first  part  of  his  sojourn  at  Saugatuck  he  was  obliged  to  go 
to  Elkhart,  Ind.,  seventy-five  miles  distant,  for  that  pur. 
pose,  and  the  long,  tedious,  and  difiicult  journey  was  always 
looked  forward  to  with  great  dislike. 

Until  the  year  1 834  the  Butler  family  continued  to  be 
the  only  white  inhabitants  of  this  section,  but  early  in  that 
year  there  came  Edward  Johonnett  and  R.  R.  Crosby,  who 
built  in  company  a  tannery  on  the  river,  near  where  Wil- 
liams &  Grifiin's  saw-mill  now  stands.  Daniel  Plummer,  a 
carpenter,  also  came  about  the  same  time,  and  put  up  a  framed 
house  on  Hoffman  Street,  the  same  building  being  now  oc- 


MRS..  S.A.MORRISON, 


S.  A.  MORRISON, 


Residence  ofSTEPHEN    A.  M ORFtlSON,  SAuaAruCK,ALLE&ANCo.,l\/liCH. 


SAUGATUCK  TOWNSHIP. 


325 


cupied  as  a  residence  by  Henry  Holt.  Mr.  Plummer  re- 
mained in  town  until  1849,  when  he  took  the  California 
fever  and  migrated  to  the  far  West.  Mr.  Johonnett  lived 
in  a  framed  house  on  the  spot  now  occupied  by  the  Odd- 
Fellows'  building,  and  Crosby  (who  was  a  bachelor)  lived 
with  him. 

In  July,  1834,  Stephen  D.  Nichols,  who  had  for  a  year 
been  living  in  St.  Joseph,  Mich.,  came  down  the  lake-shore 
with  H.  F.  Comstock,  landed  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kala- 
mazoo, and  made  a  prospecting  tour  up  the  river.  They 
found  on  the  site  of  Saugatuck  Johonnett  &  Crosby's  tan- 
nery, and  the  houses  of  the  Butlers,  Plummers,  and  Jo- 
honnetts.  Nichols  concluded  to  take  up  160  acres  on  sec- 
tion 17,  and  agreed  with  Comstock  that  the  latter  should 
put  up  a  warehouse  for  the  former  at  the  mouth  of  the 
river ;  this  course  being  suggested  by  the  fact  that  settlers 
bound  for  the  up-river  country  had  begun  to  arrive,  and 
there  seemed  a  decided  necessity  for  a  warehouse  and  pier, 
since  there  were  no  conveniences  for  the  landing  of  goods 
at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  captains  of  vessels  did  not 
at  that  time  like  to  venture  into  the  stream.  Having 
determined  upon  a  plan  of  action,  Nichols  and  Comstock 
engaged  an  Indian  to  take  them  up  the  lake  in  a  canoe  to 
St.  Joseph,  whence  Nichols  proceeded  with  all  speed  to 
the  East.  Nichols  returned  in  September  of  the  same  year 
with  his  family,  and  located  permanently  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Kalamazoo  River,  on  the  north  side.  There  he  began 
straightway  to  erect  a  warehouse  and  dock.  There  was  no 
saw-mill  in  the  vicinity,  and  for  Nichols'  warehouse,  as  well 
as  for  the  framed  houses  previously  built  by  Plummer  and 
Johonnett,  the  lumber  was  brought  down  the  river  from 
Pine  Creek,  one  mile  below  Otsego. 

The  warehouse  was  at  first  used  principally  for  the 
storing  of  the  household  effects  of  settlers  moving  by  way 
of  the  lakes  to  the  up-river  country,  but  ere  long  there 
sprang  up  a  driving  business  in  connection  with  the  re- 
shipment  of  flour  coming  down  the  river  to  be  forwarded 
around  the  lakes.  William  Gr.  Butler  sought  to  share  the 
business  controlled  by  Nichols,  and  early  in  1835  built  a 
warehouse  on  the  river-bank,  two  miles  from  the  mouth, 
but  the  location  was  a  poor  one,  and  the  enterprise  was  sub- 
stantially a  failure.  Meanwhile,  Nichols  opened  a  store 
near  his  warehouse,  and  affairs  in  that  vicinity  took  on  such 
a  lively  aspect  that  there  was  strong  talk  of  starting  a  town 
there,  but  the  project  never  resulted  in  anything  more 
definite  in  shape  than  a  plat  on  paper. 

About  1842,  Butler  built  a  warehouse  on  the  south  side 
of  the  river,  opposite  that  of  Nichols,  and  until  1846  both 
concerns  carried  on  a  profitable  business  in  shipping  and 
receiving  freight.  In  that  year  the  completion  of  the 
Michigan  Central  Railroad  to  Kalamazoo  greatly  injured 
the  river  traffic,  and  in  1848,  when  that  road  was  finished 
to  Niles,  the  forwarding  business  at  the  mouth  of  the  river 
came  to  an  end,  unless  indeed  we  include  the  forwarding 
of  rafts. 

One  of  Saugatuck's  pioneers,  Benjamin  Plummer,  now 
living  in  Ganges,  relates  how  he  came  to  the  village  with 
his  wife  in  the  fall  of  1834,  and  found  residing  there  and 
at  the  mouth  of  the  river  the  families  of  William  G. 
Butler,   Stephen    D.   Nichols,  Johonnett   &    Crosby,  the 


tanners,  Daniel  Plummer,  and  Palmer  and  Mayo,  the  latter 
being  two  fishermen  and  Indian-traders  living  at  the  river's 
mouth.  Benjamin  Plummer,  like  his  brother  Daniel,  was 
a  carpenter,  and  after  working  at  his  trade  two  years  started 
a  saw-mill  northeast  of  the  village,  where  he  remained  until 
1846.  He  then  abandoned  the  mill  and  removed  to  his 
present  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Plummer,  who  have  shared 
the  vicissitudes  of  pioneer  life  forty-six  years,  have  been 
man  and  wife  no  less  than  fifty-three  years. 

In  1844,  A.  S.  Wells  and  0.  R.  Johnson  built  a  tannery 
near  Plummer's  saw-mill  and  carried  it  on  until  1854,  when 
it  passed  into  the  possession  of  C.  C.  Wallin  &  Sons,  the 
present  proprietors. 

THE   VILLAGE   LAID   OUT. 

Previous  to  the  coming  of  Nichols  and  the  creation  of 
the  warehouse  traffic,  Butler  had,  in  1833,  platted  a  village 
upon  his  pre-empted  property,  and  called  it  Kalamazoo. 
Soon  afterwards  Henry  Hoffman,  of  Niles,  Jasper  Mason, 
of  Sf.  Joseph,  and  John  Griffith,  of  New  York,  purchased 
an  interest  in  the  village  property,  of  which,  however,  But- 
ler still  retained  a  share.*  A  post-office  was  established  at 
the  village  in  1835,  upon  application  of  R.  R.  Crosby,  who 
was  commissioned  postmaster  Aug.  4,  1835,  the  original 
commission  being  now  in  possession  of  S.  A.  Morrison,  Esq. 
At  his  suggestion  the  office  was  called  Saugatuck,  an  In- 
dian word  meaning  "  mouth  of  river."  The  village  re- 
tained the  name  of  Kalamazoo  until  the  incorporation  of 
the  village  now  bearing  that  name.  Being  then  deprived 
of  it  by  the  greater  celebrity  of  the  latter  place,  it  was 
called  Newark,  after  the  township  in  which  it  was  located. 
This  appellation  was  retained  until  1863,  when  the  name 
of  both  township  and  village  was  changed  to  Saugatuck. 
William  G.  Butler,  the  founder  of  the  town,  continued  to 
be  one  of  its  prominent  citizens  until  his  death,  in  1857, 
when  he  was  killed  while  engaged  in  log-rolling. 

In  the  month  of  May,  1837,  Stephen  A.  Morrisou  came 
from  Vermont  to  Saugatuck  for  the  purpose  of  starting  a 
tannery,  having  learned  that  the  country  thereabout  was 
famous  for  hemlock-bark.  Upon  reaching  that  place  he 
found  Johonnett  &  Crosby  already  engaged  in  tanning, 
and  so,  instead  of  starting  a  fresh  enterprise,  he  bought  out 
that  firm.  He  carried  on  the  business  on  the  old  site 
about  five  years,  when  he  removed  the  business  to  his 
present  location,  where  he  has  ever  since  been  employed  in 
the  same  occupation.  Saugatuck  village  improved  slowly 
at  first,  and  when  Singapore  reared  its  prosperous  front  the 
former  place  was  completely  overshadowed,  and  could  scarcely 
be  called  more  than  a  lumber-camp.  In  1837  about  the  only 
business  it  boasted  was  that  of  getting  out  ship-timber,  and, 
although  Stephen  D.  Nichols  had  a  small  store  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river  and  sold  a  few  goods  from  his  house  on 
Hoffman  Street  in  the  village,  the  inhabitants  usually  traded 
at  Singapore,  for  at  the  latter  place  only  was  there  a  mer- 
cantile establishment  of  even  moderate  pretensions. 


,»The  plat  was  recorded  on  the  17th  of  July,  1SS4,  in  the  register's 
office  of  Kalamazoo  County,  to  which  Allegan  County  was  then  at- 
tached. The  village  is  described  on  the  record  as  laid  out  by  J.  Wit- 
tenmeier,  surveyor,  for  William  G.  Butler,  but  it  is  evident  that  Mason 
and  Griffith  had  secured  an  interest,  as  two  of  the  streets  bore  their 


326 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


In  1836,  Benjamin  Plummer  built  a  saw-mill  on  the  site 
of  Wallin's  tannery,  on  section  3,  and  in  1837  he  and 
Edward  Johonnett  operated  it.  During  the  next  summer 
the  business  of  rafting  lumber  and  square  timber  down  the 
river  to  the  lake  set  in  in  earnest,  and  for  some  years  con- 
tinued to  be  an  important  industry. 

SHIP-BUILDING. 

Ship-timber  being  abundant  near  Saugatuck,  ship-builders 
came  hither  early,  led  by  James  McLaughlin,  who  built  at 
Saugatuck  a  lumber-vessel  which  he  called  the  "  Crook." 
Carter  &  Co.,  the  successors  of  the  Wilders  at  Singapore, 
built  at  that  point  a  lake-vessel  for  carrying  lumber,  and 
named  it  the  "  Ootavia."  About  that  time  other  vessels  were 
built  at  Saugatuck  and  Singapore,  and  in  1842  Porter  & 
Co.  built  at  Singapore  a  flat-bottom  steamboat,  named  the 
"  C.  C.  Trowbridge,"  and  intended  for  the  trade  between  Sau- 
gatuck and  Allegan.  That  attempt  at  steam  navigation  on 
the  river  was,  however,  a  failure,  and  after  a  few  trips  de- 
monstrated it  to  be  so  the  "  Trowbridge"  was  transferred  to 
other  scenes. 

A  second  attempt  in  the  same  direction,  made  with  the 
"  Adelaide,"  built  at  Allegan,  met  with  better  results,  and 
from  that  time  forward  until  1869  steamboats  plied  with 
more  or  less  regularity  between  Saugatuck  and  Allegan 
each  season.  First  and  last,  a  large  number  of  sailing-ves- 
sels and  steamers  have  been  built  at  Saugatuck.  Generally 
the  steamers  have  been  tugs,  although  several  lake-propel- 
lers and  lumber-barges  have  been  constructed  there,  and 
several  grain-carrying  vessels  of  the  larger  class  have  figured 
in  the  list.  The  year  1879  was  an  especially  busy  one  in 
ship  building  at  Saugatuck. 

LOSS   OF   THE   "  MILWAUKIE." 

On  the  17th  of  November,  1842,  while  the  three-master 
"  Milwaukie"  was  taking  on  a  cargo  off  Saugatuck  Harbor, 
a  sudden  squall  of  wind  drove  it  ashore,  when  the  vessel 
was  wrecked,  and  the  captain  and  eight  of  his  men  lost 
their  lives.  The  victims  were  buried  in  the  old  Indian 
burying-ground,  then  'occupying  the  site  now  covered  by 
the  town-hall  of  Saugatuck.  Other  casualties  have  occurred 
off  the  mouth  of  the  river  from  time  to  time,  but  none 
have  reached  the  tragic  importance  that  attended  the  loss 
of  the  "  Milwaukie." 

SAUGATUCK  HARBOE. 
As  already  noted,  the  natural  harbor  at  Saugatuck  early 
invited  attention.  The  general  government  was  called 
upon  to  assist  in  the  improvement  of  the  harbor  and  river, 
and  down  to  January,  1880,  had  expended  over  $100,000 
for  that  purpose.  The  people  of  the  locality  have  also 
expended  upwards  of  $30,000  upon  the  river  and  harbor, 
but  all  the  necessary  works  are  not  yet  erected.  Althouo-h 
vessels  of  moderate  draft  may  now  enter  the  harbor,  there 
is  need  of  an  extension  of  the  south  pier  at  least  four  hun- 
dred feet  to  adfflit  craft  of  a  larger  class,  and  to  this  end 
Congress  is  now  being  appealed  to  for  further  help.  The 
volume  of  water  discharged  by  the  Kalamazoo  River  is 
claimed  to  be  greater  than  that  of  any  other  stream  empty- 
ing into  Lake  Michigan  on  the  eastern  coast,  except,  per- 


haps. Grand  River.  Kalamazoo  Lake,  three  miles  from 
the  river's  mouth,  is  half  a  mile  wide  by  three-fourths  of 
a  mile  long,  being  large  enough  to  contain  at  one  time  all 
the  vessels  sailing  on  the  lake,  and  having  an  ample  depth 
of  water  to  accommodate  the  largest  of  them. 

THE  PIONEER  VILLAGERS. 

In  1837  Saugatuck  contained,  besides  numerous  Indians, 
the  families  of  W.  G.  Butler,  Daniel  and  Benjamin  Plum- 
mer, Johonnett  &  Crosby,  Stephen  A.  Morrison,  a  Mrs. 
Jones,  and  Jas.  McLaughlin  (a  ship-carpenter),  besides  a 
floating  population  of  lumbermen  and  other  laborers,  with- 
out families. 

In  1846  the  village,  showing  but  slight  improvement, 
still  boasted  the  presence  of  some  Indian  families,  and  of 
those  of  Morrison,  M.  B.  Spencer,  Butler,  Nichols,  Mc- 
Laughlin, and  Saml.  Underwood  (a  shoemaker).  The 
place  made  exceedingly  slow  progress,  and  at  one  period 
not  long  after  1837  was  abandoned  by  almost  all  its  inhab- 
itants except  Mr.  Morrison's  family. 

A  RIVER  CALAMITY. 

On  the  25th  of  July,  1841,  John  Billings,  with  his  wife 
and  six  children,  the  wife  of  McLaughlin  the  ship-builder, 
with  her  child,  R.  A.  McDonald,  and  an  Irishman  (name 
unknown)  were  passing  up  the  river  in  a  small  boat,  when 
the  craft  accidentally  capsized,  and  five  of  the  twelve  persons 
on  board  were  drowned,  viz. :  Mrs.  Billings,  three  of  her 
children,  and  Mrs.  McLaughlin. 

NEWARK  TAX-PATERS  IN   1840  AND   1843. 

The  Newark  assessment-rolls  previous  to  1840  are  either 
unobtainable  or  illegible,  and  as  the  best  that  can  be  done 
the  names  of  the  tax-payers  living  in  the  township  in  1840 
and  1843  are  here  given: 

1840. — Levi  Loomis,  S.  A.  and  S.  Morrison,  James  McLaughlin,  J.  B. 
Bailey,  agent  for  Green  Mitchell  k  Co.,  J.  C.  Hale,  Benjamin 
Plummer,  L.  Jones,  James  Haines,  Mr.  Wood,  A.  Webber, 
Josiah  Martin,  S.  D.  Nichols,  Crosby  &  Co.,  J.  V.  Ham,  agent 
for  Wilder  &  Co.,  Moses  Nichols,  "  tavern-keeper  and  vender 
of  ardent  spirits,"  A.  Morrison,  "  tavern-keeper,  and  sells  no 
ardent  liquor."  The  assessed  acres  aggregated  73,816,  and 
the  total  town  valuation  was  $174,709.  The  assessors  were 
J.  C.  Hale,  B.  B.  Wilder,  and  Benjamin  Plummer. 

1843. — J.  C.  Hale,  H.  Hutchins,  J.  W.  Wadsworth,  Jacob  Barragar, 
L.  Jones,  William  fi.  Butler,  C.  H.  Bartlett,  Benjamin 
Plummer,  S.  D.  Nichols,  James  McLaughlin,  S.  and  S.  A. 
Morrison,  Robert  McDonald,  Henry  Pritchard,  P.  J.  Cook, 
agent,  J.  W.  Miles,  William  F.  Hale. 

THE  LIGHT-HOUSE. 
In  1838  the  government  erected  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Kalamazoo  River  a  stone  light-house,  the  site  of  which  is 
now  covered  by  a  portion  of  the  south  pier,  the  channel 
being  now  twenty  rods  north  of  where  it  was  in  1838. 
Stephen  D.  Nichols  was  appointed  the  first  keeper,  and  re- 
tained the  place  about  six  years.  In  1859  the  tower  began 
to  show  signs  of  decay,  and  was  replaced  by  a  brick  struc- 
ture. The  latter  wore  out  in  turn,  and  was  succeeded  in 
1875  by  the  wooden  tower  now  adorning  the  extremity  of 
the  south  pier. 


SAUGATUCK  TOWNSHIP. 


327 


THE   PROGEESS   OF   TRADE. 

Until  1851,  when  S.  D.  Nichols  built  and  opened  a  store 
in  the  village,  Saugatuck  boasted  no  such  establishment  of 
any  pretensions  whatever,  and  until  that  year  the  villagers 
generally  did  their  trading  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  or  at 
Singapore.  In  1854,  Wells  &  Johnson,  the  mill-proprietors 
at  Saugatuck,  opened  a  general  store  at  that  place,  much  to 
the  gratification  of  the  townspeople.  After  that  the  vil- 
lage began  to  grow  and  stores  to  multiply. 

When  Wayne  Coates  came  in  1849,  and  opened  a  drug- 
store in  a  house  built  by  Daniel  Plummer,  there  was  no 
store  nearer  than  Nichols',  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  or 
Artemas  Carter's,  at  Singapore.  The  town  was  a  forest,  and 
included  only  the  families  of  William  G.  Butler,  S.  A. 
Morrison,  Samuel  Underwood,  Ellas  M.  Dibble,  M.  B. 
Spencer,  and  perhaps  one  or  two  others.  In  1865  there 
were  the  stores  of  John  Burns,  S.  A.  Morrison,  B.  W. 
Phillips,  R,  P.  Kleeman,  and  H.  D.  Moore ;  Dunning  & 
Hopkins  and  H.  D.  Moore's  saw-mills ;  Ebmeyer  &  Kuffin 
and  Blanchard's  shingle-mills ;  a  pail-stave  manufactory ; 
and  two  hotels.  Main  Street  from  Nichols'  to  Morrison's 
had  but  two  or  three  buildings,  and  beyond  Dunning's  saw- 
mill the  land  was  covered  with  growing  timber.  The  village 
now  contains  a  dozen  mercantile  establishments  of  all  kinds, 
which  carry  on  a  business  of  no  insignificant  proportions. 

GRIST-MILL. 
The  only  grist-mill  built  at  Saugatuck  village  was  erected 
iu  1866  by  George  P.  Heath,  and  destroyed  by  fire  in 
November,  1879. 

SAUGATUCK   POST-OFFICE. 

A  post-oflBce  was  established  at  Saugatuck,  as  already 
mentioned,  in  August,  1835,  and  R.  11.  Crosby  appointed 
postmaster.  The  mail-bag  was  in  those  days  seldom  very 
well  filled,  and,  in  fact,  for  a  considerable  period  came  down 
the  river  from  Allegan  upon  rafts  at  such  uncertain  and 
irregular  times  as  were  most  convenient. 

In  1840,  Samuel  Morrison  was  appointed  mail-carrier, 
and  rode  at  regularly  appointed  dates  on  horseback  between 
Saugatuck  and  Allegan.  William  G.  Butler  succeeded 
Crosby,  and  then  followed  S.  A.  Morrison,  who  gave  place 

in  1860  to  Ward.     Samuel  Johnson  was  the  next 

occupant  of  the  office,  being  followed  successively  by  B. 
W.  Phillips,  S.  A.  Morrison  (second  term),  Hiram  Ellis, 
Samuel  Johnson  (second  term),  William  V.  Johnson,  and 
George  T.  Arnold,  the  present  incumbent. 

POET  OF  ENTRY. 
In  1870,  Saugatuck  was  made  a  port  of  entry,  and  in 
that  year  H.  R.  Ellis  was  appointed  collector  of  customs. 
The  present  collector  is  George  T.  Arnold. 

FIRST  BIRTH,  MARRIAGE,  Etc 
The  first  white  child  born  in  the"  township  was  a  daughter 
of  William  G.  Butler.  Her  birth  occurred  in  the  fall  of 
1834,  and  her  death  early  in  1835,  she  being  also  the  first 
white  person  to  die  in  the  township.  The  second  birth  was 
that  of  Andrew,  son  of  Benjamin  Plummer,  on  the  1st  day 
of  January,  1835.     He  is  now  a  resident  of  the  township 


of  Ganges.  The  first  adult  person  who  died  was  the  wife 
of  William  G.  Butler. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  John  C.  Wooster,  a  lum- 
berman, and  Ruth  Johonnett,  in  June,  1837.  The  second 
was  that  of  S.  A.  Morrison  and  Elizabeth  Peckham.  They 
were  married  in  the  public  hall  at  Singapore,  by  Rev.  Mr. 
West,  of  Otsego.,  Mr.  West  was  a  Universalist  preacher, 
and  used  to  come  over  from  Otsego  now  and  then  to  hold 
services  in  the  hall  at  Singapore,  which  was  also  qccasion- 
ally  occupied  by  the  Methodists  for  the  same  purpose. 

The  school-house  near  Singapore  was  the  first  one  built 
in  the  town.  Previous  to  its  erection  Jane  Powers  taught 
the  children  of  some  of  the  settlers,  as  did  Elizabeth  Peck- 
ham,  who  came  from  Allegan  in  response  to  a  request  from 
Benjamin  Plummer,  and  taught  in  the  house  of  the  latter, 
near  his  saw-mill. 

A  Methodist  Episcopal  society,  now  extinct,  was  organ- 
ized in  Saugatuck  village  about  1865,  and  endured  until 
1875.  Revs.  Loomis,  Benson,  Hoyt,  Cawthorne,  Thurston, 
Cowen,  and  Pengally  were  among  the  earlier  pastors.  Rev. 
Mr.  Cawthorne  came  hither,  vid  the  lake,  from  Muskegon, 
with  his  family  and  household  effects,  on  board  a  tug. 
While  entering  the  river  the  tug  capsized,  and  Mr.  Caw- 
thorne's  two  children  were  drowned. 

VILLAGE   PHYSICIANS. 

Dr.  Chauncey  B.  Goodrich,  who  came  to  Saugatuck  in 
1843  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  medicine,  was  the 
first  physician  of  the  village.  He  soon  removed  to  Ganges, 
but  remained  for  many  years  the  only  physician  in  the 
western  part  of  the  county.  He  died  in  Ganges  in  1879. 
His  successor  in  village  practice  was  Dr.  Flowers,  who  made 
his  appearance  at  Saugatuck  in  1857,  and  practiced  there 
until  his  death,  in  1859.  Dr.  S.  L.  Morris  followed  him, 
and  remained  until  1865.  Dr.  H.  H.  Stimson,  who  began 
to  practice  in  the  county  in  1853,  went  to  Saugatuck  from 
the  eastern  part  of  Allegan  in  1860,  and  since  that  time 
has  been  steadily  in  practice  there. 

Dr.  J.  B.  Cook,  who  is  still  a  Saugatuck  physician,  entered 
upon  his  professional  service  in  that  village  in  1862.  After 
him  came  Dr.  David  McLean,  who  made  but  a  brief  stay, 
and  then  passed  over  to  Douglas,  where  he  tarried  until 
1879.  Dr.  Alex.  McRca,who  came  to  Saugatuck  in  1865, 
remained  until  1871.  Dr.  R.  Pengally,  and  his  son-in-law. 
Dr.  Charles  Chamberlain,  began  practice  in  1871,  and  moved 
away  in  1873.  Dr.  Charles  F.  Stinson  practiced  from  1872 
to  1879,  when  he  died.  Dr.  B.  B.  Wright,  who  died  in 
Saugatuck  in  1879,  had  practiced  in  the  village  eleven 
years.  The  village  practice  is  at  present  confined  chiefly 
to  Drs.  H.  H.  Stimson  and  J.  B.  Cook,  the  only  resident 

physicians. 

VILLAGE  LAWYERS. 

Saugatuck's  first  resident  lawyer  was  a  Mr.  Pratt,  who 
opened  an  office  in  1868,  went  shortly  afterwards  to  Hol- 
land village,  and  lives  now  in  Grand  Haven.  His  successor, 
J.  S.  Maury,  came  in  1871,  and  remained  two  years.  He 
now  lives  in  Nebraska!  The  third  lawyer  was  R.  L.  Newn- 
ham,  who  came  in  1876,  and  is  yet  in  practice.  The  only 
other  resident  lawyer  is  D.  A.  Winslow,  who  removed  to 
the  village  from  St.  Joseph,  Mich.,  in  February,  1880. 


328 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


VILLAGE   TAVEENS. 

In  1840,  Moses  Nichols  kept  a  tavern  at  the  mouth  of 
the  river,  and  in  the  same  year  S.  A.  Morrison's  residence 
at  Saugatuck  was  commonly  regarded  as  a  house  of  enter- 
tainment where  travelers  could  find  lodging  and  refreshment, 
but  no  spirituous  liquors.  Mr.  Morrison  kept  open  house 
in  that  fashion  until  1852,  when  by  the  donation  of  a  vil- 
lage lot  he  induced  R.  S.  Smith,  of  Battle  Creek,  to  come 
over  and  build  the  Saugatuck  House.  Mr.  Smith  was  ac- 
cidentally drowned  in  the  Kalamazoo  River. 

VILLAGE   ORGANIZATION. 

Saugatuck  village  was  incorporated  by  the  board  of  su- 
pervisors of  Allegan  County  in  1868,  and  on  the  first 
Tuesday  in  March  of  that  year  the  first  election  was  held. 
H.  B.  Moore  was  chosen  President ;  Hiram  R.  Ellis,  Clerk  ; 
Diodet  Rogers,  Treasurer;  R.  B.  Newnham,  Marshal;  and 
George  E.  Dunn,  James  Hibbodine,  Solomon  Stanton, 
Warren  Cook,  S.  A.  Morrison,  and  Samuel  Johnson,  Trus- 
tees. In  1869,  H.  B.  Moore  was  President ;  Hiram  R. 
Ellis,  Clerk  ;  and  J.  M.  Pond,  Marshal.  In  the  winter  of 
1869-70  the  village  was  reincorporated  by  an  act  of  the 
Legislature.  The  records  having  been  destroyed  by  fire,  a 
complete  list  of  the  village  ofiScials  cannot  be  obtained. 
The  following  gentlemen  have  served  as  presidents,  clerks, 
and  treasurers  during  the  years  mentioned  ; 

PRESIDENTS. 

1870,  John  C.  Bacon;  1871,  S.  A.  Morrison;  1872,  Kandolph  Dens- 
more  ;  1873-74,  Isaac  Wilson  ;  1876-76,  D.  L.  Barber;  1877,  L.  B. 
Coates;  1878,  II.  B.  Moore;  1879,  A.  B.  Taylor. 

CLERKS. 

1870,  Hiram  R.  Ellis;  1871-72,  Henry  Bird,  Jr.;  1873-79,  R.  B. 
Newnham. 

TREASURERS. 

1870,  L.  0.  Tanner;  1871,  J.  B.  Bacon ;  1872,  John  Nies;  1873-76, 
A.  B.  Taylor;  1877-79,  C.  Whitney. 

The  village  trustees  serving  in  1879  were  D.  L.  Barber, 
John  Nies,  David  White,  W.  B.  Griffin,  George  E.  Dunn, 
and  John  Priest. 

THE   FIKE   RECORD. 

Saugatuck  has  been  frequently  visited  with  serious  con- 
flagrations, including  (aside  from  those  which  have  merely 
destroyed  dwellings)  the  burning  of  H.  D.  Moore's  store 
in  1866;  that  of  0.  R.  Johnson  &  Co. 's  large  store  and 
the  Empire  Billiard-Room,  with  a  large  public  hall,  in 
1876  ;  that  of  the  Ebmeyer  shingle-mill,  Kleeman's  store, 
and  Miller's  saloon  in  the  same  year ;  that  of  S.  H.  Mor- 
rison's store  in  1879 ;  and  that  of  Heath's  grist-mill,  also 
in  1879. 

RELIGIOUS. 
EIRST  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH. 

In  accordance  with  previous  notice,  a  meeting  was  held 
at  the  Saugatuck  school-house  on  the  11th  of  January, 
1860,  to  consider  the  propriety  of  organizing  a  Congrega- 
tional Church.  Rev.  Thomas  Jones  was  appointed  mod- 
erator, and  Rev.  D.  Werts  scribe.  The  church  council 
included  Rev.  N.  Grover  and  Deacon  D.  McDonald,  of 
South  Haven;  Rev.  D.  Wert  and  Deacon  0.  D.  Goodrich, 


of  Allegan ;  Rev.  L.  H.  Jones  and  Deacon  A.  Norton,  of 
Cooper;  Rev.  D.  S.  Morse,  of  Otsego;  Rev.  Thomas 
Jones,  of  Galesburg ;  and  Rev.  E.  Taylor,  of  Kalamazoo. 
The  church  was  organized  without  delay,  and  included  the 
following  members  :  Rev.  C.  H.  Eaton,  F.  B.  Wallin, 
Moses  Philbrook,  Alanson  Gardner,  Mrs.  M.  P.  Eaton,  Mrs. 
Orcetia  Wallin,  Mrs.  Mary  Philbrook,  Mrs.  Marila  Gardner, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elnathan  Judson,  John  Harris,  Mrs.  Hannah 
Cook,  Andrew  Alexander,  Miss  Sarah  Jane  Cowles. 

The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  C.  H.  Eaton,  and  the  first 
deacons  Alanson  Gardner  and  F.  B.  Wallin.  Rev.  J.  C. 
Myers  succeeded  Mr.  Eaton  in  May,  1862,  and  remained 
in  charge  until  1868.  Rev.  J.  F.  Taylor  then  entered 
upon  the  pastorate,  and  continued  in  it  until  1878.  Rev. 
W.  C.  Allen  followed  for  a  brief  season,  and  then  came 
Rev.  W.  B.  Sutherland,  the  present  pastor. 

During  the  summer  after  its  organization  the  society 
built  a  church  edifice,  which  was  the  first  house  of  worship 
erected  in  the  town.  In  it  also  was  held  Saugatuck's  first 
"  war-meeting''  upon  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion,  in  1861. 
The  deacons  of  the  church  are  F.  B.  Wallin,  H.  L.  House, 
and  George  E.  Dunn.  The  trustees  are  George  E.  Dunn, 
F.  B.  Wallin,  H.  L.  House,  H.  D.  Moore,  George  H. 
Thomas,  and  M.  B.  Williams.  The  membership  numbers 
about  80. 

THE  FIRST  DUTCH  REFORMED  CHURCH. 

This  church  was  organized  in  Morrison  Hall,  June  21, 
1868,  with  the  following  members:  A.  C.  Zwemer  and 
wife,  H.  Van  Spyker  and  wife,  G.  Jonkhofl"  and  wife,  M. 
De  Boe  and  wife,  I.  Zwemer  and  wife,  I.  G.  Neimeizer  and 
wife,  J.  J.  Koke,  J.  Neis,  M.  Van  Leuwen,  Arent  Zwaavink, 
Mrs.  P.  Kallewoord,  Mrs.  G.  Sluiter.  The  first  elders  were 
J.  J.  Koke  and  A.  C.  Zwemer ;  the  first  deacons,  G.  Jonk- 
hofl" and  M.  De  Boe.  But  two  pastors  have  served  the 
church,— Rev.  D.  Broeck,  from  May  1,  1870,  to  March  25, 
1875,  and  H.  E.  Neis,  from  Nov.  5,  1876,  to  Deo.  30, 
1879,  the  pastorate  being  now  vacant.  The  present  mem- 
bership numbers  55,  and  the  officers  are  as  follows  :  Elders 
J.  Ensing,  H.  Van  Spyker,  and  M.  De  Vries  ;  deacons,  A.  C. 
Zwemer,  M.  Van  Leuwen,  and  J.  Raman.  The  Sunday- 
school  superintendent  is  J.  Ensing,  and  the  school  member- 
ship about  40.  The  house  of  worship  now  in  use  was 
erected  in  October,  1868,  and  enlarged  in  October,  1874. 

ALL  SAINTS'  (EPISCOPAL)  CHURCH. 
This  organization  was  formed  in  September,  1868,  by 
J.  R.  Taylor,  who  was  chosen  as  the  first  rector,  and  who 
continued  in  charge  until  1878,  when  he  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  E.  W.  Flower,  the  present  rector.  The  members  of 
the  church  at  the  organization  were  0.  R.  Johnson  and  wife, 
F.  B.  Stockbridge  and  wife,  R.  B.  Newnham  and  wife,  H. 
H.  Stimpson  and  wife,  J.  F.  Geer,  A.  B.  Taylor,  William 
Dunning  and  wife,  Mrs.  Breuckman,  Mrs.  Merrill,  Thomas 
Donald  and  wife,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moses  Nash,  Pierce  Abbey, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  G.  Moreland,  David  White  and  wife,  Isaac 
Wilson  and  wife.  The  village  school-house  was  used  as  a 
house  of  worship  until  January,  1873,  when  the  edifice  now 
in  use  was  first  occupied.  Its  cost  was  about  $4000.  The 
first  wardens  were  Robert  G.  Anncsley  and  Pierce  Abbey. 


SAUGATUCK  TOWNSHIP. 


329 


The  vestrymen  were  F.  B.  Stockbridge  and  H.  H.  Stimson. 
There  are  now  40  members  of  the  church,  and  50  of  the 
Sunday-school.  The  school  is  in  charge  of  A.  B.  Taylor, 
superintendent,  assisted  by  six  teachers.  The  rector,  resid- 
ing at  Holland,  holds  services  in  Saugatuck  once  every  fort- 
night. 

THE  SAUGATUCK  FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 
In  January,  1871,  the  village  purchased  a  hook-and-lad- 
der  apparatus  and  placed  it  in  charge  of  the  marshal,  the 
villagers  at  large  being  the  working  force  whenever  the 
machine  was  called  into  service.  Shortly  afterwards  200 
pails  were  bought  at  public  expense,  and  distributed  in 
convenient  places  for  use  in  case  of  fire.  In  1873  a  Bab- 
cock  extinguisher  was  purchased,  and  a  fire  department 
organized  with  30  members,  of  which  James  M.  Pond 
was  chief  engineer,  and  A.  H.  Gardner  first  assistant. 
The  extinguisher,  which  cost  $2000,  proved  a  failure,  and 
was  replaced  with  a  hand-engine  and  hose-cart,  which  now 
do  efficient  service.  The  engine  company  has  p2  members, 
A.  H.  Gardner  being  the  foreman.  J.  P.  Hancock  is  the 
foreman  of  the  hose  company,  which  is  also  provided  with 
a  hook-and-ladder  apparatus.  It  has  8  members.  The 
chief  engineer  of  the  department  is  John  Wilson. 

SOCIETIES. 
SAUGATUCK  LODGE,  No.  196,  I.  0.  0.  F. 
This  association  was  instituted  Oct.  17,  1872,  with  5 
members,  viz. :  Amos  B.  Titus,  E.  0.  Cole,  Henry  Eb- 
meyer,  David  White,  and  Joseph  Fischer.  The  first  officers 
were  Henry  Ebmeyer,  N.  G. ;  David  White,  V.  G. ;  B.  0. 
Cole,  Sec.  The  Noble  Grands  since  Mr.  Ebmeyer's  term 
have  been  David  White,  Isaac  Wilson,  John  Wilson,  John 
Priest,  James  A.  Houtcamp,  Edmond  Skinner,  James  M. 
Pond,  P.  H.  Hancock,  Samuel  Clipson,  J.  G.  Williams, 
William  F.  Metzger,  C.  M.  Cook,  K.  G.  Annesley.  In 
1878  the  lodge  erected  a  fine  building,  in  the  third  story  of 
which  the  Todge-room  is  located.  The  second  story  is  used 
as  a  public  hall.  The  active  members  in  January,  1880, 
numbered  83.  The  officers  at  that  time  were  K.  G.  An- 
nesley, N.  G. ;  A.  B.  Taylor,  V.  G. ;  J.  M.  Pond,  Sec. ; 
S.  D.  Nichols,  P.  Sec. ;  W.  B.  Smalley,  Treas. 

SAUGATUCK  ENCAMPMENT,  No.  60,  I.  0.  0.  P. 
Saugatuck  Encampment  was  instituted  Aug.  7,  1873, 
with  William  Corner,  Samuel  Clipson,  Isaac  Wilson,  J.  A. 
Houtcamp,  John  Wilson,  H.  Ebmeyer,  John  Priest,  A.  B. 
Titus,  and  Charles  H.  Chamberlain  as  the  first  members. 
The  first  officers  were  H.  Ebmeyer,  C.  P. ;  Isaac  Wilson, 
H.  P. ;  John  Wilson,  S.  W. ;  John  Priest,  J.  W. ;  Samuel 
Clipson,  Treas.  The  membership  is  now  24,  and  the  offi- 
cers as  follows :  Karl  Ebmeyer,  C.  P. ;  J.  B.  Cook,  H.  P. ; 
A.  B.  Titus,  S.  W. ;  J.  G.  W^iUiams,  J.  W. ;  J.  M.  Pond, 
Scribe ;  John  Priest,  Treas. 

SAUGATUCK   LODGE,   No.  328,  F.  AND  A.  M. 

This  lodge  was  demitted  from  Dutcher  Lodge,  of  Doug- 
las, and  instituted  Jan.  26,  1876,  with  James  G.  Williams, 
W.  M. ;  Reuben  I.  Rogers,  S.  W. ;  and  L.  W.  Grant,  J. 
W.;  the  total  membership  being  16.  The  Masters  since 
Mr.  Williams  have  been  William  P.  Hanson  and  W.  B. 
42 


Griffin.  The  present  membership  is  34,  and  the  officers 
are  as  follows :  J.  G.  Williams,  W.  M. ;  Amos  H.  Gardner, 
S.  W. ;  John  Martelle,  J.  W. ;  E.  J.  Tedmon,  Sec.  ; 
Henry  Bird,  Jr.,  Treas. ;  Jacob  Metzger,  L.  D. ;  Joseph 
Elliott,  J.  D. ;  Lorenzo  W.  Grant,  Tyler.  Regular  ses- 
sions are  held  in  Masonic  Hall,  Griffin's  Block. 

THE  SAUGATUCK  RED  RIBBON  CLUB. 
This  organization  was  formed  in  April,  1879,  by  Dr. 
Reynolds,  a  noted  temperance  working  advocate;  Morri- 
son's Hall,  the  scene  of  the  first  meeting,  being  crowded 
with  an  enthusiastic  assembly.  About  80  persons  enrolled 
themselves  as  members  of  the  club,  and  chose  Capt.  Reu- 
ben T.  Rogers  president  and  C.  B.  Scott  secretary.  The 
club  has  continued  to  flourish  to  the  present  time,  and 
through  the  medium  of  weekly  public  assemblies,  at  which 
literary  and  musical  entertainment  is  offered,  promotes  the 
cause  of  temperance  in  a  very  satisfactory  manner. 

THE  WOMEN'S    CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 

This  association  of  the  ladies  of  Saugatuck  was  organ- 
ized March  19,  1879,  and  the  hearty  encouragement  it  has 
received  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  it  now  contains  90  work- 
ing members.  Weekly  business  sessions  are  held,  and 
every  Sunday  a  gospel-meeting  invites  the  attendance  of 
the  general  public.  The  officers  are  Mrs.  H.  D.  Moore, 
President;  Mrs.  George  E.  Dunn,  Mrs.  C.  E.  Wells,  and 
Mrs.  Edmond  Skinner,  Vice-Presidents ;  Mrs.  F.  B.  Wallin, 
Sec. ;  Mrs.  Z.  B.  Wasson,  Treas. 

The  Juvenile  Temperance  Society,  organized  in  June, 
1879,  has  now  a  membership  of  78.  Van  Wallin  is  Presi- 
dent ;  Winnie  Moore,  Sec. ;  Ellsworth  Houtcamp,  Treas. ; 
and  Hattie  Wallin,  Organist. 

THE  EEUIT-BELT— SHIPMENTS    AND    GENERAL 
STATISTICS. 

As  long  ago  as  1835,  or  perhaps  before,  William  G. 
Butler  stoutly  maintained  that  the  country  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Saugatuck  was  well  adapted  to  the  growth  of 
peaches,  and  he  predicted,  moreover,  that  the  region  round 
about  would  one  day  be  famous  and  wealthy  as  a  fruit- 
producing  district.  That  Mr.  Butler  was  right  in  his 
conclusions  time  has  abundantly  proven. 

Peaches  were  cultivated  to  a  moderate  degree  for  home 
consumption  in  1840,  and  were  thus  grown  in  a  small  way 
every  year  thereafter,  but  it  was  not  until  about  1869  that 
the  culture  of  the  peach  was  made  an  important  commercial 
industry,  and  thus  it  has  expanded  annually  to  the  present 
time  into  an  enterprise  which  engages  the  attention  of 
thousands  of  people,  lays  under  tribute  a  vast  area  of 
country,  and  yields  yeariy   the   return  of  thousands   of 

dollars. 

The  fruit-belt  under  consideration  includes  those  por- 
tions of  Allegan  and  Van  Buren  Counties  bordering  Lake 
Michigan,  and,  according  to  reports  gathered  at  the  close  of 
the  season  of  1879,  included  600,000  peach-trees,  yielding 
an  estimated  product  of  3,000,000  baskets  of  fruit  yeariy. 
Reports  made  to  the  Saugatuck  and  Ganges  Pomological 
Society,  November,  1879,  set  forth  that  in  Saugatuck 
1200  acres  were  set  to  peach-trees,  and  that  over  400  acres 
were  in  full  bearing.     Estimating  100  trees  per  acre,  and 


330 


HISTORY   OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


5  baskets  per  tree,  the  1200  acres  would  give  au  annual 
yield  of  GOO, 000  baskets.  From  siruilar  reports  it  is 
learned  that  in  Western  Allegan  during  1879  there  were 
shipments  of  peaches  as  follows  : 


Baakets. 

Douglns 145,421) 

Saug.ituok 3(1.(11)0 

Fennville 137,500 

Mack's  Landing 12,(100 

Eai-t  Saugatuok  and  Kicbinond 10,000 


(i'rates. 
2,173 


Total.. 


334,020 


2,173 


During  1879  the  amount  paid  at  Saugatuck  and  Doug- 
las villages  for  peaches  purchased  at  those  points  aggre- 
gated S49,200. 

Among  the  prominent  peach-growers  of  Saugatuck 
township  may  be  mentioned  Williams  &  Son,  R.  M.  IMoore, 
P.  Purdy,  Sophia  Schulfz,  Thomas  Gray,  J.  Grouse, 
Robert  Reid  and  F.  C.  Kile,  William  Corner,  William 
Cummings,  Joshua  Weed,  Dressier  &  Patcher.  Williams 
&  Son  and  R.  M.  IMoore,  having  respectively  about  10,000 
trees,  are  ranked  the  largest  producers. 

LUMBERING. 

As  has  been  seen,  this  was,  during  the  pioneer  period, 
the  most  important  business,  not  only  of  Saugatuck,  but  of 
all  Western  Allegan,  and  it  continued  so  for  many  years. 
Saugatuck  was,  until  a  few  years  ago,  a  place  of  many  saw- 
mills, but  the  gradual  exhaustion  of  the  timber  cau,sed  the 
decline  of  the  business,  until  now  there  are  in  Saugatuck 
and  Douglas  but  three  mills,  and  for  two  of  these  the  sup- 
ply is  becoming  very  scanty.  The  first  steam  saw-mill  built 
in  Saugatuck  village  or  vicinity  was  erected  in  1846,  by 
M.  B.  Spencer,  upon  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  mill  of 
Williams,  Griffin  &  Co.  Mr.  Spencer  had  also  a  lumber- 
yard at  the  mouth  of  the  river.  He  carried  on  the  mill 
until  1850,  when  he  sold  it  to  Wells  &  Johnson. 

Williams,  Griffin  &  Johnson  carry  on  at  Saugatuck  the 
saw-mill  put  up  in  1852  by  Dunning  &  Hopkins.  Here 
40  men  are  employed  in  turning  out  lumber,  shingles,  lath, 
and  siding.  The  capacity  of  the  mill  is  about  52,000  feet 
of  lumber  daily.  This  firm  is  likely  to  continue  in  the 
business  at  Saugatuck  for  some  years,  as  it  has  an  assured 
and  ample  stock  of  logs. 

Ebmeyer  &  Neis  now  control  the  Douglas  mill-property, 
owned  in  1879  by  Gray  &  Crou.se.  From  30  to  40  men 
were  employed  during  the  busy  periods  of  1879,  and  about 
50.000  feet  of  lumber  were  out  daily.  In  connection  with 
the  saw-mill,  there  are  also  large  lath-  and  shingle-mills. 
H.  B.  Moore  likewise  has  at  Douglas  a  saw-mill  and  shinsile- 
mill,  employing  an  average  of  25  men. 

The  basket-factory  and  planing-mill  started  at  Douglas 
by  Weed  &  King  is  now  carried  on  by  William  Weed. 
He  manufactured  in  1879  about  30,000  fruit-baskets. 

OTHER   MANUFACTURES. 

Hutchinson  Bros.  &  Co.  have  at  Douglas  a  fine  grist- 
mill containing  five  run  of  stone,  and  devoted  to  merchant- 
as  well  as  custom-work.  The  site  was  previously  occupied 
by  Crawford  McDonald  with  a  grist-mill,  of  which  the 
present  firm  became  the  owners  in  1877,  and  which  they 
have  materially  enlarged. 

C.  C.  Wallin  &  Son  are  largely  engaged  in  tanning  at 


Saugatuck  and  Douglas.  At  the  former  place  they  have 
an  extensive  tannery,  which  employs  about  20  men,  its 
business  reaching  as  high  as  30,000  hides  yearly.  At 
Douglas  they  employ  1 0  men  in  a  tannery  confined  to  the 
production  of  sole  leather,  which  uses  about  15,000  hides 
annually.  Among  other  manufacturing  interests  in  Sau- 
gatuck, now  extinct,  two  important  ones  were  H.  D. 
Moore's  extensive  saw-mill  and  the  shingle-mill  of  Ebmeyer 
&  Palzer,  both  early  enterprises. 

SINGAPORE— A   DESERTED   VILLAGE. 

On  the  map  of  Saugatuck  township  there  appears  in  the 
northwestern  corner  the  village  of  Singapore,  once  a  thriv- 
ing, bustling  place,  now  abandoned  by  everybody  save  a  few 
fishermen,  who  abide  there  temporarily  during  the  fishing 
seasons.  In  1837,  Oshea  Wilder  and  sons,  of  New  York, 
purchased  of  the  Barnes  family  (the  patentees)  consider- 
able tracts  of  land  in  Saugatuck  township,  and  proceeded 
to  lay  out  a  village  which  they  called  Singapore.  They 
arranged  to  build  a  large  saw-mill  at  that  point,  succeeded 
in  disposing  of  a  good  many  village  lots,  and  induced  quite 
a  number  of  settlers  to  locate  there.  The  mill  was  built 
as  promised,  tenements  were  erected  for  the  mill  hands,  a 
store  was  opened  by  the  mill  company,  and  Singapore  started 
upon  its  career  amid  a  great  flourish  of  trumpets  and  a 
promise  of  much  prosperity.  The  mill  tympany,  known 
as  the  New  York  and  Michigan  Lumber  Company,  flour- 
ished so  well  that  in  1839  they  started  the  Singapore  Bank, 
of  which  Daniel  Wilder  was  chosen  president,  and  Robert 
Hill  cashier.  A  good  deal  of  money  was  issued  by  the 
bank  in  the  shape  of  handsome-looking  notes,  which  were 
paid  out  for  mill  labor  and  taken  in  again  at  the  company's 
store,  but  which  belonged,  nevertheless,  to  the  kind  of 
currency  known  as  "  wildcat,"  although  that  particular 
species  of  wildcat  is  said  to  have  been  a  trifle  better  than 
the  average.  Stephen  D.  Nichols,  who  invested  in  two  80- 
aore  lots  of  wild  land  in  support  of  the  bank,  says  that  the 
money  was  good  enough  at  home,  but  "  bless  you,  you 
couldn't  travel  on  it  any  farther  than  you  could  on  a  piece 
of  sandstone.'' 

Of  course  the  bank  came  to  grief,  as  did  Wilder  &  Co., 
together  with  all  their  enterprises,  but  James  G.  Carter  & 
Co.,  who  soon  purchased  the  various  interests,  still  kept 
Singapore  alive.  Its  struggle  for  existence  was,  however, 
a  hard  one,  and,  although  it  was  not  utterly  abandoned  until 
1875,  it  suffered  a  serious  decline  long  before  that  period. 
The  last  mill-owners  were  Stockbridge  &  Johnson,  who 
continued  business  at  Singapore  until  the  year  last  named. 
The  stock  of  desirable  timber  being  then  pretty  well  ex- 
hausted, they  removed  their  mill  machinery  to  Mackinaw, 
and  with  their  departure  Singapore  breathed  its  last. 

THE  INDIANS. 
The  vicinity  of  the  mouth  of  Kalamazoo  was,  from  a 
period  long  anterior  to  the  first  settlement  of  the  whites 
down  to  1840  or  later,  a  great  gathering-place  for  the  Ot- 
tawa and  some  Pottawattamie  Indians,  who  came  thither 
from  Mackinaw  every  autumn,  scattered  through  the  coun- 
try to  the  eastward  to  hunt  during  the  winter,  and  returned 
to  the  mouth  of  the  river  in  the  spring.     A  full  account  of 


SAUGATUCK  TOWNSHIP. 


331 


these  migrations,  of  the  habits  of  the  Indians,  and  of  the 
trading-posts  which  formerly  existed  along  the  Kalamazoo, 
will  be  found  in  Chapters  VII.  and  IX.  of  the  general 
history.  As  late  as  1842  there  existed  near  Saugatuck 
several  Indian  mounds,  but  the  plowshares  of  the  settlers 
soon  obliterated  these  relics  of  primeval  days.  On  the  hills 
opposite  Saugatuck  there  were  visible  until  recently  traces 
of  Indian  graves,  and  among  them  that  of  a  chief  called 
Wamnus,  but  there  is  now  no  sign  to  show  where  they  were. 

THE  MANIA  POK  VILLAGES. 
In  illustration  of  the  Western  fever  for  paper  villages 
from  1835  to  1838,  it  may  be  noted  that  in  addition  to 
Singapore  (which  did  really  become  a  village)  there  were 
the  paper  town  of  Kalamazoo  Harbor,  laid  out  at  the  mouth 
of  the  river,  the  town  of  Naples,  on  the  river  near  Singa- 
pore, laid  out  by  parties  now  forgotten,  and  the  city  of 
Breese,  also  on  the  river,  a  mile  or  so  above  Saugatuck,  the 
site  being  owned  by  a  Mrs.  Breese.  These  towns  were 
handsomely  depicted  upon  paper,  and  were  represented  to 
new-comers  and  people  living  at  a  distance  as  being  very 
promising  commercial  localities,  but,  unfortunately  for  their 
projectors,  they  failed  to  delude  anybody,  and  never  rose 
above  the  condition  of  paper  villages. 

SETTLEMENTS  IN   THE   SOUTH. 

Settlements  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  township  did 

not  begin  until  some  years  after  the  pioneers  began  to  gather 

at  Saugatuck  and  Singapore.     On  the  town-line  road,  and 

near  there,  H.  S.  Braman,  James  C.  Hale,  William  €orner, 

Horace  Fuller,  William  White,  Henry  Oliver,  and  Josiah 

Martin  (an  early  resident  in  Singapore)  were  among  the 

first  to  locate  themselves  and  become  permanent  residents. 

On  the  lake-shore  the  list  of  pioneers  included  Kobert  Reid, 

James  McVey  (now  living  in  Ganges),  John  Strahan,  J. 

W.  Gill,  the  Kiles,  and  others.    K.  A.  McDonald  and  Wm. 

Scovell  have  already  been  alluded  to,  while  among  other 

early  comers  may  be  mentioned  John  Kenter,  H.  Weeks, 

the  Kiles,  Henry  Smith,  Philetas  Purdy,  R.  M.  Moore, 

William  Plummer,  William  Cummings,  J.  S.  Grouse,  and 

F.  Schultz. 

DOUGLAS  VILLAGE. 

The  first  settlers  upon  the  site  of  Douglas  village,  and 
indeed  the  first  settlers  in  Saugatuck  township  on  that  side 
the  lake,  were  R.  A.  McDonald  and  William  Scovill,  who, 
in  1847,  settled  upon  land  in  section  16,  located  for  them 
the  year  before  by  M.  B.  Spencer.  That  was,  however, 
long  before  the  village  of  Douglas  was  even  thought  of. 
Mr"  Scovill  is  dead,  but  Mr.  McDonald  still  lives  on  section 
22.  The  first  effort  towards  creating  a  village  at  that  point 
was  made  by  Jonathan  Wade,  in  1851.  He  bought  lot  3 
on  section  16,  built  a  house  thereon,  interested  Wells  and 
Johnson  in  the  project,  and  set  about  building  a  saw-mill 
on  the  site  now  occupied  by  Ebmeyer  &  Neis'  mill.  He 
then  laid  out  a  village  on  the  south  half  of  his  lot,  and 
called  it  Dudleyville,  in  honor  of  his  brother,  Dudley  Wade, 
of  Canada.  Presently,  William  F.  Dutcher  bought  the 
north  half  of  Wade's  lot,  including  the  mill,  and  on  that 
tract  laid  out  a  village,  which  he  named  Douglas  at  the 
suggestion  of  F.  H.  May,  who  wished  thus  to  commemo- 


rate the  town  of  Douglas,  the  capital  of  the  Isle  of  Man. 
Thus  it  appears  there  were  two  villages,  known  as  Douglas 
and  Dudleyville,  separated  only  by  the  width  of  a  single 
street.  By  these  names  they  were  known  until  the  incor- 
poration of  the  entire  tract  as  Douglas,  in  which  were  in- 
cluded, besides  the  two  village  plats,  Spencer's  and  other  ad- 
ditions. 

William  Bush,  who  was  interested  with  Dutcher  in  the 
saw-mill,  opened  a  store  near  the  mill,  the  first  one  in  the 
village.     Shortly  after  1861,  Wade  built  the  tavern  called 
the   Douglas  House,  the   mill  business  began  to  expand, 
Daniel  Gerber  started  the  tannery  now  owned  by  Wallin 
&  Sons,  and  the  locality  soon  began  to  assume  a  village- 
like appearance,  although  in  1861   the  families  were  still 
but  few  in  number.     The  building,  by  H.  F.  Marsh,  of  the 
saw-mill  now  owned  by  H.  B.  Moore,  materially  aided  the 
advancement  of  the  village,  but  it  was  not  until  the  region 
round  about  began  to  develop  as  a  rich  fruit-country  that 
Douglas  attained  decided  prominence.    Since  that  time  the 
village  has  been  an  important  shipping-point  for  fruit  as 
well  as  lumber,  and,  although  the  latter  interest  is  declin- 
ing, the  former  is  destined  to  remain  permanently  valuable. 
The  village   now  has  two  stores,  kept  respectively  by 
Thomas  Gray  and  D.  C.  Putnam.     Mr.  Putnam  was  ap- 
pointed the  postmaster  at  Douglas  when  a  post-office  was 
established  there,  in  1868,  and  has  held  the  position  from 
that  time  until  this.     The  town  contains  a  fine  Masonic 
hall,  a  union  school,  two  churches,  two  large  saw-mills,  a 
tannery,  a  basket-factory,  a  grist-mill,  and   the   ordinary 
minor  village  industries. 

The  oldest  settlers  now  living  in  the  village  are  M.  B. 
Spencer  and  John  Ryan,  who  became  residents  in  1861. 

LAWYERS  AND  DOCTOKS. 

David  McLean,  the  first  physician  of  Douglas,  opened 
his  office  in  1864,  and  practiced  until  1879,  being  the  only 
doctor  in  the  village.  Upon  Dr.  McLean's  retirement.  Dr. 
A.  H.  Parks,  the  present  resident  physician,  took  posses- 
sion of  the  field. 

W.  A.  Woodworth,  the  only  lawyer  who  has  ever  resided 
in  the  village,  located  there  in  1876,  and  is  still  in  business 
there. 

VILLAGE   INCOKPOEATION. 

During  August  and  September,  1870,  the  citizens  of 
Douglas  met  several  times  to  consider  the  matter  of  in- 
corporating the  village,  and  appointed  C.  A.  Ensign,  D.  W. 
Wiley,  and  David  Porter,  Sr.,  an  executive  committee  on 
the  subject.  Upon  the  prayer  of  the  citizens  the  village 
was  incorporated  by  the  supervisors,  on  the  14th  of  October, 
1870,  and  C.  A.  Ensign,  D.  C.  Putnam,  and  D.  Gerber  were 
appointed  inspectors  of  election.  At  the  first  election,  held 
Dec.  5, 1870,  at  D.  Gerber's  office,  the  total  number  of  votes 
cast  was  41.  The  names  of  those  chosen  annually  to  serve 
as  president,  trustees,  clerk,  and  treasurer  are  as  follows : 

tSTO.-President,  C.  A.  Ensign;  Trustees,  M.  B.  Spencer,  Homer 
Manvil,  D.  "W.  Wiley,  Thomas  Gray,  D.  Gerber,  and  T.  B. 
Dutcher;  Clerk,  D.  C.  Putnam;  Treasurer,  Crawford  Mo- 
Donald. 

1871.— President,  D.  W.  Wiley ;  Trustees,  J.  S.  Crouse,  Geo.  N.  Wade, 
J.  S.  Owen  ;  Clerk,  John  Kirby ;  Treasurer,  L.  A.  Upson. 


332 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


1872.— President,  D.  W.  Wiley;  Trustees,  J.  S.  Owen,  Thomas  Gray, 

Crawford  McDonald;  Clerk,  John  Kirby;  Treasurer,  Jos. 

Gerber. 
1873. — President,'  Beuben    Smith;    Trustees,  Danl.   Gerber,    Eobert 

Moore,  J.  S.  Crouse ;  Clerk,  John  Kirby ;  Treasurer,  Thomas 

Gray. 
1874. — President,  Thos.  Gray;  Trustees,  J.  S.  Owen,  Banl.  McLean, 

J.  S.  Payne;  Clerk,  John   Kirby;  Treasurer,  D.  W.  Wiley. 
1875. — President,  Thos.  Gray;  Trustees,  M.  B.  Spencer,  Wm.  Plum- 

mer,  Geo.  Sams;    Clerk,   John    Kirby;    Treasurer,   Thos. 

Gray. 
1876. — President,  D.  McLean  ;  Trustees,  Danl.  Gerber,  D.  Porter,  H. 

Walbreight;  Clerk,  D.  C.  Putnam;  Treasurer,  D.  McLean. 
1877. — President,  D.  McLean ;    Trustees,  P.  Foley,  Wm.  Plummer, 

M.  B.  Spencer;  Clerk,  John  Kirby;  Treasurer,  D.  McLean. 
1878.— President,  W.  S.  Gill;  Trustees,  D.  McLean,  Saml.  Reid,  J.  S. 

Crouse;  Clerk,  John  Kirby;  Treasurer,  D.  McLean, 
1879.— President,  J.  S.  Payne ;  Trustees,  F.  C.  Kile,  D.  C.  Putnam, 

W.  S.  Gill;  Clerk,  N.  C.  Firman  ;  Treasurer,  D.  McLean. 

CHUKCHES. 
THE  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH  OF  DOUGLAS. 

This  religious  body  had  its  origin  in  what  was  known  as 
the  Newark  Class,  formed  in  1862,  which  had  a  member- 
ship of  ten  persons,  and  was  attached  to  the  Newark  Cir- 
cuit. Among  the  first  members  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wade, 
Mrs.  Carmon,  Mrs.  Butcher,  Marshal  Dye,  Mrs.  Deitrich, 
Nelson  Wade  and  wife,  and  Geo.  Dunn.  Geo.  Dunn  was 
the  first  class-leader,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bliss  the  first  pastor; 
The  village  school-house,  which  was  at  first  used  for  services, 
was  replaced,  in  1870,  by  the  present  church  edifice, — the 
only  one  in  Douglas. 

Latterly  membership  of  the  church  has  become  quite 
small,  although  the  numerous  revival  meetings  held  during 
the  past  winter  have  reinvigorated  it  to  a  considerable 
degree.  Divine  services  and  sessions  of  the  Sabbath- 
sehool  are  held  every  Sunday.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev. 
N.  M.  Steele,  and  the  class-leader  is  Robert  Elliott. 

THE    SEVENTH-DAY  ADVENTISTS. 

During  the  year  1874,  Elder  Kenyon,  of  Monterey, 
visited  Douglas  and  organized  an  Advent  Church  of  16 
members  at  the  house  of  David  McCulIom.  At  that  time 
William  Burnet  was  appointed  leader,  and  has  served  in 
that  capacity  to  the  present  time.  Robert  Reid,  who  was 
chosen  the  first  deacon,  sfill  occupies  that  office.  Public 
worship  has  been  observed  regularly  every  Saturday  since 
the  organization.  Until  1879  various  temporary  places 
were  occupied  for  this  purpose,  but  during  that  year  a  build- 
ing in  the  village  was  purchased  and  transformed  into  a 
convenient  church  edifice.  The  membership  is  now  about 
40.  The  Sabbath-school,  in  charge  of  Robert  Reid,  as 
superintendent,  was  organized  in  1878,  and  has  an  average 
attendance  of  2&. 

DUTCHEB  LODGE,  No.  193,  ¥.  AND  A.  M. 
This  body  was  organized  under  dispensation,  April  9, 
1866,  and  chartered  Jan.  10,  1867.  The  first  officers 
were  Thos.  B.  Dutcher,  W.  M. ;  H.  H.  Stimpson,  S.  W. ; 
and  James  G.  Williams,  J.  W.  The  membership  has  been 
as  high  as  80,  but  stands  now  at  64,  Saugatuck  Lodge 
having  been  demitted  in  1876.  In  1875  the  lodge  built 
the  Masonic  hall  in  Douglas  at  a  cost  of  $1400,  in  which 
it  now  has  commodious  and  handsome  quarters.     The  pres- 


ent officers  are  W.  S.  Gill,  W.  M. ;  F.  C.  Kile,  S.  W. ; 
S.  C.  Reid,  J.  W. ;  T.  C.  Gray,  Sec. ;  M.  B.  Spencer, 
Treas.;  Anthony  Slack,  S.  D. ;  W.  T.  Hoy,  J.  D. ;  L. 
Ewald,  Tyler. 

THE  DOUGLAS  RED  EIBBON  CLUB. 
The  Red  Ribbon  Club  was  organizedin  1876  with  about 
100  active  members,  who  chose  Dr.  McLean  president. 
Regular  meetings  are  held  weekly,  when  interesting  exer- 
cises are  offered  as  a  public  entertainment.  The  active 
membership  is  now  reduced  to  20,  although  the  rolls  carry 
the  names  of  five  times  that  number.  The  officers  are  A. 
W.  Woodworth,  President;  Sarah  Gill,  Secretary;  and 
Henry  Bird,  Treasurer. 

TOWNSHIP  OEGANIZATION. 

Under  an  act  of  the  Legislature  in  1836,  organizing 
townships,  the  township  of  Newark  was  created,  and  then 
included  the  territory  now  occupied  by  Laketown,  Sauga- 
tuck, Ganges,  Casco,  Fillmore,  Manlius,  Clyde,  and  Lee, 
or  the  whole  of  ranges  15  and  16  west,  and  the  fractional 
range  17  west.*  The  first  supervisor  of  Newark  appears  to 
have  been  Daniel  A.  Plummer.  The  township  records 
antedating  1847  were  destroyed  by  fire,  and  what  has  been 
gleaned  from  them  refers  of  course  to  events  subsequent  to 
that  year.  In  1847  the  votes  cast  aggregated  but  29  ;  in 
1853  they  rose  to  38  ;  in  1854  to  97  ;  in  1856  to  157  ;  and 
in  1858  to  186.  In  1863  there  was  a  still  further  increase 
to  201,  but  in  1864  the  number  declined  to  98.  In  1865 
it  leaped  up  to  213  ;  in  1867  it  reached  266  ;  and  in  1870, 
313. 

We  give  below  the  names  of  those  who  have  served  as 
supervisors,  clerks,  treasurers,  and  justices  of  the  peace  from 
1847  to  1879. 

SUPERVISORS. 
1847-52,  S.  A.  Morrison;  1853-64,  E.  M.  Dibble;  1855-60,  S.  A. 
Morrison;  1861,  F.  B.  Wallin  ;  1862-64,t  T.  S.  Coates;  1865,  B. 
F.  Schanck;  1866,  T.  S.  Coates;  1867,  R.  Dunning;  1868-69,  S. 
A.  Morrison;  1870,  T.  B.  Dutcher;  1871-72,  S.  A.  Morrison; 
1873-79,  Thomas  Gray. 

TOWNSHIP  CLERKS. 
1847-48,  H.R.  Seymour;  1849-62,  Lorenzo  Weed;  1853-60,  A.  W. 
Coates;  1861-62,  H.  R.  Ellis;  1863-64,  T.  B.  Dutcher;  ISe.'i,  S. 
Johnson;  1866,  H.  Manvel;  1867,  J.  H.  Porter;  1868-69,  S.  D. 
Nichols;  1870,  D.  C.  Putnam;  1871-72,  S.  D.  Nichols;  1873-76 
R.  B.  Newnham ;  1877-78,  D.  C.  Putnam  ;  1879,  A.  B.  Taylor.  ' 

TREASURERS. 
1847,  Lyman  Fish;  1848-51,  M.  B.  Spencer;  1852,  S.  D.  Nichols; 
1853-58,  J.  C.  Haile;  1859-60,  Warren  Cook;  1861-64,  S.  A. 
Morrison;  1865,  T.  B.  Dutcher;  1866,  P.  B.  Wallin;  1867,  Dan- 
iel Gerber;  1868-73,  J.  G.Williams;  1874,  J.  G.  Williams ;  1875- 
76,  W.  S.  Gill;  1877-78,  A.  B.  Taylor;  1879,  R.  B.  Ames. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 
1847,  H.  B.  Seymour;  1848,  William  Carley;  1849,  T.  S.  Coates; 
1850,  J.  E.  Rowe;  1851,  J.  C.  Haile;  1852,  J.G.Rutgers;  1863, 
A.  S.  Wells  ;  1854,  E.  M.  Dibble ;  1866,  J.  C.  Haile ;  1856,  War- 
ren Cook;  1857,  John  Nerkin ;  1858,  M.B.Spencer;  1859,  J. 
C.  Haile ;  1860,  George  N.  Dutcher ;  1861,  J.  H.  Billings ;  1862, 
M.  B.  Spencer ;  1863,  J.  Kenter ;  1864,  T.  S.  Coates ;  1866,  F. 


*  For  the  date  of  the  establishment  of  the  various  townships  formed 
from  Newark,  now  Saugatuck,  see  Chapter  XII.  in  the  general  history, 
t  Township  name  changed  to  Saugatuck  in  1863. 


m 


o 


H 


SAUGATUCK  TOWNSHIP. 


333 


B.  WalUn;  1866,  T.  B.  Butcher;  1867,  H.  H.  Stimaon;  1868, 
SamuelJohnson;  1869,  B.  W.  Hewitt;  1870,  F.  B.  Wallin ;  1871, 
E.  B.  Newnham;  1872,  M.  B.  Spencer;  1873,  S.  D.  Nichols; 
1874,N.C.  Eirmin;  1875,  R.  B.  Newnham  ;  1876,  M.  B.  Spencer; 
1877,  F.  B.  Wallin  ;  1878,  N.  C.  Firmin  ;  1879,  R.  B.  Newnham. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  first  school  of  which  there  appears  to  be  any  present 
recollection  was  taught  on  section  4,  upon  the  east  bank  of 
the  river,  and  not  far  from  Singapore ;  but  who  was  the 
teacher  cannot  now  be  learned.  There  was,  after  that,  a 
private  school  in  Saugatuck,  taught  by  Miss  Jane  Powers, 
but  touching  that  as  well  as  other  early  schools  in  the  town- 
ship but  little  can  be  said,  since  the  early  school  records 
were  burned  many  years  ago. 

At  present  the  township  is  generally  well  supplied  with 
excellent  schools,  Douglas  and  Saugatuck  each  having  a  fine 
graded  school  with  a  combined  accommodation  for  about 
500  pupils.  The  following  statistics  in  regard  to  the  public 
schools  are  given  in  an  official  report  for  the  year  1879  : 

Number  of  districts 5 

Enrollment 618 

Average  attendance 536 

Value  of  property $17,700 

Teachers'  wages $2,708 

There  are  also  four  fractional  school  districts  in  the  town- 
ship, with  an  aggregate  of  40  school  children. 

The  school  directors  for  1879  were  H.  B.  Moore,  W.  A. 
Woodworth,  James  Perry,  William  Gumming,  and  L.  Har- 
rington. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


HORACE  D.  MOORE. 

The  life  of  Horace  D.  Moore  is  the  record  of  a  successful 
business  man  whose  conquests  were  the  result  not  so  much 
of  favorable  circumstances  as  of  sagacity  combined  with 
untiring  energy.  He  is  the  grandson  of  Rev.  Robert  M. 
Moore,  who  was  educated  for  the  ministry  in  Edinburgh, 
Scotland,  and  whose  diploma  reveals  the  year  1610  as  the 
date  of  his  graduation.  He  came  to  the  United  States,  and 
for  many  years  filled  the  Presbyterian  pulpit  at  Pembroke, 
N.  H.  Horace  D.  was  born  at  Ryegate,  Caledonia  Co., 
Vt.,  June  14,  1821,  his  parents  having  been  Nathaniel  and 
Dorothy  Moore,  and  his  father's  occupation  that  of  a  lum- 
berman and  farmer.  His  mother  was  descended  from  the 
family  of  Banfords,  of  English  extraction,  who  were  among 
the  early  settlers  in  Sanbornton,  N.  H.,  and  closely  identi- 
fied with  its  primitive  history  and  the  Indian  warfare  of 
early  days.  The  estate  is  still  in  the  possession  of  the 
family.  It  is  thus  determined  that  the  name  of  Moore  is 
one  which  bears  with  it  the  record  of  a  distinguished  an- 
cestry. 

Horace  D.,  whose  life,  though  in  a  measure  uneventful, 
was  still  one  of  conspicuous  success,  began  his  career  as  a 
tanner,  but  soon  relinquished  the  pursuit  as  not  congenial 
to  his  tastes.  At  the  age  of  eighteen,  with  his  worldly 
effects  wrapped  in  a  small  bundle,  he  crossed  one  of  the 
Green  Mountain  ridges  and  engaged  at  labor  in  a  saw-  and 


shingle-mill.  In  1841  he  changed  his  location,  though  fol- 
lowing the  same  pursuit.  His  duties  became  more  ardu- 
ous, and  admitted  of  little  leisure.  Breakfast  was  eaten  at 
half-past  three  o'clock,  dinner  at  one,  and  supper  at  nine 
o'clock.  Mr.  Moore,  with  untiring  perseverance  and  forti- 
tude, endured  this  trying  ordeal  for  four  years,  after  which 
he  removed  to  Monroe,  N.  H.  In  1846  he  managed  a 
milling  interest  at  Springfield,  Mass.,  and  in  1847,  in  con- 
nection with  Gen.  Roswell  M.  Richardson,  embarked  in  an 
extensive  lumbering  business,  the  firm  having  been  Rich- 
ardson &  Moore.  In  closing  this  successful  enterprise  in 
1854,  their  ledger  revealed  a  profit  to  the  partners  of 
fifty  thousand  dollars,  and  six  thousand  four  hundred  acres 
of  pine-land  paid  for.  Mr.  Moore  then  engaged  in  specu- 
lations in  produce,  which  were  not  successful.  In  1855  he 
was  an  extensive  purchaser  of  hemlock  bark,  which  enabled 
him  to  restore  the  losses  suffered  from  former  transactions, 
and  secure  in  addition  a  handsome  profit. 

The  year  1855  found  him  a  traveler  in  the  West,  still 
actively  engaged  in  business  pursuits.  The  former  lumber- 
ing enterprise  having  proved  successful,  Mr.  Moore  was  in 
1856  induced  to  invest  capital  in  Allegan  County,  and  the 
following  year  began  in  Saugatuck  an  extensive  lumber  and 
manufacturing  interest.  This  he  continued  until  the  spring 
of  1875,  having  cut  more  than  two  hundred  million  feet  of 
timber  and  employed  many  tugs  and  vessels  as  an  accom- 
paniment of  the  business.  Upon  abandoning  the  latter  en- 
terprise, Mr.  Moore  devoted  his  time  to  farming  pursuits, 
having  three  improved  farms  to  oversee,  besides  a  large 
quantity  of  land  in  Wisconsin  and  Illinois,  and  property  of 
various  kinds  elsewhere. 

Mr.  Moore  is  not  less  remarkable  for  his  business 
capacity  than  for  his  integrity.  He  has  never  been  known 
to  fail  in  the  payment  of  all  his  indebtedness,  believing  that 
honest  debts  should  be  liquidated  upon  the  basis  of  one 
hundred  cents  to  the  dollar.  Neither  at  any  time  has  a 
note  of  his  been  known  to  go  to  protest.  He  is  not  an  en- 
thusiastic politician,  though  a  strong  Republican,  as  he  has 
been  since  the  organization  of  the  party.  He  is  a  man  of 
temperate  habits,  and  advocates  temperance  in  all  things, 
being  in  no  sense  an  extremist. 

Mr.  Moore  was  married  June  16,  1864,  to  Miss  Tamer 
W.  Phillips,  of  Clyde,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  who  is  a  native 
of  Cass  County.  Her  parents  were  former  residents  of  New 
York  State,  and  pioneers  to  Allegan  when  their  daughter 
was  but  eleven  years  of  age,  having  first  located  in  Cass 
County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moore  have  had  four  daughters, 
one  of  whom  was  a  victim  to  scarlet  fever  at  an  early  age. 
This  concise  sketch  illustrates  in  a  remarkable  degree  the 
success  which  is  possible  as  the  result  of  integrity  coupled 
with  energy.  Having  began  his  career  with  these  as  his 
only  capital,  Mr.  Moore  is  now  the  most  considerable  tax- 
payer in  Allegan  County. 


STEPHEN  A.   MORRISON. 

Amonc  the  venerable  pioneers  of  Saugatuck  the  name  of 
Morrison  is  conspicuous.  Stephen  A.,  the  subject  of  this 
biography,  was  a  settler  as  early  as  1837,  and  became  im- 


334 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BAKKY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


mediately  after  his  advent  closely  identified  with  the  inter- 
ests of  the  township.  He  was  the  oldest  son  of  Stephen 
Morrison,  who  still  survives  and  is,  in  his  ninety-third 
year,  yet  vigorous  and  active.  Stephen  A.  was  born  in 
Danvers,  Mass.,  May  18,  1815,  and  spent  most  of  his 
early  life  in  labor,  though  at  disconnected  intervals  oppor- 
tunities for  study  occurred. 

At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  acquired  the  trade  of  a  tanner, 
having  served  a  weary  apprenticeship  of  four  years,  after 
which  his  steps  were  turned  towards  Michigan.  On  his 
arrival  in  Saugatuck  but  four  families  inhabited  the  town- 
ship, which-  was  destitute  alike  of  highways  and  other 
marks  of  civilization.  The  following  year,  in  company 
with  Samuel  Morrison,  his  brother,  a  tannery  was  started, 
which  was  ultimately  controlled  by  Stephen  A.,  and  has,  to 
the  present  day,  been  profitably  and  successfully  conducted 


by  him.  In  1853  a  disastrous  fire  entailed  a  heavy  loss, 
though  the  energy  of  Mr.  Morrison  very  speedily  enabled 
him  to  recuperate. 

He  was  married  in  1844  to  Mary  E.,  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Sophia  Peckham,  whose  birthplace  was  Ver- 
mont, and  the  date  of  her  birth  Aug.  31,  1816.  Of 
their  five  children,  but  two  daughters  are  living, — Mrs. 
Leland,  who  resides  with  her  parents,  and  Mrs.  Francis, 
who  is  a  resident  of  the  village.  The  original  home  has 
long  since  been  replaced  by  a  more  spacious  and  convenient 
one,  a  view  of  which  is  seen  upon  an  adjoining  page.  Mr. 
Morrison  has  held  successively  the  offices  of  county  treasurer 
and  supervisor,  and  has  been  for  twenty  years  postmaster  of 
his  village.  His  constituents  have  also  tendered  him  on 
more  than  one  occasion  the  nomination  for  senator  and 
representative  in  the  State  Legislature. 


WILLIAM    CORNER. 


MRS.    WILLIAM   CORNER. 


WILLIAM  COKNEK. 


Mr.  Corner  was  the  only  child  of  Hugh  and  Sarah  Cor- 
ner, subjects  of  the  British  Crown,  and  was  born  in  the 
county  of  Devon,  England,  Dec.  14,  1819.  William,  until 
he  reached  the  age  of  manhood,  remained  at  home,  after 
which  he  married  Miss  Mary  Ann  Goodeve,  the  date  of 
their  union  having  been  Feb.  10,  1841.  Two  children 
were  theirs, — Eliza  J.,  born  in  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb. 
14,  1842 ;  and  Khoda  R.,  whose  birth  occurred  Feb.  26, 
1845,  and  her  death  in  September  of  the  following  year. 
Soon  after  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Corner  sailed  for 
America,  and  on  their  arrival  located  at  once  in  Genesee 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  followed  the  trade  of  a  cooper.  After 
later  changes  in  location  he  determined  to  become  a  pioneer, 
and  chose  Michigan  as  a  residence,  having  removed  to  the 
State  in  1852.     He  purchased  one  hundred  acres  in  the 


township  of  Saugatuck,  upon  which  he  still  resides.  Hav- 
ing in  1862  been  afflicted  by  the  death  of  his  wife,  after 
a  h'ngering  illness,  Mr.  Corner  married,  in  1864,  Miss  Lo- 
rain Bathrick,  who  was  born  in  Wyoming  Co.,  N.  Y.  in 
1834.  He  has  devoted  much  labor  to  the  cultivation  of 
fruit,  and  made  peaches  a  specialty.  Six  thousand  bearing 
trees  now  adorn  his  farm,  which  is  one  of  the  most  attrac- 
tive in  the  township. 

Mr.  Corner  is  not  an  active  political  partisan.  He  votes 
the  Republican  ticket,  and  has  held  minor  offices,  but  is 
not  ambitious  for  distinctions  of  an  official  character.  He 
is  a  man  of  strong  religious  instincts,  is  active  as  a  church 
member,  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath-school,  and  directs 
the  church  music,  for  which  his  musical  abilities  admirably 
fit  him. 


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JACOB  GEOVEE 


was  born  in  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  6,  1808.  His  early- 
life  was  spent  on  the  farm  assisting  his  father.  In  1834  he 
came  to  Comstock,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.  In  the  early  set- 
tlement of  the  State  much  sickness  prevailed.  Mr.  Grover 
did  not  escape  this.  After  one  year's  stay  here,  finding  his 
health  in  a  precarious  condition,  he  returned  to  his  native 
State.  In  1836  he  had  improved  so  much  that  he  returned  to 
Michigan,  locating  in  Allegan,  where  he  engaged  in  mill- 
wrighting.  After  putting  up  some  buildings  at  Plainwell,  he, 
in  company  with  others,  went  to  Black  Lake,  put  up  buildings 
of  various  kinds,  intending  to  lay  out  a  village;  but  before 
the  end  of  the  year  the  party  found  the  project  a  failure,  tore 
down  the  buildings,  and  shipped  the  lumber  and  machinery  to 
Chicago.  Mr.  Grover  then  went  to  the  mouth  of  the  Kala- 
mazoo Kiver,  and  assisted  in  erecting  the  first  light-house 
ever  built  there.  He  has  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  time  in 
mechanical  work,  such  as  constructing  houses,  mills,  and 
ships,  and  has  worked  at  this  employment  in  Michigan,  Illi- 
nois, Mississippi,  Louisiana,  and  Minnesota.  In  Michigan 
he  was  engaged  erecting  saw-mills  and  farm  buildings  of 
various  kinds,  being  employed  by  a  Now  York  and  Michigan 
firm.  In  Mississippi  he  stopped  at  Grand  Gulf,  being  first 
employed  by  Hugh  M.  Cofl'ee ;  from  there  he  went  to  what  was 
known  as  the  Concord  plantation,  owned  by  Judge  Perkins; 
here  he  built  negro  cabins.  His  -next  work  was  on  the  planta- 
tion of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  building  a  large  gin-house. 
Going  thence  to  Illinois  he  was  detained  by  a  severe  spell  of 
typhoid  fever,  but  was  enabled  to  go  to  work  again  in  the 
fall.  Keturning  to  Louisiana,  he  was  employed  on  the  plan- 
tation of- J.  A.  Douglas  (brother  of  Stephen  A:).  In  1842 
left  the  South,  going  through  Illinois,  where  he  remained  two 
years,  and  landed  in  Michigan  in  1844,  engaging  for  the  two 
coming  years  in  business  with  Mr.  Porter.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  he  sold  out  to  Porter,  and  bought  forty  acres  of  land 
on  section  8,  Trowbridge  township.  The  following  spring 
he  purchased  iorty  acres  more  on  the  same  section,  buying 


this  land  of  a  Boston  Company  at  four  dollars  per  acre.  Not 
willing  yet  to  give  up  his  trade  he  worked  in  Allegan,  Breeds- 
ville,  Plummerville,  and  in  Kalamazoo  County.  In  1849  he 
purchased  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  land,  improving  it 
by  clearing,  and  building  a  small  house.  In  1853  he  sold  this 
to  John  Clifford,  and  engaged  again  in  mechanical  pursuits 
during  a  part  of  the  years  of  1853  and  1854.  He  now  de- 
cided to  revisit  his  native  State.  After  a  stay  of  a  few  weeks 
he  returned  West,  traveling  through  Iowa  and  several  other 
Western  States,  looking  the  country  over  before  making  an- 
other purchase.  He  finally  decided  upon  coming  again  to 
Michigan,  where,  in  the  latter  part  of  1854,  he  purchased 
three  hundred  and  sixty-one  acres  in  Trowbridge  township. 
In  1855  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  eighteen  acres  known 
as  the  Benn  place,  but  sold  this  the  same  year  to  Benjamin 
T.  Benn.  Mr.  Grover  has  made  Trowbridge  his  home  since 
1856.  Mr.  Grover  considers  a  large  mill  in  Minnesota, 
erected  in  1856,  the  best  piece  of  work  ever  put  up  by  him. 
Since  1858  his  entire  time  has  been  spent  in  the  improvement 
of  his  farm.  No  man,  perhaps,  has  done  more  towards  the 
improvement  of  the  county  than  Mr.  Grover.  In  politics  he 
has  been  a  Republican  since  the  organization  of  the  party. 
He  has  been  honored  by  the  people  with  offices  of  trust  and 
responsibility,  and  proved  himself  a  competent  officer.  In 
an  early  day  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  his  county. 

Mr.  Jacob  Grover's  father  and  mother,  Andrew  and  Mary 
Grover,  never  came  West.  They  were  both  born  in  Sussex 
Co.,  N.  J.,  and  both  died  in  New  York.  Their  family  con- 
sisted of  nine  children, — six  boys  and  three  girls, — three 
brothers  and  one  sister  living  in  Michigan,  the  others  in  New 
York.  Mr.  Grover  has  never  been  married,  and  now  at  the 
age  of  seventy-oile  years  he  can  quietly  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his 
industrious,  honest,  faithful,  and  temperate  life.  What  a'- 
pleasure  it  must  be  to  he  who,  in  the  afternoon  of  life,  can 
review  one  so  well  spent  and  feel  that  the  world  is  better 
because  he  has  lived  in  it  I 


TROWBRIDGE; 


NATURAL   FEATURES   AND   AGRICULTURAL 
PRODUCTIONS. 

Trowbridge  is  known  on  the  United  States  survey  as 
township  No.  1  north,  of  range  13  west,  and  is  bounded  on 
the  north  by  Allegan,  south  by  Van  Buren  County,  east 
by  Otsego,  and  west  by  Cheshire.  It  contains  many  pic- 
turesque lakes,  and  is  well  watered  by  numerous  small 
streams,  besides  which  the  storied  Kalamazoo  makes  its 
entrance  on  the  east  line  of  section  12  and  flows  westward, 
turns  suddenly  to  the  north,  and  then  again  to  the  west, 
finally  leaving  the  township  on  the  north  line  of  section  5. 

This  attractive  stream,  the  beauties  of  which  have  been 
so  graphically  described  by  the  facile  pen  of  Fenimore 
Cooper,  loses  none  of  its  charms  as  it  flows  to  the  north- 
ward. Its  border-lands  are  fertile,  and  its  banks  attract  the 
eye  of  the  traveler  by  their  weird  and  romantic  beauty  as 
they  did  in  the  days  when  the  Indian  plied  his  canoe,  un- 
conscious of  the  changes  which  civilization  was  to  bring. 
The  largest  of  the  lakes  of  Trowbridge,  which  vary  greatly 
in  size  and  shape,  is  that  lying  farthest  south,  and  known 
as  Base  Line  Lake,  a  part  of  which  is  on  sections  32  and 
33  in  this  township,  while  the  reinainder  is  in  Van  Buren 
County.  Northwest  of  it  is  Emerson  Lake,  a  picturesque 
sheet  of  water,  lying  principally  on  sections  29  and  30. 
Besides  these,  the  principal  bodies  of  water  are  Minckler 
Lake,  on  section  28;  Lake  No.  16,  called  after  the  section 
on  which  it  lies,  and  remarkable  for  the  luxuriance  of  the 
foliage  along  its  shore;  Osgood  Lake,  on  section  16, with  a 
small  point  invading  the  section  south  of  it;  and  Hodge 
Lake,  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  township.  Pish  of 
various  size  abound  in  these  lakes,  and  many  pleasure-boats 
float  upon  their  smooth  and  transparent  waters. 

The  surface  of  Trowbridge  is  quite  varied,  many  slopes 
and  ridges  being  seen,  although  the  inequalities  are  not 
generally  so  abrupt  as  to  offer  serious  impediments  to  the 
labor  of  the  husbandman.  Some  swampy  land  is  found  in 
its  territory,  though  less  than  in  many  other  parts  of 
the  county,  while  through  the  central,  eastern,  and  west- 
ern portions  is  a  tract  of  level  land,  arable,  highly  culti- 
vated, and  extending  nearly  across  the  township. 

The  soil  is  of  almost  every  variety  and  quality,  including 
clay-loam,  sand,  swamp-muck,  and  a  mixture  of  clay  and 
gravel.  The  average  is  quite  equal  to  that  of  the  best 
townships  of  the  county,  most  of  it  rewarding  with  excel- 
lent crops  the  labors  of  the  husbandman.  A  large  portion 
of  the  land  is  well  adapted  to  the  raising  of  wheat,  and  has 
produced  crops  of  that  grain,  which,  bo.th  as  to  quantity 
and  quality,  place  Trowbridge  in  a  high  rank  among  wheat- 
growing  townships.     Corn  also  attains  a  luxuriant  growth, 


and  grass  is  a  staple  product.  In  1873  there  were  1397 
acres  sown  with  wheat  and  1200  acres  planted  with  corn, 
which  produced  16,555  bushels  of  the  former  grain,  and 
30,150  of  the  latter.  Of  other  grains  there  were  13,439 
bushels.  In  the  following  year  the  area  sown  with  wheat 
was  increased  to  1842  acres. 

The  timber  of  Trowbridge  includes  all  the  varieties  usu- 
ally found  in  Michigan.  Beech  and  maple  prevail,  while 
along  the  shores  of  the  Kalamazoo  and  on  the  western 
border  of  the  township  are  found  considerable  pine  and  a 
small  quantity  of  hemlock,  though  in  much  less  quantities 
than  formerly.  In  the  swamps  flourish  the  tamarack  and 
other  similar  species  of  trees. 

The  citizens  of  the  township  have  not  engaged  extensively 
in  fruit-culture,  though  the  soil,  climate,  and  location  would 
warrant  a  larger  investment  of  capital  in  that  direction. 
The  residences  of  the  farmers  are  comfortable  and  substan- 
tial, Without  any  attempt  at  display  or  luxury.  Trowbridge 
has  no  village  within  its  limits,  but  the  close  proximity  of  its 
citizens  to  Allegan  and  Otsego  and  to  the  railroads  which 
pass  through  these  villages  affords  them  ample  facilities  for 
marketing  their  products  and  obtaining  what  they  may 
need  from  the  outer  world. 

PURCHASES  PROM  GOVERNMENT. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  individuals  who  early 

purchased  land  in  the  township  : 

Section  1. — Bought  in  1835  and  1836  by  Samuel  Brown,  L.  H.  Sand- 
ford,  Saul  Hubbard,  Bradley  Granger,  Benjamin  Eager,  John  W. 


*  By  B.  0.  Wagner. 


Section  2. — Bought  in  1834  and  1835  by  Samuel  Hubbard,  Samuel 
Brown. 

Section  3.— Bought  from  1832  to  1851  by  A.  L.  Cotton,  Irad  Harris, 
Samuel  Hubbard,  Charles  C.  Baker,  Beers  and  Sherwood,  A.  A. 
Williams,  J.  D.  Batchelor,  Daniel  Prindle,  John  R.  Kellogg. 

Section  i. — Bought  in  1834  and  1835  by  A.  H.  Edwards,  Samuel  Hub- 
bard, Cyrus  Lowell,  Alexander  L.  Ely,  Daniel  Bracelin,  James 
Braoelin,  L.  H.  Moore. 

Section  5. — Bought  from  1834  to  1836  by  Seneca  Peake,  Sidney  Smith, 
Edward  Smith,  L.  L.  Prouty,  Churchill  and  Haokley,  A.  S. 
Weeks,  L.  H.  Moore. 

Section  6.— Bought  from  1835  to  1868  by  L.  H.  Moore,  Gil  Bias  Wil- 
cox, M.  Showier,  Eli  Showier,  Samuel  Harvey,  Ely  and  Ely, 
George  Blanchard,  Henry  Kingsbury,  John  Everitt,  E.  G.  Hack- 
ley,  J.  S.  Dunokle,  Mrs.  M.  Pritchard. 

SeclioH  7.— Bought  from  1836  to  1859  by  Hill  and  Cobb,  L.  W.  Wat- 
kins,  J.  G.  Colburn,  George  Blanchard,  Pliny  Billings,  George 
Stone,  E.  and  G.  Hurt,  A.  Jones. 

Section  8. — Bought  in  1835  and  1836  by  Corydon  Weeks,  Samuel 
Hubbard,  L.  S.  Prouty,  Kichard  lalcott  and  Milo  Winslow,  Nel- 
son Sage,  Hubbard  and  Parker. 

Section  9.— Bought  from  1833  to  1836  by  E.  P.  Hastings,  Alexander 
Dale,  A.  L.  Ely,  Samuel  Foster,  Winslow,  Austin,  and  Willard. 

Section  10.— Bought  from  1832  to  1851  by  E.  P.  Hastings,  H.  H.  Corn- 
stock,  Eager  and  Moody,  J.  R.  Kellogg. 

Section  11.— Bought  from  1832  to  1834  by  Nelson  Sage,  H.  H.  Corn- 
stock,  E.  P.  Hastings. 

335 


336 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Section  12. — Bought  from  1832  to  1835  by  Isaac  Barnes,  I.  and  0. 

Barnes,  Redfield  and  Short,  Samuel  Hubbard,  Oka  Town. 
Section  13.— Bought  from  1832  to  1836  by  Isaac  Barnes,  Redfield  and 
Short,  Samuel  Hubbard,  Orin   Hill,  D.   Holden,    H.  Sherwood, 
Cyrus  Smith. 
Section  14.— Bought  in  1832  by  H.  H.  Comstock,  Samuel  Hubbard,  J. 

Crittenden,  Isaac  Barnes,  B.  P.  Hastings. 
Section  15.— Bought  in  1836  by  William  Teall,  Fred  Turner,  George 

Turner,  W.  W.  Carter. 
Section  16.— Bought  from  1839  to  1865  by  G.  M.  Southworth,  William 
Porter,  D.  Foster,  Jacob  Grover,  Allen  Odell,  H.  A.  Wiltrie,  Peter 
Smith,  William  A.  Upson. 
Section  17.— Bought  from  1835  to  1861  by  Samuel    Hubbard,  John 

Askins,  Milo  Winslow,  D.  E.  Hawkins,  John  Cummins. 
Section  18.— Bought  from  1836  to  1858  by  J.  H.  Swezy,  Ralph  Emer- 
son, John  Spaulding,  T.  Wheeler. 
Section  19.- Bought  from  1836  to  1854  by  Trowbridge  and  Parks, 

Ralph  Emerson,  T.  M.  Russell. 
Section  20. — Bought  in  1836  and  1837  by  J.  Crittenden,  Nelson  Sage, 
E.  H.  and  E.  Taylor,  Gilbert  Wilkinson,  J.  and  H.  Weaver,  J. 
H.  Cruse. 
Section  21. — Bought  in  1836  by  J.  Crittenden,  Silas  Boardman,  Hub- 
bard and  Parker. 
Section  22. — Bought  in  1836  by  Artemus  Hunston,  Silas  Boardman> 

Hubbard  and  Parker, 
Section  23. — Bought  in  1835  and  1837  by  Hazadiah  Ross,  Cyrus  Smith, 

Milo  Winslow,  E.  E.  Clark,  Joseph  Bush. 
Section  24. — Bought  from  1835  to  1837  by  John  Orr,  Hazadiah  Ross, 
Nelson  Sage,  Gould  Richardson,  George  Morton,  Milo  Winslow. 
Section   25. — Bought  from  1835  to  1837  by  Martin    Hicks,    Nelson 

Sage,  James  R.  Cary,  Enoch  Ward,  Hiram  Dodge. 
Section   2&. — Bought  in    1836  by  Sage   and   Rancust,  Hubbard  and 

Parker,  S.  C.  Master,  M.  D.  L.  M.  Moore. 
Section  27.— Bought  in  1836  and  1837  by  Hubbard  and  Parker,  M.  D., 

L.  M.  Moore,  Richard  Wear. 
Section  28.— Bought   in   1837   by  Alvin   Niece,   S.  M.  Parke,  Aby 

Brown,  Hiram  Dodge,  Daniel  Prindle. 
Section  29.— Bought  from  1836  to  1851  by  Hubbard  and  Parker,  J.  and 
H.  Weare,  Henry  Wear,  James  Wilson,  Alvin  Niece,  L.  K.  Pratt, 
John  Markle,  A.  M.  Nichols. 
Section  30. — Bought  in  1837  by  Joshua  Weeks,  James  Dawson,  Law- 
rence Keeley,  D.  MoHenry,  Daniel  Emerson,  J.  W.  Grover. 
Section  31.— Bought  from  1837  to  1854  by  Bildad  Brooks,  John  Ferns, 

James  L.  Goshorn,  G.  W.  Rockwell,  E.  S.  Hicks. 
Section  32.— Bought  from  1836  to  1853  by  George   Turner,  Nelson 
Sage,  Benjamin  Pratt,  R.  Rockwell,  B.  S.  Kellogg  (assignee), 
Jacob  Grover. 
Section  33.— Bought  from  1 836  to  1839  by  George  Turner,  Silas  Board- 
man,  James  R.  Cary,  Hubbard  and  Parker,  Deforest  Maurice. 
Section  34.— Bought  in  1836  by  Hubbard  and  Parker,  Gilbert  Wil- 
kinson. 
Section  35. — Bought  in  1836  and  1837  by  Hoyt  and  Porter,  Sarah  Ann 

Castle,  Hubbard  and  Parker,  S.  M.  Parke,  Enoch  Ward. 
Section  36. — Bought  from  1835  to  1853  by  Martin  Hicks,  Spencer 
Clark,  Hubbard  and  Parker,  Gilbert  Wilkinson,  Rebecca  Chap- 
man. 

EAKLY  SETTLEMENTS. 
The  east  and  northwest  portions  of  Trowbridge  first 
aflForded  homes  to  the  pioneers  of  the  township.  Sidney 
Smith  entered  40  acres  in  January,  1835,  and  Leander  S. 
Prouty  88  acres  in  April  of  the  same  year.  Mr.  Prouty, 
as  has  been  stated  in  the  history  of  the  village  of  Allegan, 
came  from  the  East  in  1834,  and  was  employed  by  Alexan- 
der L.  Ely  at  that  place.  The  following  year  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  Trowbridge,  and  made  the  first  clearing 
on  his  land,  upon  which  he  has  resided  from  that  time 
until  the  present.  He  is  still  actively  employed  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  and  is  the  owner  of  portions  of  the  finest 
land  in  the  township.  According  to  Mr.  Prouty's  recol- 
lection, he  is  the  first  settler  in  the  township,  and  this 
is  doubtless  correct.     Sidney  Smith,  it  is  true,  also  made 


the  first  improvements  on  his  tract  in  1835,  and  it  is  quite 
likely  that  he  made  immediate  settlement  after  his  purchase 
in  January,  but,  as  he  was  then  unmarried,  it  is  probable 
that  he  did  not  become  an  actual  resident  of  the  township 
until  the  following  summer.  In  July  of  that  year  he  was 
married,  in  Otsego,  to  Miss  Harriet  Cannon,  and  at  the 
close  of  the  ceremony  he  set  out  with  his  bride  in  a  canoe 
for  their  new  home  on  section  5  in  the  present  township  of 
Trowbridge.  The  marriage  was  performed  by  Oka  Town, 
Esq.,  one  of  the  earliest  justices  of  the  peace  in  Otsego,  in 
which  township  he  still  resides.  Mr.  Smith  devoted  him- 
self with  vigor  to  the  clearing  of  his  land,  but  subsequently 
removed  to  section  9,  where  he  resided  until  his  death. 
One  son  still  resides  in  the  township. 

Alanson  S.  Weeks  also  entered  land  in  1835,  his  pur- 
chase embracing"  66  acres  on  section  5,  and  the  following 
•year  he  made  some  progress  in  its  improvement,  but  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  the  village  of  Allegan.  In  1838  he 
sold  his  tract  of  Niram  Abbott,  who,  in  turn,  disposed  of 
it  to  E.  G.  Hackley,  of  Allegan. 

John  Orr  entered  120  acres  on  section  24  in  1837. 
With  him  came  Matthew  Wiley,  who  purchased  80  acres 
on  section  13.  The  latter  gentleman  was  of  Irish  descent, 
and  had  just  come  from  the  province  of  Canada.  Both 
these  settlers  were  industrious  men,  and  labored  assiduously 
on  their  respective  farms.  Mr.  Orr  resided  on  his  farm 
during  his  lifetime.  Mr.  Wiley  afterwards  moved  to 
Otsego,  where  he  now  lives. 

Dr.  Richard  Wear,  previously  of  Canada,  made  his  way 
to  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  in  1834.  For  two  years  he  devoted 
himself  to  prospecting  for  land,  and  found  an  active  demand 
fronti  speculators  for  his  services.  In  1835  he  was  the  tax 
collector  of  Allegan  township,  which  then  embraced  the 
whole  county.  The  total  amount  of  township,  county,  and 
State  tax  for  that  year,  including  the  tax  levied  to  prose- 
cute the  Toledo  war,  did  not  exceed  $300.  Dr.  Wear  was 
also  the  collector  of  Otsego  in  1836,  when  it  embraced  the 
two  eastern  ranges  of  the  county.*  He  was  likewise  a  mem- 
ber of  the  convention  which  transformed  the  Territory  of 
Michigan  into  a  State.  Dr.  Wear  entered,  in  1836,  80  acres 
on  section  27,  for  which  he  paid  $100,  his  nearest  neighbor 
being  several  miles  distant,  in  Van  Buren  County.  He 
was  the  first  pioneer  who  cleared  the  forests  of  the  southern 
portion  of  the  township.  The  doctor's  first  effort  was  to 
secure  a  shelter  for  temporary  occupancy.  From  the 
material  afforded  by  a  whiteash  tree  he  built  a  wigwam,  in 
which  he  led  the  life  of  a  hermit,  depending  only  on  the 
labor  of  his  own  hands.  He  then  chopped  and  burned  a 
sufficient  tract  upon  which  to  grow  corn  and  potatoes  for 
his  own  use.  Later,  he  built  a  more  comfortable  log  house, 
to  which  he  brought  his  wife  and  family.  He  exchanged 
this  farm  for  the  one  on  which  he  now  resides.  The  In- 
dians, who  were  then  numerous  throughout   the  locality, 

*  We  append  the  following  receipt,  given  by  the  treasurer  to  Dr. 
Wear,  as  a  reminiscence  of  the  pioneer  period:  "Beev*  of  Riohard 
Wear  six  dollars  and  ninety-eight  cents,  to  apply  on  the  county  tax 
for  Otsego,  for  which  he  is  oollecter ;  Also  his  Tax-Bill,  as  returned 
not  collected,  to  the  amount  of  one  hundred  fifty-three  dollars  and 
forty  cents.  For  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  thirty-six. 

"Allegan,  Feb.  8,  1837. 

"M.  Winslow,  Treasurer." 


Photos,  by  C.  G.  Agrell,  Allegan,  Mich. 


MRS.   ABIGAIL   ROSE. 


HARVBT   ROSE. 


MRS.  ABIGAIL  ROSE  AND  HAEVBY  ROSE. 


At  the  top  of  this  page  can  be  seen  the  portraits  of  Mrs.  Abigail 
Kose  and  her  son,  Harvey  Eoee.  Mrs.  Rose  was  born  Feb.  29,  1804, 
in  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Asa  and  Sarah 
Luddington.  Was  married,  Dec.  31, 1826,  to  David  Rose,  who  was  bom 
in  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  T.,  April  2.^,  1799.  This  marriage  took  place  in 
the  winter,  and  the  young  couple  commenced  housekeeping  the 
following  spring,  in  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  began  life  with  no 
capital  save  that  of  good  health,  energy,  and  perseverance;  they  well 
knew  that  the  way  to  success  was  no  royal  road,  but  was  open  only  to 
strong  hands  and  willing  hearts,  and  with  a  hearty  good-will  did  they 
engage  in  this  battle  of  life,  looking  forward  to  the  time,  later  in  life, 
when  they  could  rest  from  their  labors  and  enjoy  the  fruits  thereof. 
But  by  the  dispensation  of  an  all-wise  Providence  they  were  not  to 
enjoy  each  other's  society  long.  May  28,  1831,  Mr.  Rose  was  called 
from  his  labors  here  to  look  into  the  mysteries  of  the  great  hereafter. 
Gloomy,  indeed,  must  be  the  outlook  of  a  widow  deprived  thus  early  in 
life  of  her  companion  and  support,  and  hard,  indeed,  is  it  to  say, "  Thy 
will  be  done."  But  is  there  any  system,  theory,  or  creed  that  promises 
aught  of  the  great  beyond  compared  to  the  Christian's  sublime  hope 
that  the  loved  one  is  safely  folded  by  the  great  shepherd  Jesus  ? 

Mrs.  Rose  had  two  children,  viz.,  Sarah  M.  and  Harvey.  In  1862 
she,  in  company  with  her  son,  moved  to  Michigan,  making  her  home 
with  him  until  six  years  ago,  going  at  that  time  to  her  daughter,  Mrs. 
Sarah  M.  Grover,  where  she  has  since  made  her  home;  and  here  we 
find  her  to-day,  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-six  years,  in  good 
health,  quietly  and  calmly  passing  down  life's  declivity,  to  blend 
"by  and  by"  in  the  full  glories  of  its  latest  autumnal  sunset. 

Harvey  Rose  was  born  Nov.  18,  1829,  married  Oct.  15,  1873,  and  is 
now  living  on  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  in  Trowbridge  township,  near 
his  mother  and  sister.  Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion  he 
promptly  and  patriotically  stepped  to  the  front,  enlisting  in  the 
13th  Regiment  Michigan  Infantry,  Sept.  2,  1864.  This  gallant 
regiment  saw  severe  service,  and  Harvey  was  ever  found  sharing 
its  fortunes,  whether  on  long,  tedious  marches  or  in  front  of  rebel 
ballets.  But  he  was  not  to  be  in  active  service  long,  for  on  the  19th 
of  March,  1865,  at  the  battle  of  Bentonville,  N.  C,  he  was  wounded 
just  above  the  knee,  and  left  in  the  hands  of  the  rebels;  the  limb  was 
amputated  the  following  morning  by  a  rebel  surgeon.  At  the  end  of  the 
third  day  he  was  recaptured  by  the  Union  boys  and  taken  to  Golds- 
borough,  twenty-two  miles  from  Benton ;  from  there  to  Newborn, 
N.  C.  After  a.  stay  of  four  weeks  here,  was  again  moved  to  Moore- 
head  City,  put  aboard  a  steamer  bound  for  David's  Island,  New  York 
harbor.    Here  he  was  forced  to  remain  two  months  before  his  final  dis- 


charge, which  he  did  not  receive  until  June  28, 1865.  Stopping  in  New 
York  State  to  make  a  visit,  he  did  not  arrive  at  home  until  some  time 
in  August.  He  now  receives  twenty-four  dollars  pension  per  month. 
Can  we  pay  too  high  a  tribute  to  those  faithful  ones  who  went  out  in 
defense  of  our  nation's  honor?  Many  have  laid  their  lives  upon  the 
altar  of  their  country,  and  sleep  peacefully  and  quietly  beneath  chap- 
let  and  wreaths  that  are  heaped  upon  their  graves  yearly  by  a  grate- 
ful people ;  others  have  returned  to  us  only  wrecks  of  their  former 
selves.  But  each  and  every  one  fought  that  freedom  might  survive, 
and  that  the  rights  of  labor  and  the  claims  of  honest  industry  might 
be  acknowledged  forever.  "  Let  us  have  but  one  sentiment  for  soldiers 
living  or  dead, — *  Cheers  for  the  living,  tears  for  the  dead.' " 

Mrs.  Sarah  M.  Grover  was  born  Jan.  7,  1828 ;  was  married,  Feb. 
15,  1858,  to  J.  W.  Grover,  who  was  born  Aug.  5,  1810,  in  Dryden, 
Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.    Mr.  Grover  came  to  Michigan  in  1836,  bought 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  Trowbridge  township,  and  afterwards  added  to 
this  purchase  until  he  had  two  hundred  and  forty  acres.  He  then  bought  - 
another  tract  of  forty-eight  acres  in  the  same  township.    Returning 
to  New  York,  he  remained  until  1857,  when  he  moved  to  Michigan 
with  his  wife.    Here  he  made  his  home  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
April  20,  1879,  and  here  we  to-day  find  his  widow,  who  is  nicely  situ- 
ated, having  a  pleasant  home,  all  the  result  of  their  labor  and  economy 
in  early  life.     When  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grover  came  to  Michigan  the 
beautiful  productive  farm  which  we  now  see  was  an  unbroken,  uncleared 
wilderness.    We  well  know  that  it  requires  a  great  amount  of  energy 
and  nerve  for  persons  to  leave  good  comfortable  homes  and  the  sooiel^ 
of  dear  friends  to  seek  their  fortunes  in  the  wilds  of  la  new  country;  . 
but  the  early  settlers  were  men  and  women  who,  when  they  once  de- 
cided to  take  this  step,  were  not  to  be  numbered  among  those  who  are 
called  failures.     Industry  and  perseverance  were  qualities  possessed 
by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grover,  and  by  the  practical  application  of  these 
their  success  was  secured.     When  Mr.  Grover  first  came  to  Michigan 
he  worked  for  some  time  on  the  race  then  being  built  in  Allegan. 
Some  time  before  his  death  Mr.  Grover  sold  his  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres.     One  child  only  came  to  bless  this  union,  viz.,  David 
A.,  born  March  8, 1860 ;  died  May  23, 1869.    Mr.  Grover  was  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  during  his  life.     Being  an  active  member  of 
the  Republican  party,  he  was  chosen  to  fill  township  offices  from  time 
to  time ;  was  elected  supervisor  about  1860,  '62,  and  '64.     Mr.  Grover 
and  wife  were  members  of  the  Christian  Church  at  Bloomingdale,  but 
as  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  much  nearer  their  home  they 
attended  services  there.     The  portraits  of  this  worthy  couple,  also  a 
view  of  their  home,  can  be  seen  on  another  page  of  this  work. 


M.  SHEFFER 


MRS.M.SHEFFER. 


Residence  OF  Mrs. M.SHEFFER ,   Trov^bridGteTp,  Allegan  CaMirn 


TKOWBEIDGE  TOWNSHIP. 


337 


made  him  frequent  visits,  and  often  begged  his  hospitality 
for  the  night.  Always  receiving  a  cordial  welcome,  they 
spread  their  blankets  on  the  floor,  and  there  slept  soundly 
until  the  morning  light  warned  them  to  depart.  The  floor 
was  sometimes  covered  with  these  nomads  of  the  wilder- 
ness. Dr.  Wear  was  one  of  the  earliest  justices  of  the 
peace  of  Trowbridge,  and  held  the  office  for  a  period  of 
twenty-four  years.  He  performed  many  marriage  services^ 
a  fugitive  couple  occasionally  appearing  at  midnight  to 
obtain  his  aid.  His  regular  fee  was  $1.50,  nor  could  he 
be  induced  to  act  for  less.  He  performed  the  earliest  mar- 
riage service  in  the  township,  but  is  not  able  to  recall  the 
names  of  the  contracting  parties. 

One  of  the  first  births  in  the  township  occurred  in  the 
family  of  Dr.  Wear,  being  that  of  his  son  William. 
Another  early  birth  was  that  of  a  .daughter  of  Sidney 
Smith,  now  Mrs.  Albert  Mosher.  With  Dr.  Wear  came 
his  uncle,  John  Wear,  who,  after  a  residence  of  some  years 
in  Trowbridge,  removed  to  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa. 

Hazadiah  Ross  entered  land  on  sections  23  and  24  in 
1836,  and  was  one  of  the  foremost  pioneers,  contributing 
much  towards  the  growth  of  the  township.  He  died  many 
years  since. 

William  Porter,  one  of  the  venerable  survivors  of  the 
early  days  of  Trowbridge,  had  previously  been  a  resident  of 
Oswego,  N.  Y.,  whence  he  came  West  in  the  summer  of 
1836,  and  located  160  acres  on  sections  16  and  17,  in 
Trowbridge,  to  which  he  soon  added  80  more.  In  1838  he 
cleared  a  space  sufficiently  large  to  erect  a  log  house. 
Having  secured  a  habitation  he  then  married  a  wife,  and  the 
day  of  the  marriage  the  happy  pair  were  comfortably  housed 
in  their  primitive  abode.  As  near  as  can  be  determined, 
this  was  the  first  marriage  in  the  township.  The  settlers 
living  in  the  township  on  Mr.  Porter's  arrival  were  Leander 
S.  Prouty,  Dr.  Richard  Wear,  Hazadiah  Ross,  Sidney 
Smith,  John  Wear,  John  Billings,  and  a  man  named 
Gough.  For  his  land  Mr.  Porter  paid  $5  per  acre  to 
the  "  Boston  Company,"  with  the  stipulation  that  at  least 
five  acres  should  be  cleared  the  first  year.  The  first  winter 
of  Mr.  Porter's  settlement  in  Trowbridge  his  time  was  pro- 
fitably occupied  in  making  shingles,  for  which  there  was 
a  considerable  demand.  His  attention  was  next  directed 
to  the  improvement  of  his  land,  and  in  1840  to  the  erec- 
tion of  a  saw-mill,  the  work  on  which  was  done  by  Jacob 
Grover.  In  1844  another  mill  was  built  by  him,  on  section 
17.  These  mills  were  for  twenty  years  kept  in  constant 
activity,  supplying  the  demands  made  upon  them  by  the 
early  settlers  for  lumber.  Mr.  Porter  now  has  near  his 
residence  a  steam  saw-mill  with  a  capacity  of  20,000  feet 

per  day. 

The  earliest  preaching  occurred  soon  after  Mr.  Porter's 
advent  in  the  Prouty  school-house.  Rev.  T.  Z.  R.  Jones 
officiating.  Rev.  W.  C.  H.  Bliss  frequently  ministered  to 
the  wants  of  the  townspeople  on  funeral  occasions. 

Among  the  representatives  of  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in 
Trowbridge  is  John  G.  Colburn,  who,  on  his  arrival  in 
Allegan  County,  lingered  but  a  few  months  in  Allegan 
village,  and  then  located  himself  upon  80  acres  he  had 
previously  entered  on  section  7.  During  the  interval  he 
had  cleared  a  small  tract,  on  which  he  erected  a  log  house. 
43 


To  this  abode  he  removed  his  family  in  March,  1837,  per- 
forming a  weary  pilgrimage  through  snow  fifteen  inches  in 
depth.  There  were  no  windows  or  doors  to  this  primitive 
mansion,  and  the  family's  scanty  store  did  not  even  include 
a  stove  with  which  to  temper  the  freezing  atmosphere. 
But  the  indomitable  spirit  which  was  almost  invariably 
displayed  by  the  Michigan  pioneers  enabled  them  to  look 
with  indifl'erence  upon  these  deprivations.  A  fire  was  soon 
built  against  the  end  of  the  house  with  a  foundation  of 
green  logs,  and  a  hole  in  the  roof  served  as  a  chimney. 
An  acre  of  land  was  speedily  cleared  and  planted  with  pota- 
toes and  corn,  which  supplied  them  with  food  during  the 
following  year,  both  directly  and  indirectly,  being  occa- 
sionally exchanged  with  the  Indians  for  game.  Mr.  Col- 
burn is  still  a  resident  of  the  township,  and  one  of  its  most 
useful  citizens. 

From  Brockport,  N.  Y.,  came  John  Billings,  in  1836, 
and  purchased  320  acres  on  section  4.  This  land  had 
previously  been  owned  by  Alexander  L.  Ely,  who  had 
erected  a  log  house  for  the  accommodation  of  the  men  he 
had  employed  to  chop  the  timber  upon  it.  This  house 
and  the  partial  clearing  made  by  the  choppers  gave  Mr. 
Billings  quite  an  advantage  in  the  preliminary  work  of 
pioneering,  an  advantage  which  he  improved  by  the  most 
zealous  industry. 

Benjamin  W.  Colburn  came  with  his  brother,  John  G. 
Colbura,  and  like  him  located  upon  section  7,  where  he 
purchased  70  acres,  which  have  since  been  increased  to  200. 
He  remained  a  short  time  in  Allegan,  and  removed  to  the 
land  where  he  has  ever  since  resided. 

Martin  Shefier,  more  familiarly  known  as  Capt.  Sheifer, 
who  commanded  the  first  vessel  that  sailed  out  of  Sauga- 
tuck, — the  "  Napoleon," — came  first  to  Allegan  in  1836, 
and  at  the  expiration  of  a  year  removed  to  Trowbridge, 
where  he  purchased  160  acres  upon  section  18.  He  had 
already  erected  a  house  upon  the  land,  and,  being  then  single, 
secured  a  family  to  occupy  it  until  his  own  marriage.  He 
cleared  up  the  farm,  and  on  his  death  left  the  property  to 
Mrs.  Shefier,  who  has  since  managed  it  with  much  ability 
and  success.  Capt.  ShefFer  was  quite  as  familiar  with  the 
Atlantic  as  with  inland  waters,  having  formerly  been  one 
of  the  officers  of  an  English  line-of  battle  ship. 

The  Granger  brothers,  William,  Riley,  and  Bradley,  were 
among  the  earliest  settlers,  and  located  in  the  extreme 
northeastern  corner  of  the  township,  where  they  had  248 
acres  of  land.  Bradley  Granger  was  one  of  the  few  pio- 
neer preachers  in  the  county.  He  and  his  brother  Wil- 
liam resided  on  the  land  they  first  purchased  until  their 
deaths.  Riley  subsequently  removed  to  Plainwell,  his 
present  home.  Oramel  Fisk  improved  a  farm  on  section  1 
in  1838,  and  after  a  residence  of  several  years  in  the  town- 
ship removed  to  Allegan,  where  he  died. 

John  H.  Blackman  came  from  Ohio  in  May,  1841,  and 
entered  160  acres  on  section  1,  traveling  with  horses  and 
wagon  laden  with  his  household  goods.  Adjoining  his 
land  was  a  somewhat  dilapidated  log  house,  which  had  been 
built  by  Dr.  Bigelow.  In  this  Mr.  Blackman  and  his 
family  domiciled  themselves  until  a  house  could  be  built  on 
their  own  land.  Fourteen  acres  were  planted  with  corn 
and  sown  with  oats  the  second  year,  supplies  having  mean- 


338 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


while  been  obtained  from  Gun  Plain.  With  Mr.  Black- 
man  came  his  sons,  James  and  Henry  E.  Blackman,  the 
latter  of  whom  came  to  the  State  in  1839  and  remained  in 
Gun  Plain  until  his  father's  advent.  He  now  occupies 
the  homestead.     James  resides  upon  section  12. 

On  80  acres  of  the  same  section  settled  James  Hender- 
son in  1842.  His  three  sons  are  still  residents  of  the 
county,  Alexander  having  remained  on  the  farm,  while 
Don  C.  is  the  senior  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Allegan 
Jovrnal. 

Henry  M.  Wilkinson  became  a  settler  on  section  29  in 
1842,  his  nearest  neighbor  being  Dr.  Wear.  For  a  period 
of  eighteen  months  after  his  arrival,  Mrs.  Wilkinson  did 
not  see  the  face  of  a  white  woman.  Jacob  Grover  came 
from  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  the  State  as  early  as  1834. 
He  followed  the  trade  of  a  millwright,  and  assisted  in  the 
erection  of  the  earliest  mills  in  Trowbridge.  He  bought 
lands  in  that  township  in  1844,  but  did  not  locate  upon 
them.  In  1855  he  became  the  owner  of  361  acres  on 
section  10,  and  erected  on  it  the  house  in  which  he  resides. 
In  1858  his  brothers,  John  W.  and  Andrew  P.  Grover, 
came  from  New  York  State  and  located  upon  section  11, 
where  the  former  was  the  owner  of  366  acres.  He  died 
in  the  township  in  1879.  A.  P.  Grover  purchased  80 
acres,  on  which  he  still  resides. 

George  Y.  Warner,  previously  a  lawyer  of  Allegan,  re- 
moved in  1838  to  section  5,  where  he  had  203  acres  of 
land.  He  remained  many  years,  but  finally  sold  to  B.  H. 
Taylor,  and  removed  from  the  county.  On  Mr.  Warner's 
arrival,  William  Porter  entered  into  a  contract  to  construct 
a  log  house  for  him  at  an  expense  of  $50,  Warner  to  cut 
the  doors  and  windows. 

Henry  Staring  followed  the  footsteps  of  other  emigrants 
to  the  county,  and  remained  for  a  while  in  Allegan,  but 
finally  removed  to  Trowbridge,  and  in  1841  settled  upon 
203  acres  belonging  to  George  Y.  Warner.  On  this  farm 
there  had  been  an  Indian  sugar-bush,  which  had  caused 
the  spot  to  become  a  rendezvous  for  many  of  the  wander- 
ing bands  of  this  region.  Many  implements  in  use  among 
them  were  subsequently  found  while  plowing  the  fields. 
Mr.  Staring  afterwards  removed  to  Allegan,  and  died  in 
Monterey  in  1876. 

W.  H.  and  Porter  Rood  were  early  pioneers  from  the 
State  of  New  York  to  Allegan  County,  and  in  1838  made 
Trowbridge  their  home,  where  they  improved  80  acres  of 
land  on  section  9,  on  which  a  beginning  had  already  been 
made  by  a  settler  named  Willard,  which  is  still  their  home. 
Ira  Davidson  arrived  at  nearly  the  same  time,  and  also 
located  on  section  9.  His  residence  is  now  with  the 
Messrs.  Rood. 

John  B.  Allen  was  a  former  resident  of  Niagara  Co. 
N.  Y.,  whence  he  came  to  Michigan  in  1836,  and  to  Al- 
legan in  1842,  removing  from  the  latter  place  to  Trow- 
bridge in  1843.  He  was  engaged  in  the  pineries  on  the 
south  side  of  the  river  for  five  years,  during  which  time 
he  purchased  61  acres  on  section  12,  and  in  1848  bought 
of  D.  Doane  Davis  80  acres  on  section  1,  to  which  he  re- 
moved the  following  year.  H.  E.  Blackman  had  already 
located  half  a  mile  west,  and  on  the  eastern  side  was  Ben- 
jamin Martin,  of  Otsego.     Mr.  Allen  has  resided  in  Trow- 


bridge since  the  date  mentioned,  and  is  now,  in  addition 
to  his  farming  business,  actively  engaged  in  the  sale  of 
agricultural  implements. 

Daniel  Foster,  a  former  resident  of  Rochester,  N.  Y. ,  re- 
moved to  Trowbridge  in  1844,  and  purchased  320  acres  on 
sections  21,  22,  and  32,  but  chose  section  16  as  a  place  of 
residence.  Mr.  Foster  at  once  planted  some  apple-seeds 
and  peach-stones,  the  trees  growing  from  which  formed  the 
nucleus  of  the  extensive  Genesee  nurseries,  which  he  con- 
ducted for  twelve  years,  and  which  at  one  time  contained 
no  less  than  65,000  thriving  young  apple-trees.  He  has 
been,  since  his  residence  in  the  township,  an  extensive 
land-owner  and  a  successful  farmer,  but  has  more  recently 
given  the  active  management  of  his  farm  to  his  son. 

From  Seneca  Co.,  Ohio,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roswell  Rock- 
well, in  1847,  made  their  weary  way  in  a  lumber-wagon, 
surrounded  by  their  six  children  and  all  their  worldly 
efifects,  to  the  still  wide  township  of  Trowbridge.  Mr. 
Rockwell,  with  his  brother  William,  had  come  the  previous 
year,  made  a  clearing  and  erected  a  log  cabin  on  section 
32,  which  the  family  occupied  until  a  more  comfortable 
structure  could  be  built.  Mr.  Rockwell  exchanged  his 
horse-team  for  oxen  with  one  of  the  Hollanders  who  had 
settled  near  the  lake,  obtaining  the  difference  in  gold, — a 
metal  which  was  extremely  rare,  except  among  those  thrifty 
emigrants.  This  was  used  to  make  a  payment  on  his  land. 
A  little  money  was  also  received  from  the  sale  of  coon  and 
muskrat  skins,  which  enabled  the  family  to  add  somewhat 
to  its  scanty  stores.  Mr.  Rockwell  died  many  years  since 
on  the  homestead  he  had  improved,  which  is  now  occupied 
by  his  son  Stephen.  His  brother  George,  who  came  in 
1849,  resides  upon  section  30. 

Loren  Daggett  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  1841,  and 
established  himself  upon_^0  acres  on  section  22. 

Morris  Bullock  located  himself,  in  1845,  on  80  acres  on 
section  25,  now  occupied  by  Gordon  Hicks.  In  1847  his 
mother,  desiring  to  pay  a  visit  to  her  neighbor,  Mrs.  Dag- 
gett, set  out  through  the  woods  for  that  lady's  residence, 
having  no  other  guide  than  an  Indian  trail  to  lead  her  to 
her  destination.  As  she  did  not  return  at  the  appointed 
time,  her  friends  became  anxious,  and  began  searching  for 
her.  They  being  unsuccessful,  volunteers  came  from  far 
and  wide  to  aid  their  efforts.  After  twelve  days  of  anxiety 
and  exertion  her  body  was  discovered  in  the  woods  by  Ira 
Chichester.  The  event  caused  great  excitement  and  pro- 
found sadness  throughout  the  township,  and  was  long,  the 
theme  of  mournful  reminiscences  among  the  pioneers  of 
Trowbridge. 

Amos  L.  Rogers  located  in  1848  upon  80  acres  on  sec- 
tion 12,  and  Martin  Hicks  settled  upon  120  acres  on  sec- 
tion 26  very  soon  afterwards.  Both  still  reside  on  their 
original  purchases. 

William  Upson,  another  Ohio  pioneer,  settled  upon  90 
acres  on  sections  10  and  15  in  1852,  which  he  purchased 
of  Andrew  Cone.  The  frame  of  a  house  had  been  erected, 
which  was  soon  placed  in  a  habitable  condition.  He  is 
still  a  resident  of  the  same  farm.  His  nearest  neighbor 
was  John  Clifford,  from  Ohio,  who  resided  upon  section  9, 
where  he  purchased  a  farm  of  Jacob  Grover.  Two  sons 
now  live  in  Trowbridge,  Zara  Clifford  being  located  upon 


TROWBRIDGE  TOWNSHIP. 


339 


the  homestead,  and  John  upon  section  10.  Alexander  Dale 
entered  160  acres  on  section  9  in  1836,  and  subsequently 
added  40,  upon  which  he  resided  until  his  death. 

J.  Killam  removed  from  Monroe  County  to  Allegan  in 
1844,  and  in  1849  became  the  owner  of  80  acres  on  sec- 
tion 9,  on  which  he  now  lives.  His  nearest  neighbor,  at 
the  time  of  his  advent,  was  Porter  Rood ;  but  the  neigh- 
borhood very  soon  became  more  thickly  settled. 

Among  others  whose  names  are  entitled  to  a  place  on  the 
roll  of  more  recent  settlers  are  R.  M.  Bigelow,  T.  Babbitt, 
W.  Lovett,  J.  and  H.  Ashley,  G.  Perkins,  S.  Stockwell,  J. 
St.  German,  W.  Dimond,  L.  Ingles,  R.  Simmons,  H.  M. 
Wilkinson,  T.  Wilson,  H.  Price,  H.  Goshorn,  L.  Nichols, 
J.  G.  Austen,  R.  Ames,  and  later  B.  W.  Odell,  Ichabod 
Stratton,  H.  Scott,  A.  B.  Mallery,  S.  Webster,  R.  Thomp- 
son, Wilton  Belden,  E.  G.  Minckler,  J.  Schoolcraft,  W. 
Harper,  S.  Rockwell,  J.  Emmons,  J.  Harrigan,  W.  Hemitt, 
J.  Schoolcraft,  W.  Brown,  R.  Martin,  W.  Ward,  B.  Lock- 
hart,  and  R.  Sperry. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  earliest  school  was  opened  on  land  owned  by  Lean- 
der  S.  Prouty,  the  residents  of  this  portion  of  the  town- 
ship having  erected  a  log  school-house  in  1841  and  secured 
the  services  of  a  teacher.  Some  difference  of  opinion  ex- 
ists as  to  who  first  filled  that  position,  though  it  is  probable 
that  Miss  Luvia  Ann  Bingham  was  the  person  in  question. 
J.  Glover  Kellogg  was  also  an  early  teacher  in  the  same 
school,  and  Bradley  Granger  was  his  successor.  As  the 
northwest  portion  of  the  township  became  settled,  the  little 
building  was  well  filled  with  the  growing  youth  of  Trow- 
bridge, and  eventually  the  primitive  log  house  gave  place 
to  a  more  substantial  structure. 

The  next  school  was  opened  in  the  Blackman  neighbor- 
hood, on  section  1,  in  the  log  house  of  I.  H.  Blackman,  in  the 
year  1843,  the  first  teacher  having  been  his  daughter,  Miss 
Harriet  A.  Blackman.  This  district  is  now  adorned  with 
one  of  the  most  spacious  and  substantial  school  buildings 
in  the  township.  Trowbridge  is  at  this  time  divided  into 
six  whole  and  two  fractional  districts,  which  are  controlled 
by  the  following  directors:  B.  H.  Taylor,  P.  C.  Allen, 
Aaron  C.  Claire,  S.  C.  Foster,  Nelson  Stratton,  James  S. 
Osgood,  William  Bupon,  George  W.  Grigsby.  The  num- 
ber of  children  receiving  instruction  is  390 ;  the  total 
amount/of  the  salaries  paid  to  the  teachers  is  $1108. 

EAKLY  KOADS. 
The  earliest  surveyed  road  in  Trowbridge  was  the  State 
road,  intended  to  run  from  Allegan  southward  into  Kala- 
mazoo County.  It  was  only  opened,  however,  as  far  as 
Emerson  Lake,  on  the  line  between  sections  19  and  20.  It 
was  surveyed  in  1836,  probably  by  William  Forbes,  and 
was  for  a  short  period  the  only  surveyed  road  in  the  town- 
ship that  had  been  opened  and  improved.  In  1837  a  road 
was  surveyed  by  F.  J.  Littlejohn,  running  from  Allegan 
into  Van  Buren  County,  on  the  line  between  sections  4  and 
5  and  8  and  9,  diverging  on  its  approach  to  section  16  to 
avoid  a  small  lake  which  obstructed  its  course.  On  section 
20  the  road  bore  off  to  the  southwest,  where  it  ran  again 
directly  south,  and  passed  out  of  the  township  on  section  32. 


Another  road  was  surveyed  by  F.  J.  Littlejohn  in  1838, 
and  was  known  as  the  Prouty  road,  from  the  fact  that  it 
passed  through  that  gentleman's  land.  Other  roads  were 
surveyed  within  the  next  few  years  by  William  Forbes,  H. 
P.  Barnum,  and  F.  J.  Littlejohn.  The  foregoing  intelli- 
gence was  furnished  the  historian  by  William  Porter,  Esq. 

BAPTIST   CHURCH. 

The  first  meetings  of  this  society  were  held  in  the  Ross 
school-house,  the  Baptist  Church  of  Otsego  having  estab- 
lished a  branch  of  their  organization  in  Trowbridge,  with 
service  conducted  each  alternate  Sabbath  by  Elder  0.  S. 
Wolf,  of  Otsego.  In  1868  a  church  was  organized,  in- 
cluding a  membership  of  forty-six  persons,  with  Elder  Wolf 
still  as  their  pastor.  The  school-house  afforded  a  place  of 
meeting  until  1872,  when  it  was  determined  to  erect  a 
church  edifice.  Ground  was  secured  on  section  24,  and 
the  building,  having  been  completed,  was  dedicated  May  21, 
1873,  the  total  cost  of  the  church  having  been  83000. 
The  clergymen  in  succession  since  that  time  have  been  Revs. 
T.  Z.  B.  Jones,  B.  P.  Hewett,  A.  R.  Leslie,  A.  M.  Buck, 

B.  C.  Mosher, Smith,  and  J.  Donalson.     The  society 

is  now  without  a  pastor.     The  membership  has  not  greatly 
increased  since  its  organization. 

TROWBRIDGE  GRANGE,  No.  296. 
This  organization  was  established  March  3,  1874,  under 
a  charter  granted  by  the  National  Grange,  with  47  charter 
members.  Its  first  officers  were  E.  G.  Minckler,  Master; 
Jacob  F.  Brest,  Overseer ;  Elisha  Hammond,  Lecturer ; 
Edward  Buck,  Steward ;  Thomas  Hemitt,  Assistant  Stew- 
ard ;  Ichabod  Stratton,  Chaplain ;  George  W.  Grigsby, 
Sec. ;  J.  W.  Russell,  Treas.  Its  present  officers  are  L.  S. 
Lee,  Master ;  Martin  Brest,  Overseer ;  J.  S.  Osgood,  Lec- 
turer; E.  T.  Parker,  Steward;  Charles  Merriam,  Assistant 
Steward;  E.  Hammond,  Chaplain;  Macy  W.  Brender, 
Sec. ;  S.  D.  Rockwell,  Treas.  The  present  membership  is 
175.  The  organization  is  about  erecting  a  hall  for  its 
semi-weakly  meetings. 

METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 
The  few  settlers  who  populated  Trowbridge  in  1849 
resolved  that  an  opportunity  should  be  afforded  them  of 
attending  divine  service  in  their  own  immediate  neighbor- 
hood, and  after  a  few  preliminary  meetings  a  class  was 
organized  the  same  year,  with  Rev.  Curtis  Mosher  as 
preacher.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  Mr.  Doughty,  and 
services  were  held  in  the  school-house  until  1865,  when 
the  congregation  had  increased  sufficiently  to  erect  a  house 
of  worship  on  the  northeast  corner  of  section  26,  which 
was  dedicated  in  November  of  the  same  year,  with  Rev. 
L.  H.  Pierce  as  pastor.  The  trustees  who  superintended 
its  construction  and  have  officiated  since  that  time  are 
Thomas  Stratton,  Henry  Pierce,  John  McKee,  and  William 
Sebring.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  F.  L.  McCoy.  Those 
who  have  preceded  him,  so  far  as  he  is  able  to  give  their 
names,  are  Revs.  A.  J.  Van  Wyck,  N.  M.  Steele,  George 
L.  Haight,  William  M.  Paddock,  J.  Barrett,  C.  L.  Van 
Antwerp,  E.  C.  Chambers,  and  I.  B.  Tallman.  The  society 
is  well  sustained  and  prosperous. 


340 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARKS'   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


ORGANIZATION. 

Trowbridge,  together  with  many  other  townships  of  the 
county,  was  formerly  a  part  of  Allegan,  and  was  organized 
as  an  independent  township  in  1842  in  conjunction  with 
Cheshire.  It  was  surveyed  by  Lucius  Lyon  in  April, 
1841,  and  named  in  honor  of  C.  C.  Trowbridge,  of  Detroit, 
the  popular  treasurer  of  the  Boston  Company,  afterwards 
the  first  Whig  candidate  for  Governor  of  the  State.  In 
1851  Cheshire  was  accorded  a  separate  existence,  and 
Trowbridge  was  left  with  its  present  dimensions.  It  was 
early  settled,  and  at  the  date  of  its  organization  was  able 
to  offer  a  poll-list  the  size  of  which  considerably  exceeded 
that  of  many  other  townships. 

The  following  list  of  the  earliest  voters  at  the  first  elec- 
tion after  the  organization  of  Trowbridge  as  an  independent 
township  is  appended : 


Porter  Rood,  Sr. 

John  Billings,  Sr. 

Simeon  Pike. 

Samuel  (joodell. 

Walter  H.  Rood. 

Riley  Granger. 

Loren  Baggett. 
David  Palmer. 
J.  T.  H.  Churchill. 
Albert  West. 
John  Billings,  Jr. 
Leander  P.  Ross. 
Henry  E.  Blackman. 
William  Porter. 
Sidney  Smith. 
Samuel  Lines. 
Hazadiah  Ross. 


John  Wear. 

William  Granger. 

John  Orr. 

George  Y.  Warner, 

James  Kendall. 

John  G.  Colburn. 

Leander  S.  Prouty. 
Orvin  Ross. 
John  H.  Blackman. 
■  Oramel  Fisk. 
Richard  Wear. 
H.  B.  Seymour. 
Franklin  Babbitt. 
Asa  Carpenter. 
W.  A.  Babbitt. 
Benjamin  W.  Colburn. 


CIVIL    LIST. 

At  the  first  township-meeting  held  in  Trowbridge,  at  the 
"Prouty  school-huuse,"  in  district  No.  1,  on  section  5, 
the  first  Monday  in  April,  1842,  H.  B.  Seymour  was 
chosen  moderator,  and  John  "Wear,  George  Y.  Warner 
Leander  S.  Prouty,  and  John  A.  Blackman,  inspectors  of 
election.  The  following  ofiicers  were  elected ;  Supervisor, 
John  Weare ;  Township  Clerk,  Sidney  Smith ;  Treasurer, 
John  Billings,  Sr. ;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  J.  H.  Blackman, 
John  Weare,  Walter  H.  Rood,  Leander  S.  Prouty ;  High- 
way Commissioners,  William  Porter,  William  Grang:er, 
John  Orr;  School  In.spectors,  H.  B.  Seymour,  John  Bil- 
lings, John  G.  Colburn ;  Constables,  Richard  Weare,  Riley 
Granger,  Leander  P.  Ross,  Benjamin  Colburn. 

The  remaining  officers  of  the  township  until  the  present 
time  are  as  follows : 

SUPERVISORS.  , 
1S43,  Richard  Weare;  1844,  John  Billings,  Jr.;  1845-46,  Sidney 
Smith;  1847,  Jacob  Grover;  1848,  Richard  Weare;  1849,  John 
Billings;  1850,  Leander  Prouty;  1851-52,  H.  E.  Blackman;  1853 
Daniel  Foster;  1854-56,  Alex.  Henderson  ;  1857,  .John  Billings  j 
1858-59,  Alex.  Henderson;  1860-61,  John  W.  Grover;  1862,  H 
E.  Blackman  ;  1863-65,  E.  G.  Minckler;  1866,  John  W  Grover- 
1867-71,  E.  G.  Winckler;  1872,  A.  B.  Mallory;  1873,  George  w' 
Grigsby;  1874,  Gilbert  Phelps;  1875,  E.  6.  Minckler;  1876  H 
E.  Blackman;  1877-78,  E.  G.  Minckler;  1879,  John  B.  Allen. 

TOWNSHIP   CLERKS. 
1843-44,  Sidney  Smith  ;  1846,  Daniel  Foster;  1846,  P.  H.  Simmons- 
1847-48,  Sidney  Smith;  1849,  Daniel  Foster;  1850,  John  B   Al- 
len;   1851,  Giles  Rockwell;    J852,  Richard  Wear;  1853    L    S 
Prouty;  1854,  John  B.Allen;  1855,  Moses  Morris;  1856,  John' 


B.  Allen;  1857,  William  Bronson ;  1859-64,  A.  B.  Mallory;  1865, 
J.  R.  Clifford;  1866,  Horace  Peck;  1867-68,  George  W.  Grigsby; 
1869-70,  A.  B.  Mallory;  1871-72,  George  W.  Grigsby ;  1873,  A. 
B.  Mallory;  1874,  Barney  Payne;  1875-77,  A.  B.  Mallory; 
1878-79,  S.  C.  Foster.  ^ 

TREASURERS. 
1843,  George  Y.  Warner;  1844,  Walter  H.  Rood;  1845-46,  L.  S. 
Prouty;  1847,  no  record;  1848,  H.  E.  Blackman  ;  1849-50,  Wil- 
liam Granger;  1851,  Isaac  G.  Austin;  1852,  Sidney  Smith; 
1853,  James  Blackman;  1854,  Sidney  Smith;  1865,  William 
Granger ;  1866,  William  Upson  ;  1867-58,  John  W.  Ru-'sell ;  1859, 
A.  B.  Mallory;  1860-62,  William  Upson;  1863,  A.  B.  Mallory; 
1864-65,  William  Upson  ;  1866,  Stephen  Odell ;  1867-70,  William 
Upson;  1871-75,  John  W.  Russell;  1876,  George  W.  Grigsby; 
1877-78,  Edward  Buck ;  1879,  A .  B.  Mallory. 

JUSTICES   OF   THE   PEACE. 
1843,  Leander  S.  Prouty,  George  Y.  Warner;  1844,  J.  H.  Blackman, 
J.   G.   Colburn;    1845,    Richard  Wear;    1846,   John    B.   Allen; 
1847,   Porter  Rood;  1848,  L.   S.  Prouty;  1849,  Richard  Wear; 

1850,   Henry  E.    Blackman;   1851,  Norris  Bullock;   1852,  

;    1863,    Moses   Norris,   Sidney   Smith,  W.    L.    Stockwell; 

1854,  Wm.  Granger;  1855,  Seth  Stockwell;  1856,  B.  W.  Odell; 
1857,  Richard  Wear,  Martin  Hicks;  1868,  Amasa  Odell,  H.  E. 
Blackman;  1859,  John  Johnson;  I860,  Wm.  Upson;  1861,  R. 
T.  Dibble,  H.  E.  Blackman;  1862,  E.  G.  Minckler ;  1863,  Sidney 
Smith,  Seth  Stockwell ;  1864,  John  B.  Allen  ;  1865,  H.E.  Black- 
man;  1866,  John  McKee;  1867,  John  Johnston;  1868,  J.  K. 
Lindsay,  Saml.  Knickerbocker;  1869,  Orvin  Rosa;  1870,  Seth 
Stockwell,  H.E.  Blackman;  1871,  Baldwin  Hyde;  1872,  H.  E. 
Blackman;  1873,  John  Johnston;  1874,  Richard  Wear;  1875, 
Wm.  Upson;  1876,  Henry  Scott,  Baldwin  Hyde;  1877,  H.  e! 
Blackman;  1878,  J.  H.  Colburn;  1879,  J.  P.  Brist. 

SCHOOL   INSPECTORS. 

1843,  John  Billings,  Samuel  H.  Blackman  ;  1844,  John  Billings,  Jr., 

Ira  Ward;  1845,  H.  E.  Blackman,  Sidney  Smith;  1846,  John' 

Billings,  Jr.;  1847,  George  Y.  Warner;  1848,  H.  E.  Blackman; 

1849,  John   B.  Allen;  1850,  Sidney  Smith;   1851,  Addison  M. 

Buck;  1852, ;  1853,  H.  E.  Blackman;  1854,  A.  L. 

Rogers;  1855,  H.  E.  Blackman  ;  1856,  A.  L.  Rogers;  1857,  John 
W.  Brakeman  ;  1868,  A.  L.  Rogers,  John  B.  Allen  ;  1859,  John  B. 
Allen ;  1860,  Myron  E.  Bush  ;  1861,  Geo.  Y.  Warner ;  1862,  John 
B.Allen;  1863,  A.  B.  Mallory  ;  1864,  H.  E.  Blackman;  1866,  A. 
Knickerbocker;  1866,  A.  L.  Rogers;  1867,  J.  S.  Osgood;  1868, 
Darius  Knickerbocker;  1869,  Geo.  A.  Howe;  1870,  James  S. 
Upson,  George  W.  Grigsby;  1871,  Saml.  Knickerbocker;  1872, 
Orvin  Ross,  A.  B.  Mallory;  1873,  G.  W.  Grigsby;  1874,  A.  L. 
Rogers;  1875,  H.  E.  Blackman;  1876,  Joseph  G.  Stuck;  1878, 
Alonzo  Knickerbocker;  1879,  Darius  Knickerbocker. 

HIGHWAY  COMMISSIONERS. 
1843,  Richard  Wear,  Orin  Bell,  Wm.  Granger;  1844,  Wm.  Porter, 
yfrn.  Granger,  Moses  Norris;  1845,  Moses  Morris,  J.  B.  Allen' 
Wm.  Granger;  1846,  John  Starr;  1847,  John  B.  Allen,  Cyrus 
Ross,  Riley  Granger;  1848,  Daniel  Foster;  1849,  Jacob  Killam; 
1850,  Sidney  Smith,  John  Wiley,  Robt.  B.  Ames;  1861,  Moses 
Norris;  1853,  Thos.  Wilson;  1854,  Isaac  G.  Austin,  John  Foster; 
1805,  Seth  Stockwell;  1856,  Wm.  Granger;  1857,  John  G.  Col- 
burn;  1868,  Amasa  Odell;  1869,  Clark  Nichols;  1860,  P  F  Al- 
drich,  Samuel  C.  Webster;  1861,  Melton  Belden,  Riley  Granger; 
1862,  Wm.  J.  Pate;  1863,  Philo  Hoskin;  1864,  Samuel  Knicker- 
bocker; 1865,  A.  B.  Mallory;  1866,  J.  W.  Russell;  1867,  0.  C. 
Cackler;  1868,  Philo  Hoskins ;  1869,  John  Chambers;  1870, 
Silas  Stockwell,  0.  C.  Cackler;  1871,  Miles  Foster;  1872,  S. 
Knickerbocker,  Henry  Scott;  1873,  W.  L.  Stockwell;  1874,  Ste- 
phen Odell,  Thomas  Stratton ;  1876-77,  John  B.  Allen;  1878, 
0.  C.  Cackler;  1879,  Edward  Buck. 

DIRECTORS  OF  THE  POOR. 
1843,  Oramel  Fisk,  Benj.  W.  Colburn;    1846,  John  N.  Blackman; 
1846,  Porter    Rood,  John  N.  Blackman;  1847,   Richard  Wear, 
Sidney  Smith;  18J8,  John  H.  Blackman,  George  Y.  Warner- 


'^-'!*S;^9^> 


H.   E.   BLACKMAN. 


MES.   H.   B.   BLACKMAN. 


HON.  H.  E.  BLACKMAN. 


The  greater  number  of  men  who  had  enough  of 
the  spirit  of  adventure  to  seek  a  home  in  a  new 
country  were  men  of  iron  nerve,  of  energy  and  per- 
severance, men  who,  when  they  had  once  turned  their 
faces  thither,  turned  not  back  for  trifles,  but  kept 
resolutely  on  until  beautiful  farms  and  homes  show 
the  work  of  their  strong  arms  and  willing  hearts. . 
Such  a  man  is  the  Hon.  H.  E.  Blackman,  one  among 
the  first  settlers  in  Michigan.  He  was  born  in 
Portage  Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  6,  1820.  In  1839,  in  com- 
pany with  two  other  men,  he  started  for  Michigan. 
They  decided  to  come  through  with  a  team.  Load- 
ing their  household  furniture  and  provisions  for 
their  journey,  they  started  for  the,  to  them,  unknown 
country.  Coming  to  the  Maumee  River,  they  found 
it  frozen  and  were  compelled  to  cross  on  the  ice. 
During  their  passage  across  one  wheel  of  the  wagon 
breaking  through  the  ice  they  were  forced  to  unload 
their  effects  in  order  to  pry  out  the  wagon.  They 
were  fourteen  days  making  the  trip.  Upon  reach- 
ing Michigan  they  stopped  at  Gun  Plain,  and  went 
to  work  getting  out  timber  and  lumbering.  As 
Michigan  was  so  heavily  timbered,  lumbering  was 
the  first  employment  many  of  the  pioneers  engaged 
in.  After  working  for  a  time  Mr.  Blackman  re- 
turned to  his  father's,  in  Ohio,  where  he  remained 
two  years.  He  then  started  again  for  Michigan, 
— alone  and  on  foot.  Passing  through  Medina, 
Ohio,  he  there  met  his  brother-in-law,  Jonathan 
Stevens,  who  accompanied  him.  Mr.  Blackman 
had  five  dollars  and  his  companion  six  shillings. 
They  were  on  the  way  thirteen  days.     When  they 


reached  Gun  Plain  their  capital  consisted  of  thirty- 
one  cents.  Mr.  Blackman's  father  bought  a  farm 
in  Michigan  in  January,  1841.  He  came  to  Michi- 
gan in  June  of  the  same  year.  This  farm  con- 
sisted of  two  hundred  acres,  situated  in  Trowbridge 
township.  Here  he  remained  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1854,  he  being  in  his  seventy-first 
year.  His  wife  died  in  1879,  in  the  eighty-eighth 
year  of  her  age.  Mr.  H.  E.  Blackman  managed  his 
father's  farm  for  two  years,  and  in  1843  bought  it. 
Oct.  26, 1853,  H.  E.  Blackman  and  Lucy  Sherwood 
were  married.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Libbeus  and 
Sophia  Sherwood,  and  was  born  in  Otsego,  Aug.  8, 
1835.  Her  parents  came  from  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  to 
Michigan  in  1833.  Their  family  consisted  of  eight 
children.  Eight  children  have  been  born  in  the 
home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blackman,  named  below  in 
the  order  of  their  births :  Henry  S.  (deceased),  James 
A.,  Hattie  A.  (deceased),  John  H.,  Mary  A.  (de- 
ceased), Nellie  A.,  Mary  Bell,  and  Fred.  L.  Henry 
met  with  his  death  by  shipwreck.  May  12,  1875, 
starting  from  Saugatuck  to  Chicago  on  board  a 
vessel  which  was  wrecked  and  all  on  board  lost. 
The  family  recovered  Henry's  body  only  to  find  a 
severe  wound  on  the  side  of  his  head,  caused,  per- 
haps, by  the  falling  of  some  of  the  timber  of  the 


Mr.  Blackman's  fellow-townsmen  have  shown 
their  appreciation  of  his  worth  in  public  affairs  by 
electing  him  to  fill  various  offices  in  the  township. 
He  was  for  a  long  time  superintendent  of  the  poor. 
He  is  at  present  a  member  of  the  Legislature. 


TROWBRIDGE  TOWNSHIP. 


341 


1849,  R.  B.  Amos,  L.  S.  Prouty  ;  1850,  Sidney  Smith,  Robert  B. 
Ames;  1851,  L.  S.  Prouty,  J.  H.  Blaokman;  1852,  Richard 
Wear;  1853,  R.  B.  Ames,  L.  S.  Prouty;  1854,  L.  S.  Prouty, 
Norris  Bullock;  1855,  Moses  Norris,  John  B.  Allen;  1856,  Wm. 
Granger,  Moses  Norris;  1857,  Richard  Wear,  Benj.  W.  Odell; 
1858,  R.  B.  Ames,  Seth  Stockwell ;  1859,  R.  B.  Ames,  John 
Clifford. 

DRAIN   COMMISSIONERS. 

1874,  John  W.  Grover;  1875-77,  Baldwin  Hyde;   1878,  Myron  J. 
MoOann. 

SUPERINTENDENTS  OF  SCHOOLS. 

1875,  George   W.   Grigsby ;    1876,    B.    G.   Minckler;    1877,   Alonzo 
Knickerbocker;  1878-79,  D.  W.  Colburn. 

CONSTABLES. 
1843,  B.  W.  Colburn,  Riley  Granger;  1844,  R.  B.  Ames,  Riley 
Granger,  Porter  Wood,  Jr.,  Cyrus  Ross;  1845,  C.  R.  Prntt,  Wm. 
Granger,  C.  C.  Perry,  R.  B.  Ames;  1846,  Wm.  Granger,  Riley 
Granger,  C.  E.  Perry,  H.  E.  Blackmnn  ;  1847,  Franklin  Babbit, 
Jonathan  Goodel,  Wm.  Lovett,  D.  E.  Alexander;  1848,  Hiram 
Annis,  R.  B.  Ames,  L.  Engle,  Franklin  Babbit;  1849,  John 
Wiley,  Jacob  Killam,  John  Star,  H.  E.  Blackman  ;  1850,  E.  P. 
Brown,   Sidney  Smith,    Alex.    Henderson,   Wallace   Stockwell; 

1851,  Robert  Barnes,  Hiram  Annis,  Wm.  Lovett,  John  Bellea; 

1852,  Jacob  Killam;  1853,  L.  Engle,  John  Starr,  Theodore 
Carlo,  Hiram  Annis;  1854,  John  Ashley,  Jacob  Ludwick,  Seth 
Stookwell,  Hiram  Annis;  1855,  Ichabod  Stratton,  Hiram^Annls, 
Seth  Stockwell,  John  Ashley  ;  1856,  Franklin  Babbitt,  John  Starr, 
Nathan  Larkin,  L.  M;  Webster ;  1857,  E.  Babbitt,  Riley  Granger, 
N.  Larkins,  L.  M.  Webster;  1858,  George  Ray,  Jos.  Stockwell; 

1859,  Miles  Foster,  James  Collins,  E.  Stockwell,  Samuel  Odell; 

1860,  S.  E.  Odell,  George  S.  Barber,  Seth  Stockwell,  John  W. 
Ashley;  1861,  B.  Babbit,  Henry  Ashley,  G.  S.  Barber,  J.  A. 
Baldy ;  1862,  A.  J.  Johnston,  Joseph  Stockwell,  Miles  Foster ; 

1863,  C.  C.  Mallory,  J.  R.  Clifford,  Miles  Foster,  Chas.  Collins; 

1864,  Charles  Collins,  Alonzo  Knickerbocker,  C.  W.  Ames,  C.  E. 
Ferguson  ;  1865,  Henry  Ashley,  B.  Haskin,  B.  H.  Johnston,  Silas 
Stockwell;  1866,  Wm.  Sharpless,  L.  M.  Webster,  David  Hamon, 
Hiram  Annis;  1867,  Hiram  Annis,  Milo  Malloy,  Wm.  Ozman, 
W.  J.  Vote;  1868,  C.  0.  Granger,  R.  Wilkerson,  S.  B.  Brun- 
dage;  1869,  Milo  Foster,  Sheldon  Wheeler,  Charles  Tompkins, 
D.  M.  Dean;  1870,  Sheldon  Wheeler,  James  Granger,  Samuel 
Piper,  R.  D.  Ames;  1871,  Wm.  Upson,  Franklin  Babbit,  0.  H. 
Blaokman,  Pulaski  Foster;  1872,  B.  D.  Ames,  Wm.  Weare,  D. 
M.  Dean,  James  Granger ;  1873,  S.  B.  Brundage,  W.  D.  Upson, 
Owen  Blaokman,  D.  M.  Dean;  1874,  A.  W.  Mosher,  Thomas 
Hemitt,  D.  C.  Nichols,  L.  M.  Webster;  1875,  D.  M.  Dean, 
Francis  Blaokman,  Arthur  Wea're,  Ira  J.  Bradshaw;  1876,  Joseph 
Brest,  D.  M.  Dean,  F.  Blackman,  Arthur  Wear;  1877,  Stover 
Hicks,  Dorius  Dimond,  Isaac  Philley,  Arthur  Wear;  1878, 
Alonzo  Knickerbocker,  A.  B.  Mallory,  Benj.  Sherwood,  Darius 
Diamond ;  1879,  George  H.  Stone,  D.  M.  Dean,  R.  H.  Wilkinson, 
Perry  Hoskins. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


W.  S.  MARTINDALE. 

Aaron  Martindale,  the  grandfather  of  the  gentleman 
whose  name  appeal's  at  the  head  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
in  Enghind,  in  1771.  Emigrating  to  America,  he  was  here 
during  the  war  of  the  Revolution  ;  but,  being  a  Tory,  and 
having  no  sympathy  whatever  with  the  Americans,  he  re- 
moved to  Canada  as  soon  as  the  war  was  over,  never  again 
leavinf  "  Her  Majesty's  Dominion."  His  family  consisted 
of  five  children, — four  sons  and  one  daughter.  Asa,  the 
father  of  W.S.,  and  the  youngest  of  the  family,  was  born 
in  Canada,  June  G,  1811.  He  has  spent  his  entire  life  there, 
except  occasional  visits  to  the  States  ;  is  now  with  his  sod. 


W.  S.  His  family  consisted  of  six  children, — three  sons  and 
three  daughters  ;  four  only  are  living, — two  sons  and  two 
daughters.  Mrs.  Asa  Martindale  was  born  in  Canada,  Aug. 
7,  1815,  and  died  July  15,  1873.  W.  S.  Martindale  first 
saw  light  Jan.  15, 1840,  in  Lower  Canada.  Oct.  27, 1864, 
he  married  Miss  Clara  J.,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Al- 
mira  Hart.  Mrs.  Martindale's  grandfather  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  She  was  born  in  Michigan,  June  25, 
1844.  Her  parents  and  four  brothers  and  one  sister  are 
living  in  Allegan  County.  One  brother  is  practicing  law 
in  the  town  of  Allegan.  In  1865,  one  year  after  his  mar- 
riage, Mr.  Martindale,  hearing  of  the  great  opportunities 
afforded  in  Michigan,  and  thinking  he  could  better  secure  a 
home  for  his  family  in  this  new  country,  started  for  Michi- 
gan. Stopping  in  Otsego  township,  Allegan  Co.,  he  made 
a  purchase  of  seventy  acres  of  land  ;  after  a  stay  of  nine  years, 
he  sold  his  first  purchase  and  removed  to  Trowbridge  town- 
ship, where  he  bought  one  hundred  and  forty-eight  acres. 
Broad  and  fertile  fields  can  now  be  seen  where  not  many 
years  ago  the  pioneer  was  obliged  to  "  blaze"  his  way  from 
cabin  to  cabin.  Mr.  Martindale  has  made  for  himself  a 
comfortable  home,  a  view  of  which  can  be  seen  on  another 
page  of  this  work  ;  also  the  portraits  of  himself  and  wife. 
Their  family  consists  of  three  children, — Willard  A.  N., 
Herbert  H.,  and  Cora  P. 


B.  W  COLBURN. 

B.  W.  Colburn  was  among  the  earliest  pioneers  of  Al- 
legan County.  He  has  been  long  and  actively  engaged  in 
the  improvement  of  the  country  from  the  time  it  was  almost 
an  unbroken  wilderness,  inhabited  almost  exclusively  by 
Indians  and  wild  animals,  with  here  and  there,  at  long  dis- 
tances apart,  a  settlement  of  a  few  hardy  pioneers. 

His  parents  were  natives  of  New  Hampshire,  where  he 
was  born  Oct.  5,  1813,  in  Hillsborough  County.  His 
boyhood  was  spent  in  assisting  his  father  in  the  labors  of 
farm  life  and  in  obtaining  a  limited  common-school  educa- 
tion. He  also  learned  the  cooper's  trade.  In  1831  he 
moved  to  New  York  State  to  commence  life  for  himself; 
his  capital  consisted  of  twenty-five  cents  in  money  and  an 
abundance  of  energy  and  industry.  Upon  his  arrival  in 
New  York  he  was  unable  to  go  to  work  for  two  months, 
on  account  of  sickness ;  but,  upon  recovering,  he  worked 
at  his  trade  three  months ;  then  hired  to  do  farm-work 
with  his  uncle,  where  he  stayed  less  than  a  year.  Buying 
twelve  acres  in  the  woods,  he  cleared  it,  and  built  (in  1833) 
a  small  frame  house  upon  it.  Oct.  5,  1833,  he  married 
Almira,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  Sargent.  Five  children 
came  to  bless  their  union.  One  only  is  living,  Sarah  E., 
the  wife  of  J.  L.  Austin,  living  near  her  father.  Mrs. 
Colburn  died  Feb.  7,  1850.  He  married  his  second  wife 
Oct.  15,  1850.  This  lady  was  Miss  Elizabeth  Wright, 
daughter  of  Jonathan  S.  Wright.  They  have  had  six 
children  ;  two  only  are  living,  who  are  at  home  with  their 
parents.  Mr.  Colburn,  hearing  so  much  of  the  new  and 
unsettled  lands  lying  west  of  Lake  Erie,  began  to  look 
with  longing  eyes  in  that  direction.  Accordingly,  in  1836, 
he  left  home  for  the  purpose  of  securing  a  location  some- 


342 


HISTORY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND    BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


where  in  the  Territory  of  Michigan.     He  stopped  in  Al- 
legan, where  he  remained  only  ten  months.    In  November, 

1836,  he  entered  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Trowbridge,  and 
built  a  house,  removing  with  his  family  to  this  farm  in 

1837.  This  piece  of  land  was  heavily  timbered,  Mr. 
Colburn  cutting  the  first  stick.  When  he  left  his  home 
in  Allegan  he  had  finished  his  house  on  the  farm  with  the 
exception  of  a  roof;  this  he  took  from  the  house  in  town, 
and  placed  on  the  one  last  built,  thus  sleeping  under  the 
same  roof  in  his  new  home  that  he  had  slept  under  in  the 
old.  Mr.  Colburn  has  made  additions  to  his  farm,  until 
he  now  owns  one  hundred  and  eighty-eight  acres.  Besides 
conducting  and  managing  his  own  business,  he  has  at 
various  times  served  his  town.  He  was  the  first  constable 
in  Trowbridge.  His  first  duty,  after  being  elected,  was  to 
serve  a  summons  on  a  party  living  at  some  distance  from 
him.  Arriving  at  the  house  and  not  finding  the  party  at 
home,  he  wished  to  leave  a  copy  of  the  summons ;  now 
came  the  search  for  writing  material ;  nothing  of  the  kind 
to  be  found,  he  substituted  pokeberry  juice  and  a  goose- 
quill  :  this  enabled  him  to  accomplish  his  purpose.  Truly, 
"  necessity  is  the  mother  of  invention." 

He  relates  that  ahovit  1838  provisions  were  very  scarce; 
flour  especially  so,  bringing  sixteen  dollars  per  barrel,  him- 
self paying  as  high  as  ten  cents  per  pound  for  it  in  small 
quantities.  Sometimes  he  has  had  nothing  but  bread  and 
water  to  eat  and  drink,  and  has  planted  corn,  shaking  with 
the  ague  until  he  could  not  hold  the  handle  of  the  hoe. 
He  has  lived  three  months  at  a  time  without  a  cent  of 
money  in  his  pocket,  a  letter  from  their  friends  costing 
twenty-five  cents.  Saleratus  they  made  out  of  corn-cobs, 
burning  them  and  saving  the  ashes,  steeping  them  and 
using  the  liquor ;  making  starch  out  of  potatoes  by  grating 
them  and  putting  a  little  water  to  the  mash,  straining  the 
liquid  through  a  thin  cloth  ;  then  after  evaporating  it  was 
ready  for  use.  He  has  cleared  two  hundred  acres  of  land  ; 
built  three  houses  and  four  barns;  has  his  farm  now  under 
a  fine  state  of  cultivation;  has  assisted  in  building  four 
churches ;  led  the  singing  in  church  for  ten  years ;  is  tem- 
perate in  all  his  habits,  eschewing  both  tobacco  and  spiritu- 
ous beverages.  No  better  representative  of  pioneer  days  can 
be  found  than  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  B.  W.  Colburn. 


GEORGE   W.   GRIGSBY. 

In  looking  about  among  the  circle  of  our  acquaintances,  we 
are  surprised  to  see  how  few  have  made  life  a  success.  Per- 
haps in  the  start  each  had,  to  all  appearances,  the  same  oppor- 
tunities, but  at  the  close  failures  are  thickly  scattered,  while 
here  and  there  a  successful  one  is  found.  We  may  call  the 
attention  of  our  readers  to  George  W.  Grigsby  as  one  who 
has  made  life  a  success,  and  we  find  him  now,  although 
comparatively  a  young  man,  yet  so  situated  in  life  that  the 
remainder  of  it  may  be  spent  in  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his 
earlier  labors.  He  was  born  in  the  county  of  Kent,  Eng- 
land, in  1836.  In  1840  he  was  taken  by  his  father  and 
mother,  James  and  Martha  Grigsby,  with  their  five  other 
children,  to  the  United  States,  and  settled  in  Wayne  Co., 
N.  Y.,  for  a  number  of  years  ;  thence  to  Allegany  Co.,  N. 


Y. ;  from  thence  the  family  moved  to  the  lumber-woods  of 
McKean  and  Cameron  Cos.,  in  Pennsylvania,  where  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  at  an  early  age,  graduated  in  the 
saw-mill,  and  became  skilled  in  the  art  of  rafting  lumber 
down  the  Alleghany  and  some  of  the  head-waters  of  the 
Susquehanna.     But  so  limited  was  his  education  that  he 
was  unable,  at  the  age  of  twenty  years,  to  read  intelligibly 
in  a  common  newspaper.     Although  backward,  and  at  such 
an  age,  he  determined  to  go  to  school,  and  accordingly,  in 
the  fall  of  1856,  with  the  money  earned  by  his  own  hands, 
he  attended  the  academy  at  Coudersport,  Potter  Co.,  Pa., 
until  he  attained  a  proficiency  sufficient  to  teach  school, 
which  he  followed,  at  intervals,  with  going  to  school,  until 
1863,    when   he   married    Miss   Thankful    M.    Freeman, 
daughter  of  Judge  Freeman,  of  Emporium,  Cameron  Co., 
Pa.     Miss  Freeman  was  born  in   1839,  in  Eulalia  town- 
ship. Potter  Co.,  Pa.     During  the  succeeding  winter  Mr. 
Grigsby  and  his  wife  taught  the  village  school  at  Emporium, 
he  teaching  the  higher  department,  and  his  wife  the  pri- 
mary.    In  the  spring  of  1864  they  emigrated  to  Michigan, 
and  in  the  winter  of  the  same  year  he  felled  the  first  tree 
towards  clearing  the  land  where  is  now  located  his  home. 
Paid  two  hundred  dollars  down  on  the  land  (eighty  acres) 
and  gave  a  mortgage  of  six  hundred  dollars,  but  by  industry, 
frugality,  and  living  within  their  means  were  soon  out  of 
debt  and  prosperous. 

They  have  four  living  children,  viz. :  Octavia,  born  July 
12,  1865;  Orrell,  born  Sept.  22,  1867;  Arthur,  born  Oct. 
5,  1869 ;  and  Huldah,  born  Nov.  27,  1872.  Mr.  Grigsby 
has  always  voted  with  the  Democratic  party.  Has  taken 
an  active  part  in  the  official  business  of  the  township, 
having  been  town  clerk  four  terms,  and  served  as  supervisor, 
treasurer,  and  township  superintendent  of  schools.  We 
see  by  these  offices  of  trust  to  which  he  has  been  elected  by 
the  people  of  his  township  that  he  has  not  only  found  time 
to  make  his  own  business  affairs  successful,  but  also  to 
efficiently  perform  the  duties  of  the  public  offices  which  he 
has  held. 


EDGAR  G.  MINCKLER. 

In  giving  a  short  biographical  sketch  of  Edgar  G. 
Minckler  we  write  of  a  man  who,  though  not  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  or  pioneers  of  Michigan,  yet  has  shown 
his  ability  and  made  his  mark  here.  Francis  E.  Minck- 
ler, father  of  Edgar,  with  his  wife  and  only  child,  moved 
from  Clinton  Co.,  N.  Y.  (where  Edgar  was  born  June 
11,  1821),  in  the  spring  of  1822,  to  Grand  Isle  Co.,  Vt. 
His  occupation  had  always  been  that  of  farming.  Ed- 
gar's educational  advantages  were  somewhat  limited,  he 
having  only  the  winter  months  to  devote  to  his  education, 
besides  one  term  at  St.  Alban's  academy,  while  his  summers 
were  wholly  taken  up  by  farm-work  ;  but  he  succeeded  in 
fitting  himself  for  teaching.  This  he  engaged  in  until 
1848,  when,  on  the  27th  of  March,  of  that  year,  he  mar- 
ried Mary  T.,  daughter  of  Reuben  and  Rebecca  Hyde. 
Their  family  are  the  following-named  children :  Helen  J., 
married  to  G.  0.  Merriam  ;  Charles  E.,  married  Abbie 
Pierce ;  Sarah  E.,  married  to  Alonzo  Pierce ;  Warren  E., 


WILLIAM    PORTER. 


MRS.    WILLIAM    PORTER. 


WILLIAM  PORTER. 


William,  son  of  Ashbel  Porter,  was  born  Jan.  14, 
1810,  in  Sandy  Creek,  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.  In  those 
days  a  boy's  life  devoid  of  labor  was  a  remarkable 
exception.  William  was  not  this  exception,  and,  as 
his  father  was  a  farmer,  his  early  days  were  passed 
in  agricultural  pursuits.  At  the  age  of  twenty,  the 
time  when  most  young  men  think  of  beginning  life 
for  themselves,  William  left  home  and  hired  out  by 
the  month.  For  six  years  he  engaged  at  this  during 
the  summer  season,  and  was  employed  in  a  tavern 
during  the  winter.  At  the  age  of  twenty-six  he 
came  West.  After  making  a  short  stop  at  Allegan, 
Mich.,  he  went  to  Gun  Plain,  entering  six  hundred 
and  forty  acres  of  land  in  Martin  township,  thjs 
purchase  costing  him  ten  shillings  per  acre.  At  the 
end  of  four  years  he  had  sold  this.  In  1837  he 
bought  three  hundred  and  eighty  acres  in  Trow- 
bridge township,  and  has  since  made  additions  until 
he  is  now  the  owner  of  eight  hundred  acres ;  this  land 
was  heavily  timbered,  with  no  improvements.  He 
first  lived  in  a  log  hut;  in  a  short  time  built  a  larger 
one;  this  was  followed  by  the  more  commodious  house 
which  he  now  occupies.  In  addition  to  his  houses, 
he  also  built  two  saw-mills — one  in  1840  and  the 
other  in  1844.  The  first  grindstone  brought  into 
the  township  was  introduced  by  him.  In  connection 
with  farming,  Mr.  Porter  has  been  engaged  in  man- 
ufacturing shingles,  staves,  and  laths.     The  early 


settlers  turned  their  hands  to  anything  by  which  they 
could  realize  a  few  dollars.  Hunting  and  trapping 
gave  many  of  them  amusement,  and  added  to  their 
small  allowance  of  money.  Mr.  Porter  caught  thirty- 
three  coons  during  one  winter,  selling  the  skins  for 
one  dollar  each.  In  1839,  wishing  to  plant  an  or- 
chard, he  was  obliged  to  walk  four  miles  and  carry 
the  trees  on  his  back,  carrying  twenty-five  each  trip, 
and  making  four  trips.  The  result  of  this  labor 
may  be  seen  to-day  in  the  fine-bearing  orchard  on 
his  farm.  Mr.  Porter  has  been  twice  married.  His 
first  wife  was  Miss  Huldah  Billings.  Five  children 
were  born  of  this  union,  viz. :  Levi,  born  June  7, 
1841 ;  died  in  Andersonville  prison  Aug.  1,  1863. 
Frederic  M.,  bom  Dec.  10,  1843;  now  living  in 
Trowbridge  township ;  served  in  the  war  of  the  Re 
bellion  almost  three  years.  William,  born  March  4, 
1847 ;  died  Aug.  12,  1857.  Two  died  in  infancy. 
Mrs.  Porter  died  March  4,  1847.  The  second  mar- 
riage took  place  Nov.  14,  1857,  when  he  married 
the  widow  of  James  B.  Payne,  and  daughter  of  Royal 
and  Phoebe  Southworth.  Five  children  have  been 
born  to  them,  viz. :  Huldah  G.,  Laura  J.,  William 
D.,  Lumi  E.,  and  Addie  M.,  all  of  whom  are 
living,  Huldah  being  married.  Mrs.  Porter  and  one 
daughter  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
Mr.  Porter  is  politically  identified  with  the  Repub- 
lican party. 


WATSON  TOWNSHIP. 


343 


married  Adella  Armstrong ;  Reuben  H.  and  Solon  T.  are 
still  at  the  old  home.  In  1850,  Mr.-Edgar  Minckler  bought 
a  farm  in  Grand  Isle  Co.,  Vt.,  and  remained  there,  engaged 
in  farming,  until  1861,  when  he  decided  to  try  his  fortune 
in  Michigan,  the  State  then  so  much  talked  of.  Arriving 
in  Allegan  County,  he  settled  in  Trowbridge  township,  on 
section  21,  buying  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land 
at  twenty  dollars  per  acre.  Has  not  only  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, but  speculated  in  wild  lands ;  also  engaged  in  sheep- 
raising.     A  part  of  the  farm  bought  by  Mr.  Minckler  was 


timbered;  this  he  cleared.  His  first  house  was  a  small 
frame,  but  this  has  given  place  to  a  fine  two-story  house, 
a  view  of  which  can  be  seen  on  another  page  of  this  work. 
Mr.  Minckler  is  a  man  of  ability,  and  has  been  made  good 
use  of  by  his  fellow-townsmen  in  Trowbridge,  who  have 
kept  him  in  office  most  of  the  time.  Has  been  elected  su- 
perintendent of  schools,  and  served  twelve  years  as  supervisor. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Minckler's  parents  were  Americans.  Neither 
of  them  ever  came  West,  but  lived  and  died  in  the  State  of 
Vermont. 


w  A  T  s  o  n; 


SURVET-TOWNSHIP  No.  2  north,  in  range  12  west,  other- 
wise known  as  the  civil  township  of  Watson,  is  not  only 
among  the  foremost  portions  of  Allegan  County  in  date  of 
settlement,  but  also  in  the  excellence  of  its  lands  and  the 
advanced  condition  of  its  farming  interests.  Its  location 
has  some  advantages  on  account  of  its  accessibility  to  the 
county-seat,  and  also  to  the  most  important  of  the  villages 
on  the  eastern  side  of  the  county.  It  lies  south  of  Hop- 
kins and  north  of  Otsego,  while  Allegan  bounds  it  on  the 
west  and  Martin  on  the  east. 

NATUKAL  FEATURES. 

The  surface  of  Watson  is  greatly  diversified.  A  consid- 
erable portion  of  the  south  and  southwest  is  level,  and  pos- 
sesses an  easily-cultivated  soil.  Some  swampy  land  is  to  be 
seen,  but  this  is  easily  susceptible  of  drainage,  and  will 
probably  ere  long  be  converted  into  some  of  the  most  val- 
uable land  in  the  township.  The  northern  portion  of  the 
township  abounds  in  elevations  and  declivities,  some  of 
which  are  quite  abrupt,.and  command  from  their  summits 
extensive  views  of  the  surrounding  region.  On  the  eastern 
side,  as  well  as  in  the  centre,  many  inequalities  are  to  be 
seen,  but  the  changes  of  elevation  are  less  abrupt  and  there 
are  few  impediments  to  the  most  thorough  cultivation. 

The  soil  is  abundantly  watered  by  springs  and  brooks, 
while  numberless  lakes,  both  small  and  large,  are  sprinkled 
over  the  surface.  Chief  among  these  are  Schnable  Lake, 
on  sections  26  and  35  ;  Big  Lake,  principally  lying  on  sec- 
tions 14  and  23  ;  Schiller  Lake,  which  lies  on  section  12 ; 
Hudson  Lake,  on  section  14 ;  School  Section  Lake,  cover- 
ing portions  of  sections  15  and  16 ;  Pulsifer  Lake,  prin- 
cipally on  section  10 ;  and  others  not  of  sufficient  importance 
to  mention.  Many  of  these  sheets  of  water  offiar  strong 
attractions  to  the  sportsman,  as  well  as  the  admirer  of  pic- 
turesque scenery.  Numerous  streams  and  brooks  emanate 
from  these  lakes,  and  afford  abundant  irrigation  to  the  land. 
Schnable  Brook,  in  the  south,  aff'ords  quite  a  good  water- 
power. 

A  variety  of  soil  is  found  in  Watson,  nearly  all  the  kinds 

»  By  B.  0.  Wagner. 


to  be  seen  in  other  portions  of  the  county  existing  here. 
Gravel  and  clay  combined  are  found  on  the  slopes,  while  on 
the  level  lands  clay-loam  is  liberally  interspersed  with  sand. 
On  the  lowest  flats  a  rich  vegetable  mould  and  clay  subsoil 
are  present,  and  in  the  swamps  the  usual  quantity  of  muck 
is  to  be  found.  The  soil  is  generally  well  adapted  to  the 
growth  of  wheat,  there  being  very  little  territory  in  the 
township  where  that  grain  does  not  thrive.  Much  of  the 
land  is  devoted  to  this  crop.  The  last  census — that  of  1874 
— gives  the  number  of  acres  of  wheat  harvested  the  pre- 
vious year  as  1685,  which  produced  24,311  bushels,  while 
991  acres  planted  with  corn  yielded  31,854  bushels.  Of 
other  grains  the  annual  product  was  18,758  bushels,  oats 
having  been  sown  with  great  success.  Much  good  grass  is 
cut  in  the  township,  and  hay  of  a  superior  quality  is  pro- 
duced.    The  number  of  tons  cut  in  1873  was  2243. 

The  timber  of  Watson  does  not  vary  greatly  in  kind 
or  quality  from  that  usually  found  throughout  the  county. 
Beech,  maple,  whitewood,  basswood,  sycamore,  and  oak 
flourish,  and  a  few  oak-openings  are  still  to  be  seen  on  the 
eastern  side.  Pine  is  not  abundant,  but  tamarack  attains  a 
luxuriant  growth  on  the  marshy  land.  Elm  and  ash  are 
also  to  be  seen,  and  so  is  an  occasional  hemlock,  though  the 
latter  does  not  find  a  congenial  soil  in  this  region. 

The  climate  and  soil  of  Watson  are  both  adapted  to  fruit- 
culture,  and  no  farrf  is  found  without  its  apple-orchard. 
Many  of  these  produce  grafted  fruit  of  a  superior  quality, 
and  the  yi^ld  is  generally  very  abundant.  The  number  of 
apple-trees  in  the  township  is  estimated  at  over  20,000,  most 
of  which  are  prolific  bearers.  The  slopes  and  hills  are  ad- 
mirably adapted  to  the  culture  of  peaches,  and  more  atten- 
tion is  being  devoted  to  this  fruit  than  heretofore.  Those 
trees  which  are  of  sufficient  age  have  yielded  superior 
crops,  while  many  orchards  are  but  just  started,  and  will 
require  some  time  before  becoming  a  source  of  profit. 

Two  railroads  afford  the  inhabitants  of  Watson  ample 
opportunities  for  the  shipment  of  produce.  The  Allegan  and 
Southeastern  road,  which  is  operated  by  the  Grand  Rapids 
and  Indiana  Railroad  Company,  enters  the  township  on  the 
west  line  of  section  30,  and,  passing  nearly  due  east,  leaves  it 


344 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


on  the  east  line  of  section  25.  It  has  two  stations  in  Watson, 
— Kellogg  Station,  on  section  29,  and  Fisk's  Station,  on 
section  27.  The  Lake-Shore  and  Michigan  Southern  Rail- 
road passes  through  the  southeast  corner  of  the  township, 
with  a  station  just  over  the  town-line,  in  Otsego. 

ORIGINAL  PUECHASES  OF  LAND. 
The  lands  of  Watson  were  purchased  from  the  govern- 
ment by  persons  whose  names  are  given  below  : 

Section  1.— Bought  from  1836  to  1848  by  J.  S.  Grenell,  Hiram  Thomp- 
son,  H.  Dckano,  Jacob  Gillett,  Darius  Sprague. 

Section  2.— Bought  from  1852  to  1S66  by  Porter  Williams,  J.  H.  Gre- 
gory, C.  T.  Kennedy,  Rhoda  A.  Williams,  William  Simmons, 
William  Perkins,  S.  A.  Band,  S.  W.  Bostwick. 

Section  3.— Bought  from  1852  to  1862  by  William  Perkins,  Norton 
Andrews,  Horace  Bigelow,  M.  Richardson,  A.  H.  Durkee,  William 
Dunton,  Isaac  Revick,  M.  P.  Williams,  Alexander  Buell,  William 
Perkins,  H.  D.  Gallen,  George  Kent. 

Section  4.— Bought  from  1837  to  1852  by  John  White,  W.  C.  Jenner, 
Lewis  Huttleston,  William  Finn,  James  Bentley,  M.  Richardson. 

Section  5. — Bought  from  1836  to  1854  by  James  McCormick,  Brooks 
Mason,  L.  Kerwin,  Oscar  Mcintosh,  George  Graham. 

Section  6. — Bought  from  1847  to  1859  by  N.  K.  Lonsberry,  Butler  and 
Bush,  W.  S.  Miner,  Oscar  Bissel,  F.  H.  Morton,  George  Graham, 
Hugh  Campbell,  R.  F.  Rockett,  James  Martin,  Edwin  Graw- 
berger. 

Section  7.— Bought  from  1837  to  1866  by  M.  B.  Savage,  M.  Hinsdell 
(assignee),  Stephen  Moore,  J.  L.  Hughes,  0.  P.  Priest,  Charles 
Miner. 

Section  8. — Bought  from  1837  to  1854  by  Asa  Morse,  Joseph  Martin, 
John  Martin,  George  Maybee  (assignee),  Isaac  Ha!!,  E.  Flanagan, 
Peter  Cronan,  C.  Ward. 

Section  9. — Bought  from  1837  to  1854  by  M.  B.  Savage,  Jesse  Holmes, 
G.  Maybee  (assignee),  David  Hurd,  J.  Pulsifer,  E.  A.  Beard. 

Section  10.— Bought  in  1852  and  1853  by  W.  D.  Cook,  William  Pul- 
sifer, T.  D.  Mason,  J.  F.  Kennedy,  John  Armstrong. 

Section  11.— Bought  from  1852  to  1854  by  B.  S.  Hudson,  Porter  Wil- 
liams, J.  H.  Gregory,  S.  0.  Gregory,  D.  F.  Ayres,  Susan  Smith, 
D.  I.  Sprague,  J.  W.  Briggs,  E.  H.  Reynolds,  George  Mason,  Mil- 
ton Pratt. 

Section  12. — Bought  from  1838  to  1858  by  J.  I.  Lardner,  Mary  Rey- 
nolds, Thomas  Kirkland,  J.  S.  Gorton,  J.  E.  Harding,  Justus 
Leach,  W.  M.  Dyson,  W.  A.  Reynolds,  Fred  Woodhaus,  A.  A. 
Beckwith. 

Section  13. — Bought  in  1836  by  Thomas  Gorton. 

Section  14.— Bought  from  1837  to  1855  by  W.  D.  Cook,  C.  Barrel!, 
Thomas  Gorton,  Oramel  Griffen,  S.  W.  Dunning,  Alfred  Stone, 
L.  Decker,  H.  C.  Round,  T.  T.  Mason. 

Section  15.— Bought  in  1837  and  1851  by  0.  Griffin,  G.  R.  Allen, 
Heirs  of  William  Birch. 

Section  16.— Bought  from  1851  to  1858  by  T.  Sullivan,  G.  W.  Lons- 
bury,  J.  E.  Lonsbury,  W.  W.  Kent,  S.  Spauiein,  Thomas  Cronan, 
M.  Maybee,  Samuel  Fish,  I.  Wheatly,  G.  B.  Bassett,  D.  Bracelin, 
Jr.,  C.  Latter, 

Section  17. — Bought  from  1836  to  1858  by  tucy  Miner,  W.  S.  Miner, 
Benjamin  Richards,  J.  H.  Lonsbury,  N.  K.  Lonsbury,  C.  C.Collins, 
John  Redmond. 

Section  18.— Bought  from  1836  to  1858  by  C.  A.  Miner,  W.  B.  Robin- 
son, Benona  Collins,  J.  S.  Hesseton,  A.  S.  Pratt,  B.  Pratt,  William 
Bracelin,  J.  A.  Frost. 

Section  19. — Bought  from  1836  to  1858  by  Daniel  Leggett,  James 
Bracelin,  Ira  Hamilton,  Wells  Field,  Daniel  Bracelin,  W.  M. 
Pullen,  Charles  M.  Miner,  J.  M.  Edgarton,  D.  C.  Henderson. 

Section  21.— Bought  in  1836  by  Justin  Ely,  G.  Y.  Warner,  L.  H.  San- 
ford,  Eli  Watson. 

Section  22.— Bought  in  1836  and  1837  by  L.  H.  Sanford,  R.  Talcott, 
James  Armitage,  A.  D.  Dunning,  J.  L.  and  S.  L.  Davidson, 
Oramel  Griffin,  S.  L.  Davidson. 

Section  23.— Bought  from  1836  to  1845  by  Chaunoey  Burrell,  W.  S. 
Miner,  Hiram  Thompson,  Lucy  Dunning,  J.  M.  Thomas. 

Section  24. — Bought  from  1836  to  1850  by  Ostrom  Company,  E.  S, 
Chase,  0.  Griffin,  N.  Skinner,  B.  P.  Chase,  John  Hicks,  M.  Shell- 
mun,  James  liedpath. 


Section  25. — Bought  from  1836  to  1853  by  Ostrom  Company,  B.  S. 

Chase,  C.  D.  Carman,  J.  S.  Hogeboom,  J.  B.  Nicholson,  A.  I. 

Dedrick,  B.  B.  Billings,  John  Richie,  H.  Kldd,  Jr.,  Mary  J. 

McCorkell,  Samuel  Caruthers. 
Section  26. — Bought  from  1837  to  1854  by  Hiram  Thompson,  S.  A. 

Atkins,  James  Fitch,  N.  TuIIam,  C.  P.  Dunning,  B.  B.  Billings, 

A.  J.  Kent,  R.  W.  Brooks. 
Section  27.— Bought  in  1836  by  Justin  Ely. 
Section  28.— Bought  in  1836  by  Justin  Ely,  George  Y.  Warner. 
Section  29.— Bought  in  1836  by  A.  and  P.  Bronson,  Justin  Ely,  G. 

Y.  Warner. 
Section  30.— Bought  in  1836  and  1837  by  A.  and  F.  Bronson,  William 

H.  DeWolf,  George  Patten. - 
Section  31. — Bought  in  1836  by  A.  and  F.  Bronson. 
Section  32. — Bought  in  1836  and  1837  by  A.  and  F.  Bronson,  Oramel 

Griffin. 
Section  33. — -Bought  from  1836  to  1854  by  James  Chase,  Jr.,  Francis 

Dwight,  Cynthia  Chaffee,  James  6.  Coons. 
Section  34. — Bought  in  1836  and  1837  by  Francis  Dwight,  Richard 

Talcott,  Hiram  Thompson. 
Section  35.— Bought  from   1836  to  1852  by  B.  B.  Bentley,  Lyman 

Lane,  Robert  Mason,  L.  D.  Nicholas,  A.  Baustin. 
Section  36. — Bought  from  1835  to  1853  by  Philander  Knappen,  I.  S. 

Roberts,  D.  Sprague,  William  Rose,  James  McDiarmind,  Anna 

Atkins,  Wm.  McKenzie,  H.  G.  Johnson,  Samuel  Caruthers. 

EAELY   SETTLEMENTS. 

.  A  number  of  the  pioneers  of  Watson  found  a  temporary 
home  and  employment  in  Allegan,  meanwhile  making  occa- 
sional pilgrimages  to  the  lands  they  had  selected  in  this 
township  and  preparing  the  way  for  a  residence  there. 

The  earliest  to  arrive  were  Daniel  Leggett  and  William 
S.  Miner,  the  latter  of  whom  came  from  Rochester,  N.  Y., 
in  1836,  and  remained  fpr  a  while  in  Allegan.  He  entered 
160  acres  on  section  17,  May  20,  1836,  and  the  same  year 
built  a  log  house  upon  it,  bringing  help  from  Allegan  to 
assist  in  the  raising.  This  was  the  first  house  in  the  town- 
ship, and  Mrs.  Miner  on  her  arrival  was  the  sole  female 
representative  of  the  Caucasian  race  in  Watson.  Mr. 
Miner  devoted  himself  at  once  to  the  improvement  of  his 
land,  clearing  and  sowing  wheat,  and  assisting,  as  fur  as  he 
was  able,  the  later  settlers  in  the  township.  He  was  the 
earliest  postmaster  in  Watson,  the  office,  which  was  legally 
known  as  Proctor,  having  been  located  at  his  house.  He 
died  in  1876,  on  the  farm  he  had  cleared  up,  which  is  now 
occupied  by  his  two  sons,  Charles  M.  and  William  Miner. 
His  widow  resides  with  her  daughter  in  Allegan. 

Daniel  Leggett  also  came  from  Rochester  in  1836,  and 
entered  120  acres  on  sections  18  and  20.  He  erected  the 
second  house  in  the  township,  remaining  in  Allegan  until 
its  completion,  when  he  removed  his  family  to  their  primi- 
tive habitation.  Mr.  Leggett  has  converted  the  forest  he 
found  on  his  arrival  into  a  productive  farm,  upon  which  he 
still  resides. 

Chester  A.  Miner  followed  his  brother  William  to  the 
township  in  1837,  and  located  80  acres  on  section  18.  He 
at  first  built  and  occupied  a  board  shanty  12  feet  square, 
but  the  next  year  erected  a  log  house.  Mr.  Miner  spent  his 
subsequent  life  upon  this  farm,  where  he  died  in  the  fall 
of  1876.  It  is  now  occupied  by  his  children.  His  brother, 
Joseph  Miner,  who  arrived  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year, 
located  himself  on  section  17  and  resided  with  his  mother, 
who  survived  for  several  years  her  removal  to  the  West. 
Mr.  Miner  still  resides  upon  this  place,  and  is  now,  as  for- 
merly, engaged  in  farming. 


WATSON   TOWNSHIP. 


345 


Daniel  Bracelin  came  with  his  brother  James  from 
Washtenaw  County  in  1835,  and  remained  for  a  while  in 
Allegan,  having  been  among  the  earliest  arrivals  in  the 
village.  They  were  employed  by  Alexander  L.  Ely  in 
clearing  lands  in  that  township,  and  were  induced  to  make 
a  purchase  there,  but  Daniel,  not  being  satisfied  with  his 
location,  exchanged  his  land  for  80  acres  in  Watson,  on 
section  20.  This  he  cleared  and  improved,  and  became 
one  of  the  most  enterprising  citizens  of  the  township.  He 
was  largely  instrumental  in  the  erection  of  a  Catholic 
church  in  Watson,  and  contributed  liberally  to  its  support. 
His  brother  James,  who  survives  him,  is  still  a  resident  of 
Allegan. 

Eli   Watson,  a  previous  resident  of  Jefferson   Co.,  N. 
Y.,  entered  the  east  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 20  in  1836.     He  did  not   remove  to  the  township 
until  August,  1837.     He  came  with  his  family  to  what  is 
now  Trowbridge  in  July  of  that  year,  and  accepted  the 
hospitality  of  Mr.  Granger,  of  that  township,  for  about  six 
weeks,  until  their  own  log  house  was  ready  for  occupation. 
Their  household  goods  were   stored  in  an  empty  house 
owned  by  Dr.  Bigelow,  and  there  they  slept  at  night,  living 
during  the  day  at  Mr.  Granger's.     As  soon  as  their  cabin 
in  Watson  was  completed,  they  moved  into  it.     He  was  a 
successful  farmer  and  public-spirited  citizen,  devoting  a  por- 
tion of  his  time  to  the  interests  of  the  township,  but  he  at 
length  removed,  with  the  tide  of  emigration,  to  Nebraska, 
where  his  son  now  resides.    Still  later  Mr.  Watson  returned 
to  Allegan,  the  scene  of  his  early  eiforts,  and  died  there. 

Samuel  A.  Atkins,  a  former  resident  of  Tompkins  Co., 
N.  Y.,  was  among  the  foremost  pioneers  of  1838,  and  lo- 
cated upon  the  east  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
26.  On  section  24  was  a  squatter  named  David  Updyck, 
who,  after  a  brief  residence,  disposed  of  his  improvements 
to  a  permanent  settler.  With  him  Mr.  Atkins  remained 
until  he  had  completed  a  house,  to  which  he  speedily 
brought  his  family.  Mr.  Atkins  experienced  all  the  hard- 
ships of  pioneer  Ufe,  and  was  on  one  occasion  obliged  to 
carry  a  bag  of  corn  on  his  back  seven  or  eight  miles  to 
Pine  Creek  to  be  ground,  and  to  bring  back  the  grist  in  the 
same  manner.  Perseverance  and  courage,  however,  ulti- 
mately brought  him  a  competence,  which  he  still  lives  to 
enjoy.  His  son,  A.  W.  Atkins,  who  came  with  his  father 
in  1848,  now  resides  upon  a  tract  of  200  acres  on  sections 
23  and  26. 

Caleb  D.  Carmen,  another  pioneer  from  Tompkins 
County,  N.  Y.,  located  in  1838  upon  40  acres  on  section 
25.  He  was  the  father-in-law  of  Mr.  AtkinSj  and  found 
with  him  a  temporary  home  until  he  could  build  a  log 
house  for  himself.  Mr.  Carmen  was  by  trade  a  shoemaker, 
and  during  the  early  years  of  his  residence  numerous  de- 
mands were  made  upon  his  skill.  He  resided  on  the  place 
he  first  occupied  until  his  death,  ten  years  later,  at  a  very 

advanced  age. 

Amos  D.  Dunning,  another  of  the  Monroe  County  pio- 
neers, arrived  in  1837,  and  found  a  home  with  William  S. 
Miner,  and  later  purchased  80  acres  on  section  22.  He 
was  selected  by  his  fellow-townsmen  as  their  choice  for 
supervisor  after  the  organization  of  the  township,  and  filled 
other  local  offices  acceptably.  Mr.  Dunning  died  upon  the 
44 


land  on  which  he  first  located,  and  was  succeeded  in  the 
ownership  by  his  widow  and  his  son,  Gilbert  A.  Dunning. 
William  Allen,  a  former  resident  of  Vermont,  came  to 
Allegan  in  1837,  and  for  a  while  had  charge  of  the  board- 
ing-house erected  by  Alexander  L.  Ely  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  the  men  employed  by  him  on  the  various  improve- 
ments that  engaged  his  energies.  Soon  after,  he  purchased 
land  on  section  27,  upon  which  he  erected  a  log  house. 
He  was  for  some  time  employed  upon  the  Justin  Ely  farm, 
in  the  township  of  Allegan,  but  in  1841  became  a  perma- 
nent resident  of  Watson,  and  occupied  the  house  he  had 
already  built.  He  improved  his  land  and  rendered  it 
among  the  most  desirable  farms  in  the  township.  He  has 
since  erected  a  substantial  frame  house,  in  which  he  now 
resides. 

John  Hicks,  an  emigrant  from  the  Dominion  of  Canada, 
arrived  in  1837,  and  obtained  a  fractional  80  acres  on  section 
24.  A  year  later  he  returned  for  his  family,  and  on  his 
arrival  at  home  hired  a  conveyance  to  bring  him  as  far  as 
Marshall.  His  limited  means  would  permit  of  no  further 
expenditure  for  traveUng  purposes,  and  the  family  pursued 
the  remainder  of  their  journey  on  foot.  A  wheelbarrow 
was  employed  during  their  progress,  which  served  to  render 
the  pilgrimage  less  wearisome  to  the  little  ones.  Mr. 
Hicks  and  his  family  found  the  log  house  he  had  built  very 
inviting  after  the  fatigues  of  travel.  He  resided  in  the 
township  during  his  lifetime,  most  of  which  was  devoted 
to  labor  upon  his  land.  His  death  occurred  in  1878,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-four  years. 

From  New  York  State  came  N.  K.  Lonsbury,  first  to 
Lenawee  County,  and  in  1839  to  Watson.     He  entered  at 
Kalamazoo — that  having  at  the  time  been  the  site  of  the 
land-office — 80  acres  on  section  17.     On  this  he  erected  a 
log  house,  to  which  he  later  brought  his  wife.     His  neigh- 
bors  were   the   Miner  brothers, — Joseph,   William,   and 
Chester  Miner,— Daniel  Leggett,  and  Eli  Watson.     There 
were  at  this  time  no  roads,  and  Mr.  Lonsbury  was  obliged 
to  open  a  highway  to  his  farm  through  the  dense  forest. 
He  cleared  five  acres  the  first  year  and  sowed  a  portion 
with  wheat,  which  yielded  an  abundant  harvest,  meanwhile 
laborin-^  in  various  portions  of  the  county  to  obtain  means 
wherewith  to  live.     He  had  no  horses,  an  ox-team  having 
aided  in  his  pioneer  labors.     In  1856  he  erected  a  sub- 
stantial house,  in  which  he  has  since  resided.     Mr.  Lons- 
bury was  married,  in  1841,  to  Miss  Lucy  A.  Miner,  the 
earliest  marriage   in  the   township.     His  brother,  Henry 
Lonsbury,  came  some  years  later,  and  located  80  acres  on 
.  the  school  section.     This  land  was  unimproved  when  he 
settled  upon  it,  but  industry  and  energy  have  rendered  it 
a  well-cultivated  farm.     At  this  time  a  pilgrimage  of  sev- 
eral miles  was  necessary  to  obtain  lumber  for  building  pur- 
poses.    In  1859,  William  S.  Miner  erected  a  saw-mill  on 
Schnable  Brook,  which  after  that  date  supplied  much  of  the 
building  material  of  the  township. 

Peter  Richart,  another  pioneer  of  1838,  came  from 
Pennsylvania  and  located  on  section  21,  where  he  purchased 
80  acres,  which  as  yet  was  unimproved.  He  cleared  the 
principal  portion,  and  resided  for  several  years  upon  it. 
Later  he  removed  to  Otsego,  where  he  engaged  in  milling, 
and  ultimately  chose  Pine  Creek  as  a  residence. 


346 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BAERT  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


The  arrival  of  Job  Moon  occurred  at  the  same  date,  and 
a  farm  on  section  29  absorbed  his  attention  for  many  years. 
The  attractions  of  the  West  were,  however,  superior  to  the 
advantages  Michigan  offered,  and  he  departed  for  Nebraska. 
Later  he  removed  to  Missouri,  where  he  has  since  remained. 
Among   the   foremost  citizens  of  Watson  is  Jesse  D. 
Stone,  who   came   from    Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in  1836,  and 
located  80  acres  on  section  23.     Though  an  early  pur- 
chaser of  land,  he  did  not  become  a  permanent  resident 
until  1840.     Amos  D.  Dunning  welcomed  him  to  his  hum- 
ble quarters  while  procuring  material  for  the  erection  of  a 
house.     The  township  presented  a  very  primitive  appear- 
ance at  this  early  date.     A  dense  forest  covered  most  of 
the  land,  the  Miner  settlement  alone  affording  an  exception 
to  this  fact.     Wolves  and  deer  were  abundant,  and  Indians 
roamed  the  wilderness  in  pursuit  of   game,  or  wandered 
along  the  streams  which  afforded  them  subsistence.     Two 
acres  had  already  been  planted  with  corn  on  Mr.  Stone's 
arrival,  which  yielded  the  family  a  supply  of  food  until  a 
greater  variety  could  be  obtained.     The  log  house  was  later 
supplanted  by  a  comfortable  frame  residence,  in  which  Mr. 
Stone,  as  advancing  years  overtake  him,  spends  peacefully 
the  remainder  of  his  life. 

Lloyd  Austin,  on  his  arrival  from  New  York,  located 
first  in  Allegan.  The  land  on  section  27  offered  strong 
attractions,  and  induced  him,  in  1842,  to  purchase  160 
acres,  which  he  converted  from  a  wilderness  to  fruitful 
fields.  He  died,  in  1878,  upon  this  farm,  having  left  a 
record  for  excellence  of  character  which  made  his  death 
universally  deplored. 

Edward  Flannagan,  the  second  arrival  among  the  Irish 
population  of  Watson,  was  a  pioneer  of  1845.  He  cleared 
a  portion  of  the  80  acres  he  purchased  on  section  8,  and 
erected  a  log  house.  His  death  occurred  in  Allegan  in  1877. 
William  Kent  emigrated  from  Canada  to  the  wilds  of 
Michigan  in  1840,  and  found  a  home  in  Watson  in  1848, 
having  selected  15  acres  on  section  15.  He  was  accom- 
panied by  five  sons,  of  whom  William,  James,  and  George 
now  reside  in  the  township.  This  venerable  gentleman  is 
now  in  his  eighty-fourth  year,  and  in  his  advanced  age 
enjoys  the  filial  care  of  his  son  George,  with  whom  he 
resides. 

Wells  Field,  a  native  of  Phelps,  Ontario  Co.,  N,  Y.,  emi- 
grated to  the  village  of  Allegan  with  his  wife  in  July,  1836, 
and  took  charge  of  a  store  of  Joseph  Fisk,  where  he  re- 
mained for  a  year,  when  he  assumed  the  position  of  "  mine 
host"  of  the  Allegan,  and  in  the  fall  of  1840  he  purchased 
the  west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  19,  in 
Watson  township,  near  his  brotker-in-law,  William  PuUen, 
who  settled  in  Allegan  township  a  year  or  two  previous. 
Mr.  Field  and  his  family  remained  at  Mr.  Pullen's  for  about 
a  year,  and  returned  to  the  village  of  Allegan,  where  they 
resided  three  years,  and  again  removed  to  the  farm  and 
purchased  the  east  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  19. 
At  this  time  he  built  a  frame  house  and  resided  there  for 
three  years,  when  he  moved  to  Allegan  and  spent  three 
years,  and  in  1849  again  went  back  to  the  farm.  He  now 
lives  in  Allegan,  still  owning  the  southwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 19. 

Nelson  Fisk  came  from  New  York  State  in  1850,  and 


chose  the  township  as  his  residence,  purchasing  80  acres 
on  section  22,  upon  which  he  built  a  log  house.  He  soon 
after  began  the  cultivation  of  the  land,  which  he  rendered 
productive,  but  ultimately  removed  from,  and  located  upon 
the  same  section,  adjoining  the  residence  of  his  son  Sam- 
uel, who  has  60  acres  on  section  22.  The  farm,  improved 
by  Nelson  Fisk,  is  now  occupied  by  Samuel  Martin. 

J.  Pulsifer,  a  former  resident  of  Ohio,  found  an  at- 
tractive home  on  section  9,  upon  which  he  located  in  1853, 
and  on  which  he  built  a  log  house.  A  cooper-shop,  which 
had  done  duty  on  previous  occasions  in  affording  shelter  to 
pioneers,  performed  the  same  kind  of  office  for  his  family 
during  the  interval.  He  was  the  earliest  pioneer  in  the 
immediate  neighborhood.  A  brother,  William  Pulsifer, 
followed  a  year  later,  and  after  a  temporary  residence  with 
him  removed  to  section  10.  Still  later  another  brother, 
Horace,  located  on  the  same  section.  Both  are  now  dead. 
John  Grant,  formerly  of  Lyons,  N.  Y.,  erected  on  sec- 
tion 22  a  frame  house  in  1856,  having  on  his  arrival  re- 
ceived a  welcome  from  S.  V.  Borne,  who  was  then  a 
neighbor,  but  has  since  removed  to  Monterey.  Mr.  Grant 
afterward  changed  his  location  to  section  26,  where  he  also 
erected  a  frame  house,  and  now  resides.  He  is  by  trade  a 
carpenter,  and  numerous  residences  in  the  township  bear 
evidence  to  his  taste  and  skill. 

John  McLaughlin,  one  of  the  band  of  Irish  pioneers 
that  helped  to  populate  Allegan  County,  purchased  95  acres 
in  1856  on  section  14,  the  former  owner  having  been  Alfred 
Stone.  A  tract  of  five  acres  had  already  been  cleared,  but 
no  house  was  built  upon  it.  William  Kent's  hospitality 
was  extended  to  him  for  seven  weeks  while  material  was 
being  prepared  for  the  erection  of  a  house,  to  which  his 
family  removed  on  completion.  His  improvements  the 
first  year  embraced  five  acres,  which  were  gradually  increased 
until  the  whole  farm  reached  a  high  degree  of  cultivation. 
A  convenient  frame  residence  has  since  taken  the  place  of 
the  log  structure.  Mr.  McLaughlin  suffered  much  from 
poor  health  on  his  arrival,  but  has  since  become  thoroughly 
acclimated. 

Randall  Brooks  became  a  resident  of  Watson  in  1846, 
having  located  on  section  27,  where  he  still  resides.  He 
found  temporary  shelter  at  the  house  of  Charles  Dunning, 
who  had  located  80  acres  on  section  26,  but  who  subse- 
quently removed  to  Iowa,  where  he  died. 

William  A.  Reynolds,  a  former  resident  of  New  York 
■State,  removed  to  Gun  Plain  in  1845,  and  to  the  township 
of  Watson  one  year  later,  having  chosen  a  location  upon 
section  12,  where  he  now  owns  a  farm  that  has  been  culti- 
vated to  a  high  state  of  productiveness. 

In  1852,  George  W.  Gorton  became  a  permanent  resi- 
dent of  Watson,  having  arrived  on  a  prospecting  tour  two 
years  previously.  He  chose  a  home  upon  80  acres  on  sec- 
tion 13,  upon  which  he  built  a  substantial  residence.  He 
enjoys  the  reputation  of  being  a  successful  farmer. 

Three  years  later  came  James  Anderson,  from  Monroe 
County,  who  chose  a  farm  of  139  acres  on  section  15.  A 
log  house  had  already  been  built  by  one  Stratton,  the  for- 
mer owner,  but  no  improvements  were  made.  Later,  Mr. 
Anderson  removed  to  section  10,  where  he  erected  a  com- 
fortable habitation,  which  he  now  occupies. 


WATSON  TOWNSHIP. 


347 


From  Livingston  County  came  William  Wheatley  in 
1855,  who  located  on  section  8,  where  he  found  productive 
land  and  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  in  1873. 

Among  other  pioneers  whose  enterprise  entitles  them  to 
especial  mention  are  Nicholas  Skinner,  J.  A.  Caughey, 
L.  Brewer,  A.  W.  Beals,  A.  Durkee,  J.  Potter,  H.  Bartlett, 
E.  C.  Osborn,  L.  Howe,  F.  Goldspring,  W.  Wetherill,  H. 
D.  Edgarton,  Wells  Field,  Wm.  Oaks,  Jedediah  Morse,  and 
Charles  Benson. 

The  earliest  religious  services  in  the  township  were  held 
in  the  first  log  house  erected  in  Watson,  that  of  Wm.  S. 
Miner.  They  were  conducted  by  Rev.  W.  C.  R.  Bliss,  of 
Allegan,  whose  zeal  in  the  good  cause  had  made  him  a 
pioneer  in  Christian  work  in  other  portions  of  the  county. 
Later  services  were  conducted  in  the  Miner  school-house, 
which,  for  a  succession  of  years,  was  the  resort  on  Sabbath 
of  the  church-going  population  of  Watson. 

The  following  list  embraces  the  names  of  the  tax-payers 
in  Watson  for  the  year  1843 : 


Eli  Watson. 
Joseph  Skinner. 
William  S.  Miner. 
N.  K.  Lonsbury. 
Chester  A.  Miner. 
James  Bracelin. 
Wells  Field. 
Daniel  Bracelin. 
Daniel  Leggett. 
James  A.  McLaughrey. 
Jedutham  Morse. 
Charles  Bensen. 
William  Oaks. 
Peter  Richart. 
A.  D.  Dunning. 
Jesse  D.  Stone. 
Nicholas  Skinner. 


John  Hicks. 
Caleb  D.  Carman. 
Samuel  A.  Atkins. 
William  Allen. 
Luther  Howe. 
Josiah  Potter. 
Charles  F.  Dunning. 
Job  Moon. 
Edward  Flanagan. 
John  Parsons. 
William  H.  Warner. 
Timothy  Crampton. 
Erastus  Congdon. 
Jonathan  0.  Round. 
Esek  Baker. 
Harvey  N.  Baker. 
John  J.  Sandun. 


EARLY   EOADS. 

The  earliest  road  which  traversed  the  township  of  Watson 
entered  it  on  the  western  boundary-line,  between  sections 
18  and  19.  From  that  point  its  course  continued  until  it 
reached  the  centre  of  the  section-line  between  sections  17 
and  20,  where  it  diverged  to  the  southeast,  passing  in  an 
oblique  line  through  sections  20,  21,  22,  and  terminating 
at  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  23,  near  the  residence 
of  Jesse  D.  Stone.  This  road,  by  intersecting  with  a  road 
in  the  township  of  Allegan,  made  the  village  of  Allegan 
accessible  to  the  residents  of  Watson.  It  is  probable  that 
the  survey  was  made  by  William  E.  Watson,  in  1837. 

A  road  which  was  recorded  April  21, 1838,  and  was  sur- 
veyed either  by  William  R.  Watson  or  Aaron  Chichester, 
at  a  date  prior  to  this,  began 

"At  a,  post  on  the  section-line  seventeen  chains  thirty  links  east  of 
the  northwest  corner  of  section  23,  in  township  one  north,  of  range 
twelve  west,  and  ran  as  follows  :  1st.  4  degrees  15  minutes  west  15 
chains.  2d.  19  degrees  west  28  chains  60  links.  3d.  9  degrees  west 
38  chains  50  links.  4th.  Due  north  280  chains.  5th.  45  degrees  west 
125  chains  25  links.  Whole  distance,  six  miles  twenty-nine  rods, 
terminating  at  a  post  twenty-five  rods  northwest  of  the  quarter-post 
on  the  west  line  of  section  twenty-one,  in  Township  two  north,  of 
range  twelve  west." 

The  highway  commissioners  who  directed  this  survey 
were  Aaron  Chichester,  Eli  Watson,  and  E.  H.  House. 

A  road  was  surveyed  by  Aaron  Chichester  in  1839,  be- 


ginning on  section  6,  in  Otsego,  and  pursuing  first  a  north- 
erly, then  an  easterly  course,  and  terminating  at  the  quarter 
post  between  sections  5  and  6,  in  Watson.  Other  roads 
followed  as  the  township  became  more  thickly  populated, 
Allegan  or  Otsego  having  been  the  objective  point. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  educational  interests  of  the  township  first  received 
attention  in  1840.  Until  then  no  effort  towards  the 
establishment  of  a  school  within  the  boundaries  of  Watson 
had  been  made.  In  that  year  a  log  school-house  was  erec- 
ted on  section  20,  upon  land  owned  by  Daniel  Leggett,  and 
Miss  Mary  Ann  Stone  was  employed  in  the  capacity  of 
teacher.  Nine  scholars  received  early  instruction  and  dis- 
cipline at  her  hands. 

Later,  district  No.  2,  having  been  organized,  and  cm- 
bracing  section  27  within  its  boundaries,  a  school  building, 
known  as  the  Stone  school-house,  from  its  close  proximity 
to  the  residence  of  Jesse  D.  Stone,  was  erected.  The  ear- 
liest teacher  is,  however,  not  recalled.  Nine  whole  and  two 
fractional  districts  now  include  eleven  substantial  frame 
school  buildings  within  the  limits,  the  directors  of  whom 
are  W.  H.  Miner,  James  C.  Leggett,  Harvey  J.  Chase,  J. 
W.-Haynes,  Phineas  Konkle,  John  Nevill,  Jacob  Rautz, 
J.  B.  Hall,  Dennifr  De  Lano,  Alexander  McBride,  and  Ja- 
bish  B.  Tefft.  The  number  of  children  receiving  instruc- 
tion is  362,  of  whom  62  are  non-residents.  Six  male  and 
17  female  teachers  preside  over  the  various  schools,  some 
in  summer  and  some  in  winter,  who  receive  an  aggregate 
yearly  sum  of  $1406.67.  The  total  resources  of  the  town- 
ship for  school  purposes  is  $2494.77. 

EARLY   BURIAL-PLACES. 

The  earliest  death  in  Watson  occurred  in  the  family  of 
S.  A.  Atkins.  No  ground  having  been  set  apart  for  pur- 
poses of  interment,  the  remains  of  the  little  one  were  taken 
to  Martin  for  burial.  In  1843  an  acre  of  ground  was  pur- 
chased of  Eli  Watson,  on  section  20,  neatly  fenced,  and 
planted  with  attractive  shade-trees,  which  has  since  that 
date  been  used  by  the  townspeople  as  a  cemetery.  Some 
years  later  an  acre  was  secured  on  section  24,  which  was 
inclosed  and  devoted  to  the  same  use.  This  consecrated 
spot  is  located  on  the  borders  of  a  picturesque  lake  and 
adorned  with  evergreens  and  maples,  which  combine  to 
make  it  one  of  the  most  attractive  localities  within  the 
limits  of  the  township. 

WATSON   CORNERS. 

The  land  on  which  the  first  building  at  the  Corners  was 
erected  was  originally  entered  by  A.  J.  Kent,  Dec.  8, 
1849,  on  a  warrant  obtained  for  services  as  a  patriot  in  the 
war  of  1812.  It  was  purchased  from  him  by  Edward  Bil- 
lings, who,  in  1854,  sold  to  A.  W.  Atkins.  The  latter  gen- 
tleman sold  half  an  acre  to  George  Harman,  who  speedily 
built  a  blacksmith-shop  and  partially  completed  a  house 
upon  it. 

Jerome  Parks  soon  after  purchased  land  on  the  opposite 
corner  and  erected  a  store,  which  he  subsequently  disposed 
of  to  G.  V.  Goucher,  who  still  conducts  a  business  adapted 
to  the  wants  of  a  country  trade. 


348 


HISTORY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Dr.  C.  E.  Clapp  afterward  purchased  the  half-acre  origi- 
nally owned  by  Harman,  and  erected  a  store  which  he  filled 
with  a  stock  of  drugs  and  groceries.  He  is  also  the  post- 
master of  the  hamlet. 

Eugene  Bartholomew  arrived  in  1879  and  built  a  black- 
smith-shop, which  he  still  conducts.  One  of  the  school 
buildings  of  the  township  is  also  located  here. 

CHRISTIAN  CHURCH. 
The  society  of  Christians  in  Watson  had  its  begin- 
ning as  early  as  1854,  under  the  fostering  care  of  Elder 
Manchester,  who  first  preached  to  the  small  flock  in  the 
Stone  school-house,  on  sectibn  18.  The  members  increased, 
and  the  need  of  a  larger  and  more  permanent  place  of  wor- 
ship was  felt.  Under  the  spur  of  this  need  an  efibrt  was 
made  to  erect  a  house  of  worship,  which  resulted  in  the 
present  frame  edifice  on  section  23,  built  in  1856  by  sub- 
scription. The  clergymen  in  succession  after  Elder  Man- 
chester have  been  Elders  Daily,  Deyo,  and  Fowler.  The 
pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church  of  Otsego,  Elder  Buck,  now 
holds  a  service  each  Sabbath,  but  the  society  has  no  stated 
pastor.  The  present  trustees  are  John  Edgarton,  Samuel 
Fisk,  Nelson  Fisk. 

ST.   MART'S  ROMAN   CATHOLIC   CHURCH. 

In  1857  the  first  movement  was  begun  which  later  re- 
sulted in  the  establishment  of  a  permanent  and  successful 
Roman  Catholic  society  in  Watson.  In  that  year  Father 
Labelle,  of  French  descent,  made  a  pilgrimage  to  the  town- 
ship from  Kalamazoo  once  in  three  months,  and  ministered 
to  the  people,  services  having  been  held  first  at  the  house 
of  Daniel  Bracelin,  and  subsequently  at  the  houses  of  other 
residents. 

In  1867  an  effort  was  made  to  build  a  church,  and  so 
zealous  were  this  people  to  further  the  interests  of  the  cause 
that  several  members  of  the  congregation  secured  a  loan  of 
$500  by  mortgages  on  their  farms,  which  three  years  later 
were  canceled.  This  amount,  together  with  small  sub- 
scriptions and  contributions  in  labor  and  material,  enabled 
them  to  build  the  present  edifice  on  section  8.  The  pastors 
in  succession  since  Father  Labelle's  advent  have  been 
Father  Quinn,  Father  Herwig,  who  remained  three  years. 
Father  Seybold,  and  the  present  incumbent.  Father  Brog- 
ger.  A  Sabbath-school  connected  with  the  society  is  held 
during  the  summer  months,  with  about  40  children  in  at- 
tendance. The  present  trustees  are  Patrick  Gilligan,  Wil- 
liam Kavanaugh,  John  McLoughlin. 

WATSON  GRANGE,  No.  154. 
The  first  effort  to  establish  a  grange  in  Watson  was  made 
in  1874,  which  soon  after  resulted  in  the  present  prosperous 
organization,  its  first  officers  having  been  John  F.  Beebe, 
Master ;  B.  C.  Palmer,  Overseer  ;  William  Kent,  Steward  ; 
Joseph  Miner,  Chaplain  ;  J.  B.  Alexander,  Sec. ;  James 
W.  Kent,  Treas.  A  convenient  hall  for  the  use  of  the  or- 
ganization was  soon  after  erected  on  section  15.  The  Wat- 
son grange  is  among  the  most  flourishing  in  the  county, 
having  now  a  membership  of  150,  and  enjoying  a  steady 
increase  in  members  and  influence.  Its  meetings  are  held 
twice  a  month.  The  present  officers  are  S.  P.  Albertson, 
Master;  Ransom  Leach,  Overseer;  William  A.  Reynolds, 


Chaplain  ;   Monroe    Kent,  Steward ;  A.  F.  Haynes,  Sec. ; 
J.  W.  Kent,  Treas. 

WATSON   LODGE,  No.   226,  I.  O.  0.  F. 

The  charter  of  Watson  Lodge  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd-Fellows  bears  date  Feb.  19,  1876,  the  charter 
members  having  been  Judson  A.  Frost,  James  E.  Lons- 
bury,  David  R.  Miller,  Zachariah  Foster,  S.  Van  Duzen, 
William  C.  Rowe,  Daniel  K.  Davis,  David  Bracelin,  and 
Charles  E.  White.  Its  first  officers  were  James  B.  Lons- 
bury,  N.  G. ;  David  R.  Miller,  V.  G.;  J.  A.  Frost,  Sec. ; 
William  R.  Rowe,  Treas. 

The  convocations  of  the  lodge  are  held  on  Saturday  night 
of  each  week,  in  a  spacious  and  well-appointed  hall  which 
was  built  for  the  purpose,  and  is  the  property  of  the 
lodge,  the  first  floor  being  used  as  a  public  hall.  The 
present  officers  are  B.  C.  Palmer,  N.  G. ;  J.  F.  Austin, 
V.  G. ;  G.  V.  Goucher,  Sec. ;  J.  C.  Leggett,  .Permanent 
Sec. ;  J.  W.  Kent,  Treas. 

fHE  WATSON  LIBRARY  ASSOCIATION. 
This  association  was  organized  by  a  few  citizens  of  liter- 
ary taste  in  1877,  and  holds  its  meetings  semi-monthly  at 
the  residences  of  the  various  members.  Its  object  is  the 
accumulation  of  a  class  of  wholesome  and  entertaining 
literature  for  the  use  of  those  interested  in  the  association. 
The  members  have  been  successful  in  gathering  a  choice 
collection  of  reading  matter,  which  is  dispensed  at  the 
residence  of  Mr.  A.  W.  Atkins,  whose  son  is  the  efficient 
librarian.  The  present  officers  are  Smith  Albertson,  Presi- 
dent; Samuel  Fisk,  Secretary;  Alfred  Fassett,  Treasurer; 
L.  G.  Atkins,  Librarian. 

ORGANIZATION. 
The  survey  of  township  2  in  range  12  was  made  by  Lucius 
Lyon,  being  completed  April  30, 1831.  It  was  first  in 
Allegan  township  and  then  in  Otsego,  but  by  the  following 
act,  passed  Feb.  16,  1842,  it  became  independent:  "All 
that  part  of  the  county  of  Allegan  designated  as  townships 
Nos.  2,  3,  and  4  north,  in  range  No.  12  west,  is  set  off 
into  a  separate  township  and  organized  by  the  name  of 
Watson,  and  the  first  township-meeting  shall  be  held  at 
the  house  of  Eli  Watson."  This  included  the  townships 
of  Hopkins  and  Dorr,  which  later  became  distinct  orga- 
nizations and  left  the  township  of  Watson  with  its  present 
geographical  boundaries.  Dorr  having  been  set  off  in  1847, 
and  Hopkins  in  1852. 

CIVIL  LIST. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  township  of  Watson  after  its 
organization  occurred  on  the  4th  day  of  April,  1842,  at 
the  house  of  Eli  Watson,  on  section  20,  Daniel  Leggett, 
Chester  A.  Miner,  Peter  Richart,  and  William  S.  Miner 
having  been  appointed  inspectors  of  election.  The  follow- 
ing officers  were  chosen :  Supervisor,  Amos  D.  Dunning ; 
Township  Clerk,  Eli  P.  Watson  ;  Treasurer,  Eli  Watson  ; 
Assessors,  Peter  Richart,  John  J.  Lardner;  School  In- 
spectors, William  H.  Warner,  William  S.  Miner,  Amos  D. 
Dunning ;  Director  of  the  Poor,  Charles  Benson ;  Highway 
Commissioners,  Jesse  D.  Stone,  Harvey  N.  Barker ;  Justices 
of  the  Peace,  Erastus  Congdon,  William  Allen  ;  Constables, 


WATSON  TOWNSHIP. 


349 


Jesse  D.  Stone,  J.  Baker.    The  township  oflScers  from  1843 
to  1879  are  embraced  in  the  following  list: 

SUPER  VISOKS. 
184.3,  William  S.  Miner;  1844,  Amos  D.  Dunning;  1845,  Benjamin 
P.  Chase;  1846,  Samuel  Edgarton  ;  1847,  J.  B.  Alexander ;  1848, 
W.  S.  Miner;  1849,  Lloyd  Austin;  1860,  Wells  Field;  1851, 
Lloyd  Austin;  1852-53,  Wells  Field;  1854,  Lloyd  Austin  ;  1865, 
Wells  Field;  1856-58,  William  W.  Kent;  1859,  Sylvanus  Van 
Duzen;  1860,  William  W.  Kent;  1861,  L.  D.  Nichols;  1862-63, 
C.  L.  Horning;  1864,  Herman  Johnson;  1865,  Sylvanus  Van 
Duzen;  1866,  C.  D.  Clements;  1867,  John  H.  Wicks;  1868-69, 
S.  Van  Duzea;  1870,  C.  D.  Clements;  1871,  Benjamin  Pratt; 
1872-78,  0.  D.  Clements;  1879,  Robert  Konkle. 

TOWNSHIP  CLERKS. 
1843,  A.  D.  Dunning;  1844,  Daniel  Leggett;  1845,  Eli  P.Watson; 
1846,  Daniel  Leggett;  1847,  Chester  A.  Miner;  1848,  A.  D. 
Dunning;  1849,  Eli  P.  Watson;  1850,  W.  B.  Andrus;  1851, 
Charles  E.  Watson;  1852-53,  A.  D.  Dunning;  1854,  Nelson 
Fisk;  1855,  Samuel  Fisk;  1856-60,  C.  L.  Horning;  1861-62, 
Daniel  Leggett;  1863-64,  John  L.  Hughes;  1865,  L.  D.  Nichols; 
1866-67,  H.  D.  Edgarton;  1868-70,  James  C.  Leggett;  1871, 
Henry  J.  Leggett;  1872-77,  Wesley  S.  Tefft;  1878,  G.  A.  Miner; 
1879,  Wesley  S.  Tefft. 

TREASURERS. 
1843,  C.  A.  Miner;  1844,  Luther  Howe;  1845,  W.  S.  Miner ;  1846, 
Jesse  D.  Stone;  1847,  K.  C.  Osborn;  1848,  A.  W.  Beals;  1849, 
Randall  Brooks;  1850,  John  S.  Gorton  ;  1851,  William  C.  Rowe; 
1852,  N.  K.  Lonsbury;  1853,  J.  D.  Stone;  1854,  no  record; 
1855,  Alfred  Stone;  1856,  James  W.  Kent;  1857-60,  L.  D. 
Nichols;  1861,  Melvin  B.  Nichols;  1862,  George  Kent;  1863; 
L.  D.  Nichols;  1864-65,  C.  A.  Miner;  1866,  Juhn  F.  Beebe; 
1867-69,  John  G.  Kent;  1870-71,  James  W.  Kent;  1872,  George 
Kent;  1873-74,  Samuel  Fisk;  1875,  John  H.  Jones;  1876-77, 
John  G.  Kent;  1878,  J.  E.  Lonsbury;  1879,  F.  C.  McClelland. 

SCHOOL   INSPECTORS. 

1843,  W.  S.  Miner;  1844,  Sidney  W.  Dunning  ;  1845,  J.  0.  Round; 
1846,  N.  P.  Stone;  1847,  Benjamin  P.  Chase;  1848,  W.  W. 
Beebe;  1849,  Luther  Howe;  1850,  Horace  Bartlett;  1851,  Nel- 
son Fisk;  1852,  Horace  Bartlett;  1853,  C.  C.  Horning;  1854,  C. 

C.  Chester;  1855,  William  Donton;  1856,  Daniel  Leggett;  1857, 

D.  A.  Swan,  M.  A.  Brewer;  1858,  Samuel  Fisk;  1859,  A.  B. 
Austin;  1860,  John  A.  Bidwell;  1861,  Samuel  Fisk;  1862,  J.  S. 
Bidwell;  1863,  Sylvanus  Van  Dozen;  1864,  John  H.  Wioks ; 
1865,  William  Dunton;  1866,  J.  L.  Goodrich;  1867,  John  H. 
Wicks;  1868,  J.  H.  Goodrich;  1869,  John  H.  Hicks;  1870,  A.  J. 
Bracelin;  1871,  Samuel  Fisk;  1872,  J.  F.  Goodrich;  1873,  John 
H.  Wicks;  1874,  Charles  White;  1875-77,  Samuel  Fisk;  1878, 
John  L.  Hughes ;  1879,  John  F.  Goodrich. 

HIGHWAY   COMMISSIONERS. 

1843,  Harvey  N.  Baker,  Jesse  D.  Stone;  1844,  Lloyd  Austin,  Erastus 
Congdon;  1845,  C.  A.  Miner,  Samuel  Edgarton;  1846,  H.  N. 
Baker,  A.  C.  Jacobs;  1847,  K.  C.  Osborn,  A.  C.  Jacobs;  1848, 
J.  W.  Kent,  W.  C.  Rowe;  1849,  John  Hicks,  S.  A.  Atkins;  1850, 
Charles  F.  Dunning,  K.  C.  Osborn ;  1851,  R.  K.  Andrus,  G.  W. 
Andrus;  1852,  John  Hicks,  J.  W.  Kent;  1853,  S.  Edgerton,  C. 
A.Miner;  1854,  William  C.  Rowe;  1855,  Q.  H.  Gorton;  1856, 
Herman  Johnson;  1857,  James  E.  Lonsbury;  1858,  John  W. 
Briggs;  1859,  Herman  Johnson;  1860,  James  E.  Lonsbury; 
1861-62,  W.  S.  Howe;  1863,  S.  B.  Hughes;  1864,  Horace  Bart- 
lett; 1865,  Charles  A.  Miner;  1866,  J.  C.  Hurspoal;  1867,  J.  M. 
Edgarton;  1868-69,  George  S.  Barber;  1870,  Joseph  Dayton; 
1871,  Isaac  Page;  1872,  Lyman  Wright;  1873,  William  C.  Rowe; 
1874,  Isaac  Page,  Latham  Cross;  1875,  Francis  L.  Hickok;  1876, 
G.  A.  Dunning ;  1877,  A.  C.  Burnham ;  1878,  A.  F.  Haynes ; 
1879,  John  Anderson. 

JUSTICES   OF   THE   PEACE. 
1843,  Wells  Field;  1844,  N.  P.  Stone;  1845,  Erastus  Congdon,  E.  C. 
Osborn;  1846,  William  Tyler;  1847,  B.  C.  Osborn,  Wells  Field; 


1848,  W.  W.  Beebe,  Samuel  Edgarton,  N.  K.  Lonsbury;  1849, 
Lyman  Knapp  ;  1860,  James  W.  Kent ;  1851,  W.  W.  Kent,  E.  C. 
Osborn  ;  1852,  C.  C.  Collins,  J.  D.  Stone,  Samuel  Edgarton  ;  1853, 
William  Kent;  1854,  Porter  Williams;  1855,  William  Pulsifer, 
Lloyd  Austin ;  1856,  Luther  Howe,  J.  B.  Tinker ;  1857,  Dashiel 
Leggett;  1858,  John  S.  Gorton;  1859,  Norton  Andrus;  1860, 
Herman  Johnson,  Horace  Pulsifer;  1861,  John  Beebe;  1862, 
John  S.  Gorton;  1863,  C.  A.  Miner;  1864,  William  C.  Rowe; 
1865,  Jesse  D.  Stone,  Thomas  Goodsell;  1866,  William  S.  Kent; 
1867,  William  Dunton;  1868,  J.  P.  Beebe;  1869,  Jesse  D.  Stone, 
W.  Richards;  1870,  G.  W.  Lawrence;  1871,  LloydAustin;  1872, 
Isaac  Page;  1873,  Chester  A.  Miner;  1874,  James  E.  Lonsbury; 
1875,  John  Grand;  1876,  John  H.  Wicks,  Artemus  W.  Beals; 
1877,  Stephen  Case,  H.  D.  Edgarton,  A.  W.  Beals;  1878,  Wil- 
liam Dunton ;  1879,  John  L.  Hughes. 

DIRECTORS  OP  THE  POOR. 
1843,  Erastus  Congdon,  Eli  Watson;  1844,  Daniel  Leggett,  Peter 
Riohart;  1845,  Eli  Watson,  A.  D.  Dunning;  1846,  W.  S.  Miner, 
A.  D.  Dunning;  1847,  A.  D.  Dunning,  Eli  Watson;  1848,  Wil- 
liam Allen,  Samuel  Edgarton  ;  1849,  Samuel  Edgarton,  W.  W. 
Beebe;  1850,  W.  C.  Rowe,  Josiah  Potter;  1S61,  G.  W.  Andrus, 
Josiah  Potter;  1852,  C.  C.  Collins;  1863,  S.  A.  Atkins,  C.  C.  Col- 
lins; 1854,  Daniel  Leggett,  N.  K.  Lonsbury;  1855,  A.  W.  Atkins, 
C.  C.  Collins;  1856-57,  Luther  Howe,  J.  D.  Stone;  1858,  Thomas 
Goldspring,  Luther  Howe, 

SUPERINTENDENT  OF  SCHOOLS. 
1875-79,  John  H.  Wicks. 

DRAIN  COMMISSIONERS. 
1876,  John  L.  Hughes;  1877,  A.  W.  Atkins;  1878,  George  Hicks. 

CONSTABLES. 

1843,  Josiah  Potter,  Nicholiis  Sbellmjin;  1844,  Daniel  Leggett,  Josiah 
Potter;  1845,  Josiah  Potter,  D.  B.  Alexander;  1846,  N.  K. 
Lonsbury,  Jason  Baker;  1847,  Peter  Ricbart;  1848,  R.  K. 
Andrus,  Josiah  Potter;  1849,  Benona  Collins,  G.  W.  Andrus; 
1850,  Benona  Collins,  A.  C.  Jacobs;  1851,  W.  A.  Reynolds, 
W.  S.  Howe;  1852,  J.  S.  Gorton,  A.  W.  Atkins,  William  A. 
Reynolds ;  1853,  A.  C.  Jacobs,  J.  M.  Edgarton,  0.  Hessel- 
ton,  W.  S.  Miner;  1864,  A.  W.  Atkins,  Martin  Kent,  J.  S. 
Gorton,  W.  W.  Howe;  1865,  A.  W.  Atkins,  David  Hurd,  C.  M. 
Miner,  H.  Mason;  1856,  A.  W.  Atkias,  M.  V.  Kent,  W.  S.  Kent, 
John  Dean ;  1857,  A.  W.  Atkins,  0.  J.  Hesselton,  Lewis  Barney, 
Alva  Graves;  1858,  A.  W.  Atkins,  H.  Johnson,  Porter  Williams; 
1869,  0.  J.  Hesselton,  James  Miner,  W.  S.  Howe,  J.  B.  Alex- 
ander; 1860,  J.  M.  Simkins,  H.  D.  Edgarton;  1861,  A.  W.  At- 
kins, 0.  J.  Hesselton;  1862,  Josiah  Potter,  Alonzo  Campbell, 
Alva  Graves,  H.  D.  Edgarton;  1863,  James  E.  Lonsbury,  Wil- 
liam H.  De  Wolf,  A.  W.  Atkins,  Josiah  Potter;  1864,  A.  W.  At- 
kins, Enoch  Howe,  N.  S.  Pike,  Charles  Miner;  1866,  S.  A.  Bent- 
ley,  Duncan  Livingston,  A.  W.  Atkins,  J.  H.  Beebe ;  1866,  James 
Leggett,  Charles  Miner,  A.  P.  Hnynes,  Oliver  Caruthers;  1867, 

E.  L.  Horning,  Herman  Johnson,  H.  Nichols,  John  Stone;  1868, 
Charles  Miner,  G.  A.  Dunning,  Samuel  Martin,  A.  W.  Atkins ; 
1869,  A.  J.  Fasset,  Morgan  Maybee,  Philip  Bellinger,  Josiah 
Pulsifer;  1870,  Enos  Warren,  W.  Flannagen,  B.  C.  Palmer,  Wil- 
liam Bracelin ;  1871,  A.  W.  Atkins,  J.  L.  Hughes,  0.  B.  Priest,  A. 
Taylor;  1872,  J.  L.  Hughes,  Charles  Dunton,  A.  W.  Atkins,  Enos 
Warren;  1873,  Charles  Dunton,  A.  W.  Atkins,  C.  0.  Collins, 
George  V.  Goucher;  1874,  Charles  Miner,  Charles  White,  Barrett 
Gibson,  George  Dayton ;  1876,  George  V.  Goucher,  A.  W.  Atkins, 
W.  S.  Kent,  Charles  E.  White;  1876,  Chaunoey  Nichols,  George 

F.  Ayres,  Seymour  Stace,  Alex.  Rowe;  1877,  James  Miner,  Sam- 
uel Atkins,  Isaac  Hoffmaster,  John  Miner ;  1878,  Robert  Hicks, 
C.  P.  Nichols,  James  Miner,  Samuel  Atkins;  1879,  E.  L.  Clem- 
ents  George  B.  Myers,  Thomas  Conway,  Edward  Malony. 

jjoTE. The  foregoing  list  is  as  nearly   accurate  as  the  records 

rendered  it  possible  to  make  it. 


350 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 


STEPHEN   CASE. 


Pliotos.  by  C.  G.  Agrell,  Allegan. 


MRS.    STEPHEN   CASE. 


STEPHEN  CASE. 
The  parents  of  Stephen  Case  were  both  natives  of  New 
York  State,  the  father  having  died  when  the  lad  was  but 
six  years  of  age.  This  son,  the  tenth  in  a  family  of  thir- 
teen children,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Henrietta,  Monroe 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  20,  1824,  found  a  home  with  an  uncle 
until  his  twenty-second  year,  when  he  engaged  in  labor 
elsewhere  in  the  same  township.  He  purchased  land  in 
Michigan  in  1848,  and  two  years  later  married  Miss  Sarah 
Harris,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  Harris,  who  was 
born  in  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  19,  1828.  In  the 
spring  of  1805,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Case  became  pioneers  in  the 
township  of  Watson,  Allegan  Co.,  where  he  erected  a  log 
house,  which  is  the  inevitable  accompaniment  of  the  life 
of  the  early  settler,  and  chopped  thirty  acres  soon  after  his 
advent.  This  was  not,  however,  a  permanent  abiding-place. 
In  1870  he  sold,  and  the  year  following  purchased  his 
present  attractive  home. 

The  family  circle  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Case  includes  four 
children,— Mary  E.,  born  Oct.  5,  1851 ;  Ardell  S.,  born 
Dec.  5,  1853 ;  Ella  A.,  born  Jan.  27,  1856 ;  and  Julia  P., 
whose  birth  occurred  Sept.  28,  1858.  Mary  E.  was  mar- 
ried in  April,  1876,  to  James  R.  Fenner;  Ella  A.  became 
Mrs.  William  H.  Hooper,  Dec.  19,  1877;  and  Julia  P. 
was  united  to  Delavan  R.  Hooper  in  May,  1879.  They 
all  occupy  homes  in  the  vicinity  of  that  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Case,  forming  a  neighborhood  linked  by  the  ties  of  rela- 
tionship and  affection. 


WILLIAM  A.  REYNOLDS. 
The  parents  of  William  A.  Reynolds  were  born  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  and  he,  the  eleventh  in  a  family  of 
twelve  children,  was  a  native  of  Jefferson  County,  in  that 
State.  He  was  early  placed  in  the  family  of  William 
Hewitt,  with  whom  he  remained  until   his   ninth  year, 


when  ill-treatment  compelled  him  to  seek  other  quarters, 
and  the  lad  became  a  ward  of  the  town.  From  the  age 
of  nine  until  his  fourteenth  year,  his  home  was  with  a 
cousin.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  became  inde- 
pendent of  friendly  aid,  having  earned  a  comfortable  sup- 
port by  hard  labor.  On  the  5th  of  February,  1837,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Eliza- 
beth Russell,  both  natives  of  the  State  of  New  York.  In 
1844,  Mr.  Reynolds  followed  the  tide  of  emigration  to  the 
West  and  located  at  Gun  Plain,  where  he  remained  one 
year.  In  1845  he  removed  to  the  land  he  at  present  owns, 
having  pre-empted  it.  The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rey- 
nolds was  brightened  by  the  happy  faces  of  six  children, — 
three  boys  and  three  girls.  Mrs.  Mary  Reynolds  having 
died  on  March  30, 1872,  her  husband,  on  the  22d  of  March, 
1873,  was  united  to  Mrs.  Mary  Palmer,  widow  of  David 
Palmer,  formerly  of  Pine  Plains. 

Mr.  Reynolds  is  associated  with  the  Baptist  Church,  of 
which  he  is  an  active  member,  as  he  is  also  of  the  lodge 
of  Odd- Fellows  of  Watson.  In  politics  he  affiliates  with 
the  Greenback  party.  He  is  an  enterprising  and  public- 
spirited  citizen,  and  by  his  consistency  of  character  has  won 
the  respect  of  acquaintances  and  neighbors. 


CHARLES  MINER. 
Though  not  a  pioneer  in  the  sense  of  age,  Mr.  Miner  was 
among  the  earliest  arrivals  in  Allegan  County,  and  has  ac- 
complished as  much  of  the  preliminary  labor  of  clearing  as 
others  whose  silver  locks  are  evidence  of  the  rapid  flight 
of  time.  His  birth  occurred  in  the  town  of  Brighton, 
Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  3,  1835,  and  with  his  father, 
Chester  A.  Miner,  he  made  his  advent  in  the  State  soon 
after.  His  residence  was  at  the  homestead  until  twenty- 
one  years  of  age,  when  he  returned  to  the  East,  and  during 
this  period  married  Miss  Lucy  R.  Edgarton.     Together 


WATSON  TOWNSHIP. 


351 


they  embarked  for  Michigan  with  little  else  than  courage 
and  ambition  as  their  capital.  Mr.  Miner  purchased  a 
farm  in  Watson,  and  their  energies  were  directed  to  liqui- 
dating the  indebtedness  upon  this  land.  To  acquire  means 
for  this  purpose  was  a  much  less  arduous  task  at  the  East 
than  in  Michigan.  Mr.  and ,  Mrs.  Miner's  family  circle 
has  been  made  happy  by  the  presence  of  four  sons.  Frank 
M.  was  born  June  7,  1858,  and  died  Oct.  1,  1862  ;  James 
was  born  in  Hartland,  N.  Y.,  May  26,  1860 ;  the  birth  of 
Martin  C.  occurred  June  8,  1868 ;  and  that  of  Fred  C, 
June  20,  1871.  Mr.  Miner  is  a  Eepublioan  in  his  politi- 
cal convictions,  but  is  rarely  interested  in  party  differences 
or  local  contests.  The  cares  of  the  fine  property  he  has 
accumulated  occupy  at  present  his  time  and  energies. 


ISAAC   PAGE. 


Mr.  Page  was  formerly  a  British  sujoject,  having  been 
born  (the  fifth  in  a  family  of  nine  children)  in  Sussex, 
England,  Feb.  15,  1829.     In  1855  he  sailed  for  the  hos- 
pitable shores  of  America,  and  in  the  same  year  arrived  in 
Watson,  Allegan  Co.,  where  he  engaged  in  clearing  land 
and  other  labors  of  a  similar  character  until  a  favorable  op- 
portunity occurred  for  the  cultivation  of  a  farm  on  shares. 
He  meanwhile  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land,  which  was 
sold  again  in  1867,  he  having  bought  a  more  desirable 
tract  elsewhere.     To  this  he  has  from  time  to  time  added, 
until  two  hundred  and  fifteen  acres  are  embraced  in  his 
present  estate.     Having  been  possessed  of  little  or  no  prop- 
erty on  his  arrival,  Mr.  Page  may,  in  an  eminent  sense,  be 
regarded  as  entitled  to  a  prominent  place  among  the  self- 
made  men  of  this  county. 

Mrs.  Page  was  formerly  Miss  Susan  A.  Clay,  a  native  of 
Virginia,  to  whom  he  was  married  March  24,  1872. 

In  1869  Mr.  Page  visited  the  home  of  his  childhood, 
which  he  had  left  many  years  before  almost  penniless,  but 
now  as  a  successful  and  independent  farmer. 

In  politics  Mr.  Page  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  held  the 
offices  of  justice  of  the  peace  and  highway  commissioner, 
both  of  which  positions  he  has  dignified  by  administrations 
characterized  by  ability  and  integrity. 

In  religion  he  is  a  liberal,  but  his  opinions  are  marked 
by  a  profound  respect  and  regard  for  the  convictions  of 
others.  

GOKUM  W.  GORTON. 
The  father  of  G.  W.  Gorton,  the  latter  of  whom  is  the 
subject  of  this  biographical  sketch,  was  William  H.  Gorton, 
a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York,  who  was  born  Nov.  15, 


1801.     His  mother,  whose  birthplace  was  in   the   same 
State,  was  Miss  Electa  Hitchcock,  who  was  born  Feb.  14, 
1799.     The  birth  of  their  son  Gorum  W.,  a  native  of 
Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  the  fourth  in  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren, occurred  Aug.  29,  1829.     In   1849  the  latter  em- 
barked for  Michigan,  having  previous  to  his  twentieth  year 
assisted  his  father  in  his  farming  pursuits.     His  grandfather 
had  entered  land  in  Watson,  which  had  by  inheritance  fallen 
to  him.     On  his  arrival  he  remained  one  year,  and  then 
returned  to  his  native  State,  where  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  A.  Mellows,  who  was  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Jane  Davis  Mellows,  and  was  born  in  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y., 
June  30,  1830.     She  was  the  third  in  a  family  of  eight 
children,  her  parents  having  formerly  resided  in  England. 
In  1852,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  G.  W.  Gorton  became  permanent 
residents  of  the  State.     He  had  previously  hired  twenty 
acres  chopped,  and  upon  this  he  built  a  log  house,  to  which 
they  removed,  and  experienced  all  the  privations  of  the 
Western  pioneer.     Three  children  have  graced  their  family 
circle, — Electa  J.,  born  Dec.  15,  1851 ;  Russell  J.,  whose 
birth  occurred  May  12,  1857;  and  J.  W.,  born  Oct.  5, 
1863.      These  children  still  enjoy  the  protection  of  the 
parental  roof    In  religion  Mr.  Gorton  is  liberal ;  in  politics 
a  Republican,  though  not  an  active  partisan. 


D.  F.  AYRES. 


In  a  family  embracing  eight  sons  and  ten  daughters,  Mr. 
D.  F.  Ayres  was  the  eleventh  child,  having  been  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  March  3,  1822.  He  remained  under  the 
parental  roof  until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  employ- 
ment was  sought  in  an  iron-foundry  in  Ohio,  his  family 
bavin"  meanwhile  removed  to  that  State.  On  the  9th  of 
January,  1845,  he  married  Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  George 
Mason,  who  was  a  native  of  Essex  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  born 
Feb.  6,  1828.  Mr.  Ayres  came  to  the  State  in  1852,  and 
secured  the  land  he  at  present  owns.  It  was  entirely  un- 
improved, and  indicates  much  labor  and  enterprise  in  its 
present  cultivated  condition.  A  log  house  was  early  erected, 
which  has  been  the  comfortable  home  of  the  family  to  the 
present  day. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ayres  have  had  four  children, — George  F. 
and  G.  F.  (2d),  Cora  A.  and  TuU  B.,  the  last  of  whom  is 
still  a  member  of  the  home  circle.  In  politics  Mr.  Ayres 
was  formerly  a  Republican,  but  his  political  affiliations  have 
more  recently  been  with  the  Greenback  party.  He  is  one 
of  the  most  conspicuous  examples  of  the  reward  which 
follows  industry  and  ambition,  having  borrowed  the  means 
with  which  to  reach  Michigan. 


W  A  Y  L  A  N  D; 


This  township,  situated  on  the  eastern  border  of  Allegan 
County,  north  of  the  centre,  embraces  territory  designated 
in  the  field-notes  of  the  original  survey  as  township  num- 
ber 3  north,  of  range  number  11  west.  It  was  formed  from 
Martin  in  1843,  and  began  a  separate  existence,  April  1, 
1844. 

The  adjoining  townships  are  Leighton  on  the  north,  Hop- 
kins on  the  west,  Martin  on  the  south,  and  Yankee  Springs, 
inBarry  County,  on  the  east. 

Its  surface,  generally  rolling,  was  cumbered  originally  with 
a  heavy  growth  of  timber,  the  deciduous  varieties  common 
to  this  region  predominating.  In  the  vicinity  of  the  pres- 
ent village  of  Wayland,  also  in  the  northeastern  and  south- 
eastern parts  of  the  township,  extensive  pine-groves  once 
existed.  These  beautiful  and  valuable  monarchs  of  the 
forest,  however,  with  the  exception  of  Balch's  tract,  fell 
early  victims  to  the  rapacity  of  the  all-pervading  "  shingle- 
weavers"  of  the  pioneer  period ;  many  of  them,  indeed, 
before  the  land  came  into  market,  or  while  assessed  as  non- 
resident. 

Wayland  soil  afibrds  no  exception  to  that  which  charac- 
terizes Michigan  lands  generally, — i  e  ,  alternating  belts  or 
strips  of  clay  and  sandy  loam,  with  here  and  there,  in  the 
lower  portions,  alluvial  deposits.  Intelligently  cultivated, 
it  is  productive,  and  yields  generously  of  fruit,  grain,  etc. 
The  people  are  chiefly  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits, 
wheat,  live-stock,  and  lumber,  being  the  principal  articles 
of  shipment. 

The  water-courses  are  unimportant,  the  principal  one 
being  Kabbit  River,  or  the  outlet  of  Mud  Lake,  which 
flows  to  the  northwest.  Several  lakes  dot  the  surface,  and 
together  embrace  an  area  of  about  900  acres,  the  largest 
among  them  being  known  as  Selkrig's,  Boot,  Geneva,  and 
Mud  Lakes.  Gun  Lake,  the  largest  body  of  water  in  this 
vicinity,  includes  within  its  limits  the  extreme  southeast 
corner  of  the  township. 

The  Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana  Railroad,  which  was 
completed  in  1870,  running  in  a  north-and-south  course 
through  the  western  part,  traverses  sections  6,  7,  18,  19, 
30,  and  32,  Wayland  and  Bradley  being  the  stations  in 
this  township. 

EVENTS   PKECEDING  SETTLEMENT. 

The  history  of  Wayland  properly  begins  with  the  year 
1826,  when  Deputy  Lucius  Lyon  ran  its  boundaries.  A 
period  of  over  four  years  then  elapsed,  when  the  denizens 
of  its  forests  were  again  disturbed  by  a  second  surveying- 
party.  This  party  was  headed  by  Sylvester  Sibley,  also  a 
deputy  United  States  surveyor,  who  had  contracted  to  run 


*  By  J.  S.  Sohenok. 


352 


out  the  sectional  lines  of  this  and  many  other  townships  in 
this  part  of  the  State.  His  work  in  this  township  was 
completed  during  the  month  of  March,  1831. 

Although  this  small  portion  of  the  public  domain  was 
soon  after  placed  in  market,  it  was  not  until  Jan.  9,  1835, 
that  the  first  individual  purchase  of  land  was  made  in  the 
present  township  of  Wayland. 

On  the  date  last  mentioned  Col.  Isaac  Barnes,  who  had 
become  the  first  settler  of  Richland,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich., 
in  1830,  purchased  a  portion  of  section  9.  Three  other 
tracts  only  were  purchased  during  the  remainder  of  the  year 
1835,  to  wit :  part  of  section  29,  Azor  Forsyth  and  Alan- 
son  Reals,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  Sept.  10,  1835 ;  part  of 
section  6,  Isaac  and  George  W^.  Barnes,  Kalamazoo  Co., 
Mich.,  Dec.  25,  1835  ;  part  of  section  10,  Isaac  and  George 
W.  Barnes,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Dec.  25,  1835. 

Prior  to  or  soon  after  the  first  settlement  many  other 
early  entries  were  made,  as  shown  by  the  following  list : 

Section  1. — Daniel  C.  and  Ambrose  C.  Kingsland,  New  York  Citj, 
Dec.  16,  1836. 

Section  2. — Isaac  Barnes,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  9,  1S36. 

Section  3.— Philo  Bronson,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  25, 1836 ;  Chaun- 
oey  Pratt,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  25,  1836  ;  Solomon  Filkins, 
St.  Joseph  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1837;  Isaac  and  George  W. 
Barnes,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  February,  1837. 

Section  4.— Charles  C.  Trowbridge,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  Feb.  15,  1836  ; 
Abraham  Voorhies,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  March,  1836. 

Section  5. — Charles  C.  Trowbridge,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  Feb.  15,  1836 ; 
Norman  Eldred,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Feb.  19,  1836;  Philo 
Bronson,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  25,  1836;  Chauneey  Pratt, 
Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  25, 1836;  James  B.  Adams,  Wayne  Co., 
Mich.,  December,  1836. 

Section  6. — Philo  Bronson,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  25, 1836 ;  Chaun- 
eey Pratt,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  25, 1836 ;  William  M.  Glendy, 
Baltimore,  Md.,  January,  1837. 

Section  1. — Samuel  Pettibone,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  1836 ; 
Philo  Vredenburgh,  Cass  Co.,  Mich.,  December,  1836;  William 
M.  Glendy,  Baltimore,  Md.,  January,  1837 ;  Philo  Vredenburgh, 
Cass  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1837. 
-  Section  8. — Edward  H.  Macy,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Micb.,  April,  1836  ; 
Chauneey  Pratt,  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  25,  1836 ;  Samuel  Pet- 
tibone and  John  H.  Adams,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  December,  1836; 
Peter  Chisholm,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich., 'December,  1836. 

Section  9. — Erastus  IngereoU,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  9, 1836 ;  Abra- 
ham Voorhies,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  March,  1836 ;  John  Win- 
slow  and  Amos  Brownson,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Deo.  16,  1836. 

Section  10. — Isaac  and  George  W.  Barnes,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mioh., 
March  20, 1837 ;  Charles  M.  Coffin,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July,  1837. 

Section  11. — Samuel  Center,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March,  1837;  John 
H.  Adams,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  May,  1837 ;  Asahel  Boughton, 
Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July,  1837 ;  Charles  M.  Coffin,  Cayuga  Co., 
N.  Y.,  July,  1837. 

Section  12. — Samuel  B.  Knapp,— Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  December, 
1836;  D.  C.  and  A.  C.  Kingsland,  New  York  City,  Deo.  16, 1836; 
Samuel  Center,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March,  1837. 

Section  13. — Samuel  B.  Knapp,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Dec.  17, 1836; 
D.  C.  and  A.  C.  Kingsland,  New  York  City,  Feb.  24,  1837. 

Section  14. — William  Jackson,  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  15,  1836; 
Edward  MoVioker,  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March,  1837 ;  Archibald 


Resioenoe  OF  GEO. H.JAG.:SON,WAyi.AND,  Michigan 


WAYLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


353 


MoVioker,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  T.,  March,  1837;  Charles  M.  Coffin, 
Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July,  1837. 

Section  15.— Brastus  IngersoU,  Oakland  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  19,  1836; 
Justus  Norria,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  Feb.  13,  1836;  William 
Jackson,  Madison  Co.,  N.  T.,  Deo.  15,  1836. 

Section  16. — School  lands. 

Section  17.— David  S.  Dille,  and  L.  A.  Crane,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich., 
April,  1836;  Luther  H.  Trask,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  December, 
1836. 

Section  18.— Cyrenus  Thompson,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  Deo.  14,  1836; 
Luther  H;  Trask,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1837  ;  Granger 
S.  Miles,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1837  ;  Chester  Cummings, 
Worcester  Co.,  Mass.,  March,  1837. 

Section  19.— Lucien  Miner,  Charlotteville,  Va.,  Dec.  15,1836;  Asa 
Johnson,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1837. 

Section  20. — Amos  Brown  and  John  Winslow,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich., 
Deo.  16,  1836 ;  John  H.  Adams  and  Peter  Chisholm,  Allegan  Co., 
Mich.,  February,  1836;  Chester  Cummings,  Worcester,  Mass., 
February,  1837. 

Section  21. — Epaphroditus  Ransom,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Deo.  16, 
1836  ;  Elias  C.  White,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Deo.  16,  1836 ; 
Henry  Leach,  Albany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  14,  1837. 

Section  22.— Henry  Leach,  Albany  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  14,  1837. 

Section  23. — First  entry  made  by  Nelson  M.  Pollard,  in  June,  1840. 

Section  24. — William  Ames,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  May,  1837 ;  Charles 
Morgan,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich.,  May,  1837. 

Section  25. — Luther  H.  Trask,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Dec.  14,  1836 ; 
John  H.  Adams,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  May  14, 1837  ;  David  Green, 
Lenawee  Co.,  Mich.,  May  14,  1837;  Orrin  Orton,  Allegan  Co., 
Mich.,  May  14,  1837. 

Section  26. — Levi  S.  White,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Feb.  22,  1836; 
Luther  H.  Trask,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Dec.  14,  1836;  Stephen 
S.  Germond,  Bennington,  Vt.,  July  10,  1837;  Henry  Shepson, 
Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  8,  1837. 

Section  27.— William  C.  White,  Essex  Co.,  N.  J.,  Feb.  20,  1836  ;  Tim- 
othy Gregg,  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Deo.  15,  1836;  Walter  Gage, 
Lenawee  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1837. 

Section  28.— Timothy  Gregg,  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  16,  1836 ; 
David  Bradley,  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  16,  1836;  John  L. 
Walker,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  10, 1837;  Sarah  M.  Weaver, 
Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  14, 1837;  Walter  Gage,  Lenawee  Co., 
Mich.,  Jan.  14,  1837 ;  L.  Piatt,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  14, 
1837. 

Section  29. — Alexander  H.  Edwards,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  23, 
1837. 

Section  30. — Lucien  Miner,  Charlotteville,  Va.,  Dec.  15,  1836;  John 
Ladd,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  5,  1837. 

Section  31. — Robert  Murdock,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  23,  1837; 
William  Holloway,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  23, 1837  ;  Eli  Arnold, 
Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  Feb.  17,  1837 ;  Dan  Arnold,  Allegan  Co., 
Mich.,  April  27,  1837. 

Section  32. — Cynthia  W.  Atoherson,  Franklin  Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  13, 
1837;  George  Williams,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mloh.,  January,  1837; 
William  Holloway,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich.,  January,  1837;  Shubal 
Ladd,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  January,  1837. 

Section  33.— David  Bradley,  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Deo.  15,  1836 ; 
Lovell  H.  Moore,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  13,  1837;  Cynthia 
W.  Atcherson,  Franklin  Co.,  Ohio,  January,  1837 ;  Thomas  Sack- 
rider,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mioh.,  January,  1837  ;  John  H.  Adams,  Al- 
legan Co.,  Mich.,  March,  1837. 

Section  34. — Cornelius  Northrop,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Feb.  23, 
1836;  Lovell  H.  Moore,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  December,  J836. 

Section  35. — Charles  Parker,  Barry  Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  23, 1836;  Dauphin 
Brown,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mioh.,  February,  1836;  Marsh  Giddings, 
Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  February,  1836 ;  Thomas  Hubbard,  Jr., 
Hampden  Co.,  Mass.,  March,  1837;  Cyrus  P.  Demming,  Kala- 
mazoo Co.,  Mich.,  May,  1837. 

Section  36. — Solomon  B.  Lathrop,  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  14,  1836 ; 
Orrin  Orton,  Allegan  Co.,  Mich.,  April,  1837;  Cyrus  P.  Dem- 
ming, Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  May,  1837;  Hiram  Holabird,  St. 
Joseph  Co.,  Mich.,  May,  1837. 

Very  few  of  those  mentioned  in  the  foregoing  list,  how- 
ever, .became  actual  settlers. 
45     . 


FIRST  AND   OTHER  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS. 

During  the  years  1835,  1836,  and  1837,  Col.  Isaac 
Barnes,  of  Gull  Prairie,  and  his  son,  George  W.  Barnes, 
purchased  large  tracts  of  government  land  in  the  counties 
of  Allegan,  Barry,  Eaton,  Kalamazoo,  and  Van  Buren. 
In  this  township  they  owned  lands  on  sections  2,  3,  6, 
9,  and  10.  On  Rabbit  River,  in  the  southwest  part  of 
section  2,  was  a  mill-site.  Surrounding  it,  and  on  other 
lands  owned  by  them  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  were  exten- 
sive forests  of  pine. 

The  mill-site  was  purchased  in  January,  1836,  and  during 
the  winter  of  1836-37  the  Messrs.  Barnes  built  a  log  house 
on  the  site  of  F.  F.  Wait's  present  residence.  Upon  its 
completion  this  house  was  occupied  by  Daniel  Jackson  and 
wife,  from  Gull  Prairie,  Jackson  having  been  hired  to  come 
here,  keep  the  house,  and  board  the  men  then  engaged  in 
lumbering  and  the  construction  of  a  saw-mill.  The  Jack- 
sons  remained  but  about  four  months,  Mrs.  Jackson  be- 
coming so  lonely  and  homesick  in  the  wild  woods  that  life 
here  was  no  longer  endurable. 

It  was  necessary,  however,  that  some  one  should  attend 
to  household  duties  in  caring  for  the  wants  of  the  workmen, 
and,  as  the  owners  intended  to  make  this  place  their  perma- 
nent residence,  Lucius  A.  Barnes — son  of  Isaac — was 
induced  to  remove  from  Gull  Prairie  and  occupy  the  house 
just  vacated  by  Mr.  Jackson.  With  his  young  wife  he  first 
began  housekeeping  here  in  the  month  of  September,  1837. 
Thus  began  the  first  settlement  in  the  present  township 
of  Wayland,  or  Lumberion,  as  it  was  then  called, — a  name 
adopted  by  Col.  Barnes  and  family,  and  by  which  it  was 
known  until  its  separate  organization,  in  1844. 

The  saw-mill  was  completed  during  the  winter  of  1837- 
38,  and  for  several  years  lumbering  was  carried  on  quite 
extensively.  The  early  products  of  this  mill  were  hauled — 
by  L.  A.  Barnes,  principally — to  Marshall,  Battle  Creek, 
and  Kalamazoo.  For  five  or  six  years  the  water-supply 
was  abundant,  the  fiow  in  Rabbit  River  being  about  four 
times  its  present  volume.  In  1850  the  mill  became  the 
property  of  William  B.  Hill,  and  thereafter  power  was  de- 
rived from  steam. 

George  W.  Barnes  never  married.  He  represented  this 
district  in  the  State  Legislature  in  1839,  and  upon  the  or- 
ganization of  Martin,  the  same  year,  he  suggested  its  name, 
in  honor  of  President  Van  Buren.  He  served  as  the  second 
supervisor  of  Martin  in  1840,  and  was  prominent  in  other 
oflBcial  capacities.  About  1838  or  1839  he  became  the  first 
postmaster  of  the  "  Wayland"  office,*  and  continued  as  such 
for  a  number  of  years.  In  1844  he  was  elected  the  first 
supervisor  of  Wayland,  and  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1853,  he  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  in  the 
eastern  part  of  Allegan  County. 

Col.  Isaac  Barnes,  who  was  an  early  government  surveyor 
and  the  first  settler  on  Gull  Prairie  in  1830,  and  who  pro- 

*  Joel  Batchelor,  of  Plainfield,  had  the  contract  for  carrying  the 
mails,  and  Wat  Wait,  mounted  on  horseback,  was  the  carrier.  The 
route  through  this  township  led  over  the  old  diagonal  road,  which  ex- 
tended from  the  southwest  corner  of  the  township,  vid  David  Brad- 
ley's residence,  to  Barnes'  Mill.  In  later  years  Rathbnn  &  Pratt  ran 
stages  over  the  same  route,  and  they  were  succeeded  by  Lucius  A. 
Barnes.  The  ''  Bradley"  post-office  was  established  subsequent  to 
that  of  Wayland. 


351 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


jected  the  first  improvements  in  Wayland,  died  here  Feb. 
22,  1848.     His  wife  followed  him  but  three  days  later. 

Lucius  A.  Barnes,  still  a  resident  of  this  township,  is 
entitled  to  prominence  as  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of 
Southern  Michigan.  In  1830  he  carried  the  first  mail  west 
from  Jackson,*  the  route  extending  from  the  latter  place 
to  Gull  Prairie.  The  dwelling  of  Rev.  Mr.  Fassett, 
vpho  lived  some  six  miles  west  from  Sandstone,  was  then 
the  only  one  between  the  two  points  mentioned.  Trips 
were  made  on  horseoack.  The  following  year,  with  horse- 
team  and  wagon,  he  carried  the  mail  from  Marshall,  vicL 
Battle  Creek  and  Gull  Prairie,  to  Schoolcraft.  He  also 
claims  to  have  driven  the  first  horse-team  from  Gull  Prairie 
to  White  Pigeon  and  Niles,  to  have  entered  at  the  White 
Pigeon  land-office,  for  Louis  Campau,  the  lands  now  occu- 
pied by  the  city  of  Grand  Rapids,  and  to  have  driven  the 
first  sleigh  into  Grand  Rapids  when  its  only  white  inhabi- 
tants were  Louis  Campau,  the  French  trader,  and  Rev. 
Leonard  Slater,  the  Indian  missionary.  Since  his  first 
settlement  in  this  town,  in  1837,  Mr.  L.  A.  Barnes  has 
resided  in  Ohio  and  at  Green  Lake,  in  Leighton,  where 
he  kept  hotel  for  some  years  in  the  old  building  erected 
by  Louis  Campau  in  1833  or  1834.  He  again  became  a 
citizen  of  Wayland  in  1854. 

Orrin  Orton,  who  settled  in  the  present  township  of  Gun 
Plain  in  1835,  purchased  portions  of  sections  25  and  36, 
in  this  township,  in  the  spring  of  1837,  and  became  one  of 
the  earliest  settlers  in  Wayland  by  locating  upon  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  36  during  the  fall  of  the  latter  year. 

Timothy  Gregg,  of  Hector,  Tompkins  Co.  (now  Schuyler 
Co.),  N.  Y.,  bought  lands  on  sections  27  and  28  in  Decem- 
ber, 1836.  Joseph  M.,  his  eldest  son,  was  then  a  resident 
of  Kalamazoo,  Mich.  During  the  spring  of  1837,  Timothy 
Gregg,  accompanied  by  bis  son  William  H.  H.,  came  to 
Michigan  and  occupied  a  rented  place  on  Grand  Prairie, 
Kalamazoo  Co.  Qne  year  later  the  father  and  sons  removed 
to  this  township  and  began  the  improvement  of  land  pur- 
chased in  1836.  The  family  first  occupied  a  shanty  which 
stood  near  Shelby  Station.  During  the  summer  a  road 
was  cut  to  Barnes'  saw-mill,  where  plank  was  obtained,  when 
a  dwelling,  composed  of  that  material,  was  built  upon  the 
premises  now  owned  by  William  H.  H.  Gregg.  This  family 
were  assisted  in  their  labor  by  George  Haywood,  who  ulti- 
mately married  Mr.  Gregg's  daughter  and  became  one  of  the 
well-known  pioneers  of  the  township.  The  Greggs  raised 
a  crop  of  corn  on  John  H.  Adams'  land  the  first  year,  and 
excellent  potatoes  upon  their  own,  four  or  five  hills  of 
which  would  fill  a  bushel-measure.  They  also  cleared  and 
sowed  to  wheat  some  nine  acres.  Members  of  this  family 
affirm  that  their  settlement  was  made  prior  to  that  of  Orrin 
Orton,  while  there  are  others  who  assert  that  Orton  was 
the  second  settler  in  the  township. 

Nelson  Chambers,  the  first  settler  in  the  northwest  quar- 
ter of  the  township,  came  in  with  a  sleigh  during  the  winter 
of  1838-39.  In  June,  1839,  he  was  assessed  as  owning  80 
acres  on  section  5,  valued  at  $240,  and  one  yoke  of  oxen, 
valued  at  $70.  He  was  very  needy  at  the  time  of  making 
his  beginning  here,  but  by  dint  of  great  industry,  persever- 

*  Then  a  hamlet,  called  Jackaonburg. 


ance,  and    shrewd  management  be  ultimately  amassed  a 
handsome  competency. 

Among  others  who  settled  during  the  year  1839  were 
Oziel  H.  Rounds  on  section  27  ;  Joel  Brownson  on  section 
20 ;  bis  son  Apollos  P.,  who  early  settled  upon  section  5  ; 
Rev.  James  Selkrig  at  the  mission  ;  and  Nelson  M.  Pollard, 
who  first  worked  for  Mr.  Selkrig,  but  afterwards  purchased 
land  on  sections  23  and  29. 

SELKKIG  AND  THE  INDIAN  MISSION. 

Rev.  James  Selkrig  was  born  in  the  town  of  Claverack, 
Columbia  Co.,  N.  Y.  His  father,  Jeremiah  Selkrig,  gained 
distinction  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution  as  one  of 
Washington's  aids.  Quite  early  James  sought  the  dangers 
and  excitement  of  a  seafaring  life,  and  served  under  both 
the  French  and  American  flags.  He  finally  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Pompey,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  a  convert  and 
preacher  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  faith,  and  for  some 
years  preached  at  various  places  in  that  region.  He  then 
adopted  the  tenets  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  was 
ordained  by  Bishop  Onderdonk,  of  New  York. 

In  1836  he  moved  from  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  the 
village  of  Niles,  Mich.,  where  he  soon  after  built  the 
first  Episcopal  church  edifice  in  that  portion  of  the  State. 
Desirous  of  having  music  to  aid  him  in  the  services,  with 
his  own  hands  he  constructed  an  organ,  and  presented  it 
to  the  church.     He  remained  at  Niles  two  years. 

At  about  this  time  the  scattered  bands  of  Indians  still  re- 
maining among  the  settled  districts  of  Michigan  attracted 
the  attention  of  the  general  government,  and  a  plan  was 
devised  of  bringing  them  together  under  various  religious 
denominations  by  appropriating  certain  sums  of  money  to 
the  churches  then  in  existence  here,  for  mission  purposes, 
in  lieu  of  granting  yearly  annuities  to  the  Indians  them- 
selves. 

Desiring  to  improve  this  opportunity.  Bishop  McCoskry, 
then  the  Episcopal' head  of  this  diocese,  began  looking 
about  him  lor  subjects  upon  which  to  bestow  the  blessings 
of  civilization  and  the  protection  affi)rded  by  his  church. 
His  search  was  rewarded  by  the  discovery  of  Chief  Saga- 
maw's  band  of  Ottawas  and  a  few  Poitawattamies, — about 
150  in  number, — who  were  dwelling  on  a  peninsula  jutting 
into  Gun  Lake.  These  destitute  savages,  once,  with  their 
fellows,  the  proud  and  undisputed  owners  of  a  large  por- 
tion of  the  State,  had  been  gradually  forced  back  from 
their  ancient  hunting-grounds,  until  they  knew  not  where 
to  lay  their  heads. 

In  1838,  Rev.  James  Selkrig  was  deputed  by  the  bishop 
to  visit  this  Indian  encampment  and  to  ofier  those  assem- 
bled there  the  benefits  of  a  mission  home.  Securing  the 
personal  aid  of  Rev.  Leonard  Slater,  an  Indian  missionary 
of  the  Baptist  denomination,  an  audience  was  had  with 
Sagamaw  at  his  encampment.  The  chief  requested  more 
time  for  thought  upon  the  matter,  and  a  second  meeting 
was  appointed  to  be  held  on  the  north  bank  of  the  beautiful 
sheet  of  water  now  known  as  Selkrig  Lake.  The  bishop 
was  present  at  this  meeting,  and  at  its  close  the  Indians  con- 
sented to  settle  on  lands  to  be  located  near  the  lake  last 
mentioned.  Thereupon  there  was  purchased  for  mission 
purposes,  from  the  government,  160  acres  situated  on  section 


PHOTora.  ov    paomah 


MARY    J.  SE/W/ER. 


WM.   SHAVER. 


WAYLAND   HOUSE,    Wm.SEA\/ ER ,  Fhop.^      Wayland,      Mich. 


WAYLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


355 


20,*  and  from  Lawrence  Vandewalker,  of  Kalamazoo,  200 
acres,  situated  upon  section  28. 

During  the  summer  of  1839,  Mr.  Selkrig  and  family  re- 
moved from  Niles  to  the  mission.  His  family  consisted  of 
himself,  his  wife,  and  three  children,  named  James  E.,  Jer- 
emiah, and  Charles  F.  He  settled  upon  the  southeast 
quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  28.  His  first 
house  was  of  peculiar  construction.  The  walls  consisted 
of  hewn  timbers  tenoned  at  both  ends,  which  were  set  up- 
right, and  secured  to  both  sills  and  plates  by  entering  a 
continuous  mortise. 

The  Indians  were  established  upon  the  same  40  acres 
during  the  summer  of  1839,  and  their  first  work  under  the 
supervision  of  Mr.  Selkrig  was  the  building  of  their  wig- 
wams and  a  large  arbor  or  bower-house,  where  religious  ser- 
vices were  held.  Mr.  Selkrig's  sermons  were  delivered  in 
English  and  interpreted  by  Adoniram  Judson,f  or  "  Maw- 
bese,"  an  educated  Ottawa,  who,  during  his  time,  was  con- 
sidered one  of  the  best  interpreters  in  the  State. 

These  meetings  were  also  regularly  attended  by  many  of 
the  early  pioneers  of  the  township.  A  few  years  after  his 
settlement  Mr.  Selkrig  built  the  dwelling  now  occupied  by 
his  widow  and  family,  and  the  old  building  was  then  used 
as  the  chapel.  Until  his  death,  which  occurred  Oct.  5, 
1878,  he  continued  active  in  the  discharge  of  his  labors ; 
and  if  he  did  not  succeed  in  educating  his  prot^g^s  up  to  a 
higher  degree  of  excellence  than  they  have  attained  else- 
where, most  certainly  he  was  afibrded  the  gratification  of 
seeing  them  become  self  supporting  as  agriculturists,  and  as 
a  class  generally  law-abiding.  Their  first  chief  on  these 
grounds,  Sagamaw,  was  killed  by  his  son-in-law,  in  1845, 
during  a  drunken  quarrel.  Pen-ah-see,  or  "  Bird,"  then 
became  their  chieftain,  and  upon  his  death  was  succeeded 
by  Moses  Foster  or  She-pe-quonk,  meaning  "  Big  Thunder," 
who  is  their  present  chief.  There  still  remain  upon  the 
mission-lands  14  families  of  those  people,  or  about  75  per- 
sons all  told.  They  are  Indians  still,  however,  and  after 
more  than  forty  years  of  daily  contact  and  intercourse  with 
their  white  neighbors,  they  retain  all  the  prominent  char- 
acteristics of  their  race  in  features  and  habits,  and  as  a  re- 
sult their  cabins  are  squalid  in  appearance,  while  their  style 
of  farming  cannot  be  commended. 

Samuel  E.  Lincoln,  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
with  his  parents,  moved  to  Ohio  at  an  early  day.  In  1837 
he  came  to  Kalamazoo  and  worked  at  his  trade  as  a  house 
carpenter.  During  the  spring  of  1840,  accompanied  by 
his  brother  Horatio,  he  came  to  the  present  town  of  Way- 
land,  and  built  for  Timothy  Grregg  the  first  framed  barn  in 
the  township.  This  was  a  large  structure,  32  by  44  feet 
ground  plan,  with  posts  16  feet  in  length,  and  re- 
quired to  raise  it  the  presence  of  all  the  able-bodied 
menj  of  the  territory  comprised  in  the  present  towns  of 


»  The  southeast  quarter,  which  was  entered  by  Samuel  A.  McCoskry, 
of  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  June  23,  1839.  The  mission-lands  lying  on 
section  28  were  entered  in  the  name  of  Sarah  M.  Weaver,  of  Kala- 
mazoo Co.,  Mich.,  Jan.  14,  1837. 

f  Several  years  later  found  frozen  to  death  on  the  Sager  farm. 

+  Wm.  H.  H.  Gregg  rode  two  days  to  invite  these  men  to  the 
"  raising."' 


Wayland,  Martin,  Hopkins,  and  Leighton,  and  several 
from  Gun  Plains  and  Yankee  Springs.  This  barn  is  still 
standing. 

In  his  recollections  of  events  of  that  time,  and  of  the 
pioneers  who  preceded  him  here,  Mr.  Lincoln  recalls  the 
names  of  all  those  already  mentioned.  He  believes  that 
the  principals  in  the  first  marriage  were  Bichard  S.  Sage, 
of  Kalamazoo  County,  and  Eveline,  daughter  of  Joel 
Brownson,  and  that  the  ceremony  was  performed  during 
the  winter  of  1841  and  1842.  The  second  marriage  was  that 
of  himself  to  Miss  Brown,  Oct.  12,  1843,  and  the  third, 
Hiram  Loomis  to  Miss  Julia  Heydenberk,  about  1844. 

The  first  birth  occurred  in  January,  1840,  being  that  of 
Eliza  A.  Bounds,  daughter  of  Oziel  H.  Bounds.  Marion 
Filkins,  son  of  Solomon  Filkins,  was  born  the  same  year. 
An  early  death  was  that  of  Mary  Hamblin,  a  granddaughter 
of  Abijah  Brown.  Orrin  Orton  erected  the  second  framed 
barn,  and  George  W.  Barnes  the  first  framed  dwelling, — 
the  building  now  occupied  by  F.  F.  Wait.  Mr.  Lincoln 
was  al.so  a  pioneer  in  the  township  of  Leighton.  He  now 
resides  in  the  village  of  Wayland. 

In  years  prior  to  1842  among  the  additional  settlers  of 
Wayland  were  Joseph  Heydenberk,  on  section  7 ;  Solomon 
Filkins,  on  section  3  ;  Abijah  Brown,  sections  27  and  28  ; 
John  Frantz,  section  24  ;  John  A.  Brown,  Hiram  Loomis, 
Thomas  Loomis,  Calvin  Lewis,  Joseph  and  Abel  Angel ; 
and  before  the  organization  of  the  township  we  find  here 
Stephen  S.  Germond,  Luther  Martin,  John  Haywood,  and 
Dr.  David  Bradley.  Dr.  Bradley  came  from  Tompkins 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was  an  early  postmaster  ;  also  the  first 
physician,  merchant,  and  tavern-keeper  in  the  township. 
His  place  was  on  the  old  stage-route,  section  28.  He  re- 
moved to  Martin  Corners  in  1854.  Twenty-four  voters 
were  present  at  the  first  township-meeting  in  1844,  and  28 
persons  were  assessed  as  resident  tax-payers  the  same  year. 
Their  names,  location,  and  acres  owned  by  each  will  be 
shown  on  another  page. 

Other  well-known  pioneers  §  who  settled  in  Wayland 
before  the  year  1850  were  Humphrey  Gardner,  who  came 
in  1846  ;  John  Woodward,  Justus  Taylor,  Myron  Briggs, 
Levi  Mosher,  Amasa  Eldred,  Cooper  Eldred,  Levi  D. 
Taylor,  Balph  Pratt,  William  Buchanan,  Ambrose  Mosher, 
Alfred  Mann,  Rev.  Samuel  Newberry,  David  Brown,  E. 
F.  Waldo,  Harlow  J.  Dean,  Tyler  Johnson,  and  George 
W.  Lewis. 

The  United  States  census  of  1850  reported  as  follows 
regarding  Wayland : 

Number  of  dwelling-houses 92 

"          families 96 

"          inhabitants 406 

Value  of  real  estate $40,196 

Number  of  occupied  farms 13 

"          acres  improved 555 

"              "      unimproved 1315 

Valueof  farm-lands $13,700 

*'        farming  implements $1^025 

Number  of  horses 9 

"          milch-cows 36 

"          working  oxen 26 

"          other  cattle 70 

"          sheep 82 

^'          swine 55 

Valueof  live-stock $2,969 

§  This  list  includes  some  Leighton  people,  the  latter  township 
having  been  attached  to  Wayland  until  1848. 


356 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARKY   COUNTIES,  MIOHIGAN. 


Number  of  bushels  wheat  produced  during  1849  1,213 
"               "        rye             "             "           "  40 
"               "        Indian    corn  produced  du- 
ring 1849 1,850 

"               "        oats  produced  during  1849  1,165 

'•               "        barley      "              "           "  80 
"               "        buckwheat  produced  during 

1849 117 

"  "        potatoes    produced    during 

1849 1,435 

"  pounds  wool  produced  during  1849  250 
"  "  butter  "  "  "  2,980 
"  "  cheese  "  "  "  250 
"  tons  hay  "  "  "  104 
"  pounds  maple-sugar  produced  du- 
ring 1849 1,850 

**"         steam  saw-mills 1 

Capital  invested  in  saw-mill $2,000 

Annual  product  of  saw-mill  (feet) 400,000 

Value  of  sawed  product  per  year $2,800 

The  census  of  1860  reported  194  dwelling-houses,  185 
families,  and  a  total  population  of  917.  That  of  1874 
(the  latest)  returned  a  total  population  of  1761  inhabitants. 
An  approximate  estimate  of  the  present  population  places 
it  at  about  2400. 

CIVIL   HISTORY. 

This  township,  originally  forming  part  of  Plainfield,  was 
set  off  as  part  of  Martin  in  1839.  By  an  act  of  the  State 
Legislature,  approved  March  9, 1843,  with  Leighton,  it  was 
organized  as  Wayland.  Section  1  of  an  act  to  organize 
certain  townships  in  the  State  of  Michigan  reads  as  fol- 
lows: 

"  Be  it  enacted  iy  the  Senate  and  House  of  Jiepresentativea  of  the  State 
of  Michigan,  That  all  that  part  of  the  county  of  Allegan  designated  by 
the  United  States  Survey  as  townships  number  three  and  four  north,  of 
range  number  eleven  west,  now  a  part  of  the  township  of  Martin,  be 
and  the  same  is,  hereby  set  off  and  organized  into  a  separate  township 
by  the  name  of  Wayland,  and  the  first  township-meeting  therein  shall 
be  held  at  the  house  of  Col.  Barnes,  in  said  township." 

FIRST  TOWNSHIP  ELECTION,  Etc. 
It  seems  that  the  first  township-meeting  was  not  held, 
however,  until  the  spring  of  1844,  for  we  find,  by  referring 
to  the  township  records,  that  the  legal  voters  assembled  at 
the  house  of  Isaac  Barnes,  April  1,  1844,  for  the  purpose 
of  holding  their  "  first  township-meeting,"  and  organ- 
ized by  choosing  Isaac  Barnes  moderator,  Joel  Bronson, 
George  W.  Barnes,  and  Joseph  Heydenberk  inspectors, 
and  Luther  Martin  clerk  pro  tern.  Twenty-four  voters 
were  present,  and  the  election  resulted  in  the  choice  of  the 
following  township  officers:  George  W.  Barnes,  Supervisor; 
Luther  Martin,  Township  Clerk  ;  Oziel  H.  Rounds,  Treas- 
urer ;  Stephen  S.  Germond,  Solomon  Filkins,  Assessors ; 
Isaac  Barnes,  George  W.  Barnes,  School  Inspectors ;  Nel- 
son Chambers,  Joseph  Heydenberk,  Directors  of  the  Poor; 
Isaac  Barnes,  Oziel  H.  Rounds,  Nelson  Chambers,  High- 
way Commissioners ;  George  W.  Barnes,  Stephen  S.  Ger- 
mond, Oziel  H.  Rounds,  Nelson  Chambers,  Justices  of  the 
Peace ;  Calvin  Lewis,  Nelson  M.  Pollard,  Constables.  Joel 
Bronson  was  elected  overseer  of  highways  in  the  west  dis- 
trict; Samuel  E.  Lincoln,  overseer  in  the  southeast  dis- 
trict ;  Solomon  Fiikins,  overseer  in  the  northeast  district ; 
and  William  S.  Hooker,  overseer  for  the  district  comprising 
township  4.     At  the  same  meeting  it  was  voted — 

"  That  the  bounty  on  wolves  should  be  $6.00. 
"To  raise  $160  for  township  purposes. 

"  That  the  township  clerk  be  authorized  to  purchase  books  for  record, 
and  ballot-boxes. 


"  That  the  next  township-meeting  be  held  at  the  house  of  Luther 
Martin." 

On  the  19th  of  June,  1844,  the  authorities  of  Martin 
and  Wayland  met  for  the  purpose  of  making  an  equitable 
division  of  township  moneys,  Wayland  receiving  $162.85, 
represented  by  the  following  securities  : 

In  county  orders $19.00 

Two  notes  against  George  W.  Barnes 17.43 

State  bonds 70.00 

Library  money 14.66 

Highway  money 41.76 

$162.85 
RESIDENTS    OF   1844. 

During  the  same  month  and  year  (June,  1844)  the  first 
assessment-roll  of  Wayland  was  completed.  The  names  of 
resident  tax-payers,  the  number  of  acres  owned,  and  the 
sections  upon  which  their  lands  were  situated  are  showii  by 
the  following  table : 

Acres. 

John  Haywood,  section  1] 4-0 

Orrin  Orton,  sections  25,  36 240 

Stephen  S.  Germond,  section  26 144 

John  Frantz,  section  24 160 

Oziel  H.  Rounds,  section  27 1*1 

Timothy  Gregg,  sections  27,  28 160 

Joseph  M.  Gregg,  section  .34 SO 

David  Bradley,  section  28 80 

George  Haywood,  section  14 120 

James  Selkrig,  sections  28,  29 206 

Joel  Brownson,  section  20 160 

Joseph  Heydenberk,  section  7 160 

Apollos  P.  Brownson,  section  5 40 

Samuel  E.  Lincoln Per. 

Nelson  Chambers,  section  5 80 

Abijah  Brown,  sections  27,  28 160 

Nelson  M.  Pollard,  sections  23,  29 200 

Luther  Martin,  section  23 40 

Solomon  Filkins,  section  3 08 

George  W,  Barnes,  sections  2,  3,  6,  10,  31,  35 298 

Joseph  Angel Per. 

Calvin  Lewis '' 

Hiram  Loomis *' 

Abel  Angel ; ** 

John  A.  Brown " 

Boughton  Wilson,  section  24,  township  4  north,  range  11  west.  160 
Samuel  B.  and  Wm.  S.  Hooker,  section  34,  township  4  north, 

range  11  west 160 

The  real  and  personal  estate  of  townships  3  and  4  north, 
of  range  11  west,  was  valued  at  $29,858,  and  the  tax  levied 
was  $623.65.     Of  this  there  was  collected  $183.93. 

RESULTS   OF   ELECTIONS,  Etc. 

Thirty-seven  votes  were  polled  in  1845. 

In  1849,  after  the  erection  of  Leighton,  which  was  set 
off  in  1848,  45  votes  were  given  at  the  spring  election. 

At  the  Presidential  election  of  1868  the  Republican 
electors  received  257  votes;  Democratic,  187. 

In  1872  the  Republican  electors  received  197  votes; 
Liberal  Democratic,  52 ;  Democratic,  8. 

In  1876  the  Republican  electors  received  244  votes ; 
Democratic,  142 ;  Greenback,  46.  Total  votes  polled  in 
the  spring  of  1879,  454. 

TOWNSHIP   OFFICERS. 
The  following  comprises  a  list  of  the  principal  officers 
of  the  township  elected  annually  for  the  years  from  1845 
to  1880  inclusive : 

SUPEEVISOES. 
1845,  Joel  Brownson;  1846,  Stephen  S.  Germond;  1847,  Nelson  Cham- 
bers; 1848,  Joel  Brownson;  1849-60,  Abel  Angel;*  1861,  Ralph 
Pratt;   1862-72,  Abel  Anget;    1873,  Orrin  W.  Nash;   1874-75, 
Abel  Angel ;  1876-80,  David  Stockdalo. 

*  Ambrose  Mosher  appointed  to  fill  vacancy  April  17,  1855.  Ralph 
Pratt  appointed  to  fill  vacancy  April  10,  1860. 


Ka ;  (L  /  i  ^iy/i    c/^    '%^^  ^dc  1 1  u, 


Residence  OF  JOSIAH    E.HARDlNGr,     BRAOLEr,    Mich. 


WAYLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


357 


TOWNSHIP  CLERKS. 

1845-46,  Samuel  B.  Hooker;  1847,  Luther  Martin;  1848,  Nelson 
Chambers;  1849-51,  Stephen  S.  Germond;  1852-54,  Ambrose 
Mosher;  1855,  George  Haywood;  1856,  George  B.  Manchester; 
1857,  George  Haywood;  1858-59,  Ralph  Pratt;  1860,  T.  J.  Lin- 
ton; 1861,  David  M.  Swett;  1862,  William  E.  Harrison;  1863, 
Edwin  E.  Hoyt;  1864,  Wm.  H.  White;  1865-66,  E.  G.  Seaver; 
1867,  G.  Chase  Goodwin;  1868,  Henry  C.  Garrett;  1869,  Hiram 
S.  Warren;  1870,  Wm.  R.  Harrison;  1871,  Lee  Deuel;  1872,  C. 
H.  Adams;  1873-76,  William  V.  Hoyt;  1877-80,  Leander  D. 
Chappel. 

TKEASUREES. 

1845,  Wm.  H.  H.  Gregg;  1846-47,  Abel  Angel;  1848,  Wm.  H.  H. 
Gregg;  1849-69,  Humphrey  Gardner;  1870,  Nelson  Chambers; 
1871-72,  Frank  Heniker;  1873-76,  Wm.  L.  Heazlit;  1876-77, 
Lee  Deuel;  1878,  Wm.  Stookdale;  1879-80,  Charles  H.  Adams. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 
Joel  Brownson,  1845;  David  Bradley,  1846;  John  Woodward,  1847; 
Nelson  Chambers,  Justus  Taylor,  1848 ;  Luther  Martin,  Oziel  H. 
Rounds,  1849;  Myron  Briggs,  Nelson  M.  Pollard,  1850;  Oziel 
H.  Rounds,  Levi  Mosher,  David  Bradley,  Amasa  Eldred,  1851; 
George  Haywood,  1852;  Ralph  Pratt,  Joel  Brownson,  Apollos  P. 
Brownson,  1853;  William  Hardy,  1854;  Norton  Briggs,  1855; 
George  Haywood,  1856;  Stephen  S.  Germond,  1857;  Oscar  Noble, 
1858;  Norton  Briggs,  1859;  George  Haywood,  Josiah  E.  Har- 
ding, 1860 ;  Ralph  Pratt,  1861 ;  Josiah  B.  Harding,  1862 ;  James 
Van  Valkenburgh,  Levi  D.  Taylor,  1863 ;  George  Haywood,  1864; 
Levi  D.  Taylor,  1865 ;  Robert  B.  Deuel,  Robert  Downing,  David 
Laraway,  1866 ;  David  Stookdale,  Aretus  N.  Worden,  1867 ; 
George  Haywood,  1868;  William  V.  Hoyt,  1869;  James  B. 
Smith,  E.  M.  Fitch,  1870;  David  Stookdale,  Sylvanus  Snell, 
1871;  Josiah  E.  Harding,  John  A.  Kinner,  1872;  Daniel  T. 
Hersey,  John  A.  Kinner,  1873;  Kinsey  Martin,  1874;  David 
Stookdale,  1875;  Jabez  H.  Trade,  1876;  Edward  M.  Fitch, 
1877;  Kinsey  Martin,  1878;  David  Stookdale,  1879;  Jabez  H. 
Trude,  1880. 

HIGHWAY  COMMISSIONEBS. 

Abel  Angel,  David  Bradley,  William  S.  Hooker,  1845;  Joseph  Hcy- 

denbcrk,  Boughton  Willson,  1846;  Joseph  Heydeuberk,  William 

Buchanan,  John  Frantz,  1847;  Cooper  Eldred,  David  Bradley, 

1848-49 ;  Levi  Mosher,  1850 ;  Apollos  P.  Brownson,  Ralph  Pratt, 

1851;  Ambrose  Mosher,  1852;  William  Buchanan,  1853;  David 

Bradley,  Tyler  Johnson,  1854 ;  William  H.  H.  Gregg,  Solomon 

Filkins,  1855;    Ambrose  Mosher,  1856;    Tyler  Johnson,  1857; 

William  H.  H.  Gregg,  Ezra  Whitney,  1858;  John  Kitchen,  1859; 

Ralph    Pratt,   1860;    Morgan    B.    Chrisman,   1861;    Talleyrand 

Martin,  1862;  John  J.  Kinner,  Alva  S.  Pratt,  1863;  Leonard  M. 

Doxey,  1864;  Franklin  M.  Miles,  John  A.  Kinner,  1865;  George 

Jackson,  1866 ;    Leonard  M.   Doxey,  1867;    Minot  Hoyt,  1868; 

Adolphus  D.   Towsley,  Franklin  M.  Miles,  1869;   Leonard  M. 

Doxey,  1870 ;  Franklin  M.  Miles,  187 1 ;  Alphcus  Towsley,  1872 ; 

Leonard  M.  Doxey,  1873;  M.  C.  Hayward,  1874;  Leonard  M. 

Doxey,  1875;  Milo  Carpenter,  1876-77;  Joseph  Jackson,  1878 

-80. 

SCHOOL  INSPECTORS. 

Alfred  Mann,  1845 ;  Samuel  Newbury,  1846 ;  George  W.  Barnes,  1847 

James  Selkrig,  1848;  Myron  Briggs,  1849;  George  W.  Barnes, 

1850;  James  Selkrig,  E.  F.  Waldo,  1851;    James  Selkrig,  1852 

Ralph  Pratt,  1853;  James  Selkrig,  1854;  Myron  Briggs,  1855 

James   Selkrig,  1856;    Ralph   Pratt,  Myron    Briggs,  1857;    A 

R.  Balch,  1858;  Myron  Briggs,  1869;  Jacob  V.  Rogers,  1860 

Morgan  B.  Chrisman,  1861;  A.  R.  Balch,  1862;  Otis  D.  Parsons, 

1863;  John  G.  Colgrove,  Alva  S.  Pratt,  1864;  John  S.  Kidder, 

1865;  A.  R.  Balch,  Robert  B.  Deuel,  1866;  George  W.  Pease, 

1867;  .John  W.  Brakeman,  A.  R.  Balch,  1868;  George  W.  Pease, 

1869;    Henry    C.  Garrett,  1870;  William  H.   H.   Palmer,  1871 

George    W.    Peiise,   Lyman    D.  Sweetland,  1872;    Harrison    H. 

Kelly,  B.  P.  Wheeler,  1873;  John  W.  Moore,  1874;  Solomon  S, 

Fox,  1875;  Oziel  H.  Rounds,  Jr.,  1876;  Horace  J.  Turner,  1877 

Edgar  S.  Linsley,  1878;  Nelson  B.  Leighton,  1879;  Horace  J. 

Turner,  1880. 

DIRECTORS  OF  THE  POOR. 

Nelson  Chambers,  Samuel  B.  Hooker,  1845;  Joel  Brownson,  Joseph 
Heydenberk,  1846;  Harlow  J.  Dean,  Nelson  M.  Pollard,   1847; 


Justus  Taylor,  Oziel  H.  Rounds,  1848;  David  Bradley,  Nelson  M. 
Pollard,  1849 ;  Tyler  Johnson,  William  H.  H.  Gregg,  1850 ;  Joel 
Brownson,  Tyler  Johnson,  1851 ;  Tyler  Johnson,  William  H.  H. 
Gregg,  1862;  Solomon  Filkins,  Joel  Brownson,  1853;  Joseph 
Heydenberk,  John  Kitchen,  1865;  William  Hard,  Solomon  Fil- 
kins, 1856;  Abram  Alger,  1857;  Joel  Brownson,  Abram  Alger, 
1858;  William  H.  H.  Gregg,  Abram  Alger,  1859. 

ASSESSORS. 
Solomon  Filkins,  George  W.  Lewis,  1845 ;  George  W.  Lewis,  Luther 
Martin,  1846;  Oziel  H.  Rounds,  Solomon  Filkins,  1847;  Super- 
visors, 1848;  Luther  Martin,  William  H.  H.  Gregg,  1849;  Super- 
visors, 1850  to  1879,  inclusive. 

DRAIN  COMMISSIONERS. 
William  F.  Olds,  1871 ;  David  Stookdale,  1872;  A.  D.  Towsley,  1873- 
74;    Leonard   M.  Doxey,    1875;    Joseph   Dayton,   1876;   A.  D. 
Towsley,  1878;  Milo  Carpenter,  1880. 

SUPERINTENDENTS  OF  SCHOOLS. 
Harrison  U.  Kelley,  1875 ;  S.  S.  Fox,  1876-80. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

We  have  not  learned  that  any  school  or  schools  were 
taught  in  the  township  prior  to  its  separation  from  Martin, 
and  it  is  very  probable  that  there  were  none. 

At  the  first  township  election  in  Wayland,  held  April  1, 
1844,  Isaac  and  Gr.  W.  Barnes  were  elected  school  inspectors. 
On  the  4th  of  May,  1844,  the  Messrs.  Barnes,  acting  in 
an  official  capacity,  organized  three  school  districts,  describ- 
ing their  boundaries  as  follows  : 

"Di.=trict  No.  1  will  contain  sections  34,  35,  36,  in  township  four 
north,  of  range  eleven  west,  and  sections  1,  2,  3,  10,  11,  and  12  in 
township  three  north,  of  the  same  range. 

"District  No.  2  will  comprise  sections  5,  6,  7,  8,  17,  18,  19,  and  20, 
in  township  three  north,  of  range  eleven  west. 

"  District  No.  3  will  comprise  sections  26,  27,  28,  33,  34,  and  36,  in 
township  three  north,  of  range  eleven  west." 

On  the  same  day,  Apollos  P.  Brownson,  as  moderator  of 
district  No.  2,  took  his  oath  of  office,  and  on  the  15th  day 
of  May  the  inspectors  were  notified  that  all  the  districts 
were  duly  organized. 

Miss  Belinda  Eldred,  daughter  of  the  first  settler  of 
Martin,  received  a  certificate  to  teach  in  district  No.  2  (the 
Chambers  neighborhood)  June  25,  1844,  and  upon  as- 
suming control  of  the  twelve  little  barefoots  intrusted  to  her 
supervision,  became  the  first  teacher  in  the  township.  The 
house,  a  small  log  structure  which  had  formerly  done  duty 
as  Chambers'  shingle  shanty,  was  situated  in  the  village  of 
Wayland,  and  among  the  principal  patrons  were  Nelson 
Chambers,  Joseph  Heydenberk,  and  John  Parsons.  The 
following  winter  Miss  Eldred  taught  in  the  Gregg  neighbor- 
hood. In  later  years  she  became  the  wife  of  Ebenezer 
Wilder,  of  Martin,  where  both  reside  at  present  writing. 

In  the  spring  of  1845  the  electors  of  Wayland  voted 
that  the  sum  of  $25  be  appropriated  for  town.ship  library. 
Twenty-five  volumes  for  library  purposes  were  purchased 
soon  after,  and  the  township  clerk  appointed  librarian. 
Among  the  rules  established  by  the  inspectors  for  his  gui- 
dance were  the  following : 

"  For  tearing  out  a  leaf,  or  obliterating  so  as  to  destroy  the  sense, 
the  fine  shall  be  the  price  of  the  book.  For  breaking  a  cover,  half 
the  price  of  the  book;  for  turning  down  a  leof,  five  cents;  for  every 
grease  spot,  five  cents.  And  all  other  damages  not  herein  specified 
shall  be  at  the  discretion  of  the  Librarian." 


358 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Miss  Alsina  Rose  received  a  certificate  to  teach  in  dis- 
trict No.  3,  Nov.  15,  1845,  and  Miss  Julia  Brownson  suc- 
ceeded her  in  the  same  district  on  the  15th  of  May,  1846. 
James  Davis,  the  first  male  teacher,  was  the  only  one  re- 
ceiving a  certificate  during  the  year  1847  (November  6th). 
During  the  summer  of  1848  Euretta  Dexter  and  Mary 
Jane  Forbes  received  certificates. 

October  1,  1848,  district  No.  2  reported  16  scholars; 
district  No.  3,  46  scholars.  No  report  received  from  dis- 
trict No.  1.  Other  early  teachers  are  mentioned  by  years, 
as  follows : 

1849. — John  Parsons,  MyrOD  Briggs,  Sarah  M.  Standish. 

1850.— Huldah  C.  Kimball,  Lodaska  Earl,  Ann  Hillyard. 

1861. — Mary  Jano  Forbes,  Eliza  A.  Hoskinson,  Eliza  L.  Sprague. 

1852. — Nancy  Brownson,   Lucy  J.    Eldred,  Ellen   M.   Lane,  Alfred 

Brownson,  Anna  E.  Holton,  Horace  Hana. 
1853. — Amanda  J.  Chambers,  Douglass  J.  Williams,  Sylvah  Brown, 

Adam  Carpenter,  D.  C.  Ingerson. 
1854. — Mary  Jane  Sedgwick,  Eliza  A.  Hoskinson,  Fanny  E.  Miles, 

Myra  Bloom,  Lucy  J.  Eldred,  Albert  Sayre. 
1855. — Minerva  Brown,  Sophronia  Gamwold,  Margaret  Mosher. 

Prior  to  1862,  Charles  Parsons,  Henry  Selkrig,  Jane 
Nickerson,  Sarah  Nickerson,  Matilda  Rogers,  Augusta  K. 
Harrison,  Eliza  A.  Rounds,  Vina  Stephens,  Ellen  Utley, 
Sarah  Fisk,  Mr.  Cobb,  Sylvia  Brown,  Julia  Eager,  Amanda 
Colby,  Henrietta  Burdick,  Helen  M.  Magown,  John  I. 
Cutler,  Dr.  Stone,  Eliza  Sterns,  Eliza  M.  Ives,  Florence 
Gardner,  Henrietta  Page,  Ellen  A.  Houston,  Emma  Pin- 
ney,  Charlotte  Bassett,  Addis  McMartin,  Matilda  Stanley, 
Mary  E.  Seaver,  and  Sarah  A.  Clark  taught  in  the  various 
districts. 

As  showing  the  gradual  development  of  school  interests 
in  the  township,  the  following  statistics,  arranged  by  de- 
cades, are  appended : 

1850. 

APPOBTIONMENT  OF  PKIMABY  SCHOOL  FUND. 

District  No.  2,  20  scholars $17.30 

"  "    3,21       "         18.16 

1860. 

PBIMAEY   SCHOOL   FUND   APPOETIONMENT. 

District  No.  1 $18.40       District  No.  6 $17.94 

"         "    2 15.18             "         "    7 11.50 

"         "    3 19.32                                                   

"    4 30.36  $121.90 

"         "    5 9.20 


District. 

No.  1 

2 


1870. 

GENEEAL  APPOETIONMENT. 

Primary  School  Fund.  Library  Money. 

$31.89  $5.18 

99.00  16.08 

25.22  4.10 

41.41  6.72 

12.85  2.09 

17.61  2.86 

19.04  3.09 

31.70  5.80 


1879. 


Dog  Tax. 

$11.28 

35.02 

8.92 

14.65 

4.54 

6.23 

6.73 

12.63 


10 


No.  of  districts  (whole,  9;  fractional,  1) 

"      children  of  school  age  residing  in  the 

township 607 

"      children  attending  schools  during  the 

year 505 

'*      children      non-residents      attending 

schools 18 

"      school-houses  (brick,  1;  frame,  9) 10 

"      sittings  in  school-houses 900 

Value  of  school  property $8710 

Teachers  employed  (male,  7:  female,  18) 25 

Months  taught  by  males 32 

Months  taught  by  females 66J 


Paid  male  teachers llnl'll 

Paid  female  teachers iji9UO.ou 

Eesouroes  and  expenditures  from  moneys  on 
hand  Sept.  2,  1878,  two-mill  tax,  primary 
school  fund,  tuition  of  non-residents,  district 
taxes  for  all  purposes,  and  raised  from  all 
other  sources $6806.25 

This  was  expended  for  teachers'  wages,  building  and 
repairs,  bonded  indebtedness,  and  other  purposes,  except 
$2199.79  cash  remaining  on  hand  Sept.  1,  1879.  The 
bonded  indebtedness  of  school  district  No.  2,  in  the  village 
of  Wayland,  at  the  close  of  the  school  year,  was  $3000. 

VILLAGE   OF  WATLAND. 

This  is  an  incorporated  village  of  some  700  inhabitants, 
situated  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  township  of  Way- 
land.  It  is  a  station  on  the  Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana 
Railroad,  distant  twenty-seven  miles  north  of  Kalamazoo, 
twenty-one  miles  south  from  Grand  Rapids,  twenty  miles 
northeast  of  Allegan,  the  county-seat,  one  hundred  and 
seventy-two  miles  from  Detroit,  and  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
eight  from  Chicago. 

The  first  settler  on  its  site  was  Nelson  Chambers,  who 
came  here  in  the  winter  of  1838-39,  and  began  an  im- 
provement on  the  west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  5.  His  earliest  work  seems  to  have  been  that  of  a 
shingle-maker,  and  the  products  of  his  labors  were  hauled 
with  ox-team  to  the  distant  markets  of  Battle  Creek  and 
Kalamazoo.  About  the  year  1840,  ApoUos  P.  Brownson 
settled  north  of  him,  on  section  5,  Joseph  Heydenberk  to 
the  southwest,  on  section  7,  and  John  Parsons  on  the  west, 
in  the  extreme  northeast  corner  of  the  present  township  of 
Hopkins. 

These  were  the  first  families  to  settle  in  the  neighborhood 
for  many  years  known  as  "  Chambers'  Corners."  In  1844 
a  school  was  established  here,  but  nothing  indicated  this 
point  as  the  site  of  a  village  until  the  projection  of  the 
Kalamazoo  and  Grand  Rapids  Plank-Road  in  1852.  This 
road  was  completed  in  1854. 

Nelson  Chambers  then  opened  the  Wayland  House. 
The  Wayland  post-office  was  removed  from  Barnes'  Mill 
to  the  Corners,  and  Norton  Briggs  became  postmaster,  and 
tollgate-keeper.  In  1857  and  '58,  Eli  F.  Clark,  Isaac  N. 
Hoyt,  William  V.  Hoyt,  and  Edwin  E.  Hoyt  settled  here. 
Oliver  Edwards  sold  the  first  goods  in  1860,  and  was  fol- 
lowed in  the  mercantile  business  by  Theo.  D.  Van  Valken- 
burg,  William  E.  White,  J.  M.  Berry,  and  Clark  &  Henika. 

In  1861,  Israel  Kellogg,  who  owned  an  extensive  tract 
of  pine  in  this  immediate  vicinity,  also  saw-mills  and  a 
tannery  one-half  mile  north  of  the  Corners,  placed  on  record 
a  village  plat*  known  as  "Lomax  City.'' 

In  1865  the  business  of  the  village  was  conducted  chiefly 
by  William  Seaver,  hotel-keeper ;  Nelson  Chambers,  Wil- 
liam E.  White  &  Sons,  and  J.  M.  Berry,  general  merchants ; 
T.  D.  Van  Valkenburg,  drugs  and  groceries ;  George 
Henika,  furniture-store ;  William  E.  White  &  Co.,  pail- 
factory  and  planing-mill ;  Jonathan  Sessions,  shoemaker ; 
H.  T.  Stringham  and  David  Stockdale,  blacksmiths ;  Dan. 

*  The  original  plat  was  dated  Aug.  10, 1861.  Additions  have  since 
been  made  by  Norton  Briggs,  Aug.  15,  1862 ;  by  Albert  E.  Sawyer, 
May  2,  1866;  by  Franklin  M.  Miles,  Deo.  31,  1866;  and  by  Israel 
Kellogg,  Oct.  8,  1870. 


WAYLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


359 


Slade,  restaurant  and  grocer.  The  physicians  were  Drs. 
Graves,  Palmer,  Clark,  and  Ball ;  C.  E.  Davison,  surgeon- 
dentist  ;  and  the  total  population  numbered  about  175  in- 
habitants. 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  and  during  the  excitement 
produced  by  the  building  of  the  Grand  Bapids  and  Indiana 
Eailroad,  many  families  settled,  and  in  1869,  at  the  time 
the  village  was  incorporated,  there  were  quite  as  many  here 
as  the  village  can  boast  to-day. 

The  Lake-Shore  and  Michigan  Southern  Railroad  was 
first  completed,  and,  as  its  roadbed  at  Hilliard's  Station  was 
but  four  miles  distant  west  from  Wayland,  there  were  many 
here  who  did  not  believe  the  Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana 
Railroad  Company  would  run  their  line  through  that  village. 
Consequently,  an  exodus  (though  a  small  one)  took  place. 
The  latter  road,  however,  was  completed  in  the  summer  of 
1870,  since  which  time  not  many  important  changes  have 
occurred,  except  at  the  station  where  are  situated  William 
E.  White's  grist-mill,  a  saw-mill,  and  a  large  unoccupied 
building  erected  for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing  chairs. 
In  the  village  proper  the  most  recent  acquisition  is  a  com- 
modious brick  school  building,  which  was  completed  in  1879 
at  a  cost  of  $4500,  including  site,  etc. 

WAYLAND   POST-OFFICE. 
Theo.  D.  Van  Valkenburg  succeeded  Norton  Briggs  as 
postmaster,  under  Lincoln's  administration,  and  was  in  turn 
succeeded  by  John  Chappie,  the  present  incumbent,  who 
was  appointed  by  President  Johnson. 

VILLAGE   CORPORATE   HISTORY. 

At  the  fall  meeting  of  the  Allegan  County  board  of  su- 
pervisors, held  in  the  year  1868,  the  village  of  Wayland 
was  duly  incorporated,  and  section  6  and  the  west  half  of 
section  5  designated  as  its  limits.  By  this  act  inspectors 
of  election  were  appointed,  and  the  electors  directed  to  as- 
semble on  the  first  Monday  in  December,  1868,  for  holding 
their  first  charter  election. 

In  accordance  with  the  power  vested  in  them,  the  electors 
of  the  territory  so  incorporated  assembled  at  White's  Hall, 
on  Monday,  Dec.  7,  1868,  for  the  purpose  of  choosing  their 
first  board  of  village  officers.  As  directed  in  the  act,  Wil- 
liam E.  White,  Edward  M.  Fitch,  and  Henry  C.  Garrett 
performed  the  duties  of  election  inspectors.  One  hundred 
and  twenty-one  votes  were  polled  for  candidates  for  the  office 
of  president,  of  which  number  Edward  M.  Fitch  received 
one  hundred  and  four.  Other  officers  elected  were  William 
B.  White,  Alfred  H.  Bostwick,  George  W.  Pease,  Isaac 
Buskirk,  James  F.  Halbert,  Robert  B.  Deuel,  Trustees ; 
Norton  Briggs,  Treasurer;  Henry  C.  Garrett,  Clerk ;  Edwin 
E.  Hoyt,  Marshal ;  Dan.  G.  Slade,  Poundmaster. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  village  council  was  held  Dec.  8, 
1868,  there  being  present  the  president  and  full  board  of 
trustees.  This  meeting  and  other  early  ones  were  held  in 
William  E.  White's  office,  for  which  he  received  fifty  cents 
per  night.  On  the  26th  of  December,  1868,  a  petition  signed 
by  twenty-six  citizens  was  presented  to  the  common  council, 
praying  that  gaming-tables  "  may  not  be  suppressed."  This 
enlightened  sentiment  did  not  prevail,  however. 

By  an  act  of  the  State  Legislature,  approved  March  30, 
1869  the  village  charter  was  revised,  and  the  boundaries 


enlarged  so  as  to  include  the  following-described  territory : 
The  west  one-half  of  section  5,  the  whole  of  section  6,  the 
north  one-half  of  north  one-half  of  section  7,  the  north 
one-half  of  northwest  quarter-section  8,  in  Wayland,  and 
the  south  one-half  of  section  31,  and  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  32,  in  Leighton. 

May  13,  1869,  Joseph  W.  Hicks,  county  surveyor, 
established  a  point  between  sections  5  and  6, 160  rods  north 
of  the  south  line  of  said  sections,  as  the  place  from  which 
to  predicate  and  describe  the  commencement  of  village 
streets. 

In  February,  1873,  Nelson  Chambers  and  others  peti- 
tioned the  State  Legislature,  praying  that  the  village  incor- 
poration be  vacated.  They  did  not  Succeed,  as  counter- 
remonstrants  claimed  that  taxation  was  not  more  burden- 
some here  than  to  people  outside  of  the  village,  and  that 
corporation  property  to  the  amount  of  $2500  would  revert 
to  the  county  of  Allegan  in  case  of  vacation.  During  the 
same  year,  however,  that  portion  of  the  village  territory 
belonging  to  Leighton  was  excluded  from  the  corporate 
limits. 

Another  ineffectual  effort  was  made  in  May,  1874,  to 
annul  and  vacate  incorporation.  This  petition  was  signed 
by  Nelson  Chambers  and  forty-six  others. 

The  elective  officers  of  the  village  are  a  president,  six  trus- 
tees, a  recorder,  a  treasurer,  an  assessor,  and  a  marshal,  all  of 
whom  are  elected  annually,  except  trustees,  who  serve  two 
years,  three  of  their  number  only  being  elected  annually. 
Street  commissioners,  fire-wardens,  and  poundmasters  are 
appointed, 

VILLAGE   OFFICERS. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  village  officers  elected  an- 
nually for  the  years  from  1869  to  1880,  inclusive  : 

1869.— Edward  M.  Fitch,  President;  Williani  B.  White,  James  F. 
Halbert,  Alfred  H.  Bostwick,  George  W.  Pease,  Robert  B. 
Deuel,  Isaac  Buskirk,  Trustees;  Henry  C.  Garrett,  Re- 
corder; Norton  Briggs,  Treasurer;  Edwin  E.  Hojt,  Mar- 
shal ;  Hubbard  N.  Sherwood,  Assessor ;  John  Chappie, 
Street  Commissioner  ;  Isaac  N.  Hoyt,  Fire-Warden ;  Wat- 
son W.  Briggs,  Poundmaster.  Total  number  of  votes 
polled,  100.  '^ 

1870. — James  F.  Halbert,  President ;  William  Seaver,  Paul  H.  Sohuh, 
Henry  C.  Garrett,  George  W.  Pease,  Eli  F.  Clark,  William 
V.  Hoyt,  Trustees ;  James  B.  Smith,  Recorder  ;*  Norton 
Briggs,  Treasurer ;  Daniel  T.  Hersey,  Assessor;  Alonzo  B. 
Blanot,  Marshal. 

1871. — William  Seaver,  President;  David  Stockdale,  Recorder;  Nor- 
ton Briggs,  Treasurer ;  Paul  H.  Schuh,  William  F.  Olds, 
Isaac  N.  Hoyt,  Trustees  for  one  year;  George  W.  Pease, 
Henry  C.  Garrett,  Alonzo  Dunham,  Trustees  for  two  years; 
Daniel  T.  Hersey,  Assessor;  Alonzo  B.  Blanot,  Marshal. 
Total  number  of  votes  polled,  124. 

1872. — William  Seaver,  President ;  Edward  M.  Fitch,  Recorder :  Nor- 
ton Briggs.  Treasurer;  John  Parsons,  Assessor;  Alonzo  B. 
BInnot,  Marshal;  John  Graham,  Charles  W.  Watkins,  Ed- 
mond  C.  Saunders,  Trustees.  Total  number  of  votes  polled, 
112. 

187.S. — Minot  Hoyt,  President;  William  V.  Hoyt,  Recorder;  Paul 
H.  Schuh,  Harrison  H.  Kelley,  Nathan  H.  Sherwood,  Trus- 
tees ;  William  W.  Paul,  Assessor ;  Alonzo  B.  Blanot,  Mar- 
shal; Norton  Briggs,  Treasurer.  Total  number  of  votes 
polled,  105. 

1874. — John  Graham,  President;  Horace  J.  Turner,  Truman  B.  Gar- 
relt,  Horatio  N.  Tubbs,  Trustees;  William  V.  Hoyt,  Re- 

*  Edward  M.  Fitch  elected  to  fill  vacancy,  Deo.  19,  1870. 


360 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


oorder;  Norton  Briggs,  Treasurer;  Daniel  T.  Horsey,  As- 
sessor;   Harrison    H.  Kelley,  Marshal.     Total   number   of 

votes  polled,  141. 
1875.— William  E.  White,  President;  Edwin  E.  Hoyt,  William  H. 

White,  John  H.  D.  Snell,  Trustees ;  William  V.  Hoyt,  Re- 
corder; Eli  P.  Clark,  Treasurer ;  Alonzo  B.  Blanot,  Marshal ; 

Hiram  S.  Warren,  Assessor.     Total  number  of  votes  polled, 

122. 
1876.— William   Seaver,  President;    William   V.    Hoyt,   Recorder;* 

Edward   M.    Eitch,   Assessor;  Frank   Henika,   Treasurer; 

Joseph  Dayton,  William  L.  Heazlit,  John  Chappie,  Trustees; 

Alonzo  B.  Blanott,  Marshal.     Total  number  of  votes  polled, 

112. 
1877. — William  Seaver,  President;  John  Chappie,  Recorder;  James 

J.  Wagner,  William  Stockdale,  William  W.  Briggs,  Trustees ; 

Hiram   S.  Warren,  Assessor;    Frank  Henika,    Treasurer; 

Orrin  A.  Ide,  Marshal.     Total  number  of  votes  polled,  116. 
1878.— William  Seaver,  President;  John  Chappie,  Recorder;  Richard 

H.  Olive,  George  Hicks,  Edmond  C.  Saunders,  Trustees; 

Truman  B.  Garrett,  Treasurer;   A.  I.   Sprague,  Assessor; 

Cyrus  R.  Hollister,  Marshal.     Total  number  of  votes  polled, 

114. 
1879.— David  Stockdale,  President;  John  Chappie,  Recorder ;  W.  W. 

Briggs,  M.  C.  Hay  ward,  W.  E.  White,  Trustees;  B.  D. 
Smith,  Treasurer;  E.  M.  Fitch,  Assessor;  Alonzo  Gleason, 
Marshal.     Total  number  of  votes  polled,  139. 

FIRE  DEPARTMENT  AND  WATER-SUPPLY. 
At  a  regular  meeting  of  the  village  common  council, 
held  Jan.  30,  1869,  the  first  action  was  taken  for  the  pro- 
tection of  property  against  fire,  and  by  a  majority  vote 
hooks,  ladders,  fire-buckets,  etc.,  were  ordered  to  be  pro- 
cured and  placed  under  the  orders  of  Fire- Warden  Wil- 
liam H.  White.  Ladders  and  pike-poles  were  supplied  in 
April,  1869,  and  100  buckets  in  November  of  the  same 
year.  It  was  voted  at  the  charter  election  in  March,  1873, 
by  a  vote  of  52  to  39,  to  obtain  a  supply  of  water  by  hy- 
draulic power.  But  this  scheme  went  no  farther  than 
making  a  preliminary  survey,  submitting  reports,  etc. 

During  the  year  1875  the  hooks  and  ladders  were 
mounted  on  a  truck.  A  cistern,  costing  $130,  was  com- 
pleted, and  Fire  Engine  No.  119,  of  the  city  of  Grand 
Rapids,  together  with  200  feet  of  hose,  couplings,  etc.,  was 
purchased  at  a  cost  of  $400. 

On  the  23d  of  March,  1876,  the  following  persons  were 
accepted  by  the  council  as  firemen  of  the  village :  E.  E. 
Hoyt,  T.  B.  Garrett,  Frank  Henika,  J.  H.  D.  Snell,  N. 
H.  Sherwood,  W.  H.  White,  H.  C.  Garrett,  A.  H.  Garrett, 
William  L.  Heazlit,  Frank  Carr,  M.  Kellogg,  and  A.  B. 
Blanott  for  the  engine  company,  and  Frank  Hoyt,  Fred. 
Quinlan,  W.  H.  Schuh,  Frank  Sooy,  L.  D.  Chappie,  Carl 
Snell,  Gus  Sooy,  Jonathan  Sessions,  Otto  Gleason,  W.  Olds, 
Chauncey  Halbert,  and  Myron  Carpenter  for  the  hose 
company.  Two  hundred  feet  of  additional  hose  was  pur- 
chased in  1877.  The  fire  apparatus  of  the  present  consists 
of  the  engine,  hose-cart,  hookand-ladder  truck,  etc., 
already  mentioned. 

PROFESSIONAL  MEN. 
Physicians. — The  first  physician  to  practice  in  the  vil- 
lage was  Dr.  Remington.  The  country  was  sparsely  set- 
tled, his  patients  few  in  number,  and  when  not  profession- 
ally employed  he  worked  in  Hoyt's  shingle-mill.  Dr. 
Mack,  an  eclectic,  succeeded  him.  Neither  of  these  re- 
mained here  long. 


»  John  Chappie  appointed  to  fill  vacancy,  Deo.  IS,  1876. 


Dr.  John  Graves,  a  graduate  of  the  Cleveland  (Ohio) 
Homoeopathic  College,  came  to  Wayland  from  Warrens- 
ville,  Cuyahoga  Co.,  Ohio,  in  April,  1862,  and  is  still 
here. 

Dr.  James  Ball  was  born  in  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and 
graduated  at  the  Fairfield  Medical  College,  Herkimer  Co., 
N.  Y.  He  practiced  his  profession  in  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y., 
until  1842,  when  he  removed  to  Homer,  Calhoun  Co., 
Mich.  Ten  years  later  he  became  a  resident  of  the  State 
of  Iowa,  and  remained  there  eleven  years,  all  this  time 
continuing  the  practice  of  medicine.  During  the  years 
1864-65,  as  surgeon,  he  served  with  Gen.  Sully's  command 
against  the  Indians  in  the  Northwest.  He  was  mustered 
out  of  the  United  States  service  at  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  and 
arrived  in  Wayland  in  December,  1865,  where  he  still  con- 
tinues his  practice.  The  physicians  here  at  the  time  of  his 
arrival  were  Drs.  Graves,  Palmer,  and  Clark. 

Among  other  physicians  who  have  practiced  at  various 
periods  since,  but  are  not  here  now,  have  been  Drs.  Pease, 
Porter,  Way,  and  Stone.  The  village  physicians  of  the  present 
are  Drs.  John  Graves,  Horace  J.  Turner,  Andrews,  and 
Ryno. 

Dr.  C.  E.  Davison,  surgeon-dentist,  formerly  of  North- 
ampton, Mass.,  removed  to  the  village  of  Wayland  in  May, 
1865,  and  opened  an  office  for  the  practice  of  his  profession. 
He  has  been  very  successful.  Drs.  Piper,  of  Allegan,  and 
Coats,  of  Otsego,  were  then  the  only  practicing  dentists  in 
the  county.  Both  have  since  died,  leaving  Dr.  Davison 
the  pioneer  dentist  of  Allegan  County.  He  has  also 
always  taken  an  active  part  in  the  advancement  of  the  re- 
ligious and  educational  interests  of  the  village  of  Wayland. 
Attorneys. — Hiram  Averill,  who  settled  here  in  1866, 
was  the  first  resident  expounder  of  Blackstone  in  the  vil- 
lage.    He  is  now  a  citizen  of  Dorr  township. 

L.  Chase  Goodwin,  now  of  Grand  Rapids,  came  a  year, 
or  so  later. 

Col.  Edward  M.  Fitch,  who  served  during  the  Mexican 
war  as  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Third  Ohio  Cavalry,  also 
settled  in  the  village  at  about  this  time.  He  became  the 
first  president  of  the  village  in  1869,  and  has  since  filled 
most  worthily  many  other  positions.  ' 

Albert  H.  Fenn,  now  of  Allegan,  became  a  resident 
about  1870. 

The  present  attorneys  of  the  village  are  Edward  M. 
Fitch  and  David  Stockdale,  the  latter  the  supervisor  of  the 
township  since  the  spring  of  1876. 

SECRET  BENEVOLENT  ASSOCIATIONS. 
WAYLAND  LODGE,  No.  129,  I.  0.  0.  P.f 
This  lodge  was  instituted  Feb.  24, 1869,  by  Grand  Master 
J.  S.  Curtis,  of  East  Saginaw.  The  officers  first  installed 
were  Edward  M.  Fitch,  N.  G. ;  Titus  Doan,  V.  G. ;  John 
Graham,  Sec;  Norton  Briggs,  Treas.  The  remaining 
charter  members  were  J.  Simkins,  B.  L.  Lee,  E.  W. 
Powers,  P.  H.  Schuh,  William  Seaver,  and  James  Arm- 
strong. Five  new  members  were  initiated  the  same  evening, 
viz.,  W.  W.  Briggs,  William  V.  Hoyt,  C.  H.  Daugherty, 
0.  D.  Rowe,  and  G.  L.  Doan.     The  first  meetings  were' 


t  From  data  furnished  by  Col.  E.  M.  Fitch. 


WAYLAND   TOWNSHIP. 


301 


held  in  White's  Hall,  and  continued  there  until  November, 
1873,  when  the  lodge  occupied  its  present  rooms  over  John 
Chappie's  store.  About  $300  have  been  expended  for 
furnishing  the  hall,  etc. 

The  presiding  officers  of  the  lodge  since  the  first  installa- 
tion have  been  as  follows  :  For  the  last  half  of  1869,  Titus 
Doan ;  1870,  James  Armstrong,  John  Graham;  1871, 
Charles  H.  Daugherty,  Paul  H.  Schuh  ;  1872,  William  V. 
Hoyt,  William  Seaver ;  1873,  Josiah  Simkins,  William  W. 
Briggs ;  1874,  Norton  Briggs,  Josiah  Simkins ;  1875,  John 
Chappie,  Edward  M.  Fitch ;  1876,  Ephraim  S.  Allen, 
William  V.  Hoyt;  1877,  Horace  J.  Turner,  Edwin  C. 
Saunders  ;  1878,  Charles  H.  Smith,  Charles  H.  Daugherty; 
1879,  Henry  Garner,  Miner  C.  Hayward ;  1880  (first 
half)  William  W.  Briggs.  Other  officers  of  the  present 
are  Frank  S.  Sigler,  V.  G.  ;  Edward  M.  Fitch,  Sec. ;  Paul 
H.  Schuh,  Per.  Sec. ;  John  Chappie,  Treas. 

Including  charter  members,  initiations,  and  admissions 
on  card,  the  lodge  has  had.  a  total  membership  of  180. 
There  are  now  82  dormant,  and  53  active  members.  Kegu- 
lar  meetings  are  held  Tuesday  evening  of  each  week. 

JAMES   FENTON   LODGE,  No.  224,  P.  AND  A.  M.» 

This  lodge  began  work  under  a  dispensation  dated  Feb. 
1,  1867,  and  the  first  meeting  was  held  in  the  village  of 
Wayland,  February  4th  of  the  same  month.  There  were 
8  original  members,  and  the  first  officers  installed  were 
George  W.  Pease,  W.  M.;  Kobert  Deuel,  S.  W.;  Ansel  G. 
Smith,  J.  W. ;  J.  H.  D.  Snell,  Sec. ;  Seth  Shattuck,  Treas. ; 
D.  R.  Latham,  S.  D. ;  William  Brown,  J.  D. ;  and  A.  N. 
Worden,  Tyler.  Their  charter  bears  date  Jan.  9,  1868. 
The  lodge  is  in  a  flourishing  condition,  and  numbers  64 
members.  The  present  board  of  officers  are  I.  N.  Hoyt, 
W.  M. ;  V.  P.  Fales,  S.  W.  ;  F.  G.  Chamberlain,  J.  W.; 
Eli  F.  Clark,  Sec. ;  Geo.  B.  Chambers,  Treas. ;  E.  Sigler, 
S.  D. ;  A.  Wallbricht,  J.  D. ;  Milo  Carpenter,  Tyler. 

RELIGIOUS. 
FIRST   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  OF  WAYLAND.t 

This  church  is  by  several  years  the  oldest  religious  or- 
ganization in  the  township.  For  about  ten  years  previous 
to  1856  a  class  had  been  formed,  and  religious  services  held 
in  the  "  old  red  school-house"  by  preachers  from  the  Gun 
Plain  and  Otsego  Circuits.  Joseph  Heydenberk,J  Eliza- 
beth Heydenberk,J  H.  Lester  and  wife,J  Abram  Buskirk 
and  wife,J  William  Buskirk,  David  M.  Griswold,J  Mrs. 
Eldred,J  Mathew  Van  Duzen,  Lydia  Van  Duzen,  Stephen 
S.  Germond,J  Mary  Germond,  Darius  Starr,  Mary  Starr,J 
AbijahJ  and  ElizabethJ  Brown  were  among  the  first  mem- 
bers of  this  class. 

The  pastoral  labors  of  Rev.  Amos  Wakefield,  in  the  fall 
of  1856,  resulted  in  a  large  addition  of  members,  and  in 
response  to  a  petition  from  this  class  the  session  of  the 
Michigan  Annual  Conference  held  at  Coldwater,  Mich.,  in 
October,  1856,  established  the  Wayland  Circuit,  also  ap- 
pointing Kev.  Porter  Williams  to  its  pastorate. 


«  Information  furnished  by  Eli  F.  Clark,  Esq. 

f  From  data,  furnished  through  the  courtesy  of  C.  E.  Davison,  Esq. 
J  Since  deceased. 
46 


At  the  first  Quarterly  Conference,  held  in  Wayland,  Dec. 
6,  1856,  the  following  was  ordered  placed  on  record  :  "  Be 
it  remembered  that  the  Wayland  Circuit  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  was  organized  by  Bishop  S.  A.  Morris  at 
the  annual  session  of  the  Michigan  Conference,  held  at 
Coldwater  Oct.  1, 1856."  From  the  minutes  of  this  Quar- 
terly Conference  it  also  appears  that  the  estimating  com- 
mittee recommended  the  paying  to  Brother  Williams  a 
salary  of  $100  per  year.  The  people,  however,  were  more 
liberal  than  the  committee,  and  paid  him  $180.86,  for 
which  increase  Brother  Williams  was  undoubtedly  grateful. 

The  pastors  who  have  followed  Mr.  Williams  on  this 
circuit  have  been  Revs.  Amos  C.  Beach,  in  1857 ;  L.  M. 
Bennett,  1858  ;  N.  Cleveland,  1859  ;  James  Billings,  1860 
-Ul  ;  W.  B.  Blowers,  1862-63  ;  Charles  H.  Fisher,  1864 
-65  ;  J.  R.  Latham,  1866  ;  Ira  R.  A.  Wightman,  1867  ; 
James  E.  White,  1868-70  ;  Gilbert  A.  Phillips,  1871-73  ; 
George  E.  Hollister,  1874;  Linus  Bothwiok,  1875-76  ;  J. 
P.  Force,  1877  ;  T.  J.  Spencer,  1878;  W.  J.  Hathaway, 
1879. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Blowers,  in  1862,  measures 
were  entered  into  for  the  erection  of  a  church  edifice.  Be- 
fore completing  the  work,  however,  he  entered  the  army  as 
chaplain,  where  he  died. 

In  1864,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Charles  H.  Fisher, 
a  neat  and  commodious  building,  with  a  seating  capacity  for 
200  persons,  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $2750,  on  the  corner 
of  Church  and  Maple  Streets ;  but  it  was  not  completed  and 
dedicated  until  the  following  year, — August  10th, — when 
Rev.  George  B.  Joslyn,  late  president  of  Albion  College, 
conducted  the  dedicatory  services.  The  Wayland  "  Boys 
in  Blue"  ornamented  the  pulpit  with  a  magnificent  Bible, 
while  the  trustees  adorned  the  building  with  a  $600  mort- 
gage. The  latter  was  finally  removed  in  1870,  through 
the  exertions  of  Rev.  James  E.  White. 

Previous  to  October,  1866,  a  union  Sabbath-school  had 
been  conducted  jointly  by  the  Congregational  and  Methodist 
Episcopal  Churches ;  but,  this  union  school  having  outgrown 
the  seating  capacity  of  either  church  edifice,  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Sabbath-school  was  organized  with  H.  S.  Warren 
as  its  first  superintendent,  and  $100  was  raised  for  a  new 
Sunday-school  library. 

In  1869,  Rev.  James  E.  White  (by  subscriptions  from 
the  citizens  generally)  procured  and  caused  to  be  placed  in 
the  church  tower  one  of  the  finest-toned  bells  in  Western 
Michigan.  During  1873  there  was  purchased  for  parsonage 
purposes  a  house  on  Maple  Street,  fronting  the  public 
square.  The  present  members  of  this  church  are  60  in 
number.  A  flourishing  Sabbath-school,  of  which  C.  E. 
Davison  is  superintendent,  numbers  80. 

CHURCH    OF    CHRIST. 

This  society  was  organized  April  2,  1877,  the  original 
members  being  H.  T.  Stringham,  I.  B.  Smith,  P.  Smith, 
M.  Blowers,  E.  Blowers,  H.  D.  Spaulding,  E.  Spaulding, 
E.  S.  Linsley,  T.  Ide,  J.  Gleason,  R  E.  Woodard,  L.  Mc- 
Kean,  L.  Judson,  S.  Nelson,  and  D.  Allen. 

Their  first  pastor  was  Rev.  D.  N.  Severance.  He  has  been 
succeeded  by  Revs.  M.  B.  Rawson  and  E.  C.  Faunce.  A 
handsome   church   edifice,  costing   $2000,  was   dedicated 


362 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


March  7,  1879.  It  has  sittings  for  325  persons.  This 
church  is  in  a  prosperous  condition,  and  at  the  present  time 
numbers  181  members. 

OTHER   WAYLAND    CHURCHES. 

A  Congregational  society  was  organized  in  January,  1860, 
and  a  church  edifice  erected  the  same  year.  The  original 
members  were  17  in  number, — Rev.  A.  McKay  their  first 
pastor.  Ofiicial  members  of  this  church  were  requested  to 
furnish  data  concerning  the  history  of  their  organization, 
but  failed  to  do  so,  owing  doubtless  to  the  animosity  shown 
his  enterprise  by  their  present  preacher. 
.  At  the  village  of  Bradley  is  a  Methodist  Episcopal  soci- 
ety of  some  75  members.  Their  meetings  are  held  in  a 
hall.  They  propose,  however,  to  erect  a  commodious  church 
edifice  at  a  time  not  far  distant. 

VILLAGE   OF   BRADLEY. 

Bradley  is  a  station  on  the  line  of  the  Grand  Rapids  and 
Indiana  Railroad,  three  miles  directly  south  of  Wayland. 
It  contains  a  store  of  general  merchandise,  drug-store,  hotel, 
several  small  mechanical  shops,  and  about  100  inhabitants. 
Ita  name  is  derived  from  David  Bradley,  who  was  the  first 
postmaster  of  an  ofiice  of  the  same  name,  situated  on  sec- 
tion 28,  on  the  old  mail-route  in  use  prior  to  the  building 
of  the  plank-road. 

Joel  Brownson,  Esq.,  was  the  first  settler  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  present  village  of  Bradley.  On  the  completion  of 
the  plank-road,  in  1854,  several  other  families  settled  here, 
and  proposed  the  establishment  of  a  village.  The  post- 
oflBce  was  removed  from  its  original  location  to  this  point, 
a  hotel  built,  and  other  interests  projected.  Shortly  after, 
Uriah  Gregory,  who  had  a  steam  saw-mill,  store,  etc.,  on 
section  10,  through  political  influence  got  the  post-office 
transferred  to  his  place  of  business,  and  himself  appointed 
postmaster.  Another  turn  of  the  political  wheel,  however, 
established  a  new  office  at  Bradley,  and  Joel  Brownson 
became  postmaster.  Among  the  earliest  merchants  were 
Jarvis  J.  Joy  and  Josiah  E.  Harding. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


HUMPHREY   GARDNER. 

This  gentleman  was  born  in  Attica,  Genesee  (now  Wy- 
oming) Co.,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  27,  1818.  His  ancestors  came 
from  England  and  settled  at  Brimfield,  Mass.,  very  early  in 
colonial  days.  His  father,  Daniel  Gardner,  removed  from 
Brimfield  to  Attica  soon  after  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812 
and  became  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  latter  region.  Here 
he  married  Miss  Lorena  Ensign  for  his  second  wife,  and 
Humphrey  was  the  second  child  born  of  this  marriage. 

The  early  days  of  young  Gardner's  life,  passed  upon 
his  father's  farm,  were  uneventful,  and  marked  by  no  epoch 
varying  them  from  those  of  his  associates  in  old  Genesee. 
His  educational  advantages  were  limited  to  such  as  could 


be  obtained  by  attending  the  district  schools  in  his  neigh- 
borhood in  winter. 

In  1837,  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  in  pursuance  of  a 
cherished  desire  to  become  a  citizen  of  the  great  West,  he 
proceeded  by  the  usual  routes  and  conveyances  then  in 
vogue  to  Kane  Co.,  111.,  Blackberry  township,  where  he 
pre-empted  an  eighty-acre  lot.  There  were  very  few  people 
then  in  a  county  which  is  now  one  of  the  most  prosperous 
and  populous  in  the  State  of  Illinois.  Its  inhabitants  were 
all  known  by  him.  He  remained  in  Kane  County,  following 
various  occupations,  until  1846,  when  he  came  to  Wayland 
and  purchased  of  the  general  government  forty  acres,  sit- 
uated on  section  22,  and  from  the  latter  date  he  has  been 
prominently  identified  with  the  history  of  this  township. 
To  his  original  purchase  additions  have  been  made  until  he 
now  owns  four  hundred  and  ninety  acres  in  one  body. 

In  1844  he  married  Miss  Mary  Brown.  Two  children 
were  born  to  them,  viz.:  Florence,  Aug.  16,  1845,  and 
Loren,  Sept.  9, 1847,  died  March  30,  1871.  His  wife  died 
Feb.  3,  1865.  He  subsequently  married  Sylvia,  the  sister 
of  his  first  wife.  This  marriage  has  resulted  in  the  birth 
of  three  children,  viz. :  Olive,  Oct.  27,  1867  ;  Humphrey, 
Feb.  8,  1872 ;  and  Clay,  Aug.  27,  1876. 

Mr.  Gardner's  first  vote  was  cast  for  Gen.  Harrison  in 
1840,  and  he  continued  a  member  of  the  Whig  party  until 
its  disbandment.  Upon  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party  he  joined  its  fortunes,  and  remains  a  steadfast  mem- 
ber of  the  same  to  the  present  time.  Socially  he  is  held 
in  high  and  deserved  esteem.  A  quiet,  unostentatious 
demeanor,  coupled  with  great  integrity,  has  gradually  but 
surely  placed  him  in  the  proud  position  he  now  occupies  in 
the  hearts  of  his  friends. 

As  showing  the  estimation  in  which  he  is  held  by  his 
townsmen  at  large,  we  need  but  add  that  he  has  held  the 
office  of  township  treasurer  twenty-one  consecutive  years. 


AMAZIAH   R.  BALCH. 

The  Balch  family  are  of  Welsh  origin,  and  were  early 
settlers  in  New  England. 

Vermont  finally  became  the  home  of  one  branch,  and 
there,  in  the  town  of  Athens,  Windham  Co.,  was  born  Ama- 
ziah  R.  Balch,  Dee.  18,  1821. 

His  father  was  a  farmer,  and  the  early  years  of  young 
Balch's  life  were  passed  in  the  Green  Mountain  State, 
assisting  his  father  in  farm  duties  through  the  summer, 
obtaining  the  rudiments  of  a  common-school  education 
during  the  winter.  As  years  passed,  and  he  arrived  at 
manhood's  estate,  he  varied  his  occupation  during  the 
winter  months  by  teaching. 

In  1851  he  came  to  Kalamazoo,  Mich.,  and  soon  became 
known  as  one  of  the  successful  teachers  of  that  county. 
He  was  also  employed  by  Mr.  Arnold,  of  Kalamazoo,  and 
proved  an  invaluable  aid  by  the  successful  manner  in  which 
he  managed  all  business  details  intrusted  to  his  care.    About 

the  year  1857,  with Guild  as  a  partner,  he  became 

identified  with  the  history  of  Wayland  by  the  purchase  of  a 
large  tract  of  pine-lands  situated  near  the  southeast  corner 


RESIDENCE  OFTHE  LATE     A.R.BALCH,     WaylAND,  MiCH. 


WAYLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


363 


of  the  township.  A  steam  saw-mill  was  built,  and  for  a 
few  years  the  firm  of  Balch  &  Guild  lumbered  quite  ex- 
tensively. In  1861  he  bought  Guild's  interest,  and  there- 
after conducted  the  business  independently,  adding  many 
acres  to  his  landed  estate,  owning  at  one  time  more  than 
fifteen  hundred  acres. 

Mr.  Balch  was  first  married  at  Athens,  Vt.,  May  3, 1846, 
to  Miss  Abby  Davis.  She  died  June  1,  1851.  His  only 
child  by  this  marriage  was  Dorr  M.,  who  was  born  Jan.  11, 
1848,  and  now  resides  in  this  township. 

On  the  24th  of  November,  1861,  he  was  again  married, 
at  Kalamazoo,  Mich.,  to  Miss  Mary  Williams,  whose  people 
came  from  Lower  Canada,  and  settled  in  Kalamazoo  town- 
ship, Mich.,  in  1855.  Five  children  were  born  to  them, 
viz. :  Edgar  D.,  Feb.  9,  1863,  died  June  4,  1863 ;  Cora 
Bell,  April  15,  1864;  Nathaniel  A.,  Feb.  18, 1866  ;  James 
B.,  Sept.  10,  1868;  Mary  E.,  Jan.  9,  1872.  The  four 
last  named  all  reside  with  their  mother  on  the  home-farm. 

Mr.  Balch  died  May  29,  1879.  He  was  a  prominent 
and  respected  citizen  of  Wayland,  a  staunch  Democrat,  and 
an  ardent  admirer  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas  and  the  princi- 
ples enunciated  by  him.  • 

Although  not  a  member  of  any  religious  denomination, 
he  freely  contributed  to  their  support.  In  educational  mat- 
ters he  was  especially  earnest  and  active,  and  served  as 
township  school  inspector  several  times.  He  was  the  can- 
didate of  the  Democratic  party  of  this  district  for  the  State 
Senate  in  1868,  and  ran  largely  ahead  of  his  ticket,  but 
very  naturally  failed  of  an  election  in  a  Republican  strong- 
hold. 


HOEACE  J.  TURNER. 

Dr.  Horace  J.  Turner,  a  view  of  whose  beautiful  residence 
in  the  village  of  Wayland  adorns  one  of  these  pages,  is  the 
son  of  a  physician,  Dr.  Horace  C.  Turner,  and  was  born 
in  the  township  of  Greenwood,  McHenry  Co.,  111.,  Jan.  11, 
1849. 

A  few  years  subsequent  to  his  birth  his  father  removed 
to  Barry  Co.,  Mich.,  where,  during  early  boyhood,  young 
Turner  pursued  the  usual  course  of  studies  prevailing  in 
the  public  schools.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  years  he  was 
admitted  as  a  student  to  the  University  of  Michigan,  at 
Ann  Arbor,  and  after  successfully  passing  through  the  va- 
rious phases  of  college  life  and  its  studies,  especially  that 
of  medicine  and  surgery,  he  graduated  with  honor  during 
the  session  of  1868-69. 

He  then  practiced  medicine  with  his  father  for  a  period 
of  six  months.  After  a  short  experience  in  the  city  of  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  he  again  returned  to  Michigan  and  began  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  the  village  of  Bradley.  A  year 
later  he  removed  to  the  village  of  Wayland,  where  well-mer- 
ited pecuniary  success  has  attended  his  professional  labors. 

On  the  2d  of  October,  1874,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Eva  Crittenden,  the  accomplished  daughter  of  one  of  Mar- 
tin's pioneers,  T.  G.  Crittenden,  Esq.  In  his  political  con- 
victions Dr.  Turner  is  a  Republican  of  the  stalwart  type. 
Socially  and  professionally,  he  is  held  in  high  esteem  by 
all  who  know  him. 


GEORGE   H.  JACKSON. 

George  H.  Jackson  was  born  in  Thimbleby,  Lincoln- 
shire, England,  Nov.  26,  1839.  His  father,  Charles 
Jackson,  was  born  in  Anwick,  of  the  same  shire,  April  22, 
1800.  In  1835  he  (Charles)  married  Miss  Ann  Maltby, 
of  Sansthorpe,  and  settled  upon  his  farm  in  Thimbleby, 
where  he  remained  until  June,  1845,  when  he  emigrated 
to  America.  After  a  five  years'  residence  in  the  State  of 
New  York,  he  removed  with  his  family  in  October,  1850, 
to  the  farm  in  Wayland  now  occupied  by  him.  Of  his 
family  of  ten  children,  viz.,  six  sons  and  four  daughters, 
five  were  born  in  Thimbleby,  England,  three  in  Monroe 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  two  in  Wayland,  Mich. 

Since  their  settlement  in  Wayland,  the  Jacksons  have 
done  more  than  the  average  of  pioneer-work.  Dense  forests 
have  disappeared  beneath  their  sturdy  strokes,  well-culti- 
vated fields  and  beautiful  farm-buildings  have  taken  their 
place,  and  to-day,  by  dint  of  their  own  individual  exertions, 
the  father  and  sons  are  the  possessors  of  fourteen  hundred 
acres  of  land,  distributed  among  them  as  follows :  Charles, 
the  father,  forty  acres ;  George  H.,four  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  ;  Robert  C,  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres;  Joseph, 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres ;  Andrew,  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  ;  John  E.,  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  ;  and 
James,  eighty  acres. 

George  H.  Jackson,  to  assist  his  father,  began  working 
for  others  at  the  early  age  of  eleven  years,  and  continued  as 
a  farm-laborer  until  reaching  his  majority.  He  then  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  wild  land  in  1860, 
soon  clearing  and  paying  for  the  same.  As  years  have 
passed  he  has  added  to  his  original  tract,  and  is  now  the 
proud  owner  of  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres. 

On  the  7th  of  September,  1875,  he  married  Miss  Mary 
Davis,  of  Thornapple,  whose  father,  Samuel  Davis,  settled 
in  the  latter  township  in  1845.  In  his  political  convictions 
Mr.  Jackson  is  a  staunch  Republican,  and  proposes  to  con- 
tinue as  such  to  the  end.  Socially  and  as  a  public-spirited 
citizen,  he  is  highly  respected  by  all  who  know  him. 


ABEL  ANGEL. 

Prominent  of  all  men  living  in  the  township  of  Wayland 
to-day  is  the  subject  of  this  brief  sketch,  Abel  Angel. 
His  ancestors  were  English  people,  and  early  settlers  in  the 
State  of  Rhode  Island,  where  his  grandfather,  Abiatha 
Angel,  was  born.  Abel's  father,  Joseph  Angel,  was  a  native 
of  the  State  of  Vermont. 

Abel  Angel,  the  ninth  child  in  a  family  of  eleven  chil- 
dren, was  born  in  the  town  of  Pownal,  Bennington  Co., 
Vt.,  Sept.  12,  1821.  When  fourteen  years  of  age  he  re- 
moved with  his  father's  family  to  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  remained  three  years,  following  the  pursuits  of  farming. 
Meanwhile,  he  had  obtained  such  educational  advantages  as 
the  public  schools  of  Vermont  and  New  York  afforded. 

I^  1838  he  with  other  members  of  his  family  settled  in 
Livingston  Co.,  Mich.  He  remained  in  the  latter  county 
until  1842,  when  he  came  to  the  township  of  Wayland,  and 
has  since  been  prominently  identified  with  its  every  public 
interest.  His  first  purchase  of  land  was  made  in  the  year 
1845, — forty  acres.     By  subsequent  purchases  his  landed 


364 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BAKRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


estate  now  aggregates  nearly  three  hundred  acres,  the  major 
portion  overlooking  that  beautiful  sheet  of  water  known 
as  Gun  Lake. 

Mr.  Angel  held  his  first  ofiicial  position  in  1845,  when 
he  was  elected  highway  commissioner  over  territory  which 
then  included  the  present  township  of  Leighton.  But  in 
1849  began  a  series  of  office-holdings  which  have  scarcely 
a  parallel  in  the  annals  of  any  township  in  our  common 
country,  and  the  position  he  held  was  such  as  to  render 
him  more  familiar  with  the  history  and  people  of  Wayland 
than  any  other  citizen  in  it.  In  the  year  last  mentioned 
he  was  elected  supervisor,  and  was  re-elected  again  and 
again  for  a  period  of  twenty-five  years,  almost  consecutively ; 
this,  too,  very  frequently  when  by  a  strict  party  vote  his  op- 
ponents were  in  a  large  majority. 

He  was  married  July  22,  1852,  to  Mrs.  Mary  Gardner. 
Five  children  have  been  born  to  them,  viz. :  Eleanor,  June 
29,  1853;  William,  April  26,  1855,  died  Dec.  9,  1876; 
Mary,  Jan.  9,  1857;  Clara,  May  11,  1860;  Lucy,  June 
28,  1862.  Mrs.  Angel,  formerly  Miss  Mary  Pease,  was 
born  in  Easton,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  the  year  1820, 
and  was  first  married  to  Nelson  Gardner,  in  1840.  Of  her 
children  by  her  first  marriage,  viz.,  Lewis,  Sarah,  Edwin, 
and  Nelson,  Sarah,  now  Mrs.  Henry  Buxton,  of  Plain  well, 
Mich.,  is  the  only  survivor. 

Mr.  Angel  has  been  a  life-long  Democrat  and  an  agricul- 
turist. As  evidence  that  he  has  succeeded  beyond  the  ex- 
pectations of  most  men,  it  is  only  necessary  to  refer  to  the 
beautiful  farm-view  which  embellishes  one  of  these  pages, 
and  to  what  has  already  been  said. 


JOSIAH   E.  HARDING. 

Josiah  E.  Harding  was  born  in  the  town  of  Sandy  Creek, 
Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  16,  1825,  being  the  fifth  child  of 
Solomon  S.  and  Phila  Harding. 

The  Hardings  are  of  English  origin,  three  brothers 
having  come  to  America  at  an  early  period  in  our  colonial 
history,  of  whom,  finally,  one  settled  in  Connecticut,  an- 
other in  Kentucky,  and  the  third  became  a  sea  captain. 
This  sketch  pertains  more  particularly  to  the  Connecticut 
branch,  of  whom  Benjamin — the  great-grandfather  of  Jo- 
siah E. — is  the  most  distant  landmark.  He  lived  and 
died  in  Connecticut.  His  son,  George,  espoused  the  cause 
of  the  colonists  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  in 
1794  became  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Solomon  S.,  the  son  of  George,  was,  during  the  war  of 
1812,  with  the  United  States  forces  at  Sacket's  Harbor. 
He  became  a  successful  farmer,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  was  the  owner  of  more  than  six  hundred  acres. 

The  school  advantages  enjoyed  by  Josiah  E.  Harding 
were  limited,  such  only  as  could  be  obtained  by  attending 
the  winter  sessions  of  district  schools  to  his  sixteenth  year. 
Arriving  at  years  of  manhood,  he  received  as  his  share  of 
the  paternal  estate  an  eighty-acre  lot,  upon  which  he  de- 
voted all  his  energies  until  removing  to  the  State  of  Michi- 
gan. In  September,  1847,  he  married  Miss  Helen  M. 
Wood.  The  three  children  born  of  this  marriage  were 
Cora  E.,  Jan.  7,  1849,  who  died  May  6, 1856  ;  Ernest  B., 


born  Sept.  22,  1851,  died  Sept.  25,  1852  ;  and  Florence  I., 
now  the  wife  of  Noble  Gardner,  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  who 
was  born  April  12,  1852.  His  wife,  Helen,  died  Sept.  22, 
1853. 

In  September,  1851,  Mr.  Harding  became  the  first  set- 
tler on  section  6  in  the  township  of  Martin,  this  county. 
His  purchase  embraced  the  southeast  quarter,  all  unim- 
proved. After  clearing  some  sixty  acres  of  this  tract,  he 
sold  the  same,  and  in  1 856  purchased  forty  acres  on  section 
19  in  the  township  of  Wayland,  his  present  residence. 
He  has  since  added  by  purchase,  until  one  hundred  and 
sixty  beautiful  acres  in  the  home-farm  greets  the  view  of 
travelers  on  the  line  of  the  Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana 
Railroad,  which  here  intersects  the  farm  from  north  to 
south  through  the  centre. 

On  the  17th  of  December,  1854,  Mr.  Harding  was  again 
married,  to  Miss  Hannah  M.  Gardner,  his  present  wife. 
Seven  children  have  been  born  of  this  marriage,  viz. : 
Irwin,  Dec.  31,  1855 ;  Emma  J.,  May  6,  1857,  died 
Sept.  25,  1863 ;  Ida  Dell,  Dec.  18,  1859  ;  Mina  May, 
Sept.  16,  1861,  died  Oct.  22,  1863;  Trudie  Bell,  Jan.  2, 
1864  ;  Vine,  May  17,  1866;  and  Myrtle  G.,  Nov.  3,1875. 

In  his  political  convictions  Mr.  Harding  is  known  as  a 
Democrat.  Not  an  office-seeker,  yet  he  has  served  his 
townsmen  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  several  terms,  and  in 
various  other  capacities,  and  in  1878  was  the  candidate  of 
the  Democratic  party  of  this  district  for  the  State  Senate. 

Of  large  stature,  genial  and  urbane  in  his  manners,  a 
successful  farmer  and  merchant,*  a  good  citizen,  a  kind,  in- 
dulgent husband  and  father,  Mr.  Harding  may  well  be  con- 
sidered a  true  representative  of  his  class, — i.e.,  a  genuine, 
unaflfected  American  gentleman. 


SAMUEL  S.  GUNN. 


The  ancestors  of  this  gentleman  came  from  England 
prior  to  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  settled  at  or  in  the 
near  vicinity  of  Waterbury,  Conn. 

Jobalmah  Gunn,  the  grandfather  of  Samuel  S.,  was  in 
sympathy  with  the  mother-country  during  the  long  strug- 
gle for  American  independence.  His  sons  were  Isaiah, 
John,  Jobalmah,  Jr.,  and  Isaac. 

Jobalmah,  Jr.,  who  died  April  13,  1815,  was  the  father 
of  four  children,  viz.:  Hannah,  Jane,  Samuel  S.,  and  Jo- 
balmah. 

Samuel  Shelton  Gunn  was  born  in  Waterbury,  Conn., 
July  21,  1810.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  and  here  young 
Samuel  passed  his  early  boyhood  days.  At  the  age  of 
sixteen  years,  however,  he  was  bound  as  a  carpenter's  ap- 
prentice to  one  William  Hurlburt,  of  Woodbury,  Conn. 
He  remained  with  Hurlburt  four  years,  when,  having 
bought  his  time,  he  began  work  under  instructions,  at  low 
wages,  with  Jason  Bassett,  of  Humphreysville,  Conn.  He 
was  with  Bassett  one  year,  and  shortly  after  began  a  re- 

»  Mr.  Harding  bought  out  J.  J.  Joy's  stock  of  goods  at  Bradley  in 
1854,  and  thereafter,  besides  farming,  conducted  the  business  of  mer- 
chandising for  a  period  of  fifteen  years.  He  was  the  first  merchant 
in  Wayland  township  who  brought  goods  direct  from  New  York  City. 


WAYLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


365 


markable  series  of  travels,  changes  of  residence  and  occu- 
pations, which  are  briefly  sketched  as  follows. 

In  1832  he  proceeded  to  the  city  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y., 
where  he  worked  at  his  trade  for  two  years.  Early  in  1834 
he  returned  to  Connecticut,  and  for  some  time  was  engaged 
assisting  his  mother  in  some  matters  of  business.  In  the 
fall  of  the  same  year  he  journeyed  to  Mobile,  Ala.,  and, 
working  at  his  trade,  remained  there  until   the  spring  of 

1836.  From  thence  by  boat  to  New  Orleans,  La.,  Louis- 
ville, Ky.,  and  up  the  Wabash  to  Logansport,  Ind.  Thence 
to  Michigan  City,  Ind.,  and  Niles,  Mich.,  on  foot,  ar- 
riving at  the  latter  place  in  May,  1836,  where  he  in- 
vested his  all  —  some  four  hundred  dollars  —  in  village 
lots.  In  July,  1836,  he  went  to  St.  Joseph,  Mich.,  and 
with  William  Doane  worked  at  his  trade  until  the  fall  of 

1837.  He  also  entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land  in  that  vicinity.  He  then  visited  Connecticut,  and 
returned  from  thence  to  Niles,  Mich.,  in  March,  1838, 
where  he  erected  a  small  house  on  one  of  his  village  lots. 
Wildcat  banking  and  an  era  of  wild  speculation  had  com- 
pletely prostrated  business  in  Michigan,  and,  utterly  dis- 
couraged, in  July,  1838,  he  fled  her  confines,  bringing  up 
in  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.  From  thence  he  proceeded, 
in  November,  1838,  to  Little  Rock,  Ark.  He  remained  in 
the  latter  city,  working  at  his  trade  in  company  with  Wil- 
liam Lankford,  until  July,  1839.  A  violent  illness  then 
ensued.  He  was  enabled  to  travel  to  St.  Louis  in  October 
following,  and  from  that  time  to  April,  1840,  he  was  con- 
fined to  his  room  by  sickness.  He  then  pursued  his  occu- 
pation in  St.  Louis  until  1844,  when  he  abandoned  car- 
pentry forever.  He  then  engaged  in  buying  and  selling 
produce  at  points  on  the  Mississippi  River ;  his  principal 
places  of  transfer,  however,  were  at  St.  Louis  and  New 
Orleans. 

In  1850  he  proceeded  to  New  York  and  took  passage  for 
San  Francisco,  Cal.,  on  board  the  sailing-vessel  "  Hoqua," 
bound,  via  Cape  Horn,  to  Canton,  China.  He  paid  three 
hundred  dollars  in  gold  for  his  passage,  and  arrived  in  San 
Francisco  July  20,  1850.  For  one  and  one-half  years  he 
worked  at  placer-mining.  He  then  changed  his  business 
to  that  of  buying  and  slaughtering  beeves  for  the  mining 
trade.  It  proved  to  be  very  lucrative.  He  sold  whole 
quarters  for  thirty-five  cents  per  pound,  and  frequently  real- 
ized one  hundred  dollars  profit  per  head.  At  a  time  when 
business  was  most  prosperous,  the  Rough  and  Ready 
Quartz-Mining  Company  became  indebted  to  him  in  a 
lar^e  amount,  and  in  the  endeavor  to  save  himself  he  be- 
came first  part  owner  and  finally  sole  owner  and  manager 
of  this  interest,  then  one  of  the  largest  in  California.  He 
ultimately  sold  out  and  paid  all  creditors,  but  with  a  loss  to 
himself  of  several  thousand  dollars.  In  March,  1856,  he  re- 
turned to  the  States  vi&  the  Isthmus,  and,  after  visiting  his 
old  Connecticut  home,  he  again  came  to  Michigan.  His 
present  place  of  residence— the  Nelson  M.  Pollard  place- 
was  purchased  the  same  year.  Then  for  several  years  he 
was  in  Berrien  X^ounty,  and  in  charge  of  the  mission  lauds 
in  that  township. 

On  the  1st  of  September,  1861,  he  married  Mrs.  Eliza 
Chambers.  She  was  killed,  July  26,  1862,  by  horses  run- 
ning away.     He   was  married  to  his  present  wife,  Mrs. 


Cordelia  E.  Swett,  n^e  Truax,  Feb.  3,  1865.  By  this  mar- 
riage there  have  been  born  to  them  three  children,  viz. : 
Shelton  J.,  Oct.  21,  1867;  Milton  S.,  Feb.  19,  1868; 
Clinton  P.,  Sept.  27,  1873. 

In  political  matters  Mr.  Gunn  is  a  Democrat  of  the  old 
school,  conservative,  and  a  staunch  supporter  of  good  prin- 
ciples, no  matter  by  which  party  advocated. 

Socially,  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gunn  are  highly  respected 
by  all  who  have  the  honor  of  their  acquaintance. 


ROLLIN  M.  ^ONGDON. 

This  gentleman,  the  eldest  member  of  a  family  of  ten 
children,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Middlesex,  Yates  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Sept.  2,  1831. 

The  family  is  of  English  origin,  and  was  largely  repre- 
sented among  the  earliest  settlers  of  the  Green  Mountain 
State.  Here  was  born  George  Congdon,  the  grandfather 
of  Rollin.  Erastus  Congdon,  son  of  George,  was  born  in 
Clarendon,  Rutland  Co.,  Vt.,  Feb.  20,  1799.  In  1821  or 
1822  he  removed  to  Yates  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  there  married, 
in  1830. 

In  the  spring  of  1834,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and 
infant  son  (Rollin  M.),  he  journeyed  to  Kalamazoo  Co., 
Mich.,  where  he  remained  until  1839.  He  then  settled 
in  that  part  of  the  township  of  Otsego  now  known  as  Hop- 
kins, becoming  the  fourth  settler  in  the  latter  township, 
and  where  he  remained  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
May  3,  1871. 

The  early  years  of  Rollin  M.  Congdon's  life  were  passed 
in  assisting  his  father  in  farm  duties.  Schools  were  distant, 
and  none  were  established  in  the  vicinity  of  his  father's 
residence  until  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age.  At  the  age 
of  eighteen  years  he  began  work  for  himself,  and  for  a 
period  of  ten  years  was  employed  by  many  farmers,  for 
whom  he  worked  by  the  month  and  by  the  day.  On  the 
15th  of  November,  1859,  he  married  Miss  Lucy  I.  Eldred,* 
of  Wayland,  whose  father,  Cooper  Eldred,  was  born  in 
Butternuts,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1796,  and  removed  from 
Steuben  County,  of  the  same  State,  to  Wayland,  Mich.,  in 
1846.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Congdon  became  a  resident 
of  Wayland.  His  only  child,  Almon  B.,  was  born  Aug. 
21,  1860. 

In  August,  1864,  Mr.  Congdon  enlisted  in  the  First 
Regiment  of  Michigan  Engineers  and  Mechanics,  and, 
joining  his  regiment  in  Georgia  the  following  month,  par- 
ticipated in  all  its  subsequent  campaigns  through  Georgia 
and  the  Carolinas.  Returning  to  his  home  in  Wayland, 
June  19,  1865,  he  has  since  made  this  township  his  place 
of  residence  and  devoted  his  energies  to  the  pursuits  of 
agriculture. 

Mr.  Congdon  now  owns  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 19, — the  premises  formerly  owned  by  Cooper  Eldred, 
— which  is  a  beautiful  and  fertile  tract  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  lying  near  the  village  of  Bradley. 

»  Born  in  the  present  town  of  Avoca,  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  4,' 
1S34. 


366 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


WILLIAM  SEAVER. 

William  Seaverwas  born  in  Westbrook,  now  Saccarappa, 
Maine,  May  4,  1809.  His  progenitors  were  Scotch  people, 
and  first  settled  at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  early  in  the  eighteenth 
century. 

At  the  age  of  eight  years  he  went  to  live  with  his  ma- 
ternal grandfather,  George  Crockett,  and  when  fourteen 
years  of  age  began  to  take  care  of  himself  by  proceeding 
to  Bangor  and  engaging  in  lumbering  on  the  Penobscot 
River.  On  the  6th  of  September,  1835,  he  married  Miss 
Mary  J.  Clark,  of  Bangor.  About  1839  he,  with  other 
robust  men  of  Maine,  was  engaged  to  go  to  Havre  de 
Grace,  Md.,  to  assist  in  the  construction  of  wharves,  canals, 
block-houses,  etc.  Remaiving  in  Maryland  five  years,  he 
returned  to  Bangor,  and  resumed  lumbering  operations  on 
the  Penobscot,  where  he  remained  for  several  years.  From 
thence  he  repaired  to  Lowell,  Mass.,  and  engaged  in  lum- 
bering at  that  point  for  a  period  of  fourteen  years.  Sub- 
sequently he  was  employed  in  the  same  business  on  the  St. 
Croix  River,  Maine,  again  at  Lowell,  Mass.,  and  on  the 
Merrimac  River,  in  New  Hampshire. 

In  the  spring  of  1858,  with  his  family,  he  removed  to 
Wayland  township,  Mict.,  and  for  a  few  months  was  en- 
gaged in  lumbering  with  A.  R.  Balch.  He  then  settled  at 
Whitney's  Corners,  now  Bradley,  where  he  was  extensively 
engaged  in  lumbering,  merchandising,  etc.  Subsequently, 
in  1860,  he  became  proprietor  of  the  "  Half-way  House," 
in  Bradley.  Selling  the  same,  he  again  engaged  in  mercan- 
tile pursuits  at  the  latter  place,  became  the  village  post- 
master, and  remained  there  until  the  spring  of  1864,  when 
he  bought  and  removed  to  his  present  hotel  property  in  the 
village  of  Wayland. 

Mr.  Seaver's  educational  advantages  were  limited.     Up 


to  fourteen  years  of  age  he  attended  school  three  months 
in  each  year,  and  finished  his  studies  by  subsequently  at- 
tending two  winter  terms  of  four  months  each.     Yet,  en- 
dowed with  much  natural  ability,  great  physical  strength, 
and  unusual  powers  of  endurance,  all  aided  by  good  judg- 
ment, tact,  and  conservatism,  he  has  been  enabled,  although 
suffering  heavy  financial  reverses  at  Oldtown,  Me.,  and 
at  Bradley,  Mich.,  to  accumulate  a  handsome  competency. 
In  early  years  he  was  a  Whig.     Since  the  disrupti'on  of 
that  party  he  has  voted  for  those  whom  he  deemed  the  best 
men.    He  has  been  an  Odd-Fellow  since  1840,  joining  that 
society  in  Havre  de  Grace,  Md.     He  has  served  as  presi- 
dent of  the  village  of  Wayland  several  years  (see  history 
village  of  Wayland),  and  to-day  is  one  of  its  most  promi- 
nent citizens. 

Mrs.  Seaver  was  born  in  Bangor,  Me.,  Aug.  5,  1815. 
Through  several  generations  her  family  has  been  remarka- 
ble for  the  longevity  of  its  members.  John  T.  Clark,  her 
father,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Jay,  on  the  Kennebec 
River,  Maine.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  the 
father  of  twelve  children  (ten  of  whom  are  still  living, 
the  youngest  being  fifty  years  of  age),  and  died  at  the  age 
of  ninety  years.  Her  mother,  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Tourte- 
lott,  a  Revolutionary  hero,  lived  to  be  ninety-four  years  of 
age,  and  died  within  a  few  rods  of  the  place  where  she  was 
married. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Seaver  have  had  born  to  them 
eight  children,  as  follows  :  Elbridge  G.,  July  12,  1836, 
died  Nov.  21,  1866  ;  Jennie  H.,  Jan.  10,  1839  ;  Annie  S., 
May  13,  1841  ;  Isabella  S.,  Nov.  21,  1843;  George  A., 
Oct.  21,  1845,  died  when  two  and  one-half  years  old ; 
Mary  E.,  Dec.  3,  1846  ;  Georgiana,  Jan.  24,  1849 ;  and 
Abbie,  Feb.  18, 1857. 


r*^E,T     THIRD. 


THE    CITY    OF    HASTINGS 


AND    THE 


yiLLillES  AID  TOWISHIPS  OF  BiRM  COUNTY. 


CITY     OF     HASTINGS. 


The  city  of  Hastings,  the  seat  of  justice  of  Barry 
County,  is  situated  in  the  western  part  of  survey  township 
No.  3  north,  in  range  No.  8  w^st.  It  is  a  thriving,  bust- 
ling place  of  about  2500  inhabitants,  and  the  centre  of 
trade  for  a  wide  region  of  country.  The  Thornapple 
River  runs  through  the  city  from  east  to  west,  bearing  a 
little  to  the  north.f 

The  government  of  Hastings  is  vested  in  a  mayor  and 
board  of  councilmen,  eight  in  number,  two  being  chosen 
from  each  ward.  The  business  quarter  contains  several  fine 
brick  blocks,  and  upon  the  various  thoroughfares  one  may 
see  many  commodious  and  handsome  residences.  The 
Union  school  building  is  the  architectural  feature  of  the 
city,  and  is  justly  an  object  of  local  pride.  The  prosperity 
of  Hastings  is  based  upon  the  substantial  foundations  of 
agriculture  and  manufactures  ;  and  although  it  has  for  a 
time  been  nearly  stationary,  yet  it  is  likely,  with  the  re- 
newed prosperity  of  the  country,  to  go  steadily  forward  in 
accordance  with  the  progress  of  the  farming  region  around. 

EARLY  HISTORY. 
On  the  26th  day  of  July,  1836,  Eurotas  P.  Hastings, 
president  of  the  Bank  of  Michigan,  and  auditor-general 
of  the  State,  sold  to  Philo  Dibble,  Lansing  Kingsbury, 
and  Cornelius  Kendall,  for  $3000,  a  tract  of  land  in  town 
3  north,  range  8  west,  known  as  the  "  Barry  County-seat 
purchase,"  and  covering  the  northeast  quarter  and  east  half 
of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  18,  and  the  northwest 
quarter  and  west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 

*  By  David  Schwartz. 

f  Although  from  the  identity  of  name  the  city  and  the  township  of 
Hastings  are  frequently  classed  together,  yet  in  fact,  from  the  time  of 
the  organization  of  the  city,  it  became  legally  distinct  from  the  town- 
ship, and  their  organizations  are  entirely  separate.  A  sketch  of  the 
township  of  Hastings  will  be  found  in  its  alphabetical  position  among 
the  other  townships  of  the  county. 


17.  The  county-seat  had  already  been  located  at  that 
point  by  commissioners,  but  there  were  no  settlers  anywhere 
in  that  part  of  the  county. 

Dibble,  Kingsbury,  and  Kendall  were  residents  of  Mar- 
shall, and  on  the  25th  of  August  following  the  purchase 
they,  together  with  Andrew  L.  Hays  and  Samuel  Camp, 
organized  the  Hastings  Company  for  the  purpose  of  laying 
out  upon  the  land  bought  of  Hastings  a  village  which  was 
to  be  called  in  his  honor.  To  that  end  they  sent  out  men 
and  material  for  the  erection  of  a  saw-mill,  which  was  put 
up  on  the  creek  just  south  of  the  present  Hastings  flour- 
mill.  Slocum  H.  Bunker  was  engaged  to  come  with  his 
family  for  the  purpose  of  boarding  the  men  during  the 
construction  of  the  mill. 

In  quick  time  Mr.  Bunker  rolled  up  a  log  cabin  on  the 
lot  now  occupied  by  the  Newton  House,  and  besides  a 
boarding-house  for  the  mill-hands  he  kept  also  a  house  of 
entertainment  for  anybody  chancing  to  pass  that  way. 
Although  he  did  not  then  expect  to  remain  at  Hastings 
after  the  mill  should  be  completed,  yet  he  did  in  fact  stay 
there  several  years,  and  may,  therefore,  be  rightly  consid- 
ered the  first  settler  in  the  city  of  Hastings. 

Simultaneously  with  the  movement  to  erect  a  saw-mill, 
the  Hastings  Company  determined  also  to  lay  out  a  village, 
and  they  accordingly  platted  the  tract  now  including  the 
business  portion  of  the  city  and  called  it  Hastings.  Ad- 
ditions to  the  original  plat  of  Hastings  were  subsequently 
laid  out  by  Messrs.  Striker,  Kenfield,  Chamberlain,  Grant, 
Dunning,  and  Bennett. 

With  Slocum  H.  Bunker  came  also  his  brother,  Thomas, 
who  gave  valuable  assistance  in  carrying  on  the  primitive 
hotel,  and  who  was  chosen  in  1839  the  first  clerk  of  Barry 
County.  In  June,  1837,  Willard  Hays,  who  had  come 
from  Massachusetts  to  Detroit  the  previous  year,  made  his 
way  to  Hastings  on  a  tour  of  observation,  and  was  per- 

367 


368 


HISTORY   OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


suaded  by  his  brother,  Dr.  Hays,  of  Marshall  (one  of  the 
Hastings  Company),  to  remain  in  Hastings  and  look  after 
the  doctor's  interests  thereabout,  and  soon  concluded  to 
make  a  permanent  settlement  at  that  point.  About  then 
Abner  C.  Parmelce  came  to  the  new  settlement  from  Mar- 
shall, when  he  and  Hays  put  up  a  log  cabin  near  Bunker's 
boarding-house,  in  which  for  a  while  they  kept  bachelor's 
hall  together.  The  village  then  included  Parmelee,  Hays, 
Bunker's  family,  and  a  few  men  engaged  on  the  mill. 
Mrs.  Bunker  was  the  only  woman  in  the  place,  and  for 
eight  months  after  her  coming  she  saw  no  representative  of 
her  sex  save  Indian  squaws. 

A  decided  advance  in  the  progress  of  the  new  village 
was  made  in  1839,  when  Hays  and  Dibble  built  a  grist- 
mill. Slocum  H.  Bunker  was  engaged  as  the  miller  and 
managed  the  business  a  few  years,  when  he  returned  to 
Battle  Creek,  where  he  subsequently  resided  until  his  death. 

In  August,  1840,  Henry  A.  Goodyear  came  hither 
from  Detroit  on  a  prospecting-tour,  finding  the  following 
inhabitants  in  the  village :  Slocum  H.  Bunker,  with  his 
family  and  brother  Thomas,  as  living  in  a  log  cabin  near 
the  grist-mill ;  Abner  C.  Parmelee,  register  of  deeds  and 
acting  county  treasurer,  was  in  a  log  house  northwest  of 
where  the  Newton  House  stands ;  Levi  Chase  was  keeping 
tavern  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  near  the  bridge  and  north 
of  Parmelee's ;  Alexander  McArthur  was  carrying  on  the 
saw-mill,  and  keeping  a  place  of  entertainment  in  the  log 
house  previously  kept  by  Bunker ;  Willard  Hays,  the 
sheriff,  was  in  a  framed  house  (the  first  one  in  Hastings), 
erected  by  Dr.  David  M.  Dake,  on  the  corner  now  occupied 
by  the  Union  Block,  where  he  also  kept  the  post-oEBce ; 
Philander  Turner,  a  carpenter,  was  living  in  a  shanty  near 
the  grist-mill ;  and  Hiram  J.  Kenfield,  carpenter  and  In- 
dian trader,  lived  in  a  board  shanty  on  a  lot  about  opposite 
the  site  of  Mr.  Goodyeav's  hardware-store. 

Mr.  Kenfield  was  an  active  man,  who  was  then  building 
the  first  bridge  over  the  river  at  Hastings.  He  traded  with 
the  Indians,  and  kept  his  stock  of  goods  in  a  trunk.  He 
was  one  of  the  early  sherifis  of  the  county,*  and  through- 
out his  life  was  a  man  of  much  local  prominence.  Mr. 
Kenfield  came  to  Michigan  in  1837,  and  to  Hastings  in 
November,  1839.  It  was  directly  upon  his  coming  that  he 
took  the  contract  for  building  the  bridge  over  the  river 
north  of  the  present  Newton  House.  He  afterwards  took 
the  contract  for  building  the  court-house,f  and  was  active 
in  various  ventures,  but  more  especially  in  buying  and  sell- 
ing land.  He  died  in  Hastings,  June  29, 1877.  His  father, 
W.  L.  Kenfield,  settled  in  Irving  township  in  1844.  One 
of  his  sisters,  who  married  I.  A.  Holbrook,  one  of  Hast- 
ings' earliest  lawyers,  yet  resides  in  the  city. 

PIONEEK   MERCHANTS. 

When  H.  A.  Goodyear  came  to  Hastings,  in  August, 
1840,  a  store-building  was  then  being  erected  by  Hiram  J. 

«  Mr.  Kenfield  used  to  tell  how,  when  he  was  sheriff,  he  had  in 
charge  a  prisoner  whom  he  so  far  commiserated  that,  instead  of  leav- 
ing him  in  jail,  where  he  would  be  lonesome  (being  the  only  pris- 
oner), he  used  to  take  him  out  in  the  morning  and  let  him  roam 
almost  at  will  until  night,  when,  the  prisoner  reporting,  he  would  be 
locked  up  again, 

I  See  Chapter  XVI.  of  the  general  history. 


Kenfield  on  a  lot  south  of  McArthur's,  which  Goodyear 
purchased,  and  at  once  hastened  eastward  for  a  stock  of 
goods.  He  returned  in  November  following,  and  opened 
the  first  store  in  the  village.  He  moved  his  place  of  busi- 
ness shortly  afterwards  to  a  building  on  what  is  now  known 
as  the  bank-corner,  and  since  November,  1840,  has  been 
steadily  engaged  in  trade  in  Hastings. 

In  the  spring  of  1841,  Alvin  W.  Bailey  came  from 
Marshall  and  opened  a  store  on  the  corner  east  of  Good- 
year's.  He  was,  accordingly,  Hastings'  second  trader, 
although  he  did  not  at  that  period  remain  in  trade  very 
long.  He  is  now,  however,  and  has  been  for  many  years, 
one  of  the  merchants  of  the  city.  The  trade  carried  on  by 
Messrs.  Goodyear  and  Bailey  was  naturally  not  very  exten- 
sive, for  at  that  time  there  were  but  few  white  settlers  from 
whom  to  draw  patronage.  They  had,  however,  a  good 
many  Indian  customers ;  indeed,  the  greater  part  of  their 
trade  was  with  these  sons  of  the  forest. 

The  third  merchant  was  Dr.  William  Upjohn,  who  in 
the  spring  of  1842  started  a  store  near  Levi  Chase's  tavern, 
and  engaged  Marsh  Giddings,  a  young  lawyer  from  Gull 
Prairie,  in  Kalamazoo  County,  to  look  after  the  business. 
The  enterprise  was  discontinued  in  the  fall.  It  was  after- 
wards successively  continued  by  a  Mr.  Teed  and  a  Maj. 
Tombs,  neither  of  whom,  however,  stopped  in  the  place 
more  than  a  few  months. 

Among  the  next  traders  were  Vespasian  Young,  who  had 
a  store  about  1844,  near  where  the  bank  building  stands  ; 
W.  S.  Goodyear,  who  joined  his  brother  Henry  in  1843; 
Ezra  Convers,  who  came  in  1844,  and  a  Mr.  Hatch  the 
same  year;  W.  C.  Hoyt  &  Brother,  in  1847,  in  a  building 
adjoining  Barlow's  hotel,  now  known  as  the  Hastings  House; 
R.  J.  Grant,  Ferris  &  Edgcomb,  Barlow  &  Robinson,  A. 
W.  &  Norman  Bailey,  etc.,  etc.  R.  J.  Grant,  the  present 
mayor  of  Hastings,~came  West  with  his  father  in  1836,  and 
located  in  Eaton  County.  In  1849  he  settled  in  Hastings 
as  a  merchant,  and  since  that  time  has  uninterruptedly 
pursued  a  mercantile  career  in  the  town.  At  the  time  of 
his  coming  he  found  in  trade  here  William  C.  and  H.  T. 
Hoyt  and  H.  A.  &  W.  S.  Goodyear.  In  1851  the  Hoyts 
sold  out  to  Nathan  Barlow.  Norman  Bailey,  who  entered 
trade  in  Hastings  with  his  brother  in  1853,  is  now  living 
in  the  city  in  retirement. 

Among  the  early  comers  in  Hastings,  not  elsewhere 
mentioned,  may  be  noted  0.  N.  Boltwood,  the  miller,  who 
came  in  1850,  J.  P.  Roberts,  who,  in  1851,  opened  the  first 
drug-store  in  Hastings,  L.  W.  Hitchcock  in  1846,  D.  G. 
Robinson  in  1851  (when  he  embarked  in  trade  with  Nathan 
Bariow),  George  Preston  in  1851,  William  T.  McNair  in 
1852,  W.  A.  Sartwell  in  1853,  D.  R.  Cook  in  1854,  Thos. 
Altoft  and  Samuel  Powers  in  1855,  and  G.  G.  and  0.  D. 
Spalding,  who  have  been  in  trade  in  Hastings  about  twenty 
years. 

W.  S.  Goodyear,  now  one  of  Hastings'  leading  merchants, 
came  to  the  village  in  1843,  when  the  only  store  in  the 
place  was  kept  by  his  brother,  H.  A.  Goodyear.  That 
place  of  trade,  now  the  building  west  of  the  bank,  stood 
then  where  the  bank  building  now  stands.  W.  S.  Good- 
year engaged  in  trade  with  his  brother  in  1843,  directly 
upon  his  coming,  and  since  that  time  has  been  conspicuously 


CITY   OF   HASTINGS. 


369 


connected  with  the  progress  of  Hastings.  Although  there 
was  but  one  store  in  the  village  in  1843,  Hastings  was 
then  beginning  to  thrive,  and  gave  promise  of  developing 
into  a  prosperous  town, — a  promise  which  was  fulfilled 
within  a  brief  space  of  time. 

It  was  in  the  spring  of  1843  that  Nathan  Barlow,  Jr., 
also  came  to  Hastings  to  occupy  the  office  of  county  clerk, 
to  which  he  had  been  chosen.  His  father,  Nathan  Barlow, 
Sr.,  had  located  in  1837  upon  section  7,  in  Yankee  Springs, 
and  resided  there  until  his  death,  in  1855.  Nathan  Bar- 
low, Jr.,  who  had  been  in  St.  Louis,  joined  his  father  in 
Yankee  Springs  in  the  fall  of  1840,  and  in  1843  moved  to 
Hastings.  Upon  the  expiration  of  his  service  as  county 
clerk  he  was  chosen  county  treasurer,  and  in  1851,  after 
serving  one  term  in  the  Legislature,  he  engaged  in  mercan- 
tile business  in  Hastings,  and  continued  to  be  a  merchant 
until  1879,  when  he  retired  from  active  business. 

Vespasian  Young,  whose-  widow  resides  in  the  village, 
came  with  his  wife  to  the  village  in  October,  1841, 
erected  a  store-building  west  of  where  the  bank  now  is, 
became  a  merchant,  and  remained  one  until  his  death,  in 
1848.  During  Mr.  Young's  time,  W.  W.  Ralph  and  one 
Rowley  kept  a  stock  of  goods  next  door  to  his  place,  but 
did  not  remain  a  very  long  while. 

SURVIVING  PIONEERS. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  Hastings  now  livirvg  there, 
those  who  have  been  there  longest  are  Mrs.  Willard  Hays, 
Mrs.  Philander  Turner,  Henry  A.  Goodyear,  A.  W.  Bailey, 
Dr.  William  Upjohn,  Mrs.  Vespasian  Young, — all  having 
become  residents  before  the  close  of  the  year  1841. 

There  was  no  school  in  the  village  previous  to  1840,  for 
the  reason  that  the  only  children  there  of  a  school-going 
age  were  two  belonging  to  Slocum  H.  Bunker.  In  the 
winter  of  1840-41  the  population  was  reinforced  by  the 
families  of  Tillotson  Munger  and  George  Beardsley,  and 
that  same  winter  Ellen  McArthur  taught  the  first  school 
in  the  village  in  a  room  in  her  father's  tavern,  her  scholars 
being  four  in  number.  In  the  spring  of  1841  a  public 
school-house  was  completed,  the  first  teacher  in  which 
was  Luthera  S.  Spaulding,  of  Prairieville.  She  still  lives  in 
that  township,  being  now  known  as  Mrs.  Henry  Knappen. 
That  school-house  was  also  used  for  holding  court  until  the 
court-house  was  finished. 

Mr.  Munger,  already  mentioned,  was  Hastings'  pioneer 
blacksmith,  and  set  up  his  shop  on  the  river-bank,  near 
Chase's  tavern.  Mr.  Beardsley,  who  came  the  same  year, 
was  a  carpenter.  With  them,  in  the  winter  of  1840-41, 
came  also  Elisha  Alden,  a  shoemaker,  and  his  two  sons, 
Perry  and  Elijah,  both  carpenters.  One  J.  Carlton,  a 
shoemaker,  took  up  his  residence  in  Hastings  in  1842,  and 
opened  a  shop  on  State  Street,  near  H.  A.  Goodyear's  store. 
Dr.  David  Dake,  Hastings'  first  physician,  had  come  and 
gone,  and  in  1841  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  William  Upjohn, 
who  is  still  in  practice. 

The  first  birth  in  Hastings  is  believed  to  have  been  that 
of  a  child  of  Slocum  H.  Bunker.  Its  death  occurred  soon 
afterwards,  in  Marshall.  The  second  white  child  born  in 
the  village  was  Angela,  a  daughter  of  Willard  Hays.  Her 
birth  occurred  Aug.  28,  1840,  and  she  still  resides  in 
47 


Hastings,  as  Mrs.  William  H.  Hitchcock.  The  first  couple 
married  in  Hastings  came  from  Yankee  Springs  for  the 
purpose,  and  were  united  by  A.  C.  Parmelee. 

The  first  resident  of  the  place  to  be  married  was  Willard 
Hays,  who  wedded  Ann,  daughter  of  Daniel  McClellan, 
who,  with  his  brother  James,  had  located  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  present  township  of  Hastings  in  1837.  The 
ceremony  was  performed  at  the  house  of  the  bride's  father, 
on  section  34,  Nov.  24, 1839,  by  "  Squire"  A.  C.  Parmelee. 

South  of  the  present  Union  school  the  village  proprietors 
laid  out  a  cemetery,  in  which,  in  the  summer  of  1840,  there 
were  the  graves  of  a  Mr.  De  Groat,  Lorenzo  Cooley,  and 
Mrs.  Maria  Rush,  wife  of  Harmon  Rush,  a  mill-hand  in 
the  village.  De  Groat,  who  was  the  first  person  buried 
there,  had  been  living  in  Rutland,  as  had  also  Mr.  Cooley, 
the  second  one  buried  in  the  place.  Mrs.  Rush's  death 
was  the  first  in  the  village.  This  cemetery,  now  a  ceme- 
tery no  more,  was  the  village  burying-ground  for  many 
years.  The  bodies  interred  there  were  transferred  to  the 
present  cemetery  upon  the  laying  out  of  the  latter,  and 
since  then  the  old  ground  has  remained  undisturbed. 

Harmon  Rush,  above  alluded  to,  was  a  mill-hand,  black- 
smith, and  gunsmith,  and  came  to  the  place  in  1838. 
There  were,  from  time  to  time,  numerous  persons  engaged 
upon  the  building  of  the  grist-mill  and  saw-mill,  but  they 
tarried  only  long  enough  to  complete  their  specific  labors, 
and  could  scarcely  be  considered  as  residents. 

Mention  should  have  been  made  of  J.  W.  Buckle,  the 
pioneer  tailor  of  Hastings.  Mr.  Buckle  came  to  the  place 
in  the  spring  of  1842,  opened  a  tailor-shop  shortly  after, 
and  pursued  his  trade  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
March,  1880. 

THE   SPOTTED   FEVER. 

The  spotted  fever,  which  raged  in  Detroit  in  1847  and 
carried  oif  many  of  the  men  enlisted  for  service  in  the 
Mexican  war  (among  them  being  Levi  Chase,  Charles 
Chase,  George  Tabor,  and  others  of  Hastings),  appeared  in 
Hastings  in  1848,  and  inflicted  serious  ravages  in  the  little 
village.  Of  this  fever  there  died,  between  January  and 
April,  Mrs.  John  Gaines,  George  Fuller,  Mrs.  Tinkler, 
George  Marshall,  and  Vespasian  Young,  the  latter  being 
the  last  to  fall  a  victim. 

In  the  earliest  years  of  its  existence  Hastings  was  a  vil- 
lage in  the  woods,  and  was  divided,  at  about  the  point  now 
occupied  by  H.  A.  Goodyear's  hardware-store,  by  a  deep 
ravine  running  from  south  to  north.  As  the  population 
multiplied  the  topographical  features  of  the  town  improved, 
and  this  village  ditch  was  filled  up,  but  there  was  a  time 
when  merchant  Goodyear,  standing  at  his  store  door,  couldn't 
see  Sheriflf  Hays'  house,  only  a  few  hundred  feet  away,  on 
account  of  the  trees.  At  that  time  the  street,  now  the 
busiest  thoroughfare  in  the  city  of  Hastings,  was  doubtless 
the  play-ground  of  squirrels,  while  its  leafy  recesses  re- 
sounded with  the  music  of  the  birds  of  the  forest. 

VILLAGE   TAVERNS. 
Although  Slocum  H.  Bunker  built  the  first  house  devoted 
to  "  entertainment,"  it  was  properly  a  boarding-house  for 
•  mill-hands, — yet   he   accommodated   travelers   who   could 


370 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


find  no  other  lodging- place.  Levi  Chase  was  the  proprietor 
of  the  first  Hastings  tavern,  a  rude  log  building,  which 
stood  near  the  river's  bank,  north  of  the  present  Newton 
House.  Chase  gave  up  the  tavern,  in  1842,  to  Heman  I. 
Knappen,  who  was  its  last  landlord.  The  latter  retired 
about  1847,  and  died  in  Hastings  in  1854.  Chase  enlisted 
for  service  in  the  Mexican  war,  but  died  in  Detroit,  of 
spotted  fever. 

Mr.  McArthur,  who  took  Bunker's  house  and  made  a 
tavern  of  it,  kept  it  about  a  year.  Hiram  J.  Kenfield,  the 
next  landlord,  added  a  framed  front  to  the  log  structure, 
and  after  Kenfield,  George  Fuller,  the  third  landlord,  built 
the  present  Newton  House, — considerably  improved  since 
his  time, — and  moved  Kenfield's  addition  to  the  rear,  where 
it  still  does  duty  as  a  portion  of  the  hotel.  In  1845,  Na- 
than Barlow  built  a  framed  house  on  the  lot  now  occupied 
by  the  Hastings  House,  and  kept  it  from  1846  as  a  stage- 
iiouse  on  the  route  between  Battle  Creek  and  Grand  Rapid.'", 
which  he  was  instrumental  in  establishing.  In  1849,  Mr. 
Barlow  transferred  the  tavern  to  Henry  Edgcomb,  and  after 
him  J.  B.  Foote  was  the  landlord,  beginning  about  1850. 
The  hotel  now  known  as  the  Newton  House  was  taken  in 
1848  by  Waterman  Parker,  previously  a  hotel-keeper  in 
Jackson,  Mich.  He  was  a  landlord  in  Hastings  two  years, 
and  died  in  1873. 

The  stage-route  through  Hastings  from  Battle  Creek  to 
Grand  Rapids  was  opened  July  1,  1846,  and  proved  a  line 
of  busy  travel.  H.  A.  Goodyear,  H.  I.  Knappen,  and 
other  residents  of  Hastings  were  conspicuous  in  urging  its 
establishment,  Knappen  being  one  of  the  earliest  stage- 
owners  and  drivers  on  the  route. 

THE  PHYSICIANS  OF  HASTINGS. 
Dr.  David  M.  Dake  made  a  location  in  Hastinsrs  in 
1838,  and  built  the  first  framed  house  the  town  boasted. 
It  occupied  the  corner  upon  which  the  Union  Block  now 
stands,  and  subsequently  served  as  the  residence  of  Willard 
Hays.  Dr.  Dake  came  for  the  purpose  of  practicing 
medicine,  but  for  some  reason  he  moved  away  after  remain- 
ing about  six  months.  Hastings  was  after  that  without  a 
physician  until  July,  1841,  when  Dr.  William  Upjohn 
came  hither  from  Kalamazoo  County.  He  had  removed 
from  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  Kalamazoo  County  in  1835, 
intending  to  give  his  energies  to  farming  for  a  time,  al- 
though, having  studied  medicine,  he  designed  to  become 
eventually  a  physician.  Upon  his  arrival  in  Kalamazoo 
County  he  found  much  sickness  prevalent,  and  was  induced 
by  the  circumstances  to  begin  his  medical  practice  forthwith. 
When  he  fixed  upon  Hastings  as  his  new  home,  he  opened 
an  office  in  Levi  Chase's  tavern,  on  the  river's  bank,  where 
business  flowed  in  upon  him  in  ample  volume.  He  was  then 
the  only  physician  in  the  county,  and  his  numerous  calls  from 
far  and  near  kept  him  riding  through  the  country  night  and 
day.  Since  his  advent,  in  1841,  Dr.  Upjohn  has  been  in 
continuous  active  practice  in  Hastings,  except  from  early  in 
1862  until  Dec.  11,  1865,  when  he  was  in  the  military 
service,  first  as  surgeon  of  the  Seventh  Michigan  Cavalry, 
and  later  as  brigade  surgeon. 

Dr.  John  Roberts,  now  living  in  Hastings,  began  practice 
jn  1840.     He  came  to  the  village  in  1845,  and  from  then 


until  1877,  when  he  retired,  he  was  one  of  the  leading 
physicians  of  the  town.  Dr.  A.  P.  Drake,  now  in  practice 
in  Hastings,  has  been  a  physician  in  the  village  since  1851 
without  interruption,  except  from  1855  to  1858,  when  he 
was  in  Nebraska,  and  in  1864  when  he  served  as  assistant 
surgeon  of  the  "  new"  Third  Michigan  Infantry.  Dr.  F. 
C.  Cornell  came  in  1850,  and  in  1855  removed  to  Idaho. 

The  first  homoeopalhic  physician  to  locate  in  Hastings 
was  Dr.  C.  S.  Burton,  who  came  to  Michigan  in  1848,  but, 
finding  no  supporters  of  homoeopathy  in  the  State,  returned 
to  the  East.  In  1850  he  came  West  the  second  time  and 
located  at  Battle  Creek,  whence  he  removed  in  1851  to 
Hastings.  Homoeopathic  physicians  were  not  very  plentiful 
at  that  time  in  these  parts,  and  Dr.  Burton  rode  at  first 
over  a  wide  stretch  of  country,  reaching  to  Grand  Rapids 
on  the  northwest,  and  Bellevue,  Eaton  Co.,  on  the  east. 

Dr.  J.  M.  Russell,  who  retired  from  active  practice  in 
1873,  came  in  1855,  about  which  time  came  also  Dr. 
Bonestell,  who  remained  only  about  two  years.  About 
1862  the  new-comers  were  Drs.  Frost,  Johnson,  and  Burt. 
Dr.  Burt  remained  until  his  death,  in  1866.  Drs.  Frost 
and  Johnson  departed  after  a  brief  stay. 

Dr.  Charles  Russell,  who  entered  upon  practice  in  Hast- 
ings in  1866,  remained  until  1879,  when  he  removed  to 
Allegan,  his  present  home.  In  1862,  Dr.  H.  J.  Haney 
entered  the  field,  but  left  it  in  1875. 

The  second  homoeopathic  physician  to  locate  in  Hastings 
was  Dr.  J.  B.  Brown,  who  came  in  1869  and  remained 
until  his  death,  in  1871.  His  father,  B.  F.  Brown,  came 
in  1870  and  left  in  1879.  I.  W.  Brown  opened  an  office 
in  1875  and  closed  his  practice  in  1878. 

Dr.  E.  H.  Lathrop  joined  Dr.  C.  S.  Burton  in  practice  in 
1872,  moved  to  Grand  Rapids  in  1874,  returned  in  1875, 
and  is  now  here.  Dr.  William  E.  Upjohn,  now  in  practice, 
began  his  medical  career  in  Hastings  in  1875.  In  1876,  I. 
De  Vere  became  a  partner  with  B.  F.  Brown,  after  whose 
departure,  in  1879,  Dr.  De  Vere  continued  the  practice,  and 
still  retains  it,  in  connection  with  Dr.  Grant.  Dr.  Amasa 
Blaso,  who  came  in  1875,  Dr.  Woodmansee,  whose  resi- 
dence dates  from  1872,  Miss  Dr.  Delight  Wolfe,  who  began 
her  practice  here  in  1878,  Dr.  J.  C.  Lampman,  who  came 
in  April,  1879,  and  Dr.  W.  H.  Snyder,  who  located  in 
February,  1880,  are  still  among  the  city  practitioners.  Dr. 
Joseph  Adolphus,  who  should  have  had  earlier  mention, 
was  one  of  the  pioneer  physicians  of  the  county,  and  prac- 
ticed in  Hastings  more  or  less  from  1862  until  1875,  when 
he  moved  to  St.  Louis.  Dr.  J.  H.  Cox,  of  whom  mention 
has  not  been  made,  practiced  for  a  time  previous  to  1875, 
when  he  went  West. 

THE  LAWYERS  OF  HASTINGS. 
In  the  spring  of  1842,  Dr.  William  Upjohn,  then  prac- 
ticing medicine  in  Hastings,  opened  a  store  just  north  of 
where  the  Newton  House  stands,  and  engaged  a  young 
man  named  Marsh  Giddings,  from  Gull  Prairie,  to  look 
after  the  business,  the  latter  also  following  his  profession 
as  a  lawyer  when  occasion  offered,  in  connection  with  the 
storckeeping.  In  the  fall  of  1842  the  store  was  discon- 
tinued. Mr.  Giddings  continued  his  law  practice  but  a 
short  time  longer,  when  he  returned  to  Gull  Prairie.    Late 


DR.    A.  P.  DRAKE. 


A.  PHILO  DKAKE,  M.D. 


In  the  history  of  the  medical  profession  of  Barry  County 
no  one  occupies  a  more  deservedly  popular  position  than  the 
subject  of  this  biography.  A  residence  of  over  a  quarter  of  a 
century,  during  which  time  he  has  been  in  the  active  practice  of 
his  profession,  has  fully  demonstrated  his  general  worth  and 
assigned  him  a  conspicuous  place  in  the  history  of  the  city  of 
Hastings.  He  was  born  in  Macedon,  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July 
31,  1828.  At  the  age  of  ten  the  family  emigrated  to  Michi- 
gan and  settled  near  Saline,  Washtenaw  Co.,  where  the  elder 
Drake  purchased  a  farm.  The  doctor  obtained  a  common-school 
education,  and  in  1846  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with 
Dr.  A.  6.  Crittenden,  of  Saline.  In  1848  he  entered  the 
Cleveland  Medical  College,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1850. 
Soon  after  his  graduation  he  went  to  Wisconsin  for  the  purpose 
of  establishing  himself  in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  but  fail- 
ing to  find  a  desirable  location  he  returned  to  Michigan,  and  in 
July,  1851,  came  to  Hastings,  where  he  has  since  resided,  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  years  spent  in  Nebraska.  In  1864  he 
received  the  appointment  of  assistant  surgeon  of  the  3d  Michi- 
gan Infantry ;  he  accompanied  the  riegiment  to  the  field,  but  by 
reason  of  ill  health  was  compelled  to  resign  his  position.  He 
returned  to  Hastings,  and  upon  the  recovery  of  his  health  re- 
sumed the  practice  of  his  profession.  In  1860  he  married 
Marion  C.  Palmer,  of  Hastings,  a  lady  of  culture  and  refine- 
ment.    She  died  in  1878, 

Among  his  medical  brethren  Dr.  Drake  is  known  as  a  suc- 


cessful practitioner  and  a  gentleman.  He  is  president  of  the 
County  Medical  Society,  and  a  member  of  the  State  Medical 
Society  and  the  Western  Michigan  District  Medical  Society. 
The  doctor  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  development  of 
Hastings,  and  has  identified  himself  with  all  measures  tending 
to  the  advancement  of  the  interests  of  education  or  society.  He 
has  been  a  prominent  member  of  the  board  of  education,  and 
has  been  president  of  the  village.  He  is  a  believer  in  the  pre- 
cepts and  teachings  of  Freemasonry,  and  has  held  prominent 
positions  in  that  order,  notably  among  the  number  that  of  Master 
and  High  Priest.  Dr.  Drake  is  well  and  favorably  known,  and 
one  who  is  highly  respected  and  esteemed.  He  possesses  the 
necessary  qualifications  of  the  successful  physician  other  than 
knowledge, — geniality  of  disposition  and  firmness,  coupled  with 
kindness  and  compassion, — and  his  valuable  services  as  a  physi- 
cian, and  the  public  spirit  he  has  evinced  as  a  citizen,  entitle 
him  to  a  foremost  position  among  the  representative  men  of 
Barry  County. 

The  doctor  is  a  radical  Eepublican,  having  been  bred  a  Whig, 
and  the  Nei6  York  Tribune  having  been  his  political  Testament. 
His  residence  in  Kansas  and  Nebraska  from  1855  to  1858 
gave  him  an  insight  into  the  means  resorted  to  by  the  pro-slavery 
party  to  fasten  the  peculiar  institution  upon  Kansas.  He  claims 
to  have  been  the  only  Whig  in  the  territory  of  Kansas  in  the 
employ  of  the  government  during  the  period  of  the  forming 
of  its  State  Constitution; 


CITY   OF  HASTINGS. 


371 


in  life  he  was  appointed  Governor  of  New  Mexico,  and 
died  in  that  office  in  1875. 

After  Mr.  Giddings'  departure,  although  lawyers  came 
from  other  places  from  time  to  time  to  attend  court,  there 
was  no  resident  attorney  until  the  fall  of  1843,  when  I.  A. 
Holbrook  came  from  Hillsdale  and  entered  at  once  upon  a 
legal  practice  in  which  he  continued  until  his  death,  in 
1875.  Mr.  Holbrook  was  a  man  of  mark  in  the  commu- 
nity, and  held  among  his  numerous  public  trusts  the  offices 
of  county  clerk  and  prosecuting  attorney.  About  the  same 
time  H.  S.  Jennings  appeared  upon  the  legal  field,  but  tar- 
ried only  a  few  years,  when  he  pushed  on  westward. 

In  the  spring  of  1844  a  Mr.  Rowley  came  hither  from 
Battle  Creek,  but  retired  after  a  two  years'  practice. 

Until  1850  there  was  no  fresh  acces.sion  to  the  force  of 
resident  lawyers,  and  Mr.  Holbrook  had  the  local  business 
to  himself.  In  that  year  Norton  S.  Palmer  came  fresh 
from  his  studies  in  the  office  of  Johnson  &  Higbee,  at 
Jackson,  and  began  practice  in  Hastings,  where  he  re- 
mained until  his  death,  in  1855. 

James  H.  Sweezy,  now  in  practice  in  Hastings  and  the 
oldest  resident  lawyer  there,  came  to  that  village  in  June, 
1851,  from  Manchester,  Mich.,  where  he  had  studied  law 
in  the  office  of  Bradley  Granger.  Mr.  Sweezy  has  served, 
during  his  residence  in  Hastings,  as  regent  of  the  univer- 
sity eight  years,  as  member  of  the  Legislature  two  terms, 
and  as  prosecuting  attorney  four  terms. 

Charles  White  practiced  in  Hastings  from  1858  to  his 
death,  in  1860,  and  in  1857,  Charles  G.  Holbrook  (brother 
of  I.  A.  Holbrook),  now  in  practice  in  the  city,  entered 
the  lists.  Mr.  Holbrook  was  the  prosecuting  attorney  from 
1865  to  1869,  and  again  from  1871  to  1873.  Frank 
Allen,  who  came  in  1861,  died  in  1868,  and  in  the  latter 
year  Harvey  Wright  removed  his  office  from  Middleville  to 
Hastings.  He  died  upon  the  eve  of  his  removal  to  Grand 
Rapids,  in  1876.  J.  R.  Van  Velsor  began  his  legal  career 
in  Hastings  in  1869,  and  terminated  it  with  his  death,  in 
1874.  Thomas  Taylor,  a  school-teacher,  studied  with  Mr. 
Van  Velsor,  practiced  here  a  year,  and  then  removed  to  Tus- 
cola County,  where  he  now  lives.  H.  W.  Rolf,  who  also 
studied  in  Van  Velsor's  office,  still  lives  in  Hastings.  B. 
A.  Holbrook,  who  came  in  1874,  practiced  with  Harvey 
Wright  from  1874  to  the  death  of  the  latter,  in  1876,  and 
then  removed  to  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

The  oldest  resident  lawyer,  next  to  Mr.  Sweezy,  is  Wil- 
liam Burgher,  who  opened  his  office  in  the  village  in  1852. 
He  has  been  in  practice  here  from  that  time  to  the  present, 
and  for  eighteen  years  has  been  a  justice  of  the  peace. 
George  W.  Mills,  who  made  his  appearance  in  Hastings  in 
1860,  remained  until  1870,  and  then  removed  to  Missouri, 
where  he  now  resides.  Charles  H.  Bauer  has  been  prac- 
ticing here  since  1869,  and  from  1875  to  1879,  served  at 
prosecuting  attorney.  Lucius  Russell  came  in  1871,  and 
A.  D.  Cadwallader  in  1876,  both  being  still  in  practice  here. 
William  H.  Hayford,  who  has  been  a  justice  of  the  peace 
in  Hastings  nineteen  years,  made  the  village  his  home  in 
1850,  but  did  not  engage  in  legal  practice  until  1864,  his 
time  previous  to  that  having  been  occupied  in  trading  and 
milling.  Daniel  Striker,  at  one  time  Secretary  of  State 
of  Michigan,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1874. 


P.  W.  Niskern,  for  six  years  a  newspaper  publisher  at 
Middleville,  came  to  Hastings  in  July,  1877,  bought  an 
interest  in  The  Republican  Banner,  and  since  the  fall  of 
1877  has  been  practicing  law' in  the  city.  Loyal  B.  Knap- 
pen,  now  prosecuting  attorney,  studied  law  with  James  A. 
Sweezy,  and  was  admitted  in  1876.  Charles  M.  Knappen 
and  William  H.  Powers  were  admitted  in  1877,  and  J.  R. 
Eastman  has  been  in  practice  in  Hastings  since  1876.  J. 
L.  Fish,  who  was  admitted  in  1876,  disappeared  quite  sud- 
denly in  1879,  and  his  name  was  subsequently  stricken 
from  the  roll.  Hiram  Greenfield  lived  in  Hastings  from 
1850-58,  and  during  that  period  practiced  law  to  some  ex- 
tent. Frederick  Young,  a  son  of  Vespasian  Young,  one  of 
the  Hastings  pioneers,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1873, 
and  practiced  in  the  city  from  that  time  until  his  death,  in 
1875. 

HASTINGS  VILLAGE   INCORPORATION. 

Hastings  was  incorporated  as  a  village  by  legislative  act 
approved  Feb.  13,  1855,  and  included  the  west  half  of  sec- 
tion 17,  the  east  half  of  section  18,  the  south  half  of  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  8,  and  the  southeast  quarter 
of  the  southeast  quarter,  of  section  7.  May  7,  1855,  the 
first  election  was  held  at  the  court-house,  A.  H.  Ellis  and 
Albert  Kingsbury  being  chosen  judges,  and  Norman  Bailey 
clerk  of  the  elgction.  The  whole  number  of  votes  cast 
for  president  was  134,  of  which  Alvin  W.  Bailey  received 
88,  Henry  A.  Goodyear,  45,  and  Luther  Sage,  1.  A 
full  list  of  the  village  officials  chosen  on  that  occasion  is 
as  follows :  President,  Alvin  W.  Bailey ;  Recorder,  John 
M.  Nevins;  Treasurer,  0.  N.  Boltwood ;  Trustees,  John 
Roberts,  Wm.  H.  Hayford,  Solomon  Burch,  Ashmun  A. 
Knappen,  John  W.  Buckle;  Assessors,  Ira  S.  Allen,  Samuel 
T.  McNair. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Common  Council,  held  May 
22, 1 855,  Albert  H.  Ellis  was  appointed  marshal,  and  Seth 
B.  Ferster  and  Nathan  Barlow  street  commissioners. 

Appended  will  be  found  the  names  of  those  chosen 
annually  from  1856  to  1871  to  serve  as  presidents,  re- 
corders, treasurers,  and  trustees : 

1856.— President,  John  W.  Stebbins ;  Recorder,  James  P.  Roberts; 
Treasurer,  Augustus  W.  Atkins  ;  Trustees,  John  M.  Novins, 
Robert  J.  Grant,  Thomas  E.  Harvey,  John  W.  Buckle, 
William  Upjohn. 

1857.— President,  David  G.  Robinson;  Recorder,  Norman  W.  Falk; 
Treasurer,  A.  W.  Atkins;  Trustees,  James  Dunning,  A.  H. 
Ellis,  A.  B.  Wightman,  Marcus  Durham,  Wm.  Sheldon, 
John  B.  Foot. 

1858.— President,   Wm.   S.  Goodyear;    Recorder,  C.  G.    Holbrook; 

Treasurer, ;  Trustees,  A.  B.  Wightman,  Wm. 

Sheldon,  Wm.  Barlow,- H.  J.  Kenfield,  Wm.  Upjohn,  Zophias 
Sidmore. 

1859.— President,  I.  A.  Holbrook;  Recorder,  A.  W.Atkins;  Treas- 
urer, E.  B.  Throop;  Trustees,  Zophias  Sidmore,  A.  A. 
Knappen,  Wm.  Jones,  H.  J.  Kenfield,  Wm.  Upjohn,  John 
Roberts. 

I860.— President,  W.  S.  Goodyear;  Recorder,  J.  W.  Bentley;  Treas- 
urer, Wm.  Jones;  Trustees,  C.  Mead,  R.  J.  Grant,  J.  M. 
Russell. 

1861.— President,  J.  W.  Stebbins;  Recorder,  Julius  Russell;  Treas- 
urer, H.  N.  Sheldon;  Trustees,  W.  S.  Goodyear,  A.  W. 
Bailey,  John  Roberts. 

1862.— President,  Willard  Hays;  Recorder,  Wm.  Jones;  Treasurer, 
J.  W.  Buckle;  Trustees,  Wm.  Sheldon,  Nathan  Barlow 
Mason  Allen. 


372 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN   AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


1866.- 


1867.- 


1868.— I 


1863. — President,  Daniel  Cook;  Recorder,  Willard  Haja  ;  Treasurer, 
John  W. Buckle;  Trustees,  Ephraim  Parsons,  F.  D.  Ackley, 
and  A.  H.  Ellis. 

1864. — President,  J.  W.  Stebbins;  Recorder,  Willard  Hays;  Treas- 
urer, John  W.  Buckle;  Trustees,  A.  B.  Wightmon,  Wm.  S. 
Goodyear,  Joel  I.  Nobles. 

1865. — President,  H.  A.  Goodyear;  Recorder,  Frederick  D.  Ackley; 
Treasurer,  John  W.  Buckle;  Trustees,  Mason  Allen,  E.  T. 
Brown,  H.  J.  Kenfield. 
-President,  A.  P.  Drake;  Recorder,  J.  IV.  Benlley;  Treasurer, 
Burton  Main;  Trustees,  John  Roberts,  John  A.  Fuller,  A. 
Richardson. 
-President,  J.  M.   Russell;    Recorder,  Geo.  Rico;   Treasurer, 
Burton  Main ;  Trustees,  E.  T.  Brown,  H.  A.  Goodyear,  S. 
C.  Prindle. 
-President,  A.  P.  Drake ;  Recorder,  F.  Main ;  Trustees,  Rob- 
ert J.  Grant,  Thomas  Altoft,  David  R.  Cook ;  Treasurer,  I. 
A.  Dibble. 

1869.— President,  F.  N.  Galloway ;  Recorder,  Stephen  E.  Crandall  ; 
Treasurer,  Frederick  Main;  Trustees,  D.  E.  Striker,  D.  E. 
Birdsell,  W.  W.  Kelley. 

1870. — President,  A.  J.  Bowne;  Recorder,  S.  E.  Crandall;  Treas- 
urer, Wm.  H.  Powers  ;  Trustees,  D.  B.  Cook,  I.  W.  Vroo- 
man,  H.  J.  Ken6eld. 

INCORPORATION  OF  THE  CITY. 

Under  an  act  ofthe  Legislature  approved  March  11, 1871, 
Hastings  was  incorporated  as  a  city.  It  was  apportioned 
into  four  wards,  and  the  first  election  held  April  3,  1871. 
The  full  list  t)f  the  oflScials  then  elected  is  as  follows: 
Mayor,  H.  A.  Goodyear:  Recorder,  Charles  B.  Wood; 
Treasurer,  John  Bessmer;  Supervisor,  David  G.  Robin- 
son ;  Justice  of  the  Peace  (full  term),  James  Clarke ; 
School  Inspector,  John  R.  Van  Velsor ;  School  Inspector 
(one  year),  William  H.  Jewell ;  Aldermen,  William  I.  F. 
Hams,  Daniel  Birdsell,  George  W.  Williams,  William  Bar- 
low, H.  J.  Kenfield,  W.  T.  Eastman,  D.  C.  Wooley,  Wil- 
lard Hays.  Messrs.  Hams,  Williams,  Kenfield,  and  Eastman 
were  chosen  for  two  years,  and  the  others  for  one  year.  At 
subsequent  elections  four  aldermen  have  been  chosen  for 
two  years,  so  that  the  board  of  aldermen  has  always  in- 
cluded eight  members.  At  the  annual  elections  since  1871 
there  have  been  chosen  mayors,  recorders,  treasurers,  and 
aldermen,  as  follows: 

] 872.— Mayor,  D.  R.  Cook;  Recorder,  W.  D.Hays;  Treasurer,  H.  C. 
Lewis;  Aldermen,  J.  R.  Van  Velsor,  George  W.  Williams, 
C.  B.  Wood,  William  I.  F.  Hams. 
1873. — Mayor,  Nathan  Barlow;    Recorder,  W.  D.  Hays ;    Treasurer, 
William  H.  Stebbins;  Aldermen,  Robert  Dawson,  R.  Mudge, 
J.  M.  Bessmer,  J.  W.  Bentley. 
1874. — Mayor,  W.    S.    Goodyear;    Recorder,  George  E.    Goodyear; 
Treasurer,  H.  C.  Lewis;  Aldermen,  C.  E.  Barlow,  Charles 
Dolph,  J.  A.  Fuller,  W.  F.  Hicks. 
1875. — Mayor,  W.S.  Goodyear;  Recorder,  John  Bessmer;  Treasurer, 
C.  E.  Barlow;  Aldermen,  Ralph  Gordon,  B.  J.  Evans,  J.  L. 
Reed,  P.  A.  Sheldon. 
-Mayor,  J.  W.  Bentley ;  Recorder,  L.  D.  Quackenbush ;  Treas- 
urer, C.  E.  Barlow ;  Aldermen,  H.  C.  Lewis,  D.  McNaugh- 
ton,  Marcus  Russell,  George  Tomlinson. 
-Mayor,   J.   W.    Bentley;    Recorder,   William    H.    Stebbins; 
Treasurer,  Charles  Weiaert;  Aldermen,  A.  A.  Young,  G.  G. 
Spaulding,  George  Abbey,  George  M.  Dewey. 
1878.— Mayor,  R.  J.  Grant;  Recorder,  W.  H.  Stebbina  ;  Treasurer, 
George  S.  Tomlinson;    Aldermen,   Ira  Hatch,  Daniel  Mc- 
Naughton,  W.  W.  Kelley,  J.  Lee  Reed  (vacancy),  George 
Preston. 
-Mayor,  R.  J.  Grant;    Recorder,  J.  M.  Bessmer;  Treasurer, 
George  S.  Tomlinson;  Aldermen,  A.  A.  Young,  William  S. 
Shriner,  William  H.  Stebbins,  Charles  B.  Barlow. 


1876.-1 


1877.- 


1879.- 


With  the  exception  of  Alderman  Young  (Republican), 
the  city  oflScials  for  1879,  as  above  named,  are  all  represen- 
tatives of  the  Greenback  party. 

HASTINGS   PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 

Hastings  City  is  liberally  supplied  with  schools,  and  con- 
tains one  of  the  finest  school  buildings  in  the  State.  It  is 
a  massive  brick  structure  surmounted  by  a  handsome  bell- 
tower,  and,  occupying  a  commanding  eminence,  is  an  at- 
tractive object  as  well  as  the  most  conspicuous  archi- 
tectural feature  of  the  city.  The  building  was  finished 
in  1872,  and  cost,  with  grounds  and  furniture,  $45,000. 
It  contains  seven  School-rooms,  and  has  three  depart- 
ments,— high  school,  grammar,  and  primary, — in  which 
and  the  two  ward  schools  the  aggregate  average  attend- 
ance for  the  school  year  of  1878-79  was  369,  out  of  an 
actual  enrollment  of  661.  Two  ward-schools,  situated  re- 
spectively in  the  First  and  Second  Wards,  are  also  parts 
of  the  Hastings  school-system. 

From  the  superintendent's  report  for  the  school  year  of 
1878-79,  it  is  learned  that  the  estimated  population  of 
the  district  was  2612 ;  the  cash  value  of  school  prop- 
erty, f +5,000 ;  cost  of  superintendence  and  instruction, 
$3062.50 ;  number  of  children  between  five  and  twenty 
years,  686. 

The  Hastings  board  of  education  was  incorporated 
under  a  legislative  act  approved  April  2,  1873.  At  the 
first  meeting,  July  7,  1873,  Nathan  Barlow  was  chosen 
president,  John  R.  Van  Velsor  secretary,  and  John  M. 
Nevins  treasurer.  Mr.  Barlow,  who  has  held  the  of5ce 
continuously  since  1873,  is  still  the  president  of  the 
board.  James  Clarke  is  secretary,  and  R.  J.  Grant  treas- 
urer. The  other  members  of  the  board  in  March,  1880, 
were  E.  H.  Lathrop,  William  S.  Goodyear,  John  Weissert, 
Robert  Dawson,  Earl  Brown,  E.  J.  Evans,  0.  S.  Hadley, 
D.  R.  McElwain,  Clement  Smith. 

The  teachers  in  the  public  schools  in  1880  were  J.  N. 
Mitchell,  Superintendent  and  Principal  of  High  School ; 
Ada  Andrus,  Assistant  in  High  School ;  Miss  Mary  B. 
Campbell,  Grammar  Room  ;  Sarah  L.  Barlow,  Intermedi- 
ate; Estella  Wheeler,  Fourth  Primary;  Belle  Throop, 
Third  Primary ;  Lida  Beadle,  Second  Primary  ;  Marian 
Butler,  First  Primary ;  Edith  Valleau,  First  Ward  ;  Lilian 
Estes,  Second  Ward. 

HASTINGS  PIRE  DEPARTMENT. 
In  the  year  1873  the  citizens  called  a  meeting  for  the 
purpose  of  organizing  a  fire  company.  As  a  result,  a  hand- 
engine  and  hose-carriage  were  bought,  and  two  companies 
formed  at  once.  Pioneer  Engine  Company,  No.  1,  enrolled 
50  volunteer  members,  who  chose  W.  I.  F.  Hams  fore- 
man, while  Frank  Decker  was  elected  foreman  of  the  hose 
company.  In  1875  a  department  was  organized  by  the 
election  of  David  R.  Cook  as  chief  engineer,  who  was  suc- 
ceeded in  1876  by  W.  F.  Hicks.  Not  long  after  that  the 
department  was  disorganized,  but  within  a  month  or  so,  in 
the  spring  of  1877,  it  was  revived  as  a  pay  department. 
W.  F.  Hicks  was  elected  chief,  James  L.  Wilkins  first  as- 
sistant, and  W.  S.  Kelley  second  assistant.  William  L. 
Wilkins  was  foreman  of  the  engine  company,  and  John 
Russ  of  the  hose  company. 


Photo,  by  Heath  &  Chidester,  Hastings. 


HARVEY   N.  SHELDON. 


Harvdy  N.  Sheldon  was  born  in  the  town  of  Brutus, 
Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  14,  1819.  His  parents,  Ira  and 
Mary  Sheldon,  were  distantly  related,  and  were  natives  of 
*  Connecticut.  They  reared  a  family  of  six  sons.  In  1827 
the  elder  Sheldon  died,  leaving  the  care  of  the  family  and 
the  management  of  the  farm  to  Mrs.  Sheldon.  Harvey 
remained  at  home  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age,  avail- 
ing himself  of  such  means  of  education  as  were  afforded 
by  the  ordinary  district  school  of  that  day.  In  the  spring 
of  1835  he  came  to  Michigan  in  company  with  his  eldest 
brother,  Newton  Sheldon,  who  settled  in  the  town  of  Lodi, 
Washtenaw  Co.,  where  he  became  one  of  its  prominent  citi- 
zens. Harvey  remained  with  his  brother  three  years,  when 
he  returned  to  the  State  of  New  York,  where  he  resided 
until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he  came  back 
to  Michigan.  In  1841  he  came  to  Castleton,  and  purchased 
from  the  government  the  north  half  of  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  1 ;  he  immediately  commenced  work 
upon  it,  making  his  home  with  A.  B.  Cooper,  Esq.,  then  a 
resident  of  the  town  of  Woodland.  In  the  spring  following 
he  erected  a  dwelling,  and  during  the  summer  returned  to 
the  State  of  New  York,  where,  on  the  14th  of  September, 
1842,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Lydia  Miller,  of  Steuben  Co., 
N.  Y.  She  was  born  Nov.  22,  1826.  In  October,  1842, 
in  company  with  his  wife  and  two  brothers,  D.  C.  and  0. 
B.  Sheldon,  and  their  families,  he  returned  to  Castleton. 
His  brothers  purchased  land,  and  settled  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  his  home,  the  former  on  section  36,  in  Wood- 
land, where  he  still  resides,  the  latter  on  an  adjoining  farm 
on  section  1,  in  Castleton. 

The  following  winter  was  one  of  unusual  severity ;  snow 
fell  to  a  great  depth,  and  Mr.  Sheldon  and  his  wife  ex- 
perienced many  hardships  and  privations,  among  which 


was  the  loss  of  their  only  cow.  In  the  spring  Mr.  Sheldon 
was  attacked  with  that  disease  so  dreaded  by  the  early  set- 
tlers, the  ague,  which,  in  connection  with  a  lame  arm,  so 
impaired  his  health  that  he  was  obliged  to  return  East. 
After  a  residence  there  of  one  year  he  so  far  recovered  his 
health  that  he  came  back  to  his  farm,  on  which  he  resided 
until  1854,  at  which  time  he  was  elected  to  the  oflSce  of 
county  treasurer,  which  position  he  filled  with  credit  to 
himself  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  people  for  twelve 
successive  years.  Previous  to  his  election  to  this  position 
he  had  served  his  fellow-townsmen  as  clerk  and  treasurer; 
and  for  three  terms  had  represented  Castleton  on  the  board 
of  supervisors,  where  ho  was  appreciated  not  only  for  his 
sound  judgment  upon  all  matters  of  public  interest,  but  for 
his  sterling  integrity. 

Upon  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office  as  county  treas- 
urer he  removed  to  the  township  of  Hagar,  Berrien  Co., 
to  engage  in  fruit-growing,  an  industry  to  which  he  gave 
all  his  energies  and  to  which  he  was  very  much  attached. 
His  reputation  as  a  citizen  and  an  official  had  preceded  him, 
and  soon  after  his  settlement  in  Hagar  he  was  called  upon 
to  take  an  active  part  in  public  matters.  He  was  elected 
to  the  office  of  treasurer,  and  for  three  terms  has  been  a 
member  of  the  board  of  supervisors.  In  September  of  1846 
his  wife  died,  leaving  three  children.  In  July,  1847,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Almira  Wheeler,  of  Woodland.  The 
better  part  of  the  life  of  Mr.  Sheldon  has  been  spent  in  Barry 
County.  He  saw  it  developed  from  a  semi-wilderness  into 
one  of  the  productive  and  important  counties  of  the  State. 
He  identified  himself  prominently  with  its  growth  and  pros- 
perity. He  perfected  an  enviable  record  as  a  citizen,  and 
will  always  be  remembered  for  his  ability  as  an  official,  his 
sterling  integrity,  and  his  marked  social  qualities. 


CITY  OF  HASTINGS. 


373 


The  department  consists  now  of  Pioneer  Hand-Engine, 
No.  1,  with  31  men,  J.  H.  Anderson  foreman,  and  Pioneer 
Hose  Company,  No.  1,  with  18  men,  H.  F.  Ford  foreman. 
James  L.  Wilkins  is  chief  engineer  of  the  department. 

THE  FIRE  OF  1867. 
Hastings  was  sorely  scorched  in  the  winter  of  1867  hy 
a  disastrous  fire,  which  originated  from  a  defective  flue  in 
the  old  Pioneer  oflBce  and  made  short  work  of  the  frame 
buildings  on  that  block.  Although  the  loss  seemed  a  seri- 
ous one,  it  proved  a  benefit  in  the  end,  since  the  burnt  dis- 
trict was  almost  directly  occupied  by  brick  structures,  which 
materially  improved  and  adorned  that  portion  of  the  village. 

NEW  BUILDINGS. 
The  fine  brick  structure  known  as  the  Union  Block  was 
built  by  Barlow,  Goodyear  &  Grant  in  1867,  and  was  the 
pioneer  of  its  kind  in  the  town.  The  Empire  Block  was 
erected  in  1869,  and  about  then,  too,  the  brick  stores  occu- 
pying the  district  burned  in  1867  were  added  to  the  list  of 
valuable  improvements. 

MANUrACTOKIES   AND   MILLS. 
THE  SPALDING  AND   WILKINS   MANUFACTUEING   COM- 
PANY. 

The  chief  manufacturing  industry  of  Hastings  is  the  one 
conducted  by  the  above  company,  devoted  mainly  to  the 
production  of  croquet  implements,  and  also  to  the  manu- 
facture of  base-ball  bats,  Indian  clubs,  archery  and  lawn- 
tennis  goods,  fishing-rods,  etc.  The  company  was  incor- 
porated in  November,  1879,  on  a  capital  of  $20,000,  with 
A.  G.  Spalding,  as  President ;  J.  W.  Spalding,  Vice-Presi- 
dent; J.  W.  Wilkins,  Superintendent;  and  W.  T.  Brown, 
Secretary  and  Treasurer  ;  these  four  gentlemen  comprising 
also  the  list  of  stockholders. 

The  business  of  making  croquet  implements  and  base- 
ball bats  was  begun  at  Hastings  by  James  L.  and  Walter 
L.  Wilkins,  in  1876,  when  they  bought  the  buildings  and 
property  originally  occupied  in  1874  by  Dwight  &  Burral 
for  the  manufacture  of  cultivators.  In  the  summer  of  1878, 
James  L.  Wilkins  purchased  the  entire  interest,  and  in  No- 
vember, 1879,  assisted  in  organizing  the  present  corporation. 

The  business  is  the  most  extensive  of  its  kind  in 
America,  and  gives  regular  employment  to  about  100  per- 
sons. In  1879  upwards  of  1000  cords  of  wood  were  used 
in  making  base-ball  bats,  while,  during  the  same  period, 
33,000  sets  of  croquet  were  sold.  The  factories  and 
grounds  cover  throe  acres,  and  are  owned  by  the  company. 
MANUFACTORB   OF   SASH,  DOORS,  Etc. 

About  1865,  Dickey  &  Prentice  began  the  manufacture 
of  sash,  doors,  and  blinds,  hard-wood  lumber,  agricultural 
tools,  etc.,  but  in  a  short  time  sold  out  to  Dickey  &  Bent- 
ley,  who  were  succeeded  in  1869  by  J.  W.  &  C.  G.  Bent- 
ley.  In  1878  they  gave  way  to  Bentley  Brothers  &  Wil- 
kins, the  firm  now  carrying  on  the  business,  which  has  so 
expanded  that  from  30  to  40  men  are  now  employed  in  it. 
Connected  with  the  factory  is  a  saw-mill,  which,  in  1879, 
cut  2,000,000  feet  of  hard-wood  lumber. 

THE   BARRY  STEAM   FLOURING-MILL. 

This  mill,  now  carried  on  by  Hale  &  Bartley,  occupies  the 
structure  built  by  Barlow  &  Goodyear  in  1868,  to  replace  that 


built  by  Boltwood  &  Keeler  in  1856,  upon  the  site  of  the 
one  begun  by  Hayes  &  Dibble,  of  Marshall,  in  1839,  fin- 
ished in  the- winter  of  1840,  and  destroyed  by  fire  in  1856. 
It  was  the  pioneer  grist-mill  of  Barry  County,  and  was  the 
scene  on  July  4,  1840,  of  the  first  Fourth  of  July  celebra- 
tion in  Hastings.  The  mill  building  was  finished,  but  the 
machinery  was  not  in,  and  within  its  spacious  mill-room 
the  patriotic  citizens  from  miles  around  gathered  for  a  jolly 
Fourth  of  July  dance.  Those  now  living  who  remember 
it  observe  that  the  dance  was  a  merry  one,  and  they  re- 
member, too,  that  the  supper  that  followed  at  Levi  Chase's 
tavern  was  a  feast  at  which  the  edibles  were  toothsome 
and  the  general  happiness  contagious. 

Hayes  &  Dibble's  miller  was  Slocum  H.  Bunker,  who  lived 
in  a  log  cabin  near  the  mill,  and  who  was  further  distin- 
guished as  the  first  permanent  white  settler  in  Hastings. 

The  present  mill  has  5  run  of  stone,  with  a  capacity  of 
about  150  barrels  of  flour  daily.  From  12,000  to  15,000 
barrels  of  flour  are  annually  shipped.  In  1879  it  manu- 
factured considerable  flour  for  export  in  sacks  to  Glasgow, 
Scotland,  and  New  Castle,  England. 

THE  HASTINGS  MI„L. 
The  Hastings  Mill  was  built  by  A.  W.  Bailey  about 
1863,  and  now  belongs  to  W.  S.  Goodyear  &  Parsons,  who 
rent  the  property  to  Hitchcock  &  Baton.  This  mill  was 
remodeled  in  1866  by  Goodyear,  Barlow  &  Hadley,  they 
having  succeeded  A.  W.  Bailey  in  possession. 

BANKING  IN   HASTINGS. 

In  the  spring  of  1857  William  H.  Skinner,  of  Battle 
Creek,  opened  a  private  bank  in  Hastings,  and  in  the  fall 
of  that  year  H.  A.  Goodyear  purchased  the  business,  and 
carried  it  on  until  1868,  when  he  sold  to  Bowne  &  Gal- 
loway, a  firm  then  just  started  in  the  banking  interest  as 
the  continuation  of  a  bank  opened  in  1867  by  F.  N.  Gal- 
loway. 

Bowne  &  Galloway  continued  their  private  banking 
business  until  Jan.  1,  1871,  when  it  became  absorbed  by 
the  organization  of  the  Hastings  National  Bank,  with  a 
capital  of  $50,000.  The  directors  first  chosen  were  A.  J. 
Bowne,  President ;  F.  N.  Galloway,  Cashier  ;  R.  B.  Wight- 
man,  D.  K.  Cook,  D.  B.  Pratt,  J.  A.  Sweezy,  and  L.  D. 
Gardner.  A  statement  issued  by  the  bank,  Feb.  21, 1880, 
included  the  following  exhibit :  Circulation.  $45,000 ;  de- 
posits, $110,000  ;  loans,  $186,000  ;  surplus,  $50,000.  The 
fine  building  now  occupied  and  owned  by  the  institution 
was  erected  by  Bowne  &  Galloway  in  1869.  The  present 
directors  are  A.  J.  Bowne,  President;  Daniel  Striker,  Vice- 
President  ;  George  E.  Goodyear,  Cashier ;  D.  B.  Pratt  and 
L.  D.  Gardner. 

HASTINGS  POST-OFFICE. 
Previous  to  the  spring  of  1839  the  few  people  living  in 
Hastings  and  near  there  depended  upon  getting  their  mail 
at  Gull  Prairie,  forty  miles  distant,  but  the  dependence  was 
of  that  uncertain  character  which  followed  upon  the  in- 
frequency  and  irregularity  of  communication.  In  March, 
1839,  application  was  made  for  the  creation  of  a  post-office 


374 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRy  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


at  Hastings,  and  April  29,  1839,  the  application  was  an- 
swered favorably  by  the  issuance  to  Willard  Hays  of  a 
postmaster's  commission.  Although  letter-postage  in  those 
days  was  25  cents,  the  business  at  the  Hastings  office  was 
so  limited  that  during  the  first  three  months  of  his  term 
Postmaster  Hays"  receipts  were  less  than  $1. 

The  first  mail-route  that  touched  Hastings  passed  by 
way  of  Coldwater,  and  over  that  route  the  mail  was  at 
first  carried  by  Daniel  McClelland  on  horseback  once  a 
week.  Later,  when  the  stage-route  was  opened  between 
Battle  Creek  and  Grand  Rapids  in  1846,  Hastings,  being 
a  station  on  the  route,  received  a  daily  mail. 

Mr.  Hays  continued  to  be  the  postmaster  from  1839 
until  1847,  when  he  resigned,  and  succeeding  him  W.  S. 
Jennings  took  possession.  In  1849,  H.  A.  Goodyear  be- 
came the  incumbent,  and  following  him  H.  I.  Knappen. 
Mr.  Knappen's  successors  were  Nathan  Barlow,  R.  J. 
Grant,  J.  W.  Stebbins,  Dr.  John  Roberts  (in  1867),  and 
John  M.  Ncvins,  the  present  postmaster,  who  was  appointed 
in  1875,  and  reappointed  March  3,  1879. 

For  the  three  months  ending  Dec.  31,  1879,  the  busi- 
nese  of  the  Hastings  post-office  was, — 

Stamps  sold $742.11 

Postal-cards  sold 83.00 

Stamped  envelopes  sold 149.39 

Bo.\-rents 104.50 

Total $1079.00 

Number  of  money-orders  issued 594 

Value  of  same $6051.86 

Money-orders  paid $2844.56 

The  office  sends  and  receives  two  daily  mails,  two  tri- 
weekly mails,  and  one  semi-weekly  mail. 

KELIGIOUS  HISTOKY. 
PIONEER  WORK. 
Rev.  Daniel  Bush,  a  Methodist  missionary  preacher,  was 
the  first  minister  to  locate  at  Hastings,  or  do  any  stated 
work  at  that  point,  and,  as  he  has  happily  preserved,  in  a 
recently  written  letter,  many  interesting  details  touching  his 
experience  as  a  preacher  in  Barry  County,  liberal  extracts 
from  that  letter  are  given  to  our  readers,  in  the  belief  that 
they  will  be  found  interesting  and  worthy  of  preservation. 
Mr.  Bush  says  : 

"  Early  in  the  fall  of  J  841,  I  rode  into  Hastings  on  horseback,  and 
announced  myself  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  sent  by  the  Methodist 
Conference  to  hibor  among  them  as  a  missionary.  The  people  received 
me  as  a  messenger  of  God,  and  with  a  cordiality  and  warm-hearted- 
ness that  at  once  inspired  me  with  confidence  and  hope.  I  never 
met  with  a  warmer  reception  than  I  did  at  Hastings,  although  there 
was  not  a  professor  of  religion  in  the  place.  There  were  at  this  time, 
if  my  memory  serves  me,  some  ten  or  twelve  buildings  in  Hastings, 
the  most  of  them  being  built  of  logs,  while  the  people  were  all  very 
poor.  Forty  dollars  in  missionary  money  had  been  appropriated  for 
the  support  of  my  family,  but  the  people  were  quite  libera],  and  we 
passed  through  the  year  very  comfortably. 

"  As  the  people  would  not  consent  to  my  living  outside  the  village, 
the  first  thing  in  order  was  to  procure  a  residence  for  my  family. 
Failing  to  find  a  house,  we  were  offered  a  temporary  home  in  Alex- 
ander McArthur's  house,  where  we  were  given  an  upper  chamber, 
which  was  reached  by  a  ladder,  and  there  was  established  the  first 
Methodist  parsonage  in  Hastings.  A  movement,  headed  by  A.  W. 
Bailey  and  Thomas  Bunker,  for  the  erection  of  more  comfortable 
quarters  for  my  family,  resulted  in  the  completion  of  a  house  on  the 
Ist  day  of  January,  1842.  The  firewood  needed  for  the  household 
I  obtained  by  felling  trees  that  grew  in  profusion  about  the  house. 


"  I  commenced  my  missionary  labors  as  soon  as  I  reached  Hastings. 
A  new  school-house  had  been  built  the  same  year  I  came,  and  in  that 
house  we  assembled  for  worship.  From  this  point  I  went  into  all  the 
settlements  of  Barry  County,  the  western  part  of  Eaton  County,  and 
the  northern  part  of  Kalamazoo  County,  preaching  wherever  I  could 
assemble  a  congregation.  Previous  to  my  coming  to  this  work  Brother 
Daubney,  a  local  preacher  from  Gull  Prairie,  had  visited  Hastings  a 
few  times  and  preached  to  the  people. 

"  I  heard  of  a  Methodist  man  who  lived  several  miles  northeast  of 
Hastings  by  the  name  of  Alonzo  Barnum.  I  made  him  a  visit,  and 
found  him  chopping  down  a  tree.  I  introduced  myself,  and  when  I 
told  him  that  a  new  mission  had  been  formed  and  that  I  was  the 
preacher  in  charge,  he  raised  his  hands  and  eyes  to  heaven,  great 
tears  rolled  down  his  face,  and  he  exclaimed,  '  Praise  God,  my  prayers 
have  been  heard  at  last !'  We  both  knelt  at  the  roots  of  the  tree  and 
held  a  prayer-meeting.  A  class  was  formed  there,  and  we  made  it  a 
regular  preaching-place. 

"  I  preached  in  Eaton  County  in  the  Hagar  settlement.  I  preached 
in  Zebulon  Burnam's  school-house,  northeast  of  Hnstingii,  and  in  the 
Carpenter  settlement,  north  of  Hastings.  West  of  Hastings  I  had  an 
appointment  at  Mr.  Ingraham's,  and  also  at  John  W.  Bradley's.  I 
preached  at  Mr.  Hill's,  where  the  village  of  Middleville  now  stands, 
and  farther  south,  at  Judge  Barlow's.  I  had  also  an  appointment  at 
Yankee  Springs,  and  preached  during  the  year  at 'Yankee'  Lewis' 
tavern.  I  preached  also  during  the  year  at  Pine  Lake,  where  we  had 
a  class,  and  there  we  held  a  quarterly  meeting.  East  of  Hastings 
there  was  a  considerable  settlement  near  the  county-line,  and  there  I 
preached  to  a  class  at  the  house  of  Lorenzo  Mudge.  During  the 
summer  of  1842  I  held,  with  Rev.  Franklin  Page,  in  charge  of  Alle- 
gan Circuit,  a  camp-meeting  near  Gun  Marsh,  on  a  line  between  our 
respective  charges.  This  was  the  first  camp-meeting  ever  held  in 
this  part  of  the  State,  and  it  was  attended  with  gratifying  results. 

"  The  free  use  of  intoxicating  drinks  in  Barry  County  suggested 
work  in  the  temperance  cause.  There  was  a  lawyer  in  Hastings  by 
the  name  of  Marsh  Giddings,  a  very  good  talker,  who  was  always 
ready  for  a  temperance  speech.  John  Van  Arnam,  a  lawyer  from 
Battle  Creek,  who  came  to  Hastings  to  attend  court,  assisted  us  in  the 
good  work.  We  soon  organized  a  temperance  society,  and  nearly  all 
the  people  took  the  pledge.  At  every  place  where  1  preached  I 
delivered  temperance  discourses  and  ofl'ered  the  pledge.  A  great 
majority  of  the  people  joined  the  temperance  ranks.  We  had  a 
Fourth  of  July  celebration  and  passed  through  the  usual  formalities 
of  such  an  occasion.  I  had  the  honor  of  being  the  first  chaplain  in 
Hastings.  Our  band  consisted  of  a  fife  and  drum,  and  did  excellently 
well." 

FIRST    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 

The  first  quarterly  meeting  Conference  for  Hastings  mis" 
sion  was  held  at  Hastings,  Nov.  6, 1841,  on  which  occasion 
there  were  present  James  P.  Davidson,  Presiding  Elder ; 
Daniel  Bush,  Missionary ;  and  Alonzo  Barnum,  Lorenzo 
Mudge,  Elisha  Carpenter,  and  Aaron  L.  Ellis,  Leaders. 
Alonzo  Barnum  was  appointed  recording  steward,  and  Lo- 
renzo Mudge,  Aaron  L.  Ellis,  Richard  Witherel,  and 
Joseph  Merriman  stewards. 

At  a  meeting  held  July  1-3,  1843,  Henry  Worthington 
being  the  preacher  in  charge,  it  was  resolved  to  build  a  par- 
sonage at  Hastings.  The  building  committee  was  composed 
of  A.  C.  Ketchum,  Isaac  Messer,  and  John  W.  Bradley. 
At  a  stewards'  meeting  of  Hastings  Circuit  held  Sept.  30, 
1843,  Rev.  Edward  L.  Kellogg  being  the  preacher  in 
charge,  he  appointed  Asahel  Tillotson,  Alonzo  Barnum, 
Lorenzo  Mudge,  Isaac  Messer,  and  Aaron  L.  Ellis  to  be 
trustees  for  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  Hastings 
Circuit. 

Mr.  Kellogg's  successor  on  the  circuit  was  Rev.  A.  C. 
Shaw,  who,  at  a  meeting  in  June,  1846,  reported  that  he 
had  raised  $50  for  the  purchase  of  a  circuit  Sabbath-school 
library,  and  that  eleven  schools  had  been  organized.     Rev. 


CITY  OF  HASTINGS. 


375 


George  King  was  the  preacher  in  1847,  and  in  1849  he 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Ransom  Goodell.  Following  him 
came  Revs.  T.  Clark,  M.  Cory,  George  Bignell,  A.  R.  Bart- 
lett,  T.  H.  Bignell,  William  H.  Perrine,  N.  L.  Brockway, 
N.  L.  Otis,  and  others.  A  church  edifice  was  erected  in 
Hastings  in  the  summer  of  1852,  the  village  school-house 
and  court-house  having,  previous  to  that,  been  used  as  a 
place  of  worship. 

The  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Hastings, 
founded,  as  has  been  seen,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Bush,  enjoys  now 
an  abundant  prosperity,  and  embraced  in  March,  1880,  a 
membership  of  198.  The  church  stewards  are  R.  J.  Grant, 
0.  D.  Spaulding,  Daniel  Striker,  S.  C.  Prindle,  Eben  Pen- 
nock,  J.  C.  Lampman,  J.  F.  Hale,  and  W.  H.  Sohantz. 
The  trustees  are  R.  J.  Grant,  0.  D.  Spaulding,  Eben  Pen- 
nock,  Daniel  Striker,  S.  C.  Prindle,  Manning  Doud,  and  S. 

C.  Whitcomb.     The  class-leaders  are  R.  J.  Grant  and  0. 

D.  Spaulding.  Mrs.  Clement  Smith  is  superintendent  of 
the  Sunday-school,  which  has  13  teachers  and  an  average 
attendance  of  130  scholars. 

The  pastor,  Rev.  Levi  Master,  entered  upon  the  charge 
in  the  fall  of  1877.  His  predecessors,  dating  from  1866, 
were  Revs.  A.  P.  Moors,  J.  H.  Ross,  J.  I.  Buell,  T.  H. 
Jacokes,  and  G.  W.  Sherman. 

FIRST   CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH   OF   HASTINGS. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  of  Hast- 
ings, held  in  the  village  school-house,  Jan.  7,  1849,  the 
following  members  were  present :  Mrs.  Lucina  Hanne,  Mrs. 
Hannah  Kellogg,  Mrs.  Susan  Pier.son,  Mrs.  Sarah  M.  Hoyt, 
Mrs.  Arvilla  B.  Ralph,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Horton,  Mrs.  Nancy 
Young,  and  Mr.  Abel  Rice.  Two  members  were  absent, 
Mrs.  Clarissa  Bailey  and  Mrs.  Louisa  Tabor.  The  meeting 
was  called  to  order  by  the  pastor.  Rev.  Z.  T.  Hoyt,  who 
stated  that  the  object  of  the  meeting  was  to  urge  the  neces- 
sity of  reorganizing  the  church  and  adopting  the  Presby- 
terian form  of  government  in  consequence  of  difficulties 
that  existed  in  the  Congregational  Church,  and  which  ap- 
peared then  beyond  their  power  to  settle,  the  pastor  stating 
further  that  a  Presbyterian  Church  had  already  been  organ- 
ized. The  members  present  then  voted  to  donate  the  com- 
munion-service and  all  other  property  belonging  to  the 
First  Congregational  Church  to  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Hastings,  and,  letters  of  dismission  being  granted 
to  the  members  named  above,  it  was  resolved  "  that  the 
First  Congregational  Church  of  Hastings  be  hereby  dis- 
solved." 

The  Congregational  Church  just  mentioned  had  been  or- 
ganized in  1842,  in  the  Hastings  school-house,  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Cochran,  of  Vermontville.  The  first  members  were  A.  C. 
Parmelee  and  wife.  Marsh  Giddings  and  wife,  Mrs.  Clarissa 
Bailey,  Mrs.  Vespasian  Young,  Mrs.  Horton,  and  Nathan 
Barlow  and  wife.  Mr.  Cochrane  came  to  preach  only  occa- 
sionally, but  when  Rev.  Z.  T.  Hoyt  settled  in  Hastings 
there  was  regular  preaching  from  that  time  on.  After  a 
while  dissensions  arose  in  the  congregation,  and  as  the  only 
way  out  of  the  trouble  it  was  decided  to  dissolve  the  church 
as  above  stated,  which  action,  however,  was  only  prelimi- 
nary to  a  change  of  form,  since  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  straightway  succeeded  to  the  place  of  the  First  Con- 


gregational Church,  leaving  out  the  minority  with  whom 
difficulties  had  arisen. 

FIRST   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

Upon  the  day  of  the  dissolution  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Hastings  was 
organized  in  the  village  school-house.  Rev.  Zerah  T.  Hoyt 
was  moderator  of  the  meeting,  and  Lewis  H.  Ensign  secre- 
tary. Those  who  were  received  into  the  church  at  the 
organization,  besides  those  mentioned  in  the  sketch  of  the 
First  Congregational  Church,  were  Henry  Standish  and 
Abbey,  his  wife,  Mrs.  Sophia  E.  Kenfield,  Lewis  H.  En- 
sign and  Abby,  his  wife,  Sarah  M.  S.andish,  Gorgietta  E. 
Standish,  and  Mrs.  Esther  Dowd.  Lewis  H.  Ensign  was 
chosen  ruling  elder.  In  March,  1849,  the  ordinance  of 
baptism  was  conferred  upon  George  H.  Ensign,  Georgiana 
A.  Ensign,  and  Henry  A.  Ensign,  and  at  the  same  meet- 
ing Abel  Rice  was  elected  elder.  At  a  meeting  held  Feb. 
8,  1853,  the  church  adopted  new  articles  as  to  the  form  of 
church  government,  and  changed  the  name  of  the  organi- 
zation to  The  First  Presbyterian  and  Congregational  Church 
of  Hastings.  On  the  10th  of  February  24  members  were 
added  upon  a  profession  of  faith.  From  this  time  for- 
ward the  church  rapidly  received  accessions  and  gained  in 
strength. 

The  court-house  was  long  used  as  a  place  of  worship, 
but  on  the  13th  of  December,  1854,  the  newly  erected 
Presbyterian  and  Congregational  house  of  worship  was  ded- 
icated. Rev.  Zerah  T.  Hoyt,  who  had  thus  far  been  the 
pa^or  of  the  church,  retired  from  the  charge  late  in  1855, 
and  on  April  27,  1856,  Rev.  A.  H.  Gaston  entered  the 
pastorate.  Mr.  Gaston  served  until  the  spring  of  1863, 
when  he  was  dismissed.  Shortly  after  that  several  mem- 
bers of  the  congregation  withdrew  to  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  for  a  year  the  congregation  was  so  weak 
that  regular  services  were  not  maintained.  Early  in  1864, 
however,  an  earnest  effi)rt  led  to  a  revival  of  interest,  and 
in  April  of  that  year  Rev.  P].  G.  Bryant  was  secured  as 
pastor.  The  church  moved  forward  again  upon  a  prosper- 
ous career,  and  in  September,  1865,  material  improvements 
were  begun  upon  the  church  edifice.  This  work  required 
five  months  to  complete,  and  during  that  time  no  meetings 
of  any  kind  were  held.  Mr.  Bryant  retired  from  the  pas- 
torate in  the  autumn  of  1866,  and  in  January,  1867,  Rev. 
William  S.  Messmer  was  obtained  as  stated  supply,  and 
remained  until  January,  1868.  From  that  time  until 
August  the  church  was  vacant.  Rev.  Theodore  D.  Marsh 
was  then  engaged  as  pastor,  and  remained  until  Feb.  7-, 
1875.  Rev.  R.  W.  Fletcher,  the  next  pastor,  commenced 
his  term  of  service  April  1,  1876,  and  closed  it  Jan.  20, 
1878,  and  in  December  of  that  year  Rev.  D.  R.  Shoop 
was  called  to  the  charge,  which  he  still  occupies.  The 
elders  of  the  church  at  present  are  J.  P.  Roberts,  John  M. 
Nevins,  George  Putnam,  and  W.  H.  Holmes. 

The  trustees  of  the  society  are  John  Greble,  George 
Putnam,  W.  H.  Holmes,  C.  G.  Bentley,  Geo.  M.  Dewey, 
J.  P.  Roberts.  The  church  membership  is  now  56.  The 
Sunday-school  superintendent  is  W.  H.  Holmes,  who  is 
assisted  by  12  teachers.  The  average  attendance  at  the 
school  is  65. 


376 


HISTOEY   OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BAERY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Although  it  is  generally  supposed  that  the  church  is  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church,  it  is  really  the  First  Presby- 
terian and  Congregational  Church,  since  the  latter  name, 
adopted  in  1853,  has  never  been  formally  changed.  The 
name  of  the  society  has,  however,  been  changed,  and  is 
legally  the  First  Presbyterian  Society  of  Hastings. 

EMMANUEL  (PROTESTANT  EPISCOPAL)  CHURCH. 

Doubtless  the  first  Episcopal  sermon  preached  in  Hast- 
ings was  delivered  by  Eev.  Dr.  Cummings,  of  Grand 
Eapids,  on  the  occasion  of  his  tarrying  briefly  at  the  vil- 
lage in  1847,  while  en  route  to  his  home.  In  the  early 
part  of  July,  1851,  Eev.  V.  Spalding,  of  Three  Rivers, 
having  been  sent  by  Bishop  McCoskry  on  a  missionary 
tour  through  Slichigan.  stopped  at  Hastings  and  preached 
an  Episcopal  sermon  in  the  court-house.  During  1856  and 
1857  Eev.  Robert  Wood  preached  occasionally  in  the 
village,  but  until  1863  there  was  no  movement  looking  to 
the  holding  of  regular  religious  services  according  to  the 
Episcopal  faith. 

In  June  of  that  year,  J.  W.  Bancroft,  principal  of  the 
Union  school,  was  consulted  by  Dr.  H.  J.  Haney  and  P. 
D.  Ackley  touching  the  feasibility  of  having  Episcopalian 
church  service  every  Sunday.  Mr.  Bancroft  agreed  to 
read  service,  and  upon  a  return  from  a  vacation  held  the 
first  meeting  at  his  house,  Aug.  30,  1863,  on  which  occa- 
sion there  were  present,  besides  his  own  family  of  four, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  F.  D.  Ackley  and  their  daughtei-.  On  the 
next  Sunday  Dr.  Haney  was  present,  with  those  heretofore 
named,  and  on  the  third  Sunday  the  congregation  numbered 
about  20.  Interest  in  the  church  continuing  to  increase 
Rev.  L.  H.  Corson,  of  Jonesville,  was  invited  to  preach, 
and  on  the  4th  and  11th  of  October  he  held  forth  in  the 
Presbyterian  church. 

The  result  of  his  visit  was  the  organization  of  a  parish, 
and  on  the  17th  of  October,  1873,  articles  of  association 
were  signed  by  H.  A.  Goodyear,  D.  G.  Robinson,  Nathan 
Barlow,  H.  J.  Haney,  F.  D.  Ackley,  and  J.  W.  Bancroft. 
The  first  subsequent  services  were  held  in  Masonic  Hall, 
Oct.  25,  1863,  Mr.  Bancroft  conducting  lay  services.  On 
the  following  Sabbath  a  Sunday-school  was  organized,  with 
25  scholars  and  8  teachers.  Jan.  17,  1864,  Bishop  Mc- 
Coskry made  his  first  visitation,  when  services  were  held 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Dec.  18,  1864,  Em- 
manuel Hall,  in  the  Brower  building,  was  occupied  as  a 
place  of  worship.  Mr.  Bancroft  conducted  lay  services 
until  Sept.  19,  1865,  when,  having  been  admitted  to  dea- 
con's orders,  he  was  called  to  the  rectorship  of  Emmanuel 
Church,  and  entered  upon  the  charge  Oct.  1,  1865.  The 
following  year  the  chapel  now  in  use  was  completed,  and 
occupied  Oct.  14,  1866.  May  22, 1867,  Mr.  Bancroft  was 
advanced  to  the  priesthood,  and  still  remains  in  charge  of 
the  parish,  his  continuance  therein  having  been  without  in- 
terruption since  1863. 

The  vestry  appointed  in  1863  was  composed  of  H.  A. 
Goodyear  and  D.  G.  Eobinson  (wardens),  H.  J.  Haney, 
Nathan  Barlow,  and  F.  D.  Ackley.  Messrs.  Goodyear  and 
Robinson  have  served  as  wardens  continuously  from  the 
beginning.  The  other  members  of  the  vestry  are  M.  W. 
Eiker,  E.  B.  Throop,  and  Charles  L.  Young.     Since  1863 


the  church  has  confirmed  132  persons  and  received  155 
communicants.  The  communicants  number  now  80.  The 
Sunday-school,  which  is  in  charge  of  the  rector,  has  12 
teachers  and  an  average  attendance  of  60. 

CATHOLIC   CHURCH. 

Previous  to  1869  priests  used  to  come  from  various  points 
to  hold  occasional  worship  in  Hastings  at  private  houses 
for  such  of  the  Catholic  faith  as  lived  here.  In  1869,  John 
Stanley  agitated  the  organization  of  a  Catholic  Church,  and 
with  Patrick  Ryan  and  Thomas  Haney  effected  the  purchase 
of  a  building  formerly  used  as  a  cooper-shop,  and  converted 
it  into  a  house  of  worship,  which  has  since  been  in  use  for 
that  purpose,  although  a  handsomer  and  roomier  edifice  is 
soon  to  be  erected  on  Jefferson  Street,  where  the  congrega- 
tion owns  three  lots.  Among  the  early  priests  were  Fathers 
Ernstrasser,  Pulcher,  and  McManus.  Father  Algier,  the 
first  stationed  priest,  remained  two  years,  and  was  followed 
by  Father  Wicart,  whose  term  of  service  was  likewise  two 
years.  Father  McManus  comes  now  from  Grand  Rapids 
once  in  two  weeks  and  holds  services,  which  are  numerously 
attended. 

THE   FIRST   BAPTIST   CHURCH. 

A  meeting  was  held  in  the  court-house  Dec.  11,  1868, 
to  organize  a  Baptist  Church,  Rev.  E.  Curtis  being  moder- 
ator and  J.  G.  Runyan  secretary,  but,  the  number  in  attend- 
ance being  few,  an  adjournment  was  ordered  to  the  22d 
instant.  Previous  to  this,  Oct.  18,  1868,  the  First  Baptist 
Society  of  Hastings  was  incorporated,  with  T.  L-  Pillsbury, 
J.  G.  Runyan,  A.  H.  Tyler,  Mr.  Otis,  John  Michael,  and 
Wm.  Morgan  as  the  charter  members. 

On  the  22d  of  December  the  church  was  organized  with 
21  members,  of  whom  Rev.  T.  Pillsbury,  Mrs.  M.  M.  Pills- 
bury,  J.  G.  Runyan  and  wife,  Sarah  Kelley,  Hannah  Salis- 
bury, Wm.  Morgan  and  wife,  C.  W.  Cassaday  and  wife, 
John  Michael  and  wife,  Mrs.  A.  M.  Dean,  Sarah  Morgan, 
and  Deborah  Hall  are  still  members.  On  that  occasion 
trustees  were  elected  as  follows:  For  three  years,  J.  G. 
Runyan  and  T.  W.  Hewit ;  for  two  years,  E.  Curtis  and  J. 
Michael ;  for  one  year,  J.  M.  Rogers  and  T.  L.  Pillsbury. 

The  court-house  was  used  as  a  house  of  worship,  and 
meetings  were  continued  with  more  or  less  regularity  until 
the  summer  of  1871,  when  they  ceased,  by  reason  of  a  de- 
cline of  the  church  membership  to  but  a  handful.  No 
effort  to  revive  the  church  was  made  until  June  20,  1877, 
when  in  response  to  the  efforts  of  Eev.  C.  W.  Palmer,  the 
evangelist,  a  meeting  was  held  for  the  purpose  of  reorgan- 
izing it,  and  to  such  good  purpose  that  18  members 
were  gained  at  the  outset.  Affairs  prospered,  and  in 
1878,  upon  the  death  of  Mrs.  E.  M.  Hand,  a  member  of 
the  church,  the  society  came  into  possession  under  her  will 
of  her  late  residence,  and  that  building,  at  once  remodeled, 
has  served  as  a  house  of  worship  since.  Mr.  Palmer 
labored  with  the  church  until  September,  1877,  and  in  the 
following  October  came  Rev.  W.  S.  Wilkinson,  who  is  still 
the  pastor.  The  church  has  now  a  membership  of  77. 
The  Sabbath-school,  in  charge  of  I.  N.  Mitchell  and  eight 
teachers,  has  an  average  attendance  of  from  75  to  100. 
The  church  trustees  are  T.  L.  Pillsbury,  J.  M.  Rogers,  and 
C.  W.  Cassaday.     The  deacon  is  B.  W.  Morgan. 


CITV    OF   HASTINGS. 


377 


SECRET   ORDERS. 
HASTINGS   LODGE,   No.   58,  I.  0.  0.  F., 

was  instituted  Sept.  14,  1852,  with  11  members,  viz.  :  0. 
B.  Sheldon,  R.  B.  Wightman,  I.  S.  Geer,  Hiram  Bennett, 
William  S.  Goodyear,  Augustus  Richardson,  J.  A.  Sweezy, 
A.  A.  Knappen,  H.  I.  Knappen,  C.  P.  Dow,  and  A.  H. 
EUi.i.  At  the  first  election,  0.  B.  Sheldon  was  chosen 
N.  G. ;  R.  B.  Wightman,  V.  G. ;  I.  S.  Geer,  Sec.  ;  Hiram 
Bennett,  Treas.  The  lodge  continued  in  active  existence 
until  May  20, 1857,  when  it  ceased  to  perform  its  functions 
and  lay  dormant  until  May  4, 1866,  when  a  petition  apply- 
ing for  reinstatement  was  issued  by  W.  S.  Goodyear,  Au- 
gustus Richardson,  Jacob  Maus,  I.  S.  Geer,  F.  D.  Ackley, 
W.  H.  Hayford,  and  Norman  Bailey.  The  charter  was 
granted  June  20,  1867,  to  0.  B.  Sheldon,  R.  B.  Wight- 
man,  I.  S.  Geer,  Hiram  Bennett,  W.  S.  Goodyear,  Au- 
gustus Richardson,  C.  P.  Dow,  A.  H.  Ellis,  and  J.  A. 
Sweezy.  At  the  first  election,  held  June  25,  1867,  F.  D. 
Ackley  was  chosen  N.  G.  ;  A.  M.  Rock,  V.  G. ;  G.  M. 
Dewy,  Sec. ;  Augustus  Richardson,  Treas. 

The  fine  lodge-room  now  occupied  in  the  Empire  Block 
has  been  in  possession  of  the  lodge  since  1870.  Although 
members  have  been  demitted  to  lodges  at  Prairieville,  Wood- 
land, and  Middleville,  the  lodge  has  now  a  membership  of 
62,  and  is  in  a  highly  prosperous  condition.  March  1, 
1880,  the  ofiicers  were  A.  H.  Runyan,  N.  G. ;  James 
Murphy,  V.  G. ;  N.  J.  Bronson,  Sec;  A.  A.  Young,  P. 
Sec. 

PALMER   ENCAMPMENT,  No.   49,   L  0.  0.  F., 

was  instituted  April  14,  1871.  The  charter  members  were 
Jacob  Maus,  D.  R.  Cook,  W.  H.  Hayford,  M.  L.  Williams, 
William  T.  Eastman,  Frederick  Nachtrieb,  W.  A.  Sartwell, 
Mason  Allen,  G.  H.  McLellan,  Norman  Bailey,  George  M. 
Dewey,  and  L.  S.  Cobb.  The  first  officers  were  Norman 
Bailey,  C.  P. ;  W.  H.  Hayford,  H.  P. ;  Jacob  Maus,  S.W. ; 
M.  S.  Williams,  Scribe ;  D.  R.  Cook,  Treas. ;  W.  T.  East- 
man, J.  W. 

The  present  membership  is  28.  The  officers  are  James 
Murphy,  C.  P. ;  George  M.  Dewey,  H.  P. ;  I.  S.  Geer, 
S.  W. ;  J.  M.  Bessmer,  Scribe ;  G.  H.  Brooks,  Treas. 

HASTINGS  LODGE,  No.  62,  F.  AND  A.  M. 
Dec.  1,  1851,  at  a  meeting  preliminary  to  the  organiza- 
tion of  a  Masonic  lodge,  there  were  present,  in  the  office  of 
I.  A.  Holbrook,  Messrs.  F.  C.  Cornell,  Howard  Keith,  D. 
G.  Robinson,  Roswell  Wilcox,  and  H.  A.  Goodyear.  How- 
ard Keith  was  chosen  S.  D. ;  Roswell  Wilcox,  J.  D. ;  Ed- 
ward Ackley,  Sec. ;  Gilbert  Striker,  Tyler.  The  second 
meeting  was  held  Jan.  24,  1852,  in  the  assembly-room  of 
Thornton's  Hotel,  and  Jan.  16,  1853,  the  charter  issued, 
F.  C.  Cornell  being  named  M. ;  H.  A.  Goodyear,  S.  W. ; 
and  D.  G.  Robinson,  J.  W.  The  first  election  under  the 
charter  was  held  Jan.  19,  1853,  when  officers  were  chosen 
as  follows:  H.  A.  Goodyear,  W.  M. ;  D.  G.  Robinson, 
S.  W. ;  N.  S.  Palmer,  J.  W. ;  I.  A.  Holbrook,  Treas. ; 
W.  J.  Bottom,  Sec. ;  A.  P.  Drake,  S.  D. ;  Albert  Jordan, 
J.  D. ;  Alex.  Merritt,  Tyler.  The  lodge  has  occupied  hand- 
some and  commodious  quarters  in  Union  Block  since  1868, 
and  has  now  a  membership  of  145.  The  present  officers 
48 


are  M.  W.  Riker,  W.  M. ;  C.  H.  Bauer,  S.  W. ;  W.  H. 
Powers,  J.  W. ;  Daniel  Striker,  Treas. ;  C.  H.  Van  Orraan, 
Sec. ;  James  L.  Crawley,  S.  D. ;  John  Mate,  J.  D. ;  E.  B. 
Throop,  Tyler. 

HASTINGS   CHAPTER,  No.  68,  R.  A.  M., 

was  chartered  Jan.  11,  1870,  with  the  following  members: 
Daniel  Striker,  H.  P.;  D.  G.  Robinson,  K. ;  Travers 
Phillips,  Scribe ;  B.  W.  Jackson,  John  Carlow,  Eugene 
Hamilton,  Lewis  Westfall,  Charles  Beckwith,  and  A.  P. 
Drake.  The  officers  March  1,  1880,  were  Travers  Phil- 
lips, H.  P. ;  William  H.  Powers,  K. ;  B.  R.  Rose,  Scribe  ; 
M.  W.  Riker,  C.  of  H. ;  William  S.  Goodyear,  P.  S. ;  J. 
Q.  Cressy,  R.  A.  C. ;  W.  M.  Scudder,  M.  3  V. ;  Lewis 
Stern,  M.  2  V. ;  D.  G.  Brosseau,  M.  1  V. ;  Charles  H. 
Bauer,  Sec;  Daniel  Striker,  Treas.;  E.  B.  Throop, Sentinel. 

GIRLUM  COUNCIL,  No.  49,  R.  AND  S.  M.,' 
was  chartered  Jan.  16,  1877,  with  members  as  follows: 
Travers  Phillips,  T.  I.  M. ;  A.  P.  Drake,  D.  M. ;  M.  W. 
Riker,  P.  C.  W. ;  William  H.  Powers,  J.  Q.  Cressy,  Ira 
Hatch,  F.  S.  Bowen,  Charles  Pritchard,  G.  E.  Altoft.  The 
membership  is  now  28,  and  the  officers  as  follows :  Travers 
Phillips,  T.  I.  M.;  A.  P.  Drake,  D.  M. ;  M.  W.  Riker, 
P.  C.  W. ;  George  Altoft,  Sec;  Daniel  Striker,  Treas.; 
B.  R.  Rose,  C.  of  G. ;  William  M.  Scudder,  C.  of  C. ;  T. 
J.  Brosseau,  Steward. 

HASTINGS   CHAPTER,  No.  7,  ADOPTIVE   MASONS   (ORDER 
OF    THE    EASTERN   STAR), 

was  chartered  Oct.  6,  1870.  The  first  officers  were  Mrs. 
W.  K.  Barber,  W.  M. ;  A.  P.  Drake,  W.  P. ;  Ella  Gallo- 
way, A.  M. ;  Mrs.  E.  B.  Throop,  Sec.  The  membership 
is  now  30,  and  the  officers :  Mrs.  B.  F.  Rose,  W.  M. ;  Tra- 
vers Phillips,  W.  P.  ;  Mrs.  William  Hitchcock,  A.  M. ; 
Mrs.  Henry  Bailey,  Conductress;  Mrs.  W.  S.  Goodyear, 
Treas. ;  Mrs.  E.  H.  Lathrop,  Sec. ;  Henry  Bailey,  Chaplain. 

HASTINGS   LODGE,   No.  3,   IMPERIAL   KNIGHTS. 

June  3,  1878,  Hastings  Lodge,  No.  158,  I.  0.  M.  A. 
(Independent  Order  of  Mutual  Aid),  was  organized  with 
the  following  members:  George  S.  Tomlinson,  V.  P.;  J. 
H.  Dennis,  Sec ;  Irving  Van  Vleck,  F.  S. ;  W.  F.  Hicks, 
P.  •  H.  H.  Bailey,  Phineas  Smith,  and  Theodore  Brosseau, 
Trustees ;  and  John  Berry,  J.  B.  Fuller,  Edward  Brown, 
M.  H.  Wing,  I.  De  Vere,  and  L.  E.  Staufi'er. 

March  10,  1879,  the  lodge  was  reorganized  as  Hastings 
Lodge,  No.  3,  Imperial  Knights.  The  membership  is  now 
39.  Regular  meetings  are  held  once  in  two  weeks,  in  the 
I.  0.  0.  F.  hall.  March  1,  1880,  the  officers  were  S.  J. 
Bronson,  S.  D. ;  John  Berry,  D.  C. ;  Charles  Reed,  J.  D. ; 
L.  E.  StaufFer,  Recorder ;  Edward  Brown,  Financier ;  J. 
Lichty,  Treas. ;  Moses  Rich,  Marshal ;  Charles  F.  Edson 
S.  S. ;  Charles  Mellon,  J.  S. ;  S.  J.  Bronson,  W.  S.  Chi- 
dester,  and  F.  T.  Campbell-,  Trustees. 

BARRY  LODGE,   No.  321,  F.  AND  A.  M. 

Jan.  9,  1874,  dispensation  was  granted  to  Thomas  J.' 

Wilder,  B.  R.  Rose,  Thomas  Altoft,  George  L.  Salsbury, 

William  Jones,  J.  L.  Reed,  RoUin  Herriok,  Ferris  Rose, 

Milton  Prickett,  W.  F.  Hicks,  J .  A.  Sweezy,  and  Harvey 


378 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Wright.  The  first  meeting  was  held  in  room  of  Hastings 
Lodge,  No.  42,  and  Fehrnary,  1875,  a  charter  was  issued. 
At  the  first  election  under  the  charter,  February  18th,  oflS- 
cers  were  elected  as  follows  :  T.  J.  Wilder,  W.  M. ;  Harvey 
Wright,  S.  W. ;  Thomas  Altoft,  J.  W. ;  W.  F.  Hicks, 
Treas. ;  J.  L.  Reed,  Sec. ;  Milton  Prickert,  S.  D. ;  G.  X. 
Salsbury,  J.  D. ;  C.  Beamer,  Tyler.  From  1875  to  1880 
the  Worshipful  Masters  have  been  T.  J.  Wilder,  Harvey 
Wright,  B.  N.  Rose,  J.  L.  Reed.  Since  1875  the  lodge 
has  occupied  roomy  and  well-appointed  quarters  in  the  Em- 
pire Block.  The  membership  was  65,  March  1,  1880,  when 
the  officers  were  J.  L.  Reed,  W.  M. ;  Wallace  Kelley,  S. 
W. ;  Burns  Messer,  J.  W. ;  M.  W.  Vrooman,  Sec. ;  W.  P. 
Hicks,  Treas. ;  Milton  Prickett,  S.  D. ;  J.  H.  Anderson,  J. 
D. ;  T.  J.  Brosseau,  Tyler. 

BARKY   LODGE,    No.  13,   K.  OF   P., 

was  organized  July  18, 1873,  with  10  members,  viz. :  J.  A. 
Sweezy,  Harvey  Wright,  E.  A.  Holbrook,  W.  T.  Eastman, 
W.  F.  Hicks,  T.  J.  Wilder,  John  Hotchkiss,  George  W. 
Slade,  Rollin  Herrick,  and  William  D.  Hayes.  The  officers 
were  Harvey  Wright,  P.  C. ;  J.  A.  Sweezy,  C.  C. ;  W.  T. 
Eastman,  V.  C. ;  T.  J.  Wilder,  P. ;  Rollin  Herrick,  K.  of 
R.  and  S. ;  W.  F.  Hicks,  M.  of  F. ;  John  Hotchkiss,  M. 
of  E.  The  membership,  March  1,  1880,  was  58,  and  the 
officers  J.  W.  Bentley,  P.  C. ;  E.  Y.  Hogle,  C.  M. ;  John 
Lichty,  P. ;  William  B.  Sweezy,  V.  C. ;  N.  T.  Parker,  M. 
of  E. ;  L.  B.  Stanley,  K.  of  R.  and  S.  Regular  assem- 
blies are  held  in  their  "castle  hall"  in  the  Empire  Block. 

HASTINGS    GRANGE,  No.  52, 

was  organized  in  Empire  Block,  Aug.  15,  1873,  with  a 
membership  of  29.  The  first  officers  were  A.  Ryerson, 
M. ;  J.  H.  Dennis,  Sec. ;  Thomas  Altoft,  0. ;  James  Sweezy| 
L. ;   Porter  Burton,  Chap. 

The  membership  is  now  19,  and  the  officers:  Porter 
Burton,  M. ;  W.  H.  Merrick,  Sec. ;  John  Dawson,  O.  ; 
C.  H.  Stone,  L. ;  David  Hose,  Treas. ;  John  Dennis,  Stew- 
ard ;  C.  W.  Briggs,  Assistant  Steward ;  Mrs.  Porter  Bur- 
ton, Chaplain.  Regular  sessions  are  held  in  the  grange 
hall  at  Hastings. 

HASTINGS  REFORM  CLUB. 
In  the  winter  of  1876-77,  Henry  Reynolds,  the  noted 
temperance  agitator,  visited  Hastings,  and  labored  19  such 
good  purpose  that  Jan.  17,   1877,  the  Hastings  Reform 
Club  was    formed,  with  a  membership  of  40.     The  first 
officers  chosen  were  James  Clarke,  Pres. ;  H.  H.  Bailey 
Sec. ;  C.  G.  Bentley,  Treas.     Since  the  organization  the 
club   has   had  a  prosperous  and   fruitful  history.     Public 
entertainments  of  an  inviting  character  have  been  given 
each  Tuesday  night,  and  a  gospel  temperance  meeting  on 
each   Sunday   afternoon.     The   cause  of  temperance'' has 
been  materially  encouraged,  and  in  March,  1880,  the  club 
membership  was  upwards  of  200.     Then  the  officers  were 
John  F.  Hale,  Pres. ;  George  M.  Dewey,  Seer;  0.  D.  Spal- 
ding, Treas. 

BARRY   REFORM   CLUB,  No.  2, 
was  organized  Feb.  6, 1880,  with  10  members.     The  mem- 
bership  March  1,  1880,  was  59,  and  the  look  ahead  was 


cheering.  The  officers  are  Joseph  Slattery,  Pres. ;  I.  S. 
Geer,  First  Vice-Pres. ;  L.  Patten,  Second  Vice-Pres. ;  J. 
L.  Reed,  Sec. ;  J.  C.  WoodruflF,  Fin.  Sec. ;  William  Wood, 
Treas. 

THE  HASTINGS  ARBEITER  UNTERSTUETZUNGS  VEREIN 
(WORKINGMEN'S   BENEVOLENT    UNION) 

is  composed  of  Germans,  and  was  organized  Jan.  1,  1880, 
with  15  members.  Meetings  are  held  twice  each  month. 
The  officers  are  John  Bessmer,  P.  ;  John  Weissert,  V.  P. ; 
John  M.  Bessmer,  Sec. ;  Valentine  Leins,  Treas. ;  Charles 
Hardke,  A.  Rower,  C.  Bachman,  F.  Brodesser,  and  Gott- 
leib  Bessmer,  Trustees. 

WOMEN'S    CHRISTIAN    TEMPERANCE    UNION. 

In  1873  the  temperance  women  of  Hastings,  to  the 
number  of  20,  formed  a  union,  elected  Mrs.  Norman  Bailey 
president,  and  inaugurated  so  effisctive  a  crusade  against 
rum-drinking  in  Hastings  that  there  was  at  one  time  no 
place  in  the  city  open  for  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors. 
In  January,  1877,  Dr.  Reynolds,  the  temperance  worker, 
assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  Women's  Christian  Tem- 
perance Union,  which  continues  to  perform  effective  service 
in  behalf  of  temperance.  Mrs.  C.  S.  Burton,  who  is  now 
the  President,  has  filled  that  office  since  1877;  Mrs. 
George  Robinson,  Mrs.  Clement  Smith,  and  Mrs.  C. 
Knappen  are  Vice-Presidents ;  Mrs.  I.  N.  Mitchell,  Rec. 
Sec. ;  Mrs.  E.  H.  Lathrop,  Treas. ;  Mrs.  Norman  Bailey, 
Cor.  Sec.     The  society  numbers  now  180  paying  members. 

HASTINGS  LODGE,  No.  11,  ROYAL  TEMPLARS  OF  TEM- 
PERANCE, 
was  organized  Jan.  28,  1880,  with  26  members.  The 
officers  are  Clement  Smith,  Select  Councilor;  Irving  N. 
Mitchell,  Vice-Councilor;  George  M.  Dewey,  Past  Coun- 
cilor ;  E.  H.  Lathrop,  Chaplain  ;  Irving  L.  Cressy,  Record- 
ing Sec. ;  Philo  R.  Duning,  Financial  Sec. ;  James  H. 
Bartley,  Treas. ;  M.  C.  Woodmansee,  Herald ;  Estes  Rork, 
Deputy  Herald;  L.  W.  Fansey,  Guard;  Oliver  W.  Grace, 
Sentinel.  The  present  membership  is  35.  The  council 
meets  on  the  second  and  fourth  Friday  in  each  month. 

UNITED   SONS   OF   INDUSTRY. 
Two  lodges  of  this  order,  known  as  Barry  and  Pioneer, 
were  at  one  time  in  flourishing  existence,  but  they  have  for 
some  months  been  inactive,  although  there  is  present  talk 
of  their  speedy  revival. 

HASTINGS     LODGE,   No.    944,    INDEPENDENT   ORDER   OP 
GOOD   TEMPLARS, 

was  organized  Feb.  3,  1876,  with  40  members.  The  first 
officers  were  W.  C.  T.,  Samuel  Dickie;  W.  V.  T.,  Mrs. 
Mary  Dickie ;  Chaplain,  George  W.  Sherman  ;  Sec,  James 
M.  Bauer;  W.  P.  S.,  Sherman  C.  Prindle;  W.  T.,  Mrs. 
Clara  Lathrop;  W.  M.,  Charles  Jones;  W.  I.  G.  Mrs 
Kate  Black ;  W.  0.  G.,  J.  L.  Mans.  The  present  member- 
ship IS  85,  and  the  officers  as  follows :  W.  C.  T  Geor<re 
M.  Dewey ;  W.  V.  T.,  Mrs.  Emily  J.  MoElwain ;  W.  Sec, 
Irving  L.  Cressy;  W.  F.  S.,  Mrs.  Clara  H.  Allen  ;  W  T 
Travers  Phillips;  W.  M.,  John  Woodruff;  W.  L  G.,  Mrs 
Elsie  Burke ;  W.  0.  G.,  Wm.  I.  Butler.     The  lodge  meets 


CITY  OF  HASTINGS. 


379 


at  Temperance  Hall,  corner  of  Court  and  Jefferson  Streets, 
each  Monday  evening. 

I 
RIVERSIDE   CEMETERY  COMPANY. 

Fifty  acres  of  land  within  the  limits  of  the  city,  occu- 
pied by  what  is  known  as  the  Riverside  Cemetery,  belonged 
originally  to  the  township,  but  were  transferred  in  1870  to 
the  control  of  the  Riverside  Cemetery  Company,  incorpor- 
ated September  30th  of  that  year  for  the  purpose  of  laying 
out  a  burial-ground  upon  the  tract  and  maintaining  it  for 
that  use  forever.  The  incorporators  of  the  company  were 
H.  A.  Goodyear,  President;  J.  P.  Roberts,  Treasurer; 


Nathan  Barlow,  J.  B.  Sweezey,  H.  J.  Kenfield,  R.  J.  Grant, 
and  D.  G.  Robinson.  In  making  the  donation  the  town- 
ship reserved  10  acres  for  a  free  burying-ground. 

Lot-owners  become  stockholders  in  the  company,  and  as 
lots  are  sold  improvements  are  made,  the  intention  being  to 
make  the  enterprise  simply  self-sustaining.  The  grounds 
are  now  attractively  embellished,  and  will  necessarily  im- 
prove in  adornment  from  time  to  time. 

The  present  oflScers  of  the  company  are  W.  S.  Good- 
year, President;  John  Bessmer,  Clerk;  J.  P.  Roberts, 
Treasurer;  J.  A.  Sweezey,  H.  A.  Goodyear,  R.  J.  Grant, 
John  Hotchkiss,  and  Miles  Main,  Directors. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


DANIEL  G.  ROBINSON. 


Daniel  G.  Robinson,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Hastings, 
and  for  many  years  one  of  its  prominent  merchants,  was 
born  in  China,  Kennebec  Co.,  Me.,  Jan.  11,  1811.  His 
father,  Benjamin  Robinson,  was  a  thrifty,  industrious  far- 
mer, and  a  man  of  some  local  prominence.  In  1816  he 
removed  from  China  to  Vassalborough,  where  he  died. 
He  was  a  man  of  undoubted  integrity  and  irreproachable 
character.  He  reared  a  family  of  four  children,  Daniel 
being  the  eldest.  The  early  life  of  our  subject  was  like 
that  of  farmers'  boys  generally ;  the  summer'9  campaign  upon 
the  farm  was  alternated  by  a  few  months  at  the  district 
school  in  winter.  He  obtained  a  good  common-school  edu- 
cation, and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  commenced  life  as  clerk 
in  a  store.  Five  years'  labor  in  this  capacity  demonstrated 
his  ability  as  a  tradesman,  and  upon  attaining  his  majority 
he  established  himself  in  trade  at  St.  Alban's,  Me.,  where 
he  remained  two  years,  when  he  returned  to  Vassalborough 


and  encaged  in  merchandising.     He  was  one  of  the  suc- 
cessful merchants  and  prominent  citizens  of  the  place,  and 
was  closely  identified  with  its  interests,  and  held  many  mu- 
nicipal positions.    At  the  age  of  twenty-two  he  was  elected 
magistrate,  and  for  six  years  was  one  of  the  selectmen  of 
the  town.     In  1848  he  came  to  Michigan  and  purchased 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  new  land  in  the  town  of 
Hastings,  upon  which  he  remained  one  and  a  half  years, 
during  which  time  he  built  a  log  house,  planted  an  orchard, 
and  partially  cleared  thirty  acres.    This  experience  demon- 
strated to  his  satisfaction  the  fact  that  he  was  not  likely  to 
prove  a  success  as  a  farmer ;  he  therefore  sold  his  farm  and 
removed  to  Hastings  village,  then  a  little  settlement  of  a 
few  families,  and  associated  himself  with  Nathan  Barlow  in 
trade.     The  copartnership  existed  three  years;  then  Mr. 
Barlow  purchased   Mr.  Robinson's   interest.      From   this 
time  until  1869  he  was  actively  engaged  in  business,  and 


380 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


identified  himself  largely  with  the  growth  and  develop- 
ment of  the  place.  He  has  witnessed  its  transition  from  a 
hamlet  to  a  busy  and  thriving  city,  and  in  his  own  person 
typifies  many  of  the  agencies  that  have  wrought  these 
changes. 

In  1833  Mr.  Robinson  was  married  to'Miss  Sarah  B. 
Keith,  of  Yassalborough,  a  lady  of  culture  and  refinement. 
One  child  was  born  to  them,— Anna  M.,  now  Mrs.  J.  P. 
Roberts,  of  Hastings.  In  1870,  Mrs.  Robinson  died,  and 
in  1871  he  was  again  married,  to  Mrs.  Ellen  E.  Belchen,  of 


Somerville,  Mass.  Politically,  Mr.  Robinson  is  a  Democrat. 
He  has  occupied  several  positions  of  trust  and  responsi- 
bility, notably  among  the  number  that  of  supervisor, 
which  office  he  filled  to  the, entire  satisfaction  of  his  fellow- 
townsmen  for  fourteen  years.  In  his  religious  belief  he  is 
an  Episcopalian,  and  has  held  the  oflSce  of  vestryman  since 
the  organization  of  the  church  in  Hastings,  of  which  he  is 
one  of  the  original  members.  All  in  all,  he  is  one  of  those 
kind  Christian  gentlemen  whose  identification  with  any 
community  is  always  productive  of  good. 


HON.  HENRY  A.  GOODYEAR. 


Hon.  Henry  A.  Goodyear,  the  pioneer  banker  and  mer- 
chant of  Hastings,  and  whose  name  is  so  prominently  iden- 
tified with  all  the  initial  events  in  its  history,  was  born  in 
York,  York  Co.,  Pa.,  June  30,  1818.  His  grandfather, 
George  Goodyear,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
Afler  its  close  he  settled  in  York,  Pa.,  where  George 
Goodyear,  father  of  Henry  A.,  was  born.  He  acquired 
the  trade  of  a  cabinet-maker,  and  for  many  years  dealt 
extensively  in  lumber.  He  was  a  successful  business  man, 
and  prominently  identified  with  York  County.  He  held 
several  municipal  offices,  and  was  highly  esteemed  for 
his  integrity  and  ability.  Henry  A.  acquired  an  academi- 
cal education,  and  remained  at  home  until  he  was  sixteen 
years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  Philadelphia  and  entered 
the  employ  of  a  druggist  by  the  name  of  William  Youngs. 
At  the  expiration  of  two  years  he  left  the  employ  of  Mr. 
Youngs,  intending  to  go  to  the  West  Indies,  but  an  in- 
surrection breaking  out,  and  seeing  an  advertisement  in  a 
Detroit  paper  for  a  drug-clerk,  he  changed  his  plans  and 
started  for  Detroit,  where  he  arrived  in  October  of  1838. 


Here  he  remained  until  March,  1840,  when  he  removed  to 
Battle  Creek.     The  following  November  he  came  to  Hast- 
ings, bringing  a  stock  of  general  merchandise,  and  estab- 
lished the  first  store  in  Barry  County,  on  the  corner  of  what 
is  now  Creek  and  Main  Streets.     At  this  time  he  might 
perhaps  have  been  more  properly  called  an  Indian  traderthan 
a  merchant,  as  his  customers  were  mostly  Indians.    He  drew 
his  goods  from  Detroit,  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles,  for  many  years.     In  1843,  Mr.  Goodyear  was  married 
to  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Nathan  Barlow,  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  the  county.     After  five  years  of  uninterrupted 
happiness,  Mrs.  Goodyear  died,  leaving  three  children,— 
William  H.,  George  E.,  and  Nathan  B.     In  1850,  Mr. 
Goodyear  was  again  married,  to  Miss  Ermina,  sister  of  his 
first  wife.     By  this  union  there  have  been  four  children, — 
Mary  R.,  Anna  M.,  David  S.,  and  John  F.     Mr.  Goodyear 
has  identified  himself  prominently  with  all  the  varied  inter- 
ests of  the  county,  and  has  occupied  many  positions  of  trust 
and  responsibility,  the  duties  of  which  he  has  discharged 
with  fidelity  and  with  credit  to  himself. 


CITY   OF  HASTINGS. 


381 


In  1845  he  was  elected  to  the  representative  branch  of 
the  Legislature.  In  1854  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Sen- 
ate. In  1874  he  was  again  elected  to  the  House,  serving 
on  the  committee  of  "  Ways  and  Means.''  In  1852  he  was 
a  delegate  to  the  National  Democratic  Convention  at  Balti- 
more, which  nominated  Franklin  Pierce  for  President.  He 
has  held  various  municipal  offices, — was  the  first  president 


of  the  village,  and  was  elected  the  first  mayor  after  its 
organization  as  a  city.  Mr.  Goodyear  has  been  a  firm  and 
fast  friend  of  educational  interests,  and  has  for  years  been 
a  member  of  the  board  of  education.  He  took  a  prominent 
part  in  the  erection  of  the  high-school  building.  In  his  re- 
ligious affiliations  he  is  an  Episcopalian,  of  which  denomi- 
nation he  has  long  been  a  member,  and  is  senior  warden. 


HIRAM  J.  KENFIELD. 


Among  the  early  settlei'S  and  prominent  citizens  of  Hast- 
ings, none  are  more  worthy  of  conspicuous  mention  in  its 
history  than  Hiram  J.  Kenfield.  He  was  a  man  of  much 
more  than  ordinary  ability  and  energy,  and  his  name  is 
stamped  upon  all  the  initial  events  in  its  history.  He  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Virgil,  Wyoming  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  16, 
1812,  and  was  descended  from  Revolutionary  stock.  His 
maternal  grandfather  was  a  member  of  that  historic  "  Tea 
Party"  who  took  the  initiative  in  opposition  to  British  op- 
pression and  tyranny.  His  parents  were  William  Lee  Ken- 
field  and  Mary  Popple ;  the  former  was  a  native  of  Old 
Hadley,  Mass.,  while  the  latter  was  born  in  Vermont.  They 
reared  a  family  of  nine  children,  Hiram  J.  being  the  eldest. 
The  elder  Kenfield  was  a  farmer,  and  came  to  Michigan  in 
1844  and  settled  in  what  is  now  the  town  of  Rutland ;  he 
was  a  valuable  citizen,'  an  exemplary  man  in  all  respects, 
and  a  worthy  and  consistent  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.     He  died  in  Hastings  in  1858. 

The  emigration  of  Mr.  Kenfield  to  Michigan  was  in 
1837,  stopping  first  near  Duck  Lake,  in  Calhoun  County. 
Here  he  resided  two  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time 
he  came  to  Hastings,  then  almost  an  unbroken  wilderness, 
and  in  November  of  1839  built  the  first  bridge  across  the 
Thornapple  River,  on  the  site  of  the  present  bridge  on 
Creek  Street.     The  vim  and  energy  which  he  evinced  in 


the  development  of  the  little  hamlet,  in  connection  with  his 
ability  and  foresight,  soon  gave  him  a  leading  position 
among  the  settlers.     He  built  the  first  court-house,  the 
first  store,  and  the  first  hotel,  and  in  1842  he  was  elected 
sheriff  of  the  county  and  empaneled  the  first  jury.     He 
discharged  the  duties  of  that  office  creditably  for  two  years, 
and  at  various  times  he  held  important  municipal  offices, 
notably  that  of  alderman  and   member  of  the  board  of 
education.     He  was  a  man  of  sterling  integrity,  unfalter- 
ing energy,  and  left  on  record  his  mark  in  all  that  pertained 
to  the  county  from  its  earliest  settlement.     He  was  public- 
spirited  in  the  fullest  sense  of  the  word,  and  to  his  energy 
and  persistent  efforts,  in  a  great  measure,  was  due  the  early 
completion  of  the  Grand  River  Railroad,  which  was  so 
essential  to  the  growth  of  the  town  and  county.     All  parts 
of  the  city  show  his  interest  in  the  growth  and  prosperity 
of  the  place,  and  he  will  ever  be  remembered  as  one  of 
Hastings'  most  valuable  citizens.     In  business  matters  he 
was  methodical,  prompt,  and  energetic ;  his  word  was  as 
good  as  his  bond,  and  it  is  said  that  in,  his  extended  and 
varied  experience  as  a  business  man  he  never  sued  a  man 
and  was  never  sued  but  once.     Socially  he  was  affable  and 
courteous,  winning  and  retaining  the  esteem  of  all  with 
whom  he  came  in  contact.     In  his  political  belief  he  was 
a  Democrat,  liberal  to  his  opponentis,  and  during  the  dark 


382 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


days  of  the  Rebellion  a  true  patriot.  He  was  a  valuable 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  with  which  he  united 
in  1853,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  one  of  the  elders. 
Mr.  Kenfield  was  twice  married,— in  1840  to  Polly,  daughter 
of  Frederic  Ingraham,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Rutland ; 


she  died  in  1846  ;  the  second  time  in  1848,  to  Sophia  E., 
daughter  of  Henry  Standish,  of  Hastings ;  she  is  still  living. 
Mr.  Kenfield  died  June  28,-1877.     He  left  five  chil- 
dren  one  son  by  his  first  marriage,  two  sons  and  two 

daughters  by  his  second  marriage. 


■'''^■^■^' 


WILLIAM   UPJOHN,  M.D. 


This  gentleman,  the  first  resident  physician  of  Barry 
County,  and  whose  name  and  history  are  so  prominehtly 
associated  with  the  city  of  Hastings,  was  born  in  Shaftes- 
bury, Dorsetshire,  England,  in  March,  1807.  His  father, 
also  named  William,  was  a  civil  engineer  by  profession,  and 
extensively  known  throughout  the  West  of  England  for  his 
integrity  of  character  and  ability  in  his  profession.  He 
married  Mary  Standard,  of  Fisbury,  in  1795,  and  reared  a 
family  of  twelve  children, — three  boys  and  nine  girls. 
The  boys  received  academical  educations,  chose  the  pro- 
fession of  medicine,  and  have  made  their  mark  not  only  as 
successful  practitioners,  but  useful  and  honorable  citizens ; 
they  have  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicioe  in  the 
aggregate  for  over  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  years.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-one  William  decided  to  emigrate  to  Amer- 
ica, and  in  company  with  his  brother  Uriah,  left  the  old 
home  at  Shaftesbury  and  sailed  for  the  United  States,  where 
they  arrived  in  the  year  1828.  The  succeeding  two  years 
was  spent  in  travel  through  diflFerent  States  for  the  purpose  of 
finding  a  suitable  location  for  permanent  settlement.  Two 
years  subsequent  to  their  emigration  the  elder  Upjohn, 
accompanied  by  his  family,  followed  his  two  sons,  and, 
after  a  residence  of  one  year  at  Hyde  Park,  N.  Y.,  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  the  town  of  Pittsford,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y., 
where  he  resided  until  his  decease,  which  occurred  in  1848. 


He  was  an  exemplary  man  in  all  respects,  of  a  deeply  re- 
ligious nature,  and  of  more  than  ordinary  culture  and 
refinement.  He  was  the  author  of  several  religious  works, 
and  a  regular  contributor  to  several  religious  newspapers. 
For  over  forty  years  he  preached.  In  1835  the  younger 
Upjohns  came  to  Michigan  and  settled  in  the  town  of 
Richland,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  where  William  bought  a  new 
farm,  to  which  he  devoted  his  time  and  energies  for  the 
succeeding  two  years,  but  clearing  land  and  tilling  the  soil 
was  not  congenial  to  his  tastes,  and,  in  1837,  he  joined  his 
brother  in  the  practice  of  medicine,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained about  four  years.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time 
he  came  to  Hastings,  then  a  little  hamlet  of  perhaps  a 
dozen  or  fifteen  families,  and  established  himself  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  in  which  he  has  been  eminently 
successful.  In  1842  the  doctor  met  his  destiny  in  the 
person  of  Miss  Affa  Connet,  whom  he  married  in  Decem- 
ber of  that  year.  After  one  year  of  uninterrupted,  happi- 
ness, Mrs.  Upjohn  was  "  called  home,''  and,  in  1847,  he 
was  again  married,  to  Lydia  Amelia,  sister  of  his  first  wife. 
They  have  been  blessed  with  three  children,  two  of  whom 
are  living,— Marie,  now  Mrs.  John  Bcamer,  and  Affa,  wife 
of  Geo.  Davis.  The  doctor  has  devoted  himself  strictly  to 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  but  has  identified  himself 
largely  with  educational  and  political   matters.     In  1852 


ASSYRIA  TOWNSHIP. 


38a 


he  was  elected  register  of  deeds,  and  in  the  same  year  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  first  board  of  regents  of  the  State 
University  ;  the  duties  of  both  positions  he  discharged  with 
fidelity  to  the  trust  reposed  in  him  and  with  credit  to 
himself.  In  1862,  Governor  Blair,  knowing  his  ability  as 
a  surgeon  and  physician,  tendered  him  the  position  of  sur- 
geon in  the  Seventh  Michigan  Cavalry,  which  he  accepted, 
and  soon  after  went  with  the  regiment  to  the  front.  In 
the  field  as  at  home  his  dignified  bearing,  kindness  of 
heart,  and  ability  won  for  him  an  enviable  reputation 
among  his  superior  oflBcers,  and  the  respect  and  esteem  of 
those  soldiers  who  were  so  unfortunate  as  to  require  his 
professional  services.  From  the  position  of  regimental  sur- 
geon he  was  promoted  to  that  of  surgeon-in  chief  of  the 
First  Brigade  of  the  First  Division  Cavalry  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac.     The  doctor  was  with  Kilpatrick  in  his 


raid  on  Richmond,  and  accompanied  Gen.  Sherman  in  his 
raid  up  the  James  River.  He  served  with  distinction 
throughout  the  war,  when  he  returned  to  his  home  and 
resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession.  As  a  physi- 
cian he  possesses  the  necessary  qualifications  other  than 
knowledge, — geniality  of  disposition  and  firmness  blended 
with  kindness  and  compassion.  In  the  early  days  he  was 
ever  ready  to  answer  the  call  of  the  sick  and  needy,  and, 
whether  in  storm  or  sunshine,  night  or  day,  he  \?ould  find 
his  way,  ofttimes  guided  by  only  an  Indian  trail,  to  the  rude 
home  of  the  pioneer.  Possessed  of  most  of  the  virtues 
and  having  but  few  of  the  faults  of  humankind,  he  has 
endeared  himself  to  the  people  in  such  a  way  that  his 
name  has  become  a  household  word,  and  no  history  of 
Barry  County  would  be  complete  without  some  sketch  of 
his  life,  labors,  and  character. 


ASSYRIA; 


Township  1  north,  in  range  7  west,  was  named  Assyria 
on  its  organization,  in  1844,  and  lies  in  the  southeastern  cor- 
ner of  Barry  County,  having  Maple  Grove  township  on  the 
north,  Calhoun  County  on  the  south,  Eaton  County  on  the 
east,  and  Johnstown  township  on  the  west.  When  first 
settled  the  township  consisted  mainly  of  oak-openings, 
with  tracts  of  hard-wood  timber  in  the  eastern  part.  Old 
settlers  say  it  was  a  most  attractive-looking  country,  particu- 
larly in  early  summer,  when  wild-flowers  covered  the  earth 
in  profusion,  and  the  numerous  glades  offered  a  charming 
perspective  in  every  direction. 

Assyria  is  reckoned  an  excellent  agricultural  township, 
particularly  in  the  production  of  wheat,  of  which  the  yield 
is  said  to  average  20  bushels  per  acre.  In  the  west  and 
southwest  the  surface  is  rough,  and  there  is  some  waste 
land,  but  generally  the  surface  is  level  and  the  soil  rich. 
Assyria  is  a  strictly  rural  township,  but  in  the  matter  of 
wealth  and  prosperity  will  compare  favorably  with  any  in 
the  county. 

Township  1,  range  7,  remained  in  undisturbed  possession 
of  the  red  man,  the  wolf,  and  the  deer  until  the  autumn  of 
1836,  when  Joseph  S.  Blaisdell,  a  Vermonter,  came  with 
his  family  to  section  36,  and  established  himself  as  a  pio- 
neer. Blaisdell  was  the  only  settler  in  that  part  of  the 
township  for  some  time,  but  was  not  without  neighbors. 
At  the  time  of  his  coming  there  were  in  the  town  two 
Indian  villages, — the  larger  one,  containing  about  30  lodges, 
being  on  section  24,  and  a  smaller  one,  of  20  huts,  near  by, 
on  section  25.  In  the  larger  village  stood  the  council- 
house,  and  in  both  of  them  there  were  evidences  that  the 
inhabitants  had  abided  there  some  time.  Rude  fences  in- 
closed  cornfields  here  and   there,  and  a  burying-ground 


»  By  David  Schwartz. 


dotted  with  graves  gave  token  that  these  savages  had  been 
for  many  years  located  in  this  locality. 

With  these  neighbors  Mr.  Blaisdell  soon  became  a  char- 
acter of  importance.  He  traded  with  them,  and  generally 
gained  their  warm  friendship.  Nevertheless,  some  of  them 
gave  him  on  one  occasion  a  serious  fright.  He  was  awak- 
ened one  night  about  twelve  o'clock  by  a  furious  uproar  in 
his  cabin,  and,  springing  from  his  bed,  was  confronted  by  a 
party  of  eight  redskins,  evidently  as  drunk  as  white  man's 
whisky  could  make  them.  They  brandished  their  knives 
in  a  threatening  manner,  and  uttered  the  most  diabolical  of 
howls.  Mr.  Blaisdell,  making  sure  that  the  savages  meant 
to  scalp  him,  attempted  to  escape  from  the  cabin,  but  they 
headed  him  off,  and  compelled  him,  as  a  measure  of  safety, 
to  dodge  behind  the  cabin  stove.  They  chased  him,  how- 
ever, not  only  away  from  there,  but  all  over  the  house, 
yelling  like  mad,  and  at  every  jump  poor  Blaisdell  expected 
to  feel  his  hair  parting  company  with  his  4iead.  They 
were  evidently,  however,  only  desirous  to  frighten  him, 
and  ere  long  left  the  cabin,  allowing  the  terrified  pioneer  to 
recover  his  senses  and  to  thank  Heaven  that  he  still  lived. 

Mr.  Blaisdell  was  a  man  of  strong  religious  feelings,  and 
when  he  came  to  township  1  brought  with  him  from  Ver- 
mont a  Free- Will  Baptist  minister,  to  whom  he  presented 
an  80-acre  lot,  the  terms  of  the  donation  being  that  he 
should  settle  upon  the  land  and  should  hold  occasional 
religious  services.  The  minister  received  a  deed  of  the 
land,  lived  with  Blaisdell,  preached  in  Blaisdell's  house  and 
in  the  neighborhood,  but  did  not  settle  upon  the  80  acres. 
At  the  end  of  a  twelvemonth  he  concluded  that  he  had  had 
quite  enough  of  Western  life,  and  distressed  Blaisdell  ex- 
ceedin"ly  by  informing  him  that  he  would  turn  his  face 
towards  the  East  and  return  no  more  to  Michigan.  And 
go  he  did,  selling  to  Blaisdell  the  laud  which  the  latter  had 


384 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN   AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


donated  to  him  with  the  expectation  that  he  would  become  a 
permanent  minister  of  the  gospel  in  the  vicinity. 

When  Mr.  Blaisdell  settled  in  Assyria,  and  for  some  time 
afterwards,  there  was  a  great  hunting-ground  for  deer  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  deer-licks  on  section  26.  There  Indians  put 
up  stagings  in  the  trees,  from  which  they  would  slay  the 
deer  as  fast  as  the  latter  could  come  to  the  licks.* 

About  1840  the  Indians  living  in  the  township  moved  to 
other  localities,  and  their  council-house,  lodges,  and  villages 
fell  into  decay.  Indian  relics  may,  however,  be  found  in 
the  neighborhood  to  this  day,  and  one  hears  occasionally  of 
arrow-heads,  hatchets,  and  such  articles,  being  turned  up 
by  the  plowshare  of  the  husbandman. 

Capt.  C.  D.  Morris,  a  retired  naval  officer  on  half-pay, 
owned  the  land  on  section  24,  having  in  1836  purchased 
upwards  of  400  acres  on  sections  23  and  24.  When  he 
settled  on  the  place  (in  1850  or  soon  after),  he  built  a  house 
upon  the  very  spot  previously  occupied  by  the  Indian 
council-house,  of  which  portions  were  standing  at  that  time. 

Mr.  Blaisdell  remained  the  only  settler  in  Assyria  until 
March,  1837,  when  Cleaveland  Ellis,  a  New  Yorker,  who 
had  located  680  acres  on  sections  3  and  4,  came  to  his  land 
accompanied  by  Calvin  P.  White,  L.  P.  Hayes,  Philo  Nor- 
ton, and  the  family  of  the  latter,  all  of  whom  Mr.  Ellis  had 
brought  with  him  to  assist  him  in  making  a  start  on  his 
land.  Upon  their  arrival  they  all  moved  into  an  Indian 
hut  found  standing  on  section  4.  As  soon  as  possible  they 
built  a  comfortable  log  cabin  on  the  same  section,  upon  a 
spot  now  in  Mr.  Hinchman's  orchard. 

After  remaining  with  his  hired  help  until  August,  Mr. 
Ellis  proceeded  eastward,  and  brought  out  his  father, 
mother,  wife,  and  three-year-old  daughter.  Of  these  five 
two  are  living,  the  widow  of  Mr.  Ellis,  who  resides  in  As- 
syria, and  the  daughter — now  Mrs.  Wallace  Dingman — 
who  lives  in  Battle  Creek. 

Mr.  Ellis  brought  his  family  into  the  township  with  a 
pair  of  horses,  but,  having  nothing  to  feed  them,  he  took 
them  to  Bellevue,  in  Eaton  County.  When  the  marsh- 
grass  began  to  come  up  he  brought  his  horses  back  to  As- 
syria, and  turned  them  out  upon  the  marsh.  One  of  them 
speedily  died,  and  the  other,  getting  mired  in  the  marsh,  fell 
a  victim  to  the  wolves.  Mr.  Ellis'  brief  experience  with 
horses  in  that  region  cured  him  of  all  desire  to  possess  any 
more  until  he  could  make  hay  to  feed  them  and  have  roads 
in  which  to  drive  them. 

When  Mr.  Ellis  came  into  the  township  he  followed  the 
Indian  trail  from  Bellevue  towards  Basquon  Creek,  in  the 
northwestern  corner  of  the  township.  At  that  place  the 
Indians  were  accustomed  to  camp  in  the  winter  season,  and 
from  there  to  Bellevue  they  had  marked  the  trail  mentioned. 

The  first  death  in  Assyria  was  that  of  Mrs.  Philo  Norton, 
who,  as  already  mentioned,  had  come  with  her  husband  in 
the  service  of  Cleaveland  Ellis.  She  died  some  time  during 
1839,  and  was  buried  upon  Mr.  Ellis'  farm,  on  section  3. 
In  1839  also  occurred  the  first  birth  in  the  township.  It 
was  that  of  Naomi,  daughter  of  Cleaveland  Ellis,  who  was 


*  There  are  still  at  these  places  strong  indications  that  there  is  salt 
in  paying  quantities  there,  althoi^h  there  has  heen  no  sufficient  test 
to  either  prove  or  disprove  the  theory. 


born  on  the  19th  day  of  May.     She  lived  less  than  two 
years,  and  died  Feb.  17,  1841. 

The  first  marriage  in  the  township  was  also  in  the  Ellis 
family ;  Calvin  P.  White  and  Pamelia  Chapin  (a  sister  of 
Mrs.  Ellis)  being  the  happy  pair.  They  were  married  Sept. 
30,  1843,  in  Mr.  Ellis'  new  framed  hguse,  by  a  minister 
from  Bellevue.  The  wedding-guests  included,  besides  the 
Ellis  family,  Charles  G.  Baker  and  wife,  Flagler,  the  car- 
penter at  work  on  the  house,  his  assistant,  and  some  people 
from  Bellevue.  Mr.  White  bought  some  land  of  Ellis,  on 
section  4,  and  was  for  many  years  a  resident  there. 

When  Mr.  Eliis  concluded  to  change  his  log  cabin  for  a 
better  habitation,  he  went  over  to  the  Quaker  saw-mill,  in 
Maple  Grove,  to  buy  the  lumber,  but  was  appalled  at  the 
price  asked  for  it.  Old  Mr.  Mott,  the  Quaker,  the  owner 
of  the  property,  happening  to  be  there  at  the  time,  told  Mr^ 
Ellis  he  must  pay  the  price  asked,  for  there  was  no  other 
mill  in  the  vicinity,  and  no  water-power  on  which  to  build 
one. 

"  Well,"  replied  Ellis,  "  I'll  not  pay  your  price  for  all 
that,  and  what's  more  I'll  find  water-power  and  build  a 
mill." 

As  good  as  his  word,  he  found  a  mill-site  on  section  12, 
in  Assyria,  interested  Daniel  and  Abel  Baldwin  (then 
living  on  section  3)  in  the  enterprise,  and  set  about  the 
building  of  a  saw-mill  in  1841.  The  Baldwins  were  mill- 
wrights and  sawyers,  and  after  the  mill  was  put  up  carried 
it  on.  The  irons  used  in  its  construction  were  hauled  from 
Detroit,  from  which  fact  some  idea  may  be  formed  of  the 
difficulty  of  getting  the  mill  in  operation.  This  mill  was 
sold,  in  1843,  to  Belcher  Athern  and  John  T.  Ellis,  who 
in  that  year  built  a  store  just  east  of  it,  and  put  up  an  ashery 
at  the  same  place,  where  they  made  "  black  salts."  Athern 
&  Ellis  carried  on  business  at  that  point  about  two  years, 
but  the  amount  of  trade  was  not  sufficient  to  make  the  in- 
vestment a  paying  one,  and  it  was  then  given  up. 

Wolves  played  such  havoc  with  sheep  that  Mr.  Ellis  was 
ten  years  in  doubling  his  flock,  and  to  save  lambs  was  al- 
most an  impossibility.  He  had  to  go  at  times  as  far  as 
Marshall  to  mill,  but  soon  found  that  convenience  at  Battle 
Creek,  and  a  little  later  at  Bellevue,  so  that  getting  to 
mill  was  not  a  very  serious  matter.  When  he  first  came 
out  he  had  to  go  as  far  as  Marengo  to  purchase  supplies, 
but  when  he  did  go  he  laid  in  a  liberal  stock,  and  saved 
himself  the  trouble  of  making  frequent  trips. 

Mr.  Ellis  was  an  enterprising  farmer,  and  pushed  his 
business  with  a  will  that  greatly  benefited  and  encouraged 
his  fellow-settlers,  while  it  brought  him,  in  the  course  of 
time,  a  handsome  fortune.  To  start  with  he  had  680 
acres  of  land,  and  with  a  large  force  of  men  he  soon  got 
a  great  portion  of  it  under  cultivation,  so  that  when  set- 
tlers began  to  come  into  the  township  he  was  a  heavy  pro- 
ducer, and  able  and  willing  to  help  them  to  the  necessaries 
of  life  until  their  first  crops  were  harvested.  "  I  don't 
know  what  we  would  have  done  if  it  hadn't  been  for  Mr. 
Ellis,"  said  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  1841  to  the  writer, 
and  that  remark  is  corroborated  by  others  of  the  old  pio- 
neers. When  he  died,  in  August,  1867,  Cleaveland  Ellis 
owned  880  acres  of  land  in  Assyria,  and  had  considerable 
other  valuable  property. 


ASSYRIA  TOWNSHIP. 


385 


When  Artemas  W.  Chapin,  a  young  man,  came  to  the 
township,  in  the  spring  of  1840,  the  population  of  Assyria 
had  increased  to  five  families,  besides  which  Stephen  Ray- 
mond, a  shoemaker,  had  made  a  settlement  there,  but  had 
temporarily  retired.  The  families  in  question  were  those 
of  Henry  Smith,  on  section  3  ;  Patrick  Heffron,  on  the 
same  section  ;  Joseph  S.  Blaisdell,  on  section  36  ;  John  S. 
Van  Brunt,  on  section  2  ;  and  Cleaveland  Ellis,  on  section 
4 ;  numbering,  all  told,  24  persons.  Within  a  few  years, 
however,  additions  to  the  infant  settlement  were  made  in  the 
Ellis  neighborhood  by  the  arrival  of  David  L.  Talbot,  on 
section  2  ;  Abel  and  Daniel  Baldwin,  on  section  3  ;  Charles 
G.  Baker,  on  section  2 ;  and  James  Heffron,  on  the  same 
section. 

Mr.  Baker,  who  came  out  from  New  York  in  1842  and 
bought  his  land,  worked  a  while  for  Cleaveland  Ellis,  and 
chopped  in  the  mean  time  seven  acres  upon  his  own  place. 
In  1843  he  went  back  to  New  York,  married,  and  returned 
with  his  bride  to  Michigan.  He  had  put  up  a  cabin  on 
his  clearing,  but  when  he  brought  his  bride  to  her  future 
home  it  presented  itself  in  a  far  from  inviting  condition. 
The  cabin  had  neither  window  nor  door.  It  did  have  a 
stick  chimney,  a  mud  hearth,  and  a  floor  of  rough  ash 
boards.  The  rain,  however,  had  flowed  in  a  stream  into  the 
cabin,  disarranged  the  flooring,  and  covered  it  with  mud, 
besides  giving  a  generally  dismal  appearance  to  the  rude 
interior.  As  the  young  wife  stood  on  the  threshold,  she 
was  appalled  at  the  cheerless  prospect,  and  cried  aloud,  "  For 
pity's  sake,  is  this  to  be  my  home  ?" 

Speaking  now  of  her  early  experience  as  the  wife  of  a 
pioneer,  Mrs.  Baker  says :  "  As  forbidding  as  my  home 
looked,  I  recollect  it  as  a  place  where  I  took  much  comfort 
after  all,  and,  although  many  a  meal  was  simply  dry  bread 
and  salt,  we  were  philosophers  in  those  days  and  thanked 
God  matters  were  no  worse."  Provisions  were  scarce  at 
times  because  they  were  not  to  be  had  short  of  a  two  or 
three  days'  journey.  Generally,  however,  Cleaveland  Ellis 
had  supplies,  which  he  dealt  out  to  all  comers.  Nearly 
every  settler,  too,  could  find  work  with  cash  pay  at  Mr. 
Ellis'  when  a  little  money  was  needed ;  and  needed  it  was 
sorely  by  many  a  pioneer  while  waiting  to  get  his  crops  to 
market. 

Joseph  Blaisdell's  first  near  neighbor  was  Stephen  Ray- 
mond, before  mentioned,  who,  in  1837,  made  a  settlement 
upon  the  south  line  of  the  township,  on  section  34,  where, 
besides  clearing  his  land,  he  plied  the  trade  of  a  shoemaker 
whenever  occasion  required  his  services.  Another  early 
mechanic  in  that  neighborhood  was  one  Wample,  a  black- 
smith, who  set  up  a  shop  on  section  26,  on  the  line  of  the 
Bellevue  and  Hastings  road,  about  1840.  His  stay  was, 
however,  not  a  long  one,  and  when  he  disappeared  no  one 
knew  whither.  About  1840  two  settlers  named  Eaton  and 
Dutton  made  commencements  upon  section  14,  but  did  not 
tarry  a  great  while,  Eaton  selling  out  to  Mathew  Mulvanciy 
and  his  son  James.  Then  came  Abel  Giles  to  section  26, 
Russell  Hartom  to  section  25,  Oliver  Martin,  Daniel  Mil- 
ler, Henry  Wilbur,  and  Richard  Wilbur. 

The  persons  just  named  were  in  the  neighborhood  when 
George  W.  Knapp  made  a  settlement  in  April,  1843,  upon 
120  acres  on  section  26,  which  he  had  purchased  in  1836. 

4y 


In  the  latter  year  Oliver  Halsted  had  bought  320  acres  on 
section  23,  and  John  Rogers  a  small  tract  on  section  25. 
Rogers  sent  three  of  his  sons  to  the  place  in  the  spring  of 
1837  to  make  a  clearing,  but  they  had  only  put  up  their 
cabin  and  made  a  start  as  pioneers,  when  their  father  sent 
for  them  to  assist  him  in  carrying  on  a  tavern  he  had  taken 
hold  of  in  Battle  Creek,  and  Assyria  knew  the  Rogers 
family  no  more,  at  least  as  pioneers. 

Mr.  Knapp  had  been  living  in  Battle  Creek  since  1840, 
and  had  there  been  engaged  in  the  business  of  sign-paint- 
ing and  glazing.  He  relates  that  he  hung  the  first  piece 
of  wall-paper  ever  hung  in  Battle  Creek,  and  cut  the  first 
pane  of  glass,  and  painted  the  first  post-oflttce  sign  in  that 
village.  He  also  painted  for  H.  A.  Goodyear,  of  Hastings, 
the  first  store-sign  ever  painted  in  Barry  County.  He  cut 
all  the  glass  put  into  the  present  Barry  County  court-house, 
and  as  a  glazier  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  expeditious 
workmen  in  Western  Michigan. 

After  he  settled  in  Assyria  he  walked  many  a  day  to 
Battle  Creek  and  back  to  earn  $1.50  for  a  day's  labor  at  his 
trade,  and  esteemed  himself  lucky  in  being  able  to  do  so. 
His  skill  as  a  glazier  was  such  that  he  was  called  from  his 
clearing  to  Battle  Creek  to  win  a  wager  made  to  the  effect 
that  he  could  set  1020  lights  of  glass  in  ten  hours,  the  field 
of  operations  to  be  Ward's  factory,  then  being  erected  in 
that  village.  He  walked  to  the  village  before  breakfast, 
began  his  task  at  seven  o'clock,  and  by  eleven  had  set  540 
lights.  The  party  of  the  opposition,  seeing  that  he  was 
certain  to  lose  the  bet,  refused  to  furnish  any  more  glass, 
and  the  performance  therefore  came  abruptly  to  an  end. 

Mr.  Knapp's  house  was  in  dense  timber,  and  to  it,  from 
the  Bellevue  and  Hastings  road,  there  was  not  even  a  path 
through  the  forest.  Nearing  his  home  by  the  shortest 
route,  he  would  invariably  call  out  to  his  wife,  so  that  on 
hearing  her  response  he  would  know  that  he  was  close  to 
his  house.  Without  taking  this  precaution  he  was  as  liable 
to  pass  on  and  lose  himself  in  the  woods  as  he  was  to  find 
his  cabin  door ;  indeed,  he  did  more  than  once  pass  his 
house,  and  found  considerable  difficulty  in  making  his  way 
back  to  it. 

Before  he  was  quite  ready  to  move  to  his  shanty  from 
Battle  Creek  he  went  over  to  the  marsh  on  section  26, 
and  cut  hay  enough  to  winter  his  cow,  but  when  he  went 
to  haul  it  home  some  one  had  been  before  him  and  carried 
it  off.  As  there  was  no  more  hay  to  cut,  he  had  to  sacri- 
fice the  straw  in  his  bedtick  to  save  the  cow  from  starving 
until  he  could  earn  money  to  buy  better  feed  for  her.  The 
marsh  spoken  of  was  a  popular  resort  for  early  settlers  when 
seeking  food  for  their  cattle. 

Among  the  settlers  who  came  in  shortly  after  Mr.  Knapp 
were  Samuel  P.  Tuttle  (who  sold  his  place  to  M.  W.  Thomp- 
son), Lebbeus  Hodgman,  John  Cronk,  Hiram  Tripp  (called 
Big  Tripp,  with  whom  came  T.  H.  Bartram,  now  living 
on  section  34),  Edwin  Wilbur,  John  Wilbur,  John  H. 
Keith,  G.  P.  Stevens,  A.  W.  Wilcox,  S.  H.  Young,  and, 
later,  Henry  Hare.  Mr.  Wample,  the  blacksmith,  has  al- 
ready been  mentioned.  He  bought  20  acres  of  land  of 
Abel  Giles  on  section  26,  and  after  he  had  built  his  house 
and  shop  and  put  down  a  well  he  found  that  they  were  all 
within  the  bounds  of  a  north-and-south  road  which  had  been 


386 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


surveyed,  but  not  opened.  When  it  was  opened  tlie  com- 
missioners accommodatipgly  allowed  the  shop,  house,  and 
well  to  stay  where  they  were,  and  carried  the  highway 
around  them. 

Another  pioneer  blacksmith  of  the  township  was  D.  W. 
Ellis,  who  came  to  Assyria  in  July,  1844,  to  work  for  his 
brother  Cleaveland,  on  whose  place  he  soon  set  up  a  black- 
smith-shop. 

The  next  comer  to  the  Ellis  neighborhood  was  Benjamin 
Jones,  who  occupied  land  upon  section  9  in  1847,  being 
followed  in  1848  by  his  brother,  Richard,  previously  (from 
1838)  a  resident  of  Hillsdale  County,  who  still  lives  on 
section  9  in  Assyria.  During  Mr.  Jones'  first  year  in 
Assyria  he  cleared,  with  the  help  of  his  seventeen-year-old 
son,  60  acres  of  land,  and  put  in  50  acres  of  wheat. 

Charles  Davy  also  came  to  section  9  in  1849,  and  soon 
afterwards  A.  G.  Kent  and  J.  B.  Tuekerman  settled  in  the 
same  neighborhood.  In  1847,  James  Tompkins  made  a 
settlement  upon  section  21  with  his  sons,  John,  James, 
and  George.  His  nearest  neighbors  were  Jacob  Hartom,  a 
half-mile  east,  and  Mathew  Harvey  eighty  rods  south.  In 
1849  another  of  his  sons,  Cornelius  W.,  located  himself  on 
the  same  section. 

In  1844,  G.  P.  Stevens  came  to  the  township  on  a  pros- 
pecting-tour,  and  bought  80  acres  of  land  on  section  23. 
He  came  to  occupy  the  place  permanently  in  1846,  having 
meanwhile  caused  a  tract  of  20  acres  to  be  cleared  on  his 
lot.  Part  of  the  work  was  done  by  Elisha  Andrus,  who 
lived  on  the  clearing  until  Stevens  came,  in  1846,  and  then 
bought  Abel  Giles'  farm,  on  section  26.  Stevens'  neigh- 
bors were  Knapp,  Amos  L.  Parkhurst,  J.  H.  Keith  (a  car- 
penter), Calvin  Austin  (two  miles  north,  and  the  nearest 
neighbor  in  that  direction),  Abel  Giles,  Elijah  Mills,  John 
Cronk,  Lebbeus  Hodgman,  and  Phineas  Walker. 

When  Stevens  began  his  pioneering  he  had  to  go  four 
miles  to  a  blacksmith's  shop  in  Bellevue  whenever  he 
wanted  any  tinkering  done,  and  more  than  once  he  carried 
his  plowshare  and  tools  on  his  back  through  the  woods 
to  that  shop.  He  started  one  stormy  night  for  Bellevue 
to  fetch  a  doctor  for  his  sick  child.  He  reached  the  doc- 
tor's residence  all  right,  but  in  coming  home  ho  lost  his 
way,  got  into  a  swamp,  and  wandered  about  until  mornin"-, 
unable  to  extricate  himself 

In  the  western  portion  of  the  township  settlements  did 
not  begin  at  a  very  early  day,  nor  did  they  advance  rap- 
idly after  they  did  begin,  for  the  reason  doubtless  that  that 
section  was  rough,  and  in  some  places  marshy. 

Rev.  Mr.  Rogers,  the  Methodist  preacher,  was  one  of 
the   earliest   settlers   there,   as  was    also    Volney    Hyde 
who  lived   on  section  18  as  early   as  1841,  and  farmed 
160    acres.      He    sold    his    place    to    Z.    Hyde,   whose 
widow   married    James    B.    Norris,   an    early   comer    to 
Assyria,  and  still  a  resident  upon   tho  old    llydo  place. 
When  George  L.  Briggs  located  upon  section  6,  in  April 
1850,  there  was  no  settlement  in   his  neighborhood,  and 
none  south  of  him   nearer  than  the  Hyde  farm.     After 
Briggs   came   David    Miller,   J.   II.   Miller,   tho    Woods, 
George  Bennett,  E.  T.  Telling,  to  tho  Wood  plaoo;  Austin' 
Stanton,  Jonathan  Mead,  and,  lurther  south,  W.  11.  Juwell 
at  one  time  county  register. 


TOWNSHIP  TRAGEDIES. 
A  tragic  love-story  marks  the  early  history  of  Assyria, 
and  indicates  that  the  rough  experience  of  pioneering  did 
not  entirely  eradicate  the  more  delicate  feelings  of  le  grande 
passion.  James  Evans,  of  the  adjoining  town  of  Pennfield, 
fell  madly  in  love  with  Betsey  Blaisdell,  of  Assyria,  and 
courted  her  with  a  persistency  deserving  abundant  suc- 
cess. She  looked,  however,  with  much  disfavor  upon  his 
suit,  and  upon  his  visit  to  her  father's  house  some  time 
in  1842  refused  point-blank  to  marry  him,  although  he  im- 
plored and  prayed  her  to  have  him.  He  lodged  that  night 
in  Mr.  Blaisdell's  house,  and,  under  the  crushing  influence 
of  a  hopeless  love,  cut  his  throat  with  Mr.  Blaisdell's 
razor.  Although  he  was  then  snatched  by  a  surgeon  from 
the  jaws  of  death,  he  never  recovered  from  the  hurt,  and, 
after  lingering  a  few  months,  died. 

In  1845,  Russell  Hartom  was  accidentally  killed  at  a 
"  raising,"  and  later  Mathew  Mulvaney  was  the  victim  of 
a  fatal  runaway  accident  while  driving  home  from  Battle 
Creek.  In  1858  a  man  by  the  name  of  Fox  was  killed  by 
a  falling  tree,  Augustus  Ford  was  thrown  from  a  wagon- 
load  of  wood  in  1865  and  killed,  a  tree  killed  a  Mr.  Coats 
in  1877,  and  in  1878  Henry  Sackett  was  gored  to  death 
by  a  bull,  and  Mary  Tasker,  a  demented  person,  hung 
herself 

A  CELEBRATED  CASE. 
Assyria  had  its  celebrated  case  in  1848,  when  not  only 
tho  township,  but  the  county,  was  much  agitated  over  the 
stealing  of  the  body  of  Joseph  S.  Blaisdell  from  the  South 
Assyria  Cemetery,  and  the  subsequent  sensational  trial  of 
persons  charged  with  the  robbery.  Mr.  Blaisdell  died 
March  10,  1848,  and  two  days  after  his  burial  his  grave 
was  found  to  have  been  ppened  and  his  body  stolen.  A 
prompt  investigation  led  to  the  conclusion  that  certain 
medical  men  of  Battle  Creek  and  neighboring  places  were 
concerned  in  the  aifair,  and  Mr.  Blaisdell's  friends  accord- 
ingly caused  the  arrest  of  three  persons  charged  with  having 
participated  in  the  theft. 

The  case  came  on  for  a  preliminary  examination  before 
G.  W.  Knapp,  a  justice  of  the  peace  of  Assyria,  and  so 
large  was  the  attendance  that  he  adjourned  the  case  to  the 
school-house,  and  even  that  building  failed  to  accommodate- 
half  the   people  who  came  to  the  trial.      Judge  Abner 
Pratt,  of  Marshall,  appeared  as  attorney  for  the  prosecution, 
and  John  Van  Arnam  for  the  defense.      A  host  of  wit- 
nesses was  examined,  and  a  remarkably  sharp  display  of 
legal  learning  was  vouchsafed  to  the  spectators.     After  two 
days'  proceedings  the  prosecution,  having  failed  to  make  a 
case,  retired  from  the  field  defeated.     The  prisoners  were 
set  free,  and,  although  continued  efforts  were  put  forth  in 
search  of  the  ti-ue  offenders  and  of  the  dead  man's  remains, 
nothing  further  was  ever  discovered. 

SCHOOLS. 

Tho  residence  now  occupied  by  the  widow  of  Cleaveland 
Ellis  was  the  first  framed  house  built  in  the  township,  the 
year  of  its  erection  being  1842,  and  in  that  house,  in  1843, 
Lydiii  Wiiiron,  of  Verona,  taught  the  pioneer  school  of 
Assyiiii,  1km-  si'holars  boing  six  in  uurabei\ 

Tho  first  district  school,  opened  for  the  benefit  of  the 


ASSYRIA  TOWNSHIP. 


387 


residents  of  the  northwestern  portion  of  the  township,  was 
just  over  the  line,  in  Calhoun  County,  and  in  that  school- 
house  Betsey  Blaisdell  was  one  of  the  earliest  teachers. 
The  first  school-house  built  in  the  township  stood  in  school 
district  No.  1,  upon  section  26.  It  was  a  framed  structure, 
and  was  built  in  1844.  The  early  school  records,  not  only 
of  district  No.  1,  but  of  the  township,  have  been  lost,  and  it 
is  therefore  difficult  to  give  reliable  data  concerning  school 
matters.  Touching  district  No.  1,  however,  it  may  be  ob- 
served that  it  has  long  ranked  high  in  more  respects  than 
one.  In  its  schools  eight  persons  have  taught,  who  ob- 
tained or  began  their  education  in  the  district,  while  many 
of  its  pupils  have  taught  in  other  localities.  Its  lyceum 
or  debating  society  is  an  intellectual  organization,  and 
through  energetic  encouragement  has  grown  to  be  an  im- 
portant factor  in  the  improvement  of  the  district.  In 
the  fall  of  1844,  Charles  G.  Baker  and  Daniel  L.  Talbot 
built  the  first  school-house  in  district  No.  2,  upon  section 
2.  In  that  school-house  0.  B.  Sheldon,  of  Castleton, 
taught  the  first  school,  and  Jane  Farnsworth  the  second. 
The  official  school  report  for  1879  presents  the  following 
statistics : 

Number  of  districts  (whole,  6;  fractional,  3) 9 

"            children  of  school  age 443 

Average  attendance  (except  from  the  First  Dis- 
trict, from  which  there  is  no  report) 349 

Value  of  school  property  (except  the   First  and 

Sixth  Districts,  from  which  there  is  no  report)..  $1700 

Year's  expenses $1874 

The  school  directors  for  1879  were  S.  H.  Young,  John 
Wilkinson,  D.  H.  Chase,  Amos  Ashley,  Asa  Wilcox,  L. 
E.  Hinchman,  Thomas  Ford,  L.  T.  Metcalf,  and  Samuel 

Ball. 

HIGHWAYS. 

The  highway  records  of  Johnstown  township  indicate 
that  the  first  road  laid  in  township  1,  range  7,  was  the  one 
afterwards  known  as  a  portion  of  the  Bellevue  and  Hastings 
road.  It  was  surveyed  June  21,  1838,  by  F.  Burgess,  the 
highway  commissioners  being  Clcaveland  Ellis  and  W.  P. 
Bristol.  It  began  at  the  quarter-post,  between  sections  9 
and  10,  passed  southeasterly  over  a  part  of  the  Indian 
trail  between  Bellevue  and  Basquon  Creek,  and  terminated 
on  the  eastern  line  of  the  county,  seventy-three  links  north 
of  the  southeast  corner  of  section  25.  This  road  became 
a  much-traveled  route,  upon  which  farmers  from  the  north 
drove  to  market  at  Battle  Creek.  A  line  of  four-horse 
coaches  kept  up  daily  communication  over  it  for  a  time  be- 
tween Battle  Creek  and  Hastings,  and  two  inns  were 
opened  on  this  road,  in  Assyria.  Shortly  after  1850  one 
Osborn,  a  Baptist  preacher,  built  a  tavern  of  tamarack 
loo-s  at  the  centre  of  the  township,  and  leased  it  to  John 
Loomis,  who  carried  it  on  for  a  while,  and  then  gave  way 
to  Seth  Davis.  The  present  hotel  at  the  Centre  occupies 
the  site  of  the  "Tamarack  Tavern,"  and  was  built  by 
Edward  Cox,  who  was  for  a  time  its  landlord.  Jonathan 
Park  likewise  built  a  tavern  of  maple  logs  on  the  same  road, 
half  a  mile  north  of  the  Centre,  in  1857,  and  called  it 
the  Maple  House.  Its  career  ended  under  the  proprietor- 
ship of  George  W.  Foster,  a  few  years  afterwards. 

On  the  21st  of  June,  1838,  a  road  was  surveyed  from 
the  base-line,  seven  chains  west  of  the  quarter-stake  on 
the  south  side  of  section  31,  northeasterly  to  the  northeast 


corner  of  section  4.  The  same  day  a  survey  was  made  of 
a  road  from  the  southeast  corner  of  section  36  to  the  quar- 
ter-post on  the  south  side  of  section  34.  M.  S.  Brackett 
surveyed  a  road  beginning  at  the  quarter-post  between  sec- 
tion 3,  in  township  1,  and  section  34,  in  township  2,  and  ex- 
tending eastward  to  the  west  line  of  Eaton  County ;  also  a 
road  commencing  at  a  quarter-post  between  sections  25  and 
26,  in  township  2,  running  south  to  the  southeast  corner  of 
section  26,  thence  northwesterly  to  the  northwest  corner 
of  section  23 ;  also  a  road  commencing  sixty  links  south 
of  the  quarter-stake  between  sections  34  and  35,  in  town- 
ship 2,  running  thence  south  on  said  line  to  the  southwest 
corner  of  section  35  ;  and  still  another,  beginning  at  a  point 
nine  chains  and  sixty-one  links  north  of  the  quarter-stake 
between  sections  9  and  10,  running  thence  south  to  a  point 
twenty-two  chains  and  thirtj'-seven  links  south  of  the  north- 
east corner  of  section  16.  The  same  day  another  road  was 
run  from  the  northeast  corner  of  section  36  to  a  point 
thirty-seven  chains  west  of  the  southeast  corner  of  the 
same  section. 

On  the  24th  day  of  January,  1839,  a  road  was  laid  be- 
tween township  1,  range  7,  and  the  town  of  Pennfield, 
beginning  at  the  northwest  corner  of  section  3  in  Pennfield, 
and  running  thence  along  the  lines  of  sections  3  and  2. 
On  the  15th  day  of  January,  1841,  C.  Robinson  and 
Cleaveland  Ellis,  commissioners,  laid  out  a  road  beginning 
at  the  quarter-.stake  on  the  east  side  of  section  12,  in  town- 
ship 1,  and  running  thence  west  and  north  to  the  north- 
west corner  of  section  10  ;  and  on  the  same  day  another 
road,  beginning  at  the  southwest  corner  of  section  23,  in 
township  2,  and  running  east  to  the  quarter-post  on  the 
south  side  of  the  section;  thence  south  39 J  degrees  east 
four  chains,  thence  south  49J  degrees  east  ten  chains  and 
fifty-five  links.  On  the  21st  of  April,  1841,  Commissioners 
Ellis  and  Collier  laid  out  a  road  beginning  on  the  base- 
line, twenty  chains  west  of  the  southeast  corner  of  section 
35,  township  1,  running  north  to  a  road  on  the  line  of  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  26. 

After  1842  road  surveys  were  made  rapidly,  and  from 
that  time  on  to  1850  the  highway  commissioners  were 
actively  engaged  in  providing  for  the  pressing  needs  of  set- 
tlers, and  especially  of  the  new-comers,  who  lived  in  the 
woods  without  decent  highways  by  which  to  reach  or  leave 
home.  As  labor  on  the  highways  was  about  the  only  work 
by  which  settlers  could  earn  money,  which  came  from  the  tax 
upon  non-resident  land  owners,  they  were  eager  to  see  roads 
opened,  and  to  work  for  even  the  small  pittance  they  received. 

THE  MAIL  IN  ASSYRIA. 
While  township  1  was  yet  a  part  of  Johnstown  a  post-office 
was  ordered  to  be  established  in  it,  in  accordance  with  the 
efforts  of  Cleaveland  Ellis.  Mr.  Ellis  was  to  be  the  post- 
master, and  on  being  requested  to  choose  for  the  office  a  name 
not  possessed  by  any  office  in  the  State,  hit  upon  Assyria. 
The  mail-route  between  Bellevue  and  Hastings  passed  vid 
Ellis  Prairie,  where  Mr.  Ellis  lived,  before  1840,  and  by 
furnishing  a  dinner  and  horse-feed  to  the  mail-carrier  Mr. 
Ellis  had  his  mail  brought  to  him  from  Bellevue.  Presently 
it  occurred  to  him  that  his  neighbors  ought  also  to  have 
mail  conveniences,  and  so  it  was  that  in  1841  or  1842  he 
obtained  the  establishment  of  the  office  called  Assyria.    . 


388 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Mr.  Ellis  retained  the  oflBce  until  1847,  when  he  turned 
it  over  to  Calvin  P.  White,  who  kept  it  until  1855.  His 
successor  was  Richard  Jones,  and  from  Mr.  Jones  it  passed 
successively  to  A.  G.  Kent,  James  Potter,  Henry  Sackett, 
Cornelius  W.  Tompkins,  and  others  until  March  11,  1874, 
when  the  present  incumbent,  Mrs.  Philena  Abbey,  received 
her  commission  as  the  successor  of  Amos  W.  Bowen. 

A  second  post-office  in  Assyria  was  established  on  the 
Bellevue  and  Hastings  mail-route  in  1850,  and  called 
South  Assyria.  Samuel  H.  Young,  who  was  instrumental 
in  the  creation  of  the  office,  was  appointed  postmaster,  and 
retained  the  place  until  1858,  when  it  was  transferred  to 
George  W.  Knapp.  Mr.  Knapp  was  the  postmaster  until 
the  office  was  abolished,  in  1860. 

The  first  mail-carrier  through  Assyria  was  Calvin  Salter, 
who  rode  on  horseback  and  carried  the  mail  once  a  week. 
Later  a  line  of  daily  stages  was  put  on  the  road  between 
Bellevue  and  Hastings,  and  then  there  was  a  daily  mail. 
Travel  over  the  route  was  considerable  by  both  stages  and 
freight-teams,  but  the  period  of  such  busy  traffic  was  not 
of  extended  duration. 

PHYSICIANS. 

In  1844  Assyria  received  a  settler  named  Rogers,  who 
straightway  upon  his  arrival  introduced  himself  as  a  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  preacher,  and  in  the  Baker  school-house, 
in  district  No.  2,  conducted  public  worship  every  Sunday 
for  some  time.  Subsequently  he  forsook  Methodism, 
embraced  Spiritualism,  preached  that  doctrine,  and  in  a 
short  time  announced  himself  as  a  clairvoyant  doctor.  He 
depended  also  upon  herbs  to  effect  his  cures,  and  was 
quite  a  popular  physician.  He  established  a  considerable 
practice,  and  carried  it  on  profitably  in  Assyria  until  his 
death. 

Dr.  Archelaus  Harwood,  of  Maple  Grove,  was,  however, 
the  favorite  physician  for  miles  around  in  the  pioneer  days, 
and  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  county  was  known  and 
esteemed  of  all  men. 

After  "  Dr."  Rogers'  demise  there  was  no  resident  phy- 
sician in  Assyria  until  Dr.  Youngs  came,  in  1858.  Dr. 
Youngs  retired  after  a  practice  of  two  years,  and  then  there 
was  a  hiatus  in  Assyria's  medical  history  unril  about  1876 
when  Dr.  Chase  located  at  the  Centre.  He  remained  about  a 
year,  and  was  followed  in  rapid  succession  by  Drs.  Delano 
Sessions,  and  Armour,  neither  of  whom  stayed  much  more 
than  a  year.  Dr.  J.  I.  Baker,  the  only  physician  now  in 
the  township,  located  at  the  Centre  in  the  spring  of  1880. 

BUEIAL-PLACES. 
The  first  public  grave-yard  laid  out  in  the  township  was 
located  upon  section  26,  and  in  that  ground  the  first  burial 
was  that  of  Joseph  S.  Blaisdell,  March  12,  1848.  In  the 
Ellis  neighborhood  burials  were  made  upon  Mr.  Ellis'  farm 
until  1849,  when  a  public  cemetery  was  laid  out  on 
section  9.  The  first  person  buried  there  was  Mrs.  Cyril 
Johnson,  in  1849. 

ASSYRIA'S   TKADBES. 
Assyria's  first  store  was  built  in  1843  uppn  section  12, 
by  John  T.  Ellis  and  Belcher  Athern,  and  carried  on  by 


them  two  years,  when  the  enterprise  was^  abandoned.  The 
next  store  was  opened  at  the  Centre  by  Jonathan  Park,  who 
had  for  some  time  the  only  store  in  town.  That  store,  now 
kept  by  Mrs.  Abbey,  and  B.  T.  Kent's  store,  also  at  the 
Centre,  are  the  only  temples  of  trade  of  which  the  town- 
ship can  boast. 

TOWNSHIP  ORGANIZATION  AND  OPPICEES. 
A  legislative  act  approved  Feb.  29, 1844,  divided  the  town- 
ship of  Johnstown  and  gave  a  separate  organization  to  towns 
1  and  2,  in  range  7  west,  under  the  name  of  Assyria,  which 
was  chosen  because  the  post-office  in  township  1  was  thus 
called.  The  first  town-meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of 
Cleaveland  Ellis,  April  1,  1844,  and  at  that  meeting  forty- 
three  votes  were  polled.  Cleaveland  Ellis  was  chosen  mod- 
erator, David  Baldwin,  John  F.  Fuller,  Henry  Mallory, 
and  Orin  Ball  inspectors  of  election,  and  John  S.  Van 
Brunt  clerk. 

The  following  is  a  full  list  of  the  persons  chosen  as 
officers  at  the  first  township-meeting:  Supervisor,  Cleave- 
land Ellis ;  Clerk,  John  -S.  Van  Brunt ;  Treasurer,  C.  P. 
White ;  Assessors,  Peter  Downs  and  Joseph  S.  Blaisdell ; 
Justices  of  the  Peace,  Joseph  S.  Blaisdell,  Samuel  Andrus, 
Peter  Downs,  and  Peter  Dillin  ;  Highway  Commissioners, 
Henry  Wilbur,  diaries  G.  Baker,  and  Eldredge  Austin ; 
Inspectors  of  Schools,  Joseph  S.  Blaisdell  and  Archelaus 
Harwood ;  Directors  of  the  Poor,  Henry  Mallory  and  C. 
P.  White ;  Constables,  Charies  Dodge,  Henry  Dean,  Ed- 
ward Cox,  Harlow  Lapham  ;  Overseers  of  Highways,  Cal- 
vin Austin  in  District  No.  1,  David  Talbot  in  No.  2, 
Cleaveland  Ellis  in  No.  3,  Volney  Hyde  in  No.  4,  Henry 
Wilbur  in  No.  5,  Rufus  Brooks  in  No.  6,  A.  S.  Quick  in 
No.  7,  and  Joseph  Badcock  in  No.  8 ;  Poundmaster,  C.  P. 
White. 

At  the  same  meeting  $200  were  appropriated  for  contin- 
gent expenses,  and  $50  for  the  support  of  the  poor.  The 
names  of  those  chosen  annually  from  1845  to  1880  to 
serve  as  supervisors,  clerks,  treasurers,  and  justices  of  the 
peace  are  herewith  given  : 

SUPERVISORS. 
1845,  C.  Ellis ;  1846-4r,  D.L.Talbot;  1848-49,  C.  G.  Baker;  1860,  P. 

Mulvaney;  1851,  C.  Ellis;  1852,  P.  Mulvaney;  1853,  C.  Ellis; 

1854,  P.  Mulvaney;  1855,  T.  B.  Cranson;  1856,  C.  Ellis;  1857- 

58,  T.  B.  Cranson  ;  1859,  C.  Ellis  ;  I860,  A.  W.  Rogers;  1861,  R. 

Jones;  1862-63,  G.  P.  Stevens;  1864,  R.  Jones;  1865,  W.  W. 

Cole;  1866-68,  W.  H.  Jewell;  1869-70,  W.  W.  Cole;  1871-72, 

T.  H.  Burtram;  1873,  A.  W.  Chapin  ;  1874,  T.  H.  Bartram;  1875, 

W.  W.  Cole;  1876-77,  T.  H.  Bartram;  1878,  W.  W.  Cole;  1879- 

80,  T.  H.  Bartram. 

CLERKS. 
1845-46,  J.  S.  Van  Brunt;  1847,  C.  P.  White;  1848-49,  J.  S.  Van 

Brunt;    1850,  J.  S.  Lowe;    1851-52,  P.  D.   Colo;    1853,  C.  W. 

Tompkins;  1864-55,  P.  D.   Cole;  1856-58,  G.  B.  Tuokerman ; 

1869,  P.  D.  Cole;  1860-63,  C.  L.  Briggs;  1864,  P.  D.  Cole;  1865, 

A.  W.  Wilcox;  1866,  J.  H.  Tuokerman;  1867-68,  R.  N.  Atmore ; 

1869,  C.  W.   Tompkins;  1870-71,   A.  C.  Wilson;    1872,  J.  A. 

Sorren;  1873-74,  George  B.  Tuokerman;  1876-79,  B.  T.  Kent; 

1880,  William  Pratt. 

TREASURERS. 

1845,  C.  P.  White;  1846,  R.  Slade,  Jr.;   1847,  B.  Athearn;  1848-49, 

C.  P.  White;  1850,  T.  B.  Cranson;  1851-62,  W.  P.  Cole;  1853, 

C.  Dunning;  1854-65,  C.  G.  Baker;   1856,  G.  P.  Stevens;  1857- 

68,  A.  C.  Webster;   1859-61,   G.  P.  Stevens;    1862-63,  A.  W. 


ASSYRIA  TOWNSHIP. 


389 


Chapin;  1864,  A.  W.  Wilcox;  1865,  C.  G.  Bnker;  ]866,  A.  W. 
Chapin;  1867,  T.  H.  Bartram  ;  1868,  George  T.  Jones;  1869,  R. 
N.  Atmore;  1870-71,  G.  W.  Tompkins;  1872,  S.  H.  Young; 
1873-75,  J.  R.  Powers;  1876-77,  D.  Huggett;  1878,  A.  6.  Kent; 
1879,  D.  Huggett;  1880,  C.  L.  Briggs. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 
1845,  J.  S.  Blaisdell;  1846,  B.  Atliern ;  1847,  C.  Ellis;  1848,  S.  P. 
Tuttle;  1849,  Jones  Tompkins  ;  1850,  G.  W.  Knapp;  1851,  War- 
ren Jay;  1852,  A.  W.  Rogers;  1853,  Jones  Tompkins;  1854,  S. 
Raymond;  1855,  A.  C.  Webster;  1856,  S.  P.  Pool;  1867,  D.  W. 
Ellis;  1858,  A.  Shepnrd ;  1859,  W.  H.  Jewell;  1860,  J.  Hartom ; 
1861,  G.  B.  Tuckerman;  1862,  T.  B.  Cranson ;  1863,  E.  Follett 
Jr.;  1864,  J.  M.  Joslin ;  1865,  D.  Saokett;  1866,  E.  Follett; 
1867,  C.  H.  Palmer;  1868,  T.  J.  Decker;  1869,  S.  L.  Hyde; 
1870,  E.  Follett:  1871,  C.  S.  Clark;  1872,  W.  W.  Cole;  1873,  G. 
E.  Bacon;  1874,  C.  S.  Clark;  1875,  J.  B.  Mills;  1876,  G.  B. 
Tuckerman;  1877,  S.  Q.  Hayes;  1878,  C.  H.  Russell;  1879,  J. 
B.  Mills  ;  1880,  D.  Davis. 

Assyria's  first  assessment-roll  (1844)  gives  the  following 
list  of  resident  land-owners  in  townships  1  and  2  : 

BESIDENT   LAND-OWNEES   IN   1844. 

TOWN  1. 
Owner.  Acres. 

Daniel  Miller,  section  25 80 

John  F.  Miller Poll  tax 

C.  G.  Baker,  sections  2  and  3 80 

Robert  Hartom,  sections  34  and  35 160 

Abel  Giles,  section  26 76 

Phineas  Walker,  section  26 44 

Elijah  Mills,  section  28 80 

Henry  Wilbur,  section  35 80 

Oliver  Martin,  sections  35  and  36 160 

J.  S.  Blaisdell,  section  36 200 

G.  W.  Knapp,  section  26 120 

Calvin  Austin,  section  13 80 

Henry  Dutton,  section  14 80 

James  Mulvaney,  section  14 80 

Philip  Baldwin,  section  3 84 

Samuel  Baldwin Poll  tax 

Daniel  Baldwin,  sectH»n  3 84 

J.  S.  Van  Brunt,  section  2 90 

Edward  Cox,  section  11 120 

Samuel  Andrus,  section  12 80 

Charles  L.  Andrus,  section  12 80 

Elisha  Andrus,  section  12 73 

Belcher  Athern,  section  12 127 

Volney  Hyde,  section  18 160 

Cleaveland  Ellis,  sections  3  and  4 720 

C.  P.  White,  section  4 89 

H.  R.  Smith,  section  3 80 

Patrick  Hetfron,  section  3 40 

James  Heffron,  section  2 40 

D.  L.  Talbot,  section  2 80 

Charlotte  Wilbur,  section  27 80 

Orrin  Ball,  section  12 40 

TOWN   2. 

Joseph  Badcock,  section  5 92 

Abel  Hallock,  section  26 120 

Peter  Downs,  section  36 160 

Elisha  G.  Mapes,  section  36 160 

James  Orie,  section  25 80 

J.  F.  Fuller,  section  25 100 

Henry  Dean,  section  25 40 

James  Buck,  section  24 20 

Peter  Dillin,  section  24 140 

Rufus  Brooks,  section  25 80 

Daniel  Baldwin,  section  26 80 

Darwin  McOmher,  section  26 160 

Eldredge  Austin,  sections  14,  22,  and  23 240 

Richard  McOmber,  section  22 160 

Eli  Lapham,  section  35 160 

A.  S.  Quick,  section  34 160 

Aaron  Senter Poll  tax 

Archelaus  Harwood,  section  35 160 

John  Dean,  section  26 ..     40 

Giles  Dean Poll  tax 

EAELY    JUEOES. 
The  grand  jurors  chosen  in  1844  were  Eldridge  Austin, 
Rufus  Brooks,  Henry  Wilbur,  Calvin  Austin,  J.  S.  Van 
Brunt,  Calvin  P.  White,  A.  S.  Quick,  and  Jos.  S.  Blais- 


dell. The  petit  jurors  were  Charles  L.  Andrus,  Joseph 
Badcock,  Henry  Mallory,  David  L.  Talbot,  James  Mul- 
vaney, John  F.  Fuller,  Orin  Ball,  and  Volney  Hyde. 

In  1845  the  grand  jurors  were  Peter  Downs,  S.  P.  Tut- 
tle, Cleaveland  Ellis,  C.  G.  Baker,  Abel  Giles,  Lebbeus 
Hodgman,  Elisha  G.  Mapes,  and  Samuel  Andrus.  The 
petit  jurors  were  Belcher  Athern,  William  Sutton,  Daniel 
Baldwin,  Archelaus  Harwood,  Peter  Dillin,  George  E. 
Bacon,  Leander  Lapham,  George  W.  Knapp. 

In  1846  the  grand  jurors  were  D.  L.  Talbot,  C.  P. 
White,  Volney  Hyde,  and  J.  S.  Blaisdell.  The  petit  jurors 
were  Calvin  Austin,  Lyman  Curtis,  James  Mulvaney,  and 
E.  F.  Cox. 

In  1848  the  grand  jurors  were  C.  G.  Baker,  C.  P. 
White,  Elisha  Andrus,  Lebbeus  Hodgman,  S.  P.  Tuttle,  D. 
L.  Talbot,  and  A.  L.  Parkhurst.  The  petit  jurors  were 
D.  W.  Ellis,  Cyril  Johnson,  A.  W.  Chapin,  J.  H.  Keith, 
Mathew  Harvey,  Calvin  Austin,  and  Belcher  Athern. 

Towns  No.  1  and  No.  2,  in  range  7,  were  divided  by 
legislative  act  approved  March  25,  1846,  No.  1  remaining 
Assyria  and  No.  2  becoming  Maple  Grove. 

EELIGIOUS. 
THE    FREE-WILL   BAPTIST    CHURCH. 

TheFree-Will  Baptist  minister  who  accompanied  Joseph 
S.  Blaisdell  to  Assyria  in  1836,  as  before  mentioned,  and 
who  for  a  year  conducted  occasional  public  worship  at  Blais- 
dell's  house  and  in  other  houses  across  the  county-line,  was 
undoubtedly  the  first  preacher  to  hold  religious  services  in 
the  township.  Rev.  Zerah  Hoyt,  a  Presbyterian  missionary 
stationed  at  Hastings,  preached  in  Assyria  at  an  early  day, 
and  in  1844  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rogers,  a  resident  in  the  west- 
ern part  of  the  town,  preached  a  few  Methodist  sermons  in 
the  school-house  of  district  No.  2. 

The  first  religious  body  in  the  township  was  a  Free-Will 
Baptist  Church,  which  was  formed  through  the  efforts  of 
Joseph  S.  Blaisdell,  and  which,  during  his  life,  held  regular 
services  in  the  school-house  of  district  No.  1.  Upon  his 
death,  in  1848,  the  organization  also  lost  its  life,  and  was 
no  more  heard  of  Just  previous  to  Mr.  Blaisdell's  death. 
Rev.  Elijah  Cook,  a  Free-Will  Baptist,  preached  at  the 
school-house,  and  held  a  series  of  revival-meetings,  the 
success  of  which  promised  much  for  the  future  of  the  church. 

SOUTH   ASSYRIA   METHODIST   CLASS. 

About  1847  or  1848  the  South  Assyria  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Class  was  organized  in  the  school-house  of  district 
No.  1,  and  since  that  time  services  have  been  regularly 
maintained.  The  class  is  now  on  the  Pennfield  Circuit,  in 
charge  of  Rev.  Mr.  Daniels.  Daniel  Sackett  is  the  class- 
leader  and  Joseph  Grinnell  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school.  A  Methodist  Episcopal  class  was  organized  at  the 
Centre  about  1854,  and  after  a  few  years  was  joined  to  the 
South  Assyria  Class. 

This  class  was  formed  about  1855,  and  until  1866  wor- 
shiped in  the  school-house  on  section  6.  In  the  year  named 
a  church  edifice  was  erected  close  by,  and  is  still  in  use. 
The  class  membership  is  about  20,  the  leader  is  Charles 
Clark,  and  the  trustees  G.  W.  Briggs,  Jonathan  Stevens, 
Wesley  Clark,  and  J.  B.  Norris.      Connected  with  the 


390 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BAERY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


church  is  a  flourishing  Sunday-school,  of  which  Mrs.  Nick- 
erson  is  the  superintendent.  Preaching  is  supplied  once  in 
two  weeks  Ij  Rev.  Mr.  Daniels,  the  preacher  in  charge  of 
the  Pennfield  Circuit. 

THE   ADVENT    CHRISTIAN   CHURCH. 

The  Advent  Christian  Church  at  Assyria  Centre  was. 
organized  in  the  summer  of  1871,  in  Tompkins'  Grove,  by 
Elder  Philip  Holler,  and  had  at  the  outset  a  membership 
of  17.  A.  Quimby  was  chosen  elder,  and  A.  W.  Bowen 
deacon.  Elder  Holler,  of  Nashville,  preached  once  in  two 
weeks  for  about  a  year,  and  for  five  years  after  that  he  and 
Elder  Berry  managed  between  them  to  supply  the  church 
with  preaching  every  Sunday.  For  about  two  years,  to 
August,  1879,  dependence  was  placed  upon  occasional  sup- 
plies, and  at  the  time  noted  Elder  A.  M.  Smith,  of  Prai- 
rieville,  now  preaching  at  the  Centre  once  a  fortnight,  began 
his  term  of  service.  The  Centre  school-house  served  as  a 
house  of  worship  until  the  summer  of  1874,  when  a  church 
was  built  just  east  of  the  Centre.  The  membership  is  now 
about  20,  the  deacon  is  A.  W.  Bowen,  and  the  trustees  are 
E.  H.  Fox,  P.  Holler,  Chester  Berry,  Augustus  Sackett, 
N.  P.  Hall,  and  A.  W.  Wilcox. 

THE  PROTESTANT  METHODIST  CHURCH. 
This  church,  which  is  also  located  at  Asisyria  Centre, 
was  organized  Sept.  26,  1873,  by  Rev.  William  Kelly,  in 
the  Centre  school-house.  A  revision  of  the  class-book  in 
1876,  when  a  church  edifice  was  built  at  the  Centre,  certi- 
fies that  Jacob  Hartom  was  then  the  class-leader,  and  Rev. 
J.  H.  Webb  the  preacher  in  charge.  Mr.  Hartom  is  still 
the  class-leader  ;  the  preacher  in  charge  is  Rev.  John  Mc- 
Phail,  and  the  Sunday-school  superintendent  W.  H.  Pres- 
cott.  Preaching  is  supplied  once  in  two  weeks.  The  trustees 
are  George  W.  Tompkins,  Thomas  Tasker,  Charles  C.  Gage, 
Coleman  Russell,  and  Jacob  Hartom. 

ASSYlilA   GRANGE,  No.  128, 
was  organized  during  the  winter  of  1873,  in  A.  W.  Chapin's 
log  house,  with  about  30  members.     William  W.  Cole  was 
chosen  Master;  A.  G.  Kent,  Sec. ;  D.  W.  Ellis,  0.;  J.  R. 
Powers,  L. ;  Leroy  Cummings,  Treas. 

The  Masters  of  the  grange  have  been  William  W.  Cole, 
C.  W.  Taylor,  A.  W.  Chapin.  The  active  membership  is 
now  about  20.  The  ofiicers  are  A.  W.  Chapin,  M. ;  D. 
W.  Ellis,  0. ;  William  W.  Cole,  L. ;  Augustus  Dow,  S. ; 
Richard  Jones,  Treas. ;  0.  B.  Spalding,  Chaplain  ;  Mrs.  A. 
W.  Chapin,  Ceres;  Mrs.  W.  W.  Cole,  Pomona;  and  Mrs. 
Leroy  Cummings,  Flora. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


RICHARD  JONES. 

About  the  year  1790,  Jonathan  Jones  and  Polly,  his  wife, 
— both  natives  of  Massachusetts, — passed  from  New  Eng- 
land to  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  in  the  town  of  Richfield 
entered  upon  the  work  of  Western  pioneering.  There  they 
spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  Jonathan  dying  in  1816, 


and  his  wife  in  1847.  Eleven  children  blessed  their  union, 
of  whom  the  fifth  is  Richard,  who  first  saw  the  light  in 
Richfield,  March  15,  1807.  His  earlier  boyhood  days  were 
employed  in  schooling  and  farming,  and  at  the  age  of  twelve 
he  journeyed  afoot  to  Franklin  Co.,  Mass.,  loaded  with  a 
ten-pound  pack,  and  in  Leverett,  his  father's  native  town, 
tarried  six  years. 

At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  returned  to  New  York  to  live 
with  his  stepfather,  who  agreed  to  give  him  six  weeks' 
schooling  each  year  for  three  years,  but  the  schooling  had 
amounted  at  the  end  of  the  three  years  to  but  twenty  days 
all  told.     Sept.  26,  1830,  Richard  married  Amelia,  dangh- 
er  of  Benjamin  Tuckerman,  of  Richfield,  and  directly  after 
that  the  young  couple  moved  to  a  farm  in  Oswego  County, 
where  they  stopped  four  years,  and  after  a  further  four 
years'  sojourn  in  Otsego  County,  setting  their  faces  towards 
the  West,  entered  Hillsdale  Co.,  Mich.,  in  September,  1838, 
as  members  of  the  grand  army  of  Michigan  pioneers.    They 
battled  bravely  for  existence,  and,  although  sorely  beset  by 
hardships  and  privations,  they  heroically  overcame  every 
obstacle,  and  wrought  a  happy  home  out  of  the  waste  of 
wilderness.     Illustrative  of  the  scarcity  of  money  in  those 
days  and  the  long  journeys  necessary  to  reach  a  market, 
Mr.  Jones  relates  how  he  made  a  trip  to  Toledo  with  forty 
bushels  of  wheat,  which  he  sold  at  fifty  cents  per  bushel, 
half  trade  and  half  ca.sh.     He  was  gone  nine  days,  traveled 
seventy-five  miles,  and  when  he  got  home  had,  in  place  of 
the  wheat  he  took  away,  one  barrel  of  salt,  one  pair  of  geese, 
fifty  pounds  of  nails,  and  twenty-five  cents  in  money.    Even 
twenty-five  cents  in  money  was  almost  impossible  to  get  for 
farm  truck  at  home.     Mr.  Jones  says  he  more  than  once 
begged  a  Jonesville  merchant  to  give  him  just  two  shillings 
in  money  on  a  trade  in  butter  and  eggs,  so  that  he  could 
pay  the  postage  on  a  letter  which  had  lain  in  the  post-office 
perhaps  a  week,  but  the  merchant's  heart  was  adamant,  and 
the  two  shillings  were  not  forthcoming. 

Mr.  Jones  remained  with  his  family  in  Hillsdale  County 
until  1848,  when  in  September  they  removed  to  section  9, 
Assyria  township,  Barry  Co.,  and  there,  renewing  their 
pioneer  experiences,  have  resided  to  this  day.  The  first 
year  of  his  settlement  in  Assyria,  Mr.  Jones  cleared,  with 
the  assistance  of  his  eighteen-year-old  son,  sixty  acres,  and 
put  in  fifty  acres  of  wheat.  He  bought  at  first  two  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres,  and  these  he  increased  within  three 
years  to  upwards  of  five  hundred.  So  energetically  did  he 
devote  himself  to  the  business  of  agriculture  that  out  of 
the  products  of  his  lands  during  the  first  three  years  he 
paid  the  purchase  money  for  the  entire  five  hundred  acres. 
Mr.  Jones  has  served  as  supervisor  of  Assyria  township, 
as  postmaster  from  1855  to  1863,  was  chosen  to  the  lower 
house  of  the  Legislature  by  the  Republicans  of  his  district 
in  1867,  and  has  at  various  times  filled  offices  of  local  trust. 
A  life-long  Republican  until  lately,  he  affiliates  now  with 
the  National  Greenback  party.  In  religion  he  is  independ- 
ent and  liberal,  and  holds  fast  to  the  creed  that  "  if  we  do 
right  here,  it  will  be  all  right  there." 

Amelia  Tuckerman  Jones,  his  wife,  was  born  in  Rich- 
field, Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  1,  1806.  Her  parents,  Ben- 
jamin  and  Tryphosa  Tuckerman,  were  natives  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  migrated  to  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  shortly  before 


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391 


1800.  Of  their  nine  children,  Amelia  was  the  seventh. 
Her  father  took  an  active  part  in  the  incidents  attendant 
upon  the  Shay's  Rebellion  in  New  England,  and  later 
served  as  captain  and  major  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  died 
in  New  York  in  1854,  his  wife  having  preceded  him  by 
thirty-four  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones'  children  have  been  five  in  number, 
of  whom  three  are  living :  George  T.,  who  was  born  July 
16,  1831,  lives  in  Colorado  ;  Flora  T.,  born  March  9, 
1833,  died  Feb.  4,  1879;  Mary  A.,  born  June  14,  1838, 
is  now  Mrs.  Henry  Talmage,  of  Bellevue;  Fannie  E.,  born 
June  9,  1841,  is  Mrs.  George  McCollum,  of  Van  Buren 
County;  Henry  B.,  born  March  28,  1847,  died  in  1847. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones  will  on  the  26th  of  September,  1880, 
celebrate  their  golden  wedding, — the  fiftieth  anniversary  of 
their  marriage-day, — and  towards  that  event  they  as  well  as 
a  host  of  friends  are  now  looking  with  pleasurable  antici- 
pations, for  the  incident  will  be  a  joyous  one,  marked  by  a 
large  gathering  of  guests  from  far  and  near,  and  signalized 
as  a  memorable  occasion  in  the  history  of  human  life. 


GEORGE   W.  KNAPP. 

In  the  year  1836,  George  W.  Knapp  located  a  tract  of 
land  in  Assyria  township,  and  since  1843  he  has  resided 
upon  the  place  which  he  wrested  from  the  wilderness  thirty- 
seven  years  ago,  and  now,  in  the  stead  of  that  wilderness, 
rests  his  gaze  upon  a  beautiful  home  and  the  broad  acres 
of  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  Barry  County.  He  was  born 
in  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.,  July  21,  1807.  His  father, 
Jared,  was  born  in  Stamford,  Conn.,  July  27,  1749,  and 
died  in  Wyoming  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  the  fall  of  1848,  aged 
ninety-nine  years.  Jared  Knapp  entered  the  service  of  his 
country  upon  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution,  in  1776 ; 
served  first  as  private,  then  as  orderly  sergeant,  and  eventu- 
ally as  captain ;  was  with  Gen.  Washington  in  all  his  cam- 
paigns, and  after  a  military  career  of  seven  years  and  seven 
months  returned  to  the  walks  of  peace.  At  the  age  of 
ninety-three  he  had  a  third  set  of  teeth ;  at  the  age  of 
sixty  obtained  his  second  sight,  and  so  retained  it  that  up 
the  age  of  ninety  he  used  no  glasses,  and  to  the  day  of  his 
death  was  hearty  and  active.  He  was  much  in  demand  in 
the  late  years  of  his  life  as  a  public  orator,  and  attracted 
crowds  from  far  and  near  to  hear  his  public  recitals  of  the 
stirring  times  of  the  Revolution,  through  which  he  passed. 
His  wife,  Catherine  Baldwin,  was  born  in  Derby,  Conn.,  in 
1769,  and  died  in  Hinsdale,  N.  Y.,  in  1853,  aged  eighty- 
four.  Three  of  Mr.  Jared  Knapp's  sisters  lived  to  the  re- 
spective ages  of  ninety-seven,  ninety-nine,  and  one  hundred, 
and  illustrated,  as  did  their  brother,  the  truth  of  the  asser- 
tion that  they  came  of  a  long-lived  race. 

George  W.  Knapp  spent  his  earlier  years  at  home  in 
Wyoming  County,  and  March  1,  1832,  married  Lucy, 
daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Anna  Tripp.  He  had  been  in 
boyhood  apprenticed  to  a  painter  and  glazier,  and  after 
farmin"  in  Wyoming  County  until  1836  removed  to  Buf- 
falo N.  Y.,  where  he  pushed  forward  in  business  as  a  house, 
ship,  and  ornamental  painter.  There  he  remained  until 
1840  when  he  moved  westward  to  Battle  Creek,  and  re- 
sumed his  trade.     While  in  that  village  he  painted  for  H. 


A.  Goodyear,  of  Hastings,  the  first  store-sign  painted  in 
Barry  County,  hung  the  first  piece  of  wall-paper  hung  in 
Battle  Creek,  painted  the  first  post-office  sign  and  cut  the 
first  pane  of  glass  in  Battle  Creek,  and  afterwards  set  the 
window-lights  in  the  second  court-house  built  in  Barry 
County.  In  February,  1843,  he  became  a  pioneer  in  As- 
syria township,  upon  land  in  section  26,  which  he  had  lo- 
cated May  19,  1836,  and  wrestled  energetically  with  the 
hardships  and  privations  of  a  pioneer  life  and  grinding  pov- 
erty. To  earn  money  for  the  necessaries  of  life,  he  walked 
eleven  miles  to  Battle  Creek  many  a  morning  and  back 
again  at  night  with  twelve  shillings  obtained  by  labor  at 
his  trade  as  glazier. 

Mr.  Knapp's  history  is  a  portion  of  the  history  of  Assyria 
township.  He  has  for  thirty-seven  years  been  closely  identi- 
fied with  town  affairs,  and  ranks  as  one  of  the  town's  leading 
citizens.  He  has  served  as  supervisor  one  term,  justice  of 
the  peace  three  terms,  notary  public  eight  years,  postmaster 
at  South  Assyria,  and  in  the  business  of  laying  out  roads  at 
an  early  day  performed  valuable  and  important  services. 
He  was  the  third  of  four  sons,  each  of  whom  is  living  at 
an  advanced  age,  viz.,  William,  aged  seventy-nine ;  Charles 
H.,  seventy-seven  ;  George  W.,  seventy-three  ;  and  Julius, 
sixty-three.  Mrs.  Lucy  Knapp  was  born  in  Cherry  Valley, 
N.  Y.,  March  29,  1810,  her  father,  Jonathan  Tripp,  hav- 
ing been  born  in  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1769,  and  her 
mother  (Anna  Suscomb)  in  Otsego  County,  1781.  Jona- 
than Tripp  was  a  farmer  throughout  his  life,  and  died  in 
Assyria,  Dec.  25,  1867,  aged  ninety-eight  years  and  six 
months.  The  last  ten  years  of  his  life  were  passed  at  his 
daughter's  home,  and  to  the  hour  of  his  death  he  was 
bright,  active,  and  cheerful.  His  wife  died  in  Wisconsin 
in  1856,  aged  seventy-five.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knapp  have 
been  married  nearly  fifty  years,  and  March  1,  1882,  will 
celebrate  their  golden  wedding.  Their  children  have  been 
Sophia,  born  Nov.  4,  1835,  and  died  in  infancy;  Jared  M., 
born  Nov.  16,  1837,  and  now  living  at  home  on  the  old 
farm;  Priscilla  H.,  born  Feb.  9,  1840,  and  now  Mrs.  B. 
F.  Bullis,  of  Johnstown;  Harriet  F.,  born  July  21,  1842, 
and  now  Mrs.  Alonzo  Lamkin,  of  Mason  Co.,  Mich. ;  Mary 
E.,  born  March  12, 1845,  and  died  June,  1848  ;  Emma  0., 
born  June  8,  1849,  and  now  Mrs.  Joseph  H.  Parmelee,  of 
Spencerport,  N.  Y.  Jared  M.,  the  second  child  of  this 
worthy  couple,  electing  to  remain  with  his  parents  rather 
than  marry,  has  never  left  the  parental  roof  (save  for  a 
brief  season),  and  still  remains  to  comfort  and  cheer  with  his 
presence  and  labors  the  declining  years  of  his  father  and 
mother.  He  was  a  pioneer  student  in  the  State  Agricul- 
tural College  at  Lansing  in  1837,  and  passed  there  a  period 
of  two  years  and  a  half,  from  which  experience  he  emerged 
with  much  credit.  Early  in  life  he  evinced  a  strong  sym- 
pathy for  the  life  of  a  student,  and,  although  he  has  always 
been  engaged  and  is  still  engaged  in  active  farm  labor,  he 
has  devoted  much  time  to  profitable  study  and  mental  im- 
provement. He  taught  school  three  terms  in  Barry  and 
Calhoun  Counties,  takes  an  earnest  interest  in  literary  mat- 
ters, owns  a  fine  library  of  valuable  books,  is  well  known 
as  a  strong  and  intelligent  debater  in  the  lyceums  of  his 
township,  and  occupies,  in  short,  a  place  in  social  existence 
of  which  he  may  justifiably  feel  proud. 


baltimoee; 


The  township  of  Baltimore  was  informally  phristened  as 
early  as  1842  by  the  foremost  settlers  within  its  boundaries, 
who  thus  perpetuated  the  memory  of  their  former  home. 
On  the  north  lies  the  township  of  Hastings ;  on  the  south 
is  that  of  Johnstown ;  on  the  western  side  is  Hope ;  while 
the  eastern  boundary  is  the  western  line  of  Maple  Grove. 
It  is  designated  in  the  United  States  survey  as  township 
No.  2  north,  in  range  8  west,  and  was  erected  as  an  inde- 
pendent civil  township  in  1849.  Even  at  the  late  date  just 
named  a  very  large  part  of  its  territory  was  still  covered 
by  the  primeval  forest,  and  comparatively  few  clearings 
suggested  the  presence  of  settlers. 

The  lands  of  Baltimore  are  watered  by  numerous  lakes 
and  streams.  The  most  important  body  of  water  is  Clear 
Lake,  a  part  of  which  occupies  portions  of  sections  32  and 
33.  Mud  Lake  lies  on  section  21,  and  a  portion  of  Long 
Lake  on  section  1 ,  while  the  area  of  sections  2  and  18  is  par- 
tially covered  by  smaller  sheets  of  water.  High  Bank  Creek 
enters  the  township  on  the  south  line  of  section  35,  and, 
flowing  northeasterly,  leaves  it  on  the  east  line  of  section 
12.  Cedar  Creek  enters  on  the  west  line  of  section  30, 
runs  northeasterly,  and  passes  out  on  the  north  line  of  sec- 
tion 4.     Both  these  streams  furnish  excellent  water-power. 

The  surface  of  Baltimore  is  varied.  The  southeast  por- 
tion is  level,  while  in  the  south  there  arc  also  many  tracts  of 
level  land.  Numerous  hills  and  abrupt  elevations  are  to  be 
seen  in  the  northern  and  northeastern  portions,  while  the 
centre  presents  a  gently  rolling  aspect. 

Elm,  ash,  maple,  oak,  and  hickory  are  the  prevailing 
forest  trees.  Very  little  pine  or  hemlock  is  found,  but  the 
tamarack  flourishes  in  the  swamps  and  marshes.  The  list 
of  soils  includes  clay,  sand,  and  gravel,  the  north  being 
sandy,  while  in  the  south  clay  and  loam  prevail..  In  the 
west  is  found  a  preponderance  of  clay.  The  swampy  land 
is  confined  chiefly  to  sections  9,  10,  and  30. 

The  lands  of  Baltimore  are  well  adapted  to  the  growth 
of  both  corn  and  wheat.  The  various  fruits  peculiar  to  the 
climate  also  abound,  though  peach-trees  do  not  produce 
very  large  crops.  Apples  of  superior  quality  are  raised  in 
large  quantities,  and  a  well-kept  orchard  is  to  be  found  on 
every  farm. 

The  farmers  of  the  township  are  within  convenient  reach 
of  both  the  city  of  Hastings  and  the  village  of  Nashville, 
at  which  places  and  at  intervening  points  on  the  Grand 
River  Valley  Railroad  their  products  can  easily  be  shipped 
to  the  Eastern  markets. 


»  By  E.  0.  Wagner. 


392 


EARLY  ENTRIES   OF   GOVERNMENT   LAND. 

The  respective  sections  of  township  No.  2  north,  in  range 
No.  8  west  (now  Baltimore),  were  purchased  directly  from 
the  government  by  the  following  persons : 


SECTION   1. 

Acres. 

Joseph  R.  Williams,  1836  160 

E.  D.  Eaton,  1849 40 

John  Wolf,  1852 80 

John  Barbour,  1854 40 

Dayton  Hall,  1864 157 

William  Crosby,  1855 78.36 

John  Seeman,  1856 82.82 

SECTION   2. 

I.  r.  Hodges,  1850 160 

B.  C.  Cramer,  1860 187.68 

John  Houghtaling,  1852..  40 

Margaret  J.  Britton,  1853  51 
N.  Houghtaling,  1863. 

William  Eaton,  1863 61.50 

W.  H.  Douglass,  1854 40 

William  Eaton,  1855 40 

SECTION   3. 

Striker  family,  1850 316.70 

D.  Hungerford,  1851 46.36 

Mary  Whitmore,  1851 49.50 

Isaac  Baoon,  1851 46.53 

G.  W.  Valentine,  1863 46.16 

Elizabeth  Hole,  1853 40 

Orville  Phelps,  1854 46.93 

Gilbert  Striker,  1857 40 

SECTION  4. 

J.  R.  Williams,  1836 331.82 

Albert  Slausen,  1837 171.52 

M.  L.  Williams,  1847 160 

SECTION  5. 
J.  R.  Williams,  1836 660.09 

SECTION    6. 
J.  R.  Williams,  1836 602.76 

SECTION  7. 

Oramel  Griffin,  1837 56.34 

Harry  Angevine,  1839 120 

Elkanah  Wood,  1862 80 

Thomas  Barber,  1863 338.70 

SECTION  8. 

Wm.  F.  Goodwin,  1839...  280 

V.  Spaulding,  1849 160 

James  Norton,  1849 160 

Thomas  Barber,  1863 40 

SECTION  9. 

J.  R.  Williams,  1836 480 

H.  M.  Hodges,  1849 160 

SECTION  10. 

Moses  Hillard,  1836 320 

E.  A.  Crofts,  1850 160 

6.  M.Valentine,  1853 40 

J.  W.  HoughtaliD,  1854...     40 

George  Baaloh,  1856 40 

B.  W.  Tomlinson,  1857....     38.86 


SECTION  11. 

Acres. 

Daniel  Baker,  1849 160 

Isaac  Vannett,  1849 80 

Henry  Shiveley,  1860 40 

Barbara  Shiveley,  I860...  40 
John  Houghtalin,  1851...  40 
J.W.  Houghtalin,  1851....     40 

Howell  Sanford,  1862 40 

Jared  Whitmore,  1852 80 

J.  W.  Houghtalin,  1854....     31.31 
George  Roush,  1854 40 

SECTION  12. 

R.  Mcintosh,  1835. 40 

Hays  &  Dibble,  1836 240 

J.  R.  Williams,  1836 80 

B.  D.  Eaton,  1849 160 

Isaac  Vannett,  1849 80 

John  H.  Hall,  1853 40 

SECTION  13. 

R.  M.  Mcintosh,  1835 40 

J.  R.  Williams,  1836 160 

J.  S.  Duel,  1837 320 

J.  Paddleford,  1837 120 

SECTION    14. 

H.  L.  Johnson,  1837 160 

Isaac  Stevens,  1837 160 

Daniel  Baker,  1849 160 

Jacob  Baker,  1849 160 

SECTION   15. 

George  Postman,  1837 320 

Samuel  B.  Rowe,  1837....  160 
Oramel  Griffin,  1837 160 

SECTION    16. 
School  land. 

SECTION   17. 

J.  R.  Williams,  1836 320 

Albert  Slawson,  1837 160 

Robert  Glasoow,  1855 160 

SECTION  18. 

Beers    and     De    Forrest, 

1845 160 

L.  H.  Nichols,  1860 142.64 

Thomas  Barber,  1853 60.90 

Martha  Sheffield,  1863 40 

State  swamp-land,  1854...  40 
Isaac  Van  Orman,  1857...  80 
William  Bister 80 

SECTION  19. 

Solomon     Stanton      and 

Benj.  Stanton,  1849 40 

G.  W.  Campbell,  1850 64.63 

A.  N.  Brewster,  1850 40 

W.  I.  Bottom,  1861 66.76 

John  Morshon,  1852 80 

•Jesse  Russell,  1862 40 


BALTIMORE  TOWNSHIP. 


393 


Acres. 

Polaaki,  1852 160 

W.  B.  Moore,  1863 40 

Samuel  Weeks,  1854 40 

P.  L.  Cain,  1854 40 

SECTION  20. 

J.  R.  Williams,  1836 320 

li.  H.  Sanford,  1837 80 

David  Vance,  1853 40 

Samuel  Weeks,  1853 40 

Lucy  Y.  Chase,  1853 80 

L.  C.  Kellogg,  1853 80 

SECTION  21. 

C.  W.  and  J.  A.  Rockwell, 
1837  640 

SECTION  22. 

Isaac  Johnson,  1837 160 

J.  T.  Ellis,  1837 160 

P.  L.  Edmonds,  1853 160 

W.  M.  Warner,  1863 160 


SECTION   23. 


J.  T.  Ellis,  1837 80 

Jonas  Davis,  1837 80 

Henry  D.  Hall,  1837 80 

Isaac  Stevens,  1837 80 

Henry        Knickerbocker, 

1852  160 

Benjamin  Taylor,  1852...  80 

Eli  A.  Hale,  1863; 40 

State  swamp-land 40 

SECTION  24. 

J.  R.  Williams,  1836 640 

SECTION  25. 

J.  R.  Williams,  1836 640 

SECTION  26. 

Section  26, 1836 640 

SECTION  27. 

William  M.  Glendy,  1837  640 

SECTION  28. 

Lewis  W.  Miner,  1837 320 

Backus  and  Norton,  1837  160 

William  M.  Glendy,  1837  160 


SECTION  29. 

Acres. 
Thomas  W.  Ligon,  1837...  160 

William  Tucker,  1837 160 

Samuel  Weeks,  1838 200 

Isaac  Weeks,  1838 40 

Samuel  Weeks,  1839 80 


SECTION  30. 

J.  R.  Williams,  1836 227.36 

Backus  and  Norton,  1836  400 


SECTION  31. 

Simon  Bailey 227.36 

J.  R.  Williams,  1836 400 

SECTION  32. 

A.  H.  Ward,  1836 123.44 

J.  R.Williams,  1836 320 

Rufua  Condis,  1839 40 

John  Harris,  1851 40 

Henry  Condis,  1852 40 

Samuel  Weeks,  1854 40 


SECTION  33. 

A.  H.Ward,  1836 49.51 

Thouias  White,  1836 181.40 

Isaac  Stevens,  1837 224 

A.  Baboook,  1 853 63.69 


SECTION  34. 

Thomas  White,  1836 160 

J.  R.  Williams,  1836 320 

Samuel  Lane,  1837 80 

Isaac  Stevens,  1837 80 


SECTION  35. 

J.  R.  Williams,  1836 640 

SECTION  36. 

Seymour  Case,  1849 160 

T.  S.  Baker,  1852 80 

W.  C.  Hardenbergh,  1852  80 

E.  B.  Warner,  1853 40 

State  swamp-lands  120 

A.  N.  Warren,  1864 80 

Charles  Fisk,  1866 80 


PIONEEE  SETTLEMENTS. 

That  portion  of  Baltimore  which  first  yielded  before  the 
advance  of  the  pioneer  was  section  15.  Its  lands  had  been 
purchased  from  the  government  as  early  as  1837,  but  for 
five  years  afterwards  remained  in  their  primitive  condition. 
In  1842,  Andrew  Kelley  and  Thomas  Bowling,  brothers- 
in-law,  came  from  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  chose  a  fiirm  on  the 
above  section,  which  they  at  once  began  to  clear. 

Mr.  Bowling  is  described  as  an  eccentric  character,  whose 
previous  life  had  ill  fitted  him  to  endure  the  privations  of  a 
pioneer.  He  was  a  man  of  intelligence  and  education,  who 
affected  the  free-and-easy  ways  of  the  settlers,  but  exagger- 
ated them  so  as  often  to  appear  ridiculous.  He  spent  much 
money  in  improvements,  which  were  never  of  practical 
value,  and  at  one  period  of  his  pioneer  career  evinced  some 
political  aspirations,  which  were  very  promptly  checked  by 
his  townsmen.  He  speedily  tired  of  his  laborious  and  mo- 
notonous life  and  sought  diversion  in  California,  where  he 
died  a  few  years  later. 

Mr.  Kelley  and  his  family  remained  some  years  after,  but 
ultimately  followed  their  relative  to  the  Golden  State.     A 
child  was  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kelley  soon  after  their 
settlement,  whose  birth  was  the  earliest  in  Baltimore. 
50 


Very  graphic  descriptions  are  given  of  the  raising  of  Messrs. 
Kelley  and  Bowling's  log  house.  Several  ladies  accompanied 
their  husbands  to  the  raising,  and  as  the  distance  rendered 
a  return  home  the  same  day  inconvenient,  most  of  them 
remained  over-night.  An  ample  repast  of  game,  potatoes, 
and  other  substantial  food  was  spread  before  the  laborers, 
who  used  jack-knives  for  table-knives  and  splinters  for 
forks,  while  pieces  of  clean  bark  from  a  neighboring  tree  did 
service  as  plates.  The  bestowal  of  the  assembled  guests  at 
night  was  a  matter  of  some  difficulty.  However,  as  the 
new  house  had  an  upper  story,  or  half  story,  the  men  of 
the  company  occupied  that  apartment,  while  the  ladies  were 
cheerfully  accorded  the  right  to  the  more  convenient  room 
below.  The  bedding  of  the  two  families  was  fairly  appor- 
tioned among  the  numerous  guests,  and  after  some  incidents 
at  once  amusing  and  annoying,  all  slumbered  peacefully  and 
departed  the  following  morning  for  their  distant  homes. 

Bardsley  R.  Blanchard,  the  next  pioneer  in  order  of 
settlement,  came  from  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1845,  and 
purchased  80  acres  on  section  28.  It  had  not  been  im- 
proved, and  Mr.  Blanchard  found  it  necessary  at  once  to 
erect  a  log  house  for  the  comfort  of  his  family,  which  con- 
sisted of  his  wife  and  six  childrcip.  Meanwhile,  Mr.  Kelley 
tendered  them  the  hospitality  of  his  primitive  abode,  on 
section  15,  and  a  pilgrimage  of  three  miles  was  made  by 
Mr.  Blanchard  every  day  while  constructing  his  own  simple 
habitation.  Mr.  Blanchard  at  once  began  the  work  of 
clearing  his  land,  but  made  slow  progress,  and  ultimately 
removed  to  Berrien  County,  having  sold  his  farm  to  Wil- 
liam Manning.  His  present  residence  is  Rutland,  whence, 
though  now  eighty-five  years  old,  he  makes  occasional  pil- 
grimages to  the  homes  of  his  old  neighbors  in  Baltimore. 

The  earliest  wedding  in  the  township  was  celebrated  at 
the  house  of  Mr.  Blanchard,  his  daughter.  Miss  Caroline, 
being  united  to  Mr.  Elkanah  Morford.  The  ceremony  was 
performed  by  Henry  P.  Cheney,  then  clothed  with  authority 
as  a  justice  of  the  peace.  Very  near  the  home  of  Mr. 
Blanchard  occurred  the  first  death  in  Baltimore,  that  of  a 
Mrs.  Farr,  the  date  of  which  is  not  remembered. 

Joseph  Judd,  formerly  of  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  located 
in  1846  upon  40  acres  on  section  28.  He  built  the  tra- 
ditional log  house,  but  made  little  progress  in  clearing  his 
land,  and  ere  long  removed  from  the  township.  His  pres- 
ent residence  is  Battle  Creek.  He  was  chosen  as  inspector 
of  election  at  the  first  township-meeting,  and  was  one  of 
the  few  voters  present  on  that  occasion. 

Eli  B.  Eaton,  a  former  resident  of  Huron  Co.,  Ohio, 
became  a  settler  in  1849,  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 12.  This  he  obtained  on  a  land- warrant  given  him 
for  services  in  the  Mexican  war.  He  remained  with 
Joseph  Judd  while  building  a  shanty,  after  which  he  de- 
voted his  energies  to  clearing  and  improving  his  land. 
His  progress  was  slow  at  first,  but  ultimately  a  large  and 
productive  farm  was  the  result  of  his  industry.  J.  Benton 
Hodges  was  at  this  date  his  nearest  neighbor.  Mr.  Eaton 
still  resides  on  his  farm,  which  has  been  increased,  however, 
to  185  acres. 

The  year  1849  brought  also  J.  Benton  Hodges,  who 
entered  160  acres  on  section  9,  and  James  Norton,  who 
acquired  160  acres  on  the  same  section  by  means  of  a 


sg-i 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


land-warrant  issued  to  him  for  his  Mexican  war  services. 
Mr.  Hodges  did  not  until  a  year  later  effect  any  improve- 
ment upon  his  land,  and  he  subsequently  sold  out  and 
removed  from  the  township.  Mr.  Norton  remained  until 
the  outbreak  of  the  civil  war,  when  he  entered  the  military 
service  of  the  United  States,  in  which  he  lost  his  life. 

Another  pioneer  of  1849  was  John  Houghtalin,  who 
was  originally  from  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  later  from 
Battle  Creek,  Mich.  He  located  himself  upon  80  acres 
on  the  southeast  corner  of  section  2,  to  which  he  secured 
a  title  two  or  three  years  later.  Eli  D.  Eaton  was  at  that 
time  his  nearest  neighbor.  Mr.  Housrhtalin  was  made  wel- 
come  by  Mr.  Kelley,  and  at  once  began  the  erection  of  a 
framed  house,  after  which  his  time  was  devoted  to  clearing 
and  improving  his  land.  His  death  occurred  in  August, 
1867,  his  widow  surviving  until  1871.  Two  sons,  George 
and  Charles  W.,  are  residents  of  the  township,  and  Henry 
-  is  the  present  popular  sheriff  of  the  county. 

I.  F.  Hodges  entered,  in  1850,  160  acres  on  section  2, 
upon  which  he  settled  a  year  later.  This  he  subsequently 
sold,  when  he  removed  to  80  acres  upon  section  9.  This 
he  improved,  but  eventually  departed  from  Baltimore  and 
made  Hastings  his  residence. 

Two  of  the  representative  pioneers  of  1850  were  J.  L. 
Fox  and  B.  C.  Cramer,  the  former  of  whom  came  from 
Kent  County  and  purchased  100  acres  on  section  21.  His 
residence  in  Baltimore  was  brief.  After  making  a  small 
improvement  he  sold  to  Jas.  S.  Tuxbury,  and  removed  to 
Grand  Rapids.  Mr.  Cramer  purchased  1 87  acres  on  section 
2,  to  which  he  removed  the  following  fall.  He  converted 
this  wilderness  into  an  attractive  and  valuable  estate,  upon 
which  he  still  resides. 

Gilbert  Striker,  a  native  of  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  removed 
in  1818  to  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1835  to  Michigan, 
where  he  found  a  home  in  Jackson  County.  In  1850  seven 
brothers  entered  316  acres  of  land  on  section  3,  in  Balti- 
more, which  was  subsequently  purchased  by  Gilbert  of  the 
remaining  owners,  upon  which  he  located  in  1851.  It  was 
entirely  unimproved. 

I.  F.  Hodges  had  already  made  a  beginning  on  his  land, 
and  his  house  sheltered  Mr.  Striker's  family  until  material 
was  prepared  for  the  erection  of  a  cabin.  They  removed 
to  this  latter  structure  during  the  spring,  aod  the  mild  and 
balmy  air  of  that  season  made  them  unconscious  of  the 
want  of  doors  or  windows  to  their  home. 

Forty  acres  of  the  standing  timber  on  the  land  was 
girdled  and  cleared  of  undergrowth  the  first  year,  and  with 
the  help  of  three  yoke  of  oxen  30  acres  were  prepared  for 
and  sown  with  wheat.  Mr.  Striker  cut  a  portion  of  the 
State  road  from  Battle  Creek  to  Hastings,  which  was  after- 
wards the  chief  highway  of  the  township.  The  latter 
village  was  the  nearest  point  from  which  supplies  were 
obtained. 

On  Mr.  Striker's  farm  was  set  apart,  in  1851,  the  first 
burial-place  in  the  township.  Mr.  John  Houghtalin  hav- 
ing lost  a  son  in  April  of  that  year,  Messrs.  Striker,  Hough- 
talin, and  Day  selected  the  ground  in  question,  and  the 
child  was  buried  there.  It  was  afterwards  neatly  inclosed, 
and  was  legally  selected  by  the  township  as  a  cemetery. 
Mr.  Striker  died  on  the  homestead  Nov.  20,  1874.     His 


widow  survives,  and  resides  with  her  son  Gilbert,  whose 
birthplace  was  Baltimore.  He  is  the  present  occupant  of 
the  farm. 

John  H.  Day,  a  native  of  St.  Lawrence  Co.,  N.  Y.,  came, 
in  1850,  from  the  Buckeye  State  to  Baltimore,  and  pur- 
chased of  Solomon  M.  Allen  80  acres  on  section  12.  It 
was  a  wilderness  on  his  arrival,  with  no  settlers  immediately 
iiear.  Mr.  Day  became  a  member  of  the  household  of  Eli 
D.  Eaton,  and  remained  so  until  his  marriage,  in  1854, 
when  he  removed  to  his  own  place,  having  during  the  in- 
terval erected  a  log  house.  He  ran  in  debt  for  his  land, 
but  worked  hard  at  anything  he  could  find  to  do  until  he 
liquidated  his  debt.  He  meanwhile  hired  the  clearing  of 
14  acres,  which  was  completed  in  1852.  Mr.  Day  has 
been  largely  identified  with  the  development  of  the  town- 
ship, and  held  many  o£Bcid  positions  in  it.  He  still  resides 
on  his  original  purchase. 

Pliny  McOmber  and  William  and  Porter  Harwood  had 
arrived  a  year  before  the  advent  of  Mr.  Day,  and  had 
erected  a  saw-mill  on  section  9.  The  year  following,  Dar- 
win McOmber  came,  and  purchased  Mr.  Harwood's  interest. 
Pliny  McOmber  subsequently  returned  to  Maple  Grove,  his 
former  residence,  and  Darwin  assumed  entire  control  of  the 
mill  business,  which  he  conducted  until  1875.  This  was 
the  earliest  saw-mill  in  Baltimore,  and  sawed  much  of  the 
timber  used  in  the  construction  of  the  first  homes  of  that 
township. 

In  connection  with  the  mill  Darwin  McOmber  owned  80 
acres  of  land,  which  he  cleared,  and  on  which  his  present 
residence  stands.  In  the  beginning  his  nearest  neighbor, 
James  Judd,  was  two  and  a  half  miles  away,  both  Kelley 
and  Dowling  having  left  the  township.  At  this  time,  and 
for  several  years  after,  there  was  no  school  nearer  than 
three  miles.  Mr.  McOmber  now  has  an  estate  of  640 
acres,  lying  on  sections  8,  9,  10,  and  16,  a  large  portion  of 
which  is  cultivated. 

John  Baker,  another  pioneer  from  Ohio,  made  his 
advent  in  1850,  and  located  land  on  section  11,  but  never 
resided  upon  it.  He  erected  a  plank  house  on  section  9, 
and  occupied  his  time  in  hunting,  varied  by  occasional 
labor  among  the  settlers.  His  home  was  afterwards  con- 
sumed by  fire,  and  it  is  related  that  Mr.  Baker,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  securing  a  can  of  powder  as  well  as  averting  an  ex- 
plosion, rushed  through  the  fiames  and  obtained  the  dan- 
gerous package. 

Samuel  Weeks,  though  not  the  first  settler,  made  the 
first  clearing  in  Baltimore.  He  entered  at  the  land-office 
in  Kalamazoo,  as  early  as  1838,  200  acres  on  section  29, 
being  at  this  time  a  resideut  of  Calhoun  County.  The 
same  year  he  chopped  an  acre  on  his  land,  after  which  it 
remained  undisturbed  until  1851.  He  then  hired  a  few 
acres  cleared  and  a  log  house  erected,  to  which  he  removed 
in  1852,  and  began  in  earnest  the  labor  of  improving  his 
land.  Guy  R.  Durfee  was  at  this  period  the  nearest  set- 
tler, and  the  most  convenient  school-house  was  on  section 
28,  to  which  Mr.  Weeks'  son  made  a  daily  pilgrimage. 
Early  preaching  was  held  in  this  school  building,  where 
ministers  from  the  more  thickly  settled  townships  officiated. 

James  8.  Tuxbury,  E.  B.  Warner,  and  Dayton  Hall  were 
all  pioneers  of  1852.     Mr.  Tuxbury  located   first  upon 


BALTIMOKE  TOWNSHIP. 


395 


section  28,  and  later  upon  section  21,  on  which  he  had 
100  acres.  He  was  prominently  identified  with  the  in- 
terests of  the  township  until  his  removal  to  Van  Buren 
County.  Mr.  Warren  is  still  a  resident  of  Baltimore,  and  a 
successful  farmer.  Mr.  Hall  became  a  settler  on  section  1, 
but  afterwards  moved  to  the  home  of  Eli  D.  Eaton,  where 
he  died  in  1873. 

Guy  R.  Durfee,  an  emigrant  from  St.  Joseph  County  in 
1852,  settled  upon  80  acres  on  section  28,  which  was  pur- 
chased of  P.  Y.  Baldwin,  who  had  previously  built  a  log 
house  upon  it.  James  L.  Fox  was  already  located  upon 
100  acres  on  section  21,  and  was  the  nearest  settler.  Mr. 
Durfee,  finding  a  more  eligible  site  upon  section  28,  changed 
his  location,  and  in  1855  removed  to  his  present  home,  on 
section  14,  which  embraces  100  acres,  less  1,  given  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  as  a  parsonage.  John  Mer- 
shon,  a  former  resident  of  Ross,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  located,  in 
1852,  upon  80  acres  on  section  19,  which  he  cleared  and 
made  productive.  He  died  in  the  township  in  1866,  and 
his  son  became  the  owner  of  the  property. 

Thomas  Barber,  of  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  purchased,  in 
1852,  320  acres  on  section  7.  He  dwelt  in  a  camp  on  his 
arrival,  but  soon  completed  a  framed  house,  to  which  he  re- 
moved. A  portion  of  this  purchase  was  early  improved, 
and  additions  were  made  as  time  and  opportunity  ofi'ered. 
Mr.  Barber  was  an  excellent  farmer,  and  a  man  of  much 
energy.  He  died  in  the  township  in  1863,  and  his  farm  is 
now  owned  by  William  H.  Hendershot. 

Lucius  Nichols  purchased  260  acres  on  section  18,  upon 
which  he  settled  in  1852.  He  built  a  house  and  made  a 
good-sized  clearing,  but  did  not  long  survive  to  enjoy  his 
purchase.  George  Sheffield  made  his  advent  in  the  town- 
ship in  1853,  and  found  an  eligible  location  upon  section 
21,  where  he  remained  for  several  years,  finally  removing, 
however,  to  Johnstown,  his  present  residence.  He  was 
interested  in  the  earliest  Sabbath-school  in  the  township. 

William  M.  Warner,  who  came  from  Ohio  in  1853, 
entered  160  acres  on  section  22,  upon  which  he  still 
resides.  The  family  repaired  to  the  house  of  Hubbard 
Baldwin,  on  section  27,  while  a  shelter  was  being  prepared 
for  them.  He  now  owns  a  well-improved  and  productive 
farm,  embracing  220  acres. 

Isaiah  Hendershot  left  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  in  the 
fall  of  1853  for  the  forests  of  Michigan,  and  on  his  arrival 
purchased  80  acres  on  section  8  in  Baltimore.  After  aiife 
of  industry,  he  died  in  January,  1874.  His  widow  survives 
and  resides  upon  the  homestead,  which  is  managed  by  her 
sons,  William  and  Charles  M.  Hendershot. 

William  Eaton,  another  Ohio  pioneer  of  1853,  owned 
80  acres  on  section  11.  He  traveled  via  Branch  County 
with  two  yoke  of  oxen  and  a  pair  of  horses,  the  latter  of 
which  he  soon  traded  for  80  acres  of  land.  He  and  his 
family  occupied  a  shanty,  with  a  puncheon  floor,  on  the 
land  of  Eli  D.  Eaton,  while  erecting  a  framed  house.  The 
family  was  prostrated  with  ague,  and  very  little  work  was 
accomplished  the  first  year.  The  next  season  17  acres 
was  cleared,  and  much  of  it  covered  with  a  luxuriant  crop 
of  wheat.  Even  at  this  late  period  Indians  were  occasional 
visitors  when  passing  on  their  hunting  excursions,  but  their 
conduct  was  not  obtrusive,  and  their  bearing  was  always 


friendly.     Mr.  Eaton  died  in  1862.     His  widow  still  re- 
sides on  the  homestead  with  her  son. 

George  Roush,  a  former  resident  of  Huron  Co.,  Ohio, 
located  during  the  year  1853  upon  120  acres  on  section 
11.  He  engaged  at  once  in  the  preliminary  labor  of 
house-building,  meanwhile  occupying  a  framed  cabin  near 
by,  which  had  been  vacated  by  Michael  Holes.  He  sowed 
his  first  clearing  of  14  acres  with  wheat,  and  reaped  a  boun- 
tiful harvest.  Mr.  Roush,  in  1879,  changed  his  location 
for  land  upon  section  11,  his  present  residence. 

Another  emigrant  from  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  was 
Robert  Bliven,  who  came  from  Bradford  County  to  the 
township  in  the  summer  of  1853.  He  chose  89  acres  of 
uncleared  land  upon  section  6,  and  enjoyed  th^  hospitality 
of  Richard  Stilson,  of  Hastings,  while  preparing  for  the 
establishment  of  his  family  on  his  own  purchase.  On  that 
purchase  he  still  resides. 

We  have  now  noticed  the  principal  pioneers  of  the  first 
twelve  years  of  Baltimore's  history,  and  must  greatly  cur- 
tail our  remarks  regarding  later  comers.    Among  the  promi- 
nent settlers  of  Baltimore  from  the  close  of  1853  until  the 
outbreak  of  the  Rebellion  were  Joseph  Gaskill,  of  Monroe 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  who  located  on  section  7,  in  1854,  and  died 
there  in  1876  ;  A.  N.  Warner,  of  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  who 
settled  on  section  36,  the  same  year,  worked  as  a  cooper, 
opened  the  first  grocery  in  Baltimore,  and  finally  gave  his 
life  for   his   country  in  the  war  for  the  Union;  Robert 
Haynes,  of  Summit  Co.,  Ohio,  who  chose  a  home  on  section 
8  in  1854,  but  moved  to  section  18  in  1857,  where  he  still 
resides ;  John  Harrington,  of  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  who 
occupied,  in  1855,  a  fractional  quarter  previously  purchased 
by  his  brother,  on  which  he  still  lives ;  Peter  Jendreau,  of 
Canada,  who   located  on  section  28,  in    1855;   William 
Henry,  of  Hillsdale  Co.,  Mich.,  who  was  killed  by  accident 
while  chopping,  in  1870 ;  Aaron  Durfee,  who  came  from 
Oakland  County  in  1856,  and  four  yeai^s  later  located  on 
section  16,  where  he  still  lives;   Robert  T.  Garrison,  of 
Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  who  settled  on  section  5  in  1856, 
where  he  died  in  1867 ;  D.  C.  Sanborn,  who  came  from 
New  Hampshire  in  1859,  located  on  section  21,  and  has 
gained  much  fame  as  a  breeder  of  blooded  hunting  dogs, 
some  of  which  have  won  numerous  prizes  at  canine  exhi- 
bitions ;  John  T.  Hinchman,  who  moved  from  Johnstown 
into  Baltimore  in  1860,  located  on  section  32,  and  still 
resides  there  ;  Samuel  F.  Hinchman,  who  came  at  the  same 
time,  and  subsequently  purchased  a  farm  near  his  brother, 
where  he  now  lives ;  and  David  Ickes,  of  Ohio,  who  settled 
on  section  11  in  1860,  which  is  still  his  home. 

EAELY  HIGHWAYS. 
The  earliest  recorded  highway  through  the  present  town- 
ship of  Baltimore  was  surveyed  by  John  Mitchell  in  1838, 
and  was  known  as  the  "  State  road,"  its  terminal  points 
having  been  Battle  Creek  and  Hastings.  It  entered  the 
township  between  sections  31  and  32,  and  pursued  a  north- 
easterly course  to  the  centre  of  section  29,  ran  thence  north 
to  the  centre  of  section  20,  then  bore  somewhat  to  the 
wst  and  ao'ain  to  the  east,  and  left  the  township  on  the 
north  line  of  section  5.  But  a  small  portion  of  this  road 
is  now  in  use. 


396 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


The  highway  just  described  was  superseded  by  another 
road,  connecting  Battle  Creek  with  Hastings,  also  known 
as  the  "  State  road,"  which  was  surveyed  by  Albert  B. 
Bull  in  July,  1844,  and  which  is  still  one  of  the  most  fre- 
quently traveled  roads  running  through  Baltimore. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  earliest  school  building  in  Baltimore  was  erected  on 
section  28,  the  lumber  having  been  sawed  by  John  H,  Day, 
and  the  structure  built  by  Maj.  Thomas. 
.  Miss  Sarah  Blanchard,  daughter  of  Bardsley  R.  Blan- 
chard,  and  now  Mrs.  George  Sheffield,  first  instructed  the 
growing  youth  of  the  township.  The  second  school-build- 
ing was  located  on  section  2,  then  embraced  in  district 
No.  2,  and  was  erected  in  1851.  The  pioneer  instructor 
in  this  district  was  Daniel  Striker,  then  a  resident  of  Balti- 
more and  now  of  Hastings. 

The  territory  of  the  township  is  at  present  divided  into 
seven  districts,  under  the  supervision  of  the  following  board 
of  directors :  A.  L.  Van  Horn,  Orson  Johnson,  David 
Jakes,  H.  C.  Fisher,  John  Crawley,  D.  C.  Warner,  A.  N. 
Warren.  Seven  male  and  eight  female  teachers  are  em- 
ployed in  the  various  districts  in  the  course  of  a  year,  and 
have  in  their  charge  376  pupils,  3  of  whom  are  non-residents. 
The  value  of  the  school  property  in  the  township  is  $4125, 
which  embraces  seven  capacious  school-houses.  The 
totail  resources  of  Baltimore  for  educational  purposes  are 
$2333.44. 

EARLY  TAX-PAYERS. 

The  following  list  shows  the  tax-payers  in  Baltimore  for 
the  year  1849 : 

B.  R.  BlaDchard. 
Joseph  Judd. 
Andrew  Kellej. 
U.  D.  Hodges. 
Porter  Harwood, 
G.  W.  Campbell. 


S.  Baldwin. 
J.  R.  Williams. 
0.  Griffin. 
H.  Angevine. 
W.  T.  Goodwin. 
M.  Billiard. 
A.  Hays. 
R.  Mcintosh. 
J.  Paddleford. 
J.  L.  Duel. 
J.  Stevens. 
H.  L.  Johnson. 
S.  B.  Rowe. 
A.  Slausen. 


H.  Paul. 

C.  W.  Rockwell. 

J.  A.  Rockwell. 

J.  T.  Ellis. 

J.  Johnson. 

J.  Davis. 

H.  D.  Hall. 

W.  M.  Slendy. 

C.  Passage. 

Bacchus  and  Norton. 

L.  W.  Willmer. 

W.  Tucker. 

T.  W.  Llgan. 

Samuel  Weeks. 

S.  Bailey. 

A.  Ward. 

S.  Robinson. 

T.  White. 

S.  Lane. 


BALTIMOKE  POST-OFFICE. 
The  ground  on  which  the  hamlet  known  as  Baltimore 
Post-Office  is  located  was  originally  owned  by  John  Stall, 
who  later  conveyed  it  to  Peter  Gendro.  Sixty  acres  of 
this  land  were  afterwards  purchased  by  John  Harrington. 
This  was  subsequently  divided  between  William  Match  and 
A.  C.  Crandall,  each  having  secured  30  acres.  Cyrus  Alt- 
man  obtained  20  acres  of  the  portion  originally  secured  by 
Match,  one  acre  of  which  was  purchased  by  David  Ed- 
wards, who,  in  1864,  erected  a  store  thereon,  in  which  he 
placed  a  general  stock  of  goods  adapted  to  the  wants  of  a 
country  trade.     This  store  was  afterwards  bought  by  J.  C. 


Lampman,  who,  two  years  later,  sold  to  Horace  Hall,  who 
in  turn  sold  to  John  Riley,  from  whom  it  passed  into  the 
hands  of  Royal  G.  Rice,  the  present  owner,  in  1872,  who 
is  also  the  postmaster.  There  are  a  blacksmith-  and  wagon- 
shop,  kept  by  Ormsbee  &  Brc,  and  a  few  dwellings  em- 
braced in  the  hamlet,  and  a  resident  physician,  Dr.  A.  L. 
Van  Horn,  also  enjoys  an  extensive  suburban  practice.  Its 
principal  importance  is  derived  from  the  fact  that  it  is  the 
point  at  which  the  township  mail  is  received. 

PEITCHAEDVILLE. 

Mr.  Daniel  S.  Chase  in  1853  purchased  120  acres  on 
section  20,  upon  which  he  erected  a  saw-mill  soon  after  his 
advent,  and  in  1855  a  grist-mill.  Having  at  first  no  bolts 
with  which  to  produce  a  superior  quality  of  flour,  he  ex- 
cited the  mirthful  proclivities  of  customers  by  his  advocacy 
of  Graham  flour  as  being  more  conducive  to  health  than  a 
flner  grade  of  flour,  which  his  mill  was  unable  to  grind. 
He  soon  after  found  in  George  Swanson  a  purchaser  for 
the  property,  who  subsequently  conveyed  it  to  John  Brit- 
ton,  and  he  to  a  buyer  named  Crandall. 

It  was  bought  of  the  latter  gentleman  by  Messrs.  Pritch- 
ard  &  Dixon,  and  later  the  firm  became  Pritchard  Bros., 
the  present  proprietors.  The  mills  are  run  by  water-power 
furnished  by  the  Cedar  Creek,  and  do  custom-work  exclu- 
sively. A  foundry  is  also  owned  and  managed  by  the  pro- 
prietors. A  store  was  formerly  kept  at  this  point,  which  is 
at  present  closed. 

A  post-office  has  been  recently  established  at  Pritchard- 
ville,  of  which  George  Pritchard  is  the  postmaster. 

METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 
Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  a  class  under  the  auspices 
of  this  church  has  existed  since  1855,  repeated  interviews 
with  its  older  members  have  failed  to  discover  any  early 
records  or  secure  information  relative  to  its  history. 
Preaching  was  for  many  years  held  in  one  of  the  school- 
houses  of  the  township,  and  in  1873  measures  were  taken 
for  the  erection  of  a  church  edifice,  which  were  successful. 
In  1874  the  building  was  completed  and  dedicated.  It  is 
a  spacious  and  substantial  frame  structure,  standing  on  sec- 
tion 21.  Services  are  at  present  held  semi-monthly,  and 
conducted  by  Elder  Janes,  of  Johnstown.  A  flourishing 
Sabbath-school  is  connected  with  the  church,  under  the 
superintendence  of  A.  Heath.  The  board  of  trustees  are 
Dr.  A.  L.  Van  Horn,  Moses  Aldrich,  Julius  Crosby,  J.  C. 
Arnold,  Joseph  L.  French,  Harrison  Mershon. 

BALTIMORE  GRANGE,  No.  472. 
This  organization  was  first  established  in  1873,  its 
earliest  officers  having  been  John  Lichty,  Master ;  A.  E. 
Durfee,  Overseer  ;  G.  R.  Durfee,  Lecturer ;  E.  B.  Warner, 
Sec. ;  R.  K.  Stanton,  Treas.  The  meetings  are  at  present 
held  at  the  house  of  John  Harrington,  though  the  mem- 
bers are  now  obtaining  subscriptions  for  the  erection  of  a 
spacious  hall  on  section  33,  to  be  devoted  to  the  interests  of 
the  grange.  Its  present  officers  are  E.  B.  Warner,  Master ; 
Samuel  Jones,  Overseer ;  G.  R.  Durfee,  Lecturer  ;  Mrs.  S. 
Granger,  Sec;  Albert  Granger,  Treas.  The  Baltimore 
Grange  embraces  84  members,  and  is  in  a  flourishing  con- 
dition. 


BALTIMORE  TOWNSHIP. 


397 


OKGANIZATION. 


The  township  of  Baltimore  was,  by  the  following  act, 
made  an  independent  organization  : 

"Be  it  enacted  hy  the  Senate  and  Bouse  of  Itepreaentativee  of  the 
State  of  Michigan,  That  town  number  two  north,  of  range  number 
eight  west,  in  the  county  of  Barry,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  set  off 
from  the  township  of  Johnstown,  and  organized  into  a  separate  town- 
ship by  the  name  of  Baltimore,  and  the  first  township-meeting 
therein  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  Bardsley  R.  Blanohard,  in  said 
township.    Approved  March  15, 1849." 

CIVIL  LIST. 

In  accordance  with  the  act  of  the  State  Legislature,  the 
first  township-meeting  of  Baltimore  was  held  at  the  house 
of  Bardsley  R.  Blanchard,  the  date  of  said  meeting  having 
been  April  2, 1849.  The  following  oflBcers  were  chosen  to 
preside  at  this  meeting :  Bardsley  R.  Blanchard,  Moder- 
ator; Pliny  McOmber,  Clerk;  Andrew  Kelley  and' Joseph 
Judd,  Inspectors  of  Election.  The  following  is  the  list  of 
oflScials  chosen  :  Supervisor,  Bardsley  R.  Blanchard  ;  Town- 
ship Clerk,  Pliny  McOmber  ;  Treasurer,  Andrew  Kelley ; 
Justices  of  the  Peace,  William  Harwood,  Joseph  Judd,  G. 
W.  Campbell,  B.  R.  Blanchard ;  Directors  of  the  Poor, 
Andrew  Kelley,  Jacob  D.  Hodges;  Highway  Commis- 
sioners, G.  W.  Campbell,  Samuel  Baldwin,  J.  D.  Hodges ; 
School  Inspectors,  Porter  Harwood,  Joseph  Judd  ;  Asses- 
sors, Porter  Harwood,  George  W.  Campbell;  Constables, 
Samuel  Baldwin,  Porter  Harwood. 

The  annexed  list  embraces  the  ofiScials  chosen  to  the 
present  date : 

1850. — Supervisor,  B.  R.  Blanchard ;  Township  Clerk,  J.  W.  Hough- 
talin;  Treasurer,  Henry  Wood;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  G.  S. 
Fisher,  Joseph  Judd ;  Highway  Commissioners,  G.  S.  Fisher, 
John  Houghtalin  j  Assessors,  J.  L.  Fox,  Darwin  McOmber; 
School  Inspector,  Pliny  McOmber.  B.  R.  Blanchard  "having 
resigned,  Eli  D.  Eaton  was  appointed  to  fill  the  unexpired 
term  as  supervisor. 

1851. — Supervisor,  J.  L.  Fox  :  Township  Clerk,  Jared  Whitniore ; 
Treasurer,  Pliny  McOmber;  Highway  Commissioner,  P.  Y. 
Baldwin;  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Gilbert  Striker;  School 
Inspector,  Eli  D.  Eaton ;  Constables,  R.  B.  Hunter,  G.  S. 
Fisher,  J.  H.  Day,  Lewis  Smith. 

1852. — Supervisor,  J.  W.  Houghtalin;  Township  Clerk,  Gilbert 
Striker ;  Treasurer,  Jared  Whitmore ;  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
Eli  D.  Eaton;  Highway  Commissioners,  B.  C.  Cramer, 
Dayton  Hall ;  School  Inspectors,  J.  W.  Houghtalin,  Eli  D. 
Eaton ;  Constables,  Michael  Holes,  J.  S.  Britton,  John 
Houghtalin,  Horatio  W.  Hall. 

1853. — Supervisor,  James  S.  Tuxbury;  Township  Clerk,  Gilbert 
Striker;  Treasurer,  Jared  Whitmore;  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
B.  R.  Blanchard;  School  Inspector,  Eli  D.  Eaton;  High- 
way Commissioner,  Jesse  Russell;  Directors  of  the  Poor, 
Lyman  Mixer,  Amos  Barney ;  Constables,  S.  E.  Warner,  J. 
M.  Holes,  J.  W.  Houghtalin,  L.  H.  Nichols. 

1854. — Supervisor,  Jas.  S.  Tuxbury ;  Township  Clerk,  Gilbert  Striker; 
Treasurer,  Jared  Whitmore;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  M.  L. 
Williams,  E.  B.  Warner;  Highway  Commissioner,  Guy  R. 
Durfee ;  Constables,  N.  Houghtalin,  G.  R.  Durfee. 

1855. — Supervisor,  James  S.  Tuxbury ;  Township  Clerk,  D.  S.  Chase ; 
Treasurer,  D.  McOmber;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  Caren 
Gregory,  D.  S.  Chase;  Highway  Commissioners,  Thomas 
Baker,  D.  S.  Chase ;  School  Inspectors,  Edgar  Jeaner,  Eli 
D.  Eaton ;  Constables,  J.  S.  Tuxbury,  Saml.  Weeks,  Wm. 
Rhodes. 
1856. — Supervisor,  Gilbert  Striker;  Township  Clerk,  Wm.  0.  King; 
Treasurer,  M.  L.  Williams;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  Samuel 
Weeks,  David  Loneks;  School  Inspector,  Alanson  Warner, 
Jr. ;  Highway  Commissioners,  G.  B.  Phifer,  B.  C.  Cramer, 


E.  A.  Turner,  G.  S.  Fisher,  W.  D.  Rhodes;  Assessor, 
Samuel  Weeks. 

1857.— Supervisor,  J.  S.  Tuxbury  ;  Township  Clerk,  6.  B.  Phifer  ;  A. 
E.  Durfee,  Treasurer  ;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  Alanson  War- 
ner, H.  W.  Warner ;  School  Inspectors,  J.  S.  Tuxbury,  H. 
W.  Warner ;  Directors  of  the  Poor,  W.  D.  Rhoads,  J.  R. 
Decker;  Constables,  E.  A.  Turner,  C.  S.  Powell,  J.  S. 
Tuxbury,  John  Houghtalin. 

1858.— Supervisor, T.B.  Fuller;  Township  Clerk,  G.B. Phifer ;  Treas- 
urer, A.  E.  Durfee ;  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Gilbert  Striker  ; 
Highway  Commissioner,  G.  R.  Durfee;  School  Inspectors, 
J.  S.  Tuxbury,  H.  W.  Warner;  Constables,  Job  Baboock, 
John  Houghtalin. 

1859. — Supervisor,  J.  S.  Tuxbury ;  Township  Clerk,  H.  G.  Orwig  ; 
Treasurer,  M.  L.  Williams ;  Highway  Commissioners,  R.  R. 
Ilayncs,  Joseph  Gaskill;  School  Inspector,  Charles  Gaskill; 
Constables,  T.  S.  Baker,  John  Houghtalin,  Nelson  Rodger, 
George  Sheffield. 

I860.— Supervisor,  M.  L.  Williams;  Township  Clerk,  H.  G.  Onig; 
Treasurer,  A.  E.  Durfee;  Highway  Commissioner,  John  Har- 
rington ;  School  Inspector,  E.  D.  Eaton ;  Constables,  Solomon 
Burtch,  A.  T.  Wilkins,  B.  F.  Gaskill,  0.  Babcock. 

1861.— Supervisor,  A.  E.  Durfee;  Township  Clerk,  H.  6.  Orwig; 
Treasurer,  W.  D.  Rhodes;  School  Inspector,  Charles  H.  Gas- 
kill; Constables,  Solomon  Burtch,  Benjamin  Gaskill,  0. 
Babcock,  John  Houghtalin. 

1862.— Supervisor,  E.D.Eaton;  Township  Clerk,  M.  L.Williams; 
Treasurer,  M.  Holmes;  Highway  Commissioner,  A.  J.  Wood- 
mancy ;  School  Inspectors,  E.  D.  Eaton,  W.  C.  Squires  ;  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace,  Gilbert  Striker;  Constables;  0.  Babcock, 
Judge  Stiltson,  W.  K.  Ferris,  John  Houghtalin. 

1863. — Supervisor,  Matthew  Holmes;  Township  Clerk,  W.  H.  Van 
Vleek;  Treasurer,  M.  L.  Williams;  Justices  of  the  Peace, 
Darwin  McOmber,  H.  W.  Warner;  School  Inspector.  Samuel 
Weeks;  Highway  Commissioner,  W.  M.Warner;  Constables, 
S.  Hardenburg,  B.  F.  Gaskill,  J.  S.  Tuxbury,  Henry  Hough- 
talin. 

1864. — Supervisor,  Matthew  Holmes;  Township  Clerk,  D.  C.  Sanborn; 
Treasurer,  A.  E.  Durfee ;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  Jacob  Rhodes, 
A.  J.  Woodmancy ;  Highway  Commissioner,  John  Hough- 
talin; School  Inspector,  William  Match;  Constables,  W.  K. 
Ferris,  F.  G.  Brokefield,  A.  Granger,  H.  Houghtalin. 

1365.— Supervisor,  J.  W.  Houghtalin ;  Township  Clerk,  D.  C.  San- 
born; Treasurer,  A.  E.  Durfee;  School  Inspectors,  C.  H. 
Gaskill,  J.  W.  Houghtalin ;  Justice  of  the  Peace,  H.  W. 
Warner;  Highway  Commissioner,  H.  W.  Warner;  Constable, 
J.  S.  Tuxbury. 

1866. — Supervisor,  M.  L.  Williams;  Township  Clerk,  R.  T.  Stocking; 
Treasurer,  C.  H.  Gaskill;  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Gilbert 
Striker;  Highway  Commissioners,  W.  M.  Warner,  Henry 
Houghtalin,  A.  S.  Van  Vleek;  School  Inspector,  Samuel 
Weeks ;  Constable,  Henry  Houghtalin. 

1867. — Supervisor,  A.  E.  Durfee ;  Township  Clerk,  D.  C.  Sanborn  ; 
Treasurer,  C.  H.  Gaskill;  School  Inspector,  C.  H.  Gaskill; 
Highway  Commissioners,  G.  R.  Durfee,  H.  W.  Sentz ;  Con- 
stables, William  Hyde,  W.  H.  Landon. 

1868. — Supervisor,  J.  H.  Day ;  Township  Clerk,  D.  C.  Sanborn ; 
Treasurer,  Henry  Houghtalin ;  Highway  Commissioner,  H. 
W.  Sentz  ;  School  Inspector,  Samuel  Weeks ;  Constables,  A. 
E.  Durfee,  W.  H.  Eaton,  Michael  Hendershot,  H.  Houghtalin. 

1869. — Supervisor,  M.  L.  Williams;  Township  Clerk,  D.  C.  Sanborn  ; 
Treasurer,  Henry  Houghtalin ;  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Wm. 
Freeman;  Highway  Commissioner,  William  M.  Warner; 
School  Inspectors,  C.  H.  Gaskill,  D.  B.  Freeman ;  Constables, 
John  Fancber,  George  Bryant,  0.  Babcock,  W.  0.  Green. 

1870. — Supervisor,  R.  K.  Stanton;  Township  Clerk,  D.Warner; 
Treasurer,  John  Lichty;  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Gilbert 
Striker;  Highway  Commissioner,  J.  T.  Hinchman  ;  School 
Inspector,  D.  B.  Freeman;  Constables,  Gilbert  Buck,  W.  0. 
Green,  A.  H.  Eaton,  G.  D.  Babcock. 

1871. — Supervisor,  R.  K.  Stanton;  Township  Clerk,  C.  M.  Mack; 
Treasurer,  John  Lichty ;  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Darwin  Mc- 
Omber; School  Inspector,  G.  E.  Bryant;  Highway  Com- 
missioner, R.  H.  Dixon;  Constables,  Horace  Hull,  C.  W. 
Houghtalin,  Charles  Pritohard,  J.  H.  Day. 


398 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BAKRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


1872.- 


-Snpervisor,  R.  K.  Stanton  ;  Township  Clerk,  Charles  M.  Mack ; 
Treasurer,  John  Lichty ;  Justice  of  the  Peace,  D.  C.  Warner  ; 
Highway  Commissioners,  W.  M.  Warner,  John  Bartlett; 
School  Inspector,  D.  B.  Freeman ;  Constahles,  James  Ends- 
ley,  Franklin  Roush,  H.  H.  Hull,  Turner  Gardner. 
1873.— Supervisor,  John  Liohty;  Township  Clerk,  George  E.  Bryant; 
Treasurer,  A.  E.  Durfee;  Justice  of  the  Peace,  C.  M.  Hen- 
dershot;  Highway  Commissioners,  D.  B.  Freeman,  R.  G. 
Rice;  School  Inspector,  Charles  H.  Gaskill;  Constables, 
Turner  Gardner,   II.  H.  Houghtalin,  Allen   Roush,  G.  W. 


1874.— Supervisor,  J.  H.  Day  ;  Township  Clerk,  G.  E.  Bryant;  Treas- 
urer, D.  C.  Warner;  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Gilbert  Striker; 
Highway  Commissioner,  Royal  G.  Rice;  School  Inspector, 

C.  M.  Mack ;  Constables,  William  H.  Hendershot,  Turner 
Gardner,  Charles  Pritohard,  Samuel  Weeks. 

1875._Supervisor,  Henry  Houghtalin;  Township  Clerk,  Charles  M. 
Mack;  Treasurer,  John  Lichty;  Highway  Commissioner, 
Guy  R.  Durfee;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  R.  K.  Stanton,  Dar- 
win McOmber;  Superintendent  of  Schools,  C.  H.  Gaskill; 
School  Inspector,  D.  C.  Warner;  Constables,  Guy  Latham, 
G.  W.  Garrison,  John  Phelps,  M.  M.  Slooum. 

1876. — Supervisor,  Henry  Houghtalin ;  Township  Clerk,  C.  M.  Mack  ; 
Treasurer,  John  Lichty ;  Justice  of  the  Peace,  D.  C.  Warner; 
Highway  Commissioner,  R.  R.  Haynes;  Superintendent  of 
Schools,  George  E.  Bryant;  School  Inspector,  D.  C.Warner; 
Drain  Commissioner,  A.  E.  Durfee;  Constahles,  Warren 
Warner,  George  Greenfield,  Morris  Pilgrim,  William  Hen- 
dershot. 

1877.- — Supervisor,  Henry  Houghtalin  ;  Township  Clerk,  C.  M.  Mack; 
Treasurer,  C.  M.  Hendershot;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  D.  C. 
Sanborn,  Jesse  Erb;  Highway  Commissioner,  John  H.  Day; 
Superintendent  of  Schools,  G.  E.  Bryant ;  School  Inspector, 

D.  C.  Sanborn ;  Constables,  C.  M.  Mack,  Gilbert  Striker, 
Perry  G.  Henry,  Charles  Pritchard. 

1878. — Supervisor,  Henry  Houghtalin;  Township  Clerk,  C.  D.  Pierce; 
Treasurer,  John  Lichty;  Justice  of  the  Peace,  W,  H.  Hen- 
dershot; Highway  Commissioner,  R.  K.  Stanton;  Superin- 
tendent of  Schools,  Eli  D.  Eaton;  Drain  Commissioner, 
Jacob  Erb ;  School  Inspector,  Frank  Smith ;  Constables, 
Thomas  Spruce,  Luman  Phelps,  Augustus  Reid,  John 
Crawley. 

1879. — Supervisor,  C.  M.  Mack;  Township  Clerk,  Perry  G.  Henry; 
Treasurer,  Royal  G.  Rice;  Justice  of  the  Peace,  R.  K. 
Stanton;  Highway  Commissioner,  Charles  Pritohard:  Su- 
perintendent of  Schools,  D.  C.Warner;    School  Inspector, 

C.  H.  Gaskill ;  Constables,  George  D.  Baboock,  J.  C.  Arnold, 

D.  C.  Sanborn,  Frederick  Graff". 
-Supervisor,   Charles    M.   Mack ;    Township    Clerk,  Perry  G. 

Henry;  Treasurer,  Royal  G.  Rice;  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
Jesse  Erb;  Highway  Commissioner,  Colburn  Osgood;  Su- 
perintendent of  Schools,  D.  C.  Warner;  School  Inspector, 
Charles  H.  Gaskill ;  Drain  Commissioner,  Darwin  McOm- 
ber ;  Constables,  George  D.  Babcock,  Alonzo  Kidder,  Richard 
Murray,  William  Houghtalin. 


1880.- 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


WILLIAM   M.  WARNER. 

William  M.  Warner  was  born  near  Wooster,  Wajne  Co., 
Ohio,  Jan.  25,  1822.  His  father,  Daniel  Warner,  was  a 
native  of  New  York,  his  mother's  birthplace  being  Phila- 
delphia, Pa. 

The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  moved  to  Craw- 
ford Co.,  Ohio,  when  William  was  a  mere  lad  of  seven. 
He  resided  in  this  county  for  more  than  five  years,  when 


he  removed  to  Hancock  County,  making  it  his  home  for  the 
period  of  four  years.  He  was,  at  this  time,  induced  to  go 
to  Wood  Co.,  Ohio,  but  remained  only  for  a  short  time,  as 
he  was  very  desirous  of  realizing  his  day-dreams  of  a  life 
in  the  West.  He  soon  journeyed  to  Missouri,  and  located 
in  that  State  in  1838.  This  being  the  year  of  the  Mormon 
war  in  Missouri,  he  found  life  to  be  almost  unbearable ;  so 
very  unpleasant  was  his  sojourn  there,  so  different  from 
what  he  had  hoped,  that  it  was  very  easy  to  accept  the  lures 
thrown  out  to  tempt  him  back  to  Hancock  County,  where 
he  eventually  went,  tarrying,  however,  in  Illinois  for  eight 
months. 

William  M.  accompanied  his  father  in  all  these  pilgrim- 
ages. Upon  his  arrival  at  the  age  of  manhood  he  mar- 
ried, Nov.  12,  1844,  Margaret  M.  Bechtel,  of  Wayne  Co., 
Ohio,  who  has  proven  to  be  a  very  faithful  wife,  a  tender, 
careful,  and  admirable  mother.  She  was  born  Feb.  10, 
1827.  The  first  two  years  of  their  married  life  were  passed 
in  Hancock  County,  and  in  the  spring  of  1847  they  took 
up  their  abode  in  Henry  Co.,  Ohio. 

In  the  fall  of  1852  he  became  a  resident  of  Iowa.  The 
following  year  he  located  in  Michigan,  and  on  the  23d  of 
May,  of  that  year,  he  settled  in  Baltimore  township,  on  the 
farm  where  he  now  resides. 

Politically,  he  is  an  earnest  Republican.  He  has  never 
been  an  oflBce-seeker,  but  has  proved  his  ability  to  improve 
the  ways  of  the  people,  viz.,  as  road  commissioner. 

His  life  has  been  a  very  correct  one,  and  among  his  many 
excellent  qualities,  one  of  the  most  prominent  is  his  firm 
adherence  to  the  temperance  cause. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Warner  has  given 
them  six  children.  The  eldest,  Daniel  C.  Warner,  was  born 
in  Hancock  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  5,  1846.  He  married  Angeline 
M.  Morgan,  March  10,  1875. 

He  is  a  man  of  agreeable  presence,  and  his  scholarly  at- 
tainments, linked  with  his  executive  ability,  have  enabled 
him  to  serve  the  public  in  a  variety  of  ways, — at  one  time 
as  township  clerk,  treasurer,  and  justice  of  the  peace. 

When  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age  he  commenced  teach- 
ing, instructing  the  youth  through  the  winter  months,  and 
engaging  in  agriculture  during  the  summer.  At  the  pres- 
ent time  he  is  superintendent  of  the  schools  of  Baltimore 
township,  where  he  is  proving  a  very  useful  oflScial. 

Their  second  child,  Mary  E..  was  born  Sept.  14,  1848, 
in  Henry  Co.,  Ohio,  and  died  April  16, 1854.  In  the  same 
county,  Jan.  18,  1851,  Melissa  A.  was  born,  and  is  now 
the  wife  of  R.  W.  Jones,  of  Assyria,  Barry  Co.,  Mich. 
Frederick  H.  was  born  in  Baltimore,  Oct.  1,  1853,  and 
married  Mary  A.  Breakfield,  of  the  same  place,  Aug.  25, 
1878.  They  are  the  parents  of  one  child.  Adella  A.  was 
born  Nov.  1,  1859,  and  married  Frederick  Jones,  of  Barry 
County. 

Their  youngest  child,  William  M.,  was  born  August 
18,  1806,  and  is  now  living  with  his  parents. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Warner  are  yet  early  in  life's  afternoon, 
and  not  only  by  their  children,  to  whom  they  have  ever 
been  devoted  and  faithful  parents,  but  by  the  community  at 
large,  are  they  greatly  esteemed ;  and  it  is  the  universal 
wish  that  they  may  be  long  spared  among  the  pioneers  of 
Baltimore. 


BALTIMORE  TOWNSHIP. 


399 


SAMUEL  WEEKS. 


Photo,  by  Heath  &  Chidester,  HaEtinga,  Mich. 


Isaac  Weeks,  the  father  of  Samuel  Weeks,  was  born  in 
Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  for  several  years  was  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  store  on  Pearl  Street,  in  the  city  of  New  York. 
On  his  mother's  side,  Mr.  Weeks'  genealogy  is  traced  back  to 
the  Carpenter  family,  his  grandfather  being  Silas  Carpenter, 
of  Kings  Street,  Westchester  County.  Samuel  Weeks  was 
born  in  North  Castle,  in  the  same  county,  Oct.  3,  1817,  and 
lived  in  New  York  City  until  he  was  eight  years  old,  when 
his  father  moved  to  Cayuga  County,  where  they  lived  on  a 
farm  for  some  time ;  but  his  father,  being  of  an  enterprising 
nature,  pushed  farther  west  into  the  Genesee  country,  and 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Monroe  County.  Here  Mr.  Samuel 
Weeks  remained  until  he  reached  the  age  of  nineteen,  when 
he  started  West,  coming  to  Battle  Creek,  Mich.  After  a 
short  stay  he  returned  to  New  York,  and  in  1839  came  to 
Michigan  again,  locating  in  Baltimore  township,  where  he 
purchased  two  hundred  acres  of  land  from  the  government, 
paying  for  it  in  United  States  treasury  notes,  they  being 
the  first  ones  received  at  the  land-office  in  Kalamazoo.  His 
deed  is  from  the  government,  and  bears  date  of  May  1, 
1839.  On  this  farm,  in  the  same  year,  Mr.  Weeks  cut 
the  first  tree  felled  in  the  then  forests  of  Baltimore.  He 
still  owns  the  same  farm,  and  by  good  management  has 
added  to  it  until  his  acres  now  number  over  five  hundred. 

In  speaking  to^  the  writer  he  said  in  his  mirthful  way 
that  he  had  prospered  well  considering  that  he  had  been 


taken  from  the  almshouse,  but  he  explains  this  circum- 
stance in  his  life  by  telling  how  he  got  lost  in  the  city 
when  quite  young,  when  being  much  frightened  he  was 
unable  to  tell  his  father's  name,  and  was  taken  to  the  alms- 
house, where  he  was  soon  found,  and  taken  home  to  make 
the  sad  heart  of  his  mother  glad. 

Mr.  Weeks  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was 
Mary  C.  Miller,  a  native  of  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  the 
mother  of  two  children, — Isaac,  born  Jan.  20,  1844,  now 
a  farmer  in  Baltimore  township,  and  Sarah  Jane,  born 
April  27,  1851. 

His  present  wife,  Abbie  C.  Terry,  a  lady  of  more  than 
ordinary  ability,  is  also  a  native  of  the  Empire  State  and 
Monroe  County,  born  July  31,  1828 ;  her  only  child  is 
Mary  A.,  born  Dec.  20,  1863.  His  first  and  present  wifff 
are  descendants  of  Jonathan  Horton,  who  came  from  Eng- 
land in  the  early  settlement  of  Long  Island,  and  settled  at 
Southhold,  where  his  tombstone  is  still  seen. 

In  politics  Mr.  Weeks  is  a  Republican,  although  not  a 
politician,  devoting  his  time  to  his  farm  instead  of  politics. 
He  has,  however,  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  assessor. 
In  the  early  days  of  Michigan  he  surveyed  a  great  deal  of 
land,  and  was  in  many  ways  a  valuable  acquisition  in  the 
settlement  of  the  country.  He  is  not  a  member  of  any 
church,  but  descends  from  the  Quakers,  inheriting  many 
of  the  sterling  qualities  of  that  sect. 


BARRY. 


The  township  of  Barry  was  organized  in  March,  1836,f 
and  then  comprised  the  whole  territory  of  the  county.  In 
1838  this  territory  was  divided  into  four  civil  townships, 
thus  reducing  the  subject  of  this  sketch  to  survey-town- 
ships 1  and  2  north,  in  ranges  9  and  10  west.  In  1841  the 
western  half  (survey-townships  1  and  2,  in  range  10)  was 
set  off  as  Spaulding,  reducing  Barry  to  survey-townships 
1  and  2,  in  range  9.  On  the  25th  of  March,  1850,  survey- 
township  2,  range  9,  was  set  off  from  Barry  as  Hope, 
bringing  the  former  to  its  present  limits.  Unless  otherwise 
specified,  the  term  "  Barry  township''  will  be  applied  in  this 
sketch  to  its  present  territory  only. 

NATURAL  FEATURES. 

The  western  part  of  the  township,  like  the  eastern  part 
of  Prairieville,  originally  consisted  of  belts  of  prairie  and 
oak-openings.  The  soil  in  that  region  is  very  productive. 
The  eastern  part  of  Barry  is  more  hilly  and  stony,  and  in 
some  localities  the  soil  is  not  so  good.  But  the  township 
as  a  whole  is  justly  considered  one  of  the  most  productive 
in  Barry  County.  Wheat  is  the  staple  product,  but  all  the 
grains  and  fruits  are  produced  in  abundance. 

EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 

The  first  settler  in  Barry  township  was  the  Kev.  Moses 
Lawrence.  In  the  summer  of  1834  he  entered  120  acres 
of  land  in  the  goveroment  land-ofiBce, — 80  acres  of  section 
28,  and  40  of  section  27.  After  locating  his  land  he  re- 
turned to  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
year  brought  thence  his  family,  consisting  of  a  wife,  four 
sons,  and  three  daughters.  He  was  accompanied  by  his 
brother-in-law,  Aaron  Fargo,  and  his  mother-in-law,  Mrs. 
Edith  Fargo,  who  died  the  following  spring.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Amasa  S.  Parker,  who  lived  on  section  35,  in  Prairieville 
township,  were  the  nearest  neighbors,  and  came  nearly  seven 
miles  to  assist  at  the  funeral. 

Mr.  Lawrence  built  a  log  cabin,  which  was  14  feet  wide, 
16  feet  long,  and  one  story  high,  with  a  roof  sloping  but 
one  way.  The  ceiling  was  about  6  feet  high  at  the  lower 
side.  To  economize  room  an  ingenious  plan  was  resorted 
to.  Two  of  the  bed-frames  were  attached  to  the  wall 
by  a  pair  of  home-made  hinges,  and  so  arranged  that 
they  could  be  folded  up  against  the  wall  and  fastened  to  a 
hook  on  the  rafter.  Mr.  Fargo  located  just  north  of  Mr. 
Lawrence. 

The  next  settler  to  reach  Barry  was  Benjamin  Hoff, 
accompanied  by  his  family,  consisting  of  a  wife,  two  sons, 
and  one  daughter.     He  purchased  a  considerable  tract  on 


400 


»  By  G.  A.  MoAlpine. 

f  See  Chapter  XIII.  of  the  general  history. 


section  34.  The  same  year  Ephraim  B.  Cook  located  the 
south  half  of  section  32.  He  was  killed  in  1837,  by  the 
falling  of  a  heavy  limb  from  a  tree~which  he  was  felling. 
He  left  a  large  family,  one  of  whom,  his  son  Edwin,  now 
lives  on  part  of  the  original  purchase. 

David  Nye,  of  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y.,  emigrated  to  Mich- 
igan in  1836,  reaching  Gull  Prairie  in  October  of  that  year. 
He  lived  there  a  short  time,  and  then  purchased  1 14  acres 
on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  19,  in  township  1,  range 
10.  After  living  there  one  year  he  removed  to  New  York 
on  account  of  ill  health.  He  sold  the  farm  to  his  brother, 
George  W.  Nye,  who  had  come  to  Gull  Prairie  with  him 
in  1836.  George  W.  Nye  married  Esther  M.,  a  daughter 
of  Ephraim  B.  Cook,  who  had  located  on  section  32  in 
1834.  Mr.  Nye  lived  on  this  farm  about  three  years,  when 
he  removed  to  Prairieville,  where  he  now  resides. 

Samuel  Case,  also  from  the  State  of  New  York,  came  to 
this  region  in  1836,  and  purchased  240  acres  on  the  west 
half  of  section  9,  in  this  township,  and  lived  there  till  his 
death,  nearly  thirty  years  later. 

Ambrose  Mills,  the  second  clerk  of  Barry  township, 
reached  that  township  probably  in  the  early  part  of  1836. 
He  entered  a  part  of  section  7.  George  Jones,  a  native  of 
England,  settled  on  section  28,  in  1836.  He  is  one  of  the 
two  survivors  of  the  second  town-meeting  held  in  Barry 
County.  Zaphna  Barnes,  with  his  family,  a  wife  and  two 
children,  settled  in  Barry  in  the  early  spring  of  1837,  where 
he  bought  a  part  of  section  21.  His  daughter,  Miss  Emily 
Barnes,  was  married  to  H.  I.  Knappen  soon  after.  This  is 
regarded  as  the  first  marriage  in  Barry  township.  The 
widow  of  Mr.  Barnes  is  still  living  on  the  place,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-three.  In  1837  two  families  of  Willisons  ar- 
rived. Samuel  Willison,  from  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  located 
tracts  on  sections  23  and  24,  while  his  brother,  James,  en- 
tered the  southwest  quarter  of  section  24.  Daniel  Cross 
and  family,  from  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  also  arrived  in  1837.  He 
purchased  a  part  of  section  30  from  a  Mr.  Pomeroy,  who 
had  entered  it  some  years  before.  John  Bowne,  who  had 
reached  Prairieville  the  spring  previous,  and  lived  during  the 
summer  on  the  farm  owned  by  Asahel  Tillotson,  moved  to 
Barry  in  the  fall  of  1837  and  located  a  part  of  section  7, 
but  subsequently  returned  to  Prairieville. 

Linus  Ellison  settled  fiirst  in  Prairieville  township,  on 
section  24.  He  sold  his  property  there  to  Isaac  Otis  and 
came  to  Barry,  where  he  entered  115  acres  of  section  20. 
Wells  Byington,  the  other  survivor  of  those  who  attended 
the  second  town-meeting  of  Barry  township,  was  born  in 
Connecticut  in  1808.  He  came  to  Michigan  first  in  1831, 
and  helped  to  build  the  Yorkville  Mills,  in  Boss,  Kalama- 
zoo Co.  In  1834  he  traveled  through  Prairieville  and 
Barry  townships.     He  returned  to  New  York,  and  after  a 


BARRY  TOWNSHIP. 


401 


stay  of  two  years,  again  came  West.  He  entered  a  part  of 
section  28  in  the  fall  of  1837.  About  the  same  time 
Thomson  T.  Lake  settled  on  the  western  part  of  the  same 
section.  He  soon  sold  out  and  went  to  Yorkville,  where  he 
still  lives.  Garretson  Rogers  was  the  first  settler  on  the 
school  section.     He  reached  the  township  first  in  1837. 

In  the  spring  of  1838  Hiram  Tillotson  came  from  what 
is  now  Prairieville,  where  he  had  lived  since  1835,  and  en- 
tered a  part  of  section  7. 

The  summer  of  1838  was  long  known  and  is  still  re- 
ferred to  by  old  settlers  as  the  sickly  season.  In  the  month 
of  August  a  terrible  epidemic  broke  out,  which  continued 
its  ravages  until  the  last  of  September.  Whole  families 
were  prostrated  at  the  same  time. 

Those  who  partially  escaped  were  exhausted  by  the  care 
of  the  sick.  Ambrose  Mills,  the  first  in  a  list  of  twenty, 
died  soon  after  being  taken  sick,  and  was  buried  on  section 
27.  Benjamin  Hofi'  and  his  elder  son  died  the  same  day. 
The  younger  son  died  soon  after.  His  daughter  was  re- 
moved to  Gull  Prairie  that  she  might  receive  better  care, 
but  lived  only  a  short  time  after  her  removal.  After  bury- 
ing her  husband  and  three  children  Mrs.  Hofi'  returned  to 
New  Jersey. 

A  Mr.  Skillman,  who,  with  his  family,  had  reached  the 
township  the  spring  previous,  died,  as  did  also  his  two  chil- 
dren. Mrs.  Skillman  also  returned  to  New  Jersey.  As 
cold  weather  set  in  the  epidemic  abated,  but  not  until  there 
had  been  twenty  deaths  in  the  little  settlement. 

During  that  summer  there  were  but  few  new  settlers  in 
the  township.  Salmon  C.  Hall  and  family  arrived  in  the 
fall.  Mr.  Hall  taught  the  first  winter  school,  in  the  winter 
of  1838-39.  Among  the  early  settlers  who  should  be 
mentioned  in  a  work  of  this  kind  are  Robert  Marshal, 
David  and  Warren  Bowker,  and  William  Woodard. 

EARLY  EOADS. 
The  first  road  in  the  present  township  of  Barry  was  es- 
tablished ,in  1837.  It  extended  from  a  black-oak  tree,  at 
the  north  end  of  the  "  Beaver  Dam,"  southwest  to  section 
12,  in  Prairieville,  from  which  place  it  ran  south  on  the 
line  between  the  two  townships.  The  "  Cook  road"  was 
the  next  established.  It  was  named  from  Ephraim  B. 
Cook,  who  lived  on  section  32,  and  before  whose  house  it 
passed.  This  road  has  never  been  much  changed ;  it  ex- 
tended from  the  base-line,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Jones' 
mill,  north  between  Gull  and  Long  Lakes,  and  thence  east 
from  Thomas'  mills,  through  sections  31  and  32,  to  the 
centre  of  section  33,  where  it  met  the  highway  commonly 
known  as  the  Mill  road,  leading  to  the  Yorkville  mills. 

This  latter  road  ran  from  the  base-line  north  through 
tection  33  to  the  centre  of  28.     It  was  subsequently  ex- 
tended north  "  to  a  post  on  the  fenced  field  of  Zaphna 
Barnes,"  on  section  21.    These  were  the  early  roads  of  the 
township,  and  formed  the  usual  routes  of  travel.     With 
them  nearly  all  the  roads  located  in  Barry  for  a  number  of 
years  were  made  to  connect.      The  road   east   and  west 
through  Hickory  Corners  was  established  June  20,  1837. 
SCHOOLS. 
As  near  as  can  be  ascertained,  no  public  schools  were 
taught  in  what  is  now  Barry  township  previous  to  the 
51 


summer  of  1838.  At  the  first  meeting  of  the  school  com- 
missioners of  the  old  township,  which  embraced  the  whole 
county,  in  April,  1837,  township  1,  in  range  9,  was  set  ofi'  as 
school  district  No.  14.  On  the  9th  day  of  May,  1837,  the 
board  directed  a  letter  to  Ephraim  B.  Cook,  instructing 
him  to  call  a  school  meeting  at  his  house  for  the  purpose 
of  organizing  a  school  district  and  electing  the  necessary 
officers.  There  are  no  minutes  of  this  meeting,  but  the 
district  was  undoubtedly  organized.  In  the  fall  of  that  year 
the  structure  known  as  the  "  white  school-house"  was  built. 
It  was  the  first  in  the  township,  and,  with  the  exception  of 
the  house  of  Moses  Lawrence,  was  the  first  building  at 
Hickory  Corners.  It  was  a  neat  framed  structure,  capable 
of  accommodating  from  40  to  60  scholars.  The  first  term 
was  taught  by  Miss  Theoda  Spaulding,  a  daughter  of  C.  W. 
Spaulding,  of  Prairieville. 

In  the  mean  time  the  township  had  been  divided  into 
four,  and  the  board  of  the  one  which  kept  the  name  of  Barry 
met  and  renumbered  the  districts.  This  occurred  on  the 
12th  of  April,  1838.  At  this  time  the  present  township 
of  Barry  was  designated  district  No.  1  ;  the  present  Prai- 
rieville, as  No.  2  ;  Orangeville,  as  No.  3.  The  tract  which 
is  now  Hope,  which  was  also  in  the  Barry  township  of  that 
day,  seems  to  have  received  no  attention,  as  it  is  not  men- 
tioned in  the  minutes.  In  February,  1838,  sections  18, 
19,  and  30,  in  township  1,  range  10,  together  with  the 
adjoining  sections  in  Prairieville,  were  formed  into  a  new 
school  district.  The  log  school-house  in  this  district  was 
one  of  the  first  in  the  township,  but  it  is  believed  that  the 
one  in  the  Willison  district  preceded  it. 

Salmon  C.  Hall  taught  the  first  winter  school,  in  the 
winter  of  1838-39.  It  was  the  only  one  in  the  present 
township,  and  several  of  the  scholars  walked  three  or  four 
miles  and  back,  daily,  throughout  the  winter. 

On  the  28th  day  of  December,  1844,  a  new  school  dis- 
trict was  set  off.  It  contained  the  south  half  of  sections 
11  and  12,  and  all  of  sections  13,  14,  23,  24,  25,  and  26. 
On  the  6th  of  December,  1845,  sections  5,  6,  7,  8  were 
set  ofi",  and  together  with  the  territory  of  Hope  were  formed 
into  still  another  district.  On  the  1st  of  January,  1846, 
sections  31,  32,  33,  and  the  south  part  of  sections  29  and 
30  were  annexed  to  the  northern  school  district  of  Ross,  in 
Kalamazoo  County.  The  districts  have  been  rearranged  from 
time  to  time  since  then,  but  it  is  not  necessary  to  specify 
all  these  changes. 

The  first  statement  of  money  apportioned  by  the  board 
was  in  1849.  At  that  time  there  were  six  districts,  and 
the  primary  school  fund  amounted  to  $40.62.  The  fol- 
lowing year  the  six  districts  received  $57  from  the  same 
fund.  The  first  complete  report  entered  on  the  records  is 
that  made  in  1854.  There  were  then  seven  districts,  whole 
and  fractional,  with  132  names  enrolled,  the  primary  fund 
amounting  to  $63.  In  1860  the  number  of  districts  had 
increased  to  nine,  and  the  number  of  scholars  to  200.  In 
1879  the  number  was  300,  and  the  number  of  districts 
ten.  The  total  amount  of  school  money  expended  was 
$1653.52. 

Several  of  the  early  teachers  in  Barry  were  residents 
of  Prairieville,  and  their  names  are  given  in  the  history  of 
that  township. 


402 


HISTOKY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


HICKOEY  COENBES. 
The  village  of  Hickory  Corners  is  located  at  the  centre 
of  section  28.  It  has  a  population  of  150.  There  are  three 
general  stores,  a  drug-store,  and  several  wagon-  and  black- 
smith-shops, two  harness-shops,  a  millinery-shop,  and  a  hotel, 
built  in  1868  by  Bradley  Thompson.  The  first  house  built 
in  the  village  was  the  school-house,  built  in  1837.  Solomon 
C.  Hall  built  the  first  dwelling-house,  about  the  year  1839. 
The  next  house  built  was  the  rear  part  of  the  large  store  on 
the  northwest  corner,  at  present  occupied  by  a  drug-store. 

CHUECHES. 

On  the  12th  day  of  March,  1842,  two  Methodist  minis- 
ters, named  respectively  E.  B.  Wooster  and  Orrin  Gregory, 
came  from  Jackson  County  to  the  house  of  Moses  Law- 
rence. After  holding  a  series  of  meetings  in  the  school- 
house  at  Hickory  Corners,  lasting  four  days,  in  which  time 
16  persons  expressed  a  desire  to  unite  with  the  church,  a 
class  was  formed.  The  members  met  in  the  school-house 
until  1858,  when  their  church,  just  east  of  the  village,  was 
built. 

The  Baptist  Church  of  Barry  was  organized  in  1858. 
Several  members  had  belonged  to  a  similar  society  in  Hope, 
but  when  that  was  discontinued  the  one  in  Barry  was 
formed.  Their  present  place  of  worship  was  erected  in 
1870.  Previous  to  this  time  they  met  in  the  Willison 
school-house. 

The  first  Sabbath-school  was  started  by  the  Rev.  Moses 
Lawrence  and  Benjamin  Hofi'  in  1837.  Mr.  Hofi'  was 
chosen  superintendent. 

CEMETEEIES. 

The  land  for  the  first  public  cemetery  was  donated  to  the 

township  by  Zaphna  Barnes  in  1847.     It  is  on  section  21, 

and  is  usually  known  as  the  North  Cemetery.     The  one 

near  the  village  of  Hickory  Corners  was  purchased  in  1854. 

MASONIC. 
HICKORY   LODGE,    No.  345. 

This  lodge  was  organized  Nov.  2,  1875,  and  held  its  first 
meeting  on  the  12th  of  the  same  month.  The  charter 
members  were  George  H.  Bisbridger,  John  C.  Coleman, 
George  Marr,  A.  G.  Cortright,  J.  L.  Meade,  Charles  H. 
Ferman,  John  L.  Snuggs,  Orlo  Kennedy,  A.  L.  Jones,  Sam- 
uel E.  Willison,  George  H.  McElwain,  John  Lawrence, 
William  Killgore,  H.  L.  Nobles,  Charles  Snyder,  Spencer 
Bickle,  T.  P.  Kelley,  P.  A.  Blackman,  Lyman  E.  Andrus, 
Robert  McElwain.  The  lodge  at  present  has  a  member- 
ship of  42  in  good  standing.  It  has  a  good  hall  well 
furnished,  and  is  free  from  debt.  There  has  been  no  death 
in  the  society  since  its  organization. 

POLITICAL  HISTOEY. 
By  an  act  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Michigan 
passed  in  March,  1836,  the  township  of  Barry  was  formed, 
comprising  the  whole  territory  of  Barry  County.  The  first 
town-meeting  was  held  in  what  is  now  Prairieville,  at  the 
house  of  C.  W.  Spalding,  on  the  4th  of  April,  1836.  Mr. 
Bpalding  was  chosen  moderator,  and  Orville  Barnes  clerk. 
The  names  of  the  officers  are  given  a  little  farther  on.   The 


records  do  not  give  the  names  or  number  of  the  electors  at  this 
meeting,  but  the  number  did  not  probably  exceed  thirteen. 
It  might  be  considered  one  of  the  most  pleasant  and  satis- 
factory elections  ever  held  in  Barry  County,  since  it  seems 
there  were  no  disappointed  candidates,  each  man  going 
home  at  night  bearing  the  honor  and  responsibility  of 
from  one  to  three  offices.  The  following  are  the  names  of 
the  electors,  as  near  as  can  be  ascertained :  Linus  Ellison, 
C.  W.  Spalding,  Moses  Lawrence,  C.  G.^  Hill,  Orville 
Barnes,  Isaac  Otis,  Benjamin  Hoflf,  Amasa  S.  Parker,  Nich- 
olas Campbell,  William  Campbell,  Henry  Leonard,  Luther 
Hill,  Lewis  Moran.  After  voting  to  hold  the  next  annual 
meeting  at  the  house  of  C.  W.  Spalding,  the  meeting  ad- 
journed. 

At  the  next  meeting,  in  1837,  the  number  of  voters  had 
increased  to  36.  The  most  important  action  taken  was  the 
appointing  of  a  committee  to  assist  the  commissioners  in 
locating  a  road  from  Gull  Prairie  to  the  Thornapple  River. 

It  was  also  voted  to  pay  a  bounty  of  $5  for  every  wolf 
killed  in  the  township.  During  the  year  Mr.  Tillotson's 
bounty  amounted  tO'  $20. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  officers  elected  April  4, 
1836:  Calvin  G.  Hill,  Supervisor;  Orville  Barnes,  Town 
Clerk  ;  Benjamin  Hoff,  Henry  Leonard,  C.  W.  Spaulding, 
Assessors ;  Amasa  S.  Parker,  Nicholas  Campbell,  Calvin 
G.  Hill,  Commissioners  of  Highways ;  Orville  Barnes,  C. 
W.  Spaulding,  Benjamin  HofF,  Calvin  G.  Hill,  Justices  of 
the  Peace ;  William  Campbell,  Collector ;  C.  W.  Spaulding, 
Benjamin  Hoff,  Luther  Hill,  School  Commissioners  ;  Linus 
Ellison,  Moses  Lawrence,  Directors  of  the  Poor;  Lewis 
Moran,  William  Campbell,  Constables. 

At  a  special  election  held  on  the  10th  of  May  of  the 
same  year,  choice  was  made  of  Isaac  Otis  for  supervisor  in 
place  of  Calvin  G.  Hill,  and  Moses  Lawrence  commissioner 
of  highways  in  place  of  the  same  person.  Mr.  Hill  prob- 
ably resigned. 

At  the  town-meeting  in  the  year  1837  36  voters  were 
present,  whose  names  are  given  below:  Huston  Lister, 
William  Lewis,  Samuel  Wickham,  Hiram  Lewis,  John 
King,  George  Buck,  John  Hanyen,  Henry  Leonard,  Isaac 
Otis,  Zaphna  Barnes,  Aaron  Fargo,  Ephraim  B.  Cook, 
Thomas  Campbell,  Calvin  Brown,  Amasa  S.  Parker,  Wil- 
liam T.  Gilkey,  George  Jones,  Eli  White,  Nicholas  Camp- 
bell, Linus  Ellison,  Moses  Lawrence,  Wells  Byington, 
Orville  Barnes,  John  Patton,  Ambrose  Mills,  Duty  Benson, 
Asahel  Tillotson,  George  Brown,  John  Mills,  Charles  W. 
Spaulding,  Madison  Adams,  Thomas  S.  Bunker,  Slocum  H. 
Bunker,  Benjamin  Hoff,  Joseph  Brown,  and  Isaac  Messer. 

At  this  election  Isaac  Otis  received  33  votes  for  super- 
visor, and  was  declared  elected.  Ambrose  Mills  was  elected 
township  clerk. 

On  the  6th  day  of  March,  1838,  an  act  was  approved 
by  which  the  township  of  Barry,  then  comprising  the 
whole  county,  was  divided  into  the  four  townships  of 
Hastings,  Thornapple,  Johnstown,  and  Barry;  the  latter 
by  the  act  comprised  townships  Nos.  1  and  2,  in  ranges  9 
and  10  west.  The  first  election  was  hfeld  at  the  house  of 
John  Mills  on  the  2d  of  April  in  that  year,  when  41  votes 
were  oast.  The  records  for  1838  and  1839  are  very 
meagre,  but  in  1838  Ambrose  Mills  was  supervisor  and 


BARRY  TOWNSHIP. 


403 


Peter  Folk  town  clerk,  and  in  1839  Salmon  C.  Hall  was 
supervisor. 

At  the  annual  meeting  held  April  6,  1840,  John  Bowne 
was  chosen  supervisor,  Eli  R.  Miller  township  clerk,  and 
Moses  Lawrence  treasurer.  It  was  voted  at  this  meeting  to 
raise  $350  for  township  expenses,  and  $100  for  the  use  of 
primary  schools.  In  this  year,  1840,  48  persons  are  re- 
corded as  jurors  in  the  township. 

On  the  20th  of  March,  1841,  an  act  of  the  Legislature 
set  off  survey-townships  1  and  2,  in  range  10,  as  Spaulding, 
leaving  survey-townships  1  and  2,  in  range  9,  as  the  civil 
township  of  Barry. 

The  first  town-meeting  in  Barry  after  the  second  division 
was  held  in  the  white  school-house,  at  Hickory  Corners, 
April  12,  1842. 

Aside  from  the  election  of  officers  no  notable  event 
occurred  at  the  successive  town-meetings  until  1848,  when 
it  was  voted  that  the  town  board  should  furnish  weights 
and  measures  as  a  standard  in  the  township  of  Barry.  In 
1853  the  town  voted  $50  for  improving  the  old  cemetery, 
and  $150  for  the  purchase  of  a  new* lot;  $25  was  also 
voted  to  buy  liquor,  in  compliance  with  the  Maine  liquor 
law.  The  town  voted  $100  in  1861  to  assist  in  establish- 
ing a  stage-line  from  Augusta  to  Hastings  by  way  of  Hick- 
ory Corners. 

At  a  special  town-meeting  called  on  the  28th  day  of 
December,  1863,  a  proposition  to  raise  $3000,  to  pay  $200 
to  each  volunteer  who  should  enlist  and  be  credited  to  the 
township  of  Barry,  was  carried  by  180  votes  in  favor  of  it 
to  22  against  it.  Soon  afterwards  the  town  voted  $100 
additional  to  be  paid  to  each  volunteer.  On  the  4th  of 
April,  1864,  the  town  bounty  was  increased  another  $100. 
At  a  special  meeting  held  July  28, 1864,  bonds  were  voted 
for  the  purpose  of  paying  an  additional  $100  as  bounty  to 
each  soldier.  Still  another  addition  of  $100  was  voted  on 
the  21st  of  January,  1865,  making  the  whole  amount  of 
town-bounty  $600.  The  money  was  usually  raised  by 
direct  tax  or  by  township  bonds,  although  private  parties 
contributed  considerable  sums  from  time  to  time,  which 
still  more  increased  the  bounty.  The  bonds  were  negoti- 
ated by  Adam  Elliott  at  par,  and  drew  10  per  cent,  in- 

^  Bairy  township  furnished  46  men  during  the  war  for 
the  Union.  It  paid  the  families  of  those  who  were  m  the 
field  $1300,  while  the  sums  paid  as  bounty  to  volunteers 
amounted  in  the  aggregate  to  $15,000. 

Previous  to  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  the 
Democratic  and  Whig  parties  were  so  nearly  balanced  in 
the  township  of  Barry  that  slight  causes  sometimes  gave 
one  or  the  other  the  lead.  But  on  the  formation  of  the 
first-named  party  the  Democrats  took  the  lead  and  held  it 
until  1859,  when  the  first  Republican  victory  was  gained 
in  the  township.  From  that  time  until  the  Urination  of 
the  National  Greenback  party,  in  the  winter  of  1878,  the 
Republican  party  remained  in  power.  J"  *e  spring  of 
that  year  there  were  three  tickets  in  the  field  and  the  new 
party  elected  all  its  candidates.  The  same  thing  occurred 
in  1879,  but  in  1880  the  vote  for  supervisor  was  a  tie  be- 
tween the  National  and  Republican  parties,  and  the  candi- 
date  of  the  latter  party  was  declared  elected  by  casting  lots. 


There  is  no  record  of  the  number  of  votes  cast  previous 
to  1850.  In  that  year  the  number  cast  for  supervisor  was 
86  ;  in  1860  the  number  reached  226  ;  in  1870,  275  ;  and 
in  1880,  324. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  officers  of  Barry  township 
from  1840  to  1880  : 

SUPERVISORS. 
1840,  John  Bowne;  1841,  Hiram  Lewis:  1842-43,  Zaplina  Barnes; 
1844,  James  Willison ;  1845,  Robert  Marshall ;  1846,  Samuel  Mo- 
Ilwain;  1847,  Samuel  Lawrence;  1848-50,  Robert  Marshal; 
1851-53,  B.  W.  Hewitt;  1854,  Lucien  Polly;  1855-58,  B.  W. 
Hewitt;  1859-62,  Lucien  Polly;  1863-64,  Adam  Blliott;  1865, 
Luoien  Polly  ;  1866-68,  Adam  Blliott ;  1869,  Asa  B.  Pennook ; 
1870,  Adam  Elliott;  1871,  Elias  Willison  ;  1872,  Robison  Brush; 
1873,  E.  T.  Manly;  1874,  Adam  Blliott;  1876-77,  W.  P.  Sidnam ; 
1878-79,  Charles  A.  Polly;  1880,  H.  F.  Bellenger. 

TOWN  CLERKS. 
1840,  B.  R.  Miller;  1841,  Royal  Ellis;  1842-44,  Salmon  C.  Hall; 
1845,  Charles  Smith;  1846^7,  William  Borthwick;  1848,  Lemuel 
0.  Campbell;  1849-60,  Charles  Smith;  1851,  L.  C.  Campbell; 
1852-53,  Henry  Bixby ;  1854,  0.  C.  Bush  ;  1855,  John  B.  Brown ; 
1856-57,  James  Ralston  ;  1858,  C.  C.  Bush  ;  1859-63,  Walden  T. 
Barber;  1864,  James  M.  Cadwallader;  1865-66,  Lewis  Durkee; 
1867,  H.  A.  Johnson;  1868,  James  Cadwallader;  1869,  C.  0. 
Bush;  1870,  George  M.  Smith;  1871-74,  C.  C.  Bush;  1876-77, 
J.  M.  Cadwallader;  1878,  J.  M..Elliott;  1879-80,  W.  A.  Laslier. 

TREASURERS. 
1840,  Moses  Lawrence;  1841,  Ebenezer  King;  1842,  no  record;  1843, 
David  Bowker;  1844-45,  Linus  Ellison;  1846,  Isaac  ToUcs ; 
1847-49,  Allen  Morey;  1850,  A.  I.  Bush;  1851,  Allen  Morey ; 
1852-53,  Hiram  Sheldon;  1854-55,  W.  T.  Barber;  1856,  B.  F. 
Taggert;  1857,  Warner  Barnes;  1858-59,  E.  F.  Manly;  1860- 
62,  Charles  Smith  :  186.3,  Alanson  Webster;  1864,  Robison  Bush  ; 
1865-66,  Samuel  Willison;  1867,  Isaac  Tolles;  1868,  Charles 
Smith;  1869,  C.  A.  Polly;  1870,  Ira  McAllister;  1871,  C.  A. 
Polly;  1872,  A.  A.  Aldrich;  1873,  Otis  P.  Tolles;  1874-75,  A.  A. 
Aldrich;  1876-77,  0.  Kennedy ;  1878-79,  A.  G.  Cartwright;  1880, 
William  Elliott. 

JUSTICES    OF   THE    PEACE. 
1840,  Samuel  Chase,  Joseph  Coffin;  1841,  John  Bowne,  Hiram  Lewis, 
John  J.  Nichols,  Eli  R.  Miller;  1842,  William  Woodard;  1843, 
no  record;  1844,  Hiram  Tillotson ;  1845,  Joseph  Kinsley,  Isaac 
Tolles,  Samuel  Case;  1846,  Wells  Byington  ;  1847,  Lemuel  Camp- 
bell; 1848,  Wm.  Woodard;  1849,  Harry  Miller,  John  J.  Bunnel, 
Allen  Morey;  1850,  Adam  Blliott,  Robison  Bush;  1851,  Samuel 
Case,  Robert  Marshall;  1852,  A.  Smith,  Isaac  Tolles  ;  1853,  Isaac 
Tolles;  1854,  Wm.  H.  Brown;  1855,  Horace  Ralston;  1856,  W. 
W.  Brlinard,  B.  W.  Hewitt;  1857,  D.  M.  Loveland,  L.  C.  Camp- 
bell; 1858,  Isaac  Tolles;  1859,  Adam  Blliott;  1860,  William  H. 
Brown,  Ahaz  Moon;  1861,  Willis  C.  Aikins;  1862,  Elias  Baston ; 
1863,  Ahaz  Moon;  1864,  Walden  T.  Barber,  Asa  B.  Bennock; 
1865,  C.  Boylan,  Luther  Brown;    1866,  Luther  Brown;    1867, 
James  Cadwallader,  Albert  Adams;    1868,  Walden  T.  Barber, 
Uriah  Burt ;  1869,  J.  Edgar  Powers,  Daniel  Burdiok ;  1870,  Samuel 
R.Willison,  Luther  Brown,  John  A.  Spooner ;  1871,  D.  R.  Burdick, 
J.  H.  Sharpstean;  1872,  Edgar  Flansburg,  Adam  Elliott,  George 
Bissell ;  1873,  Walden  T.  Barber,  John  Sharpstean,  Albert  Adams ; 
1874,  George  Marr;  1875,  Nathan  Slawson,  Albert  Adams,  Isaac 
Tone's;  1876,  Luther  Brown,  Luoien  Polly;  1877,  W.  T.  Barber, 
S.  R.  Willison;  1878,  Albert  Adams,  G.W.  Monroe;  1879,  S.  B. 
Willison;  1880,  Luther  Brown. 

COMMISSIONERS  OF  HIGHWAYS. 
1840  John  J.  Nichols,  James  Willison,  John  Bowne;  1841,  Henry 
Stormes,  Asahel  Tillotson,  Aaron  L.  Ellis;  1842,  James  Willison, 
Daniel  Cross,  Garitson  Rogers ;  1843,  James  Willison,  Wells  Bying- 
ton, Hiram  Tillotson :  1844,William  R.  Patten,  Thomas  Blaokman, 
Wells  Byington ;  1845,  Moses  Lawrence,  Daniel  Mahon,  George 
Jones ;  1846,  David  Bowker,  Daniel  Cross,  0.  B.  Pennook ;  1847, 


404 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Hiram  Tillotaon,  Alvin  Mott,  James  Willison,  Jr. ;  1848,  Burton 
Barnes;  1849,  Isaac  ToUes;  1850,  Linus  Ellison;  1861,  Elias  B. 
Willison;  1852,  A.  Smith,  Sarretson  Rogers;  1853,  Samuel  Wil- 
lison ;  1854,  James  Burst;  1855,  William  Gibson,  J.  B.  Willison  ; 
1856,  W.  H.  Moore;  1857,  A.  J.  Bush;  1858,  Isaac  Tolles  ;  1859, 
Robert  Marshall ;  1860,  James  Pendill ;  1861,  Isaac  Tolles ,-  1862, 
Robert  Marshall ;  1863,  omitted  ;  1864,  Blias  B.  Willison ;  1866, 
Frederick  McAllister;  1866,  Leonard  Hoyt;  1867,  Philo  Ams- 
ley,  John  C.  Sharpstean  ;  1868,  Peter  A.  Young ;  1869,  W.  Skill- 
man,  W.  Snyder;  1870,  Levi  Palmater;  1871,  E.  F.  Manly; 
1872,  Freeman  Ford;  1873,  P.  A.  Blaokman,  George  Snyder; 
1874,  Moses  Lawrence,  George  Bissell;  1875,  Adam  Elliott; 
1876,  B.  F.  Manly ;  1877,  Albert  Bradley ;  1878,  John  Snuggs ; 
1879,  D.  A.  Morthland;  1880,  Nelson  Wing. 

ASSESSORS. 
1840,  Samuel  Willison,  Nicholas  Campbell,  David  Townson;  1841, 
William  Campbell,  John  J,  Nichols,  Robert  King ;  1842,  William 
Woodard,  Moses  Lawrence  ;  1843,  Hiram  Tillotson,  Robert  Mar- 
shall ;  1844,  Moses  Lawrence,  William  Woodard;   1845,  omitted; 

1846,  Samuel  Mollwain,  Walden  T.  Barber,  Thomas  Southward ; 

1847,  Moses  Lawrence,  William  Woodard ;  1848,  James  Willison, 
A.  J.  Bush;  1849,  William  Woodard,  Moses  Lawrence;  1850, 
omitted  in  record ;  1861,  Prentice  Child,  S.  Willison ;  1862,  J.  B. 
Willison,  Moses  Lawrence ;  1853,  George  Williams,  James  Burst. 

DIRECTORS  OF  THE  POOR. 
1840,  John  Bowne,  Richard  Campbell;  1841,  Frederick  Davis,  Duty 
Benson ;  1844,  Frederick  Bellenger,  Griffith  Place ;  1845,  Griffith 
Place,  Daniel  Cross;  1846,  Joseph  Kinsley,  Benjamin  Dake; 
1847,  Wells  Byington,  James  Willison ;  1848,  Garitson  Rogers, 
Daniel  Cross ;  1849,  Noah  Bowker,  0.  B.  Pennock ;  1850,  Noah 
Bowker,  A.  J.  Stanley ;  1852,  Daniel  Cross,  Garitson  Rogers ; 
1853,  Moses  Lawrence,  Daniel  Cross ;  1864,  Daniel  Cross,  Jona- 
than Nichols;  1855,  Daniel  Cross,  J.  J.  Bunnell;  1856,  B.  W. 
Hewitt,  J.  B.  Bowne ;  1857,  Wells  Byington ;  1868,  W.  M.  Rice, 
Asaph  Stanley. 

SCHOOL  INSPECTORS. 
1840,  Harry  Miller,  Wm.  Taylor,  Isaac  Otis ;  1841,  George  Brown, 
John  Bowne,  Isaac  Otis;  1842,  Frederick  Bellenger,  William 
Cook,  Solomon  C.  Hall;  1843,  Wm.  M.  Cook,  W.  Bowker;  1844, 
Samuel  Case,  Warner  Barnes;  1845,  Jonas  Richards,  Warner 
Barnes;  1846,  Amasa  C.  Southward;  1847,  Silas  Bowker,  Lucien 
Polly;  1848,  Jonas  Richards;  1849,  Harry  Miller ;  1860,  B.  W. 
Hewitt ;  1851,  Hiram  Sheldon ;  1852,  Charles  Smith ;  1863, 
Hiram  Stanley,  B.  W.  Hewitt;  1854,  Lucien  Pollly,  W.  H. 
Brown ;  1865,  Isaac  Bunnel ;  1856,  J.  B.  Bowne,  D.  M.  Love- 
land ;  1857,  B.  B.  Willison;  1858,  S.  Willison;  1859,  Ahaz 
Moon;  1860,  J.  M.  Cadwallader;  1861,  S.  R.  Willison,  B.  F. 
Manly;  1862,  James  W.  Burson ;  1863,  Bphraim  Manly,  Elias 
Baston  ;  1864,  Jasper  Woodworth ;  1866,  Chas.  A.  Polly ;  1866, 
Joseph  Burson,  Bphraim  Manly;  1867,  Jas.  Cadwallader,  David 
C.  Morthland;  1868,  David  C.  Morthland,  S.  R.  Willison;  1869, 
Jas.  M.  Elliott;  1870,  B.  F.  Manly;  1871,  S.  R.  Willison; 
1872,  B.  F.  Manly;  1873,  C.  A.  Polly;  1874-76,  S.  H.  Pratt; 
1876,  Chas. A.  Polly;  1877,  Ahaz  Moon;  1878,  E.  B.  Dickenson; 
1879,  Alfred  Bradley;  1880,  C.  C.  Messenger. 

CONSTABLES. 
1840,  Heman  I.  Knappen,  David  C.  Benson,  John  O'Connor,  Nicholas 
Campbell;  1841,  William  H.  Whitney,  David  C.  Benson,  Nicholas 
Campbell,  Henry  Stormes;  1842,  Frederick  Bellenger,  Salmon 
0.  Hall;  1843,  William  M.  Cook,  William  Willison ;  1844,  Garit- 
son Rogers,  Solomon  Lawrence,  William  Willison ;  1845,  Chester 
Palmer,  Jonas  Richards,  P.  Cross,  Amasa  Southward;  1846, 
Amasa  Southward,  Nathan  Larkin,  D.  R.  Burdiok,  William  Wil- 
lison; 1847,  William  Willison,  Nathan  Larkin,  Harry  Miller, 
Josiah  Birge;  1848,  Nathan  Larkin,  A.  Mott,  Isaac  Van  Orman, 
William  Gibson;  1849,  B.  Bowker,  John  A.  Johnson,  B.  Pennock, 
Isaac  Van  Orman ;  1860,  Philander  Corwin,  Hiram  Gibson,  Val- 
entine Sawdey,  George  A.  Wallace ;  1851,  Isaac  Van  Orman,  I. 
Bunnell,  James  Willison,  Jr.,  E.  Pennock;  1852,  Isaac  Van  Or- 
man, J.  B.  Willison,  George  Pitts,  Martin  Burge;  1863,  Theodore 
Hunt,  Andrew  Peters,  John  B.  Willison ;  1854,  George  Pitts,  A. 


Pennock,  M.  B.  Chamberlain,  Edgar  Cook,  William  H.  Stanley; 

1855,  M.  C.  Burge,  M.  Sage,  Almond  Ralston,  William  Taggert; 

1856,  Thomas  Mcllwain,  Arnold  Markham,  W.  W.  Brainard, 
Joseph  Kingsley ;  1857,  N.  G.  Searles,  David  Pipher,  Martin 
Burge,  Philander  Cross ;  1868,  John  Lawrence,  F.  S.  Tolles,  Joseph 
Kinsley,  M.  B.  Willison ;  1859,  Abner  Moon,  James  Osborn,  James 
Pendill,  W.  B.  Willison;  1860,  W.  B.  Willison,  John  Hodges, 
William  Durkee,  Gideon  MoAlister;  1861,  Robert  A.  Kelly,  John 
Starks,  Dexter  Williams ;  1862,  John  B.  Nichols,  Warren  Easton, 
Alexander  McNeil,  Henry  Smith;  1863,  Isaac  Tolles,  Warren 
Baston,  S.  S.  Gaskill,  Joseph  Kinsley;  1864,  Warren  Easton, 
Thomas  Bogitt,  William  Durkee,  Henry  Kent;  1866,  James  E. 
Pendill,  Joseph  Kinsley,  James  Sprague,  Abner  B.  Moon;  1866, 
Joseph  Kinsley,  Thomas  Morthland,  William  Durkee,  John  B. 
Nichols;  1867,  Joseph  Kinsley,  C.  W.  Cadwallader,  David  C. 
Morthland,  Judson  Starks;  1868,  Joseph  Kinsley,  Charles  Le 
Isle,  Abner  B.  Moon,  James  Sprague;  1869,  James  Guthrie,  Milo 
Barnes,  Charles  Farwell,  Nelson  Bennett;  1870,  W.  H.Snyder, 
George  A.  Blackman,  David  H.  Mosher,  Andrew  Keys;  1871, 
Albert  Roach,  Augustus  Armour,  Elihu  Robinson,  Andrew  Keys; 
1872,  Elihu  Robinson,  Milo  Barnes,  William  Fox,  John  B.  Nich- 
ols ;  1873,  A.  B.  Moon,  C.  A.  Polly,  W.  Skillman,  F.  Hoyt ;  1874, 
Albert  Bradly,  Asa  Aldrioh,  A.  B.  Moon,  R.  Polly ;  1875,  Asa  Al- 
drich,  James  Starks,  Charles  Snyder,  Randolph  Polly ;  1876,  A. 
Aldrich,  Elihu  Robinson,  Uriah  Burst,  Frank  Norwood;  1877, 
Asa  Aldrich,  Elihu  llohinson,  George  Marr,  A.  B.  Pennock ;  1878, 
Andrew  Keys,  D.  C.  Ranney,  M.  B.  Willison,  A.  B.  Moon ;  1879, 
D.  C.  Ranney,  M.  B.  Willison,  A.  L.  Jones,  J.  Kelly ;  1880,  J. 
H.  Brown,  Alfred  Kelly,  Frank  Norwood,  Volney  Snyder. 

SUPERINTENDENTS   OF   SCHOOLS. 
1875-76,  S.  R.  Willison;  1877,  John  A.  Cairns;  1878,  A.  B.  Monroe; 
1879-80,  J.  M.  Willison. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


SAMUEL  WILLISON. 

Of  the  many  whose  portraits  and  biographies  grace  the 
pages  of  this  work,  none  are  more  worthy  of  mention  than 
the  subject  of  this  brief  history.  He  was  born  Oct.  15, 
1777,  in  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.  His  father,  William  Willison, 
was  born  in  Ireland,  but  came  to  America  in  1774,  and 
married  Miss  Hannah  Bowker,  raising  a  family  of  four 
boys  and  four  girls.  He  served  in  the  American  army 
through  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  was  taken  prisoner  by 
the  Hessians.  Samuel's  early  days  were  spent  at  home  as 
a  farm-laborer  up  to  1824,  when  he  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Banks,  who  was  born  in  Connecticut,  June  15,  1800. 
Her  parents  were  of  English  descent.  After  marriage 
they  moved  to  the  western  part  of  New  York,  Allegany 
County,  and  bought  a  wild  lot  and  improved  the  same,  re- 
maining there  thirteen  years,  or  until  1837,  when  with  his 
wife  and  two  boys,  Elias  and  Samuel  R.,  they  started  for 
Michigan,  driving  through  with  an  ox-team,  camping  out 
nights, — Elias  being  twelve  years  of  age,  Samuel,  two, — 
arriving  in  Michigan  safe  after  a  long  and  tiresome  journey. 
They  settled  on  the  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
now  occupied  by  Samuel,  which  his  father  had  purchased  pre- 
vious to  his  departure  from  New  York,  and  which  was  then 
a  dense  wilderness  of  heavy  oak-timber,  their  nearest  neigh- 
bor being  some  three  miles  away ;  leaving  his  family  with 
Mr.  Mills  until  he  could  erect  a  rude  shelter  to  protect  his 
family  from  the  chilling  blast ;  this  took  but  a  few  days,  as 


BARRY  TOWNSHIP. 


405 


not  much  ornamental  work  was 
seen  in  those  times,  neither 
inside  nor  outside.  They  com- 
menced life  once  more  in  their 
own  home,  and  with  the  as- 
sistance of  his  elder  son  began 
the  hardy  task  of  cutting  for 
themselves  a  home  from  the 
unbroken  forest,  where  but  a 
short  time  before  the  wild 
beasts  were  undisputed  masters. 
When  he  first  settled  there,  he 
backed  many  of  his  provisions 
from  Kalamazoo,  a  distance  of 
twenty-two  miles,  going  there 
and  back  in  one  day. 

This  is  but  one  of  many 
instances,  and  did  our  space 
permit  we  could  pen  many 
thrilling  incidents  that  to  the 
present  generation  would  seem 
more  like  fiction  than  fact. 
His  first  purchase  consisted  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 


SAMUEL   WILLISON. 


on  section  24,  Barry  township, 
to  which  he  afterwards  added, 
so  that  at  one  time  he  owned 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres. 
In  September,  1850,  he  was 
bereft  of  his  companion.  In 
1852  he  was  again  married, 
his  second  wife  being  a  Mrs. 
Barnes.  She  is  still  living  with 
her  son  in  Barry  township.  Mr. 
Willison  died  at  his  old  home, 
Oct.  2,  1865. 

He  was  a  Democrat  up  to 
the  formation  of  the  Repub- 
lican party ;  since  then  always 
could  be  found  in  the  front  ranks 
of  that  party,  which  place  he 
kept  until  his  death ;  was  elected 
supervisor,  in  an  early  day  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  and  other 
minor  offices.  Mrs.  Willison 
was  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  when  she  died,  his 
views  on  religion  being  liberal. 


SAM0EL   R.  WILLISON. 


MRS.  SAMUEL  R.   WILLISON. 


SAMUEL  R.  WILLISON. 


Among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Barry  township  the  Wil- 
lisons  stand  prominent.  Samuel  R.  was  born  in  Allegany 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  July  12,  1835,  and  was  the  youngest  in  a 
family  of  two  children.  When  but  two  years  of  age  his 
father  came  to  Michigan,  settling  on  the  farm  where  Sam- 
uel now  lives.  His  mother  was  a  native  of  Connecticut ; 
his  father,  of  New  York.  Samuel,  like  most  boys  of  his 
day,  when  he  arrived  at  a  capable  age,  had  plenty  of  harf 
work  and  but  little  time  for  pleasure,  yet  by  improving  the 
advantages  within  his  reach  he  acquired  a  practical  knowl- 


edge of  men  and  books  which  enabled  him  to  do  any  ordi- 
nary business.  He  helped  to  clear  up  their  once  forest 
home,  where  he  has  always  lived.  When  fifteen  years  of 
age  he  was  bereft  of  the  dearest  of  friends, — a  mother. 

After  reaching  his  majority  he  started  for  himself,  buying 
eighty  acres  adjoining  his  father's,  receiving  help  from  him 
in  the  purchase.  Up  to  1862  his  time  was  spent  clearing 
land  summers,  teaching  school  winters.  In  August,  1862, 
he  enlisted  as  private  in  Co.  C,  Second  Michigan  Infantry, 
where  he  served  until  March  4,  1865,  never  missing  but 


406 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


one  battle  in  which  his  company  engaged.  June  4,  1864, 
in  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  his  right  foot  was  cut  off 
by  a  cannon-shot.  The  most  important  battles  in  which 
he  was  engaged  were  Fredericksburg,  in  1862 ;  siege  of 
Vicksburg  and  Knoxville,  in  1863 ;  battle  »of  the  Wil- 
derness and  Spottsylvania  and  Cold  Harbor,  where  he  was 
wounded.  After  being  discharged  he  came  home,  and, 
March  28, 1866,  married  Miss  Celinda  Jewett,  of  Richland, 
Kalamazoo  Co.  She  was  born  in  Illinois,  March  28, 1846. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  Vermont ;  her  mother,  of  Con- 
necticut ;  they  both  died  in  Richland.  She  is  one  of  a  fam- 
ily of  four  boys  and  four  girls.  After  marriage  they  settled 
on  the  old  homestead,  where  they  have  since  lived,  and 
where  his  parents  both  died.  His  home- farm  consists  of 
two  hundred  acres,  one  hundred  and  seventy  improved, 


besides  owning  land  in  other  parts  of  the  town.  To  this 
marriage  were  born  five  children  :  Frances  E.,  born  May 
12,  1868  ;  Clayton,  born  June  14,  1870  ;  Lena,  born  Aug. 
31,1873;  Samuel  N.,  born  May  7,  1876;  Edith  L.,  born 
Oct.  7,  1878.  He  is  found  among  the  Republican  voters; 
represented  his  party  as  township  treasurer  two  terms,  as 
school  inspector  nine  years,  always  taking  great  interest  in 
schools,  doing  cheerfully  anything  pertaining  to  their  ad- 
vancement, serving  as  superintendent  two  years.  He  is  at 
present  serving  his  second  term  as  justice  of  the  peace.  He 
is  a  member  of  no  church,  but  always  willing  to  help  support 
the  cause,  believing  that  our  society  is  preferable  to  what 
it  would  be  were  the  churches  excluded  from  our  midst. 
He  chose  farming  as  his  avocation  on  his  return  from  the 
war,  which  he  has  since  diligently  pursued. 


ADAM    ELLIOTT. 


MRS.    ADAM    ELLIOTT. 


ADAM   ELLIOTT. 


This  gentleman  traces  his  origin  with  commendable  pride 
to  an  English  ancestry.  He  was  born  in  Norfolk  Co., 
England,  Oct.  31,  1815.  He  was  one  of  a  family  of  five 
children.  His  parents  were  both  natives  of  England, 
where  they  both  died  in  1861.  His  father  was  a  farmer, 
and  Adam  remained  at  home  until  the  spring  of  1836 ; 
having  then  arrived  at  the  acknowledged  age  of  manhood, 
he  came  to  America,  landing  in  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  with 
seven  dollars.  Here  he  remained  working  by  the  month 
some  seven  years.  Sept.  30,  1843,  he  married  Miss  Cath- 
erine Mallock,  who  was  then  living  in  the  same  county,  but 
was  born  in  Perthshire,  Scotland,  April  3,  1815.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  Scotland,  but  emigrated  to  America, 
settling  in  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1817,  where  the  father 
died  in  1852,  the  mother  in  1859.  After  marriage  they 
came  to  Michigan,  settling  in  Orangeville  upon  section  3, 
buying  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  of  dense  forest.  Here  they 
remained  five  years,  when  they  sold,  and  bought  their 
present  home  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  at  Hickory 


Corners,  Barry  township,  which  then  had  small  improve- 
ments, but  is  now  one  of  the  best  in  that  section  of 
country.  Of  their  once  unbroken  family  of  seven  children 
five  are  living, — Dr.  James  M.,  married,  and  lives  at  Hick- 
ory Corners  ;  Edwin  C,  married,  is  a  merchant  at  Hickory 
Corners ;  Maria  S.,  now  Mrs.  Rorabeck,  lives  in  Augusta, 
Kalamazoo  Co. ;  Isabel,  now  Mrs.  P.  S.  Moxom,  lives  in 
Cleveland,  Ohio;  William,  who  is  still  single  and  living  at 
home. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Elliott  cast  his  first  vote  as  a  Democrat ; 
he  was  afterwards  a  Pree-Soiler,  until  the  formation  of  the 
Republican  party,  since  when  he  has  voted  with  that  organi- 
zation, representing  it  in  the  Constitutional  Convention  at 
Lansing  in  1867,  as  a  member  of  the  House  of  Represen- 
tatives in  1869-70,  as  supervisor  of  Barry  township  nine 
years,  as  justice  of  the  peace  twelve  years.  Has  always 
proven  himself  worthy  of  the  trust  and  confidence  reposed 
in  him.  Himself  and  wife  and  all  their  children  are 
worthy  and  consistent  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 


BARRY  TOWNSHIP. 


407 


MRS.  WALDEN  T.  BARBER. 


WALDEN  T.  BARBER. 


WALDEN  T.  BARBER. 


Among  the  honored   names  of  Barry  County  that   of 
Walden   T.   Barber  stands   prominently  as  one  who  has 
done  his  share  to  give  the  old  county  its  position  in  the 
Peninsular  State.     He  was  born  July  28, 1823,  in  Auburn, 
Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.  -  His  twin  brother,  William  C,  is  n«w 
in  California.     These  and  one  sister  are  all  that  are  left  of  a 
family  of  ten  children.     Their  parents  were  Ira  and  Esther 
(Bennett)   Barber;  they  were  both  natives  of  Vermont, 
where  they  were  married  in  1813,  though  Walden's  father 
traces  his  origin  to  Ireland.    He  was  a  carpenter  and  joiner 
by  trade,  and  worked  at  it  most  of  his  life,  though  he  owned 
a  small  farm,  which  was  carried  on  by  his  boys.     When 
Walden  was  nineteen  years  of  age,  failing  to  obtain  employ- 
ment there,  he  conceived  the  idea  of  coming  West.     His 
father,  having  previously  traded  for  the  land  which  he  now 
occupies,  made  an  offer  to  him  of  a  deed  of  one-half  of  the 
farm,  considering  it  worthless;  he  accepted  it,  and  in  May, 
1842,  found  himself  here,  where,  instead  of  a  lake  or  marsli, 
as  he  expected,  he  found  twelve  hundred  acres  of  good  oak- 
openings,  which  he  began  to  improve.     If  the  eye  of  man 
ever  looked  upon  nature  in  a  more  beautiful  mood  or  aspect 
than  she  exhibited  to  our  subject,  it  has  not  been  revealed  to 
the  writer  to  what  portion  of  the  earth  he  must  go  to  find 
the  record  of  such  vision.    The  original  oak-openings  which 
comprised  the  greater  portion  of  the  township  were  in  the 
summer  indescribably  lovely.     One  year  from  the  next  fall 
after  his  arrival  his  father  and  mother  came  also;  his  mother 
only  lived  to  endure  pioneer  life  a  brief  time,  and  died 
June  27, 1855.     His  father  married  again,— Mrs.  Wood,  of 


Middleville.  His  father  died  Deo.  20,  1867,  at  the  ripe 
old  age  of  eighty-four.  Walden  T.  was  married  June  11, 
1856,  to  Miss  Clara  Keys,  who  was  born  in  Cattaraugus  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Jan.  16,1 836  ;  she  was  one  of  a  family  of  four  girls, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Betsey  (Walrath)  Keys, 
who  were  both  natives  of  New  York.  He  was  a  farmer, 
and  came  to  Michigan  in  1855,  locating  in  Barry  township, 
where  the  mother  died  in  1869,  the  father  living  until  Jan. 
3,  1880,  after  the  death  of  his  wife  making  his  home 
with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Barber.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barber 
was  given  but  one  child,  Viola  E.,  born  April  19,  1857, 
now  Mrs.  Cartright,  and  living  at  Hickory  Corners,  though 
they  have  an  adopted  son,  Bertie  J.,  a  promising  boy  of 
eight  summers,  whom  they  took  when  but  two  years  of  age. 
Mr.  Barber  was  a  Whig  up  to  the  formation  of  the  Repub- 
lican party.  Since  then  he  has  always  been  found  among 
the  most  prominent  men  of  his  party,  representing  it  in  all 
the  minor  offices  of  his  town,  such  as  township  clerk ; 
treasurer,  two  terms ;  justice  of  the  peace,  sixteen  years, 
which  office  he  now  holds.  He  is  a  member  of  no  church, 
though  liberal  with  time  and  means  towards  anything  per- 
taining to  the  advancement  of  Christianity.  His  advantages 
for  education  were  better  than  most  boys  had  in  those  days, 
he  having  at  the  age  of  nineteen  acquired  sufficient  knowl- 
edge to  enable  him  to  do  any  ordinary  business.  He  is  what 
might  be  termed  a  mixed  farmer,  making  a  specialty  of  no 
one  thing.  He  has  a  nice  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres,  well  improved,  within  one-half  mile  of  the  village  of 
Hickory  Corners. 


408 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


WELLS    BYINGTON. 

WELLS  BYINGTON. 
Among  the  venerable  pioneers  who  by  their  own  indus- 
try laid  the  foundation  for  the  present  wealth  they  now  en- 
joy, we  offer  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  brief 
history  as  an  example,  feeling  that  what  is  said  of  him  is 
but  a  fitting  tribute  to  his  sterling  worth.  He  was  born 
Nov.  8,  1808,  in  Connecticut,  was  the  third  in  a  family  of 
six  children  of  Daniel  and  Hannah  (Alcox)  Byington,  who 
were  both  natives  of  Connecticut.  When  Wells  was  but 
seven  years  of  age  his  parents  moved  to  Chenango  Co., 
N.  Y.,  where  they  both  died,  the  mother  in  1835,  the  father 
struggling  against  the- vicissitudes  of  life  until  1843,  when 
he  too  was  called  to  the  unknown.  His  father  was  a 
farmer,  consequently  his  boyhood  days  were  similar  to 
those  of  the  majority  of  farmers'  sons, — plenty  of  hard 
work,  and  but  little  time  for  education  or  recreation. 
When  he  reached  his  majority,  he  started  in  life  for  him- 
self, hiring  out  by  the  month,  which  he  pursued  for  three 
years,  or  until  1832,  when  he  turned  his  face  towards 
the  far  West,  leaving  home  and  friends  behind,  having 
one  hundred  dollars  laid  by  of  the  wages  earned  by  the 
sweat  of  his  brow.  The  first  two  years  he  worked  for  Mr. 
Barnes,  with  whom  he  came  to  Michigan.  In  1834  he 
located  the  farm  where  his  son  now  lives,  section  28,  Barry 
township,  it  being  the  second  farm  located  in  that  town.  In 
the  fall  of  1834  he  returned  to  New  York.  Oct.  6,  1836, 
he  secured  a  helpmeet  by  marrying  Miss  Betsey  Gordon,  of 
Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  she  was  born  March  7,  1809, 
she  being  the  oldest  in  a  good  old-fashioned  family  of  eleven 
children.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire, 
her  mother  of  Connecticut,  but  both  died  in  New  York, 
the  father  in  1827,  the  mother  in  1850,  and  now  lie  quietly 
resting,  side  by  side,  with  naught  but  a  marble  slab  to  mark 
the  sacred  spot.  After  marriage,  he,  with  his  young  bride, 
started  for  the  West,  arriving  in  Kalamazoo  County,  Nov. 
8,  1836,  working  by  the  month  some  two  years  on  Gull 
Prairie ;  then  moved  on  their  farm,  located  in  1834,  and  com- 
menced in  earnest  to  improve  their  new  home.     Here  they 


MRS.    WELLS   BYINGTON. 

remained  some  thirty-five  years,  when  he  sold  it  to  his  only 
surviving  child,  Henry  M.,  who  is  now  on  the  farm.  They 
never  had  but  two  children.  Their  oldest,  George  N.,  born 
Dec.  30,  1837,  died  Oct.  18,  1849.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bying- 
ton have  a  fine  home  at  Hickory  Corners,  Barry  township, 
where  they  expect  to  pass  the  remainder  of  their  days  in 
ease  and  comfort.  Mr.  Byington  is  in  the  truest  sense  of 
the  word  a  self-made  man  ;  starting  in  life  his  only  capital 
a  strong  arm  and  willing  heart,  by  industry  and  economy 
he  has  amassed  a  comfortable  competency.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Democrat,  casting  his  first  vote  for  Jackson,  and  has 
represented  his  party  at  different  times  in  minor  ofiSces. 
Mrs.  Byington  is  a  worthy  member  of  the  Baptist  Church, — 
his  views  on  religion  being  liberal.  Mr.  Byington's  grand- 
father was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  held  a  commission 
as  lieutenant  from  George  III.  in  the  French  war,  but  when 
the  Revolutionary  war  broke  out  he  took  up  arms  with  the 
colonies,  serving  through  the  struggle.  Died  in  May,  1824, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-seven  years. 


SOLOMON  LAWRENCE. 

None  are  so  well  qualified  to  speak  of  pioneer  life  as 
those  who  have  experienced  it.  This  gentleman  comes 
under  that  heading.  He  was  born  in  Lenox,  Madison  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Jan.  17, 1820,  and  was  one  of  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren. His  father,  Moses  Lawrence,  was  born  in  England, 
but  came  to  America  when  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  was 
a  minister  of  the  gospel.  The  mother,  Jerusha  Fargo, 
was  a  native  of  New  York,  where  she  married  Mr.  Lawrence. 
They  owned  a  small  farm  and  followed  grinding  plaster. 
When  Solomon  was  fifteen  (in  1834)  his  father  moved  to 
Michigan,  he  having  located  land  the  previous  spring  on 
sections  27  and  28,  Barry  township,  being  the  first  white 
man  to  settle  in  the  town,  where  they  both  died,  the  mother, 
in  1838,  only  surviving  pioneer  life  a  few  brief  years ;  the 
father  in  1864.     Solomon  remained  at  home  until  he  was 


CARLTON  TOWNSHIP. 


409 


of  age,  when  he  started  for  himself,  going  back  to  New 
York,  where  he  worked  some  thirteen  months;  then  re- 
turned to  Michigan,  working  by  the  month  for  a  short 
time.  He  then  worked  his  father's  farm  one  year.  In 
1844  he  made  his  first  purchase  of  land  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres,  on  section  28,  where  he  still  lives.  A 
sketch  of  his  residence  can  be  seen  in  this  work.  He  has 
since  added  to  his  original  purchase,  so  that  his  farm  now 
contains  five  hundred  and  ninety-five  acres,  besides  other 
lands  farther  north.  In  1849,  being  then  twenty-nine,  he 
married,  in  Kalamazoo  County,  Miss  Mary  Piper,  who  was 
born  in  England,  Sept.  7,  1829,  and  one  of  a  family 
of  thirteen  children.  Her  parents  came  to  America  when 
she  was  quite  young,  locating  first  in  New  York,  where 
they  remained  two  years,  when  they  moved  to  Michigan, 
locating  in  Kalamazoo  County.  The  father  died  in  Calhoun 
County  in  1840,  the  mother  in  Barry  County  in  1864. 


To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lawrence  were  born  six  children,  as  fol- 
lows :  Philetus  H.,  born  March  9, 18.52  ;  George  W.,  Sept. 
28,  1854  ;  Alfred  P.,  Dec.  24,  1859  ;  Frank  E.,  June  2, 
1863  ;  Sarah  A.,  Feb.  16, 1866  ;  Otis  S.,  March  21,  1868, 
— all  living,  the  two  oldest  married  and  settled  on  farms 
near  the  homestead ;  the  rest  still  remain  at  home. 

In  politics  Solomon  is  the  same  in  principle  as  his  father, 
— Democratic  up  to  the  formation  of  the  Republican  party, 
since  that  time  voting  with  it.  His  school  advantages 
were  similar  to  those  commonly  enjoyed  by  boys  of  that 
time, — plenty  of  hard  work  with  but  little  opportunity  for 
education  or  recreation.  Himself  and  wife  have  been  mem- 
bers of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church  for  the  past  twenty 
years.  Mr.  Lawrence,  in  his  early  days,  took  great  interest 
in  hunting  deer,  killing  as  many  as  four  in  one  day.  Did 
our  space  permit  we  could  pen  many  stories  from  his  lips 
both  ludicrous  and  pathetic. 


CARLTON; 


Carlton,  lying  south  of  the  Ionia  county-line,  north  of 
Hastings,  east  of  Irving,  and  west  of  Woodland,  consists 
of  township  4  north,  range  8  west,  and  dates  its  municipal 
existence  from  1842,  when  it  was  formed  from  Hastings. 
The  township  is  well  watered  by  a  branch  of  the  Thorn- 
apple  River,  which  flows  from  the  southeast  towards  the 
northwest.  Although  this  stream  affords  considerable  good 
water-power,  it  has  never  been  utilized  except  for  saw- 
mills. 

Carlton  Centre — boasting  a  store,  post-office,  the  town- 
hall,  and  a  collection  of  a  dozen  houses — is  the  only  sem- 
blance of  a  village  the  town  contains.  Although  there  are 
several  religious  organizations  in  Carlton,  there  is  but  one 
church  edifice,  and  that  has  existed  only  since  1874. 

Generally  the  surface  of  the  country  is  level  or  gently 
undulating,  although  there  are  a  few  hills  of  tiresome  mag- 
nitude. Carlton  is  esteemed  a  good  wheat-town,  and  is  gen- 
erally a  locality  much  in  favor  with  farmers. 

THE  MAKCH  OP  THE  PIONEEES. 
Near  the  centre  of  the  town,  on  the  banks  of  the  Thorn- 
apple,  Carlton  received  its  first  settlers,  in  September,  1836. 
They  were  Samuel  Wickham  and  wife,  Harrison  Wickham 
(his  son)  and  wife,  and  George  Fuller  (Samuel  Wickham's 
son-in-law).  George  Fuller  had  come  out  from  Jackson 
Co.,  Mich.,  in  1835,  on  a  land-looking  excursion,  and,  drift- 
ing into  the  wilderness  now  known  as  the  town  of  Carlton, 
took  a  fancy  to  the  land  near  the  centre,  and  there  located 
five  80-acre  lots  for  himself  and  40  acres  for  his  father-in- 
law,  Samuel  Wickham.  Fuller  went  back  to  New  York, 
where  Samuel  Wickham  was  living,  and  with  the  latter 
and  his  family  moved  westward  as  far  as  Jackson  County, 


*  By  David  Scbwartz. 


where  Fuller  and  his  wife,  Harrison  Wickham  and  wife, 
and  Elizabeth  Wickham  (Harrison's  sister)  had  been  living 
since  1834. 

In  September,  1836,  Samuel  Wickham  and  wife,  Harri- 
son Wickham  and  wife,  and  George  Fuller  set  out  for  Carl- 
ton by  wagon.  They  passed  by  Hastings,  which  was  then 
making  a  first  efibrt  in  the  way  of  a  saw-mill,  and,  reach- 
ing in  due  season  the  bank  of  the  Thornapple,  close  to  the 
road  now  passing  east  and  west  through  the  centre,  there 
pitched  their  tents, — that  is  to  say,  they  kept  house  in  a 
tent  by  day,  and  at  night  the  women-folks  lodged  in  the 
wagon,  while  the  men  slept  on  the  ground.  As  speedily  as 
could  be  all  hands  rolled  up  a  log  house  for  Fuller,  and  in 
January,  1837,  along  came  George  Fuller's  wife  and  Eliza- 
beth Wickham,  in  company  with  Nelson  Sprague,  who  had 
engaged  to  move  them,  coming  by  way  of  Gun  Lake  and 
Yankee  Lewis'  Tavern  in  Yankee  Springs. 

As  soon  as  Fuller's  house  was  up,  Harrison  Wickham 
was  similarly  .provided  for,  and  in  the  fall  of  1837  the 
elder  Wickham  had  a  comfortable  home.  Mrs.  Samuel 
Wickham  was  a  woman  eminently  fitted  to  be  a  pioneer's 
wife,  and,  although  her  husband,  her  son,  and  Mr.  Fuller 
rather  objected  to  taking  their  women  when  they  made 
their  first  trip  to  Carlton,  Mrs.  Wickham  and  Harrison 
Wickham's  wife  insisted  upon  participating  in  whatever 
hardships  there  might  be  in  store  for  their  husbands,  and, 
as  may  be  well  understood,  gave  valuable  aid  in  the  work 
of  pioneering. 

One  day,  while  the  men  were  away,  Mrs.  Wickham's 
cow  broke  through  the  ice  into  the  river,  and  was  in  im- 
minent danger  of  being  drowned,  whereupon  that  lady, 
breaking  the  ice  before  her,  waded  into  the  river  and 
brought  the  bovine  by  the  horns  safely  to  shore,  although 
she  herself  came  near  losing  her  own  life  as  a  result  of 


52 


410 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


the  adventure.  Elizabeth  Witkham  (now  the  widow  of 
E.  R.  Carpenter)  tells,  among  other  incidents  of  pioneer 
life,  that  more  than  once,  while  walking;  towards  home,  was 
she  so  closely  followed  by  deer  that  she  had  to  drive 
them  away  from  her,  and  that  on  one  occasion  she  saw 
seven  wolves  in  her  father's  yard  at  one  time. 

Samuel  Wickham  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812,  at 
the  outbreak  of  .which  he  was  living  in  Canada.  Refusinsr 
to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  British  crown,  he  was 
imprisoned,  but,  escaping  over  the  border,  at  once  entered 
the  United  States  military  service.  He  lived  in  Carlton 
long  enough  to  see  the  wilderness  changed  to  a  prosperous 
town,  and  about  1852  removed  to  Grand  Haven,  where  he 
died.  Harrison  Wickham  moved  to  Lowell  about  1850. 
George  Fuller  made  an  early  change  of  location  to  Hast- 
ings, where  he  kept  tavern  until  he  died. 

THE  ROGERS  SETTLEMENT. 
Late  in  the  year  1836  Carlton  received  quite  a  little  ac- 
cession to  its  infant  settlement  in  the  families  of  J.  S. 
Rogers  and  J.  S.  Henyon,  and  a  young  man  named  E.  R. 
Carpenter,  all  of  whom  came  in  company  from  New  York 
State.  Rogers,  Carpenter,  and  Henyon  cut  a  road  from 
Hastings  to  section  20,  in  Carlton,  and  when  they  had  got  a 
log  house  rolled  up  took  out  the  Rogers  and  Henyon  fam- 
ilies, who  had  meanwhile  been  stopping  at  Bunker's,  in 
Hastings.  Rogers,  who  became  a  man  of  much  local  promi- 
nence, died  in  1854.  His  widow  and  sons,  Jeremiah  M., 
Hiram,  W.  S.,  H.  C,  and  D.  W.,  are  residents  of  Carlton. 
Henyon  lived  on  section  18  a  year  and  a  half,  and  then, 
with  his  wife,  went  over  to  Bull's  Prairie  to  work  for  A. 
E.  Bull.  Henyon  chopped  and  his  wife  kept  house  for 
Bull,  who  had  upwards  of  twenty  men  at  work  on  his  land. 
For  these  men  Mrs.  Henyon  did  the  cooking,  chopped 
trees  herself  when  she  wanted  firewood,  boiled  sugar,  and 
performed,  indeed,  quite  enough  labor  to  keep  her  busy 
sixteen  hours  out  of  each  twenty-four.  Henyon  died  in 
Irving  in  1863. 

Mr.  Carpenter  bought  80  acres  on  section  20,  and  in  Janu- 
ary, 1838,  married  Samuel  Wickham's  daughter  Elizabeth. 
He  was  conspicuous,  during  his  residence  in  Carlton,  as  the 
occupant  of  local  offices,  and  for  twenty-five  years  served  as 
justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  one  of  the  justices  of  Hast- 
ings before  Carlton  was  set  off,  and  after  that  event  con- 
tinued to  act  as  a  justice  in  Carlton,  although  not  newly 
elected.  When  Judge  Ransom's  attention  was  called  to 
the  matter,  he  promptly  decided  that  Carpenter  was  no 
justice,  and  had  not  been  since  the  division  of  the  towns. 
At  this  announcement  there  was  considerable  trembling 
of  hearts  among  those  whom  Carpenter  had  married,  and 
much  anxious  inquiry  was  made  as  to  the  status  of  the 
married  ones.  Judge  Ransom  decided,  however,  that,  as 
the  marriages  had  been  performed  by  Mr.  Carpenter  in  good 
faith,  they  must  therefore  be  considered  valid,  and  peace 
reigned  accordingly  in  many  a  bosom  erstwhile  lacerated 
with  distressing  doubts  and  fears. 

Mr.  Carpenter  became  quite  intimate  with  the  Indi- 
ans, and  many  a  time  joined  them  in  hunting  excursions. 
One  of  their  favorite  camping-grounds  was  about  a  half 
mile  up  the  river  from  Carpenter's,  and  to  his  house  they 


would  frequently  repair  to  indulge  in  their  weekly  dance. 
They  were  industrious  savages  in  the  business  of  gathering 
sugar,  and  on  the  banks  of  the  river  held  occasional  "  pow- 
wows" of  an  uproarious  character,  although  entertaining  to 
those  who  visited  them. 

THE    BARNUM   SETTLEMENT. 
Zebulon  liarnum  was  living  in  Jackson  Co.,  Mich.,  in 
1836,  and  in  that  year,  determining  to  seek  a  home  farther 
West,  started  with  his  son,  I.  H.  Barnum,  Nelson  Sprague, 
Myers. Lovell,  and  Harrison  Leslie  on  a  land-looking  tour. 
They  had  not  been  out  long  before  swollen  streams  and  the 
loss  of  a  horse  discouraged  them,  and  all  hands  retraced 
their  steps.     Sprague  and  Barnum  got  a  Mr.  McOmber  to 
locate  some  land  for  them  in  Carlton,  and  he  secured  for 
Barnum  the   northeast   quarter  of  section  25,  while  for 
Sprague  he  located  tracts  on  sections  24  and  36.     In  the 
fall  of  1837,  Zebulon  Barnum,  his  son  A.  H.  Barnum,  and 
Nelson  Sprague  came  to  Carlton,  finding  Myers  Lovell  on 
section  25  and  Senter  Blood  on  26.    Sprague  had  hired  Sen- 
ter  Blood,  Stephen  Barnum,  and  I.  H.  Barnum  to  come 
out  early  in  1837  to  do  some  chopping  for  him,  and  had 
supplied  them  with  sufficient  provisions  to  last  a  week,  at 
the  end  of  which  time  he  was  to  send  more.    They  chopped 
away  like  heroes,  and  like  heroes  ate,  until  at  the  close  of 
the  week  they  had  eaten  all  their  provisions  save  a  few 
potatoes,  never  doubting,  of  course,  that  Sprague  would  be 
at  hand,  as  promised,  to    revictual    them.     Sprague  was, 
however,  detained  beyond  his  expectations,  and  while  they 
waited  for  him   fully  a  week,  they  lived  meanwhile   on 
roasted  potatoes,  and  of  those  they  had  so  few  that  they 
were  compelled  to  ration  them.     Deer,  the  only  game  to 
be  thought  of,  they  couldn't  get,  because  the  snow-crust 
on  the  ground  gave  the  hunter  no  chance  to  surprise  his 
game.     Harrison  Barnum  got  tired  of  the  roasted-potato 
diet  before  the  lust  week  was  ended,  and  made  a  start  for 
Yankee  Springs,  but  before  he  reached  that  place  he  had 
to  fast  twenty-four  hours,  and  was  altogether  in  an  unhappy 
condition. 

After  Zebulon  Barnum  and  Nelson  Sprague  had  put  up 
a  house  on  Barnum's  place  they  went  back  to  Jackson  for 
their  families.  On  the  way  Barnum  met  Moses  Durkee  and 
Thomas  Senter  moving  westward  on  a  prospecting-tour, 
and,  engaging  them  to  go  out  to  Carlton  to  chop  for  him, 
they  turned  their  steps  thither  without  delay.  On  the 
road  to  Carlton  they  overtook  Timothy  Longhead,  bound 
for  the  same  place,  and  so  they  journeyed  on  in  company. 
When  Barnum  and  Sprague  returned  in  the  fall  of  1838 
they  found  in  the  neighborhood  Jesse  Townsend  and 
Richard  and  John  McAuley.  Timothy  Longhead  had 
made  a  settlement  on  section  11,  and  was  the  first  settler 
in  that  part  of  the  township. 

Durkee  chopped  a  few  months  for  Barnum,  and  then, 
bargaining  with  him  for  40  acres  of  land,  became  himself 
a  settler  on  section  25.  Melvin  Barnum  and  Mr.  Durkee 
chopped  through  the  summer  at  such  a  rate  that  directly 
after  commencing  in  the  morning  their  shirts  would  be 
soaked  through  and  through  with  perspiration.  Then 
they'd  take  them  off,  wring  them  out,  hang  them  up  to 
dry,  work  until  noon  naked  to  the  waist,  when,  their  shirts 


CARLTON  TOWNSHIP. 


411 


being  decently  dry,  they  would  don  them  and  inarch  to 
dinner,  "  That's  the  way,"  says  Mr.  Durkee,  "  the  pio- 
neers had  to  work,  and  I  tell  you  I  don't  think  you'll  find 
such  workers  nowadays." 

Among  the  early  settlers  in  the  Barnum  neighborhood 
may  also  be  reckoned  James  Lancaster,  Samuel  Durkee, 
Elihu  Covey,  Israel  Hale,  Abel,  Philander,  and  Stephen 
Barnum,  Anson  Wood  (who  in  1844  occupied  a  portion  of 
the  land  settled  by  Jesse  Townsend  in  1838),  J.  J.  Fuller, 
M.  P.  Fuller,  Richard  Young,  and  James  Townsend. 

THE  CHENEY  NEIGHBORHOOD. 
As  already  related,  Timothy  Loughead  was  the  first  to 
make  a  location  in  the  northeast,  and  near  him,  at  about 
the  same  time,  Jedotham  Freeman  made  the  second  clear- 
ing. Joseph  Whitney,  who  came  to  Michigan  in  1835, 
moved  to  Carlton,  upon  section  15,  in  1842,  and  in  1844 
moved  over  near  Longhead's.  That  portion  of  the  town- 
ship did  not  appear  to  invite  much  attention  until  about 
1856.  when  David  Myers  and  the  Cheneys  reinforced  the 
population,  and  from  that  time  forward  arrivals  were  rapid 
and  numerous. 

OLD  TIM'S  OX. 

In  this  place  it  may  be  appropriate  to  repeat  the  story 
about  Timothy  Longhead's  ox.  The  animal,  it  appears, 
strayed  away,  and,  being  attacked  by  a  bear  or  bears,  was 
slain  and  partly  devoured.  When  "Old  Tim"  looked 
for  his  ox,  and  found  but  a  half-eaten  carcass,  he  swore 
most  savagely,  and  straightway  organized  a  small  party  of 
friends  to  hunt  the  ursine  assassins  down.  The  hunters 
lay  in  wait  for  the  bears  about  twenty -four  hours,  abundantly 
prepared  to  work  dreadful  slaughter,  but,  the  bears  not  ap- 
pearing within  that  time,  the  party  retired  for  a  brief 
season  of  refreshment.  At  the  close  thereof  they  came 
again  on  guard,  but  alack  !  during  their  absence  the  nimble 
bears  had  appeared,  consumed  the  balance  >of  the  carcass, 
and  disappeared.  Old  Tim  swore  worse  than  ever,  but 
swearing  did  no  good,  and  he  never  got  a  chance  to  re- 
venge himself  upon  the  destroyers  of  his  ox. 

OTHER   PIONEER  RECOLLECTIONS. 

Isaac  Messer,  an  emigrant  to  Michigan  in  1835,  and  to 
Orangeville  in  1836,  and  a  settler  in  February,  1839,  upon 
section  20,  in  Carlton,  still  lives  in  the  latter  township,  and 
retains  some  very  keen  recollections  of  the  incidents  attend- 
ant upon  his  experience  as  a  Michigan  pioneer.  Upon  his 
arrival  in  Carlton  he  moved  into  a  log  shanty,  put  up  by 
E.  R.  Carpenter,  on  the  place  now  occupied  by  William 
Jones,  in  section  20.  The  residents  of  Carlton  at  that 
time,  as  he  now  remembers  them,  were  Jared  S.  Rogers, 
John  S.  Henyon,  James  Gilson,  and  Alpheus  Moore  on 
the  west,  E.  R.  Carpenter,  Harrison  Wickham,  George 
Fuller,  Samuel-  Wickham,  John  McAuley,  Myers  Lovell, 
Zebulon  Barnum,  his  sons,  Jesse  Townsend,  Moses  Durkee, 
Samuel  Durkee,  Nelson  Sprague,  and  Abel  Barnum  on  the 
east,  and  Timothy  Loughead  away  off  in  the  northeast. 

Although  the  near  neighbors  were  few,  there  were 
plenty  of  people  within  reach,  for  when  Messer  was  ready  to 
raise  his  barn  he  issued  invitations  to  the  people  of  the 
neighboring  townships,  and  as  a  result  he  had  a  company 


of  thirty  or  more  persons  to  give  him  a  friendly  lift,  and  a 
right  merry  time  they  had  too,  if  current  report  is  to  be 
relied  on. 

Going  to  mill  meant  a  trip  to  either  Kalamazoo,  Battle 
Creek,  or  some  equall}'  distant  point,  and  an  absence  of  from 
three  to  eight  days,  most  frequently  the  latter.  When  a 
settler  announced  it  as  his  intention  to  go  to  mill,  his 
neighbors  came  from  far  and  near  with  grists  for  transporta- 
tion, and  there  was  always  a  full  load,  for  the  oppor- 
tunity of  sending  to  mill  was  far  too  unfrequent  to  pass 
unheeded.  Sometimes  it  happened  that  even  after  a  tire- 
some journey  to  mill  there  would  be  no  chance  to  get 
anything  ground  for  a  day  or  two,  and  so  while  waiting  his 
"  turn"  the  pioneer  would  use  his  team  in  hauling  wood 
or  doing  anything  else  at  hand,  so  that  he  might  earn  at 
least  enough  to  pay  his  board. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  difiieulties  to  be  encountered  in 
making  a  journey,  whether  long  or  short,  it  is  recalled  that 
in  1838  Alpheus  Moore  started  for  mill  with  an  ox-team, 
and  such  was  the  roundabout  course  he  had  to  pursue  that 
after  traveling  all  day  he  found  himself  at  night  not  more 
than  two  or  three  miles,  in  an  air-line,  from  home.  His 
next  day's  journey  carried  him  only  to  Bull's  Prairie.  To 
that  point  the  journey  was  always  slow  and  painful,  for  it 
was  over  a  zig-zag  road  through  a  heavily-timbered  country. 
From  Bull's  Prairie,  however,  to  Comstock's,  there  was  a 
decent  trail  over  which  traveling  was  comparatively  easy. 

Mr.  Messer  says  he  bought  a  barrel  of  salt  of  Yankee 
Bill  Lewis  for  $13,371,  and  paid  for  it  by  splitting  rails. 
While  he  was  at  work  on  the  job  he  walked  seven  miles 
every  morning  through  the  snow  to  his  work,  and  back 
asain  at  night  to  do  his  chores.  He  was  at  one  time  seven- 
teen  days  and  at  another  fifteen  days  without  flour  or  meat, 
and  with  his  family  had  to  subsist  on  potatoes  and  salt. 
Reference  to  meat  suggests  a  story  about  one-hog  pork,  in 
which  Samuel  Wickham  figured.  That  young  man  had 
been  to  Battle  Creek,  or  some  point  near  there,  for  a  supply 
of  provisions,  and  among  the  lot  had,  of  course,  a  barrel  of 
"  one-hog  pork," — that  is,  the  pork  of  a  hog  large  enough 
to  fill  the  barrel. 

In  fording  a  stream  he  got  into  deep  water,  was  swamped, 
and  lost  his  load,  but  by  great  exertions  saved  himself 
and  cattle.  It  must  have  been  a  very  powerful  Christian 
resignation  that  aided  him,  if  he  really  submitted  to  the 
unhappy  accident  without  a  murmur.  It  was  bad  enough  to 
work  for  a  week  on  abominable  roads  to  reach  a  market 
and  to  get  back  again,  but  to  lose  the  result  of  his  toil,  and  • 
to  feel  doubtful  about  his  immediate  ability  to  raise  funds 
for  another  purchase,  was,  indeed  a  sore  trial.  In  this  par- 
ticular case  Wickham  did  eventually  recover  his  barrel  of 
one-hog  pork,  but  as  if  to  aggravate  him  still  further  with 
a  sense  of  misfortune  it  was  found  to  contain  thirteen  pigs' 
feet,  a  number  quite  out  of  keeping,  as  any  one  must  con- 
fess with  the  generally  conceived  idea  as  to  the  number  of 
pedal  extremities  usually  attached  to  one  porker. 

When  Mr.  Messer  came  to  Carlton  he  sought  to  ford  the 
Thornapple  at  Bull's  Prairie,  but  the  stream  was  thick 
with  anchor  ice,  and  when  about  half-way  across  his  cattle 
parted  from  the  wagon,  and  he,  in  subsequent  eiforts  to  re- 
cover them  and  to  convey  his  goods  to  shore,  crossed  the 


412 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


river  naked  thirteen  times.  When  he  got  through  with 
his  task  he  found  himself  so  bruised  and  bleeding  that  he 
gave  the  strongest  kind  of  indications  that  he  had  been  in 
a  slaughter-pen,  while  he  was  so  deplorably  chilled  and  ex- 
hausted as  to  be  scarcely  capable  of  motion.  On  another 
occasion  he  was  engaged  nearly  a  half-day  in  a  similar 
adventure.  At  that  time  he  had  his  family  with  him,  and 
so  enfeebled  had  his  cattle  become  by  their  travel  that  they 
gave  out  when  within  a  mile  of  home.  The  snow  was 
deep,  the  track  was,  of  course,  unbeaten,  and  over  the  mile 
that  intervened  between  them  and  home  they  would  only 
move  as  Jlesser  tramped  and  packed  the  snow  before  them 
for  the  entire  length  and  breadth  of  the  road.  Nor  was 
that  all.  When  the  family  reached  home  and  were  thank- 
fully eating  their  supper  Messer  suddenly  bethought  him- 
self to  look  after  the  oxen,  which  he  had  left  at  the  door. 
Alas  !  they  had  wandered  off,  and  away  he  went  through  the 
darkness  and  deep  snow  to  hunt  them.  Tired  as  he  was 
it  was  a  painful  task,  and  what  made  it  worse  was  the  fact 
that  he  had  to  wander  through  (the  woods  at  random  and 
wade  through  three  feet  of  snow.  Finding  his  team  at 
last,  and  housing  them  at  a  settler's,  he  set  out  for  home. 
Within  a  mile  of  his  cabin  he  lost  his  way,  and  then,  utterly 
worn  out  and  discouraged,  he  lay  down  to  die.  "  I  couldn't 
die,"  says  he ;  "  and  so  making  another  effort  I  found  my 
way  at  last  and  got  home  about  daylight,  and  found  my 
family,  as  you  may  imagine,  in  a  state  of  distressing 
anxiety." 

Money  was  a  much-desired  boon,  and  hard  to  get.  About 
the  only  way  the  settlers  could  get  hold  of  cash  was  through 
their  labor  on  the  roads,  kept  up  by  the  payment  of  taxes 
by  non-residents.  So  eager  were  some  to  get  a  little  money 
that  they  hauled  wheat  for  A.  E.  Bull  from  Bull's  Prairie 
to  Grand  Rapids  for  a  shilling  a  bushel.  Dry  bread  suf- 
ficed to  sustain  them  on  the  journey,  and  in  the  woods  they 
would  find  their  nightly  lodging  place,  sometimes  sleeping 
there  while  the  snows  descended  upon  them.  An  old 
settler  tells  how  he  went  to  Detroit  for  a  cow  and  two  bar- 
rels of  salt,  and  that  on  the  trip  home  he  slept  in  the  woods 
and  lived  on  simply  the  milk  he  got  from  the  cow. 

Ira  Leach,  who  located  in  Jackson  County  in  1835,  set- 
tled in  Carlton  in  1839,  upon  sections  31  and  32,  and  in 
December  of  that  year,  with  his  son  Henry  and  one  Cyrus 
GrifiSn,  put  up  a  shanty.  Grififin  became  a  settler  in  the 
Rogers  neighborhood,  but  removed  soon  to  Hastings,  where 
he  followed  the  trade  of  carpentering  until  his  death.  With 
Leach  also  came  two  brothers  named  Strong,  who  owned 
land  on  section  32,  and  put  up  the  body  of  a  log  house 
on  it,  but,  becoming  dissatisfied  with  their  brief  experi- 
ence as  pioneers  in  that  region,  returned  to  Jackson  County, 
and  there  remained.  Mr.  Leach  died  on  his  farm  in  1841, 
and  was  buried  there. 

In  the  year  1839  the  pioneer  settlements  in  the  north- 
western portion  of  the  town  where  made  by  Enos  Dryer 
and  Charles  Mitchell,  who  in  that  year  came  from  Calhoun 
County.  Both  were  on  section  5,  close  neighbors, — Dryer 
oji  the  place  now  occupied  by  J.  H.  Freeland,  and  Mitchell 
op  the  Franklin  Peck  place.  Following  them  came  Stephen 
Doty  and  John  Fish  in  February,  1840.  Doty  bought  40 
acres  on  sectiop  5  for  $100,  and  worked  at  five  shillings  a 


day  to  pay  for  the  land.  Fish  settled  just  south  of  Dryer. 
These  two  were  noted  hunters  and  trappers,  and  played  sad 
haxoc  among  the  bears  and  wolves.  On  one  occasion  when 
Dryer  had  shot  a  bear,  he  thought  Bruin  was  so  far  gone 
that  he  could  be  handled  with  impunity.  When  Dryer 
caught  the  brute  by  the  tail  to  drag  him  away,  the  animal 
turned  upon  him  with  a  show  of  considerable  life,  and  for 
a  time  there  was  a  sharp  contest,  but  Dryer  proved  the 
more  successful,  and  not  only  whipped  but  killed  the  bear 
beyond  any  possibility  of  a  resurrection.  John  Fish's 
brothers,  Nehemiah,  D.  P.,  and  Milo  W.,  were  early  comers 
in  that  neighborhood,  and  were  also  famous  as  hunters. 
Mr.  Doty  remarks  that  although  the  settlers  could  find  a 
mill  at  Hastings  it  took  them  a  good  two  days  to  go  there 
and  get  back,  and  he  recollects  that  he  was  gone  two  days 
on  a  short  trip  to  Woodland  for  a  few  potatoes,  although  he 
made  all  the  haste  he  could. 

Franklin  Peck,  now  living  on  section  5,  came  to  town 
from  Calhoun  County  in  1844.  Milo  and  Reuben  Bunn 
came  to  section  5  in  1853,  James  Freeland,  with  his  sons, 
Jacob  and  John  H.,  to  the  same  section  in  1855,  and 
Daniel  Yarger  to  section  10  in  1857.  Mr.  Yarger  has  ac- 
quired considerable  distinction  in  Carlton  as  a  land-owner, 
stock-raiser,  and  sugar-maker.  Maxfield  Ludlow  was  a  settler 
on  section  5  in  1845,  and  in  1856  T.  L.  Pillsbury  built  a 
cabin  upon  section  7,  which  until  then  had  received  no 
settler,  and  upon  which  for  about  ten  years  Mr.  Pillsbury 
was  the  only  resident.  When  he  moved  in  he  had  to  cut 
his  road  from  the  Rogers  settlement  to  his  place.  From 
Rogers'  Corners  to  the  northern  town-line,  he  found  the 
settlers  then  to  be  A.  E.  Fowler,  Sanford  Sisson,  John 
Strausbaugh,  Jonathan  Rumsey,  Osro  Van  Wormer,  the 
Fish  families,  Franklin  Peck,  the  Freeland  families,  Ira 
Hoyt,  Stephen  Doty,  and  the  Bunns. 

In  1843,  Truman  P.  Barnum  came  to  Carlton,  taught 
school  a  while,  went  back  to  New  York,  and  in  1844  came 
again  to  Carlton.  He,  with  his  half-brother,  O.  F.  Munion, 
worked  upon  Nelson  Sprague's  farm  three  years.  He  sub- 
sequently occupied  land  in  Woodland,  then  exchanged  it  for 
the  saw-mill  property  of  Levi  Herron,  on  section  16,  and 
ultimately  settled  on  the  same  section,  where  he  now  lives, 
upon  land  first  improved  by  Oscar  Smith.  Jacob  Odell 
located  on  section  21  in  1841,  and  in  1844  his  son-in-law, 
J.  0.  Foster,  came  to  the  town.  Both  died  upon  the  same 
day,  in  1846.  William  Morgan,  who  settled  in  Carlton  in 
1852,  married  Foster's  widow.  L.  B.  Barber  came  to  sec- 
tion 23  in  1858,  and  in  1850  Austin  Durfee  (a  settler  in 
Michigan  in  1822)  located  on  section  29. 

LOST  CHILDREN. 

Many  people  still  living  recollect  very  clearly  the  inci- 
dent of  the  loss  of  Jedotham  Freeman's  two  children,  and 
the  subsequent  protracted  but  fruitless  search  for  them, 
and  there  are  also  many  residents  of  the  county  who  took 
part  in  that  search, — a  search  that  engaged  the  energies  of 
people  from  as  far  even  as  Kalamazoo  and  Battle  Creek. 

It  was  during  the  year  1846  that  Freeman,  who  lived 
in  the  northeastern  corner  of  the  township,  gave  out  that 
his  two  sons,  Alonzo  and  Newton,  aged  respectively  eight 
and  ten,  had  gone  into  the  woods  and  had  not  returned,  his 


rffs*--''^^  ^ 


-w6v 


T.     L.    ri  LLS  BU  RY. 


MRS,    r.  L.  PILLSBU  RY. 


^( 


X 


M :  - 


ResioenceofHEV,    THEODORE    L.   PILLSBURY,   Carlton,M(  ch. 


CARLTON  TOWNSHIP. 


413 


expressed  opinion  being  that  the  boys  had  been  carried  off 
by  Indians.    The  story  circulated  rapidly,  and  enlisted  pop- 
ular attention  and  sympathy  to  such  a  degree  that  there 
was  an  immediate  and  organized  search  for  the  lost  ones, 
and  people  came  not  only  from  Hastings  and  neighboring 
towns,   but   from   Kalamazoo   and   other   counties.      The 
searching-party,  composed  at  times   of  upwards   of  300 
people,  was  thoroughly  organized,  and  was  conducted  in  part 
by  Dr.  Upjohn  and  H.  A.  Goodyear,  of  Hastings.     The 
country  was  scoured  for  miles  around,  the  sharpest  lookout 
was  kept,  and  while  a  ray  of  hope  remained  the  interest  in 
the  affair  widened  and  deepened,  but,  after  a  week's  unavail- 
ing work  disclosing  neither  the  presence  of  the  children  nor  a 
clue  to  their  whereabouts,  they  were  abandoned  to  their 
fate.     The  mystery  attendant  upon  their  disappearance  has 
to  this  day  remained  a  mystery,  although  there  were  not 
wanting  those  at  the  time  of  the  search  to  hint  that  Free- 
man had  murdered  and  made  away  with  the  children.     In- 
deed, it  was  afterwards  remembered  that  he  had  on  more 
than  one  occasion  threatened  to  kill  them,  and  his  nature 
was  of  such  a  rough   and  violent  character  that  in  fits  of 
ra^e  he  was  a  furious  demon.     It  was  believed  that  he  struck 
one  of  them  in  a  passion,  unwittingly  inflicting  a  fatal  blow, 
and  had  then  slain  the  other  and  destroyed  the  bodies  of 
both  in  order  to  hide  the  previous  crime.    No  person  seemed, 
however,  inclined  to  press  the  matter  by  means  of  legal  in- 
vestigation, and  Freeman  was  therefore  undisturbed  except 
by  public  suspicion.     Soon  after  the  loss  of  his  children  he 
moved  away  from  the  township,  and  within  a  short  time 
fell  suddenly  dead  while  standing  one  day  within  the  door- 
way of  his  home. 

THE   PIONEEE  SAW-MILL. 

Carlton  is  not,  nor  has  it  ever  been,  much  of  a  town  for 
mills.  There  is  a  good  water-power  on  the  Thornapple, 
but  it  has  not  been  employed  except  for  a  few  saw-mills. 
Grist-mill  there  has  never  been.  Nelson  Sprague  built  the 
first  saw-mill,  in  1843,  on  section  23,  and  after  sawing  a 
few  lo^s  saw  it  undermined  and  overturned  by  a  sudden 
freshet.  Sprague  did  not  restore  it,  but  disposed  of  the 
machinery  to  Moses  Durkee  and  several  of  the  Barnum 
boys,  who  transferred  the  concern  to  section  26,  and  there 
carried  it  on  some  time. 

BIKTHS,  MARRIAGES,  AND  DEATHS. 
Keuben  Fuller,  son  of  George  Fuller  and  Lovica  Wick- 
ham  Fuller,  was  the  first  white  child  born  in  Carlton.  His 
birth  occurred  some  time  during  1837,  and  his  death  in 
1838,  so  that  he  was  likewise  the  first  white  person  to  die 
in  the  town.  He  was  buried  on  the  Fuller  farm,  upon  the 
river-bank,  and  there  his  bones  still  repose.  Harrison  Wick- 
ham's  son  Giles,  born  also  in  1837,  was  the  second  native, 
and  Harrison  Wickham's  wife,  who  died  Feb.  25,  1843, 
was  the  first  person  buried  in  the  cemetery  near  Carlton 

Centre. 

Elisha  R.  Carpenter  and  Elizabeth  Wickham  were  the 
first  couple  married  in  the  town.  The  wedding  took  place 
at  the  residence  of  the  bride's  father,  Jan.  28, 1838,  and  to 
perform  the  ceremony  Squire  Henry  Leonard,  of  Middle- 
villa,  walked  over  to  Carlton  through  a  deep  snow.     Be- 


sides the  father  and  mother  of  the  bride,  there  were  present 
George  Fuller  and  wife,  George  Fowler,  Harrison  Wick- 
ham and  wife,  and  Jared  S.  Rogers  and  wife.  There  was 
a  wedding-feast,  an  abundance  of  good  cheer,  and  a  good 
time  generally. 

Town  cemeteries  were  laid  out  in  1843  near  the  Centre 
and  in  the  Barnum  neighborhood ;  Hart  Covey,  son  of 
Elihu  Covey,  being  the  first  buried  in  the  latter  place,  in 
1843.  In  1853  a  burial-ground  was  staked  at  the  Centre, 
but  before  any  bodies  were  laid  there  the  project  was  aban- 
doned and  an  addition  was  made  to  the  ground  on  the  Car- 
penter place.  At  the  same  time  a  burial-ground  was  laid 
out  in  the  Cheney  neighborhood. 

THE   MAIL. 

Carlton  post-office  was  established  in  1844,  and  Jared  S. 
Rogers  appointed  postmaster.  Jeremiah  M.  Rogers,  his 
son,  then  but  thirteen  years  of  age,  carried  the  mail  in 
1845,  on  the  route  from  Hastings  to  Ionia  vid  Carlton,  on 
horseback,  once  a  week,  and  through  a  country  then  so 
wild  that  over  a  nine-mile  stretch  of  the  road  there  was  not 
a  house  to  be  seen.  In  1853,  Enos  Dryer  was  appointed  to 
the  office,  but  Rogers  did  the  work  at  his  house  as  usual, 
as  deputy,  the  cause  of  the  transfer  being  the  change  of  ad- 
ministration from  Whig  to  Democratic.  After  the  death 
of  Mr.  Rogers,  in  1854,  Rowley  Gifford  became  postmas- 
ter, and  after  him  Truman  P.  liarnum.  When  Barnum 
retired  and  Peter  Covert  was  appointed,  the  office  was 
transferred  to  Carlton  Centre,  but  shortly  thereafter  the 
mail-route  that  way  was  abolished,  as  was  of  course  the 
office.  In  1874  a  mail-route  was  established  from  Hastings 
to  Woodland,  and  the  office  in  Carlton  was  revived,  but  re- 
named Carlton  Centre.  James  M.  Covert  was  appointed, 
but  resigned  in  1 878,  and  was  succeeded  by  Thomas  Blinston, 
the  present  incumbent. 

PHYSICIAN. 

Dr.  Joseph  Adolphus  was  an  early  settler  in  Carlton,  the 
first  physician  in  the  township,  and  the  only  one  therein  for 
many  years.     He  had  an  extensive  practice,  was  well  and 
popularly  known  throughout  the  county,  and  was  moreover 
a  man  much  given  to  eccentricities  of  expression  and  action. 
When  he  courted  the  lady  who  afterwards  became  his  wife, 
he  used  invariably,  in  his  journeys  to  the  house  of  her  father, 
T.  C.  Smith,  to  ride  into  a  hole  that  graced  the  side  of 
the  highway,  led  thereto  doubtless  by  absent-mindedness 
and  a  disposition  .  to  let  his  horse  have  its  own  way.     As 
often  as  he  fell  into  the  opening  and  off  his  horse  he  would 
exclaim  with,  considerable  emphasis,  "  If  I  live  until  morn- 
ing I'll  have  that  hole  filled  up."     Although  he  tumbled 
inta  the  excavation  regularly  every  night  he  made  the  trip 
to  Mr.  Smith's,  and  although   he  always  vowed  the  hole 
should  be  filled  up  if  he  lived  until  morning,  it  is  mod- 
erately certain  that  the  hole  continued  to  yawn  for  him 
during  his  residence  in  Carlton.     He  was  somewhat  distin- 
guished too  for  an  extraordinary  capacity  for  driving  sud- 
denly from  bridges  into  the  streams  they  crossed,  but,  des- 
pite his  mishaps  in  that  direction,  he  never  came  to  greater 
hurt  therefrom  than  an  occasional  ducking.     Dr.  Adolphus 
was   esteemed  a  skillful  physician,  and   previous  to  his 


414 


HISTOEY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BAKKY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


making  Carlton  his  home,  in  1846,  had  spent  five  years  in 
the  naval  service  on  board  a  man-of-war.  When  he  re- 
moved from  Carlton  he  became  a  resident  of  Hastings,  and 
lives  now  in  the  far  West. 

The  year  that  Dr.  Adolphus  left  Carlton— 1862— Dr.  A. 
J.  Wright  located  in  the  township  as  his  successor,  and 
since  then  has  been  in  continuous  practice  there.  Dr.  0. 
P.  Abbot  came  to  Carlton  in  1873,  and  Dr.  Johnson  lived 
and  practiced  there  from  1873  to  1875. 

EOADS. 

On  the  22d  of  March,  1839,  a  road  was  surveyed,  be- 
ginning at  the  corners  of  sections  7,  8, 17,  and  18,  and  run- 
ning thence  north  two  miles,  to  the  north  line  of  the  town- 
ship. On  the  11th  of  June,  1840,  a  survey  of  a  road  was 
made,  "  beginning  at  what  is  supposed  to  be  the  north 
quarter-post  of  section  21,  running  thence  south  to  the 
south  quarter-post  of  section  21,  thence  south  and  west  to 
the  west  line  of  section  29."  On  the  same  day  a  road- 
survey  was  made,  "  commencing  at  a  stake  twenty  chains 
south  of  the  south  quarter-stake  of  section  21 ,  running  thence 
east  forty-five  degrees  north  to  a  stake  on  the  south  line 
of  section  21,  twenty  chains  east  to  the  south  quarter-stake 
of  said  section  21." 

In  1846,  Isaac  Messer  and  John  Heuyon  were  the  high- 
way commissioners,  and  on  the  16th  May  they  laid  out  a  road, 
commencing  on  the  northwest  corner  of  section  5,  running 
thence  east  on  the  north  lines  of  sections  4  and  5  to  the 
northeast  corner  of  section  4.  The  State  road,  "  from  Hast- 
ings to  the  Tyler  settlement  and  Ada  in  Kent  County," 
passed  through  Carlton,  and  was  laid  as  to  that  portion  by 
H.  A.  Goodyear  and  John  Henyon,  the  commissioners, 
Dec.  9,  1846. 

In  the  year  1846  the  labor  performed  on  the  highways  in 
Carlton,  under  the  assessment,  aggregated  129  days.  In 
1850  the  apportionment  of  highway  money  was  as  follows: 


District  No.    1 $8.50 

"  "      2 20.90 

"  "      3 18.17 

"  "      i 13.55 

"  "      5 12.40 


District   No.    6 $3.75 

"      7 18.95 

"  "      8 8.48 

"  "      9 1.44 

"  "    10 4.60 


OEGANIZATION  AND  OFFICERS. 
Township  4  north,  range  8  west,  was  included  in  Hast- 
ings until  Feb.  16,  1842,  when,  under  an  act  of  the  Legis- 
lature, it  was  separately  organized  and  called  Carlton,  in 
accordance  with  the  suggestion  of  Zebulon  Barnum,  who 
came  hither  from  Carlton  in  New  York  State.  The  first 
town-meeting  was  held  at  "  the  school-house,  near  John 
McAuley's,"  and  on  that  occasion  E.  R.  Carpenter  was 
chosen  supervisor.  The  early  town  records — from  1842  to 
1846 — were  loosely  kept  on  scraps  of  paper,  and,  these  hav- 
ing long  since  been  lost,  no  details  touching  the  election  of 
town  ofiicials  can  be  given  antedating  the  year  last  named. 
From  1846,  even,  the  list  is  not  complete,  but,  such  as  it  is, 
it  is  herewith  given,  including  those  who  have  been  chosen 
annually  to  serve  as  supervisors,  clerks,  treasurers,  and  jus- 
tices from  1846  to  1880  : 

SUPERVISORS. 
1846,  E.  R.  Carpenter;  1847,  John  Barnum;  1848,  E.  R.  Carpenter; 
1849,  P.  K.  Barnum;    1850-51,  B.  R.  Carpenter;    1852,  John 
Barnum;  1853,  B.  R.  Carpenter;  1854,  Wilson  Odell;   1855,  B. 


R.  Carpenter;  1856,  N.  G.  Barnum;  1867,  E.  R.  Carpenter; 
1858,  Isaac  Messer;  1859,  T.  P.  Barnum;  1860-61,  John  Bar- 
num; 1862,  no  record;  1863-64,  B.  R.  Carpenter;  1865,  no  rec- 
ord; 1866,  T.  P.  Barnum;  1867,  S.  Sisaon ;  1868,  T.  P.  Barnum; 
1869,  B.  R.  Carpenter;  1870-73,  G.  C.  Nichols;  1874,  M.  P.  Ful- 
ler; 1875,  A.  Carpenter;  1876,  J.  Odell ;  1877,  F.  Heoht,  Jr.; 
1878-79,  J.  Fleming. 

CLERKS. 

1846,  John  Barnum;  1847,  P.  K.  Barnum;  1848,  T.  P.  Barnum;  1849, 
John  Fuller;  1850,  M.  Ludlow;  1851,  W.  Odell;  1852,  H.  Green- 
field; 1853-55,  I.  B.  Carpenter;  1856-57,  T.  P.  Barnum;  1858, 
A.  Carpenter;  1859-61,  Oscar  Smith;,  1862,  no  record;  1863-64, 
Oscar  Smith;  1865,  no  record;  1866,  H.  W.  Hewes ;  1867,  C.  L. 
Parsons;  1868-69,  D.  D.  Smith;  1870,  C.  B.  Parsons;  1871-74, 
A.  Carpenter;  1875,  B.  F.  Sisson;  1876,  T.  Blinston;  1877,  J.  N. 
Covert;  1878-79,  Charles  Goodell. 

TREASURERS. 
1846,  J.  S.  Rogers;  1847,  E.  R.  Carpenter;  1848,  Paul  Dennis;  1849 
-50,  J.  S.  Rogers;  1851,  J.  Barnum;  1852,  W.  Wickham;  1853, 
J.  Barnum;  1854,  Anson  Wood;  1855-56,  I.  H.  Barnum;  1857- 
58,  Oscar  Smith  ;  1859,  B.  R.  Carpenter;  1860,  Ellis  Wood;  1861, 
J.  B.  Carpenter;  1862-63,  no  record;  1864,  J.  B.  Carpenter; 
1865,  no  record;  1866-68,  A.  J.  Wright;  1869-71,  J.  B.  Carpen- 
ter; 1872-73,  A.  J.  Wright;  1874,  C.  B.  Parsons;  1875-77,  W. 
S.  Rogers;   1878,  J.  L.  Cole;  1879,  W.  B.  Raymond. 

JUSTICES. 
1846,  Leonard  Hale;  1847,  Paul  Dennis;  1848,  P.  K.  Barnum;  1849, 
John  Fuller;  1850,  Timothy  Titus;  1851,  Austin  Durfee;  1852, 
P.  K.  Barnum;  1853,  J.  S.  Rogers;  1854,  E.  R.  Carpenter;  1855, 
M.  W.  Fish;  1856,  P.  K.  Barnum;  1857,  David  Myers;  1858, 
W.  Odell;  1869,  S.  Sisson;  1860,  P.  K.  Barnum:  1861,  W.  Odell; 
1862-63,  no  record;  1864,  J.  Rickert;  1866-67,  no  record;  1868, 
I.  B.  Raymond;  1869,  E.  R.  Carpenter;  1870,  no  record;  1871, 
S.  B.  Edwards;  1872,  I.  B.  Raymond;  1873,  E.  R.  Carpenter; 
1874,  George  Murdook  ;  1875,  J.N.  Covert;  1876,  S.  B.Edwards; 
1877,  I.  B.  Raymond;   1878,  Milo  Fish;  1879,  J.  N.  Covert. 

JUROES  IN  1816-47. 

The  jurors  in  1846,  chosen  from  Carlton,  were  John 
Barnum,  Isaac  Messer,  P.  K.  Barnum,  Paul  Dennis,  Jas. 
0.  Foster,  and  Leonard  Hale  as  grand  jurors,  and  M.  C. 
Barnum,  Jacob  Hale,  John  Henyon,  E.  R.  Carpenter, 
Enos  Dryer,  and  John  Fuller  as  petit  jurors.  In  1847, 
Moses  Durkee,  I.  H.  Barnum,  Stephen  Riggs,  Paul  Den- 
nis, W.  G.  Wooley,  and  Joseph  Whitney  were  the  grand 
jurors,  and  Elihu  Covey,  Wilson  Odell,  Alpheus  Moore, 
Timothy  Titus,  George  Fowler,  and  Wm.  Vester  were  petit 
jurors. 

CARLTON'S  SCHOOLS. 

Carlton's  first  school  was  taught  in  1839  by  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  E.  R.  Carpenter,  in  George  Fuller's  double  log 
house,  and  contained  12  scholars,  of  whom  the  majority 
were  of  the  Fuller  and  Wickham  families.  After  an  ex- 
perience of  a  few  months  Mrs.  Carpenter  gave  up  the  task 
disheartened,  declaring  that  she  couldn't  control  the  chil- 
dren, and  vowing  that  she  wouldn't  teach  school  another 
term  for  40  acres  of  land. 

In  1840  it  was  decided  to  build  a  district  school-house 
on  section  20,  but  there  was  some  public  dissatisfaction  at 
that  choice  of  location,  and  a  compromise  was  accordingly 
efiected  by  the  construction  of  two  school-houses, — one  at 
the  Rogers  "  Corners,"  and  one  at  the  centre  of  the  town. 
Among  the  earliest  school-teachers  in  Carlton  were  Caroline 
Wickham,  Chloe,  Ruth,  and  Lydia  Benson,  Eliza  Dryer, 
Mary  Kenfield,  and  Amy  Benson.     Truman  P.  Barnum, 


CARLTON  TOWNSHIP. 


415 


who  taught  in  the  Barnum  neighborhood  in  the  winter  of 
1843-44,  was  the  first  male  teacher.  Previous  to  that 
school  had  been  taught  in  that  district  by  Sarah  Ann 
Crippen,  who  afterwards  married  H.  B.  Barnum.  For 
three  months'  teaching  Truman  P.  Barnum  received  $10  in 
money,  and  was  also  to  have  50  days  in  "  work."  Owning 
no  land,  he  took  a  chopping  job,  and  on  that  job  received 
from  the  town  the  50  days  in  work.  For  his  "job"  he 
took  a  note  against  a  man  in  New  York  State,  and  in  pay- 
ment thereof  was  compelled  to  take  boots  or  nothing. 
When  he  returned  to  Carlton,  in  1844,  he  brought  the 
boots  with  him  and  readily  sold  them  to  the  settlers. 
In  1846  school  moneys  were  apportioned  as  follows: 

District  No.  1 $9.03 

"  "2 

"         "   3 7.31 

Fractional  District  No.  2 4.73 

Total  (except  No.  2) $21.07 

APPOINTMENTS   OF   TEACHEES. 
The  following  is  a  list  of  teachers  appointed  from  1846 
to  1860 : 

Elvira  Barnum  and  Eliza  Kenfield,  April  11,  1846. 

Sally  Maria  Barnum,  June  15,  1846. 

Amy  Fuller  and  Lorina  Rogers,  May  15,  1847. 

H.  M.  Bidwell,  June  5,  1847. 

Eunice  Hale,  July  5,  1847. 

Elvira  Barnum,  July  13,  1847. 

N.  P.  Bunnell,  April  8,  1848. 

Julia  Bidwell,  May  30,  1848. 

J.  M.  Darling,  Deo.  13,  1849. 

Martha  S.  Fish  and  Lorina  Bogers,  April  22,  1850. 

A.  N.  Brewster,  Dec.  17,  1850. 
Sarah  Smith,  Oct.  2,  1851. 
M.  K.  Nash,  Nov.  22,  1861. 
Lowell  Barnum,  Nov.  6,  1852. 
Asa  D.  Kork,  Nov.  18,  1852. 
Ellen  Morgan,  Nov.  19,  1852. 

B.  C.  Morgan,  March  26,  1853. 
Franklin  Chadsey,  Nov.  14,  1853. 
0.  G.  Barnum,  Nov.  21,  1853. 
Susan  Senter,  April  8,  1854. 
Cynthia  Weller,  April  8,  1854. 
Cordelia  Sprague,  April  24,  1854. 
N.  L.  Otis,  Nor.  11,  1854. 

L.  J.  Wheeler,  Nov.  21,  1854. 
Elizabeth  Hubbell,  Nov.  28,  1854. 
Smith  Robinson  and  Laura  Newton,  Jan.  13,  1855. 
Martha  Messer  and  Sarah  A.  Messer,  April  14,  1855. 
,Sarah  A.  Cramer,  April  28,  1855. 
Mary  J.  Holmes  and  Julietta  Swan,  May  5,  1855. 
L.  M.  Rogers,  May  19,  1855. 
Eliza  Endley,  May  23,  1855. 
F.  Minor,  Nov.  10,  1855. 
Florence  McArthur,  Deo.  4,  1855. 
M.  W.  Riker,  Dec.  12, 1855. 
Iretta  H.  Shaw  and  Lucy  I.  Cross,  May  7,  1866. 
Susan  Hewea,  Sept.  12,  1856. 
Laura  Newton,  Oct.  25,  1856. 
B.  F.  Barnum,  Nov.  28, 1856. 
Mary  M.  Wood,  Nov.  29,  1856. 
Charles  Gaskill,  Deo.  13,  1856. 

Minerva  Sherman  and  Sarah  Von  Schoten,  March  21,  1867. 
Mary  M.  Wing  and  Sarah  M.  Moon,  April  18,  1857. 
Lorina  M.  Rogers,  April  25, 1857. 
Phoebe  H.  Yule,  May  4,  1857. 
Esther  A.  Lemon,  May  16,  1857. 
Laura  C.  Ellis,  May  23,  1857. 

G.  M.  Bates,  A.  M.  Hedges,  and  Miss  M.  I.  Tomkins,  Nov.  7, 
1857. 


A.  D.  Bates,  Nov.  14,  1857. 

H.  F.  Minor,  Nov.  25,  1857. 

Oscar  Cooper,  April  2,  1858. 

Sarah  E.  Fancher,  April  24,  1858. 

A.  J.  Campbell  and  Miss  0.  V.  Cooley,  April  26,  1858. 

Mary  J.  Holmes,  May  15,  1858. 

Cady  Staly  and  T.  P.  Barnum,  Nov.  6,  1858. 

Mary  E.  Richards  and  Mary  McCormick,  Nov.  20,  1868. 

E.  J.  Durfee,  Dec.  18,  1868. 

Laura  Newton,  Mary  E.  Strausbangh,  Amelia  Smith,  and  Lucy 

Senter,  April  9,  1859. 
Lucy  Ann  Hamilton,  April  13,  1859. 
Miss  E.  J.  Smoke,  April  23,  1869. 
Nancy  B.  Myers,  May  2,  1859. 
Norman  Hotchkiss,  Nov.  12,  1859. 
Phoebe  A.  Yule,  Nov.  21,  1859. 


SCHOOL   REPORTS   FOR    1851,  1853,  AND   1859. 


1851. 

Diatrict.  Scholars.  District. 

No.l 35  No.  1.... 

No.  2 31  No.  2.... 

Fractional  No.  2 28  No.  3.... 

Fractional  Ko.  3 27  No.  4.... 

No.  5.... 


1859. 


1853. 


Scholars. 

41 

58 

15 

35 

38 


No.  6 34 

No.l 29      Fractional  No.  6 19 

No.  2 50      Fractional  No.  7 24 

No.  4 17      No.  7 35 

Fractional  No.  2 36 

Fractional  No.  3 43 

The  school  report  for  1879  presented  the  following  statis- 
tics touching  the  public  schools  of  Carlton  : 

Number  of  districts  (whole,  8;  fractional,  3) 11 

"  scholars  of  school  age 515 

Average  attendance 452 

Value  of  property $4250 

Teachers'  wages $1100 

The  school  directors  for  1879  were  Foster  Sisson,  E.  J. 
Kershner,  P.  K.  Durkee,  J.  W.  Brown,  J.  Bronson,  G.  C. 
Gerkey,  J.  D.  Birmon,  Cyrus  Brown,  and  G.  W.  Coats. 


CHURCHES  IN  CARLTON. 
CARLTON    CENTRE    METHODIST    CLASS. 

Rev.  Mr.  Daubney,  of  Gull  Prairie,  who  preached  the 
pioneer  sermon  in  Hastings,  and  performed  in  Barry  County 
excellent  service  as  a  Methodist  Episcopal  circuit-preacher 
in  the  days  of  its  early  history,  visited  Carlton  early  in 
1840,  and  after  preaching  at  the  houses  of  John  Henyon 
and  Isaac  Messer  organized  a  Methodist  Episcopal  class  in 
the  Rogers  school-house  during  the  year  mentioned.  The 
organizing  members  of  the  class  were  E.  R.  Carpenter  and 
wife,  Mrs.  Loisa  Rogers,  Mrs.  John  Henyon,  Isaac  Messer 
and  wife,  and  George  Fowler.  Carpenter  was  appointed 
leader  and  Messer  steward.  Among  those  who  joined  the 
class  directly  after  organization  were  Alpheus  Moore,  Lo- 
vica  Fuller,  and  Caroline  Wickham.  The  class  was  in  the 
Hastings  Circuit,  and,  after  Daubney,  was  in  charge  of 
Rev.  Messrs.  Bush,  Worthington,  and  others.  Since  1840 
the  class  has  maintained  its  organization  continuously  and 
enjoyed  preaching  quite  regularly. 

Known  now  as  the  Carlton  Centre  class,  it  is  in  the 
Woodland  Circuit,  has  a  membership  of  20,  and  meets  for 
worship  once  in  two  weeks  at  the  Carlton  Centre  school- 
house.  Rev.  Mr.  Orwick  is  the  pastor,  James  N.  Covert 
the  class-leader,  A.  G.  Senter  the  class-steward,  and  James 
N.  Covert  the  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath- school. 


416 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


HOLMES  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 
The  Holmes  Methodist  Episcopal  class  of  Carlton  was 
organized  in  1843,  by  Rev.  E.  L.  Kellogg,  of  the  Hastings 
Circuit,  in  the  school-house  on  section  25.  The  organizing 
members  were  Levi  Holmes  and  wife,  Elizabeth  Barnum, 
Henry  Covey,  and  Esther  Durkee,  of  whom  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Holmes  and  Esther  Durkee  are  still  members.  The  class 
was  attached  to  the  Hastings  Circuit  until  1863,  when  it 
was  transferred  to  the  Woodland  Circuit.  For  a  few  years 
the  class  maintained  only  its  original  strength,  but  a  revival 
then  set  in  by  which  the  membership  was  materially  in- 
creased. Preaching  was  at  first  supplied  but  once  in  four 
weeks.  Since  the  transfer  to  the  Woodland  Circuit  the  ser- 
vices have  been  fortnightly.  Levi  Holmes  has  been  leader 
of  the  class  ever  since  its  formation,  and  was  also  stew- 
ard until  within  a  few  years.  He  is  likewise  the  local 
preacher,  having  been  appointed  in  1873.  The  present 
class-steward  is  Henry  Hewes.  The  school-house  served  as 
a  place  of  worship  until  1874,  when  a  handsome  church 
edifice  was  erected  on  section  24.  The  class  has  30  mem- 
bers, and  the  Sunday  school  an  average  attendance  of  25, 
John  P.  Phillips  being  the  superintendent.  The  church 
trustees  are  Levi  Holmes,  P.  R.  Holmes,  John  P.  Phillips, 
Henry  B.  Barnum,  and  Walter  Sackett. 

CARLTON    CENTRE    FREE    METHODIST    CLASS. 

Tills  society  was  organized  in  1876  by  Rev.  B.  R.  Jones, 
with  a  membership  of  8,  and  attached  to  the  Sanfield  Cir- 
cuit. The  class  is  now  on  the  Saranac  Circuit  in  charge 
of  Rev.  Mr.  Johnson,  who  preaches  once  in  two  weeks. 
Augustus  Carpenter  is  the  class-leader,  and  Wm.  Jones  the 
class-steward. 

SOUTH    CARLTON   UNITED    BRETHREN    CLASS. 

This  class  was  formed  in  January,  1879,  by  Rev.  B.  F. 
Hungcrford,  in  the  Leach  school-house,  with  16  members. 
It  is  in  the  Thornapple  mission,  in  which  there  are  five 
points.  A.  H.  Ickes  is  class-leader,  and  Z.  T.  Halstead,  of 
Middleville,  preacher  in  charge.  R.  J.  Hinckley  is  class- 
steward,  and  A.  H.  Ickes  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school,  which  has  4  teachers  and  about  30  scholars. 

CAELTON   GKANGE,   No.  264. 

This  body  was  formed  Feb.  14,  1874,  with  65  mem- 
bers and  the  following  officers:  A.  J.  Wright,  M.;  T.  B. 
Barnum,  0. ;  D.  M.  Wood,  L. ;  Thomas  Blinston,  Stew- 
ard; R.  B.  Messer,  Asst.  Steward;  Peter  Covert,  Chap- 
lain ;  Frederick  Hecht,  Treas. ;  J.  N.  Covert,  Sec. ;  Darius 
Foster,  G.  K. ;  Mrs.  P.  Covert,  Ceres ;  Mrs.  A.  C.  Carpenter, 
Pomona;  Mrs.  John  Fleming,  Flora;  Mrs.  A.  J.  Cain, 
Stewardess.  A.  J.  Wright  was  Master  in  1874  and  1875, 
J.  L.  Cole  in  1876,  A.  J.  Wright  until  Sept.  14, 1877,  when 
he  resigned,  and  was  succeeded  by  D.  D.  Smith.  J.  L.  Cole 
was  chosen  Master  in  1878,  and  has  filled  the  office  since 
then.  The  membership  is  now  28.  The  officers  are  J. 
L.  Cole,  M. ;  John  Burd,  0. ;  D.  D.  Smith,  L. ;  T.  P. 
Barnum,  Sec. ;  William  Williams,  Steward ;  Jasper  War- 
ner, Asst.  Steward ;  Julia  Barnum,  Chaplain ;  John  Car- 
penter, Treas. ;  A.  Half,  G.  K. ;  Amelia  Odell,  Ceres ; 
Elmira  Warner,  Pomona;  Mary  Carpenter,  Flora. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 


JEREMIAH   M.  ROGERS. 

Jeremiah  M.  Rogers,  son  of  Jered  S.  Rogers,  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  the  town  of  Carlton,  and  up  to  the  time  of 
his  death  its  most  prominent  citizen,  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Hector,  Tompkins  Co  ,  N.  Y.,  March  17, 1832,  and  was 
the  eldest  son  in  a  family  of  five  boys  and  three  girls.  In 
1836  there  was  a  heavy  emigration  to  the  then  Territory  of 
Michigan,  induced  by  the  low  price  and  fertility  of  its 
lands,  and  the  elder  Rogers,  foreseeing  the  ultimate  advan- 
tages to  be  derived  by  his  sons  from  an  early  settlement,  de- 
cided to  emigrate.  Accordingly,  in  the  early  part  of  1836, 
he  came  to  Carlton,  and  purchased  a  farm  in  the  vicinity  of 
what  is  now  known  as  "  Rogers'  Corners."  Barry  County 
at  this  time  was  one  dense  wilderness  ;  here  and  there  a  few 
adventurous  pioneers  had  erected  rude  log  cabins.  Hast- 
ings had  not  reached  the  distinction  of  a  hamlet,  and  the 
first  few  years  of  Mr.  Rogers'  life  in  Carlton  were  marked 
by  many  an  incident  of  privation  and  hardship.  Jeremiah, 
or  Jerry,  as  he  is  familiarly  known,  was  at  this  time  five 
years  of  age ;  he  recollects  distinctly,  however,  the  old 
"  Bunker  Tavern,"  at  Hastings,  the  first  habitation  built 
in  the  town.  The  elder  Rogers  was  a  thrifty,  industrious 
farmer,  and  a  man  of  remarkable  energy,  and  he  soon  be- 
came comparatively  forehanded,  and  took  a  leading  position 
among  the  early  settlers  in  all  matters.  Jeremiah  obtained 
his  education  at  the  log  school-house,  but  what  he  failed  to 
get  there  he  hassince  obtained  by  reading  and  observation. 
He  lived  with  his  father  up  to  the  time  of  the  latter's  decease, 
when  he  purchased  a  part  of  the  old  farm,  to  which  he  has 
made  repeated  additions.  He  now  owns  about  three  hun- 
dred acres  of  valuable  land,  and  is  one  of  the  important 
farmers  and  stock-growers  of  the  county. 

In  1855,  Mr.  Rogers  was  married  to  Miss  Betsey  J. 
Furster,  of  Eaton  Rapids.  They  have  been  blessed  with 
four  children, — Miles  J.,  Nellie  May,  Clarence  H.,  and 
Claude. 

In  his  political  and  religious  affiliations  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican and  a  Baptist.  There  are  but  few  men  in  Carlton,  if 
any,  who  have  been  more  prominent  in  its  history  than  he, 
no  enterprise  having  for  its  object  the  advancement  of  the 
interests  of  the  town  but  has  found  in  him  an  enthusiastic 
patron.  He  has  taken  an  active  part  in  all  religious  and 
social  matters,  and  his  name  is  so  stamped,  upon  the  his- 
tory of  the  town  that  it  cannot  be  eflFaced. 


REV.  THEODORE  L.  PILLSBURY. 

Theodore  L.  Pillsbury  was  born  in  the  town  of  Camden, 
Lincoln  Co.,  Me.,  Nov.  27, 1811.  His  grandfather,  Joseph 
Pillsbury,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution.  He  was  a 
member  of  Washington's  Life  Guard,  from  which  he  was 
transferred  to  that  of  Gen.  Lafayette.  He  served  with 
distinction  throughout  the  war,  and  at  its  close  settled  in 
Maine,  where  he  died  at  an  advanced  age.  Patriotism  has 
always  been  a  salient  point  in  the  character  of  the  Pillsburys. 
Johnson  Pillsbury,  son  of  Joseph,  and  father  of  Theodore 


CASTLETON  TOWiNSHIP. 


417 


L.,  was  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  was  a  man  of  positive 
character  and  inflexible  integrity.  He  was  married  in  1781 
to  Miss  Priscilla  Cooper,  a  descendant  of  Governor  Bartlett 
and  a  cousin  of  Peter  Cooper,  and  reared  a  family  of  thir- 
teen children, — nine  girls  and  four  boys.  Theodore. received 
an  academical  education,  and  upon  the  completion  of  his 
course  entered  a  theological  school,  where  he  spent  several 
years  as  a  teacher  and  pupil.  At  the  age  of  twenty-seven 
he  was  ordained,  and  commenced  his  ecclesiastical  labors. 
He  preached  in  Maine  until  1844,  when  he  was  sent  by 
the  Baptist  Home  Missionary  Society  to  Wisconsin.  He 
located  in  Milwaukee,  where  he  remained  several  years. 
As  a  minister  he  was  zealous  and  energetic,  and  his  labors 
were  successful. 

From  Milwaukee  he  went  ten  miles  above  Oshkosh,  and 
founded  the  town  of  Omro ;  from  thence  to  Racine,  where 
he  preached  several  years.  About  this  time  his  health 
failed,  and  he  resigned  his  pastorate  and  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  carriages  and  wagons.  In  this  enterprise 
he  remained  two  years.  He  then  sold  his  business  and  came 
to  Barry  County,  and  purchased  the  farm  on  which  he  now 
resides.  He  continued  to  preach,  however,  and  for  two 
years  was  the  pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  Woodland. 
He  then  established  a  church  in  Carlton,  over  which  he 
presided  until  1862,  when  he  was  elected  chaplain  of  the 
Twenty-First  Michigan   Infantry.      He  accompanied   the 


regiment  to  the  front,  and  evinced  the  same  energy  and  en- 
thusiasm in  the  field  that  he  did  in  the  pulpit,  and  the  tem- 
poral and  spiritual  welfare  of  the  soldiers  in  his  charge 
were  never  neglected.  He  was  compelled,  however,  to  re- 
sign his  position  before  the  close  of  the  war  on  account  of  ill 
health.  He  returned  to  his  home  and  assisted  in  raising  a 
company  for  the  Eleventh  Michigan  Cavalry.  In  1835  the 
elder  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  N.  Keene,  of  Waldoboro', 
Franklin  Co.,  Me.,  where  she  was  born,  in  1814.  She  is  a 
lady  of  culture  and  refinement,  and  highly  esteemed  by  all 
who  know  her.  Elder  Pillsbury  is  a  man  of  pronounced 
temperance  principles,  and  has  been  an  earnest  worker  in 
temperance  reform.  He  delivered  the  first  lecture  upon 
temperance  in  Hastings,  and  perhaps  no  man  in  Barry 
County  has  done  more  in  the  advancement  of  the  cause 
than  he. 

In  his  political  belief  Mr.  Pillsbury  was  originally  an 
Abolitionist,  and  many  a  fugitive  slave  he  aided  in  obtaining 
freedom.  On  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party 
he  became  an  able  exponent  of  its  principles,  and  has  since 
labored  in  its  interests.  Socially  he  is  genial  and  courteous, 
winning  and  retaining  the  regard  of  all  with  whom  he 
comes  in  contact.  He  has  taken  a  conspicuous  position  in 
all  enterprises  devoted  to  the  interests  of  Carlton,  and 
is  in  every  way  worthy  of  the  position  he  holds  among  the 
representative  men  of  the  county. 


CASTLETON/ 


Castleton  ranks  with  the  leading  townships  of  the 
county  in  enterprise,  in  the  excellence  and  improved  condi- 
tion of  its  land,  and  in  the  number  and  influence  of  its  rep- 
resentative farmers.  It  is  also  distinguished  for  containing 
one  of  the  most  flourishing  and  rapidly  growing  villages  in 
the  State. 

Castleton  is  designated  on  the  United  States  survey  as 
township  No.  3  north,  in  range  7  west,  and  is  bounded  on 
the  north  by  Woodland,  south  by  Maple  Grove,  east  by 
Vermontville  (Eaton  Co.),  and  west  by  Hastings. 

The  Grand  River  Valley  Railroad  enters  Castleton  on 
the  west  line  of  section  30,  runs  thence  east,  making  a  bend 
to  the  south,  and  leaving  the  township  at  section  36.  Be- 
sides a  depot  of  considerable  consequence  at  Nashville,  it 
has  a  station  formerly  known  as  Sheridan,  and  now  as 
Morgan,  on  section  30. 

Thornapple  Lake  lies  on  the  western  boundary,  covering 
portions  of  sections  19  and  30,  while  a  small  body  of  water 
known  as  Mud  Lake  is  found  on  section  16.  Thornapple 
River  flows  fi'om  the  southeast  corner  of  the  township 
northwest  into  Thornapple  Lake,  and  Mud  Creek  enters  on 
the  north  line  of  section  2,  meanders  to  the  southwest,  and 
pours  its  waters  into  the  same  reservoir.     High  Bank  Creek, 


»  By  E.  0.  Wagner. 


which  enters  the  township  near  the  southwest  corner  and 
runs  north  into  Thornapple  Lake,  affords  an  excellent  water- 
power  for  mill-purposes. 

Elm,  oak,  maple,  and  ash  are  the  woods  that  most  abound, 
though  tamarack  is  found  on  the  swampy  land.  Pine  does 
not  flourish,  and  the  presence  of  even  a  single  tree  is  a 
matter  of  remark. 

The  surface  of  Castleton  varies  greatly.  There  are  many 
declivities,  some  quite  abrupt,  but  the  larger  proportion  of 
the  surface  is  moderately  rolling.  Level  stretches  of  land 
are  to  be  seen  on  some  of  the  sections,  which  are  very  easily 
tilled  and  especially  productive.  The  soil  of  these  tracts  is 
a  gravelly  loam  with  clay  subsoil.  In  some  localities  a  large 
proportion  of  sand  is  mixed  with  clay,  while  the  usual 
quality  of  muck  prevails  in  the  low  land  which  was  formerly 
too  wet  for  use,  but  which  has  mostly  been  reclaimed  by  an 
excellent  drainage  system.  Wheat  and  other  grains  find 
here  a  congenial  soil.  The  last  census  gives  1638  acres  as 
the  surface  covered  by  wheat  in  1873,  which  produced 
25,689  bushels,  while  1032  aCres  of  corn  gave  a  return  of 
28,479  bushels.  Of  other  grains  21,277  bushels  were  har- 
vested, while  1145  tons  of  hay  were  also  cut.  The  amounts 
of  these  crops  raised  last  year  are  greatly  in  excess  of  the 
foregoing  figures,  but  cannot  be  exactly  stated  at  the  time 
this  work  goes  to  press. 


53 


418 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


LAND-ENTRIES. 

The  lands  of  Castleton  were  purchased  from  the  govern- 
ment by  the  following  individuals  : 


SECTION  1. 

James  C.  Lord,  1836 400 

F.  B.  Wright,  18,37 80 

0.  B.  Sheldon,  1843 91.41 

H.  N.  Sheldon,  1843 89.43 

SECTION  2. 

L.  Hinman,  1837 160 

A.  L.  Loomis,  1837 160 

A.  S.  Sprntt,  1837 80 

Horace  Whipple,  1837 80 

A.  B.  Cooper,  1843 87.23 

State  swamp-land. 

SECTION  3. 

C.  Webster,  1837 IfiO 

Alanson  Goodrich,  1837...  IfiO 
P.  P.  andH.  Palmer,  1837  164.46 

A.  Barnum,  1844 83.71 

J.  F.  Alley,  1855 40 

SECTION   4. 

T.  H.  Montgomery,  1837..  80 

J.  C.  Knight,  1837 80 

H.  Van  Dusen,  1837 80 

E.  Halaway,  1837 164.44 

A.  B.  Arnold,  1837 80 

John  Hart,  1837 80 

Nelson  Mitchell,  1837 85.20 

SECTION   5. 

C.  W.  Ingersoll,  1837 160 

M.  G.  Aliiiy,  1837 80 

S.  Watson,  1837 80 

E.  Halaway,  1837 82.12 

A.  B.  Arnold,  1837 80 

Henry  Brown,  1837 163.46 

SECTION  6. 

J.  W.  Ingersoll,  1837 80 

Rich'd  Cadmus  (2d),  1837     80 
William  B.  Clymer,  1837..  161.80 
Robert  Brown,  1837 293.72 

SECTION   7. 

Abraham  De  Mott,  1837..  320 
William  B.  Clymer,  1837..  144.41 
Robert  Brown,  1837 144.43 

SECTION  8. 

D.  J.  Fowler,  1837 160 

H.  Sandford,  1837 160 

Fletcher  Ransom,  1837...  160 
Joseph  Durfee,  Jr.,  1837..  160 

SECTION  9. 

Josiah  Dost,  1837 240 

A.  DeMott,  1837 240 

H.  H.  Loomia,  1837 80 

George  Farmer,  1837 80 

SECTION  10. 

Charles  T.  Moffatt,  1837..  160 
Anson  C.  Loomis,  1837 480 

SECTION   11. 

Charles  T.  Moffatt,  1837...  80 

Joel  Clemens,  1837 160 

A.  De  Mott,  1837 160 

A.  C.  Loomis,  1837 80 

George  Turner,  1837 80 

Daniel  Cobb,  1837 40 

State  swamp-land 40 

SECTION  12. 

Elisha  Steele,  1837 80 

WilliamH.  Coleman,  1837  80 

Joel  W.  Severns,  1837 240 

A.  C.  Loomis,  1837 80 

State  swamp-land 80 

Daniel  Brackett,  1854 40 

W.  L.  Boughman,  1859...  40 


SECTION  13. 

E.  Steele,  1837 320 

A.  L.  Loomis,  1837... 
A.  P.  Rawson,  1837. 
T.  W.  Hall,  1837 


160 
80 
80 


SECTION  14. 


Charles  T.  Moffatt,  1837..  204 

A.  C.  Loomis,  1837 80 

D.  0.  and  A.  C.  Kingsland, 

1837 160 

J.  D.  Remmey,  1837 160 

SECTION  15. 

M.  Lookhead,  1837 160 

Jason  Gillet,  1837 160 

John  Falconer,  1837 320 

SECTION  16. 
School  land. 


SECTION  17. 

C.  J.  Lawrence,  1836 

I.  D.  Fowler,  1837 

J.  D.  Shelby,  1837 

A.  B.  Arnold,  1837 


SECTION  18. 

George  S.  Wright,  1837... 

G.  W.  De  Mott,  1837 

W.  W.  McDowell,  1837... 
William  B.  Clymer,  1837. 
G.  W.  Bowen,  1857 


320 

160 

80 

80 


143.77 

160 

200 

64.19 

40 


SECTION  19. 

Peter  Chisholm,  1837 175.87 

Parsons  Rhoads,  1837 62,84 

A.  A.  Anderson,  1837 80 

State  swamp-land 55.56 

SECTION  20. 

Peter  Chisholm,  1837 443.10 

S.  S.  Alcott,  1837 160 

SECTION  21. 

C.  T.  Moffatt,  1837 80 

Chester  Comings,  1837 160 

Edward  Packer,  1837 160 

Joseph  Wilson,  1851 40 

Roswell  Randall,  1852 40 

Isaac  George,  1854 40 

A.  G.  Fuller,  1854 80 

Isaac  George,  1864 40 

SECTION  22. 

C.  T.  Moffatt,  1837 240 

Jason  Gillett,  1837 40 

John  McConely,  1837 40 

S.  E.  Ingersoll,  1837 80 

John  Ingersoll,  1837 80 

Oliver  Jennings,  1837 80 

Henry  Witte,  1854 80 

SECTION  23. 

Charles  T.  Moffatt,  1837...  160 

A.  De  Mott,  1837 320 

J.  E.  Keen,  1837 80 

Hannah  Linsea,  1851 40 

Thomas  Blaisdell,  1854...  40 

SECTION   24. 

Darwin  Andrews,  1836....  160 

A.  P.  Rawson,  1837 320 

Montgomery  and  Inger- 
soll, 1837 160 

SECTION  25. 

Ichabod  Clark,  1836 160 

R.  Hungerford,  1836 80 

M.  Ch.  Penneman,  1836...  160 


Acrefl. 

J.  M.  Clapp,  1837 160 

Noah  Kelsoy,  1837 80 

SECTION  26. 

Horace  Butler,  1836 160 

William  F.  Clark,  1836...  160 

J.  M.  Clapp,  1837 80 

W.  G.  Sprague,  1837 80 

C.  T.  Moffatt,  1837 80 

D.  Bennett,  1837 80 

SECTION  27. 

William  F.  Clark,  1836...     80 

C.  T.  Moffatt,  1837 160 

S.  R.  Griffin,  1837 160 

Orrin  Graves,  1837 80 

William  A.  Brown,  1848,..  160 

SECTION  28. 

N.  C.  Divine,  1836 80 

W.  A.  Divine,  1836 80 

Porter  Phelps,  1836 160 

C.  H.  Palmer,  1849 160 

Hiram  Bassett,  1849 40 

C.  H.  Palmer,  1851 40 

W.  G.  Sanders,  1854 80 

SECTION  29. 

J.  H.  Hatch,  1835 80 

S.  S.  Alcott,  1837 160 

J.  S.  Hewitt,  1837 80 

Asa  Ware,  1841 80 

J.  Parker,  Jr.,  1849 40 

D.  C.  Smith,  1849 40 

James  Smith,  1851 40 

S.   George,  1852 40 

I.  D.  Knappen,  1854 40 

Daniel  Bolinger,  1854 40 

SECTION  30. 

Junius  Hopkins!,  1835 160 

B.*Seeley,  1836 80 


Acres. 

Lindley  Bowne,  1837 80 

Peter  Chisholm,  1837 184.61 

SECTION  31. 

A.  L.  Hays,  1836 240 

Joseph  Allen,  1836 80 

Lindley  Bowne,  1837 80 

Volney  Briggs,  1851 57.62 

M.  A.  Nead,  1853 96.40 

R.  D.  Benedict,  1857 40 

SECTION  32. 

E.  Secley,  1836 320 

Thomas  White,  1836 80 

S.  M.  Allen,  1836 160 

W.  W.White,  1836 80 

SECTION  33. 

John  Meacham,  1836 160 

S.  M.  Allen,  1836 160 

Charles  Devine,  1836 160 

Lindley  Bowne,  1837 80 

Wm.  A.  Ware,  1840 80 

SECTION   34. 
William  W.  Coit,  1836....  640 

SECTION  35. 

J.  R.  Pettibone,  1836 80 

Abram  Voorhes,  1836 80 

Alfred  Warren,  1836 160 

Charles  T.  Moffatt,  1837..  240 
Francis  Moor,  1854 80 

SECTION  36. 

Lucius  Barnes,  1835 80 

J.  R.  Pettibone,  1836 80 

Abram  Voorhes,  1836 80 

Horace  Butler,  1836 320 

M.  C.  L.  Penniman,  1836     80 


RESIDENT  ASSESSMENT-ROLL   OF   1848,  CASTLETON. 

Acres. 

Alonzo  Barnum,  section  3 83.71 

Thomas  Blaisdell,  section  16 ].""  160 

Hiram  Basselt,  section  20 40 

Cyrus  Buxton,  section  32 go 

Edward  Bump,  section  6 49 

Dimmich  Bennett,  section  32 ."..'.""!     80 

John  Cox,  section  22 40 

Nathan  Clifford,'  section  2...  4* 

William  Clifford.  

William  Crabb,  section  9 joO 

William  Cross,  section  15 ..................."     80 

Scth  Davis,  section  33 ........."!!!!'     80 

Heman  Dodge,  section  30 ".....'.............     80 

Horace  Downs,  section  9 i^q 

John  Everts,  section  24 .".'.!!.'.!!....".  140 

John  R.  Everts,  section  24 .'"     20 

George  Feighuer,  section  22 60 

Selim  George. 

Edward  Hindmaroh,  section  8 igo 

H.  Hale. 

Thomas  Hardy,  section  22 40 

"  "        section  16 30 

William  Hoxsie,  section  29 80 

Ira  R.  Hoyt,  section  36 40 

Martin  Hast,  section  24 40 

Abram  Lindsie,  section  23 go 

•losiah  Loomis,  section  33 go 

Samuel  Lamb,  section  24 14 

Samuel  Masters. 

Kenyon  Mead,  section  32 120 

Lorenzo  Mudge,  section  32 160 

Alexander  Merritt,  sections  19  and  30 ...........!     91.70 

Alexander  Price,  section  23 go 

C.  11.  Palmer,  sections  26  and  31 !.!!!!!!!.     85 

I.  B.  Riggs,  section  6 ..........'  82.02 

Oliver  Rasey,  section  24 ]...]........     65' 

Joseph  H.  Rasey,  section  13 ......!!......     40 

J.  B.  Rasey,  section  13 40 

Thomas  E.  Ranger,  section  29 160 

C.  H.  Palmer  &  Co.,  section  31 ........"....,     20 

Richard  Smith,  section  20 gl 

Ansel  Seeley,  section  32 80 

George  D.  Serville,  section  26 !!......!!]!.! .........      80 

D.  W.  Smith,  section  13 !.".'. 40 

Daniel  Smith,  section  13 40 


CASTLETON  TOWNSHIP. 


419 


Acres. 

Hai^ey  N.  Sheldon,  section  1 89 

0.  B.  Sheldon,  section  1 71.41 

W.  P.  Wilkinson,  section  24 40 

William  Wellinan. 

Mrs.  Hannah  Wellman,  section  5 40 

Ebenezer  Warren,  section  8 80 

Benjamin  Wiuans,  section  16 160 

James  Walker,  section  22 40 

Roswoll  Wilcox,  section  30 107 

Albert  Whitcomb,  section  31 155 

Sheldon  Whitcomb,  section  31 140 

Asa  Ware,  sections  29  and  32 160 

AVilliam  A.  Ware,  section  33 80 

A.  M.  Wilcox,  section  20 80 

Prosper  More. 

EARLY  SETTLEMENTS. 

Until  the  fore-part  of  the  year  1837,  Castleton  was  en- 
tirely uninhabited  by  white  men.  Indians  there  were  in 
abundance,  who  came  every  year  to  occupy  their  wigwams 
in  the  sugar-groves  or  dwelt  along  the  streams,  the  banks 
of  which  were  frequented  by  deer,  and  the  waters  of  which 
were  well  supplied  with'  fish.  The  neighboring  townships 
were  dotted  here  and  there  with  settlers'  cabins,  but  none 
were  to  be  seen  in  Castleton. 

Ebenezer  Seeley  had  in  1836  entered  640  acres,  one-half 
of  which  was  on  section  32,  which  was  divided  between 
Lorenzo  Mudge,  Kenyon  Mead,  and  Anson  Seeley. 

Lorenzo  Mudge,  a  native  of  Vermont,  removed  to  Mich- 
igan from  Koyalton,  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  was  the  first 
settler  in  what  is  now  the  township  of  Castleton.  He  pur- 
chased the  southeast  .quarter  of  section  32.  He  and  his 
family,  consisting  of  his  wife  and  two  children,  besides  a 
hired  man,  arrived  at  Eli  Lapham's  house  (now  in  Maple 
Grove)  on  Monday  night,  Sept.  18,  1837,  and  took  up 
their  abode  in  a  shanty  which  Mr.  Lapham  had  just  va- 
cated. The  next  day  after  their  arrival  Mr.  Mudge  and 
the  hired  man  commenced  to  chop  a  road  through  to  the 
the  land  of  the  former,  on  section  32,  which  occupied  them 
four  days.  On  Saturday,  the  23d  of  September,  the  fam- 
ily and  household  goods  were  moved  over  to  the  place  that 
was  to  be  their  new  home. 

Upon  the  land  were  three  wigwams  in  which  the  Indi- 
ans dwelt  during  the  sugar  sea-son.  From  one  of  these  Mr. 
Mudge  removed  the  sap-troughs  and  other  accompaniments 
of  the  sugar-bush,  and  occupied  it  as  a  temporary  residence. 
When  the  original  owners,  on  their  return  from  a  hunting 
expedition,  discovered  the  intruder,  they  showed  much  in- 
dignation, but  became  friendly  when  assured  of  considerate 
and  fair  treatment  at  his  hands.  They  often  appeared  at 
his  house  for  purposes  of  traffic,  and  occasionally  made  him 
social  visits. 

Mr.  Mudge  erected  a  one-story  log  structure,  to  which 
he  added  another  story  when  settlers  arrived  who  were  able 
to  assist  in  raising.  Mrs.  Mudge  for  eight  months  did  not 
behold  the  face  of  a  white  woman,  though  she  was  visited 
by  plenty  of  squaws. 

Mr.  Mudge  pays  a  high  compliment  to  the  integrity  of 
the  Indian  race,  declaring  that  dishonesty  was  the  rare  excep- 
tion in  their  transactions  with  the  whites.  Their  besetting 
vice  was  a  fondness  for  whisky.  Even  when  intoxicated 
they  never  annoyed  him,  for,  although  their  approach  to  his 
place  was  heralded  by  frantic  shouts  and  yells,  these  imme- 
diately ceased  on  their  entering  his  clearing.  One  sober 
man  usually  accompanied  the  party  and  maintained  order. 


The  earliest  birth  in  the  tQwnship  was  that  of  Mr. 
Mudge's  daughter  Cordelia,  who  was  born  May  5,  1838. 
At  his  house  was  also  held  the  first  religious  service  in 
Castleton,  Elder  Bush  having  officiated. 

Mr.  Mudge  still  resides  on  his  old  farm,  and,  though  at 
an  advanced  age,  actively  superintends  the  work  upon  it. 

In  the  summer  of  1837,  James  W.  Clapp,  of  Syracuse, 
N.  Y.,  bought  240  acres  on  section  25  and  80  acres  on 
section  26,  but  did  not  locate  upon  his  purchase.  William 
P.  Wilkinson,  of  Vermontville,  Eaton  Co.,  purchased  of 
him  a  portion  of  the  land  on  section  25,  and  iu  the  winter 
of  1837  became  the  second  resident  in  the  township.- 
These  two  early  pioneers  saw  but  little  of  each  other,  the 
want  of  roads^and  difficulty  of  travel  making  social  inter- 
course almost  impossible. 

The  third  man  in  order  of  settlement  was  Dimmick 
Bennett,  a  native  of  Brockport,  in  the  Empire  State,  who 
had  made  a  brief  sojourn  in  Calhoun  County  before,  his 
removal  to  thi*  township,  in  the  winter  of  1838.  Mr. 
Wilkinson  welcomed  him  to  his  humble  abode,  where  he 
and  his  family  remained  during  the  winter,  repairing  the 
following  spring'  to  a  log  house  which  he  had  erected  on  an 
80-acre  tract  on  section  26.  He  afterwards  moved  to  sec- 
tion 32,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  in  1848.  In  the 
spring  of  1838  came  also  William  Cross,  who  remained  with 
Wilkinson  during  the  summer  while  preparing  a  home  for 
his  household. 

Ansel  Seeley  was  also  a  pioneer  of  1838,  having  re- 
moved from  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  located  upon  a  portion 
of  the  land  before  mentioned  as  having  been  entered  by 
his  brother,  Ebenezer  Seeley,  in  1836.     Mr.  Seeley  entered 
the  township  i-i6,  Battle  Creek,  following  an  Indian  trail, 
then  the  only  species  of  highway  to  be  found  in  the  eastern 
part  of  Barry  County.     He  repaired  at  once  to  the  house 
of  his  brother-in-law,  Lorenzo  Mudge,  where  his  family 
remained  while  a  shanty  was  being  built  on  section  32, 
Mr.  Mudge  assisting  in  its  erection.     Stout  ropes  made  of 
elm-bark  were  found  to  be  very  useful  in  handling  the  logs. 
Mr.  Seeley  brought  with  him  a  pair  of  small  sashes,  which 
served  the  purpose  of  a  window,  while  a  door  was  extem- 
porized from  a  blanket.     The  Indians  were  of  much  service 
in  providing  supplies  for  the  table.     They  were  also  skillful 
in  dressing  the  skin  of  the  deer,  which  made  serviceable 
garments  for  use  during  the  rough  labor  incident  to  clearing. 
Mr.  Seeley  had  a  suit  of  this  material  which  did  excellent 
service.      In  1877  Mr.  Seeley  removed  from  his  original 
farm  to  one  of  130  acres  on  section  34,  where  he  now  resides. 
Joseph  Rasey   and  four  sons,  Oliver,  Otis,  Joseph  H., 
and  Jonah  B.,  residents  of  St.  Lawrence  Co.,  N.  Y.,  re- 
moved thence  to  Ohio  in  1836,  and  to  Castleton  in  1838. 
There  they  located  upon  80  acres  on  section  13,  purchased 
of  Tolman  C.  Hall,  of  Battle  Creek.     Mr.  Clapp's  house 
was  opened  to  them  until  a  log  shanty  could  be  erected,  to 
which  they  then  repaired. 

In  Mr.  Raeey's  family  was  celebrated  the  first  marriage, 
the  parties  being  Mr.  William  P.  Wilkinson  and  Miss 
Eleanor  Racey.  Mr.  Racey  died  in  the  township  in  1869. 
His  son  Jonah  B.,  is  now  a  resident  of  Nashville ;  Joseph 
H.  resides  in  Charlotte,  Mich.,  while  Oliver  and  Otis  are 
both  deceased. 


CASTLETON  TOWNSHIP. 


421 


on  section  15,  which  he  had  purchased  from  Matthew  Look- 
head  as  early  as  1838.  It  was  secured  by  him  as  early  as 
1838,  and  remained  unimproved  during  the  interval.  On 
his  arrival  Mr.  Blasdell  remained  three  weeks  at  the  home 
of  Benjamin  Winans,  on  the  same  section,  who,  together 
with  Mr.  Cross,  were  near  neighbors.  With  the  aid  of  a 
carpenter  from  the  East  he  erected  a  house  and  barn,  and, 
having  hired  ten  acres  cleared,  he  sowed  it  with  wheat, 
which  afforded  him  a  much-needed  crop.  He  also  brought 
a  pair  of  horses  from  New  York,  but,  soon  learning  the 
superiority  of  oxen  in  pioneer  labor,  exchanged  his  horses 
for  those  useful  animals.  Mr.  Blasdell  still  resides  on  his 
place. 

The  family  of  Feighuers  have,  since  an  early  day,  been 
prominent  in  Castlefon.  George  Feighuer,  a  former  resident 
•  of  Ohio,  purchased  40  acres  on  section  22  in  1847.  He 
found  a  welcome  among  his  neighbors  until  a  house  was 
erected.  Immediately  afterwards  he  devoted  himself  to 
the  work  of  improving  his  land,  and  cleared  10  acres  the 
first  year,  besides  doing  a  great  deal  of  work  for  others. 
Mr.  Feighuer  subsequently  removed  to  Hastings,  but  in 
1869  resumed  his  residence  in  Castleton,  on  section  22. 

Alexander  Price,  who  purchased  80  acres  on  section  23, 
previously  owned  by  John  Jeffries,  found  it  inclosed  on  his 
arrival,  in  1847,  and  tenanted  only  by  Indians,  who  had 
erected  shanties  and  were  disinclined  to  vacate.  Mr.  Price 
at  once  built  a  log  house,  enjoying  the  hospitality  of  Wil- 
liam P.  Wilkinson  during  its  construction.  He  is  still  a 
successful  farmer  on  the  same  land. 

Among  later  settlers  in  Castleton  may  be  mentioned 
George  Batcheller,  who  located  on  section  25  in  1850,  and 
remained  there  until  his  death,  in  1874;  Henry  Wittie,  a 
native  of  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  who  made  his  home  in  1853  on 
section  22,  where  he  still  resides ;  C.  G.  Downing,  from 
Calhoun  County,  who  located  on  section  20  the  same  year, 
which  is  still  his  home ;  George  Gregg,  an  emigrant  from 
■Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1854,  to  section  23,  where  he  died 
in  1880 ;  John  Feighuer,  a  settler  of  1855,  who  resides  on 
his  original  purchase  ;  and  George  Morgan,  who  came  the 
same  year  to  section  2,  which  is  still  his  home. 

Still  others,  who,  as  early  as  1843  or  1844,  settled  on  the 
sections  named  below,  were  Alonzo  Barnum,  on  section  2  ; 
Heman  Dodge,  on  section  30  ;  Horace  Downs,  on  section  9  ; 
William  Hoxie,  on  section  29 ;  Edward  Hindmarch,  on 
section  8  ;  C.  H.  Palmer,  on  section  26  ;  George  D.  Sco- 
vill,  also  on  section  26  ;  and  Roswell  Wilcox,  on  section  30. 

ORGANIZATION   AND   OFFICERS. 
Survey-township  No.  3,  in  range  7,  which  was  first  a 
part  of  the  civil  township  of  Barry  and  then  of  Hastings, 
was  accorded  a  separate  organization  by  the  following  act 
of  the  State  Legislature,  approved  Feb.  16,  1842  :* 

"Be  it  enacted  hy  the  Senate  and  House  of  RepreaentativcB  of  the 
State  of  Michigan  : 

"  That  all  that  part  of  the  county  of  Barry  designated  by  the  United 
States  survey  as  surveyed  township  No.  3  north,  of  range  7  west,  be, 
and  the  same  is  hereby,  set  o£f  and  organized  into  a  separate  town- 
ship by  the  name  of  Castleton,  and  the  first  township-meeting  shall  be 
held  at  the  house  of  William  A.  Ware,  in  said  township." 

*  See  Chapter  XIII.  of  the  general  history  for  previous  municipal 
changes. 


The  honor  of  christening  the  new  township  fell  to  Wil- 
liam P.  Wilkinson,  who,  desiring  to  perpetuate  the  memory 
of  his  native  village  in  the  Green  Mountain  State,  named 
it  Castleton. 

At  the  first  township-meeting  the  moderator  neglected  to 
appoint  a  clerk.  This  necessitated  a  second  meeting,  which 
was  held  at  the  house  of  William  A.  Ware,  on  the  19th 
day  of  April,  1842,  when  18  offices  were  filled  by  20  elec- 
tors. The  following  were  the  ofilcers  chosen  :  Ansell  Seeley, 
Supervisor ;  Cyrus  Buxton,  Township  Clerk ;  Lorenzo 
Mudge,  Treasurer;  Cyrus  Buxton,  Isaac  E.  Everts,  and 
John  W.  Stedge,  School  Inspectors ;  W.  P.  Wilkinson,  Asa 
Ware,  Directors  of  the  Poor ;  J.  W.  Stedge,  I.  E.  Everts, 
Dimmick  Bennet,  Highway  Commissioners ;  Setli  Davis,  I. 
E.  Everts,  Cyrus  Buxton,  Justices  of  the  Peace;  W.  P. 
Wilkinson,  Henry  Smith,  Constables. 

During  the  same  year  the  United  States  government  es- 
tablished a  post-office  within  the  township,  when  Seth  Davis 
received  a  commission  as  the  earliest  postmaster.  The 
second  one  was  Sheldon  Whitcomb,  and  his  successor  was 
Lorenzo  Mudgc.  The  officers  elected  since  that  time  have 
been  as  follows : 

1843. — Orson  Sheldon,  Supervisor;  John  W.  Stedge,  Township  Clerk  ; 
Isaac  E.  Everts,  Treasurer;  H.  U.  Sheldon,  Lorenzo  Mudge, 
Oliver  Barry,  School  Inspectors;  Oliver  Rascy,  Ansel  Seclcy, 
W.  P.  Wilkinson,  Highway  Commissioners;  Ansel  Seeley, 
Oliver  Basey,  J.  W.  Stedge,  Justices  of  the  Peace;  Lorenzo 
Mudge,  Assistant  Assessor;  Cyrus  Buxton,  Constable. 

1844. — 0.  B.  Sheldon,  Supervisor;  Daniel  Smith,  Township  Clerk; 
Ansel  Seeley,  Treasurer;  Roswell  Wilcox,  Benjamin  Winans, 
Assessors;  Heman  Dodge,  W.  P.  Wilkinson,  Alonzo  Bar- 
num, Highway  Commissioners;  0.  B.  Sheldon,  Kichard 
Mead,  School  Inspectors ;  Joseph  Basey,  Seth  Davis,  Di- 
rectors of  the  Poor  ;  Joseph  Basey,  Richard  Mead,  Consta- 
bles. 

1815. — Orson  B.  Sheldon,  Supervisor;  H.  N.  Sheldon,  Township 
Clerk;  Alhert  Whitcomb,  Treasurer;  C.  H.  Palmer,  Roswell 
Wilcox,  Highway  Commissioners ;  D.  W.  Smith,  Justice  of 
the  Peace;  D.  W.  Smith,  School  Inspector;  Seth  Davis, 
Joseph  Rasey,  Overseers  of -the  Poor;  H.  N.  Sheldon,  Hiram 
Bassett,  Oliver  Rasey,  Constables. 

1846. — 0.  B.  Sheldon,  Supervisor;  H.  N.  Sheldon,  Township  Clerk; 
A.  Whitcomb,  Treasurer;  Albert  Whitcomb,  Oliver  Racey, 
Justices    of    the    Peace;    L.    Mudge,    Benjamin   Winans, 

I.  B.  Riggs,  Highway  Commissioners;  L.  Mudge,  0.  B. 
Sheldon,  Directors  of  the  Poor;  George  D.  Scovill,  I.  B. 
Riggs,  Kenyon  Mead,  Constables. 

1847. — Alonzo  Barnum,  Supervisor;  H.  N.  Sheldon,  Township  Clerk  ; 
Roswell  Wilcox,  Treasurer;  C.  H.  Palmer,  Seth  Phillips, 
Justices  of  the  Puace;  W.  P.  Wilkinson,  W.  A.  Ware,  J.  B. 
Riggs,  Highway  Commissioners;  Seth  Davis,  Joseph  Racey, 
Directors  of  the  Poor  ;  Albert  Whitcomb,  School  Inspector; 
Hiram  Bassett,  I.  B.  Riggs,  George  D.  Scovill,  Constables. 

1848. D.W.Smith,  Supervisor;  H.  N.  Sheldon,  Township  Clerk; 

C.  H.  Palmer,  Treasurer;  I.  B.  Riggs,  Lorenzo  Mudge,  Jus- 
tices of  the  Peace ;  S.  Lamb,  Kenyon  Mead,  Highw.iy  Com- 
missioners; Joseph  Racey,  Martin  Hart,  Directors  of  the 
Poor ;  I.  C.  Riggs,  Henry  Racey,  Hiram  Bassett,  Constables. 

1849. — No  record. 

1850.— David  W.  Smith,  Supervisor;  C.  H.  Palmer,  Township  Clerk; 

II.  N.  Sheldon,  Treasurer;  J.  B.  Mason,  School  Inspector; 
S.  Lamb,  Roswell  Wilcox,  Directorsof  the  Poor;  J.B.Mason, 
Justice  of  the  Peace;  Alonzo  Barnum,  Highway  Commis- 
sioner; Alexander  Price,  G.  D.  Scovill,  D.  C.  Smith,  II.  L. 
Wheeler,  Constables. 

1851. H.N.Sheldon,  Supervisor;  C.  H.  Palmer,  Township  Clerk; 

Daniel  Smith,  Treasurer;  D.  W.  Smith,  School  Inspector; 
Alonzo  Barnum,  Ilighw.ny  Commissioner;  Lorenzo  Mudgc, 
Justice  of  the  Peace;  Lorenzo  Mudge,  A.  Linsea,  Directors 


422 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


1852 


1853. 


ISoi. 


1855 


1856.- 


1857, 


1858, 


1859, 


1860 


1861 


1862.- 


1863 


1864. 


1865.- 


of  the  Poor;  B.  Winans,  H.  L.  Wheeler,  D.  C.  Smith,  Con- 
stables. 

, — David  W.  Smith,  Supervisor :  C.  H.  Palmer,  Township  Clerk  ; 
Daniel  Smith,  Treasurer;  J.  B.  Mason,  I.  B.  Riggs,  Asses- 
sors; I.  B.  Riggs,  Huron  Robinson,  Justices  of  the  Peace; 
Selum  George,  Samuel  Lamb,  Highway  Commissioners; 
Charles  Phillips,  School  Inspector;  J,,  B.  Racey,  Roswell 
Wilcox,  Directors  of  the  Poor;  Nathan  Brown,  James  Smith, 
H.  L.  Wheeler,  L.  S.  Hart,  Constables. 

, — H.  N.  Sheldon,  Supervisor;  0.  E.  Everts,  Township  Clerk; 
Thomas  Blasdell,  I.  B.  Riggs,  Highway  Commissioners; 
Daniel  Smith,  Treasurer ;  D.  W.  Smith,  School  Inspector; 
H.  L.  Wheeler,  Constable. 

. — H.  N.  Sheldon,  Supervisor;  H.  L.  Wheeler,  Township  Clerk; 
Daniel  Smith,  Treasurer;  C.  H.  Phillips,  School  Inspector; 
J.  B.  Mason,  E.  L.  Warner,  Justices  of  the  Peace;  D.  W. 
Smith,  Highway  Commissioner;  R.Wilcox,  D.  W.  Smith, 
Directors  of  the  Poor;  Francis  Moore,  Hiram  Bassett,  G.  D. 
Soovill,  D.  C.  Warner,  Constables. 

, — 0.  E.  Everts,  Supervisor;  II.  L.Wheeler,  Township  Clerk; 
Dan'i'cl  Smith,  Treasurer ;  C.  H.  Palmer,  C.  0.  Scott,  Jus- 
tices of  the  Peace;  C.  0.  Scott,  School  Inspector;  A.  Whit- 
comb,  Levi  Everett,  Highway  Commissioners;  F.  Scott,  D. 
C.  Warner,  A.  Price,  Constables. 

, — D.W.Smith,  Supervisor;  Joshua  Martin,  Township  Clerk; 
A.  Whitcomb,  Treasurer;  E.  J.  Rymon,  School  Inspector; 
C.  J.  P.  Hosmer,  Highway  Commissioner ;  I.  B.  Riggs,  D. 
C.Warner,  Justices  of  the  Peace;  William  Brown,  G.  D. 
Scovill,  S.  E.  Norton,  H.  P.  Ralston,  Constables. 

, — 0.  E.  Everts,  Supervisor;  Daniel  Smith,  Township  Clerk; 
William  Mullen,  Treasurer;  C.  H.  Palmer,  Justice  of  the 
Peace;  C.  Phillips,  E.  L.  Warner,  School  Inspectors  ;  I.  B. 
Riggs,  Highway  Commissioner;  A.  Price,  J.  E.  Hager,  J, 
H.  Brown,  F.  A.  Scolt,  Constables. 

— 0.  E.  Everts,  Supervisor;  H.L.Wheeler,  Township  Clerk; 
William  Mullen,  E.  L.  Warner,  School  Inspectors;  Daniel 
Smith,  Highway  Commissioner ;  C.  0.  Scott,  Justice  of  the 
Peace  ;  C.  S.  Whitcomb,  Lewis  Bolton,  F,  A.  Scott,  R.  John- 
son, Constables. 

. — I  B.  Riggs,  Supervisor;  H.  L.Wheeler,  Township  Clerk; 
William  Mullen,  Daniel  fflaley,  Lorenzo  Mudge,  Justices 
of  the  Peace ;  E.  L.  Warner,  Highway  Commissioner;  C.  H. 
Phillips,  School  Inspector;  Thomas  Smith,  F.  A.  Scott, 
James  Cross,  James  Mullen,  Constables. 

,— C.  0.  Scott,  Supervisor;  C.  H.  Palmer,  Township  Clerk;  Wil- 
liam Mullen,  Treasurer;  I.  B.  Riggs,  C.  0.  Scott,  Justices 
of  the  Peace;  Perry  Chance,  School  Inspector;  I.  B.  Riggs, 
Highway  Commissioner;  N.  Wellman,  H.  L.  Wheeler,  James 
Parker,  Jr ,  James  Cross,  Constables,  ^ 

, — C.  II.  Palmer,  Supervisor;  H.  L.  Wheeler,  Township  Clerk; 
William  Mullen,  Treasurer;  C.  H.  Palmer,  Justice  of  the 
Peace ;  Daniel  Smith,  Thomas  Jones,  Highway  Commis- 
sioners; C.  H.  Phillips,  School  Inspector;  Philander  Gan- 
son,  James  Parker,  Jr ,  James  Cross,  Cornelius  Whitcomb, 
Constables. 
•D.  W.  Smith,  Supervisor;  H.  L.  Wheeler,  Township  Clerk; 
William  Mullen,  Treasurer;  Perry  Chance,  Justice  of  the 
Peace;  W.  P.  Wilkinson,  Highway  Commissioner;  Perry 
Chance,  School  Inspector;  Lewis  Bolton,  Minor  Mead,  Nel- 
son Gates,  D.  J.  Hagen,  Constables. 
D.  W.  White,  Supervisor;  A.  J.  Hardy,  Township  Clerk; 
Albert  Whitcomb,  Treasurer;  Joshua  Martin,  S.  R.  Clen- 
dennin,  Cyrus  A.  Downing,  Justices. of  the  Peace;  D.  C. 
Warner,  W.  C.  Wilcox,  School  Inspectors;  Joshua  Martin, 
John  Feighuer,  Highway  Commissioners;  0.  P.  Wellman, 
Ira  B.  Bacheller,  Lewis  Bolton,  David  Bollinger,  Consta- 
bles. 
John  Keagle,  Supervisor;  A.  J.  Hardy,  Township  Clerk; 
William  Mullen,  Treasurer;  Kenyon  Mead,  I.  B.  Riggs, 
Justices  of  the  Peace ;  C.  H.  Phillips,  A-.  H.  Brooks,  School 
Inspectors;  Lewis  Bolton,  Nelson  Gates,  James  Parker,  Jr., 
Minor  Mead,  Constables. 

— John  Keagle,  Supervisor;  H.  A.  Brooks,  Township  Clerk; 
William  Mullen,  Treasurer;  S.  R.  Harris,  School  Inspector; 
I.  B.  Riggs,  Kenyon  Mead,  Highway  Commissioners ;  I.  B. 


Riggs,  Justice  of  the  Peace;  A.  Price,  James  Parker,  George 
Cross,  Thomas  McDonald,  Constables. 

1866.— John  Keagle,  Supervisor;  H.  F.  Brooks,  Township  Clerk; 
William  Mullen,  Treasurer;  Eli  Mallett,  Justice  of  the 
Peace;  Martin  Mallett,  School  Inspector;  Seldon  Norton, 
Highway  Commissioner;  F.  H. Scott,  Charles  Tyson,  George 
Cross,  L.  C.  Beadle,  Constables. 

1867.— John  Keagle,  Supervisor;  H.  A.  Brooks,  Township  Clerk; 
Lewis  Durkee,  Justice  of  the  Peace ;  A.  Pifer,  L.  J.  Wheeler, 
School  Inspectors;  E.  S.  Turner,  Highway  Commissioner; 
Alexander  Price,  Charles  Tyson,  Phineas  Winans,  Walter 
Barnhart,  Constables. 

1868.— John  Keagle,  Supervisor;  H.  A.  Brooks,  Township  Clerk;  N. 
F.  Sheldon,  Treasurer;  II.  H.  Wood,  Kenyon  Mead,  Justices 
of  the  Peace;  II.  B.  Davidson,  H.  T.  Davidson,  Highway 
Commissioners;  0.  Ware,  School  Inspector;  Albert  John- 
son, Alexander  Price,  W.  P.  Little,  Constables. 

1869. — John  Keagle,  Supervisor;  H.  H.  Brooks,  Township  Clerk;  N. 
F.  Sheldon,  Treasurer;  W.  H.  Beadle,  Kenyon  Mead,  Jus- 
tices of  the  Peace;  C.  S.  Tyson,  Highway  Commissioner; 
George  Keagle,  School  Inspector ;  T.  C.  M^elden,  George  H. 
Crabb,  Minor  Mead,  Horace  Larkins,  Constables. 

18?0. — Hiram  Coe,  Supervisor;  E.  J.  Feighuer,  Township  Clerk; 
N.  P.  Sheldon,  Treasurer:  A.  C.  Nichols,  Justice  of  the 
Peace;  L.  J.Wheeler,  School  Inspector;  E.  S.  Turner, 
Highway  Commissioner;  E.  S.  Turner,  Charles  Tyson, 
George  Wellman,  Constables. 

1871. — No  record. 

1872.— David  W.  Smith,  Supervisor;  B.  J.  Feighuer,  Township 
Clerk;  John  Keagle,  Treasurer;  Lucius  Russell,  Justice  of 
the  Peace;  George  Bair,  E.  M.  Gates,  School  Inspectors; 
Simeon  Overholt,  J.  F.  Fuller,  Highway  Commissioners  ; 
James  Fleming,  Barber  Mead,  George  Wellman,  John  Web- 
ster, Constables. 

1873: — John  Keagle,  Supervisor;  Clement  Smith,  Township  Clerk ; 
James  Fleming,  Treasurer;  H.  H.  Wood,  Richard  B.  Mead, 
Justices  of  the  Peace;  E.  M.  Gates,  School  Inspector;  E. 
C.  Slocumb,  Kenyon  Mead,  Highway  Commissioners ;  Fred. 
Appleman,  W.  E.  Griggs,  George  Wellman,  Lester  Mead, 
Constables. 

1874. — John  Keagle,  Supervisor ;  E.  J.  Feighuer,  Township  Clerk ; 
Calvin  Ainsworth,  Treasurer;  Elihu  Chipman,  Justice  of 
the  Peace;  William  Devine,  School  Inspector;  Fred.  D. 
Soules,  Highway  Commissioner;  Charles  Bowers,  George 
W.  McCormick,  George  Wellman,  Samuel  Lawton,  Constables. 

1875.— Calvin  Ainsworth,  Supervisor;  E.  J.  Feighuer,  Township 
Clerk;  T.  C.  Dowling,  Treasurer;  John  Martin,  Kenyon 
Mead,  Justices  of  the  Peace;  William  N.  Devine,  School  In- 
spector ;  William  E.  Martin,  Superintendent  of  Schools ; 
F.  D.  Soules,  Highway  Commissioner;  Samuel  Fowler,  H. 
C.  Wolcott,  H.  H.  Hull,  Samuel  Lawton,  Constables. 

1876.— D.W.  Smith,  Supervisor;  E.  J.  Feighuer,  Township  Clerk; 
John  Keagle,  Treasurer;  John  Morgan,  Justice  of  the 
Peace ;  E.  C.  Slocum,  Highway  and  Drain  Commissioner ; 
Alvin  Cole,  Samuel  Lawton,  Samuel  Fowler,  Horace  Lar- 
kins, Constables. 

1877. — No  record. 

1878. — Lewis  Durkee,  Supervisor;  Charles  H.  Brady,  Township  Clerk; 
William  N.  Devine,  Treasurer ;  Walter  S.  Powers,  Justice 
of  the  Peace;  C.  A.  Scott,  Superintendent  of  Schools;  Wil- 
liam N.  Devine,  School  Inspector ;  George  Keagle,  Highway 
and  Drain  Commissioner;  C.  H.  Northiop,  W.  D.  Parker, 
H.  S.  Larkin,  H.  H.  Sparks,  Constables. 

1879. — Lewis  Durkee,  Supervisor;    C.  H.  Brady,  Township  Clerk; 

B.  A.  Bush,  Treasurer ;  William  Killen,  Justice  of  the  Peace ; 

C.  N.  Young,  School  Inspector;  Frank  C.  Boise,  Superin- 
tendent of  Schools;  George  Keagle,  Highway  Commis- 
sioner; Jacob  Osman,  William  Parker,  H.  H.  Sparks,  Lester 
Mead,  Constables. 

1880. — Lewis  Durkee,  Supervisor;  C.  H.  Brady,  Township  Clerk; 
Minor  Mead,  Treasurer;  C.  0.  Scott,  Justice  of  the  Peace; 
John  J.  Potter,  School  Inspector;  C.  N.  Young,  Superin- 
tendent of  Schools;  George  Keagle,  Highway  and  Drain 
Commissioner ;  W.  L.  Parker,  Jacob  Osman,  H.  H.  Parka, 
James  L.  Gregory,  Constables. 


CASTLETON  TOWNSHIP. 


423 


EAELT  KOADS. 
The  earliest  road  in  the  township  was  probably  surveyed 
by  Cephas  Smith,  in  1841  or  1842  (as  nearly  as  recollected 
by  the  first  settler),  and  beginning  at  the  base-line  between 
sections  32  and  33,  ran  north  one  and  a  half  miles,  then 
west  on  the  quarter-section  line  two  miles,  passing  the  farms 
of  Lorenzo  Mudge  and  Kenyon  Mead. 

In  August,  1842,  a  highway  was  surveyed  by  Cephas 
Smith  four  rods  in  width,  commencing  at  the  southwest 
corner  of  section  26,  thence  due  north  two  miles  to  the 
southeast  corner  of  section  15.  The  highway  commis- 
sioners at  this  time  were  Isaac  E.  Everts  and  John  W. 
Stedge. 

Another  road,  the  survey  of  which  was  made  by  Cephas 
Smith,  dated  Aug.  31,  1842,  "Began  at  the  southwest 
corner  of  section  24  and  followed  a  course  due  north,  one 
mile,  to  the  northwest  corner  of  section  24." 

As  settlers  moved  into  the  north  and  east  portions  of  the 
township,  roads  were  surveyed  in  accordance  with  their 
needs. 

SCHOOLS  AND  SCHOOL  STATISTICS. 

The  year  1842  witnessed  the  earliest  effort  towards  the 
establishment  of  a  public  school  in  Castleton.  A  school- 
house  of  logs  was  built  during  that  year  on  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  32,  then  embraced  in  district  No.  1,  by 
Messrs.  Mudge,  Ware,  Davis,  Mead,  and  Buxton.  The 
young  lady  who  guided  the  youthful  minds  of  that  early 
period  was  Miss  Ellen  Gilbert.  Kenyon  Mead  was  repre- 
sented by  one  scholar,  Lorenzo  Mudge  by  two,  Ansel  See- 
ley  by  two,  and  Seth  Davis  by  four.  A  small  school  had 
previously  been  taught  by  Mrs.  Olive  Racey,  at  her  house, 
with  a  few  scholars  from  her  own  immediate  family  and 
the  homes  of  a  neighbor  or  two,  but  this  was  strictly  speak- 
ing a  private  enterprise.  The  second  school  building  in 
Castleton  was  soon  after  erected  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Racey, 
on  section  24. 

The  township  now  embraces  seven  whole  and  three  frac- 
tional districts,  who  have  as  a  board  of  directors  the  follow- 
ing gentlemen:  C.  Ainsworth,  D.  W.  Smith,  Albert  C. 
Gallatin,  George  Wellman,  Ira  Bachellor,  Edward  Cook, 
Walter  Barnhart,  H.  P.  Feagles,  H.  E.  Downing,  Elmer 
Cole.  Six  hundred  and  eight  scholars  receive  instruction, 
of  whom  17  are  non-residents.  They  are  under  the  super- 
vision of  8  male  and  15  female  teachers,  who  receive  an 
a<rgregate  yearly  sum  of  $2363.25.  The  total  value  of 
school  property  in  Castleton  is  $4615,  which  embraces  one 
brick  and  ten  frame  structures.  The  total  resources  of  the 
township  for  educational  purposes  are  $3475.25. 

BAKRTVILLE. 

This  place  can  hardly  be  called  even  a  hamlet.  It  is 
simply  the  point  where  a  custom  grist-mill  is  situated.  The 
first  to  utilize  the  water-power  was  Solomon  M.  Allen,  who 
built  a  saw-mill  on  the  bank  of  Highbank  Creek.  It  passed 
successively  to  Elijah  Alden,  Oliver  C.  Comstock,  and 
Lathrop  &  Corsett. 

M.  J.  Lathrop  removed  from  Marshall  in  1860,  and 
purchased  80  acres  of  land,  embracing  the  water-power  on 
Hi"hbank  Creek.     In  connection  with  his  partner,  Mr. 


Corsett,  a  grist-mill  was  built  (the  latter  having  been  a  mill- 
wright), containing  two  run  of  stone,  which  was  conducted 
by  them  until  1877  successfully.  Mr.  Lathrop,  in  1880, 
removed  to  Ripon,  Wis.,  and  Mr.  Corsett  made  Middleville, 
Barry  Co.,  his  residence,  where  his  death  occurred.  Their 
successors  were  Norton  &  Higdon,  the  latter's  interest  hav- 
ing, later,,been  sold.  The  present  proprietors  are  Messrs. 
Norton  &  Walker.  It  is  exclusively  confined  to  custom- 
work,  both  flour  and  feed  being  ground.  E.  E.  Cook  opened 
a  blacksmith-shop  in  1865,  but  the  year  following  removed 
to  Morgan. 

MOKGAH. 

Mr.  E.  E.  Cook  may  be  said  to  have  been  the  leading 
spirit  in  founding  this  little  burg,  which  was  formerly  known 
as  Sheriden.  He  purchased,  in  1866,  80  acres  of  land  of 
James  Sweezey,  of  Hastings,  and  erected  a  saw-mill,  which 
was  later  sold  to  its  present  owner,  David  Ruckle.  Mr. 
Cook  then  returned  to  his  former  occupation-as  presiding 
genius  of  the  anvil  and  forge.  Z.  B.  Wilson  made  his 
advent  as  a  merchant  in  1869,  and  erected  a  store  which 
contained  a  general  stock  adapted  to  the  wants  of  his  neigh- 
boring patrons.  Four  years  later  he  sold  to  Horace  Hall, 
who  erected  a  building  and  now  conducts  the  enterprise, 
while  he  holds  also  the  commission  of  postmaster.  David 
Ruckle  came  in  1871  and  opened  a  store,  in  which  he  keeps 
a  general  stock  of  goods.  He  has  also  bought  the  saw-mill 
property.  Dr.  C.  0.  Scott  is  the  practicing  physician  of 
the  hamlet. 

THE   VILLAGE   OF   NASHVILLE. 

The  importance  of  this  young  and  aspiring  village  should 
not  be  gauged  by  the  duration  of  its  history,  which  as  yet 
barely  numbers  a  dozen  years  of  activity  and  growth.  The 
major  portion  of  the  land  on  which  it  is  built  was  pur- 
chased from  the  government  during  the  years  1836-37  for 
purposes  of  speculation.  From  that  date  until  1855  no 
improvements  whatever  were  made.  A  little  later  a  mill 
was  erected,  as  well  as  a  few  rude  structures  necessary  to 
accommodate  the  men  employed  iu  its  operation,  and  these 
remained  until  about  1864  the  only  forerunners  of  the 
future  flourishing  village. 

In  1865  the  village  was  first  platted  by  Robert  B. 
Gregg.  In  1866  the  Grand  River  Valley  Railroad  was 
projected,  and  the  preliminary  survey  made.  In  Jan- 
uary, 1869,  the  first  train  passed  over  the  recently-com- 
pleted railroad,  and  then  began  an  almost  unprecedented 
era  of  progress. 

The  land  embraced  within  the  corporate  limits  of  Nash- 
ville was   originally  purchased   from    the  government,  as 

follows : 

IN   CASTLETON. 

On  Seclion  25. — The  southwest  quarter  by  lohabod  Clark,  of  Genesee 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  on  April  29,  1836;  the  southeast  quarter  by  Marion 
C.  L.  Penniman,  of  New  London  Co.,  Conn.,  Nov.  24,  1836. 

On  Section  26. — The  southeast  quarter  by  Horace  Butler,  of  Oneida 
Co.,  N.  T.,  May  9,  1836;  the  east  half  of  the  southwest  quarter 
by  Dimmick  Bennett,  of  Calhoun  Co.,  Mich.,  Sept.  19,  1837;  the 
west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  by  William  G.  Sprague,  of 
Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept  4, 1837. 

On  Section  35. — The  east  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  by  John  R. 
Pettibone,  of  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  Feb.  1.3,  1836;  the  east  half 
of   the   southeast   quarter   by  Abram  Voorhcs,  of  Wayne   Co., 


424 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BAKKY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Mich.,  March  1,  1836  j  the  southwest  quarter  by  Alfred  Warren, 
of  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  24,  1836;  the  northwest  quarter 
and  the  west  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  by  Charles  T.  Mof- 
fatt,  of  Eaton  Co.,  Mich.,  April  4,  1837 ;  the  west  half  of  the 
southeast  quarter  by  Francis  Moor,  of  Castleton,  Barry  Co., 
June  9,  1854. 
On  Section  36. — The  southwest  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  and 
the  southeast  quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter  by  Lucius  Barnes, 
of  Kalamazoo  Co.,  Mich.,  Nov.  7,  1835 ;  the  west  half  of  the 
northwest  quarter  by  John  R.  Pettibone,  of  Washtenaw  County 
aforesaid,  Feb.  15,  1836 ;  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  northwest 
quarter  and  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  by 
Abram  Voorhes,  of  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  March  1,  1836;  the 
south  half  by  Horace  Butler,  of  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.,  May  9, 
1836;  the  east  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  by  Marion  C.  L. 
Penniman,  of  New  London  Co.,  Conn.,  aforesaid,  Nov.  24,  1836.. 

IN   MAPLE   GEOVE. 

On  Section  1. — The  north  half  by  Simeon  Griffin,  of  Tioga  Co.,  N.  T., 

April  6,  1837. 
On  Section  2. — The  northwest  quarter  by  Benjamin  Tate,  of  Hillsdale 

Co.,  Mich.,  April  17,  1837;  the  northeast  quarter  by  Charles  S. 

Briggs,  of  Windham  Co.,  Conn.,  July  11,  1837. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  Nashville  embraces  portions  of 
the  townships  of  Castleton  and  Maple  Grove,  two  of  the 
most  attractive  townships  of  the  county.*  Pursuing  its 
devious  way  through  the  central  portion  of  the  village  limits 
is  the  Thornapple  River,  a  stream  which,  aside  from  the 
picturesque  beauty  it  imparts  to  the  landscape,  serves  a 
more  useful  purpose  in  affording  an  excellent  water-power, 
which  has  been  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  utilized  for  com- 
mercial purposes. 

PLATS  AND  ADDITIONS. 
The  earliest  plat  of  the  village  was  made,  as  has  been 
stated,  by  Robert  B.  Gregg,  the  survey  having  been  com- 
pleted on  the  2d  day  of  October,  1865,  by  Joshua  Martin. 
The  official  record  thus  describes  the  territory  of  the  in- 
tended village : 

"  Located  on  the  west  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
thirty-six,  in  township  three  north,  of  range  seven  west,  in  the  county 
of  Barry  and  State  of  Michigan,  the  survey  commencing  at  the  north- 
east quarter  of  lot  number  one ;  bearing  taken,  stotie  eighteen  inches 
long,  si-xteen  inches  wide,  and  twelve  inches  thick,  north  ten  degrees 
and  thirty  minutes  east  three  chains  and  live  links.  S^id  stone  is 
north  forty-three  degrees  and  iifteen  minutes  west  ninety-five  links 
from  the  northwest  corner  of  Stauffer  and  Kuhlman's  storehouse,  and 
is  the  northwest  corner  of  Leonard  Stauffer's  land.  The  lots  are  fifty- 
five  feet  north  and  south  by  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  feet  east  and 
west,  excepting  lots  number  24,  25,  42,  43,  60,  61,  66,  67,  84,  85,  which 
are  sixty-six  feet  north  and  south  by  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  feet 
east  and  west,  and  the  fractional  lots,  the  dimensions  of  whioh  are 
represented  in  feet  by  the  figures  on  the  margin  of  the  lots  in  the 
plat.  Main  Street  and  Queen  Street  are  sixty-six  feet  wide,  and  run 
north  one  degree  west  from  the  magnetic  meridian.  All  other  streets 
are  sixty  feet  wide,  and  run  at  right  angles  with  Main  Street,  except- 
ing Sherman  Street,  which  runs  north  eighty  seven  degrees  and  forty- 
five  minutes  east,  and  is  sixty-six  feet  wide.  The  alleys  are  twelve 
feet  wide,  about  thirty  feet  and  four  inches  being  given  for  Middle 
Street,  on  the  east,,  which  runs  north  two  degrees  and  thirty-five 
minutes  west  from  the  mngnetic  meridian." 

To  the  original  plat  the  following  additions  have  been 
made  : 

A.  W.  Phillips'  addition,  surveyed  by  Joshua  Martin,  and  dated  Sept. 
26,  1866. 

*  Only  a  small  portion,  however,  is  in  Maple  Grove,  and  that  is 
outside  of  the  thickly  built  part  of  the  place.  It  may  therefore  be 
considered  as  practically  a  village  of  the  township  of  Castleton. 


Orsemas  Phillips'  addition,  surveyed  by  Joshua  Martin,  and  dated 

Sept.  2,  1867. 
Philip  Hollers'  addition,  surveyed  by  Joshua  Martin,  and  recorded 

Oct.  12,  1870. 
Daniel  Staley's  addition,  the  survey  having  been  made  by  Joshua 

Martin,  and  recorded  Jan.  30,  1871. 
Alanson  W  Phillips'  addition,  recorded  Aug.  5,  1871. 
R.  B.  Gregg's  addition,  surveyed  by  Joshua  Martin,  and  dated  July 

12,  1872. 
Orsemas  Phillips'  addition,  surveyed  by  Joshua  Martin,  and  recorded 

Oct.  7,  1875. 

EAELY  SETTLERS. 

Henry  Feighuer,  a  previous  resident  of  Ohio,  came  in 
1852,  accompanied  by  his  brother  Solomon,  to  the  town- 
ship of  Castleton.  He  had  been  intrusted  by  his  father 
with  the  purchase  of  land  in  the  vicinity,  and  accordingly 
located  880  acres  in  that  township,  including  the  land  upon 
which  stood  the  saw-mill  before  mentioned,  then  owned  by 
Hiram  Hanchett.  Solomon  Feighuer  became  the  successor 
of  Mr.  Hanchett  in  the  management  of  the  mill,  but  car- 
ried it  on  only  a  short  time,  when  it  became  the  property 
of  his  brother  Henry.  Mr.  Feighuer,  after  the  sale  of  the 
property,  repaired  to  the  farm  he  now  occupies,  which  is 
within  the  corporate  limits  of  the  village,  though  not 
platted.  His  father  and  three  brothers,  John,  William, 
and  Solomon,  also  became  residents  of  the  village  and  town- 
ship. 

Jacob  Purkey,  who  had  moved  from  Eaton  County  in 
1856  to  the  northwest  portion  of  Castleton,  subsequently 
exchanged  his  land  there  for  property  within  the  present 
village  limits,  to  which  he  removed  in  1860,  and  upon 
which  he  still  resides.  The  only  improvement  on  his  land 
at  that  time  was  a  log  house  erected  by  the  former  owner, 
Archibald  A.  Graham,  only  a  short  time  previous.  Henry 
P.  Ralston,  also  a  fortner  resident  of  the  Buckeye  State, 
after  residing  from  1852  to  about  1857  in  another  part  of 
the  township,  purchased  70  acres  now  embraced  within  the 
limits  of  Nashville.  No  indication  of  the  future  enter- 
prising village  was  apparent  when  he  became  a  settler. 

Alanson  W.  Phillips,  who  came  from  Cortland  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  to  another  portion  of  Castleton  in  1857,  subsequently 
acquired  320  acres  on  the  south  side  of  the  Thornapple 
River,  a  part  of  which  he  platted  as  a  portion  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Nashville. 

Samuel  R.  Clendenin  came  from  the  Golden  State,  and 
in  1856  secured  33  acres  hear  Hanchett's  saw-mill.  He 
was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and  found  active  employment  in 
the  exercise  of  his  craft.  Mr.  Clendenin  presided  over  the 
anvil  and  forge  for  many  years,  and  remained  upon  the  land 
he  purchased  until  his  death  in  1872.  The  house  he  built 
is  now  occupied  by  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Ralston. 

0.  A.  Phillips,  a  former  resident  of  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y., 
purchased,  in  1863,  80  acres  on  section  36  in  Castleton,  a 
small  portion  of  which  is  now  platted,  but  the  greater 
part  of  which  is  still  cultivated  as  a  farm.  John  Webster 
arrived  in  1864,  and  erected  a  blacksmith-shop  on  the 
north  side  of  the  river,  which,  as  business  increased,  was 
removed  to  the  more  populous  south  side. 

COMMERCIAL    ENTERPRISES. 
The  years  1864  and  1865,  especially  the  latter,  were 
fraught  with   significance   in   the  history  of  the  hamlet. 


THOS.       BLASOELL 


Residence  OF    THOMAS      BLASDELL,    Castleton,     Mich. 


CASTLETON  TOWNSHIP. 


425 


During  the  former  year  Leonard  Stauffer  became  the  pio- 
neer in  mercantile  enterprise.  He  erected  a  building  on 
the  site  of  the  residence  of  Philip  Holler,  and,  in  connection 
•with  William  Peighuer,  placed  in  it  a  small  stock  of  goods 
adapted  to  the  very  meagre  patronage  they  were  likely  to 
attract,  the  rude  structure  doing  duty  both  as  store  an  d 
dwelling. 

The  following  year  Mr.  Robert  B.  Gre^g,  with  a  pre- 
monition of  the  advancement  that  awaited  the  little  village, 
determined  on  surveying  and  platting  the  ground  he  owned. 
Mr.  Gregg  having  carried  out  this  plan,  the  lots  were 
offered  for  sale,  the  first  one  being  purchased  by  Bnos 
Kuhlman,  a  brother-in-law  of  Mr.  Stauffer,  who  had  become 
associated  with  him  in  his  mercantile  venture. 

After  this  the  forest  was  rapidly  felled  to  make  way  for 
the  log  structures  which  followed  the  arrival  of  each  new 
settler.  Among  those  who  early  became  owners  of  lots 
were  George  Boyer,  Israel  Wright,  Ephraim  Church,  and 
William  Killen.  William  Feighuer  afterwards  erected  a 
building  and  opened  a  grocery-store,  while  John  Markler 
and  William  Parker  were  among  the  mechanics  of  the  place. 
Dr.  J.  H.  Palmer  guarded  the  health  of  the  hamlet,  and 
was  for  at  least  two  years  without  a  rival. 

A  decided  impulse  was  given  to  business  enterprise  by 
the  erection  of  a  grist-mill  on  the  Thornapple  River  by  Eli 
M.  and  M.  V.  B.  Mallett,  and  G.  W.  Johnson.  The  project 
of  a  railroad  had  also  assumed  such  proportions  as  to  war- 
rant the  most  sanguine  predictions  of  success. 

The  year  1866  witnessed  the  arrival  of  two  of  Nashville's 
early  merchants,  D.  C.  Griffith  and  L.  J.  Wheeler,  the  lat- 
ter of  whom  had  previously  been  a  resident  of  Woodland. 
After  an  active  career  of  three  years  in  the  army  he  repaired 
to  Nashville  and  erected  a  building  sixty  by  twenty  feet  in 
dimensions  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  shoe-shop  of 
E.  A.  Bush.  In  this,  in  connection  with  his  partners, — 
the  firm  having  been  Wheeler,  Downing  &  Co., — he  opened 
a  store  with  a  general  assortment  of  goods.  In  1873  he 
built  the  brick  store  at  present  occupied  by  him,  and  two 
years  later  his  attractive  brick  residence. 

Mr.  Griffith  moved  from  Ingham  County  to  Nashville 
early  in  1866,  and  built  a  store  on  the  site  now  occupied  by 
Messrs.  Francis  &  Boise,  on  Main  Street.  Mr.  Griffith 
sub.sequently  embarked  in  the  grain  trade,  and  in  1875 
erected  the  brick  building  in  which  he  now  carries  on  busi- 
ness. About  1867  a  gentleman  named  Reed  opened  a 
store  in  Nashville,  but  his  mercantile  career  extended  over 
a  period  of  only  two  years. 

Lewis  Durkee  was  attracted  to  the  village  in  1866,  and, 
in  connection  with  Hiram  Coe,  embarked  in  the  sale  of 
groceries  on  Main  Street.  The  railroad  having  been  com- 
pleted in  January,  1869,  he  engaged  in  its  service,  in 
which  he  remained  six  years.  He  is  still  a  citizen  of  the 
village  and  engaged  in  active  business  pursuits.  Clement 
Smith  began  the  practice  of  law  in  1868,  but  has  since 
removed  to  Hastings,  and  is  now  judge  of  probate. 

From  this  time  various  professional  and  mechanical  pur- 
suits were  represented  as  the  hamlet  advanced,  and  in  1869 
the  Legislature  bestowed  a  village  charter  upon  it.  This 
act  occasioned  much  apparent  surprise  to  the  leading  citi- 
zens, and  no  resident  has  yet  assumed  the  responsibility  of 
54 


having  advocated  the  measure.  The  name  it  bears  was  given 
in  honor  of  Mr.  Nash,  the  chief  engineer  of  the  Grand 
River  Valley  Railroad,  although  he  was  in  nowise  identi- 
fied with  the  place. 

The  young  lady  who  has  the  honor  of  being  the  first 
child  born  within  the  present  corporation  limits  is  Miss 
Hattie,  daughter  of  Robert  B.  Gregg,  whose  advent  oc- 
curred in  1865. 

A  clergyman  was  early  summoned  from  Vermontville  to 
unite  in  matrimonial  bonds  Mr.  M.  V.  B.  Mallett  and  Miss 
Alcesta  Price,  this  happy  event  having  been  the  earliest 
marriage  in  the  village. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1867,  occurred  the  first  national 
celebration  in  Nashville,  when  three  thousand  people  as- 
sembled on  the  river-bank,  east  of  Main  Street,  and  listened 
to  the  patriotic  strains  of  a  barrister  from  Calhoun  County. 

In  1874  the  prosperity  of  the  village  suffered  a  check  by 
reason  of  a  serious  conflagration  which  swept  away  property 
upon  Main  Street  valued  at  nearly  $20,000.  The  result 
of  this  calamity  was  for  a  while  a  general  feeling  of  depres- 
sion, but  a  reaction  eventually  followed  in  its  wake,  and 
new  and  more  imposing  edifices  arose  in  place  of  the  old 
ones.  So  great  has  been  the  growth  and  success  of  this 
village,  numbering  little  more  than  ten  years  of  develop- 
ment, that  it  now  ranks  as  the  second  commercial  and 
manufacturing  centre  in  Barry  County,  and  its  course  is 
still  steadily  onward  and  upward. 

SCHOOLS. 

During  the  year  1866  it  became  apparent  that  there  were 
a  number  of  children  in  Nashville  for  whom  educational 
advantages  should  be  provided.  A  notice  was  circulated 
that  at  a  time  specified  a  "  bee"  would  be  held  for  the  pur- 
pose of  erecting  a  school-house.  The  call  met  a  prompt 
response,  and  on  the  day  appointed,  before  darkness  ap- 
proached, the  school-house  was  in  actual  existence.  It 
could  hardly  be  commended  for  beauty  of  design,  but 
served  well  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  erected.  After 
a  more  spacious  structure  had  superseded  it,  the  former 
building  did  service  as  a  barn  on  one  of  the  neighboring 
streets.  The  first  school  numbered  thirteen  children,  who 
were  under  the  care  of  Miss  Aggie  Smith  (now  Mrs.  C.  M. 
Putnam).  The  school-house,  which  was  said  not  to  have 
been  discernible  from  a  short  distance,  so  thick  was  the 
forest,  also  did  duty  as  a  church  and  Sunday-school  room. 

The  present  school  building  was  erected  in  1868,  and, 
although  at  that  time  apparently  large  and  comfortable,  the 
growing  demands  of  the  place  have  made  more  extensive 
quarters  a  necessity.  The  teachers  who  have  filled  posi- 
tions in  connection  with  the  Nashville  school  since  its  first 
organization  are,  in  order  of  service  by  terms,  as  follows : 


Miss  Aggie  Smith. 
Mrs.  Anna  Lamb. 
Miss  Marion  Warren. 
Mr.  Clement  Smith. 
Miss  Mary  Ely. 
Miss  Franli  M.  Wheeler. 
Miss  Mary  Ely. 
Mrs.  Fanny  Mott. 
Miss  Alice  Slade. 


Mrs.  L.  0.  Crocker. 
Miss  Hattie  Burlingham. 

Mrs.  Irish. 

Mrs.  L.  0.  Crocker. 

Mr.  Frank  Lathrop. 
Miss  Mary  Barney. 

Mr.  Enoch  Andrus. 
Miss  Alice  MoNair. 


426 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARKY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Mrs.  C.  Van  Arnani. 
Miss  Alice  McNair. 
Miss  Emmn  Kussell. 

Mr.  C.  Van  Norman. 
Miss  Alice  McNair. 
Miss  Mary  E.  Cory. 

Mr.  T.  T.  Crandle. 
Miss  L.  Warren. 

Miss  Eva  White. 
Mrs.  A.  J.  Beebe. 
Miss  Mina  McCartney. 

Mr.  Jay  Boise. 
Mrs.  A.  J.  Beebe. 
Mrs.  A.  M.  Flint. 


Mr.  E.  W.  Huntington. 
Mrs.  A.  J.  Beebe. 
Miss  Mina  McCartney. 

Mr.  Barney  Brooks. 
Mrs.  A.  J,  Beebe. 
Miss  M.  McCartney. 
Mrs.  A.  M.  Flint. 

Mr.  R.  M.  Payne. 
Miss  L.  A.  Davis. 
Miss  Mary  Gear. 
Mrs.  A.  M.  Flint. 

Mr.  E.  M.  Payne. 
Mrs.  A.  M.  Flint. 
Mrs.  A.  J.  Beebe. 
Miss  Mary  Hindmarcb. 


The  present  school,  under  the  superintendence  of  R.  M. 
Payne  and  an  able  corps  of  assistants,  is  organizad  on  the 
'•  graded"  plan,  and  has  gained  an  enviable  reputation  for 
thoroughness  and  excellence  in  all  its  departments. 

THE  MEDICAL  PRATEKNITY  OF  NASHVILLE. 

The  first  physician  to  establish  himself  in  Nashville  was 
Dr.  J.  H.  Palmer,  who  followed  his  profession  there  from 
1865  until  1867  without  a  rival  or  a  colleague.  During 
the  latter  year  Dr.  C.  W.  Wickham  came  from  Eaton 
County,  his  former  home.  He  is  still  in  active  practice  at 
Nashville. 

Dr.  Wickham  was  followed  in  the  spring  of  1870  by 
Dr.  H.  A.  Barber,  of  Lansing,  Mich.,  who  had  been  a 
practitioner  in  Minnesota  before  returning  to  his  native 
State.  He  was  the  first  representative  of  the  homceo- 
pathic  school  in  Nashville,  where  he  has  since  remained. 
He  is  an  active  member  of  the  State  Homoeopathic  Medi- 
cal Society,  as  well  as  the  vice-president  of  the  Homoeo- 
pathic Medical  Society  of  Barry  and  Eaton  Counties. 

Dr.  W.  H.  Young,  formerly  of  Toronto,  Canada,  became 
a  resident  of  Nashville  in  1870,  where  he  has  ever  since 
practiced.  He  is  a  graduate  of  the  medical  department  of 
Toronto  University  and  of  the  Detroit  Medical  College, 
and  is  also  a  member  of  the  State  Medical  Society.  Dr. 
W.  H.  Griswold,  a  native  of  Olivet,  Eaton  Co.,  Mich.,  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  "medicine  in  Nashville  in  October, 
1878,  having  formerly  resided  in  Maple  Grove.  He  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Detroit  Homoeopathic  Medical  College, 
from  which  he  received  his  diploma  in  1875.  Dr.  F.  A. 
Jones  has  just  begun  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Nashville,  having  arrived  in  the  spring  of  1880. 

THE  LEGAL  PROFESSION. 

Lewis  Durkee  became  a  resident  of  Nashville  in  1866, 
and  for  several  years  was  engaged  in  business  pursuits. 
Having  during  this  time  devoted  much  attention  to  the 
study  of  law,  he  obtained  admission  to  ithe  bar  and  entered 
on  the  practice  of  his  profession,  in  which  he  is  still  actively 
engaged.  Abijah  M.  Flint,  a  native  of  Eaton  Co  ,  Mich., 
came  to  this  village  in  1868.  He  made  but  a  brief  stay 
at  that  time,  removing  to  Kansas,  where  he  remained  six 
years.  In  1875  he  returned  to  Nashville,  and  is  now  fol- 
lowing his  profession  at  that  place. 

C.  H.  Brady,  formerly  of  Calhoun  County,  graduated 
from  the  law  school  of  Ann  Arbor  University  in  1874, 


and  removed  to  Nashville  the  following  year.  He  was 
until  1877  employed  in  the  oflBce  of  Clement  Smith,  the 
present  probate  judge  of  Barry  County,  after  which  he 
opened  an  office  of  his  own,  and  is  still  iu  practice.  W. 
S.  Powers  began  his  professional  studies  in  Ohio,  and  sub- 
sequently graduated  from  the  law  school  of  Ann  Arbor 
University.  He  came  to  Nashville  from  Eaton  County  in 
1877,  having  for  a  brief  period  been  a  practitioner  in 
Bellevue. 

CHURCHES. 

METHODIST   EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 

The  church  at  Nashville  was  embraced  in  the  Woodland 
Circuit  until  the  year  1868,  when  it  was  set  apart  as  an 
independent  charge,  with  the  following  appointments : 
County  Farm,  Mudge's,  Castleton  Centre,  and  Martin's 
School-house. 

The  earliest  society  in  connection  with  this  church  was 
formed  in  1866,  under  the  supervision  of  Rev.  T.  J.  Spen- 
cer, then  connected  with  the  Woodland  Circuit.  The 
members  embraced  in  the  first  class  were  George  Gregg, 
E.  M.  Mallett  and  wife,  Minor  Mallett  and  wife,  L.  J. 
Wheeler,  and  Mrs.  Clendennin.  The  grist-mill  erected  by 
Mallett  &  Johnson  then  afibrded  a  place  of  meeting,  the 
first  service  having  been  conducted  by  Rev.  H.  J.  Richards. 
Soon  after  a  log  building  was  erected  as  a  temporary  school- 
house,  which  was  located  in  the  rear  of  the  present  Yates 
Block.  This  structure  was  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the 
band  of  worshipers  until  a  small  framed  building  owned  by 
Mr.  Appleman  afforded  more  ample  accommodations. 

On  tiie  erection  of  the  present  school-house  a  still  more 
convenient  place  of  meeting  was  oEFered.  The  earliest 
Sunday-school  was  organized  in  1866,  with  E  M.  Mallett 
as  superintendent.  In  1869,  with  a  view  to  the  erection 
of  a  church  edifice,  lots  were  purchased  of  Robert  Gregg, 
and  the  following  year  a  building  was  erected  under  the 
ministrations  of  Rev.  R.  Pengally.  The  pastors  in  succes- 
sion have  been  Rev.  T.  J.  Spencer,  Rev.  J.  S.  Harder,  Rev. 
R.  Pengally,  Rev.  L.  M.  Edmonds,  Rev.  C.  H.  Ellis,  Rev. 
J.  M.  Akin,  Rev.  E.  L.  Kellogg,  Rev.  C.  G.  Thomas,  Rev. 
N.  L.  Brockway,  and  the  present  pastor  in  charge.  Rev.  A. 
D.  Newton.  A  flourishing  Sunday-school  is  connected  with 
the  church,  of  which  L.  J.  Wheeler  is  superintendent.  It 
numbers  150  scholars,  with  a  constantly  increasing  attend- 
ance. Arthur  Ainsworth  is  librarian,  and  J.  C.  F.  Dillon 
secretary.  The  present  board  of  trustees  of  the  church 
are  Lorenzo  Mudge,  Jacob  Purkey,  D.  Staley,  H.  Coe,  Dr. 
H.  A.  Barber. 

The  capacity  of  the  building  is  unequal  to  the  wants  of 
the  large  concourse  of  worshipers,  and  as  a  result  a  more 
commodious  edifice  will  doubtless  supersede  it. 

BAPTIST  CHURCH. 
The  earliest  meetings  of  the  Baptist  Society  were  held  at 
the  school-house,  and  the  subject  of  organization  was  dis- 
cussed at  a  gathering  of  those  interested,  which  took  place 
Dec.  1,  1868,  Rev.  P.  C.  Bassett  acting  as  moderator  and 
L.  E.  Stauifer  secretary  pro  tern.  The  following  persons 
on  this  occasion  presented  themselves  for  membership  by 
letter:  Rev.  P.  C.  Bassett,  Jonah  Racey,  Rosetta  Racey, 
Mariah  Barnes,  Lucinda  Raymond,  P.  L.  E.  Stauffer,  Jane 


CASTLETON   TOWXSHIP. 


427 


E.  Bassett,  Rev.  J.  H.  Straight,  M.  C.  Straight,  M.  Cross, 
J.  Steadman,  and  S.  T.  Stauffer.  The  following  were  re- 
ceived on  profession  of  faith :  Mrs.  H.  C.  Appleiuan  and 
W.  H.  Barnes.  Services  were  at  this  time  conducted  in 
the  school-house,  and  later  in  a  hall  secured  for  the  pur- 
pose. In  1876,  Fred  Appleman,  W.-A.  Whittaker,  and 
Mark  Detrick  were  chosen  trustees.  During  the  same  year 
measures  were  taken  for  the  erection  of  a  church  edifice, 
which  was  later  completed,  the  structure  being  built  of 
brick,  and  costing,  together  with  the  ground  upon  which  it 
stands,  13300.  The  pastors  in  succession  since  the  year 
of  organization  have  been  Rev.  P.  C.  Bassett,  Rev.  John 
Dunham,  Rev.  Lester  Monroe,  Rev.  W.  R.  Northrop,  Rev. 
C.  B.  Shear,  Rev.  L.  H.  Monroe,  and  various  other  clergy- 
men who  have  filled  the  pulpit  as  supplies.  The  present 
trustees  are  Theodore  Barnes,  Newall  Barne.s,  and  J.  B. 
Racey.  The  Baptist  Society  of  Nashville  is  at  present 
without  a  pastor  and  somewhat  embarrassed  by  a  church 
indebtedness,  but  it  is  confidently  hoped  that  this  claim 
will  be  released  under  the  ministry  of  an  energetic  pastor. 

THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH. 

The  church  at  Nashville,  under  the  ministering  care  of 
Rev.  S.  Dailey,  first  became  a  distinct  organization  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1868.  Its  early  membership  embraced  the  follow- 
ing names:  A.  Seeley,  M.  M.  Seeley,  H.  P.  Ralston,  C. 
Ralston,  S.  R.  Clendennin,  Harriet  Bassett,  Betsey  Hunt, 
S.  S.  Ralston,  H.  Shopbell,  M.  Shopbell,  N.  Bassett.  A. 
Seeley  was  chosen  deacon,  and  S.  R.  Ralston  clerk.  The 
first  board  of  trustees  embraced  J.  Purkey,  F.  Patterson, 
R.  McCartney,  L.  Durkee,  and  C.  Hill,  R.  McCartney 
having  been  chosen  treasurer. 

Under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  C.  J.  Deyo  the  accessions 
to  the  church  necessitated  more  spacious  quarters  than  were 
then  available,  and  an  effort  was  made  to  erect  a  church 
edifice,  which  was  so  far  succes.sful  that  in  1870  a  sub- 
stantial building  was  completed  and  dedicated,  the  total 
cost  having  been  $2100. 

The  church  during  its  most  flourishing  period  enrolled 
,upon  its  membership  list  162  names,  though  80  is  its  pres- 
ent number. 

The  pastors  in  succession  since  its  organization  have  been 
Revs.  S.  Dailey,  who  remained  one  year ;  C.  I.  Deyo,  two 
and  a  half  years ;  M.  W.  Tuck,  one  year;  W.  W.  De  Geer, 
two  years;  and  C.  I.  Deyo,  three  years,  having  filled  a 
second  pastorate.     The  society  is  now  without  a  pastor. 

The  present  officers  are  F.  D.  Soles,  Orno  Strong,  Charles 
Fowler,  Nathan  Weeks,  G.  A.  Truman,  Trustees ;  G.  A. 
Truman,  Treasurer ;  T.  B.  Van  Wagner,  Clerk. 

FIRST-DAY  ADVBNTISTS. 

This  society  was  organized  by  Elder  Philip  Holler,  Oct. 
9,  1878,  and  has  a  membership  of  13.  Its  services  are 
held  in  the  school-house  of  the  village. 

SOCIETIES. 

RED   RIBBON   CLUB. 

In  February,  1877,  Samuel  Dickey,  then  principal  of 

the  public  schools  of  Hastings,  and  now  professor  at  Albion 

College,  came  to  Nashville  in  the  interest  of  the  temper- 


ance cause.  Many  citizens  not  especially  attracted  to  this 
peculiar  feature  of  philanthropic  work  were  induced  from 
curiosity  to  hear  the  speaker.  The  logical  arguments  he 
advanced  and  the  simple  stories  of  reform  which  he  and 
his  associates  related  won  their  attention  and  sympathy. 
As  a  result  100  signed  the  pledge,  and  on  the  16th  of  the 
same  month  a  Red  Ribbon  Club  was  organized,  with  the 
following  as  its  first  officers:  William  Teaster,  President; 
James  McLain,  First  Vice-President;  J.  D.  Dickenson, 
Second  Vice-President;  Charles  Halbert,  Third  Vice-Pres- 
ident ;  Milton  Flaherty,  Sec. ;  Charles  Brady,  Financial 
Sec. ;  William  Jones,  Treas. ;  Henry  Woloott,  First  Mar- 
shal;  Frederick  Appleman,  Second  Marshal. 

The  whole  number  of  the  persons  who  have  signed 
the  pledge  since  the  organization  of  the  club  is  730,  and 
the  present  membership  is  100.  There  have  been  176 
club  meetings,  with  an  average  attendance  of  40  at  each 
meeting.  There  have  also  been  55  mass  meetings,  with 
an  average  attendance  of  250,  making  a  total  attendance 
of  20,790.  The  club  since  its  first  inception  has  had  its 
periods  of  growth  and  decay,  but  has  been  during  its  exist- 
ence a  powerful  lever  for  good  in  the  community.  Its 
mission  work  has  been  the  organization  of  the  Vermont- 
ville,  Kalamo,  Morgan,  West  Kalamo,  and  East  Castleton 
clubs,  all  of  which  are  flourishing,  and  are  accomplishing 
much  in  their  respective  localities.  Many  of  the  most  emi- 
nent speakers  in  the  temperance  field  have  at  various  times 
addressed  the  club,  and  the  citizens  have  been  entertained 
and  instructed  as  well  as  benefited  thereby. 

The  Nashville  Red  Ribbon  Club  is  at  present  in  an  ex- 
ceedingly prosperous  condition,  and  numbers  among  its 
members  many  of  the  most  prominent  business  men  of 
the  place.  Its  officers  are  Dr.  H.  A.  Barber,  President ; 
Charles  H.  Brady,  1st  Vice-President ;  Henry  Wolcott,  2d 
Vice-President ;  H.  W.  Flint,  3d  Vice-President ;  Frank 
McDerby,  Secretary;  Rev.  J.  S.  Harder,  Financial  Sec- 
retary ;  Mrs.  H.  A.  Barber,  Treasurer;  H.  P.  Hoyt,  Stew- 
ard; Francis  Baker,  1st  Marshal  ;  F.  Gokey,  2d  Marshal. 

WOMAN'S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 

With  a  view  to  encouraging  those  who  had  embarked  in 
the  red  ribbon  cause,  and  also  for  the  purpose  of  co-opera- 
tion in  other  good  work,  the  union  was  organized  March 
27,  1877,  with  a  membership  of  20.  Its  first  officers  were 
Mrs.  W.  H.  Young,  President ;  Mrs.  M.  J.  Zimmerman, 
Vice-President ;  Miss  L.  A.  Nichols,  Recording  Secretary; 
Mrs.  L.  J.  Wheeler,  Corresponding  Secretary ;  Mrs.  B.  F. 
Reynolds,  Treasurer.  With  a  desire  to  establish  the  or- 
ganization on  a  sound  financial  basis,  a  series  of  entertain- 
ments were  arranged,  the  first  having  been  a  temperance 
lunch  on  election-day,  which  netted  $17.95.  This  was 
succeeded  by  socials,  festivals,  and  other  legitimate  means 
for  raising  funds,  which  were  used  for  defraying  necessary 
expenses  and  furnishing  a  club-room  for  the  gentlemen. 

The  Red  Ribbon  Club  having  finally  become  self  sustain- 
ing, and  requiring  no  further  aid,  the  ladies  determined  to 
choose  some  definite  object  as  an  inspiration  to  future 
effort,  and  resolved  upon  the  establishment  of  a  library,  to 
be  under  the  supervision  of  the  Woman's  Christian  Tem- 
perance Union.     A  series  of  entertainments  was  given  for 


428 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BAKRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


this  purpose,  which  added  considerably  to  the  funds  in  the 
treasury.  The  nucleus  of  a  library  was  formed,  which  has 
already  reached  $100  in  value,  and  the  number  of  volumes 
is  being  constantly  augmented  by  purchases  or  gifts. 

The  society,  since  it  was  founded,  has  increased  in  mem- 
bership and  influence,  40  working  members  now  being  en- 
rolled upon  its  lists.  Its  officers  have  been  efficient  workers 
and  of  much  administrative  ability. 

The  present  presiding  officers  are  Mrs.  G.  A.  Truman, 
President ;  Mrs.  L.  J.  Wheeler,  Vice-President ;  Mrs.  L. 
J.  Wilson,  Recording  Secretary ;  Mrs.  C.  Smith,  Corres- 
ponding Secretary  ;  Mrs.  F.  McDerby,  Financial  Secretary ; 
Mrs.  C.  L.  Collier,  Treasurer. 

NASHVILLE  LODGE,  No.  255,  F.  AND  A.  M. 
The  charter  of  this  lodge  bears  date  Jan.  15,  1869,  its 
charter  members  having  been  Lewis  Durkee,  Charles  W. 
Wickham,  Orin  E.  Nichols,  D.  C.  Griffith,  Daniel  Halbert, 
Abel  Sheperd,  Robert  B.  Gregg,  Henry  P.  Ralston,  BIyron 
Hester,  William  P.  Little,  and  F.  N.  Francis.  The  lodge 
had  previously  worked  under  a  dispensation,  which  was 
granted  Nov.  25,1868.  Its  first  officers  were  Lewis  Dur- 
kee, W.  M. ;  Charles  W.  Wickham,  S.  W. ;  Orin  E. 
Nichols,  J.  W.  ;  Daniel  Halbert,  Sec. ;  D.  C.  Griffith, 
Treas.  The  present  officers  are  Robert  McCartney,  W. 
M. ;  Harvey  J.  Bennett,  S.  W. ;  Ira  B.  Bacheller,  J.  W. ; 
John  H.  Smith,  Sec. ;  Robert  B.  Gregg,  Treas.  The  lodge 
is  prosperous,  and  embraces  70  names  upon  its  roll. 

MANUFACTORIES  AND   MILLS. 
GRAND  KAPIDS  CHEMICAL  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY. 

In  March  of  the  present  year  a  proposition  was  made  to 
the  citizens  of  Nashville  by  W.  G.  Sears,  representing  the 
above  company,  with  a  view  to  locating  at  the  village  of 
Nashville  the  works  they  were  about  erecting.  A  bonus  of 
S800  was  required,  which,  under  the  efficient  direction  of 
a  committee  to  solicit  subscriptions,  was  speedily  raised. 
On  the  12th  of  the  same  month  ground  was  broken  for  the 
erection  of  the  buildings,  having  a  retort  capacity  of  eight 
cords  of  wood  each  twenty-four  hours,  the  product  being 
400  bushels  of  charcoal,  1200  pounds  acetate  of  lime,  and 
30  gallons  of  wood-alcohol  each  day.  The  works  are  under 
the  efficient  management  of  William  G.  Sears,  the  officers 
being  Adolph  Leitelt,  President ;  T.  M.  Peck,  Vice-Presi- 
dent ;  John  L.  Shaw,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

NASHVILLE    ELEVATOR   AND  FEED-MILL. 

This  establishment,  which  is  located  on  West  Main  Street, 
upon  the  Grand  River  Valley  Railroad,  is  owned  by  Messrs. 
Ainsworth  &  Brooks.  It  was  originally  constructed  by 
Messrs.  Griffith  &  Grant,  but  has  been  controlled  by  the 
present  firm  since  1874.  The  building  is  40  feet  square, 
and  60  feet  high  from  cellar  to  cupola,  having  been  made 
of  seasoned  timber  and  unusual  care  devoted  to  its  con- 
struction. The  cellar  has  two  divisions  22  by  44  feet  and 
10  by  20  feet,  with  a  depth  of  10  feet.  In  this  cellar  are 
four  receiving-bins  with  a  capacity  of  1500  bushels.  To 
receive  wheat  from  farmers'  wagons  this  building  is  pro- 
vided with  a  double  set  of  elevator  legs,  capable  of  raising 
1000  bushels  per  hour.     The  grain  is  carried  by  these  ele- 


vators to  a  height  of  55  feet,  afler  which  it  is  passed 
through  two  large  suction-fans.  The  light  grain  and  straw 
are  drawn  into  these  fans,  and  blown  into  spouts  projecting 
over  the  roof.  After  being  thus  cleaned  it  is  dropped  into 
a  sheet-iron  hopper  of  limited  dimensions,  connected  with 
which  is  a  small  spout.  This  hopper  is  placed  upon  a  pipe 
which  runs  to  the  first  floor,  and  a  person  on  this  floor  is 
thus  able  to  move  the  pipe  and  distribute  the  grain  into 
whichever  bin  he  prefers,  by  means  of  an  index  corre- 
sponding with  the  rod  which  encircles  the  pipe.  There  are 
twenty-four  storage-bins  in  the  second  story,  with  a  capacity 
of  30,000  bushels. 

Afterwards  spouts  are  attached  to  the  bottom  of  the 
storage-bins,  the  grain  being  drawn  into  the  cellar  and  again 
into  two  grading-bins,  where  it  is  mixed  to  suit  the  market. 
From  these  bins  it  is  carried  by  16-inch  cups  that  are 
capable  of  elevating  1000  bushels  per  hour  into  a  hopper 
holding  500  bushels,  which  is  placed  at  the  top  of  the 
elevator,  upon  a  set  of  Buffalo  scales  capable  of  weighing 
30,000  pounds,  or  500  bushels  of  wheat. 

The  pillars  and  beams  of  the  scales  rest  upon  the  first 
floor,  the  first  being  bronzed  and  the  latter  nickel-plated. 

In  loading  a  car  the  weight  is  taken  upon  the  first  floor, 
and,  by  pulling  a  suspended  rod,  the  wheat  drops  into  a  bin 
holding  500  bushels,  which  is  designated  as  the  "  shipping- 
bin,"  and  from  this  bin  it  is  spouted  into  the  car. 

In  1877  a  feed-mill,  with  steam-power  attached,  was 
added  to  the  former  business  of  the  firm.  It  has  a  single 
run  of  stone,  and  grinds  all  varieties  of  feed  for  home 
consumption. 

NASHVILLE    MILLS. 

The  flouring-  and  feed-mills  generally  known  as  the 
Nashville  Mills  were  built  by  Messrs.  Mallett  &  Johnson 
in  1867,  and  were  located  upon  the  Thornapple  River, 
which  furnished  an  ample  power  for  the  two  run  of  stone 
with  which  they  were  first  built.  Flour  and  feed  were 
ground,  and  the  immediate  neighborhood  consumed  the 
product  of  the  mills.  They  were  purchased  in  1868  by 
the  present  owner,  Philip  Holler,  who  removed  to  the  village 
from  Berrien  County.  He  at  once  made  many  improve- 
ments, introducing  two  turbine-wheels  of  the  Dayton  pat- 
ent, and  adding  another  run  of  stone.  He  has  also  recently 
employed  the  new  patent  process  for  the  manufacture  of 
flour.  The  capacity  of  the  mills  is  300  bushels  for  twelve 
hours.  They  are  principally  employed  in  custom-work 
and  in  furnishing  supplies  to  the  home  trade."  The  saw- 
mill originally  built  by  Hiram  Hanchett  is  used  by  Mr. 
Holler  as  a  feed-mill. 

TUCKERMAN'S   STEAM   SAW-MILL. 

The  mill  and  fixtures  of  this  establishment  are  owned 
by  Philip  Holler  and  leased  by  Mr.  Tuckerman.  It  is 
exclusively  devoted  to  the  handling  of  hard  wood,  a  market 
for  which  is  found  in  the  East,  much  of  it  reaching  Boston 
and  other  large  Eastern  cities. 

Two  cylinder-saws  are  used,  and  seven  men  are  employed 
about  the  works  in  various  capacities.  The  timber  is  found 
in  adjacent  parts  of  the  county,  and  has  heretofore  sup- 
plied all  the  demands  of  the  mill.  The  capacity  of  this 
saw-mill  is  from  8000  to  12,000  feet  per  day,  but  when  run 


ALLEN  B.  COOPER. 


MES.  ALLEN  B.  COOPER. 


ALLEN  B.  COOPER. 


This  venerable  pioneer  was  born  in  the  town  of  Covert, 
Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  24,  1813.     His  father,  Samuel 
Cooper,  was  a  pioneer  of  the  town  of  Covert ;  he  reared  a 
family  of  seven  children  to  habits  of  industry  and  thrift, 
and  gave  them  such  advantages  for  education  as  his  limited 
means  would  allow.     Allen  lived  with  his  father  until  he 
was  twenty-three  yeai's  of  age,  at  which  time  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Emeline  Napier.     She  was  a  native  of  Ash- 
tabula  Co.,   Ohio,   and   was  born   Nov.    28,  1811.     Two 
years  after  their  marriage  Mr.  Cooper  started  for  Michigan 
in  company  with  his  brothers.     They  arrived  in  Detroit  in 
May,  and  from  thence  went  to  Oakland  County,  where  a 
cousin  of  Mr.  Cooper's,  one  James  Cole,  had  settled  some 
time  previous.     Here  they  rested  a  few  days,  when  they 
again  took  up  the  line  of  march  for  the  town  of  Woodland, 
where  he  had  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  .35. 
The  journey  from  Oakland  was  made  with  an  ox-team,  and 
after  leaving  Vermontville  he  was  obliged  to  cut  his  road 
through  a  dense  wilderness.     He  arrived  safely,  however, 
in  the  month  of  June ;  three  families  had  preceded  him  in 
Castleton,  and  one  or  two  adventurous  pioneers  had  located 
in  Woodland.     The  pioneer  life  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cooper 
was  one  of  many  privations  and  hardships  ;   their  scanty 
stock   of  provisions  was    soon    exhausted ;    there  was    no 
money  in  the  country,  and  starvation  stared  them  in  the 
face.     As  illustrative  of  the  desperate  condition  in  which 
they  were  placed,   Mr.   Cooper  relates   that  some   months 
after  they  came  their  stock  of  flour  was  exhausted,  and 
the  only  article  of  traffic  he  had  was  a  small  quantity  of 


leather  he  had  brought  from  Seneca  County.  This  he 
carried  to  Marshall,  thinking  it  possible  to  exchange  it  for 
flour.  The  storekeeper,  a  man  by  the  name  of  Comstock, 
told  him  that  flour  was  fourteen  dollars  per  barrel,  and  was 
a  cash  article,  and  that  he  could  not  purchase  his  leather. 
"  Where  was  that  leather  tanned  ?"  asked  the  merchant. 
"  In  Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,"  answered  Mr.  Cooper.  "  What 
is  your  father's  name  ?"  Upon  receiving  the  reply  he 
gave  him  an  order  for  two  barrels  of  flour,  and  stocked 
him  up  with  a  goodly  store  of  provisions.  Mr.  Cooper 
was  overcome  by  the  generosity  of  the  merchant,  and 
asked  an  explanation.  He  replied,  "  Your  father  once 
befriended  me,  and  I  am  glad  of  this  opportunity  of  pay- 
ing the  debt."  Many  other  incidents  in  their  early  history 
might  be  written  showing  the  privations  and  hardships 
they  were  obliged  to  undergo,  but  the  one  just  mentioned 
will  suflice.  Mr.  Cooper  assisted  in  the  organization  of 
the  town,  and  was  elected  its  first  road  commissioner.  Mrs. 
Cooper  taught  the  first  school,  and  their  names  are  stamped 
on  nearly  every  initial  event  in  the  early  history  of  the 
town.  In  his  political  belief  Mr.  Cooper  was  originally  a 
Whig,  and  identified  himself  with  the  anti-slavery  move- 
ment upon  its  inception.  Upon  the  organization  of  the 
Republican  party  he  became  an  ardent  Republican.  He 
has  never  desired  political  honors,  preferring  the  quiet 
of  home  and  the  cares  of  his  farm  to  the  turmoil  of 
political  life.  He  did  his  part  in  the  development  of 
Barry  County,  and  is  in  every  way  worthy  of  a  prominent 
place  among  the  pioneers  of  the  county. 


CASTLETON  TOWNSHIP. 


429 


to  its  extreme  limit  it  can  be  made  to  produce  an  amount 
greatly  in  excess  of  these  figures. 

OLDS'   SAW-  AND   PLANING-MILL. 

During  the  year  1876,  Mr.  A.  W.  Olds  erected  the  large 
saw-  and  planing-mill  at  present  managed  by  him.  It  is 
run  by  a  steam-engine,  with  a  capacity  of  45  horse-power. 
There  are  five  saws  of  different  styles  and  dimensions, 
and  a  complete  line  of  machinery  of  most  approved  design 
for  purposes  of  planing.  It  is  possible  to  saw  and  dress 
20,000  feet  per  day,  and  even  to  exceed  that  amount 
if  necessary.  The  material,  in  the  shape  of  logs  of  hard 
wood,  is  obtained  frMn  the  country  suriounding  Nashville 
and  converted  into  dressed  lumber,  which  is  shipped  to 
Boston,  the  principal  market.  Mr.  Olds  also  purchases  the 
product  of  other  mills  to  supply  the  demand  of  his  Eastern 

patrons. 

DICKENSON'S   SAW-MILL. 

This  mill  was  originally  built  by  A.  W.  Olds,  in  1870, 
and  by  him  disposed  of  to  H.  Lee,  from  whom  it  came  into 
the  possession  of  the  present  owner,  Mr.  H.  R.  Dickenson. 
It  is  propelled  by  an  engine  of  40  horse-power,  and  is  de- 
voted principally  to  the  handling  of  hard  wood.  It  has  a 
capacity,  when  run  to  its  extreme  limit,  of  12,000  feet  per 
day.  The  market  is  found  chiefly  at  home,  though  much  of 
the  lumber  sawed  recently  has  been  purchased  by  Mr.  Olds, 
and  shipped  to  supply  an  Eastern  demand. 

COOK'S   WAGON-  AND    CARRIAGE-MANUFACTORY. 

The  business  at  present  controlled  by  Mr.  Cook  was  origi- 
ally  established  by  him  in  1874,  on  Main  Street.  It  was 
then  almost  exclusively  devoted  to  the  manufacture  of 
lumber-wagons,  for  which  there  was  a  considerable  home 
demand.  The  firm  at  that  time  was  Reynolds  &  Cook,  while 
Messrs.  Hobbs  &  Webster  managed  the  blacksmith-shop 
connected  with  the  establishment  Later  Mr.  Cook  became 
sole  proprietor,  and  confined  his  attention  principally  to  the 
construction  of  carriages  and  buggies. 

The  works  complete,  ready  for  the  market,  about  100 
wagons  and  carriages  annually,  the  demand  being  princi- 
pally local.  Twelve  men  are  employed  in  the  various  de- 
partments. The  present  convenient  buildings  were  erected 
in  1878. 

BUXTON'S  GUN-MANUFACTOKY. 
Mr.  Buxton  first  came  to  Nashville  in  1866,  and  was 
employed  in  the  saw-mill  erected  by  Hiram  Hanchett,  where 
he  remained  five  years.  He  was  later  in  the  workshop  of 
the  Remington  Armory,  at  Ilion,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1870  re- 
turned to  Nashville  and  erected  the  present  shop,  which  is 
well  stocked  with  lathes  and  other  machinery  of  his  own 
construction.  He  has  since  that  time  been  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  guns,  saws,  and  various  mechanical  instru- 
ments. He  is  now  engaged  in  the  construction  of  a  spacious 
warehouse  and  workshop  on  Main  Street,  which  will  be 
provided  with  steam-power,  in  which  he  will  devote  his 
time  to  the  construction  of  light  machinery  and  the  manu- 
facture of  firearms. 

LENTZ  A  SONS'  FURNITURE-MANUFACTORY. 
The  business  of  this  firm  was  established  in  1867,  and 
has  since  grown  steadily  in  importance,  until  successive  ad- 


ditions to  the  various  departments  have  become  necessary  to 
meet  the  growing  demands  of  their  trade.  Their  manufac- 
turing is  done  in  an  extensive  brick  building  erected  for  the 
purpose,  while  a  spacious  warehouse  is  being  constructed  on 
Main  Street  for  their  use.  All  the  varieties  of  furniture 
adapted  to  a  general  country  trade  are  made  by  them,  for 
which  a  market  is  found  in  the  vicinity.  Their  wares  were 
formerly  shipped,  but  a  later  home  demand  has  rendered 
this  unnecessary. 

From  500  to  800  beds  are  made  by  them  annually,  while 
200  bureaus,  100  extension-tables,  and  a  large  supply  of 
chairs  and  lounges  are  readily  sold. 

OTHER  ESTABLISHMENTS.  > 

Messrs.  Kellogg  &  Demaray  have  also  a  furniture-manu- 
factory in  which  steam  power  is  employed.  They  produce 
tables,  bed-room  sets,  chairs,  and  other  articles  peculiar  to 
the  trade,  and  find  a  home  demand  for  their  wares.  Their 
warehouse  is  located  on  Main  Street.  I.  W.  Powles  has  a 
carding-mill  in  which  steam-power  is  employed,  and  con- 
templates the  erection,  during  the  present  season,  of  a  more 
spacious  building  for  his  use. 

INCORPORATION  AND  OFFICERS. 

The  act  of  incorporation  which  constituted  the  hamlet  of 
Nashville  a  village,  and  bestowed  upon  it  a  chartered  or- 
ganization, was  approved  by  the  Governor,  March  26, 1869, 
and  reads  as  follows  : 

"  The  people  of  the  State  of  Michigan  enact :  That  all  that  tract  of 
country  situate  in  the  town  of  Castleton  and  Maple  Grove,  in  the 
county  of  Barry,  and  distinguished  and  designated  on  the  plat  in  the 
land-of[ice  of  the  distijict  as  sections  thirty-five  and  thirty-six,  and 
the  south  half  of  sections  twenty-four  and  twenty-five,  in  town  three 
north,  of  range  seven  west,  and  the  north  half  of  sections  one  and  two 
in  town  two  north,  of  range  seven  west,  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby 
constituted  a  village  corporate,  to  be  known  by  the  name  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Nashville." 

The  first  meeting  for  the  election  of  village  officers  was 
held  at  the  office  of  Lewis  Durkee,  on  Wednesday,  the  7th 
of  April,  1869,  at  twelve  o'clock,  and,  the  ballots  having 
been  cast,  the  following  officers  were  declared  by  the  in- 
spectors of  election  duly  elected :  President  of  Council, 
Lemuel  Smith  ;  Recorder,  Leonard  E.  Stauffer ;  Assessor, 
Hiram  Coe ;  Treasurer,  Robert  B.  Gregg  ;  Councilmen  (for 
two  years),  Henry  P.  Ralston,  Horace  T.  Davidson,  Philip 
Holler ;  (for  one  year),  Henry  P.  Ralston,  Myron  Pennock, 
Jacob  Purkey. 

The  following  gentlemen  from  that  time  to  the  present 
have  served  the  corporation  in  an  official  capacity : 

1870. — President,  Lemuel  Smith;  Recorder,  Leonard  E.  Stauffer; 
Treasurer,  John  M.  Roe;  Assessor,  Elihu  Chipman;  Trus- 
tees, George  A.  Truman,  Jacob  Purkey,  Albert  W.  Olds. 

18V1. — President,  Dewitt  C.  Griflnth ;  Recorder,  Charles  Lentz; 
Treasurer,  John  M.  Roe;  Assessor,  Lewis  A.  Durkee;  Coun- 
cilmen, Philip  Holler,  Charles  I.  Deyo,  Hiram  Partello; 
School  Inspectors,  Hiram  Barber,  L.  Frazier  McCormick. 

1872. — President,  Lemuel  Smith ;  Recorder,  E.  J.  Feighuer ;  Treas- 
urer, Christian  N.  Holler;  Assessor,  Lewis  A.  Durkee; 
Councilmen,  Conrad  Clever,  Albert  W.  Olds,  T.  C.  Downing. 

1873. — President,  George  A.  Truman;  Recorder,  E.  J.  Feighuer; 
Treasurer,  Elihu  Chipman;  Assessor,  Clement  Smith ;  Coun- 
cilmen, Horace  F.  Davidson,  Andrew  J.  Hardy,  Hiram  Coe; 
School  Inspector,  L.  Frazier  McCormick. 


430 


HISTORY  OF   ALLEGAN    AND   BARRY    COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


1874.- 


1875.- 


1S7G.- 


1877.- 


1878.- 


1879.- 


-Presideiit,  George  A.  Triiiiian  ;  Ilecoriler,  ELiianiicl  J.  Fel;;luicr; 
Treasurer,  Eliliu  Cbi|iuiLiu  ;  A.-^sessor,  Clement  Suntb  ;  Cuim- 
cilmcn,  Theodore  C.  Downini;,  Albert  AV.  Olds,  Charles  C. 
Wolcutt ;  School  Inspector,  L.  Fnizicr  MeCorniiek. 

-President,  Lemuel  Smith;  Recorder,  Emanuel  J.  Feighuer; 
Treasurer,  Conrad  Clever;  Assessor,  Lewis  Durkce  ;  Coun- 
cihnen,  Dan  Ilalbcrt,  Dewitt  C.  Griffith,  Andrew  J.  Hardy  ; 
School  Inspector,  Elihu  Cbipman. 

-President,  I>ewitt  0.  Griffith;  Recorder,  Emanuel  J.  Feigh- 
uei';  Treasurer,  Conrad  Clever;  Assessor,  Lewis  Durkee  ; 
Councilmen,  Emoiy  Parady,  Benjamin  F.  Reynolds,  Henry 
Roe. 

-President,  Calvin  Alnswortb;  Recorder,  George  W .  Fraucis; 
Treasurer,  A.  R.  Woicott  ;  As^sessor,  Lewis  Duikce:  Coun- 
cilmen, Herbert  IM.  Lee,  George  A.  Truman,  Eugene  Cook. 

-President,  Elibu  Cbipman ;  Recorder,  Charles  II.  Brady ; 
Treasurer,  James  Fleming;  Assessor,  Lewis  Durkee;  Coun- 
cilmen, W.  H.  Young,  L.  J.  Wheeler,  H.  A.  Barber. 

-President,  William  Killen  ;  Recorder,  Emanuel  J.  Fcigbuer  : 
Treasurer,  Herbert  M.Lee;  Assessor,  John  Barry;  Couu- 
cilmen,  T.  C.  Downing,  Albert  AV.  Olds,  Henry  Roe. 


BIOGRATHICAL    SKETCHES. 


WILLIAM    CRABB. 

William  Crabb  was  born  iti  Plymoutb,  England,  Feb.  C, 
1805.  His  father,  Edward  Crabb,  was  a  stone-mason,  and 
reared  a  family  of  nine  children,  William  being  the  eldest. 


WILLIAM    CKAIiB. 

At  the  age  of  nine  he  was  apprenticed  to  a  farmer,  who 
was  more  of  a  brute  than  a  man.  He  was  obliged  to  toil 
from  morning  until  night,  and  was  treated  with  such 
brutality  that  he  ran  away  and  bound  himself  to  a  stone- 
cutter;  he  acquired  the  trade,  which  he  followed  until  his 
emigration  to  America,  in  1831.  With  him  came  his 
mother,  brothers  and  sisters,  and  relatives,  to  the  number 


of  nineteen.  Their  original  intention  was  to  settle  in  Bal- 
timore, but  they  were  induced  to  change  their  destination, 
and  came  to  iVewport,  II.  I.,  where  Jlr.  Crabb  obtained 
employment  upon  the  fortifications  of  Fort  Adams.  Here 
he  remained  two  years.  In  1837  he  went  to  Boston 
with  his  fiimily,  and  was  there  engaged  in  the  construc- 
tion of  Forts  Warren  and  Independence.  He  remained 
in  Boston  ten  years,  when  he  became  so  broken  down  by 
hard  labor  that  he  decided  to  try  his  fortune  in  Mioiiigan 
as  [I  farmer.  In  1847  ho  started  for  the  West,  and  arrived 
in  Castleton  September  20th.  He  then  purchased  the 
farm  on  which  he  now  resides.  He  suffered  many  priva- 
tions, and  four  years  had  the  fever  and  ague.  But  his 
pluck  and  perseverance  overcame  all  obstacles,  and  he  has 
secured  a  fine  home  and  a  competency.  Mr.  Crabb  has 
been  twice  married:  first,  in  1834,  to  Miss  Maria  Law- 
rence; she  was  born  in  Carlisle,  Fjngland,  in  1805,  and 
died  in  1861.  In  1862  ho  was  again  married,  to  3Irs. 
Fiances  Burdick,  of  Ilutland  ;  she  died  in  1875.  Throe 
children  have  graced  their  home  circle,  viz. :  the  first-born, 
a  daughter,  died  at  the  age  of  five  years;  William  J.,  at 
the  age  of  twenty-one  went  into  the  army  as  a  member  of 
Company  C,  Twenty-First  Regiment,  Michigan  Volunteer 
Infantry,  was  shot  four  times  at  the  battle  of  Stone  River, 
Tenn.,  and  died  at  the  hospital  in  Nashville,  Feb.  9,  1863  ; 
and  George,  now  living  on  the  old  homestead. 


THOMAS    BLASDEL, 

one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  town  of  Castleton,  was  born  in 
Genoa,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  12,  1815.  His  father, 
Medad  Blasdel,  was  a  farmer  of  limited  means,  and  unable 
to  give  his  children  but  slight  educational  advantages. 
Thomas,  however,  acquired  such  an  education  as  the  district 
school  of  that  day  afforded,  and  remained  with  his  father 
upon  the  farm  until  he  attained  his  majority,  when  he  ac- 
quired the  trade  of  a  miller,  which  calling  he  followed  for 
several  years.  In  1837  he  decided  to  try  his  fortunes  in 
IMichigan,  and  in  the  spring  of  that  year  came  to  Ply- 
mouth, Wayne  Co.,  where  he  entered  the  employ  of  a  miller 
by  the  name  of  Holbrook,  with  whom  he  remained  three 
j'ears.  He  then  returned  East,  and  the  following  year 
was  married  to  Miss  Alice  Hall.  In  1846  he  returned  to 
jMichigan  and  settled  upon  the  farm  where  he  now  resides. 
The  farm  was  entirely  new,  and  during  the  fall  he  erected 
a  comfortable  log  house,  and  the  following  spring  he  built 
a  barn.  The  land  was  heavily  timbered,  and  the  improve- 
ment of  a  farm  was  a  work  of  no  small  magnitude ;  but  by 
degrees  field  after  field  was  added,  and  Mr.  Blasdel  is  now 
rewarded  for  the  years  of  toil  and  privation  in  the  posses- 
sion of  a  fine  home  and  one  of  the  most  productive  and 
valuable  farms  in  the  county.  In  1861  his  first  wife  died, 
and  in  1865  he  was  again  married^  to  Miss  Charlotte  Bur- 
dick. In  1867  he  was  again  left  a  widower,  and  he  mar- 
ried Mrs.  Phemie  Gillis.  She  died  in  1878,  and  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Bertha  D.  Bock.  Mr.  Blasdel  has  made  a 
reputation  for  integrity  and  honorable  dealing,  and  is  every- 
where known  as  a  successful  farmer  and  a  valuable  citizen. 


CASTLETON  TOWNSHIP. 


431 


LYCURGUS   J.  WHEELER. 


Lycurgus  J.  Wheeler,  the  pioneer  merchant  of  Nashville, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Wheeler,  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb. 
9, 1830.    The  Wheeler  family  are  of  Scotch-Irish  extraction, 
a  combination  of  national  characteristics,  energy,  and  intel- 
lectual ability  that  has  done  much  for  the  advancement  of 
civilization  and  the  best  interests  of  society.     But  little  is 
known  of  the  family  history  previous  to  their  emigration  to 
Steuben  from  Saratoga  County,  where  they  were  a  promi- 
nent family.    Jonas  Wheeler,  grandfather  of  the  subject  of 
this  biography,  came  from    Saratoga   and   settled   in  the 
town  which  was  afterwards  named  in  honor  of  his  brother 
Silas,  who  settled  in  the  township  a  few  years  earlier.     He 
was  a  man  of  wealth,  and  for  many  years  one  of  Steuben's 
most  prominent  citizens.     He  reared  a  family  of  twenty- 
two  children.     Asa  Wheeler,  hiS  son  and  father  of  Lycur- 
gus J.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Galaway,  Saratoga  Co., 
Oct.  8,  1797.     He  married  Miss  Henrietta,  daughter  of 
Isaiah  Betts,  who  was  an  officer  in  the  Revolution.     He 
came  to  Steuben  with  his  father,  and  was  also  one  of  its 
leading  citizens.     In  1834  he  came  to  Michigan  on  a  tour 
of  observation,  and,  being  favorably  impressed  with  the 
country,  returned  East  and  the  following  year  (1835)  came 
back  and  settled  in  the  township  of  Saline,  Washtenaw  Co., 
where  he  followed  his  trade,  that  of  a  shoemaker,  until 
his  removal  to  Woodland,  in  1842.     Here  he  resided  until 
1866.     During  this  time  he  identified  himself  largely  with 
the  growth  and  development  of  the  town.     He  was  its  first 
magistrate,  a  position  he  filled  creditably  for  twenty  years. 
He  took  an  active  part  in  political  matters,  and  was  an 
exemplary  member  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church. 


Lycurgus  J.  obtained  an  academical  education,  which  he 
made  practically  useful  to  himself  and  others  by  teaching. 
This  avocation  he  followed,  in  connection  with  farming, 
until  1861,  when  he  entered  the  army  as  a  member  of  the 
Sixth  Michigan  Cavalry.  After  a  period  of  active  service 
he  was  detailed  for  clerical  duty  at  Gen.  Copeland's  head- 
quarters, where  he  remained  until  1863,  when  he  returned 
home  on  recruiting  service. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Wheeler  returned  to  Wood- 
land ;  the  following  year  he  disposed  of  his  property  and 
came  to  Nashville,  where  he  established  one  of  the  first 
stores  in  the  place.  He  has  since  prosecuted  a  success- 
ful business  in  merchandising,  and  has  identified  himself 
largely  with  the  growth  and  development  of  the  village. 
He  has  taken  the  initiative  in  all  religious  and  educational 
enterprises,  and  has  done  much  in  building  up  and  ad- 
vancing the  best  interests  of  society.  In  May,  1860,  Mr. 
Wheeler  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  J.,  daughter  of  Reu- 
ben Haight,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Woodland.  She  died 
in  1863,  and  he  was  again  married,  Dec.  26,  1865,  to 
Mary  J.  Ellis,  of  Hastings.  She  died  Dec.  20,  1874,  and 
Sept.  10,  1876,  he  married  Mrs.  Maria  I.  McNab,  of  Big 
Rapids. 

Nashville  is  largely  indebted  to  Mr.  Wheeler  for  the 
public  spirit  and  enterprise  he  has  evinced  in  its  behalf, 
aud  among  its  leading  citizens  he  occupies  a  prominent  posi- 
tion. He  takes  decided  grounds  on  the  subject  of  political 
prohibition,  and  was  the  nominee  of  the  Prohibition  party 
for  the  Legislature  for  the  eastern  district  of  Barry  County 
in  1878. 


HASTINGS/ 


The  civil  township  of  Hastings,  from  the  subdivision  of 
the  old  township  of  that  name,  on  the  16th  day  of  Febru- 
ary, 1842,-("  until  the  formation  of  the  city  of  Hastings,  on 
the  11th  day  of  March,  1871,  was  identical  with  survey- 
township  No.  3  north,  in  range  8  west.  It  now  comprises 
the  whole  of  that  territory  except  what  is  included  in  the 
city  just  mentioned.  It  is  bounded  north  by  Carlton,  east 
by  Castleton,  south  by  Baltimore,  and  west  by  Rutland  and 
the  city  of  Hastings,  which  cuts  out  sections  7,  8, 13,  and 
14,  and  parts  of  sections  16,  19,  20,  and  21. 

The  Thornapple  River  flows  through  the  township  from 
southeast  to  west  in  a  sinuous  course,  and  close  beside  it 
runs  the  Grand  River  Valley  Railroad,  commonly  known 
as  the  Grand  Rapids  division  of  the  Michigan  Central 
road.  On  this  thoroughfare  there  is  one  station  within 
the  township,  which  bears  the  name  of  Quimby.  The 
township  is  a  productive  agricultural  district,  containing 
many  excellent  farms  and  wealthy  farmers. 

THE  PIONEER  SETTLERS. 

The  first  settlers  in  Hastings,  outside  the  village,  were 
James  and  Daniel  McLellan,  two  brothers,  who,  in  the 
years  1837  and  1838,  penetrated  the  wilderness  south  of 
the»  Thornapple,  and  made  their  homes  on  section  27. 
James  had  come  from  New  York  in  1836,  entered  the  land 
for  himself  and  brother,  and  returned  to  the  East.  Late 
in  1837,  Daniel  moved  to  his  place  with  the  family,  fol- 
lowed the  next  spring  by  James.  For  some  time  they 
were  the  only  settlers  in  that  portion  of  the  township, 
being  shut  in  by  dense  woods,  through  which  their  only 
roads  were  such  paths  as  they  themselves  could  make.  Still 
they  were  but  about  three  miles  from  the  little  village  of 
Hastings,  and  were  not  compelled  to  make  such  long  jour- 
neys to  "  mill  and  to  meeting"  as  some  of  the  pioneers. 

Daniel  McLellan  was  for  several  years  a  mail-carrier,  and 
after  an  active  pioneer  experience  died  in  Hastings  village 
in  1865.  His  brother  James  died  on  his  farm  two  years 
after  settling  there.  James  and  John  L.,  sons  of  Daniel, 
also  became  early  settlers  in  the  south  part  of  the  township. 
One  of  Daniel  McLellan's  daughters  married  Willard 
Hays,  a  prominent  pioneer  in  Hastings  village,  and  is  still 
a  resident  of  that  city.  Among  those  to  settle  at  an  early 
day  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  McLellans  were  Ambrose 
Hubbell,  Kirk  Munger,  Mr.   Morley,  and  Mr.    Germon. 


*•  By  David  Schwartz.  As  before  stated,  Hastings  township  has, 
since  the  incorporation  of  the  city  of  that  name,  been  legally  en- 
tirely separate  from  it.  It  is  therefore  given  a  separate  place  in  this 
work.  Of  course,  however,  the  township  oflScera  before  the  sepa- 
ration were  largely  from  the  village  out  of  which  the  city  was  formed. 

■)-  See  Chapter  XIII.  of  the  general  history. 

432 


Ambrose  Hubbell,  who  located  on  section  21,  in  1842,  still 
lives  there. 

In  1846,  Adam  Tinkler,  who  had  become  a  resident  of 
Ohio  in  1836,  came  into  the  township  on  a  land-looking 
tour,  and  concluded  to  locate  in  it.  He  accordingly  traded 
his  outfit  of  horses,  wagon,  and  harness  for  120  acres  of 
land  on  section  28,  which  was  then  a  wilderness.  The 
only  house  between  his  location  and  Battle  Creek  was  that 
of  Mr.  Bristol,  in  Johnstown,  while  on  the  northwest 
his  nearest  neighbor  was  Ambrose  Hubbell. 

Directly  after  Mr.  Tinkler  made  his  settlement,  his  father, 
John  Tinkler,  and  his  brothers  William,  Thomas,  John  0., 
Martin,  and  Joseph,  came  froin  Ohio,  and  made  their  homes 
in  the  neighborhood.  Mr.  John  Tinkler  died  in  1860,  on 
the  place  where  he  first  settled,  on  section  21.  Thomas 
and  John  0.,  who  located  on  section  21,  now  live  in  Hast- 
ings city ;  Martin  bought  a  place  on  the  same  section,  and 
still  resides  there  ;  William  took  up  his  residence  in  Hast- 
ings village,  and  has  since  made  his  home  there;  Adam 
lives  on  section  21 ;  and  Joseph,  who  resided  with  his  father 
until  the  death  of  the  latter,  has  a  farm  on  section  21.  It  is 
a  circumstance  worthy  of  remark  that  of  the  six  brothers 
who  began  their  pioneer  experiences  together -thirty-five 
years  ago,  all  are  still  living  and  are  near  neighbors,  as  they 
were  at  the  outset. 

Ephraim  Shattuck,  now  resident  on  section  23,  came  to 
Hastings  from  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  the  fall  of  1844,  ia 
response  to  the  persuasions  of  Seymour  Andrus,  who  had 
been  his  neighbor  in  New  York,  and  who  had  located  in 
Hastings  the  same  autumn.  Mr.  Shattuck  leased  Lewis 
McLellan's  place  (now  the  poor-farm)  directly  after  coming, 
having  for  neighbors  Daniel  McLellan  on  the  south  and  a 
Mr.  Hutchinson  on  the  west,  while  about  two  miles  east 
were  the  families  of  Stephen  Robinson  and  Eliphalet  Hyde, 
who  had  come  in  together  from  New  York  in  1842.  North 
of  Mr.  Shattuck's  place  the  country  was  a  wilderness,  into 
which  there  soon  after  came  the  Pierson  family,  Almon 
Covey,  John  Fisher,  and  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Cook.  C. 
B.  Benham,  a  pioneer  from  Ohio,  now  occupies  the  place 
settled  by  Stephen  Robinson  in  1842  on  section  25. 

In  that  neighborhood  Adam  Sponable  and  his  son  Isaac 
(early  settlers  in  Ohio)  made  a  location,  in  1857,  on  section 
27.  Washington  Sponable,  another  son,  came  out  in  1859, 
and  in  1861  the  two  brothers  made  separate  settlements 
of  their  own  in  the  neighborhood  where  James  Lewis, 
John  Althouse,  H.  Hardy,  and  Elam  Crook  had  already 
located.  S.  J.  Bidleman,  a  Branch  County  pioneer,  came 
to  Hastings  about  the  time  the  Sponables  did,  and  made 
his  home  on  section  34.  E.  D.  Reid  located  in  Baltimore 
township  in  1855,  and  in  1857  moved  to  his  present  home, 
on  the  same  section.     North  of  him  was  John  Francisco, 


HASTINGS  TOWNSHIP. 


433 


while  on  the  west  his  nearest  neighbors  were  John  and 
Gottleib  Oberle. 

David  N.  Lake  came  from  Seneca  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1863, 
and  bought  a  place  on  section  33,  being  induced  thereto  by 
his  son-in-law,  Daniel  Reed,  who  a  few  years  before  had 
migrated  to  Hastings  village  to  follow  his  trade  as  a  carpen- 
ter, and  who  in  1864  settled  upon  a  farm  on  section  33 
where  he  now  lives.  Porter  Burton,  a  member  of  the  Legis- 
lature during  the  session  of  1879,  located  in  Jackson 
County  in  1842,  and  in  1856  moved  to  his  present  home, 
on  section  33,  which  was  even  then  in  the  midst  of  a  very 
wild  country.  West  of  Mr.  Burton  lives  Cr.  W.  Gregory, 
a  pioneer  in  Baltimore  township,  and  later  a  new-comer  in 
Hastings.  Adjoining  Gregory's  on  the  west  is  the  Bush 
farm,  earlier  known  as  the  Toms  place,  once  owned  by 
Maj.  Toms,  and  occupied  in  1851  by  Richard  Stillson,  a 
pioneer  in  Lenawee  County  in  1844.  His  son,  J.  W. 
Stillson,  settled  in  1867  upon  a  farm  on  section  28,  pre- 
viously occupied  by  Walter  W.  Kelley.  Ebenezer  Pennock, 
a  settler  in  Kalamazoo  County  in  1844,  moved  to  the  town 
of  Barry  in  1845,  and  to  Hastings  in  1872. 

Seymour  Andrus,  already  spoken  of,  came  to  Hastings 
in  1843,  bought  160  acres  of  Dr.  Hays  on  section  9,  and 
the  following  year  moved  his  family  out  from  New  York. 
On  the  way  he  overtook,  at  Detroit,  Hiram  Greenfield, 
whom  he  persuaded  to  come  on  and  settle  in  Hastings.  At 
the  time  of  Mr.  Andrus'  settlement  he  had  no  neighbors  in 
the  township  either  north  or  northeast  of  him.  The  first  to 
locate  near  him  were  John  Lewis  and  Philander  Turner, 
who  had  been  working  for  a  few  years  as  carpenters  in 
Hastings  village,  and  who,  in  the  spring  of  1845,  moved 
out  upon  farms  close  to  Andrus'  place.  Subsequently  the 
earliest  comers  into  the  neighborhood  were  Edward  Bump, 
Ami  Palmer,  Hawley  Stillson,  William  S.  Meloy,  and  a  Mr. 
Russ.  Upon  section  16  Boyd  Craig  settled  in  1850,  and 
even  at  that  recent  date  found  his  home  in  a  wild  district 
where  now  the  eye  roams  over  a  broad  expanse  of  cultivated 

fields. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  annual  report  of  the  school  inspectors — S.  H.  Bun- 
"ker  and  Marsh  Giddings — for  1842  set  forth  that  there  was 
one  district  in  the  township,  with  an  enrollment  of  35  school 
children,  and  that  school  had  been  kept  seven  months.  A 
report  from  Vespasian  Young,  director  in  school  district 
No.  1,  dated  Oct.  G,  1845,  gave  47  as  the  number  of 
school  children  enrolled,  and  Henry  S.  Jennings,  Phoebe 
Hays,  and  Mary  J.  West  as  the  teachers,  to  whom,  for  six 
months  and  a  half  teaching,  an  aggregate  of  1 18  in  wages 
had  been  paid. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  school  inspectors  was  held  Oct. 
31,  1838,  when  A.  C.  Parmelee  was  chosen  chairman. 
Nov.  3,  1838,  the  inspectors  formed  2  school  districts,  each 
composed  of  9  sections,  and  each  three  miles  square.  No.  1 
included  sections  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9,  16,  17,  and  18,  in  town- 
ship 3.  No.  2  comprised  sections  21,  22,  23,  26,  27,  28, 
^  33,  34,  and  35,  in  township  3.  District  No.  3  was  formed 
in  1839.  Oct.  17,  1839,  district  No.  1  appropriated  $15 
for  a  library-case  and  $10  for  library-books.  A.  C.  Par- 
melee was  librarian,  and  the  library  was  ordered  kept  at 
his  house.  Districts  l{o,  4  ^nd  5  were  organized  Jan.  8, 
&5 


1840 ;  "  No.  9,"  Feb.  6, 1841.  A  new  No.  2  was  organized 
March  10,  1843;  a  new  No.  3,  March  20,  1844;  a  new 
No.  4,  Nov.  12,  1846  ;  and  Jan.  28,  1853,  No.  5  was 
organized,  in  the  north  half  of  section  25,  on  the  petition  of 
seven  Indians  possessing  land  on  section  25. 

The  school  inspectors'  records  show  that  from  Feb.  6, 
1841,  to  May  27,  1854,  the  following  persons  received 
teachers'  certificates;  John  Fowler,  in  1841;  Dameras 
Ellis,  in  1843  ;  Mary  Jane  West  and  W.  T.  Orr,  in  1845  ; 
Sophia  E.  Standish  and  Henrietta  P.  Cooley,  in  1847 ; 
S.  C.  Sprague,  in  1848 ;  Harriet  Pease,  Cordelia  Warner, 

and  I.  S.  Geer,  in  1849  ; Rich,  and  Margaret  Young, 

in  1850  ;  Miss  Johnson,  in  1851  ;  Miss  Morley,  Miss  New- 
ton, Miss  A.  Hawley,  John  Evans,  and  H.  H.  Bement,  in 
1853  ;  Mary  E.  Johnson,  Emeline  Robinson,  and  Miss  Phi- 
lancie  HoUister,  in  1854. 

The  official  report  for  1879  gives  the  following  statistics 
touching  the  township  schools : 

Number  of  districts  (whole,  5;  fraotiooal,  2)...  1 

"  children  of  school  age 387 

Average  attendance 340 

Value  of  property $4350.00 

Teachers' wages $1004.75 

The  school  directors  for  1879  were  S.  Bidleman,  James 
Murray,  Robert  Newton,  Oscar  Matthews,  Morris  Burton, 
Boyd  Craig,  and  James  Cutler. 

QUIMBY  STATION. 
Southeast  of  Hastings  city,  on  the  railway,  is  Quimby 
Station,  once  a  bustling  hamlet,  but  now  of  much  less  im- 
portance. H.  L.  Quimby  moved  thither  from  Grand 
Rapids  in  1872,  erected  a  mammoth  saw-mill,  engaged  a 
force  of  30  or  40  men,  built  a  score  or  more  of  dwelling- 
houses  for  them,  opened  a  store,  caused  a  post-office  to  be 
established  at  that  point,  and,  in  short,  set  out  to  make 
Quimby  a  full-blown  village.  For  two  years  it  thrived 
greatly,  but  at  the  end  of  that  time  the  mill  was  destroyed 
by  fire,  the  prosperity  of  the  place  came  to  a  sudden  halt, 
and,  although  the  post-office  was  continued  there  until  1878, 
when  it  was  removed  to  Sheridan,  the  village  has  never  re- 
covered its  former  position. 

ORGANIZATION  AND  OITICBES. 

Under  a  legislative  act  approved  March  6,  1837,  town- 
ships 3  and  4,  in  ranges  7  and  8,  were  organized  as  the 
township  of  Hastings,  the  name  being  bestowed  in  honor 
of  Eurotas  P.  Hastings,  a  large  land-owner  in  Barry  County. 
An  act  approved  Feb.  16,  1842,  separated  from  Hastings 
three  townships,  and  called  them  respectively  Woodland, 
Carlton,  and  Castleton,  leaving  to  Hastings  the  territory  of 
township  3,  in  range  8. 

The  first  town-meeting  in  Hastings  was  held  at  the  house 
of  Slocum  H.  Bunker,  April  6,  1838.  "A  township 
board  was  chosen  by  electing  Parsons  Rhoads  moderator  or 
judge  of  the  election.  The  meeting  also  elected  Willard 
Hays  clerk  of  the  election."  A  full  list  of  the  officials 
chosen  on  that  occasion  is  herewith  given:  Supervisor, 
Thomas  H.  Bunker ;  Town  Clerk,  Will^fd  Hays ;  Asses- 
sors, E.  R.  Carpenter,  Thomas  S.  Bunker,  and  Willard 
Hays ;  Commissioners  of  Highways,  Slocum  H.  Bunker, 


434 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BAERY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Jared  S.  Rogers,  Nelson  N.  Sprague ;  Collector,  Levi 
Chase,  Jr. ;  School  Inspectors,  John  Kenyon,  Frederick 
Burgess,  and  Thomas  S.  Bunker ;  Constables,  Levi  Chase, 
Jr.,  Harrison  Barnum,  George  W.  Fowler;  Directors  of 
the  Poor,  Levi  Chase,  Jr.,  Nehemiah  Lovcwell ;  Justices 
of  the  Peace,  George  Fuller,  Nelson  N.  Sprague,  A.  C. 
Parmalee,  Slocum  H.  Bunker;  Pathmasters,  John  Ken- 
yon, Slocum  H.  Bunker;  Fence- Viewers,  Levi  Chase, 
Jr.,  Harrison  Wickham,  Zebulon  Barnum.  The  poll-list 
for  1838  has  been  lost,  but  the  list  for  1839  has  been  pre- 
served, and  from  that  we  have  taken  the  names  of  the 
voters  in  the  town  that  year,  as  follows,  the  number  being 
sixty-one : 


Timothy  Loughead. 
Gamaliel  Ingham. 
Jonathan  Ilaigbt. 
James  McLellan. 
A.  C.  Parmelee. 
William  Hager. 
Israel  Cooper. 
Elisha  R.  Carpenter. 
Thomas  S.  Bunker. 
Alexander  McArthur. 
Hiram  J.  Kenfield. 
E.  C.  Johnson. 
Allen  B.  Cooper. 
Jesse  Townsend. 
Willard  Hays. 
Elihu  Covey. 
John  Potts. 
Moses  Durkee. . 
John  Jordan. 
Charles  Galloway. 
Norman  Doolittle. 
Zebulon  Barnum. 
Pbineas  Coe. 
Seth  Hull. 
Joseph  Baboock. 
Slooum  H.  Bunker. 
Daniel  MoLellan. 
Samuel  Wickham. 
William  A.  Moore. 
Lyman  R.  Covey. 

Appended  will  be  found  the 
Dually  from  1839  to  1880  to 
treasurers,  and  justices  of  the 


Stephen  Barnum. 
John  L.  McLellan. 
Nelson  N.  Sprague. 
Stephen  Riggs. 
Almon  Covey. 
David  Townsend. 
Ansel  Seeley. 
Levi  Chase. 
Lofenzo  Mudge. 
Henry  Smith. 
James  Gilson. 
Isaac  Messer. 
Otis  Racey. 
Diramock  Bennet. 
Jared  Rodgers. 
Henry  Dake. 
Nehemiah  Lovewell. 
Richard  Macauley. 
Harrison  Wickham. 
Hiram  Wood. 
William  P.  Wilkinson. 
George  AV.  Powler. 
S.  Haight. 
M.  C.  Barnum. 
George  Fuller. 
James  Gilson,  Jr. 
J.  W.  Stewart. 
Center  Blood. 
Levi  Chase,  Jr. 
Henry  H.  Rush. 

names  of  those  chosen  an- 
serve  as  supervisors,  clerks, 
peace : 


SUPERVISORS. 
1839,  Thos.T.  Bunker;  1840,  no  record;  1 841,  Willard  Hayes;  1842- 
43,  A.  C.  Parmelee;  1844,  II.  A.  Goodyear;  1S46,  Wm.  Upjohn  : 
1846,  Willard  Hays;  1847,  Vespasian  Young;  1848-49,  Daniel 
Cook;  1850,  II.  LKnappen;  1851,  W.S.  Goodyear;  1852,  A.  W. 
Railey;  185,3,  N.  Barlow,  Jr.;  1854,  D.  G.Robinson;  1855,  6.  W. 
Mills;  1866-57,  O.B.Sheldon;  1858,  R.  B.  Wightman  ;  1859,  J.  P. 
Roberts;  1860-62,  D.  G.  Robinson;  1863,  W.  Hays;  1864,  J.  W. 
Stebbins;  1S65,  George  H.  Keith;  1866,  D.  Striker;  1867,  H.  A. 
Goodyear;  1868,  S.  J.  Bidleman;  1869,  D.  G.  Robinson;  1870, 
D.  R.  Cook;  1871-77,  P.  Brown;  1878,  H.  G.  Carter;  1879,  0. 
Matthews. 

CLERKS. 

1839,  Willard  Hays;  1840,  no  record;  1841,  H.  A.  Goodyear;  1842, 
H.  I.  Knappen;  1843,  II.  S.  Jennings;  1844,  I.  A.  Holbrook; 
1845,  D.  H.  Daniels;  1846,  W.  S.  Goodyear;  1847,  A.  AV.Bailey; 
1848,  Willard  Hays  ;  1849,  W.  S.  Goodyear;  1850,  G.  W.  Mills; 
1851,  L  S.  Geer;  1852,  G.  W.  Mills;  1863,  N.  S.  Palmer;  1854, 
G.  A.  Smith;  1855,  II.  Edgcomb;  1856,  Willard  Hays;  1857-58, 
A.  W.  Atkins;  1859-60,  J.  AV.  Bentley;  1861,  Julius  Russell; 
1862-63,  J.  S.  Goodyear;  1864,  F.  D.  Acklcy;  1865,  R.  Mudge; 
1866-67,  George  Rice;  1868,  J.W.Bentley;  1869,  B.  Main  ;  1870, 
C.  E. Barlow;  1871,  0.  M.  Moon;  1872-73, W.  H.  Merrick;  1874 


-75,  E.  H.  Lake;  1876,  E.  Pierce;  1877,  S.  E.  Phillips;  1878 
-79,  W.  H.  Merrick. 

TREASURERS. 
1839,  James  MoLellan;  1840,  no  record;  1841,  H.  A.  Goodyear;  1842, 
A.  W.  Bailey;  1843-44,  AVillard  Hays;  1845-46,  George  Fuller; 
1847,  H.  J.  Kenfleld;  1848,  A.  W.  Bailey  ;  1849-50,  W.  H.  Ken- 
field;  1861-52,W.K.  Ferris;  1853,  J.  Y.  McLellan;  1854,  W.  K. 
Ferris;  1855,  Z.  Sidmore;  1856,  R.  Boss;  1857,  I.  S.  Geer;  1858 
-59,  G.  P.  Baker;  1860,  AVilliara  Barlow;  1861,  J.  W.  Stebbins; 
1862,  II.  J.  Kenfield;  1863-64,  D.  R.  MoElvain  ;  1865,  A.  R. 
Hall;  1806,  D.  E.  Birdsell;  1867-68,  H.  M.  Merrit;  1869-70,  J. 
Bessmer;  1871,  H.  M.  Merrit;  1872,  Eber  Lake;  1873,  H.  M. 
Merrit;  1874-76,  R.  P.  Brown;  1877,  D.  E.  Birdsell;  1878,  J. 
Townsend. 

JUSTICES   OF   THE   PEACE. 

1839,  P.  Coe;  1840,  no  record;  1841,  E.  R.  Carpenter;  1842,  H.  J. 
Kenfield;  184.3,  D.  H.  Daniels;  1844,  W.  W.Ralph  ;  1845,  H.  S. 
Jennings;  1846,  Hiram  Greenfield;  1847,  Daniel  Cook;  1848,  H. 
Bidwell;  1849,  L.  W.  Hitchcock;  1850,  E.  D.  Alden;  1851,  0.  N. 
Boltwood;  1852,  Daniel  Cook;  1853,  William  Burgher;  1854,  L. 
Maltby;  1855,  G.  A.  Smith;  1856,  C.  G.  Holbrook;  1857,  Daniel 
Cook;  1858,  AVilliam  Barlow;  1859,  William  H.  Burgher;  1860, 
George  A.  Smith;  1861,  Daniel  Cook;  1862,  P.  Brown;  1863, 
AVilliam  Burgher;  1864,  J.  W.  Buckle;  1865,  L  S.  Geer;  1866, 
J.  W.  T.  Orr;  1867,  D.  Cook. 

CHUECH   OP   CHIilST  IN  HASTINGS. 

This  organization,  having  a  church  edifice  in  the  north- 
east corner  of  the  township,  was  formed  in  1875,  with  20 
members.  The  church  building  was  dedicated  January, 
1877.  Rev.  0.  S.  Barnes,  the  first  pastor,  remained  four 
years,  and  was  followed  by  Rev.  John  Grice,  now  in  charge, 
who  preaches  once  in  four  weeks.  The  membership  is  now 
about  35.  William  Smith,  B.  F.  Wolf,  James  Farrell,  A. 
I.  Barnum,  and  Dexter  Sprague  are  the  trustees ;  William 
Smith,  Levi  Cotton,  and  Leonidas  Farrell  the  deacons; 
and  B.  F.  Wolf  and  James  Farrell  the  elders. 

B.  F.  Wolf  is  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school, 
which  has  an  average  attendance  of  50,  and  employs  the 
services  of  six  teachers. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH. 


GEORGE  WHITNEY. 

George  Whitney  was  born  in  the  town  of  Parma,  Cuya- 
hoga Co.,  Ohio,  April  12, 1828.  He  was  the  son  of  Joseph 
Whitney,  and  was  reared  on  a  farm,  obtaining  a  common- 
school  education.  Upon  attaining  his  majority  he  com- 
menced life  for  himself.  In  1837  the  family  came  to 
Michigan  and  settled  in  Jackson  County,  where  the  elder 
Whitney  purchased  a  farm.  Here  he  resided  six  years ; 
then  came  to  Carlton,  where  he  resided  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1875.  •  Mr.  Whitney's  first  venture  in 
business  was  in  manufacturing  shingles  ;  he  then  went  into 
a  saw-mill,  in  which  vocation  he  became  an  expert ;  for 
eleven  years  he  was  in  the  employ  of  Ryerson  &  Hills, 
proprietors  of  the  Bay  Mill,  at  Muskegon  ;  he  worked  for 
this  firm  eleven  years  without  the  loss  of  a  day.  In  1876 
he  came  to  Hastings,  and  purchased  the  farm  on  which  he 
now  resides,  a  view  of  which  we  present  on  another  page. 
In  1854  he  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  McMannes,  of 
Grand  Rapids;  they  have  an  interesting  family  of  eight 
children. 


HOP  e; 


Hope  is  a  township  of  lakes  and  liills.  Of  the  former 
there  are  thirty-six,  and  of  the  latter  a  legion.  Although 
a  majority  of  the  so-called  lakes  are  no  more  than  good- 
sized  ponds,  at  least  four  of  them  are  handsome  sheets  of 
water,  covering  considerable  territory.  Wall  Lake  in  the 
southwest  is  a  picturesque  object,  and  rests  in  the  midst  of 
an  attractive  bit  of  country.  Its  waters,  extending  over  fully 
700  acres,  are  deep  and  clear  and  well  stocked  with  bass, 
pickerel,  etc.  Long  Lake,  Mud  Lake,  Gurnsey  (or  Gran- 
ger) Lake,  and  Big  Cedar  Lake  are  worthy  of  notice,  both 
in  respect  to  size  and  the  possession  of  great  numbers  of 
fish.  Anglers  from  afar  off  favor  these  localities,  and, 
while  the  fisherman  finds  in  Hope  much  sport  to  entertain 
him,  the  people  of  the  township  enjoy  a  plentiful  supply  of 
finny  specimens,  to  be  had  almost  for  the  asking,  at  their 
very  doors.  These  lakes  were  boons  to  the  early  settlers  in 
Hope,  since  fish  were  exceedingly  plentiful  and  the  larder 
was  therefore  easily  and  cheaply  filled.  In  such  a  region 
fish  stories  are  of  course  too  numerous  to  mention,  and  the 
tales  one  hears  of  wonderful  fish  having  been  caught  in 
some  of  the  lakes  would  fill  a  good-sized  volume.  It  is, 
however,  true  that  pickerel  and  bass  of  thirty  and  even  forty 
pounds  in  weight  have  been  caught  in  Big  Cedar  Lake. 
Although  such  ponderous  specimens  have  not  latterly  been 
taken,  there  are  those  who  will  testify  that  a  pickerel  of 
twenty  or  twenty-five  pounds  is  not  an  uncommon  catch. 

It  is  argued,  and  with  some  show  of  reason,  that  the 
presence  of  so  much  water  in  the  town  materially  moderates 
the  temperature  of  the  locality,  and  that  for  that  reason 
peaches  may  be  as  successfully  and  extensively  cultivated  as 
on  the  shores  of  Lake  Michigan.  Indeed,  in  some  portions 
of  the  town  there  has  been  something  of  an  awakening  on 
the  subject  of  peach-culture,  but  the  general  verdict  ap- 
pears to  be  that,  although  the  town  is  well  adapted  for 
growing  peaches,  the  business  is  not  likely  to  be  pushed  to 
any  great  extent  until  rapid  transit  by  railway  becomes  a 
reality.  Such  a  convenience  was  at  one  time  promised,  and 
came  very  near  to  realization  in  the  proposed  narrow-gauge 
road  of  the  Kalamazoo,  Lowell  and  Northern  Michigan 
Railroad  Company.  The  company  obtained  in  Hope,  from 
private  subscriptions,  several  thousands  of  dollars,  and  in- 
deed graded  the  road  through  Hope,  from  southwest  and 
northeast,  but  just  then  the  project  stopped  for  lack  of  fur- 
ther support,  and  in  that  somewhat  chaotic  condition  re- 
mains to-day ;  likely,  however,  at  no  distant  time  to  be 
revived  and  carried  forward  to  successful  completion. 

Hope  sadly  needs  railway-transportation  facilities,  for  the 
country  is  so  exceedingly  hilly,  and  part  of  it  so  far  from 
the  nearest  market-town,  that  the  task  of  conveying  his  pro- 


»  By  David  Schwartz. 


ducts  to  market  is  to  the  farmer  a  very  tedious  and  tire- 
some one.  It  is,  however,  esteemed  a  good  wheat-town, 
and  produces  not  only  a  fine  average  yield  to  the  acre,  but 
so  excellent  a  quality  of  winter  wheat  that  at  some  pur- 
chasing points  it  is  preferred  to  wheat  from  many  other 
localities  in  Barry  County.  The  early  settlers  found  the 
town  generally  covered  with  heavy  timber,  with  here  and 
there  oak-openings.  There  is  considerable  timber  and 
swamp-land  in  the  town  to-day,  but  within  the  past  five 
years  a  great  deal  of  clearing  has  been  effected,  and  that 
work  is  now  going  rapidly  and  briskly  forward. 

Hope  consists  of  townships  2  north,  range  9  west,  and  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Rutland,  south  by  Barry,  east  by 
Baltimore,  and  west  by  Orangeville.  It  has  one  village, 
called  Cedar  Creek,  where  there  is  a  post-office  and  the 
only  church-building  in  the  township. 

THE  PIONEERS   OF  HOPE. 

Hope  was  not  particularly  calculated  to  attract  the  West- 
ern pioneer  while  other  more  desirable  towns  lay  open 
to  the  hand  of  the  horny-palmed  sons  of  toil,  for  it  was 
a  rough  and  miry  land  in  many  places.  It  remained,  there- 
fore, utterly  untenanted,  save  by  the  red  man,  until  the 
year  1840,  when  David  Bowker  led  the  way  to  its  un- 
broken wilds  and  effected  a  settlement  upon  section  3G. 
Although  the  only  settler  in  Hope  for  about  two  years,  he 
was,  nevertheless,  near  to  other  settlers  south  of  him,  and 
in  the  matter  of  neighbors  was  not  badly  off.  He  and 
his  family  were  the  only  occupants  of  Hope  until  the  year 
1842,  when  there  came  accessions  in  the  families  of  John 
Southard  and  his  son  Amasa,  the  former  making  a  be- 
ginning on  section  31,  along  the  town-line,  and  the  latter 
just  north  of  that  point.  The  Southards  remained  until 
1846,  when  John  sold  to  Hiram  Tillotson  and  Amasa 
to  Alvin  Graves,  both  removing  to  Van  Buren  County. 
The  John  Southard  place  was  occupied  in  1868  by  Joseph 
Burge,  an  emigrant  to  Barry  in  1846,  and  jaow  a  resident  of 
Orangeville.  Shortly  after  the  appearance  in  Hope  of  the 
Southards  came  Jeckanias  Mott  to  section  35.  Similarly, 
all  of  Hope's  early  settlers,  hesitating  to  venture  into  the 
interior,  pitched  their  tents  close  to  or  upon  the  southern 
town-line,  where  they  could  be  within  convenient  distance 
of  each  other.  After  1844  people  began  to  move  in  more 
freely, — slowly  at  first,  but  presently  in  considerable  num- 
bers,— although  settlement  was  exceedingly  backward  in 
every  part  of  the  township. 

In  1847  the  settlement  in  Hope  was  increased  by  the 
arrival  of  the  Campbells,  a  New  York  family,  consisting  of 
the  father  (James),  mother,  and  twelve  children.  Campbell 
had  bought  120  acres  on  section  25,  and  on  that  place  he 
lived  until  his  death,  in  1857.     There  were  already  in  the 

435 


436 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


town,  when  Campbell  came,  the  families  of  David  Bowker 
on  section  36,  Jeckanias  Mott  on  section  35,  Alvin  Graves 
on  section  26,  Harry.  B.  Day  on  25,  and  Hiram  Tillotson 
on  31.  Directly  after  the  Campbells  came  J.  Q.  A.  John- 
son, Isaac  Le  Grange,  Thomas  V.  Robinson,  John  Larrabee, 
George  W.  Baird,  Simeon  Kingsbury,  Leman  Chamberlain, 
John  Russell,  Tunis  Russell,  Alson  Russell,  Silas  Bowker, 
Peter  Russell,  J.  H.  Parks,  and  Solon  Dowd. 

Jeckanias  Mott,  above  mentioned,  died  in  1847,  and  was 
buried  in  the  Barry  cemetery.  His  death  is  believed  to 
have  been  the  first  in  Hope.  Isaac  Graves,  who  died  in 
1848,  was  the  first  one  buried  in  the  cemetery  on  section 
36,  where  David  Bowker  had  donated  an  acre  for  a  burial- 
ground.  Thomas  Baird,  a  son  of  George  W.  Baird,  was  the 
first  white  child  born  in  town,  and  Charlotte,  a  daughter  of 
Alvin  Graves,  the  first  female  child,  but  the  date  of  the 
birth  of  neither  one  can  now  be  given. 

PRAYING  INDIAKS. 
About  the  time  William  Campbell  came  to  the  township 
a  good  many  Indians  in  that  portion  of  the  country  were 
taken  with  a  religious  fever,  and  were  carefully  converted 
by  Bradley  and  Slater,  Indian  missionaries,  who  were  located 
on  Gull  Prairie,  but  who  moved  here  and  there  as  occa- 
sion pointed  the  way,  to  save  the  souls  of  the  savages.  Cer- 
tain of  the  Indians  who  had  sat  under  the  persuasive  teach- 
ings of  Bradley  and  Slater  until  they  had  become  thoroughly 
good  and  pious  set  out  to  carry  on  the  good  work  among 
themselves  unaided.  In  furtherance  of  that  plan  they  in- 
augurated prayer-meeting  exercises  whenever  in  camp,  and 
especially  upon  their  camping-ground,  near  Cedar  Creek, 
their  devotional  enthusiasm  was  quite  extraordinary.  To 
these  prayer-meetings  they  frequently  invited  the  whites, 
and  always  counted  upon  seeing  William  Campbell  and 
wife,  near  whose  house  their  camps  were  laid,  and  with 
whom  they  maintained  pleasant  friendly  relations. 

HAED  TIMES. 

Hard  times  came  upon  the  pioneers  of  Hope  frequently 
enough,  and  particularly  hard  were  the  times  encountered 
during  the  winter.  It  was  often  said,  in  jest,  that  was, 
that  if  a  man  wintered  so  that  he  could  in  the  spring 
pull  a  leek  out  of  the  ground  without  falling  over  back- 
wards, he  had  wintered  exceedingly  well.  It  was  also  a 
common  understanding  that  for  a  certain  period  in  early 
spring,  just  after  the  breaking  up  of  winter,  the  entire 
population  of  the  township  had  no  time  to  do  anything  ex- 
cept to  pull  cattle  out  of  the  mire  and  swamps.  Money  was 
scarce,  and,  as  there  wasn't  much  in  the  way  of  opportu- 
nity to  earn  it  at  home,  many  settlers  would  go  miles  to 
work  for  somebody  that  had  cash,  or  they  would  be  glad  to 
work  even  for  some  one  who  could  pay  them  in  pork,  which 
was  gladly  carried  home  over  an  eight  or  ten  mile  pedestrian 
journey.  C.  P.  Larrabee,  the  pioneer  storekeeper  of  the 
township,  says  he  has  many  a  time  walked  to  Battle  Creek 
for  a  supply  of  groceries  for  his  store,  and  walked  home 
again  with  his  stock  upon  his  back.  Lem  Thomas,  a 
maker  of  corn-baskets,  used  to  foot  it  to  Yorkville,  four- 
teen miles,  with  a  load  of  corn-baskets  clinging  to  him,  and 
foot  it  back  again  with  a  60-pound  bag  of  flour  as  his  re- 


turn-load. The  mail-carriers  between  Cedar  Creek  and 
Yorkville  not  only  carried  the  mail  afoot,  but  were  daily 
charged  with  commissions  from  Hope  people  to  bring  up 
packages  and  all  sorts  of  things ;  and  veracious  men  even 
tell  the  incredible  story  that  on  one  occasion  a  mail-carrier 
went  so  far  as  to  lug  over  a  keg  of  nails  for  a  modest  mem- 
ber of  the  settlement. 

LATER   SETTLERS. 

William  Peake  and  John  Brainard,  his  father-in-law, 
came  to  Hope  in  February,  1854,  and  girdled  a  few  trees 
on  160  acres  in  sections  14  and  15,  which  Brainard  had 
taken  up  on  a  soldier's  land-warrant,  issued  to  him  by  virtue 
of  his  services  in  the  war  of  1812,  in  which  he  was  en- 
gaged for  a  space  of  eighteen  months.  They  came  back 
again  in  June  and  made  a  clearing,  and  in  November  of 
the  same  year  brought  their  families  to  the  place.  The  only 
settler  they  found  in  their  neighborhood  upon  their  coming, 
in  1854,  was  Emory  Wilkins,  who  had  pre-empted  a  piece 
of  land  just  east  of  them.  Their  nearest  neighbor  on  the 
northeast  was  Thomas  Barber,  in  Baltimore.  South,  the 
nearest  was  J.  N.  Chandler,  two  miles  away.  The  nearest 
road  on  the  south  was  the  one  at  Chandler's,  and  on  the  east 
the  one  to  Hastings,  which  they  couldn't  reach  under  a 
mile's  journey.  The  nearer  roads  were  only  Indian  trails. 
The  redskins  roamed  in  considerable  numbers  through  those 
parts,  and  near  the  corners  of  sections  1  and  2  they  had 
their  camp  in  the  winter  season. 

Among  those  who  came  into  the  neighborhood  soon  after 
Peake  and  Brainard  located  were  Lyman  and  Hiram  Hickox, 
Thomas  Mosher,  and  Thomas  Lindeman,  the  latter  of 
whom  built  a  saw-mill  on  section  10.  Hastings  was  near, 
but  it  was  very  small,  and  Kalamazoo  was  the  market-town 
most  sought,  although  it  was  about  thirty  miles  distant. 
Money  was  in  demand  before  returns  could  be  had  from 
the  first  crop,  and  to  get  a  little  cash  for  the  supply  of 
life's  necessaries  Peake  went  as  far  as  Gull  Prairie  to  work 
through  harvest.  J.  N.  Chandler,  already  mentioned,  was 
from  Ohio,  and  settled  in  Hope,  on  section  23,  in  1852. 
At  his  coming  he  found  on  section  25  his  brother,  Enos  P. 
Chandler,  and  Hawley  Stillson  on  the  place  earlier  occupied 
by  H.  B.  Day  and  John  Hults.  Solon  Dowd,  Thomas  W. 
Newton,  and  Harvey  S.  Johnson  were  on  section  23,  west 
of  him  Leman  Chamberlain  and  Silas  Bowker,  and  on  sec- 
tion 27,  J.  Q.  A.  Johnson  (who  sold  out  to  L.  C.  Gesler 
in  1855)  and  Lemuel  Thomas. 

Myron  Simpson  settled  about  that  time  on  section  27, 
and  in  1854  Harvey  Bruce  located  on  section  23.  In 
1852  "  Uncle"  Thomas  V.  Robinson's  house,  about  a  mile 
north  of  Chandler,  that  of  Harvey  S.  Johnson,  opposite 
Robinson's,  and  the  Stillson  house,  on  the  Bush  place,  in 
Hastings  town,  were  the  only  dwellings  on  the  road  from 
Chandler's  to  Hastings  village.  The  road  to  Hastings  was 
at  best  a  wild  thoroughfare,  and  those  who  traveled  over  it 
merely  kept  about  the  same  course,  but  picked  out  their 
route  as  it  best  suited  them.  Do  the  best  he  could,  Mr. 
Chandler  could  not  go  to  mill  at  Hastings  and  return  in 
less  than  about  eighteen  hours.  Usually  the  start  was 
made  about  one  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  the  return  was 
not  accomplished  until  after  nightfall. 


HOPE  TOWNSHIP. 


437 


Settlements  in  the  northern  portion  of  Hope  were  de- 
layed until  some  years  after  the  southern  and  other  sections 
began  to  receive  residents.  Probably  the  first  to  locate  in 
the  territory  mentioned  was  Donald  McCallum,  who  ven- 
tured as  a  settler  into  Orangeville  as  early  as  1838,  and  who 
in  1851  moved  into  Hope,  upon  section  7.  In  1854,  Sey- 
mour Tillotson  made  a  start  on  section  3,  but  in  1855  sold 
his  place  to  Moses  Schults,  who,  in  that  year,  came  in  with 
his  brother  Joseph.  Tillotson's  brother-in-law,  J.  E.  Hall, 
accompanied  him  to  Hope  and  bought  a  place  on  section 
3,  now  occupied  by  his  brother,  J.  A.  Hall,  whose  advent 
in  the  town  occurred  in  1855,  after  an  eight  years'  residence 
in  Prairieville.  The  northern  portion  of  the  town  was 
sparsely  populated  even  until  a  short  time  ago,  and  for  years 
after  1850  much  of  it  was  a  wilderness.  Now,  however, 
it  is  a  locality  much  esteemed  by  farmers,  although  there  is 
yet  considerable  work  to  be  done  there  in  the  way  of  clear- 
ing off  the  timber. 

Turning  next  to  the  southern  portion  of  the  township, 
reference  may  be  made  to  one  George  Peak,  a  colored 
man,  and  a  survivor  of  the  war  of  1812,  who,  in  1848, 
settled  upon  section  28,  as  did  his  sons  James,  Nathaniel, 
and  Thomas,  each  of  whom,  had  a  place  of  his  own.  "When 
"William  H.  Carpenter,  now  living  on  section  29,  came  to 
his  present  home,  in  1855,  he  found  the  residents  there- 
about to  be  Jeruel  Phillips  and  the  Peaks,  on  section  28 ; 
Simeon  Kingsbury,  on  section  20 ;  John  Townsend,  and 
Lewis  and  Miner  Barnes,  on  section  29 ;  Gideon  "Walter, 
his  son-in-law,  Horace  Eldredge,  and  Alvin  Graves,  on  sec- 
tion 32  ;  James  Stewart  and  Robert  "Wood,  on  section  30  ; 
and  Rooney  Dake,  Daniel  Axtell,  George  Tuttle,  0.  M. 

Titus  (who  had  come  about  1848),  Seth  Lewis,  and 

Benedict,  on  section  31.  Simeon  Kingsbury  settled  on 
section  24  in  1851,  and  in  1853  moved  to  section  20,  where 
the  same  year  he  built  a  saw-mill.  In  1859,  John  Replogle 
made  his  home  on  section  18,  and  occupied  land  on  which 
one  Harper  had  made  a  small  clearing  in  1854.  '  In  that 
year  Timothy  Collins  made  a  location  on  section  18,  and 
the  following  year  there  came  new  accessions  in  George 
Curtis  to  section  18,  and  Abram  Hayward  to  section  17. 
One  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  that  neighborhood  was  a  man 
named  Granger,  who  lived  on  the  banks  of  what  is  called 
on  the  county  atlas  Gurnsey  Lake,  but  which  was  really 
named  Granger  Lake,  and  is  so  designated  on  the  map  in 
this  work. 


THE   KESIDBNT  LAND-OWNBES  IN  1850. 

From  the  first  assessment-roll  made  for  Hope  township 
in  1850  is  taken  the  subjoined  list  of  resident  tax-payers, 
together  with  amount  and  location  of  each  one's  land : 

Acres. 

Silas  Bowker,  section  22 160 

Geo.  "W.  Baird,    "      36 40 

David  Bowker,    "      36 39 

AlvaMott,  "      35.... 160 

Isaac  La  Grange,  Jr.,  section  36 80 

■\Vm.  Campbell,  "       25 120 

Isaac  La  Grange,  sections  26,  35,  22,  36 240 

John  Q.  A.  Johnson,  section  27 120 

Harry  B.Day,  "      25 120 

John  C.  Russell,  "      25 40 

Tunis  R.  Russell,  "      24 40 

Simeon  Kingsbury,  "      24 80 

Freeman  F.  Kingsbury,  "      24 80 

Joseph  Kingsbury,  "      25 80 


Acres. 

Ansel  H.  Kingsbury,  section  25 80 

Lemon  Chamberlain,       "      25 80 

Solon  Dowd,  "      23 40 

Chas.  A.  Graves,  "       14 135 

Thos.  Robinson,  "       14 135 

Thos.  Peak,  "      14 135 

Geo.  Peak,  "      28 160 

The  aggregate  value  of  the  taxable  real  and  personal 
property  in  Hope  for  1850,  as  equalized  by  the  board  of 
supervisors,  was  $12,280. 

TKAGIC  EVENTS. 

The  history  of  Hope  is  marked  by  an  unusually  long 
list  of  tragic  episodes,  in  which  there  appears  a  list  of  one 
murder,  two  suicides,  and  six  fatal  accidents.  First  in 
prominence  may  be  noted  the  killing  of  Dean  S.  Tyler,  in 
June,  1878,  by  John  R.  Pitts.  The  testimony  taken  upon 
Pitts'  trial  showed  that  trouble  originated  between  the  two 
men  by  reason  of  Mrs.  Pitts  leaving  her  husband  and 
living  openly  with  Tyler.  Such  conduct  scandalized  the 
community,  and  the  members  thereof  promptly  resented  it 
by  appearing  before  Tyler's  house  one  night  and  decorating 
Tyler  and  the  woman  with  coats  of  tar  and  feathers.  De- 
spite this  exhibition  of  popular  disapproval,  they  continued 
to  live  together  in  the  town  as  usual  until  one  Sunday 
morning  shortly  after  the  demonstration.  On  that  day 
Tyler,  Mrs.  Pitts,  and  Mrs.  Pitts'  sister  set  out  for  a  ride 
to  Nashville,  and  proceeded  peacefully  upon  their  journey 
as  f«r  as  a  place  known  as  the  Dead  Sea  (just  north  of 
Cedar  Creek),  where  Pitts,  the  injured  husband,  appeared 
suddenly  in  the  roadway,  gun  in  hand,  and  without  warn- 
ing shot  Tyler  instantly  dead.  Pitts  was  tried  and  con- 
victed of  murder  in  the  second  degree,  under  which  he  was 
sent  to  the  penitentiary  for  fifteen  years,  and  there  he  still 
remains. 

In  the  spring  of  1877,  Henry  Jenkins  hung  himself  in 
a  fit  of  despondency,  and  John  Townsend  sought  a  way 
out  of  the  world  by  like  means.  In  March,  1877, 
Abisha  Grossman  was  riding  from  Middleville  to  his  home 
in  Hope  when,  by  an  awkward  mischance,  a  gun  which  he 
was  carrying  accidentally  exploded,  and  killed  him  on  the 
spot.  "While  at  work  in  the  woods  in  1872,  George  Hazel 
was  killed  by  the  accidental  discharge  of  a  gun,  and  in  the 
same  year  George  CoUester  was  drowned  while  bathing  in 
Long  Lake.  In  1873,  Wellington  Bowker  wa.s  drowned 
in  a  lake  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town,  and  in  1868, 
George  Jenkins,  son  of  Henry  Jenkins  who  hung  himself 
in  1877,  was  kicked  to  death  by  a  horse.  About  1852  a 
family  named  Bird  lived  on  section  13,  and  one  day  the 
parents,  going  out  after  marsh-hay,  left  behind  them  an 
infant  son,  whom  for  security  they  locked  in  the  house. 
During  their  absence  the  house  took  fire,  and,  burning  to 
the  ground,  roasted  the  child  alive.  His  remains,  subse- 
quently found  near  where  the  front  doorway  had  been,  told 
the  pitiful  story  of  his  feeble  but  futile  efforts  to  escape  from 
the  devouring  flames. 

EAELT  EOADS. 
The  road  funds  returned  from  Hope  between  1842  and 
1849,  inclusive,  were  in  1842,  $48.62;  1843,  $50.57;  1844, 
$52.42;    1845,  $66.11;    1846,  $65.74;    1847,  $48.36; 
1848,  $57.96  ;  1849,  $62.41. 


438 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY    COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


A  road  to  Hastings  was  of  course  one  of  the  earliest 
considerations,  and  that  road,  constructed  about  1852,  was 
the  first  important  highway  acquired.  Over  that  route 
settlers  had  previously  traveled  by  way  of  an  Indian  trail. 

It  is  said  that  the  first  team  over  the  route  from  Cedar 
Creek  to  Hastings  was  an  ox-team  which  was  driven  over 
with  a  number  of  grists  from  the  neighborhood  for  the 
Hastings  mill.  There  was  no  regular  road,  but  there  was  a 
trail  to  show  the  course,  and  Silas  Bowker,  David  Bowker, 
H.  B.  Day,  Columbus  Campbell,  Lovinus  Campbell,  Alvin 
Graves,  and  William  Campbell  accompanied  the  team  for 
the  purpose  of  cutting  out  a  road. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  first  school-house  built  in  Hope  was  the  Mott  school- 
house,  on  section  36,  included  originally  in  "  district  No. 
3,  of  the  towns  of  Hope  and  Barry.''  The  building  occu- 
pied a  corner  in  the  town-cemetery,  and  in  1848  the  first 
school  was  taught  in  it  by  Julia  Woodward.  Her  pupils 
numbered  about  20,  and  included  seven  of  William  Camp- 
bell's children,  four  of  Silas  Bowker's,  six  of  Bunnell's,  and 
two  of  McNulty's.  Among  the  immediate  successors  of 
Julia  Woodward  as  teachers  were  Julia  and  Jane  Graves, 
Charles  Nichols,  and  Catharine  Campbell.  At  the  first 
town-meeting  in  Hope  it  was  resolved  "  That  school  district 
No.  3,  in  the  towns  of  Hope  and  Barry,  make  their  annual 
report  to  Hope,  and  draw  of  Hope  the  present  year,  and  of 
Barry  the  next,  and  district  No.  6  make  report  to  Barry, 
and  draw  their  books  from  that  town  the  present  year." 

The  report  from  S.  C.  Russell,  director  in  school  district 
No.  1,  in  1853,  set  forth  that  in  that  year  the  teacher  was 
Philancy  Houster,  that  she  had  received  $16.25  for  thir- 
teen weeks'  teaching,  that  30  scholars  attended  the  school 
during  the  year,  and  that  a  school-house  was  built  in  the 
spring  of  1853,  at  a  cost  of  $75.  The  report  for  1858 
was  as  follows  : 

District.  Emimoration.       Attendancp.       Toacliers'  Wages. 

No.].  48  44  S89.ro 

"  3.  \  No  report. 

"  4.  J 

"  5.                        23  15  4,').38 

"  6.                       24  7  48.50 

"  r.                        42  32  35.75 

"  8.                        14  13  64.30 

District  No.  3  was  organized  May  5,  1853.  District 
No.  6  was  formed  in  1856,  and  there  Rachael  Mosher 
taught  the  first  school,  and  for  two  successive  terms  after- 
wards. The  early  school  records  are  not  available  for  elabo- 
rate information,  and  what  has  been  given  in  the  fore^oin"- 
is  about  all  of  possible  interest  that  can  be  gathered.  The 
annual  school  report  for  1879  shows  the  following  statistics  : 

Number  of  districts  (whole  10  ;  fractional  1)...  11 

"  scholars  of  school  age 415 

Average  attendance .361 

Value  of  property $2025.00 

Teachers'  wages S1114.50 

The  school  directors  for  1879  were  Charles  Bailey,  M. 
McCollura,  H.  L.  Armour,  P.  Miller,  D.  A.  Bowker,  J.  N. 
Collester,  George  Haven,  S.  Sprague,  I.  N.  Consen,  and 
William  L.  Hall. 


OEGANIZATION  AND   OFFICERS. 

Township  2  north,  range  9  west,  was  a  portion  of  Barry 
township  until  1850,  when,  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  it 
was  given  a  separate  organization  and  named  Hope.     The 
story  goes  that  Salmon  C.  Hall,  then  a  representative  in  the 
Legislature,  named  the  town  in  remembrance  of  a  peculiar 
capacity  of  William  M.  Campbell  for  "  hoping  that  things 
would  improve  by  and  by,"  and  the  frequency  with  which 
he   expressed  his  sentiments  in  that   direction.     At   the 
first  town-meeting  there  was   evidently  some   dissatisfac- 
tion  with  the  name  of  Hope,   for  there  appears  in  the 
record  the  entry,  "  A  vote  of  the  township  was  taken  to 
alter  the  township  name  to  Cedar  Creek.''     Although  the 
record  does  not  assert  such  to  have  been  the  case,  yet  it 
is  evident  that  the  Legislature  declined  to  sanction  this, 
since  the  name  of  the  town  has  never  been  anything  but 
Hope. 

The  first  town-meeting  was  held  April  1,  1850,  and  on 
that  occasion  the  votes  cast  aggregated  14.  The  ofiicers 
then  elected  were  as  follows:  Supervisor,  Silas  Bowker; 
Clerk,  H.  B.  Day;  Treasurer,  Geo.  W.  Baird ;  School  In- 
spectors, Silas  Bowker  and  Tunis  Russell ;  Overseers  of 
the  Poor,  Geo.  W.  Baird  and  H.  B.  Day ;  Highway  Com- 
missioners, J.  E.  Russell,  Chas.  A.  Graves,  and  J.  Q.  A. 
Johnson;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  J.  C.  Russell,  C.  A.  Graves, 
J.  Q.  A.  Johnson,  and  Joseph  Kingsbury;  Constables,  J. 
Q.  A.  Johnson  and  T.  R.  Russell.  David  Bowker  was 
chairman  of  the  meeting,  H.  B.  Day  clerk,  and  Thomas 
V.  Robinson  and  J.  Q.  A.  Johnson  inspectors. 

At  the  same  meeting  $80  were  voted  for  township  ex- 
penses and  "  past  indebtedness." 

From  1851  to  1880  the  elections  annually  to  the  oflSces 
of  supervisor,  clerk,  treasurer,  and  justice  of  the  peace  have 
been  as  follows : 

SUPERVISORS. 
1851-52,  S.  Bowker;  1853,  J.  Stewart;  1854,  S.  Bowker;  1855,  P. 
Howard;  1856,  S.  Tillotson  ;  1857-53,  J.  E.  Hall;  1859-60,8. 
Bowker;  1861,  J.  E.  Hall;  1862,  P.  Howard;  1863,  J.  E.  Hall ; 
1864-66,  J.  McCallum;  1867,  I.  A.  Osgood;  1868-69,  C.  B.  Dick- 
inson; 1870,  J.  McCallum;  1871,  C.N.  Youngs;  1872,  J.  McCal- 
lum; 1873,  C.  N.  Youngs;  1874-76,  A.  M.  Armour;  1877,  M. 
■Walldorff;  1878,  C.  N.  Youngs;  1879-80,  C.  E.  Cock. 

CLERKS. 
1851,  N.P.Bunnell;  1852,  D.  H.  Leonard  ;  1853,  S.  Bowker ;  1854-55, 

C.  V.  Robinson;  1856,  E.  P.  Chandler;  1857,  H.  Hickox;  1858, 
Samuel  Tyler;  1859,  H.  Hickox;  1860,  J.  E.  Hall;  1861-62,  C. 

B.  Dickinson ;  1863,  S.  Dickinson  ;  1864,  G.  H.  Abrams  ;  1865-7 1 . 

D.  S.  Tyler;  1872-73,  A.  M.  Armour;  1874-76,  D.  S.  Tyler; 
1877,  J.  C.  Coleman;  1878,  H.  Mosher;  1879-80,  J.  N.  Collester. 

TREASURERS. 
1851-52,  Solon  Dowd;  1853,  G.  W.  Baird;  1854,  D.  McCallum;  1855 

C.  Campbell;  1856,  J.  E.  Hall;  1857,  H.  Jenkins;  1858,  p! 
Howard;  1869-61,  William  Crosby;  1862-63,  C.  V.  Robinson; 
1864,  C.  B.  Dickinson;  1865-66,  C.  V.  Robinson;  1867-68,  M. 
Seeber;  1869-71,  D.  A.  Bowker;  1872-73,  A.  Replogle;  1874-75, 

D.  A.  Bowker;  1876,  M.  AValldorff;  1877,  I.  A.  Osgood;  1878-79, 
J.  Kahler;  1880,  L  A.  Osgood. 

JUSTICES  OP  THE  PEACE. 
1861,  W.  Carpenter;  1862,  J.  Larrabee;  1853,  J.  Stewart;  1854,  J. 
Q.  A.  Johnson;  1865,  Solon  Dowd;  1866,  D.  Axtell;  1867,  no 
record;  1868,  E.  P.  Chandler;  1859,  Solon  Dowd;  I860,  J.  B. 
Cooper;  1861,  J.  J.  Jackson  ;  1862,  William  Gibson  ;  186?,  J.  L. 
Chapin;  1864,  J.  B.  Cooper;  1866,  I.  S.  Bigelow;  1866,  W.  Gib- 


HOPE  TOWNSHIP. 


439 


son ;  1867,  J.  L.  Chapin ;  1868,  K.  Martin;  1869,  J.  N.  Callester; 
1870,  G.  H.  Vandiburg ;  1871,  W.  Doonnn  ;  1872,  William  Gib- 
sou  ;  1873,  G.  M.  Hudson;  1874,  C.  B.  Dickinson;  1875,  Charles 
Cock;  1876,  W.  Gibson;  1877,  E.  B.  Campbell;  1878,  H.  Rep- 
logle;  1879,  J.  A.  Hall;  1880,  L.  Campbell. 

THE  VOTERS  OP   1853  AND  1859. 

The  poll-list  for  1853  shows  the  following  voters  :  Simeon 
Kingsbury,  Solon  Dowd,  James  Stewart,  Peter  M.  Eussell, 
John  C.  Eussell,  Joshua  Leonard,  Peter  Shronts,  F.  F. 
Kingsbury,  William  Campbell,  John  Q.  A.  Johnson, 
George  W.  Baird,  Isaac  La  Grange,  Ira  Virgil,  Lovinus 
Campbell,  Samuel  Tyler,  Thomas  H.  Lindeman,  Tunis  K. 
Russell,  Judd  Stilson,  Lemuel  S.  Thomas,  Thomas  V.  Rob- 
inson, Lemon  Chamberlain,  Alva  Mott,  Ansel  Kingsbury, 
Emerson  Sampson,  Enos  P.  Chandler,  Charles  V.  Robin- 
son, Thomas  Newton,  Abel  Draper,  Charles  A.  Graves, 
Martin  Babeock,  and  Franklin  Harper. 

Under  the  first  registration  of  voters  (1859)  the  follow- 
ing comprised  the  poll  list :  Nathan  Adams,  Daniel  Axtell, 
Eli  Bugbee,  Silas  Bowker,  Lewis  H.  Barnes,  Miner  Barnes, 
Aaron  Bunnell,  Noah  Bowker,  David  A.  Bowker,  Harvey 
Bruce,  J.  E.  Bolyen,  George  W.  Baird,  John  Brainard, 
Ira  S.  Bigelow,  Tunis  Bennett,  John  Bennett,  E.  P.  Chand- 
ler, W.  H.  Carpenter,  Hiram  Card,  Jonas  B.  Cooper,  Wil- 
liam Crosby,  George  Curtis,  Lovinus  Campbell,  Jos.  N. 
Chandler,  John  L.  Chapin,  Robert  T.  Campbell,  Charles 
Carpenter,  Robert  Dinwiddle,  Solon  Dowd,  C.  B.  Dickin- 
son, Franklin  L.  Dodge,  A.  T.  Foote,  Abram  Gordinier, 
J.  E.  Hall,  J.  A.  Hall,  Peter  Howard,  David  Hinds, 
Spencer  Hurd,  Isaac  Hurd,  John  Hinds,  Hiram  Hickox, 
William  H.  Havens,  Henry  Hinckley,  James  Hurlburt, 
John  Hine,  Gideon  Johnson,  Hervey  S.  Johnson,  Henry 
Jenkins,  E.  P.  Kingsbury,  Freeman  F.  Kingsbury,  Levi 
P.  Kingsbury,  Wellington  Kidder,  Reuben  Keach,  Ansel 
Kingsbury,  Simeon  Kingsbury,  Pardy  Ladd,  S.  H.  Larra- 
bee,  Merrit  Larrabee,  John  Larrabee,  Cyrus  P.  Larrabee, 
Aaron  Leonard,  Seth  Lewis,  T.  W.  Lindeman,  Joshua 
Leonard,  Alva  Mott,  John  N.  Munson,  Philip  Mellen, 
Charles.  Mellen,  John  McCallum,  Donald  McCallum, 
Thomas  Mosher,  Michael  D.  Mosher,  William  J.  Mar- 
tin, T.  W.  Newton,  John  Osborn,  Jeruel  Phillips,  Milo  J. 
Phillips,  William  Peake,  Joseph  Peters,  0.  L.  Ray,  Jas. 
Ryan,  E.  K.  Robinson,  J.  R.  Robinson,  Thomas  V. 
Robinson,  Charles  N.  Robinson,  Myron  Simpson,  Peter 
Shronts,  Jacob  Smith,  Moses  Shults,  William  Smith, 
Joseph  Shults,  J.  W.  Smith,  A.  C.  Skillman,  S.  S.  Tobey, 
0.  M.  Titus,  Seymour  H.  Tillottson,  Orrin  Tracy,  Samuel 
Tobey,  Seneca  Tobey,  W.  G.  W.  Tobey,  John  Townsend, 
P.  H.  Turner,  L.  S.  Thomas,  D.  S.  Tyler,  S.  S.  Van  Loon, 
Ira  Virgil,  George  W.  Valentine,  J.  A.  West,  Milon 
Walldorff,  Marlin  Walldorff,  Edwin  Willison,  Aaron  Wall- 
dorff,  W.  A.  Woodworth. 

THE  OLD  BAPTIST  CHUECH. 
Hope's  first  temple  of  worship  was  the  Mott  school-house, 
on  section  36,  where  in  1852  Rev.  Mr.  Johnson  organized 
a  Baptist  Church,  of  which  the  earliest  members  were 
David  A.  PoUey  and  wife,  Jesse  Hampton  and  wife,  Noah 
Bowker  and  wife,  Amos  Brewster,  William  Campbell  and 
wife,  Richard  Stillson  and  wife,  Silas  Bowker  and  wife, 


Michael  Chatterton  and  wife,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Bunnell, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Solon  Dowd,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William 
Moore.  Previous  to  the  formation  of  this  society  the  set- 
tlers in  that  portion  of  Hope  had  gone  over  into  Barry  to 
church,  but  when  they  had  a  religious  organization  at  home 
they  endeavored  with  much  spirit  to  encourage  the  en- 
terprise. Rev.  Mr.  Johnson,  of  Yorkville,  who  efiected 
the  organization,  and  who  frequently  preached  for  the  peo- 
ple afterwards,  used  to  say  to  his  Yorkville  congregation 
that  they  might  well  learn  lessons  of  Christian  energy  from 
the  Baptists  in  Hope,  who  were  so  earnest  in  their  attend- 
ance upon  divine  worship  that  in  many  instances  they 
would  come  from  a  distance  of  six  miles,  with  ox-teams,  to 
attend  Sunday-evening  services. 

Elder  Silas  Bowker  preached  a  good  deal  for  the  church, 
and  with  Mr.  Johnson  performed  all  the  ministerial  service 
during  the  existence  of  the  church  in  Hope.  Worship 
was  held  in  the  Mott  school-house  until  the  structure  grew 
too  dilapidated  for  use,  when  the  place  of  meetings  was 
transferred  to  Barry  township.  About  the  time  of  the 
organization  of  the  Baptist  Church  a  Methodist  Episcopal 
class  was  formed  at  the  Dowd  school-house,  but  its  exist- 
ence was  brief 

THE   UNITED  BEETHEEN  CHUECH. 

There  are  in  Hope  three  United  Brethren  classes,  known 
respectively  as  the  Cedar  Creek,  Hope  Centre,  and  North 
Hope  classes.  They  are  on  the  Cedar  Creek  Circuit,  which 
is  in  the  charge  of  Rev.  G.  H.  Shelley.  A  United  Breth- 
ren class  organized  at  the  Dow  school-house  in  1859  flour- 
ished so  well  that  about  1869  it  was  decided  to  make  three 
classes  of  it.  Some  of  the  members  accordingly  organized 
a  class  at  Hope  Centre,  others  a  class  at  Cedar  Creek,  and 
others  still  remained  as  a  class  at  Dowd's  Corners.  Among 
the  first  members  of  the  class  at  Dowd's  were  Peter  Schronts 
and  wife,  L.  C.  Gesler  and  wife,  A.  T.  Foot,  and  Maria 
Gesler,  Peter  Schronts  being  chosen  class-leader.  Rev.  Mr. 
Jacobs,  who  organized  the  class,  preached  after  that  once  in 
two  weeks  for  quite  a  space  of  time.  This  class  after  a 
brief  time  was  consolidated  with  that  at  Cedar  Creek. 

The  Hope  Centre  class,  worshiping  in  the  Schronts  school- 
house,  has  a  membership  of  15.  The  class-leader  is  Jacob 
Kahler,  and  the  class-steward  Moses  Seeber. 

The  Cedar  Creek  class  worshiped  in  a  school-house  until 
1876,  when  the  present  house  of  worship  was  built.  Lu- 
ther Brown  is  the  class-leader,  H.  L.  Armour  the  class- 
steward,  and  H.  L.  Armour,  Eugene  Campbellj,  L.  C.  Ges- 
ler, G.  H.  Shelley,  and  Henry  Newman,  the  trustees.  The 
church  membership  is  75,  and  that  of  the  Sunday-school  40. 
Luther  Brown  is  the  Sunday-school  superintendent,  George 
H.  Abrams  the  secretary,  and  James  McDonald,  treasurer. 

The  North  Hope  United  Brethren  class  was  organized  in 
1876,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Kilpatrick,  with  Cyrus  Brouse  and 
wife,  Lloyd  Patterson  and  wife,  and  Barbara  Tuttle  as 
members.  The  membership  is  now  9.  William  Tuttle  is 
class-leader,  and  George  M.  Hudson  class-steward.  C.  H. 
Stone  is  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school,  which  has  an 
average  attendance  of  from  30  to  40  scholars.  The  class 
meets  in  the  school-house  on  section  10,  where  also  a  few 
Second  Adventists  have  meetings  once  a  week. 


440 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


OTHEK Religious  bodies. 

Besides  the  religious  organizations  herein  named,  the 
town  contains  a  society  known  as  the  Church  of  God,  wor- 
shiping at  the  school-house  on  section  34,  a  German  society 
at  the  Schronts  school-house,  a  Wesleyan  Methodist  class 
at  the  Morey  school-house,  and  a  Methodist  Episcopal  class 
at  the  school-house  on  section  12. 

The  Hope  and  Rutland  Union  Sunday-School  Institute 
was  organized  in  August,  1879,  for  the  purpose  of  ad- 
vancing the  Sunday-school  interests  of  both  towns.  The 
five  schools  attached  to  the  institute  at  the  outset  have  now 
increased  to  seven.  The  promoter  of  the  enterprise,  and 
president  of  the  institute,  is  S.  T.  Wright,  the  secretary 
L.  T.  Patterson,  and  the  treasurer  William  Cline. 

HOPE  GEANGE,  No.  144. 
This  grange,  now  owning  a  hall  on  section  22  and  having 
a  membership  of  17,  was  organized  with  25  members,  and 
officers  as  follows :  C.  N.  Youngs,  M. ;  Seneca  Larrabee, 
0.;  Daniel  Newton,  L. ;  David  A.  Bowker,  Chaplain; 
D.  S.  Tyler,  Sec;  W.  Blackman,  Treas.  The  Masters 
since  the  organization,  in  the  order  of  service,  have  been 
C.  N.  Youngs  (three  years),  John  Coleman,  George  M. 
Hudson,  and  C.  N.  Youngs.  The  present  officers  are  C. 
N.  Youngs,  M. ;  D.  A.  Bowker,  0. ;  Mrs.  J.  A.  Hall,  L. ; 
George  M.  Hudson,  Chaplain  ;  Conrad  Kahler,  Sec. ;  Nich- 
olas Kahler,  Treas. ;  S.  T.  Wright,  Steward ;  Asa  Knowles, 
G.  K. ;  Mrs.  C.  N.  Youngs,  Ceres ;  Mrs.  D.  A.  Bowker, 
Pomona. 

GLASS  CKEEK  GRANGE,  No.  425, 
was  organized  in  May,  1874,  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
town,  with  30  members.  Paul  Blake  was  M. ;  William 
Ellsworth,  0. ;  V.  Reploge,  See. ;  Philander  Otis,  Treas. ; 
and  Ira  A.  Osgood,  Steward.  The  present  master  is  Wil- 
liam H.  Otis,  and  the  Overseer,  George  Reploge. 

OEDAE  CKEEK  VILLAGE. 

The  place  known  as  Cedar  Creek,  although  a  village  of 
no  extraordinary  pretensions,  commands  considerable  trade, 
and  is,  moreover,  the  only  milling-point  for  miles  around. 
The  place  boasts  three  stores,  a  blacksmith-  and  wagon- 
bhop,  a  turning-lathe,  a  church,  and  a  grist-mill,  with  the 
promise  of  an  additional  grist-mill  before  the  close  of  1880. 

The  first  store  in  that  vicinity,  and  the  pioneer  store  in 
the  township,  was  opened  in  1855  by  C.  P.  Larrabee,  in  a 
house  put  up  by  a  Mr.  Abbott  for  a  dwelling.  Larrabee 
sold  out  to  Wing  Willison,  but  resumed  business  after- 
wards, and  is  still  in  the  trade  at  Cedar  Creek.  He  came  to 
Hope  in  1853  and  opened  the  pioneer  blacksmith-shop  in 
the  town.  The  early  merchants  had  to  buy  their  sup- 
plies of  goods  at  Battle  Creek  and  haul  them  hotne  at  a 
heavy  expense,  for  it  was  very  difficult  work  to  get  a  load 
even  from  Battle  Creek  to  Cedar  Creek  over  the  rough 
country  that  intervened,  and  it  is  likely  enough  that  store- 
keepers' prices  at  Cedar  Creek  were  expressed  in  good  round 
figures  in  those  days.  The  first  saw-mill  in  the  township 
was  built  by  Isaac  La  Grange  in  1849  on  Cedar  Creek,  and 
in  1863  Simeon  McCaffrey  and  Philander  Clark  built  at 
Cedar  Creek  the  grist-mill  now  carried  on  there.  Dr.  H. 
F.  Peckham  has  now  in  process  of  construction  at  the 


village  a  steam  grist-mill,  which  will  much  improve  the 
business  condition  of  the  village,  since  the  water-power  at 
that  point  is  failing,  and  in  the  summer  season  is  apt  to 
fail  completely.  Although  one  Dr.  J.  W.  Barnes  came  to 
Hope  in  1853,  and  for  two  years  continued  a  fairly  suc- 
cessful medical  practice  in  the  township,  he  is  hardly  con- 
sidered as  having  belonged  to  the  medical  profession,  since 
he  was  a  graduate  of  no  college.  Be  that  as  it  may,  he 
was  called  Dr.  Barnes,  and  had  a  good  many  patients  during 
his  stay.  He  was  a  preacher,  too,  but  he  was  strongly  in- 
clined to  a  loose  belief  in  moral  responsibility,  and  left 
behind  something  of  an  unsavory  reputation.  Dr.  H.  F. 
Peckham  was  a  comer  in  1868,  and  from  that  time  to  the 
present  has  been  in  continuous  practice  in  Hope  and  neigh- 
boring towns.  Previous  to  his  time  one  Dr.  Crandall  was 
at  Cedar  Creek  a  few  months,  and  in  1877  Dr.  Henry 
Webster  located,  but  remained  less  than  a  year.  Dr.  Wil- 
liam Smith,  now  a  practitioner  at  Cedar  Creek,  studied  with 
Dr.  Peckham  from  1877  to  1879,  when  he  entered  upon 
practice  on  his  own  account. 

CEDAE  CEEEK  POST-OEEICE. 
In  the  year  1850  Cedar  Creek  post-office  was  established 
in  Hope,  and  Isaac  La  Grange  appointed  postmaster.  Cedar 
Creek  was  chosen  as  a  name  because  Cedar  Creek  flowed 
through  the  neighborhood,  and  this  creek  received  its  name 
from  the  presence,  at  its  source,  of  a  cedar  swamp.  Solon 
Dowd  succeeded  La  Grange  in  1854,  and  he  in  turn  gave 
place,  in  1856,  to  C.  P.  Larrabee.  Following  thereafter  in 
the  order  named  were  Abram  Gordonier,  John  Robinson, 
David  Bailey,  Benjamin  Stanton,  D.  S.  Murphy,  C.  P. 
Larrabee,  A.  M.  Armour,  and  Charles  Wilson,  the  latter 
being  now  the  incumbent.  The  first  mail-carrier  in  the 
township  was  William  Campbell,  who  carried  the  bag  afoot, 
once  a  week,  from  Yorkville  to  Cedar  Creek. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


WILLIAM  H.   CARPENTER. 

William  H.  Carpenter  was  born  in  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Feb.  9,  1824.  His  parents  soon  after  moved  to  Orleans 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  where,  in  May,  1849,  he  married  Caroline 
Thompson,  also  a  native  of  the  "  Old  Empire  State,"  born 
Nov.  29,  1829.  In  1855,  Mr.  Carpenter  came  to  Michi- 
gan, and  settled  on  the  banks  of  Wall  Lake,  in  Hope  town- 
ship, where  he  still  resides,  having  made  for  himself  and 
family  a  pleasant  home.  His  business  has  been  that  of  a 
farmer,  and  all  his  time  has  been  engaged  in  improving  his 
farm,  except  nine  months  spent  in  the  service  of  his  coun- 
try. He  was  drafted  Nov.  29,  1864,  and  served  in  the 
Eighth  Michigan  Infantry,  and  participated  in  the  battle 
of  Petersburg,  Va. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carpenter  are  the  parents  of  five  children, 
all  born  in  Hope,  except  Agnes,  born  in  Yates,  Orleans  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Jan.  5,  1853;  Euphemia,  July  29, 1856  ;  William, 
Oct.  23,  1858 ;  Robert  A.,  May  19,  1861 ;  Josie,  April 
12,  1869. 


j^fbqtw^^HafOfflfa.-*"*'^^^ 


HOPE  TOWNSHIP. 


441 


n.    F.    PECKHAM. 


MRS.    H.   P.    PECKHAM. 


H.  F.  PECKHAM. 


On  this  page  we  will  introduce  H.  F.  Peckham,  M.D., 
who  was  born  in  1844  in  Madison,  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y. 
His  father  was  David  R.  Peckham,  a  native  of  Rhode 
Island.  He  removed  to  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.,  when  he  was 
twenty-six  years  of  age.  His  occupation  was  solely  to  shoe 
the  soleless  maidens,  and  the  boys  to  boot  were  not  forgotten. 
He  was  the  parent  of  three  children  ;  one  of  them  is  a 
daughter,  Mrs.  Eda  Gardner,  of  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.  The 
second  daughter  is  a  Mrs.  Bouck,  of  Kent  Co.,  Mich.  He 
also  has  a  son.  Dr.  H.  C.  Peckham,  residing  in  Otsego 
Co.,  Mich.,  who  read  medicine  with  his  brother.  Dr.  H. 
F.  Peckham,  the  gentleman  whose  portrait  heads  this  sketch. 
Dr.  H.  F.  Peckham  received  his  early  instruction  in  the 
district  school  of  his  native  town. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  entered  the  Madison  Univer- 
sity, of  Hamilton,  where  he  remained  for  three  years  in  the 
literary  department.  After  having  studied  with  great  credit 
he  withdrew  from  school,  and,  after  an  absence  of  one  year, 
commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Hiram  Scran- 
56 


ton,  of  Cortland,  N.  Y.  He  graduated  at  the  Eclectic 
Medical  College  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and  entered  upon  his 
career  as  a  physician  at  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  lived  in 
this  county  for  two  years,  and  then  removed  to  Cedar  Creek, 
Mich.,  where  he  has  ever  since  sedulously  attended  to  his 
profession. 

His  marriage  fortune  was  made  on  Oct.  24,  1870.  He 
wooed  and  won  the  daughter  of  T.  H.  Allen,  of  Barry 
County,  whose  first  name  is  Sarah.  She  was  born  in  Battle 
Creek,  Mich. 

The  doctor  is  not  a  member  of  any  church,  but  his 
views  are  inclined  towards  the  Universalist  denomination. 
He  is  a  Democrat  politically,  and  is  a  strong  partisan.  He 
is  a  very  active  leader  in  his  own  party.  During  many 
campaigns  he  has  spoken  in  nearly  every  school-house  in 
Barry  County,  and  his  speeches  were  received  with  great 
acclamation.  At  the  present  time  he  is  building  a  mill  at 
Cedar  Creek,  which  will  be  completed  during  the  coming 
summer,  1880. 


IRVING. 


This  township,  known  on  the  government  survey  as 
township  4  north,  range  9  west,  lies  upon  the  northern 
boundary  of  the  county,  and  has  upon  the  north  the  Kent 
county-line,  upon  the  south  Rutland  township,  upon  the  east 
Carlton,  and  upon  the  west  Thornapple. 

Within  the  limits  of  the  township  are  2  villages,  4 
post-offices,  6  church  buildings,  and  12  district  schools,  so 
that,  as  concerns  mail,  religious,  and  educational  facilities, 
the  provision  is  abundantly  ample.  There  are  some  manufac- 
tures at  Irving  and  Freeport  villages,  but  agriculture  is  of 
course  the  dependence,  and,  it  may  be  added,  a  profitable 
one.  The  Thornapple  River  describes  an  eccentric  cres- 
cent in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  township,  across  which 
also  passes  the  Grand  Rapids  division  of  the  Michigan 
Central  Railroad,  upon  which  Irving  village  is  a  station. 
The  surface  of  the  country  is  hilly,  and  offers  many  wide- 
reaching  and  pleasing  natural  prospects. 

IRVING'S  PIONEERS. 

Upon  a  40-acre  lot  in  the  southwest  corner  of  section  33, 
A.  E.  Bull,  a  New  Englander,  made  the  pioneer  settle- 
ment in  Irving,  and  the  first  settlement  likewise  in  Rutland, 
in  which  latter  town,  indeed,  he  had  considerable  land 
on  section  5.  It  was  mostly  prairie-land,  and  is  to-day 
known  as  Bull's  Prairie.  This  tract  Mr.  Bull  purchased 
as  early  as  1836,  but  he  did  not  make  any  pronounced 
move  towards  settling  upon  it  until  some  time  in  1837, 
when  he  put  up  a  cabin  on  the  40  acres  in  Irving,  and 
entered  vigorously  upon  the  work  of  clearing,  fencing,  and 
cultivating  his  land.  Mr.  Bull  was  unmarried,  and  about  the 
time  he  began  work  upon  his  place  he  engaged  John  Hen- 
yon  to  chop  for  him,  and  Henyon's  wife  to  keep  house  and 
provide  the  subsistence  for  his  choppers,  of  whom  he  had 
at  one  time  more  than  twenty.  Though  Mr.  Bull  remained  a 
bachelor  some  years  after  his  settlement  in  Irving,  and 
though  he  was  away  from  the  township  frequently,  he  con- 
tinued to  preserve  his  identity  as  a  settler,  and  that  he  was 
in  the  strict  acceptation  of  the  term  an  active,  hardy  pio- 
neer cannot  be  denied.  He  was,  moreover,  an  industrious 
surveyor,  and  laid  out  many  of  the  early  roads  in  both  Rut- 
land and  Irving.  While  still  a  resident  of  Rutland,  whither 
he  removed  his  house  many  years  after  his  settlement  in 
Irving,  he  died  in  1865,  during  a  visit  to  Massachusetts. 

Until  the  spring  of  1838,  Mr.  Bull  was  the  solitary  settler 
in  Irvin".  At  that  time  there  came  to  the  township  Wil- 
liam W.  and  Velorous  Ingraham,  two  brothers,  from  New 
York,  and  upon  section  34,  where  the  Ingraham  tavern  after- 
wards stood,  and  yet  stands,  they^built  a  log  cabin,  made  a 
clearin",  and  by  summer  had  matters  in  readiness  for  the 


*  By  David  Schwartz. 


442 


reception  of  their  grandfather,  father,  and  brother,— Amos, 
Frederick,  and  Orrin  L.  Ingraham,— all  of  whom  then  made 
their  appearance  as  members  of  the  white  settlement  in  Ir- 
ving. Frederick  Ingraham  had  bought  a  place  on  the  hill 
just  cast  of  his  son  William's  farm,  but  all  lived  at  .first 
with  William  and  his  family,  he  being  the  only  one  of  the 
sons  married.  While  living  there,  Amos  Ingraham  died, 
Aug.  11,  1838,  and  was  buried  on  the  farm.  He  was  a 
good  man,  and  had  been  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
Shortly  after  the  State  road  through  Irving  was  surveyed 
in  1844,  William  Ingraham  determined  to  convert  his  house 
into  a  tavern,  and  by  material  additions  made  it  a  roomy 
framed  structure,  as  it  stands  to-day,  at  the  intersection  of 
the  two  roads,  near  the  "town-line,  on  section  34.  He  put 
up  a  sign,  whereon  was  emblazoned  the  legend  "  Ingraham 
House,"  and,  although  business  was  at  first  not  remarkably 
brisk,  by  reason  of  delay  in  constructing  the  State  road,  the 
opening  of  the  stage-route  between  Battle  Creek  and  Grand 
Rapids,  via  Hastings,  in  July,  1846,  gave  affairs  an  im- 
petus, and,  as  the  Ingraham  House  was  at  one  time  a 
point  where  the  stage  changed  horses,  it  was  then  a  bust- 
ling place  of  business.  Ingrah.im  relinquished  the  busi- 
ness of  landlord  to  Silas  Smith  after  the  lapse  of  a  few 
years.  Smith  was  the  last  landlord  the  tavern  knew,  for 
after  his  departure  the  sign  was  taken  down,  and,  although 
H.  J.  Kenfield  and  Orrin  L.  Ingraham,  who  occupied  the 
house  successively  afterwards,  occasionally  entertained  trav- 
elers, the  tavern-stand  ceased  to  be  such  when  Smith  lefl 
it.  William  W.  Ingraham  moved  from  Irving  in  1865, 
and  lives  now  near  Battle  Creek.  Velorous,  his  brother, 
died  in  Irving,  and  Orrin  L.  lives  in  Virginia.  Fred- 
erick Ingraham  lived  on  his  place,  east  of  William's,  until 
his  death,  in  December,  1848.  He  was  by  trade  a  black- 
smith, and  kept  a  shop  near  the  Ingraham  House,  down 
to  the  time  of  his  decease.  The  only  representative  of  the 
family  now  in  Irving  is  George  W.,  a  son  of  William,  who 
lives  on  section  27. 

During  the  year  1838  there  also  came  to  Irving  Daniel 
Williams  and  his  family,  who  made  their  home  on  section 
19.  Mr.  Williams  died  in  1874,  having  a  few  years  pre- 
vious removed  from  the  town.  His  son  Charles  lives  near 
Irving  village,  on  section  31. 

Until  June,  1842,  there  were  no  further  accessions  to 
the  settlements  in  Irving.  A.  E.  Bull,  Daniel  Williams, 
and  the  Ingrahams  were  the  only  settlers,  and  they  were 
by  no  means  near  enough  to  each  other  to  be  more  than 
distant  neighbors.  At  the  first  town-meeting,  in  1840, 
there  were  but  7  voters  for  the  two  townships,  then  called 
Irving.  There  were  but  6  men  to  occupy  the  offices,  and, 
as  the  official  positions  were  to  be  21  in  number,  the  6 
were  compelled  to  "  double  up"  very  briskly,  as  witness : 


Residence  OF  W  H  CARPENT ER,HoPETr,BARHrCo  Mich 


'!^i!f!i^^i¥>^^ij.'.-', ' 


B^siDLMCE  OF  :JAMES  C.  HANNA,  Irving.  Tr,  Mich. 


IKVING  TOWNSHIP. 


443 


Maj.  Mott  was  chosen  assessor,  school  inspector,  justice  of 
the  peace,  constable,  and  overseer  of  highways ;  Estes 
Rich  was  treasurer,  assessor,  school  inspector,  highway 
commissioner,  and  justice  of  the  peace  ;  A.  E.  Bull  was 
clerk,  school  inspector,  director  of  the  poor,  highway  com- 
missioner, and  justice  of  the  peace;  and  Frederick  Ingra- 
ham  was  supervisor,  director  of  the  poor,  highway  com- 
missioner, and  overseer  of  liighways.  Fortunately  for  the 
holders,  the  oflBces  were  almost  sinecures,  since,  in  the  na- 
ture of  things,  there  could  be  but  little  to  do  in  any  of  them, 
save,  perhaps,  such  as  were  concerned  with  the  highways, 
else  their  official  tasks  would  have  left  them  little  leisure  for 
labor  on  their  own  behalf.  Even  as  to  highways,  there 
was  at  first  not  much  labor  or  trouble.  The  character  of 
the  country  was  such  that  travel  was  easy-through  the  oak- 
openings,  and  roads  to  almost  any  point  were  to  be  had  with- 
out difficulty. 

In  the  winter  of  1841-42,  Peter  Cobb  came  from  Wayne 
Co.,  Mich.,  where  he  had  been  living  since  1836,  and,  as  a 
result  of  his  land-looking  expedition,  purchased  a  tract  in 
section  27,  and  in  June,  1842,  moved  upon  it  with  his 
family  and  brother  Adna.  Upon  that  place  Mr.  Cobb  has 
resided  uninterruptedly  ever  since,  and  is  therefore  the 
oldest  resident  settler  in  Irving. 

Following  Mr.  Cobb,  in  1842,  came  Richard  Newell 
Hanna,  who  had  bought  of  one  Green,  a  New  Yorker,  520 
acres  on  section  33,  and  160  on  section  28,  upon  which  lat- 
ter he  made  his  own  home,  and  soon  afterwards  parceled  out 
his  land  on  section  33  to  incoming  settlers.  Ho  died  in 
1855.  His  brother,  J.  C.  Cobb,  afterward  married  his  widow, 
and  still  occupies  the  old  Hanna  farm.  The  first  settler  on 
section  33  was  Joseph  C.  Freeman,  who,  in  1843,  located 
upon  a  40-acre  lot,  and  while  building  his  cabin  lodged 
his  family  with  William  Ingraham.  Section  33  was  then 
an  unbroken  wilderness,  and  received  no  settler  after  Free- 
man until  1845,  when  Robert  McClintock  made  a  settle- 
ment. Freeman  now  lives  in  Middleville,  and  the  widow 
of  McClintock,  aged  eighty-four,  resides  in  the  same  town- 
ship. 

William  Cole  located  himself  on  section  27  in  1843,  and 
in  the  year  1844  there  was  a  considerable  addition  to  the 
settlement.  Isaac  Hendershott,  with  his  son  J.  J.,  was 
among  the  first,  coming  in  the  spring  from  New  York,  and 
making  a  land-purchase  on  the  southeast  corner  of  section 
29.  Early  in  the  fall  they  returned  to  New  York,  and 
brought  the  rest  of  the  family  to  the  new  home  in  Michi- 
gan. Isaac  Hendershott's  widow,  eighty-four  years  old, 
lives  on  the  old  homestead.  J.  J.,  her  son,  has  a  home  on 
section  29.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Cohen  Balch,  who, 
in  October,  1844,  came  from  Vermont  to  Michigan  and 
settled  south  of  the  river,  on  section  32,  where  he  lived 
until  his  tragic  death,  in  1863.  The  circumstances  of  the 
tragedy  may  be  thus  told.  Mr.  Balch  visited  Grand  Rapids, 
and  made  his  temporary  home  at  the  Eagle  Hotel,  whereof 
one  John  Evans  was  landlord.  Balch  made  some  sport 
of  the  beefsteak  set  before  him  at  supper,  and  remarked 
upon  its  extraordinary  toughness,  giving  it  as  his  laughing 
opinion  that  the  animal  from  which  the  steak  had  been 
cut  must  have  been  a  "  breaker"— referring,  of  course,  to 
the  hardened  physical  system  of  cattle  used  in  breaking 


land.  This  and  other  similar  jocose  references  a  waiter 
promptly  repeated  to  landlord  Evans,  and  landlord  Evans, 
swelling  with  rage  at  the  thought  that  the  delicacy  of  his 
beefsteak  should  be  questioned,  advanced  quickly  and  wildly 
upon  Mr.  Balch  while  the  latter  still  sat  at  the  table,  and, 
falling  upon  him,  so  beat,  bruised,  and  maltreated  him 
that  from  the  injuries  thus  received  Mr.  Balch  died  within 
the  ensuing  forty-eight  hours.  Evans  was  tried,  convicted, 
and  sentenced  to  the  State  prison  for  three  years,  but  before 
the  expiration  of  his  term  he  died. 

In  1844,  too,  came  William  Barton,  accompanied  by  his 
sons,  Willard  and  Reuben,  and  his  son-in-law,  Massena  Hop- 
kins. In  1845,  L.  K.  Powers,  a  settler  in  Johnstown  town- 
ship in  1840,  located  upon  section  32  in  Irving.  In  the 
same  year  D.  B.  Pratt  became  a  settler  in  the  same  section, 
south  of  the  river,  and  then  also  John  Texterand  his  father- 
in-law,  John  Wagner,  from  Ohio,  bought  160  acres  on  sec- 
tion 35,  but  made  no  permanent  settlement  until  1847,  when 
they  returned  to  the  township  after  a  brief  absence  in  Ohio. 
Michael  Strasbaugh  accompanied  them  in  1847,  but  after 
a  residence  of  two  years  in  Irving  removed  to  Carlton, 
whither  he  was  followed  three  years  later  by  Wagner.  In 
1846,  Geo.  K.  Beamer,  of  Western  New  York,  bought  of 
R.  N.  Hanna  a  farm  on  section  33,  and  that  year  Harmon 
Wilcox  settled  upon  section  32.  Elizur  Lusk  located  land 
upon  section  30  in  1844,  but  did  not  occupy  it  until  a  few 
years  afterwards. 

Until  1848  settlements  in  Irving  were  confined  almost 
entirely  to  the  vicinity  of  the  southern  town-line,  while 
north  of  Peter  Cobb's  the  township  had  not  been  pene- 
trated by  the  pioneer  in  any  direction.  About  the  year 
named  there  was  a  small  colony  of  Indian  farmers  on  section 
6,  where  they  had  purchased  government  land  and  set  about 
improving  and  cultivating  it.  Their  attempts,  like  similar 
attempts  by  other  redskins  in  other  townships,  resulted 
in  the  overwhelming  conviction  that  whatever  the  noble 
red  man  might  be  fitted  for  he  was  assuredly  not  fitted  to 
be  a  farmer,  so  after  brief  and  disastrous  experiments  they 
gave  up  the  task  and  returned  to  a  nomadic  and  more  con- 
genial state  of  existence.  In  1848,  Sylvanus  Travis  moved 
to  section  29,  and  in  1849,  Wm.  Moulton  made  a  stand 
still  farther  north,  upon  section  23,  where  he  bought  a 
place  of  William  Cole,  the  patentee.  In  1849,  Benjamin 
J.  Trego,  with  a  family  of  seven  children,  settled  upon  160 
acres  on  section  34,  previously  occupied  by  Q.  H.  Gorton, 
who  had  cleared  about  20  acres.  Of  Mr.  Trego's  children 
John  and  Benjamin  J.  are  living  on  the  old  place,  Wm.  C. 
on  the  same  section,  and  D.  R.  in  Rutland.  In  1849,  J. 
M.  Walker  settled  on  section  27,  and  in  1851  settlements 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  township  began  in  earnest. 

In  that  year  John  E.  Archer,  who  had  married  in  Ohio 
the  daughter  of  Isaac  H.  Huyck,  killed  in  the  Mexican 
war,  moved  upon  160  acres,  in  section  13  of  Irving,  belong- 
ing to  Huyck's  widow  under  a  soldier's  land-warrant.  The 
widow  herself  came  out  in  1852,  and  still  lives  in  the  town. 
When  Archer  settled  upon  section  13,  in  1851,  there  was 
nobody  north  of  him.  West  were  S.  W.  Chase,  Thomas 
McConnell,  and  John  Taney.  With  Archer  came  also  H. 
G.  Jones,  who  settled  upon  section  12,  and  Foster  Sisson 
on  section   14.     Sisson's  widow  married  Una  Bare,  and 


444 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Peter  Wibert,  who   came   from  Ohio   ia  1860,  married 
Archer's  widow,  and  lives  now  on  the  old  Hujck  place. 

It  was  in  1851  that  the  considerable  German  settlement 
now  in  the  northeastern  portion  of  Irving  was  founded. 
Conrad  Beeler  and  Charles,  his  brother,  who  had  been  liv- 
ing in  Ohio  since  1833,  came  to  Irving,  and  located  land 
not  only  for  themselves,  but  for  Jacob  Sehmelicher  as  well, 
who  made  a  settlement  in  1854.  After  that  John  Reu- 
ter,  Gottlieb  Nagler,  and  other  Germans  followed  into 
the  neighborhood.  The  members  of  this  German  com- 
munity are  thrifty  farmers,  and  support  a  church  now 
endowed  with  a  flourishing  membership  of  40.  A.  H. 
Bates,  H.  G.  Wood,  and  Silas  Wood  were  among  the  set- 
tlers in  Irving  in  1851  ;  Patrick  Ryan  in  1853,  upon  a 
place  formerly  occupied  by  James  McNutt ;  James  Brew 
in  1854 ;  W.  C.  and  E.  L.  Gott  and  Thomas  Lucas  in 
1855;  A.  J.  Gott  and  John  Hammond  in  1856;  Henry 
Kohler  in  1857,  upon  a  place  earlier  improved  by  Samuel 
Gibbs;  Miles  Engle  (who  moved  with  his  father  to  Michi- 
gan in  1835)  in  1858,  on  a  place  first  settled  by  his  step- 
father, Wm  Boden,  whose  wife  is  still  living  in  the  town 
at  the  age  of  eighty-five;  and  J.  R.  Johnson  in  1859,  on  a 
farm  earlier  owned  by  David  Hall. 

PIRST  BIRTH  AND   DEATH. 

The  first  born  in  Irving,  among  the  white  settlers,  was 
George  W.,  son  of  William  W.  Ingraham,  the  date  of 
whose  birth  was  Dec.  5, 1839,  and  the  place  the  old  Ingra- 
ham house.  George  Ingraham  still  lives  in  Irving,  on 
section  27.  The  first  death  in  the  white  settlement  was 
that  of  Amos,  father  of  Frederick  and  grandfather  of 
William  W.  Ingraham.  He  died  Aug.  11,  1838,  and  was 
buried  on  William  Ingraham's  place,  whence  his  body  was 
removed  some  years  later  to  the  cemetery  laid  out  in  that 
neighborhood  in  1846.  The  first  burial  in  that  cemetery 
occurred  Jan.  1,  1847,  when  the  wife  of  William  Cole  was 
laid  to  rest.  In  that  cemetery  lie  now  the  remains  of 
one  Revolutionary  soldier,  Amos  Ingraham  ;  of  two  soldiers 
of  the  war  of  1812,  Robert  McClintock  and  Isaac  Hen- 
dershott ;  of  one  soldier  of  the  Mexican  war,  James  Darling ; 
and  three  soldiers  of  the  war  of  1861-65,  James  Travis, 
Henry  Wing,  and  Jasper  Lusk. 

ORGANIZATION   AND   OFFICERS. 

Under  a  legislative  act  approved  April  17, 1839,  township 
3  north,  range  9  west,  previously  a  part  of  Yankee  Springs, 
and  township  4,  range  9,  then  belonging  to  Thornapple,  were 
set  apart  as  one  township,  and  called  Irving  in  accordance 
with  the  request  of  A.  E.  Bull,  who,  being  an  ardent 
admirer  of  Washington  Irving's  works,  wished  thus  to 
honor  that  author.*  By  an  act  approved  March  16,  1847, 
township  3  was  set  off  and  named  Rutland,  leaving  to  Ir- 
ving the  territory  it  now  occupies. 

The  first  township-meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  A. 
E.  Bull,  April  6,  1840,  when  Frederick  Ingraham  was 
chosen  moderator,  A.  E.  Bull  poll-clerk,  and  Estes  Rich, 
A.  E.  Bull,  Major  Mott,  and  William  W.  Ingraham  in- 

«  This  act  was  repealed  and  then  restored.  See  page  50  of  the 
general  history. 


spectors  of  election.    A  full  list  of  the  town  officials  elected 

at  the  first  meeting,  the  total  number  of  votes  being  but 

seven,  is   as  follows :    Supervisor,    Frederick   Ingraham ; 

Clerk,  A.  E.  Bull ;  Treasurer,  Estes  Rich  ;  Assessors,  Estes 

Rich,  Maj.  Mott,  William  W.  Ingraham;  Collector,  Maj. 

Mott;   School  Inspectors,  A.  E.  BulF,  Estes  Rich,  Maj. 

Mott;  Directors  of  the  Poor,  Frederick  Ingraham,  A.  B. 

Bull ;  Highway  Commissioners,. Frederick  Ingraham,  Estes 

Rich,  A.  E.  Bull ;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  Estes  Rich,  M-fij. 

Mott,  A.  E.    Bull;    Constables,  D.    P.    Ingraham,    Maj. 

Mott;  Overseers  of  Highways,  Maj.  Mott  in  road  district 

No.  1,  composed  of  town  3,  and  Frederick  Ingraham  in 

road  district  No.  2,  composed  of  town  4. 

The  supervisors,  clerks,  treasurers,  and  justices  of  the 

peace  elected  annually  from  1841   to   188 J  are  herewith 

named  : 

SUPERVISORS. 

184:1,  F.  Ingraham  ;  18-1:2-43,  Estes  Rich;  1841,  F.  Ingraham  ;  1845, 
Peter  Cobb;  1846,  J.  W.Stebbins;  1847-48,  G.  K.  Beamer  ;  184», 
Coben  Baloh,  Jr.;  1850,  no  record;  1851,  Coben  Balch;  1852,  no 
record;  1853,  G.  K.  Beamer;  1354,  R.  N.  Hanna;  1855,  Coben 
Baloh;  1856,  Peter  Cobb;  1857,  L.  K.  Powers;  1858,  P.  Cobb  ; 
1859,  J.  W.  Torr  ;  1860,  0.  L.  Ingraham  ^  1861-62,  J.  M.  Walker; 
1863-64,  J.  C.  Hanna;  186.5-66,  P.  Cobb;  1867-68,  J.  J.  Hcnder- 
shott;  1S69,  N.  M.  Hinckley;  1870,  J.  J.  Hendershott:  1871-72, 
P.  Cobb;  187^-76,  A.  J.  Walker;  1877-78,  A.  Matthews  ;  1879, 
A.  J.  Gott. 

CLERKS. 

1841-42,  Maj.  Mott;  1843,  F.  Ingraham;  1844,  Charles  Kellogg; 
1845,  Adna  Cobb;  1846,  A.  E.  Bull;  1847,  I.  Hendershott;  1848, 
A.  E.  Bull;  1849,  J.  M.  Darling;  1850,  no  record;  1851,  T. 
S.  Hills;  1852,  no  record;  1853, 1.  Hendershott;  1854,  J.  L.  Hen- 
dershott; 1855,  J.  M.  Walker;  1856,  B.  J.  Hendershott;  1857, 
S.  M.  Smith  ;  1868,  A.  J.  Walker;  1859,  A.  G.  Eggleston;  1860, 
J.  M.  Walker;  1861,  A.  G.  Eggleston;  1862,  A.  J.  Walker;  1863 
-65,  D.  D.  Darling;  1866,  S.  M.  Smith;  1867-68,  H.  W.  Reid; 
1869,  G.  W.  Ingraham;  1870-72,  A.  J.  Walker;  1873,  R.  A. 
Fuller;  1874,  M.  P.  Jordan  ;  1875,  Charles  Judd;  1876,  R.  Wool- 
oott;  1877-79,  R.  H.  Billingsley. 

TREASURERS. 
1841,  Estes  Rich  ;  1842,  F.  Ingraham ;  1843-44,  Daniel  Williams ; 
1845-46,  I.  Hendershott;  1847,  W.  W.  Ingraham  ;  1848, 1.  Hen- 
dershott; 1849,  Peter  Cobb;  1850,  no  record;  1851,  John  Nor- 
ton ;  1852,  no  record ;  1853,  Jacob  Jordan ;  1854-58,  John  Norton  ; 
1859,  J.  L.  Sisson;  1860,  Z.  D.  Hinkley;  1861,  B.  J.  Hender- 
shott; 1862,  H.  Sisson;  186.3,  S.  Travis;  1864-65,  A.  J.  Gott; 
1866,  W.  M.  Wood;  1867,  W.  H.  Johnson;  1868,  P.  H.  Segar; 
1869,  W.  H.Johnson;  1870-71,  J.  L.  Sisson;  1872,0.  Matthews; 
1873,  J.  Trego;  1874,  J.  J.  Trego;  1875,  A.  J.  Gott;  1876-77,  J. 

C.  Hanna;  1878,  P.  Cobb;  1879,  J.  Trego. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 
1841,  W.  W.  Ingraham;  1842,  Maj.  Mott;  1843,  F.  Ingraham;  1844, 
Estes  Rich;  1845,  Peter  Cobb;  1846,  D.  B.  Pratt;  1847,  I.  Hen- 
dershott ;  1848,  R.  N.  Hanna ;  1849,  Peter  Cobb  ;  1850,  no  record ; 
1851,  D.  B.  Pratt;  1852,  no  record;  1853,  John  Norton;  1854, 
G.  K.  Beamer;  1855,  Peter  Cobb  ;  1856,  .1.  W.  T.  Orr;  1857,  J. 
S.  Mngoon;  1858,  0.  Yerenton ;  1859,  P.  Cobb;  1860,  S.  W. 
Chase;  1861,  A.  Hubbard;  1862,  E.  H.  Hosier;  1863,  M.  C. 
Cranston;  1864,  Z.  D.  Hinckley;  1865,  J.  C.  Hanna;  1866,  M. 

D.  Burr;  1867,  L.  B.  Hills;  1868,  Stephen  Travis;  1869,  J. 
M.  Wood;  1870,  P.  H.  Segar;  1871,  L.  B.  Hills;  1872,  A.  J. 
Gott;. 1873,  Asahel  Hubbard;  1874,  Allen  Matthews;  1875,  John 
Renter;  1876,  J.  Hendershott;  1877,  William  Gibbs;  1878,  H. 
C.  Peokham ;  1879,  I.  Cunningham. 

THE   POLL-LIST  OF  1844. 
At  the  annual  election  in  1844  votes  were  oast  by  W.  B. 
Seymour,  Samuel  Hopkins,  S.  B.  Hopkins,  William  W. 


IRVING  TOWNSHIP. 


445 


Ingrahara,  Charles  Kellogg,  V.  D.  Ingraham,  Henry  King, 
J.  C.  Freeman,  Ira  Shipman,  M.  W.  Henyon,  R.  N.  Hanna, 
Estes  Rich,  Peter  Cobb,  0.  H.  Brewer,  George  B.  Man- 
chester, David  Rork,  Daniel  Williams,  Frederick  Ingraham. 

THE  POLL-LIST  OP  1848. 
This  list  included  the  names  of  A.  E.  Bull,  James  Mc- 
Nutt,  Daniel  Williams,  Morris  Germond,  Frederick  Ingra- 
ham, Massena  Hopkins,  Velorous  Ingraham,  Joseph  C. 
Freeman,  L.  K.  Powers,  D.  B.  Pratt,  Joseph  McClintock, 
Wlllard  Barton,  L.  C.  Balch,  George  N.  Cooley,  Owen 
Henry,  J.  S.  McClintock,  William  Barton,  John  Texter, 
Michael  Strausbaugh,  Q.  H.  Gorton,  John  Norton,  R.  N. 
Hanna,  William  W.  Ingraham,  Harmon  Wilcox,  Peter 
Cobb,  Coben  Balch,  Geo.  K.  Beamer,  William  Cole,  John  J. 
Hendershott,  and  Isaac  Hendershott. 

JUROKS  IN  1841. 
In  May,  1841,  the  grand  jurors  drawn  were  Frederick 
Ingraham,  Maj.  Mott,  and  the  petit  jurors  Estes  Rich  and 
William  W.  Ingraham. 

EAELY  KOADS. 

In  1840  the  road-tax  aggregated  an  assessment  of  four 
hundred  and  sixty-nine  and  a  quarter  days,  of  which  sixty- 
seven  and  a  half  days  were  worked  out  on  the  highways. 
The  same  record  sets  forth  that  "  $97.75  were  received  from 
the  county  treasurer,  and  let  the  same  out  in  jobs." 

In  1840,  A.  E.  Bull  (who  surveyed  many  of  Irving's 
early  roads)  surveyed  a  road  commencing  "  at  the  corners 
of  sections  12  and  13,  in  town  3  north,  range  10  west,  and 
sections  7  and  18,  in  town  3  north,  range  9  west,  near 
Maj.  Mott's  house ;  thence  due  east  on  the  section-line 
75  rods  to  a  stake ;  thence  north  45°  east  34  rods  ;  thence 
north  55°  east  218  rods ;  thence  north  47°  east  41  rods 
to  the  southeast  corner  of  A.  E.  Bull's  land ;  thence  north 
47°  east  56  rods  to  the  north-andsouth  State  road."  This 
was  the  first  survey  recorded  in  the  township. 

Oct.  12,  1840,  there  was  a  survey  of  a  road  commencing 
at  a  point  in  the  section-line  136  rods  east  of  the  corners 
of  sections  4,  5,  8,  and  9,  in  town  3  north,  range  9  west, 
running  thence  on  the  aforesaid  section- line  136  rods  to  the 
aforesaid  corners  ;  thence  north  45°  west  78  rods  ;  thence 
north  66°  west  27  rods ;  thence  north  77°  west  34  rods, 
there  to  intersect  a  road  leading  from  A.  E.  Bull's  to  Maj. 
Mott's. 

That  portion  of  the  State  road  ("  passing  from  Battle 
Creek  by  way  of  Hastings,  to  where  the  Kalamazoo  and 
Grand  River  road  crosses  the  county-line  between  the 
counties  of  Kent  and  Barry")  lying  in  Irving  was  surveyed 
March  8,  1 844.  This  road  was,  however,  not  opened  as  a 
stage-route  until  July  1,  1846,  when  Heman  I.  Knappcn, 
of  Hastings,  put  on  a  line  of  stages  between  Battle  Creek 
and  Grand  Rapids,  and  carried  the  mail.  Knappen  was  a 
brisk,  stirring  sort  of  man,  and  urged  the  completion  of  the 
road  upon  the  citizens  of  Hastings  with  a  good  deal  of 
energy.  When  questioned  as  to  the  kind  of  a  road  he  ex- 
pected to  make,  he  caused  a  little  astonishment  and  some 
ridicule  by  averring  that  it  would  be  a  road  over  which  he 
would  "  trot  clear  through,"  for  roads  on  which  a  pair  of 
horses  could  trot  were  exceedingly  rare  in  that  country  and 


in  those  days.  That  part  of  the  road  passing  through 
Irving  was  well-nigh  a  natural  highway,  since  the  oak-open- 
ings were  open  enough  to  aiFord  vehicles  ready  access  in 
almost  any  direction. 

In  1841  the  road  assessment  in  district  No.  1  was  two 
hundred  and  eighteen  and  a  half  days,  of  which  but  twenty- 
five  and  a  half  days  were  worked,  and  in  district  No.  2, 
where  the  assessment  was  one  hundred  and  twenty  and  a 
half  days,  the  work  done  amounted  to  but  nine  and  a  half 
days. 

The  township  treasurer's  report,  rendered  March  22, 
1842,  recited  his  assets  as  follows : 

Notes  for  road  purposes $29 

Received  of  the  county  treasurer 7.50 

Amount  of  taxes   received  in  township  orders 

{not  any  money  received) 44.51 

Total $81.01 

SCHOOLS. 

On  the  10th  of  June,  1844,  G.  B.  Manchester  and 
Chas.  Kellogg,  school  inspectors  of  Irving  township,  issued 
a  notice  to  Estes  Rich  that  school  district  No.  1  had  been 
formed  of  the  southeast,  southwest,  and  northwest  quarters 
of  section  3,  the  northeast,  northwest,  and  southwest  quar- 
ters of  section  10,  the  whole  of  sections  9,  4,  and  5,  the 
northeast  and  northwest  quarters  of  section  8,  and  the  east 
half  of  section  6,  in  town  3  north,  range  9  west,  and  sec- 
tions 33  and  32,  the  east  half  of -section  31,  the  south 
half  of  section  29,  and  the  south  half  of  section  28,  in 
town  4  north,  range  9  west.  The  first  meeting  in  said 
district  was  directed  to  be  held  June  22d,  at  the  house  of 
M.  W.  Henyon. 

District  No.  2,  organized  August  31,  1844,  included 
portions  of  Irving  and  Thornapplc,  and  was  called  a  frac- 
tional district  in  Irving.  May  17,  1844,  "district  No.  1, 
of  Irving  and  Yankee  Springs,"  was  formed,  and  Oct.  8, 
1845,  district  No.  2  was  reorganized  as  a  whole  district  in 
Irving.  The  order  of  organizing  other  districts  is  thus 
given:  No.  3,  Dec.  14,  1850;  No.  4,  in  1852;  No.  5, 
April  29,  1854  ;  No.  6,  April  29,  1854 ;  No.  7,  Dec.  17, 
1859;  No.  8,  May  31,  1860;  No.  9,  in  July,  1862;  No. 
10,  April  21,  1866;  No.  11,  Feb.  5,  1870  ;  No.  12,  Nov. 
12,  1870.  Although  district  No.  1  was  organized,  as  has 
been  seen,  more  than  a  year  before  district  No.  2  was 
formed,  the  latter  was  the  first  to  have  a  school-house,  which 
was  built,  in  1846,  on  section  33. 

The  school  inspectors'  records  make  no  reference  to  ap- 
pointments of  teachers  previous  to  April  18,  1853,  when 
it  appears  Martha  P.  Balch  and  Eliza  J.  Dennis  were 
employed  May  4,  1853.  Martha  Messer  was  given  a 
certificate,  and  November  5th,  the  same  year,  A.  D.  Rork, 
Sarah  Wooley,  and  Lucy  Archer  were  appointed.  Among 
later  teachers  (to  November,  1857)  appear  the  names  of 
IMary  E.  Strasbaugh,  Thomas  Coyle,  Amelia  Smith,  and 
Jlmeline  Henyon. 

The  official  school  report  for  1879  presents  the  following 
statistics : 

Number  of  districts 12 

"  scholars  of  school  age 527 

Average  attendance 4.^8 

Value  of  property $5900 

Teachers'  wages $1392 


446 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


The  school  directors  for  1879  were  C.  T.  Barton,  I.  M. 
Cunningham,  R.  Billingsley,  John  Fighter,  T.  C.  Alverson, 
M.  Yearington,  J.  Teeple,  Farrel  Burns,  Emanuel  Bergy, 
William  Mugridge,  H.  Wilcox,  and  W.  Calkins. 

lEVING  POST-OFFICE. 

The  first  post-oflBce  established  in  Irving  was  one  of  the 
results  of  the  opening  of  the  stage-route  between  Battle 
Creek  and  Grand  Rapids  vid  Hastings,  July  1,  1846.  It 
was  located  at  the  house  of  A.  E.  Bull  (who  was  appointed 
postmaster),  and  called  Irving.  In  1847  the  office  was 
transferred  to  R.  N.  Hanna,  and  in  the  same  year  G.  K. 
Beamer,  being  appointed  deputy,  kept  the  mail  at  his 
house,  and  in  1848  was  himself  appointed  postmaster. 
He  was  succeeded  in  1855  by  L.  K.  Powers,  who  retained 
the  office  at  his  house  until  1865,  when  it  was  removed  to 
Irving  village,  and  Asahel  Hubbard  was  appointed  his  suc- 
cessor. In  1869  the  office  passed  into  the  possession  of 
F.  L.  Blake,  the  present  incumbent. 

NORTH   IRVING   POST-OFFICE 

was  established  in  1858,  when  Peter  Cobb  was  appointed 
postmaster,  and  as  such  he  has  remained  continuously  to 
the  present. 

FILLMORE    POST-OFFICE 

was  established  in  1867,  and  named  as  a  compliment  to 
Millard  Fillmore.  D.  D.  Darling,  the  present  postmaster, 
has  been  in  charge  of  the  office  from  the  first. 

FRBEPORT   POST-OFFICE 
has  existed  since  1878,  when  the  present  postmaster,  Samuel 
Roush,  was  appointed. 

North  Irving,  Fillmore,  and  Freeport  receive  each  a 
daily  mail  over  the  route  from  Hastings  to  Lowell,  in 
Kent  County. 

lEVING'S  DOCTORS. 
The  history  of  the  medical  profession  in  Irving  may  be 
recited  briefly  in  the  statement  that  the  first  physician  to 
locate  in  Irving  village  was  E.  M.  Rosencrans,  who  remained 
but  a  year.  He  was  followed  by  Dr.  S.  Robinson  ;  then 
came  Dr.  L.  E.  Haskins  for  a  short  stay,  and  in  1878  ar- 
rived Dr.  J.  Lamoreux,  the  only  physician  now  practicing 
in  the  village.  In  Freeport,  Dr.  H.  C.  Peckham  opened  an 
office  in  1878,  and  closed  it  in  1879,  when  Dr.  L.  E.  Has- 
kins, now  the  only  physician  there,  occupied  the  field. 

EELIGIOUS   ORGANIZATIONS. 
THE   IRVING   METHODIST    CLASS. 

The  pioneer  religious  organization  of  Irving  was  the 
Irving  Methodist  Episcopal  class,  organized  in  1847,  at  the 
school-house  on  section  33,  by  William  Sprague,  presiding 
elder.  The  clasa  was  in  Hastings  Circuit,  on  which  Rev. 
f.  B.  Sprague  was  the  preacher.  The  members  of  the  class 
js-^re  Peter  Cobb  (leader),  Hannah  Cobb,  J.  W.  Bradley, 
gaph  Bradley,  Polly  Bradley,  Julia  Ingraham,  Sylvenus 
Travis,  Zilpha  Travis,  Lydia  Ingraham,  Eleanor  Rich,  and 
Rosamond  Ingrahapi.  At  first  there  was  preaching  once 
in  four  weeks,  and  for  about  fifteen  years,  while  the  class 
remained  on  the  Hastings  Circuit,  opportunitjeg  for  public 


worship  were  not  more  frequent.  Upon  the  transfer,  how- 
ever, of  the  class  to  the  Irving  Circuit,  services  were  held 
fortnightly,  and  such  has  been  the  measure  to  the  present 
time.  "The  Irving  Circuit  includes  now  two  points  in  Irving, 
one  in  Yankee  Springs,  and  two  in  Rutland,  and  is  in  charge 
of  Rev.  John  McAllister.  The  Irving  class,  with  a  present 
membership  of  30,  has  enjoyed  regular  services  uninter- 
ruptedly since  1847,  and  since  that  time  Peter  Cobb  baa 
been  continuously  the  class-leader. 

ZION   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   (GERMAN)   CHURCH. 

A  German  Methodist  Episcopal  class  was  organized 
about  1858  at  the  school-house  on  section  14,  and  included 
the  families  of  Jacob  Schmelicher,  Conrad  Beeler,  and 
John  Renter,  Conrad  Beeler  being  the  class-leader.  There 
was  preaching  once  in  three  weeks  by  supplies  from  Grand 
Rapids.  In  1860  a  church  was  built  on  section  2,  and, 
although  it  was  not  fully  completed  until  1869,  it  was  oc- 
cupied from  1860  forward.  Rev.  Mr.  Bertrand,  of  Grand 
Rapids,  was  the  first  pastor  after  the  occupation  of  the  new 
church,  and  since  him  the  pastors  have  been  Rev.  Messrs. 
Yahrhaus,  Behrens,  Grille,  Buttenbaum,  Mains,  Herzog, 
Weber,  Mattae,  Schunip,  Kern,  and  Heidemyer,  the  latter 
being  now  the  pastor,  and  preaching  once  a  week.  After 
Conrad  Beeler,  the  class-leader  was  John  Reu.ter,  and  in 
1869,  Gottleib  Nagler,  the  present  leader,  was  appointed. 
The  membership  is  now  42;  the  trustees  are  Conrad  Beeler, 
August  Gush,  Jacob  Schmelicher,  Sr.,  Jacob  Schmelicher, 
Jr.,  Gottleib  Nagler,  John  Timm,  and  Ernst  Gush. 

EAST  IRVING  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH. 

Jan.  12,  1868,  Rev.  S.  H.  Smith  organized  a  Wesleyaa 
Methodist  class  in  the  school-house  on  section  14.  The 
members  were  Philip  Segar,  Steward  ;  William  Moulton, 
Leader ;  Mary  Moulton,  Eliza  Fowler,  Daniel  Sparks, 
Francis  Ruckle,  Anna  Jones,  Mary  Slocum,  and  B.  Eck- 
ert.  Revs.  Richards,  Bliss,  Selleck,  Ross,  and  Jones  were 
the  ministers  who  succeeded  Mr.  Smith  until  the  summer 
of  1877.  At  that  time,  the  project  of  building  a  church 
being  agitated,  William  Moulton  essayed  to  push  the  matter 
forward,  and  upon  his  individual  responsibility  undertook 
the  task  of  putting  up  the  edifice,  trusting  to  the  support 
of  the  members  of  the  class  as  the  work  went  on.  He  was, 
however,  disappointed  in  this  expectation,  and,  receiving  no 
aid  from  that  quarter,  found  himself  with  an  unfinished  house 
of  worship  on  his  hands.  In  this  emergency  he  determined 
to  organize  a  Congregational  Church,  provided  the  Congre- 
gational Union  would  supply  the  funds  necessary  for  the 
completion  of  the  building,  and,  this  being  pledged,  the  Ea,st 
Irving  Congregational  Church  was  straightway  organized 
by  Rev.  J.  B.  Jones  (previously  pastor  of  the  Wesleyan 
class)  with  18  members.  Jacob  Wolf  and  George  Coulter, 
now  deacons,  were  chosen  in  1877.  Rev.  Mr.  Jones  is 
still  the  pastor,  and  the  pastor  likewise  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  at  Freeport.  The  membership  is  now  about 
20. 

METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  OP  IRVING. 

A  Methodist  Episcopal  class  was  organized  at  Irvin" 
village  in  1868  by  Rev.  S.  P.  Hewitt,  the  then  preacher  on 
the  Irving  Circuit.    George  Brown,  chosen  first  class-leader, 


IRVING  TOWNSHIP. 


44T 


continued  to  serve  as  such  until  1879,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Frank  Campbell,  the  present  leader. 

Following  Hewitt,  the  pastors  were  Revs.  Marsh,  Parker, 
Hayes,  Browning,  Whitmore,  and  John  J.  McAllister,  who 
is  now  on  the  circuit.  Worship  was  held  in  the  village 
school-house  until  1877,  when  the  present  handsome  brick 
church  edifice  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  $3000.  The  trus- 
tees are  Enoch  Sylvester,  John  Texter,  Frank  Campbell, 
Harmon  Wilcox,  William  Cridler.  William  Cridler  is  su- 
perintendent of  the  Sunday-school. 

FIRST  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH  OF  IRVING. 

The  first  public  religious  services  in  Irving  village  were 
held  about  1854,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Waldo,  a  Congregationalist, 
in  a  buildin;?  put  up  by  L.  B.  Hill,  for  a  chair-factory,  and 
subsequently  used  for  a  grist-mill.  About  that  time  and 
subsequently,  Rev.  Mr.  Tapley,  a  Wesleyan  Methodist,  Rev. 
Mr.  Osborne,  a  Baptist,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Kidder,  a  Congrega- 
tionalist, held  occasional  services  in  the  village. 

Previous  to  1870  the  pastors  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Hastings  used  to  preach  in  Irving  once  in  two  weeks, 
but  in  the  year  mentioned  the  minister  of  that  church 
concluded  to  confine  his  labors  to  Hastings,  whereupon 
the  Presbyterians  at  and  near  Irving  requested  Rev.  D.  B. 
Campbell  to  organize  a  church  there,  and  to  become  the 
pastor.  He  was  commissioned  a  home  missionary  Oct.  1, 
1870,  and  Jan.  1, 1871,  with  Rev.  T.  D.  Marsh  and  Ruling 
Elders  J.  P.  Roberts  and  Richard  Young,  effected  the  de- 
sired organization  at  Irving.  The  members  numbered  16, 
and  until  April  20,  1877,  the  church  prospered  more  or 
less,  but  at  that  time  it  was  resolved  to  dissolve  the  organi- 
zation with  a  view  to  the  formation  of  a  Congregational 
Church. 

On  the  13th  of  the  ensuing  May,  accordingly,  Rev. 
Levi  Warren,  of  Grand  Rapids,  superintendent  of  Home 
Missions  for  the  American  Missionary  Society,  preached  in 
the  Irving  school-house  preparatory  to  the  organization  of 
a  Congregational  Church,  and  on  that  occasion  P.  L.  Blake, 
G.  K.  Beamer,  and  A.  E.  Bull,  were  appointed  a  committee 
to  call  for  an  ecclesiastical  council.  May  20th  a  confession 
of  faith  was  adopted,  and  May  25th  the  organization  was 
completed  by  the  admission  of  members,  as  follows :  P.  L. 
Blake,  Mary  E.  Blake,  Patience  Teeple,  Lucy  C.  Teeple, 
Mrs.  Saloma  Bierce,  and  Mary  E.  Hendershott,  from  the 
Wesleyan  Methodist  Church  ;  J.  J.  Hendershott,  Martha 
Hendershott,  Nancy  J.  Dudley,  Eliza  J.  Lee,  James  C. 
Hanna,  Lucena  Hanna,  George  K.  Beamer,  A.  E.  Bull, 
Anna  J.  Beamer,  Lydia  Ann  Bull,  D.  B.  Pratt,  Violetta 
L.  Gardner,  Isabella  Campbell,  Marietta  Campbell,  and 
Euphemia  M.  Hoyt,  from  the  Presbyterian  Church ;  Emma 
M.  Campbell,  from  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  ;  and 
Mary  T.  Gibbs,  Catharine  T.  Hendershott,  W.  S.  Gibbs, 
H  J.  Dudley,  Mrs.  Clara  Dow,  Miss  Lizzie  J.  Nash,  Mrs. 
Alice  M.  Dudley,  and  Miss  Minnie  Lee  on  profession.  A. 
E.  Bull,  F.  L.  Blake,  and  G.  K.  Beamer  were  chosen 
deacons,  and  April  9,  1878,  the  church  joined  the  Grand 
River  Conference.  The  church  building  now  in  use  was 
built  at  the  cost  of  14000,  and  finished  in  September,  1878. 
The  first  services  therein  were  at  a  meeting  of  the  Sunday- 
school,  September  8th,  on  which  occasion  the  first  prayer  was 


offered  by  G.  K.  Beamer,  and  on  September  22d,  Rev.  W. 
S.  Bugbey  preached  the  first  sermon,  the  edifice  being  dedi- 
cated on  the  19th  of  the  following  November.  Rev.  Mr. 
Moore  preached  as  supply  until  the  engagement  of  Rev.  W. 
S.  Bugbey,  the' present  pastor,  who  preached  also  at  Middle- 
ville.  The  Irving  Church  has  now  a  membership  of  30. 
The  deacons  are  G.  K.  Beamer,  F.  L.  Blake,  and  J.  C. 
Hanna.  The  Sunday-school  is  in  charge  of  G.  K.  Beamer, 
assisted  by  five  teachers,  and  has  an  average  attendance  of 
40. 

THE  FREEPORT.  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH 
was  organized  May  27, 1877,  by  Rev.  I.  B.Jones,  with  21 
members.  P.  H.  Segar  and  J.  H.  Adams  were  chosen 
deacons,  and  are  still  in  office.  The  church  now  occupied 
was  begun  in  1877,  dedicated  July  27,  1879,  and  cost 
$2500.  The  trustees  are  P.  H.  Segar,  J.  H.  Adams,  and 
Marcus  B.  Childs.     The  church  membership  is  28. 

THE   FREEPORT   UNITED    BRETHREN    CLASS, 

now  worshiping  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  was 
organized  by  Rev.  Mr.  Lane,  in  1877,  as  a  revival  of  a 
United  Brethren  class,  which  had  been  worshiping  in  the 
neighborhood.  There  were  8  members,  of  whom  Free- 
man Fish,  the  present  class-leader,  was  then  chosen  leader. 
There  are  now  24  members.  Rev.  Mr.  Stimpson,  on  the 
Bowne  Circuit,  preaches  once  a  fortnight. 

THE    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH    OF    FREEPORT 

was  organized  in  the  summer  of  1878  with  but  6  mem- 
bers, and  since  then  has  not  grown  very  materially  in 
strength.  There  is  preaching  every  Sunday  by  Rev.  F.  I. 
Bell,  of  Bowne  Centre.  Elisha  Jennings  is  the  class- 
leader.  The  trustees  are  Elisha  Jennings,  Mrs.  Susan 
Jennings,  John  Freeland,  Geo.  Salsbury,  J.  A.  D.  Vore, 
and  Mrs.  J.  A.  D.  Vore; 

IRVING  GRANGE,   No.  52, 

was  organized  Aug.  13,  1873,  with  18  members.  J.  J. 
Hendershott  was  chosen  first  Master,  and  served  through 
'73,  '74,  and  '75,  followed  in  order  by  John  Campbell,  J. 
C.  Hanna,  and  Isaac  Cunningham  to  1879,  when  he  was 
again  elected.  The  chief  officers  at  present  are  J.  J.  Hen- 
dershott, M. ;  J.  C.  Hanna,  Sec. ;  B.  B.  Travis,  0. ;  Allen 
Matthews,  L.  ;  Wm.  A.  Moore,  Chaplain  ;  James  Brew, 
Treas.  The  membership  is  now  23.  Regular  sessions  are 
held  in  Grange  Hall,  at  Irving. 

IRVING  VILLAGE. 

In  1832,  L.  B.  Hills,  of  New  York,  settled  in  Wayne 
Co.,  Mich.,  and  in  1849  bought  six  80-acre  lots  on  the 
Thornapple  River,  in  Irving  township,  where  Irving  village 
now  stands.  The  fine  water-power  at  that  point  induced 
him  to  make  the  purchase,  and  in  July,  1849,  he  let  the 
contract  for  building  a  dam.  In  1851  he  put  up  a  saw- 
mill and  himself  carried  it  on.  Then  too  came  William 
Gibbs,  a  blacksmith,  and  presently  Mr.  Hills  made  a  bold 
push  forward  by  the  erection  upon  the  river  in  1853  of  two 
buildings,  intended  respectively  for  a  chair-factory  and  a 
foundry.  These  latter  projects,  however,  were  not  carried 
out,  and  in  October,  1854,  Asahel  Hubbard,  coming  to  the 


448 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


place,  purchased  a  half-interest  in  the  water-power,  and,  in 
conjunction  with  Hills,  converted  the  proposed  chair-factory 
into  a  grist-mill,  with  two  run  of  stone.  Hills  &  Hubbard 
were  the  mill  proprietors  for  a  few  years  after  that,  when 
Hills  disposed  of  his  interest  to  Jeremiah  Hendershott.  In 
1871,  Hubbard  &  Hendershott  erected  the  mill  now  carried 
on  at  Irving  by  Gardner,  Campbell  &  Co.  It  contains  five  run 
of  stone,  represents  an  investment  of  upwards  of  $30,000,  and 
is  accounted  one  of  the  finest  mills  in  Michigan.  Its  capacity 
is  about  150  barrels  of  flour  daily,  and,  besides  doing  a  large 
business  in  custom-work,  it  ships  a  great  deal  of  flour  to 
Europe  as  well  as  to  the  New  England  markets. 

Irving  village  was  surveyed  by  L.  B.  Hills  in  1859,  but 
when  the  water-power  and  milling  interests  passed  to  the 
control  of  Mr.  Hubbard  the  place  came  to  be  known  as 
Hubbardville,  and  as  such  is  popularly  known  even  now, 
although  the  post-oflSce  and  railway-station  have  always 
been  known  as  Irving. 

Mr.  Hubbard  opened  the  first  village  store  in  a  portion 
of  his  residence  in  1859,  but  the  first  full-stocked  general 
store  was  the  one  opened  in  1861  by  F.  L.  Blake,  and  still 
kept  by  him.  In  1865  the  post-oflBce  at  Power's,  east  of 
the  village,  was  transferred  to  Irving;  in  1868  the  railway 
now  passing  through  the  place  was  completed. 

FEEEPOET  VILLAGE. 

In  1874  there  was  a  promising  prospect  that  the  Kala- 
mazoo, Lowell  and  North  Michigan  Railroad  would  be 
completed,  and,  indeed,  the  grading  of  a  major  portion  of 
the  route  was  assured.  The  line  crossed  the  northeastern 
corner  of  Irving  township,  on  section  1,  where  M.  S.  and 
Samuel  Roush  owned  land  upon  which  they  conceived  the 
project  of  laying  out  a  town,  and  so,  in  November,  1874, 
they  platted  the  present  village  of  Freeport.  The  only 
business  enterprise  there  at  that  time  was  M.  S.  Roush's 
saw-mill,  which  was  at  once  reinforced  by  a  store  building 
erected  by  Reigler  &  Roush,  who  built  also  a  second  one, 
and  leased  it  to  J.  H.  Herrington.  Although  the  railway 
enterprise  failed  to  culminate,  Freeport  pushed  forward,  and, 
still  hoping  for  a  railway  at  no  distant  day,  is  a  smart  vil- 


lage, containing  three  stores,  two  churches,  the  handle  and 
rake- factory  of  Job  Cheesbrough,  where  sixteen  people  find 
employment,  a  wagon-shop,  hotel,  etc. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH. 


JAMES   C.  HANNA. 

James  C.  Hanna  was  born  in  the  town  of  Virgil,  Cort- 
land Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  13,  1815.  He  was  the  son  of  James 
and  Elizabeth  (Barton)  Hanna,  who  reared  a  family  of 
twelve  children.  James  resided  at  home  until  he  attained 
his  majority,  when  he  entered  the  employ  of  David  R. 
Barton,  of  Rochester,  in  the  manufacture  of  edge-tools. 
With  Barton  he  remained  three  years,  when  he  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  scythes  and  axes  at  Avon,  N.  Y.  This 
venture  proved  unremunerative,  and  he  was  next  engaged 
in  farming  near  Geneseo,  N.  Y.  But  farming,  owing  to 
his  limited  means,  was  not  a  satisfactory  pursuit  in  a  pecu- 
niary way,  and  after  two  years  of  unproductive  labor  he 
became  a  boatman  on  the  Erie  Canal.  In  the  spring  of 
1856  he  came  to  Michigan,  and  settled  in  the  township 
of  Irving,  where  his  elder  brother,  Richard  N.,  had  settled 
in  1842  ;  here  he  has  since  resided,  and  in  many  ways  has 
identified  himself  with  the  development  of  the  town.  In  his 
political  affiliations  he  is  a  Greenbacker,  and  in  religion  a 
Congregationalist.  Although  not  seeking  political  prefer- 
ment, he  has  filled  many  positions  of  trust  and  responsi- 
bility, notably  that  of  supervisor,  town  treasurer,  and  justice 
of  the  peace. 

Mr.  Hanna  has  been  thrice  married, — first  to  Miss  Mar- 
garet Kimbark,  of  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y.  She  died  in  1854, 
and  in  1859  he  married  his  brother's  widow,  whose  de- 
cease took  place  in  1877  ;  and  in  1879  he  was  again  married, 
to  Miss  Anna  Powers.  Mr.  Hanna  is  truly  a  representa- 
tive man,  and  stands  high  in  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all 
who  know  him.  He  is  the  arcliitect  of  his  own  fortune, 
and  has  secured  a  well-earned  competency. 


JOHNSTOWN; 


Johnstown  was  named  in  honor  of  John  Mott,  a 
Quaker  preacher,  who  lived  in  Jackson  Co.,  Mich.,  and 
who,  at  an  early  day,  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  in  the 
southeastern  part  of  Barry  County,  intending  to  send  a 
colony  of  "  Friends"  thither.  The  project,  however,  was 
abandoned,  and  the  land  was  subsequently  sold.  As  Mr. 
Mott,  in  accordance  with  Quaker  customs,  was  generally 
called  "  John"  by  his  brethren  in  the  faith,  early  settlers 
and  land-seekers  referred  to  this  locality  as  John's  Town. 
Consequently,  when  the  county  was  divided  into  four  town- 
ships, in  1838,  the  southeastern  one  received  the  name  of 
Johnstown.  In  1844  this  township  was  divided,  the  west- 
ern half  retaining  the  old  name.  In  1849  the  northern 
half  was  set  off  under  the  name  of  Baltimore.  Unless 
when  it  is  otherwise  stated,  the  name  of  "  Johnstown" 
will  be  applied  in  these  pages  to  the  district  of  which  that 
township  now  consists,  viz.,  survey-township  No.  1  north, 
in  range  8  west. 

NATURAL  FEATURES. 
Johnstown  is  divided  into  two  almost  equal  parts  by  a 
series  of  lakes  which,  with  their  outlets,  extend  from  near 
the  western  line  of  section  30  diagonally  northeast  across 
the  township.  Fine  Lake,  the  largest  in  the  township,  is 
the  first  in  the  chain.  Saw-mill  Lake  and  Bristol  Lake 
are  also  of  considerable  size.  Their  waters  flow  through 
Highbank  Creek  into  the  Thornapple  River.  The  south- 
eastern part  of  the  township  is  drained  by  a  small  stream 
that  flows  into  the  Kalamazoo  River  through  Calhoun 
County.  Along  the  west  side  of  the  chain  of  lakes  is  a 
range  of  steep  and  in  some  places  precipitous  hills,  which 
terminates  in  an  elevated  fertile  tract  that  originally  con- 
sisted of  prairie  and  scantily  timbered  belts.  There  are  a 
number  of  low  tracts  and  tamarack  swamps  in  the  town- 
ship, most  of  which  can  be  drained.  The  tillable  land  is 
generally  very  productive. 

EAELY  SETTLEMENT. 
In  the  year  1835,  Harlow  Merrill,  a  resident  of  Oswego 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  reached  Battle  Creek,  Mich.,  and  employed  a 
man  to  assist  him  in  locating  a  piece  of  government  land. 
Mr.  Merrill  was  conducted  along  an  Indian  trail  to  the 
southern  part  of  Johnstown.  Here  his  guide  pointed  out 
a  very  fine  piece,  of  about  80  acres,  and  told  him  how  it 
was  designated  on  the  survey.  This,  without  much  delay, 
Mr.  Merrill  concluded  to  buy.  For  that  purpose  he  imme- 
diately returned  to  Battle  Creek,  and  proceeded  thence  to 
the  government  land-oflSce.  There  the  money  was  paid, 
and  Mr.  Merrill  received  a  certificate  showing  his  right  to 
the  land,  to  be  afterwards  supplemented  by  a  patent. 


»  By  G.  A.  McAlpine. 


57 


In  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  of  1836,  having  made 
what  preparation  his  very  limited  means  would  allow,  and 
accompanied  by  his  wife,  three  sons,  and  two  daughters,  he 
started  for  the  remote  and  almost  unknown  Territory  of 
Michigan.  He  drove  a  yoke  of  cattle  attached  to  a  covered 
wagon  from  Oswego  to  Buffalo,  where  the  entire  outfit  was 
placed  on  board  a  steamer  bound  for  Detroit.  The  wheels 
were  taken  from  the  wagon  and  the  covered  box  placed  on 
the  deck,  where  it  served  as  a  sleeping-room. 

At  Detroit  the  younger  members  of  the  family,  with 
their  mother,  resumed  their  places  in  the  wagon.  After  a 
toilsome  journey  of  a  week  the  little  party  reached  t-'attle 
Creek.  There  Mr.  Merrill  left  his  family  and  proceeded  to 
his  land  in  Johnstown. 

Wishing  to  be  more  certain  of  the  location  of  his  prop- 
erty before  building,  he  made  an  investigation,  which  sliowed 
that  the  land  he  had  seen  was  not  that  which  he  had 
bought.  Contrary  to  what  might  have  been  expected,  how- 
ever, the  land  his  certificate  described,  which  was  the  east 
half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  35,  was  nearly  as 
good  as  that  which  the  guide  had  shown  him.  Not  being 
much  disappointed,  and  being  inclined  to  consider  all  things 
for  the  best,  Mr.  Merrill  proceeded  at  once  to  build  a  cabin 
of  poplar  logs,  with  a  roof  made  of  slabs  split  from  a  tree, 
and  a  floor  of  the  same  material.  There  was  a  place  for  a 
door  and  one  for  a  window,  but  for  the  time  those  places 
were  left  unoccupied.  After  bringing  his  family  to  their 
new  home,  Mr.  Merrill  split  rails  for  Albert  Shepherd,  near 
Battle  Creek,  and  with  the  money  received  from  him  went 
to  Toledo,  Ohio,  to  purchase  some  necessary  articles.  With 
his  faithful  cattle,  he  made  the  journey  in  about  two  weeks' 
time. 

At  intervals  during  several  years  Mr.  Merrill  was  in  the 
habit  of' working  in  Battle  Creek,  for  which  he  was  some- 
times paid  money,  but  for  which  he  generally  received  pro- 
visions, which  he  carried  home  on  Saturday  night  on  his 
back,  the  distance  being  ten  miles.  At  one  time  a  party  of 
Indians,  who  had  been  at  Battle  Creek  and  become  intoxi- 
cated, came  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Merrill,  and,  finding  him 
and  his  elder  sons  absent,  began  to  appropriate  everything 
to  their  own  use.  They  were  very  ill  tempered  and  boister- 
ous, whooping  and  yelling  continually.  Watching  his  op- 
portunity when  they  were  all  outside,  the  youngest  son,  a 
lad  of  twelve  years,  who  was  at  home  with  his  mother  and 
younger  sisters,  bolted  the  door,  and  with  a  long  iron-handled 
shovel  took  his  place  beside  the  window,  declaring  he  would 
kill  the  first  that  attempted  to  enter.  The  Indians  swore 
all  the  English  oaths  they  knew,  but  the  little  fellow  re- 
mained at  his  post.  They  even  fired  their  guns  into  the 
window,  but  without  effect.  What  might  have  happened 
had  this  not  been  interrupted  it  is,  of  course,  impossible  to 

449 


450 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


say,  but  at  this  point  the  elder  sons,  who  had  been  out 
hunting,  returned  home,  when  the  Indians  withdrew. 

The  same  year  that  Mr.  Merrill  settled  in  Johnstown, 
William  P.  Bristol,  with  five  other  land-seekers,  came  to  the 
township.  Mr.  Bristol  finally  resolved  to  buy  400  acres  on 
section  4.  Another  of  the  party,  Rufus  Cole,  decided  on 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  17  for  himself,  and  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  8  and  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  5  for  his  brother,  Jason  Cole.  Ai'ter  traveling 
all  day  the  party,  headed  by  William  Bristol,  went  to  the 
Indian  village  on  the  bank  of  the  body  of  water  now 
known  as  Bristol  Lake,  and  desired  shelter  for  the  night. 
The  village  consisted  of  from  20  to  30  wigwams.  The  In- 
dians received  the  travelers  kindly  through  one  of  their 
number,  named  Joseph,  who  could  speak  English.  He 
informed  them  that  the  only  lodge  empty  was  that  of  the 
chief,  who  was  absent,  and  the  door  of  whose  lodge  was 
locked.  But  after  considerable  deliberation  among  them- 
selves, they  finally  concluded  to  risk  the  anger  of  their  chief 
rather  than  be  inhospitable  to  strangers.  The  party  was 
conducted  to  the  door  referred  to.  It  consisted  of  pieces 
of  bark  placed  upright,  and  the  lock  was  a  slender  pole 
leaned  against  them,  not  to  fasten  them  in  their  places,  but 
to  signify  that  the  owner  was  absent.  The  "  lock"  was  re- 
moved and  the  party  entered,  passing  the  night  in  perfecct 
quiet. 

Early  in  the  year  1837,  Stephen  Collier  reached  the 
township  and  settled  on  section  34,  just  south  of  Mr.  Mer- 
rill. His  family  consisted  of  a  wife  and  three  children, — 
two  sons  and  a  daughter.  One  of  the  sons.  Victory  P. 
Collier,  afterwards  for  two  terms  treasurer  of  the  State  of 
Michigan,  was  then  a  youth  of  twenty  years. 

The  next  settler  was  John  Culver.  He  was  employed 
by  W.  P.  Bristol  to  come  to  Michigan  and  make  some  im- 
provements on  the  land  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town- 
ship which  Mr.  Bristol  had  bought  the  year  previous.  Mr. 
Culver  was  to  ''  build  a  log  house,  put  in  a  field  of  corn,  a 
patch  of  potatoes,''  and  make  some  minor  improvements, 
for  which  he  was  to  receive  a  .quarter-section  of  land. 

After  many  discouragements,  which  he  was  ill  prepared 
to  meet  (the  most  serious  of  which  was  the  destruction  by 
fire  of  his  hay,  which  he  had  hauled  from  Gull  Prairie,  and 
the  serious  injury  of  his  wagon  at  the  same  time),  he  gave 
up,  and,  it  is  said,  started  to  return  to  New  York.  Meet- 
ing a  land-speculator,  however,  he  purchased  120  acres  on 
section  22,  where  he  built  a  house  much  after  the  plan  of 
Mr.  Merrill's,  into  which  he  moved  before  it  was  completed. 
Before  it  was  completed,  too,  Thomas  Iden,  with  his  wife, 
four  sons,  and  one  daughter,  arrived,  and  they  were  all 
given  shelter  with  the  family  of  Mr.  Culver  until  their 
goods  should  come  from  Detroit.  Soon  after,  William  P. 
Bristol  came  with  his  wife,  two  sons,  and  three  daughters. 
He  found  none  of  the  improvements  which  he  expected, 
and  no  place  for  his  family  to  live.  There  was  still  room 
in  the  little  cabin  of  Mr.  Culver  for  a  few  more,  and  here 
Mr.  Bristol  decided  to  leave  his  family  until  he  could 
build  a  house  for  them.  On  the  evening  of  the  first  day 
that  Mr.  Bristol  reached  the  house  of  Mr.  Culver,  a  party 
pf  surveyors  also  happened  along.  These,  with  the  mem- 
bers of  the  families  referred  to,  made  a  total  of  22  persons 


to  pass  the  night  beneath  Mr.  Culver's  roof.  The  example 
of  the  pioneers  might  well  teach  the  present  generation 
hospitality. 

The  next  morning  Mr.  Bristol,  with  what  aid  he  could 
obtain,  started  for  his  land  and  began  to  erect  a  house. 
But,  as  this  was  to  be  some  time  in  building,  he  took  a 
very  fine  rag  carpet  which  his  wife  had  made  in  New  York 
for  the  floor  of  their  new  house,  stretched  it  over  a  pole, 
and  had  quite  a  respectable  tent.  But  it  soon  began  to 
bleach  out,  and  when  they  moved  into  their  new  house 
some  weeks  after,  the  bright  colors  had  all  vanished. 

In  the  fall  and  winter  of  1837-38  several  other  families 
came  to  the  township,  that  of  S.  V.  R.  York,  vFho  had 
purchased  a  large  tract  on  sections  28  and  29  the  year  pre- 
vious, being  among  the  number.  Mr.  York's  family  con- 
sisted of  a  wife  and  three  daughters.  Mr.  York  was  first 
judge  of  probate  in  the  county.  While  living  in  Battle 
Creek,  Mr.  York,  with  Rustin  Angel  and  John  Meechim, 
a  surveyor,  had  been  appointed  to  establish  a  road  from 
Battle  Creek  through  Johnstown  to  Hastings.  This  road 
entered  Johnstown  near  the  southeast  corner  of  section 
33,  ran  northwest  to  a  point  near  the  northwest  corner  of 
section  20,  and  thence  extended  due  north  on  the  line  be- 
tween sections  17,  8,  and  5  on  the  east,  and  sections  18,  7, 
and  6  on  the  west.  It  has  never  been  materially  changed, 
and  is  now  known  as  the  old  State  road.  It  was  the  first 
road  located  in  the  township,  although  a  road  previously 
had  been  surveyed  through  the  eastern  part. 

Mr.  Henry  Paul,  who  now  resides  on  a  farm  near  Fine 
Lake,  was  then  a  young  man  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  York. 
He  helped  locate  this  road,  and  drove  the  first  team  over  it 
to  the  Thornapple  River,  He  was  married  some  years  later 
to  a  daughter  of  Elder  Emery  Cherry,  the  first  preacher  in 
Johnstown. 

Elder  Cherry  came  to  this  township  in  June,  1838, 
bringing  his  family,  consisting  of  a  wife,  two  boys,  and  two 
girls,  and  settled  on  section  33. 

Solomon  Getman  settled  on  section  35  probably  about 
the  same  time. 

Nelson  Barnum,  with  his  wife  and  one  son,  and  Jason 
Cole,  with  his  wife,  one  son,  and  three  daughters,  reached 
the  township  probably  in  the  early  summer  of  1838.  Mr. 
Barnum  bought  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  8.  Mr. 
Cole,  as  we  have  seen,  owned  320  acres,  purchased  for  him 
by  his  brother  two  years  previous. 

Oris  Barnum,  a  brother  of  Nelson,  came  soon  afterwards 
with  a  family  of  three  children.  Seth  Hull,  with  his  wife 
and  an  adopted  daughter,  reached  the  township  some  time 
previous  to  this,  and  located  100  acres  in  the  York  neigh- 
borhood. Alonzo  Brundage  arrived  in  the  township  in  the 
winter  of  1837-38.     He  bought  part  of  section  31. 

In  the  spring  of  1838,  Mr.  Bristol  started  a  blacksmith- 
shop,  and  employed  a  young  man  named  Erastus  Johnson 
as  blacksmith.  It  was  the  first  shop  of  the  kind  in  this 
part  of  the  county,  and  settlers  frequently  came  as  far  as 
from  Hickory  Corners  to  have  work  done. 

It  was  in  the  spring  of  1838  that  Johnstown  was  formed. 
It  contained  at  that  time  what  are  now  the  four  town- 
ships of  Assyria,  Maple  Grove,  Baltimore,  and  Johnstown. 
The  first  town-meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  William 


JOHNSTOWN  TOWNSHIP. 


451 


P.  Bristol  on  the  2d  day  of  April,  1838.  The  number  of 
voters  present  at  this  meeting  is  not  certainly  known,  but 
it  is  thouf;ht  that  it  did  not  exceed  the  twelve  whose  names 
are  given  below  ;  all  of  whom  received  at  least  one  office 
each,  while  several  of  them  obtained  two  or  three  offices 
apiece.  The  following  is  the  list :  Supervisor,  S.  V.  K. 
York ;  Clerk,  Harlow  Merrill ;  Commissioners  of  High- 
ways, Cleaveland  Ellis,  William  P.  Bristol,  Solomon  Get- 
man  ;  Assessors,  William  Sutton,  Stephen  Collier,  John 
Culver ;  Justices,  S.  V.  R.  York,  William  P.  Bristol,  Cleave- 
land Ellis,  Harlow  Merrill ;  School  Inspectors,  S.  V.  R. 
York,  William  Sutton,  Harlow  Merrill ;  Collector,  John 
Culver ;  Constables,  Solomon  Gretman,  Philo  Morton ; 
Overseers  of  the  Poor,  William  Henry  Smith,  S.  V.  R. 
York  ;  Fence-Viewers,  Eli  Lapham.  John  Culver,  S.  V.  R. 
York  ;  Pathmasters,  William  P.  Bristol,  Thomas  Iden. 

Mr.  Thomas  Iden,  already  mentioned,  died  in  the  fall  of 
1838.  There  was  then  no  cemetery  in  the  township,  and 
he  was  taken  to  Battle  Creek  for  burial.  This  was  the 
first  death  in  Johnstown. 

In  the  spring  of  1839,  Henry  P.  Bowman  located  in 
the  township.  He  was  married  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
year  to  Miss  Mary  Culver  by  Squire  S.  V.  R.  York.  This, 
the  first  wedding  in  Johnstown,  took  place  at  the  residence 
of  the  bride's  father,  and  the  happy  couple  settled  on  a 
farm  on  section  29. 

The  same  year  a  young  man  named  Joseph  Babcock 
came  from  New  York  and  hired  to  work  for  Mr.  Bristol 
"  for  a  bushel  of  wheat  a  day."  He  received  for  his  ser- 
vices, at  the  -expiration  of  six  months,  150  bushels  of 
wheat,  which  he  afterwards  sold  for  3  shillings  per  bushel 
in  Battle  Creek.  It  is  related  of  Mr.  Babcock  that,  while 
mowing  in  the  marsh  just  ahead  of  Mr.  Bristol,  he  sud- 
denly dropped  his  scythe  and  sprang  back,  with  both  hands 
clutching  the  top  of  one  of  his  boots.  He  whirled  two  or 
three  times  around,  exclaiming,  "  Oh,  I'm  ruined,  I'm 
ruined  ;  I'll  be  dead  in  an  hour !"  After  many  questions, 
Mr.  Bristol  finally  understood  that  a  rattlesnake  was  in 
Babcock'a  boot.  Every  instant  the  terror  of  the  latter 
increased.  He  was  as  white  as  a  sheet  and  as  weak  as  a 
child.  He  would  have  his  boot  neither  cut  down  nor 
pulled  off,  but  sat  on  the  ground  lamenting  his  cruel  fate. 
When  he  became  a  little  more  quiet,  Mr.  Bristol  pulled 
the  boot  off,  and  with  it  came  the  hind-legs  of  a  frog. 

It  not  unfrequently  happened  that  little  incidents  came 
up  to  mar  the  friendly  terms  that  usually  existed  between 
the  whites  and  the  Indians,  of  which  latter  there  were  a 
great  many  in  Johnstown  in  the  early  days.  The  follow- 
in"-  is  an  instance :  When  the  township  offered  a  bounty 
of  $2  for  every  wolf  killed,  several  plans  were'  resorted  to 
in  order  to  catch  the  wily  animals.  John  Culver  made  a 
"  wolf  fall,"  which  consisted  of  a  hole  dug  to  a  considerable 
depth,  and  so  arranged  that  should  anything  fall  into  it,  it 
could  not  get  out.  Upon  going  to  his  trap  one  morning, 
Mr.  Culver  found  a  wolf  (as  he  supposed)  fairly  caught  in 
it.  The  animal  was  forthwith  killed  and  decapitated.  But 
some  of  Mr.  Culver's  neighbors  were  not  satisfied  that  it 
was  a  wolf,  and  an  Indian,  who  was  passing,  was  called  on 
to  give  his  opinion.  When  he  was  shown  the  head,  he 
looked  uncertain,  and  asked   for   the  body.     When  the 


body  was  brought,  the  Indian  shook  his  head,  grunted 
"  Chief's  dog,''  and  departed.  The  chief  was  quite  in- 
dignant, and  demanded  $10  for  the  slain  animal,  but  finally 
compromised  on  $2. 

At  another  time,  when  Mr.  Bristol's  hogs,  which  had 
destroyed  a  small  patch  of  potatoes  belonging  to  the  In- 
dians, had  been  terribly  torn  by  their  dogs,  Mr.  Bristol  went 
alone  to  their  camp  and  told  them  he  would  kill  all  their 
dogs  if  his  hogs  were  again  so  abused.  The  chief  listened 
quietly,  and  then  replied  that  they  could  settle  better  if 
they  should  wait  and  see  whether  the  hogs  lived  or  died. 
The  hogs  all  recovered,  and  Mr.  Bristol  had  nearly  forgotten 
the  occurrence,  when  the  chief  one  day  called  and  demanded 
pay  for  the  potatoes.  This  Mr.  Bristol  refused.  The  chief 
looked  grieved,  and  said,  "  Hogs  all  get  well, — potatoes  all 
destroyed."  His  philosophy  was  too  much  for  Mr.  Bristol, 
who  gave  him  twice  as  many  potatoes  as  he  demanded  and 
a  large  plug  of  tobacco.  The  chief  said,  "  Big  good,"  and 
went  his  way. 

Mr.  Bristol,  who  had  become  quite  expert  at  the  anvil, 
made  a  rude  knife  one  day  for  an  Indian  at  his  request. 
While  at  work  he  asked  the  Indian  if  he  had  any  money, 
and  the  latter  replied  that  he  had  not.  The  knife  was 
completed  and  handed  over  to  the  red  man  without  further 
remark.  A  long  time  passed,  when  one  day  the  same  In- 
dian, with  a  hind-quarter  of  a  large  deer  on  his  back,  came 
to  the  door  of  Mr.  Bristol's  house  and  laid  down  his  burden, 
with  the  exclamation,  "  Indian  honest, — Indian  pay." 

The  red  men  of  Johnstown  displayed  many  good  traits. 
Their  universal  good-will  and  kindness  to  the  early  settlers 
is  still  the  occasion  of  gratitude  on  the  part  of  those  whq 
shared  their  hospitality.  Further  information  regarding  the 
Indians  of  this  region  may  be  found  in  the  general  history. 

From  the  year  1839  until  all  the  tillable  land  was  occu- 
pied the  settlement  of  Johnstown  was  very  rapid. 

ROADS. 

The  first  road  in  Johnstown,  as  has  been  stated,  was  the 
Old  or  West  State  road,  which  was  established  in  1837. 
The  next  road  was  established  June  12,  1838.  It  lay  on 
the  base-line,  commencing  just  east  of  the  southeast  corner 
of  section  35  ;  thence  west  to  the  southeast  corner  of  section 
34.  It  was  established  by  William  P.  Bristol  and  Solomon 
Getman,  commissioners. 

The  next  day  the  road  north  from  the  western  termi- 
nus of  this  one  was  established.  It  ran  north  between 
sections  34  and  35,  26  and  27  ;  thence  northwest  to  a 
quarter-post  on  the  south  line  of  section  22,  from  which 
place  it  extended  northwest  to  the  section-line  between  sec- 
tions 21  and  22.   It  was  about  two  and  one-half  miles  long. 

On  the  14th  of  the  same  month  a  road  was  located,  run- 
ning north  between  the  West  State  road  and  the  one  just 
described.  This  highway  commenced  on  the  base-line 
on  section  33,  and  terminated  at  the  quarter-post  on  the 
north  line  of  section  9.  The  road  between  the  townships 
of  Johnstown  and  Barry  was  established  June  24,  1839. 

These  roads  were  the  lines  of  travel  for  emigrants  into 
the  townships  and  to  the  country  on  the  north  of  Johns- 
town. The  east-and-west  roads  have  been  established  as 
the  settlements  in  the  various  localities  required. 


452 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


SCHOOLS. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  school  inspectors,  held  on 
the  9th  day  of  April,  1838,  the  northern  half  of  the  present 
territory  of  Johnstown  and  all  of  Baltimore  were  formed  into 
one  school  district,  called  district  No.  1.  District  No.  2 
comprised  what  is  now  Maple  Grove  and  Assyria,  while  dis- 
trict No.  3  comprised  the  southern  half  of  the  present  ter- 
ritory of  Johnstown.  On  the  9th  of  September,  1838,  dis- 
tricts 1  and  3  were  rearranged.  Survey-township  No.  1, 
range  8  (now  Johnstown),  was  then  divided  into  three 
school  districts,  as  follows  :  The  southwestern  quarter  of  the 
township  was  district  No.  1 ;  the  southeastern  quarter 
was  district  No.  2;  while  the  northwestern  quarter  was 
No.  3.     The  northeastern  quarter  was  left  unorganized. 

It  is  probable  that  until  this  time  there  had  been  no  pub- 
lic schools  in  the  township,  although  there  had  been  two 
terms  of  a  private  school  taught  by  Miss  Sarah  Curtis. 
One  term  was  taught  by  her  in  the  house  of  W.  P.  Bristol, 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  township,  for  which  she  received 
$1.50  per  week.  Her  other  term  was  taught  in  the  house 
of  Seth  Hull,  who  with  his  wife  had  gone- to  Hastings  to 
board  the  men  who  were  building  a  mill  at  that  place.  It 
is  not  definitely  known  whioh  of  these  terms  was  the  first. 

The  first  school  building  completed  in  Johnstown  stood 
on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  28,  and  was  built  in 
1840.  A  school  building  in  the  north  part  of  the  township 
had  been  commenced,  but  had  not  been  completed.  Walter 
Woodard  taught  the  first  school  in  the  new  building. 

The  school  board  next  divided  the  district  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  township.  The  new  one  consisted  of  sections  3, 
4,  5,  8,  9, 10,  and  was  designated  as  district  No.  4.  It  was 
in  the  Bristol  neighborhood,  and  the  school-house  which 
had  been  commenced  was  then  completed.  It  served  until 
the  present  fine  building  was  erected,  a  few  years  since.  In 
1843  the  number  of  districts  in  the  four  townships  which 
then  composed  Johnstown  was  eight,  but  schools  were  kept 
in  only  six  of  them.  The  number  of  scholars  is  not  given. 
The  money  apportioned  among  the  districts  amounted  to 
$33.  The  first  applicants  for  certificates  to  teach  are  re- 
corded May  6,  1843,  their  names  being  Cordelia  Robinson 
and  Caroline  Robinson.  Both  were  successful.  On  the 
9th  of  December,  of  the  same  year,  Sally  Maria  Woodward 
received  a  certificate. 

Afler  Baltimore  was  set  oflf  from  Johnstown  there  were 
five  school  districts  and  118  scholars  enrolled  in  the  latter 
township.  The  amount  of  interest  on  the  school  fund  was 
$46.24. 

In  1860  the  number  of  scholars  was  300 ;  the  number 
of  districts  nine  ;  the  amount  of  money  apportioned  among 
them  1152.72.  In  1870  the  amount  distributed  was 
$373.92.  In  1879  there  were  eleven  districts  (whole  and 
fractional),  with  an  attendance  of  400  scholars. 

CHUKOH  HISTORY. 
Soon  after  his  arrival,  in  1838,  Elder  Emery  Cherry  be- 
gan to  hold  religious  meetings  in  various  parts  of  the  town- 
ship. When  Elder  York  arrived  the  two  denominations 
to  which  they  respectively  belonged  (Baptist  and  Free- Will 
Baptist)  held  services  together.  They  usually  met  at  the 
school-house  in  the  York  neighborhood.     It  is  believed, 


however,  that  a  church  organization  was  not  effected,  and 
after  a  few  years  the  meetings  were  discontinued. 

THE  WBSLEYAN  METHODIST  CHUKCH. 
In  the  mean  time  two  ministers  of  the  Wesleyan  Metho- 
dist Church  began  a  series  of  meetings,  and,  although  they 
did  not  organize  a  class,  these  meetings  were  really  the 
beginning  of  the  Methodist  Church  of  Johnstown.  This 
society  was  organized  soon  after,  and  has  continued  to  meet 
to  the  present  time.  There  is  a  diversity  of  opinion  as  to 
who  the  minister  was  who  first  organized  the  class.  In 
the  fall  of  1864  Rev.  William  Rice  was  assigned  to  this 
charge.  He  soon  commenced  a  series  of  meetings,  which 
were  very  successful.  The  church  was  completed  during 
his  ministry.  It  was  dedicated  on  the  18th  of  June,  1867, 
the  pastor  being  assisted  by  Dr.  Hatfield.     It  cost  $4000. 

THE   FIRST   CONGREGfATIONAL    CHURCH. 

In  1865  Rev.  H.  H.  Van  Auken  commenced  to  hold 
meetings  in  the  school-house  of  district  No.  4.  The  or- 
ganizing of  the  society  of  the  First  Congregational  Church 
of  Johnstown  was  the  result  of  his  labors.  Rev.  Jones 
had  held  meetings  in  the  same  place,  but  without  definite 
result.  On  March  6, 1865,  the  first  annual  meeting  of  the 
society  was  held.  The  church  building  on  section  12  was 
built  in  1866. 

MILLS. 

The  first  and  only  saw-mill  in  Johnstown  run  by  water 
was  commenced  where  the  road  crosses  the  outlet  of  Culver 
or  Saw-mill  Lake,  by  Andrew  Corey.  Mr.  Corey  soon  sold 
a  half-share  to  Simeon  Diedrich,  but  Mr.  Diedrich  could 
not  stand  the  ague,  so  he  sold  to  Mr.  Bristol,  by  whom  the 
mill  was  completed.  A  steam  saw-mill  was  afterwards  built 
on  section  34.  Frederick  Ackley  also  built  one  on  section 
4  in  1850. 

STORES. 

The  building  used  as  a  store  in  the  west  part  of  the  town 
was  built  in  1876  by  H.  F.  Bellenger.  The  post-office  at 
this  place  was  established  in  1880.  The  store  in  the  east 
part  of  the  town  was  started  by  L.  N.  Mosier  in  1879. 

CIVIL  LIST. 
SUPERVISORS. 
1838,  S.  V.  R.  York;  1839-40,  Nelson  Barnum;  1841,  Oris  Barnam ; 
1842,  Cleveland  Ellis;  1843-44,  T.  J.  Humphrey;  1845,  Henry 
P.  Bowman;  1846,  Jason  Cowles;  1847-48,  John  Culver;  1849 
-50,  Jonathan  Johnson;  1851,  John  Culver;  1852,  H.  P.  Bow- 
man; 1853,  W.  Nye;  1854,  J.  H.  Monroe;  1855,  W.  P.  Bristol; 
1866,  Jason  Cowles;  1857,  James  Telford;  1858,  C.  P.  Iden  ;  1859 
-61,  James  Telford;  1862-64,  Levi  M.  Dewey;  1865-67,  Hiram 
Coleman;  1868-70,  L.  M.  Dewey;  1871-73,  J.  H.  Monroe;  1874 
-77,  L.  M.  Dewey;  1878,  J.  M.  Kipp;  1879-80,  E.  P.  ISye. 

TOWN  CLERKS. 
1838-42,  Harlow  Merrill;  1843,  V.  P.  Collier;  1844,  T.  P.  Dowling  ■ 
1845-46,  V.  P.  Collier;  1847-50,  H.  P.  Bowman;  1851,  H.  m! 
Marvin;  1§52,  C.  P.  Iden;  1853,  H.  P.  Bowman;  1854,  0 
Nichols;  1865,  C.  P.  Iden;  1856-62,  H.  P.  Cherry;  1863,  H 
J.  Brown;  1864-70,  H.  P.  Cherry;  1871-72,  B.  F.  Nye;  1873  J 
Johnson;  1874-78,  E.  F.  Nye;  1879,  R.  M.  Bellenger;  ]880,e'.P 
Young. 

TREASURERS. 
1839-41,  Cleaveland  Ellis;  1842,  T.  J.  Humphrey;   1843-45     John 
Culver;    1846,    C.    P.    Iden;    J 847,   Henry  York;    1848,   B.   R. 


JOHNSTOWN  TOWNSHIP. 


453 


Blanohard;  1849,  C.  P.  Iden ;  1850,  E.  Gregory;  1851,  C.  P. 
Iden;  1852,  W.  Nye;  1853,  John  Culver;  1854,  W.  B.  Wood- 
ward; 1855-61,  Henry  Paul;  1862-64,  Freeman  G.  Cowles;  1865 
-66,  J.  M.  Kipp;  1867-68,  ■VyilUam  Burroughs;  1869-70,  D.  H. 
Chase;  1871,  Henry  Bera;  1872,  J.  Johnson;  1873,  E.  F.  Nye; 
1874,  J.  Johnson;  1875-78,  George  Miller;  1879-80,  Hiram 
Merrill. 

JUSTICES    OF    THE   PEACE. 

1838,  S.  v.  E.  York,  William  P.  Bristol,  Cleaveland  Ellis,  Harlow 
Merrill;  1839,  Joseph  Blasdell;  1840,  William  Sutton;  1841, 
Nelson  Barnuni;  1842,  H.  P.  Bowman,  James  Cotton;  1843, 
Jason  Cowles,  Joseph  Blasdell;  1844,  Henry  York,  William 
Bristol;  1845,  Jason  Cowles;  1846,  H.P.Cherry;  1847,  0.  L. 
Ross;  1848,  W.  P.  Bristol;  1849,  Jason  Cowles;  1850,  T.  B. 
Hinohman;  1851,  0.  L.  Ross,  J.  Melvin;  1852,  W.-P.  Bristol,  J. 
Hovey;  1853,  Jason  Cowles,  R.  Farr;  1854,  Julian  Fish;  1855, 
H.  P.  Cherry;  1856,  W.  P.  Bristol;  1857,  A.  Patchen,  Hiram 
Coleman,  W.  B.  Woodward;  1858,  Julian  Fish,  J.  H.  Monroe, 
W.  H.  Jewell;  1859,  L.  Lee  Clark;  1860,  Hiram  Colemnn;  1861, 
John  Monroe;  1862,  H.  P.  Bowman;  1863,  J.  K.  Lothridge, 
John  Maile;  1864,  Hiram  Coleman,  W.  P.  Bristol;  1865,  C.  G. 
Jordan;  1866,  John  Maile,  J.  H.  Monroe;  1867,  D.  Fisher; 
1868,  D.  H.  Chase,  W.  P.  Bristol;  1869,  J.  H.  Monroe,  H.  Cole- 
man, G.  W.  Sheffield,  J.  S.  Stevens ;  1870,  W.  M.  Burroughs,  J. 
Johnson  ;  1871,  W.  P.  Bristol,  L.  D.  Tarbell,  C.  B.  Iden ;  1872, 
Hiram  Coleman,  J.  H.  Monroe,  Joseph  Johnson,  Henry  Paul; 
1873,  John  Zimmerman;  1874,  Willis  Humphrey,  F.  E.  Doty; 
1875,  Wesley  Clark,  Asahel  Beach,  A.  B.  Dewey;  1876,  W.  A. 
Clark,  J.  A.  Zimmerman,  H.  Coleman;  1877,  L.  N.  Mosier; 
1878,  J.  T.  Van  Syckle;  1879,  W.  A.  Clark;  1880,  Hiram  Cole- 
man. 

COMMISSIONERS   OF   HIGHWAYS. 

1838,  Cleaveland  Ellis,  William  P.  Bristol,  Solomon  Getman ;  1839, 
AVilliam  P.  Bristol,  Rufus  Cowles,  Cleaveland  Ellis ;  1840,  Cleave- 
land Ellis,  Rufus  Cowles,  Carver  Robinson  ;  1841,  Cleaveland  Ellis, 
V.  P.  Collier,  Rufus  Cowles;  1842,  C.  P.White,  D.  Baldwin,  Oris 
Barnum;  1843,  Carver  Robinson,  Daniel  Baldwin,  Alonzo  Brun- 
dage;  1844,  Alonzo  Brundage,  C.  Robinson,  J.  D.  Hasley;  1846, 
J.  D.  Hasley,  E.  R.  Gregory,  Henry  Pane;  1846,  J.  D.  Hasley, 
E.  R.  Gregory,  W.  Campbell;  1847,  R.  Farr,  W.  Nye,  Lucas 
Wilks;  1848,  G.  W.  Campbell;  1849,  E.  Gregory,  T.  Cowles; 
1850,  Henry  Morehouse;  1851-52,  William  P.  Bristol;  1853, 
Orin  Ross,  T.  J.  Humphrey;  1854,  B.  Gregory,  N.  P.  Powers; 
1855,  C.  G.  Jordan,  Robert  Knowels;  1856,  Trcmont  Cowles; 
1857,  Cyrus  Ingram,  John  H.  Monroe ;  1858,  Whitney  Abbott, 
Jerry  Powers;  1859,  J.  S.  Stevens;  1860,  M.  H.  Coleman;  1861, 
JulienFish;  1862,  A.  Dewey;  186.3,  M.  H.  Coleman  ;  1864,  Wil- 
liam P.  Bristol;  1865,  J.  A.  Zimmerman;  1866,  M.  H.  Coleman; 
1867,  W.  P.  Bristol;  1868,  H.  T.  Merrill;  1869,  M.  Coleman; 
1870,  C.  G.  Jordan  ;  1871,  Asahel  Beach,  H.  T.  Merrill ;  1872,  H. 
T.  Merrill;  1873,  A.  G.  Dewey;  1874,  Asahel  Beach,  J.  M.  Kipp; 
1875,  H.  T.  Merrill;  1876-77,  A.  Beach,  Jr.;  1878,  J.  Stevens, 
Elias  Bristol;  1879-80,  W.  A.  Clark. 

SCHOOL   INSPECTORS. 

1838,  S.  V.  R.  York,  William  Sutton,  Harlow  Merrill ;  1839,  S.  V.  R. 
York,  Nelson  Barnum,  Stephen  Raymond ;  1840,  Henry  P.  Bow- 
man, S.  V.  R.  York,  Harlow  Merrill;  1841,  Harlow  Merrill,  V. 
P.  Collier,  Nelson  Barnum ;  1842,  E.  Giles,  A.  Harwood,  V.  P. 
Collier;  1843,  Henry  P.  Bowman,  Harlow  Merrill;  1844,  William 
H.  Hull;  1845,  H.  Merrill,  Jason  Cowles;  1846,  D.  W.  Shotwell; 
1847,  0.  L.  Ross-;  1848,  H.  M.  Marvin  ;  1849,  Jason  Cowles;  1850, 
H.  M.  Marvin;  1851-62,  H.  P.  Bowman;  186.S,  E.  B.  Willison ; 
1854,  Theodore  Cressey;  1855,  James  Telford,  Jason  Cowles; 
1866,  Jason  Cowta;  1857,  J.  S.  Rouse;  1858,  N.  B.  Abbott; 
1869,  J.  S.  Rouse,  John  Maile;  I860,  James  Telford,  Theodore 
Cressey;  1861,  J.  D.  Buck;  1862,  J.  H.  Holmes,  John  Maile; 
1863,  John  Maile;  1864,  J.  H.  Holmes;  1865,  Theodore  Cressey; 
1866,  J.  H.  Holmes,  John  Maile;  1867,  H.  H.  Van  Aaken,  John 
Maile;  1868,  D.  H.  Chase,  George  Sheffield;  1869,  George  Shef- 
field; 1870,  D.  H.  Chase;  1871,  G.  T.  Cowles;  1872,  A.  C.  Stiles, 
C.  P.  Iden ;  1873,  Hiram  Coleman  ;  1874,  F.  E.  Dooty,  H.  M. 
Bristol;  1875,  Melvin  W.llifon  ;  1876,  record  deficient;  1877,  J. 


H.  Norris;  1878,  Ralph  Webster;  1879,  Edward  Young;  1880, 
Willard  Sylvester  Nye. 

COLLECTORS. 

1838,  John  Culver;  1839,  Rufus  Cowles;  1840,  Harvey  Paul;  1841, 
C.  P.  White. 

ASSESSORS. 

1839,  Nelson  Barnum,  Joseph  S..Blasdell,  Harlow  Merrill ;  1840,  J.  S. 
Blasdell,  Stephen  Collier,  Alonzo  Brundage;  1841,  no  record; 
1842,  J.  S.  Blasdell,  W.  P.  Bristol;  184.3,  Henry  York,  J.  F.  Ellis ; 
1844,  W.  P.  Bristol,  T.  B.  Humphrey;  1845,  Stephen  Collier, 
William  Nye;  1846,  Stephen  Collier,  Oris  Barnum;  1847,  B.  R. 
Blanohard,  W.  Nye ;  1848,  A.  Patchen,  D.  Shotwell ;  1849,  John 
Culver,  W.  B.  Woodward;  1860,  Elias  Willison,  H.  M.  Marvin. 


OVERSEERS   OF   THE   POOR. 

1838,  William  Henry  Smith,  S.  V.  R.  York ;  1839,  S.  V.  R.  York, 
Cleaveland  Ellis ;  1840,  W.  P.  Bristol,  John  Culver;  1841,  Daniel 
Baldwin,  Austin  Wright;  1842,  John  Culver,  Richard  MoOmber; 
1843,  E.  Mills,  Abel  Halleck  ;  1844,  Reuben  Farr,  Solomon  Get- 
man;  1846,  Jason  Cowles,  Moses  Farr;  1847,  H.  D.  York;  1848, 
F.  Coles,  S.  Collier;  1849,  John  Culver,  Thomas  Hinohman;  1850, 
C.  Robinson,  W.  L.  Morford ;  1 854,  William  Quinn,  Lucus  Wilks ; 
1858,  Henry  York,  John  Culver. 

SUPERINTENDENTS   OF   SCHOOLS. 

1875,  T.  B.  Doty;  1876,  F.  E.  Dodge;  1877,  M.  V.  Barker;  1878,  J. 
II.  Wiokwire;  1879,  M.  V.  Barker;  1880,  Thomas  Daniels. 

CONSTABLES. 

1838,  John  Culver,  Solomon  Getman,  Philo  Norton;  1839,  Rufus 
Cowles,  Philo  Norton,  Solomon  Getman  ;  1840,  James  Bailey, 
Henry  Paul;  1841,  C.  P.  White,  G.  W.  Campbell,  Rufus  H. 
Knappen,  Leander  Lapham ;  1842,  6.  W.  Campbell,  Henry  Paul, 
Peter  Downs,  L.  Lapham;  184.3,  James  L.  Fox,  Henry  Paul, 
William  H.  Hull,  C.  P.  White;  1844,  K.  H.  Knappen,  M.  D.  Per- 
kins, Henry  York,  Henry  Paul ;  1846,  Rufus  H.  Knappen,  John 
B.  Cherry;  1846,  Henry  Paul,  R.  H.  Knappen,  J.  B.  Cherry,  T. 
G.  Cole;  1847,  S.  Robinson,  H.  York,  Jr.,  M.  Merrill,  Aaron 
Smith ;  1848,  George  Fisk,  M.  D.  Perkins,  Henry  Paul,  H.  T. 
Merrill;  1849,  Henry  Paul,  A.  Morford,  Jason  Rouse;  1860, 
Henry  Paul,  Jason  Merrill,  Jason  Russell,  William  Shutt;  1861, 
Henry  Paul,  John  Irwin,  Webster  Powers,  N.  F.  Powers;  1862, 
W.  M.  Bristol,  B.  W.  King,  S.  Hovey,  H.  Paul ;  1863,  W.  Bris- 
tol, Jesse  Butler,  John  Lake ;  1864,  Henry  Paul,  Ambrose  Cole, 
Philo  Shaffer,  Orville  Crandall;  1866,  Lyman  Moon,  Charles 
Bristol,  Henry  Paul,  Norman  Clark;  1856,  Charles  Cherry,  S.  V. 
E.  York,  Hiram  Gould,  B.  W.King;  1857,  Henry  Paul,S.  V.  R. 
York,  Hiram  Gould,  Daniel  Clark ;  1858,  S.  V.  R.  York,  Hiram 
Gould,  Henry  Paul,  Walter  Robins;  1869,  T.  J.  Humphrey,  S. 
V.  R.  York,  Henry  Paul,  S.  Bullis;  1860,  Henry  Paul,  Webster 
Powers,  Richard  Perkins,  S.  V.  R.  York;  1861,  Jacob  Hoffman, 
John  H.  Teller,  Henry  Paul,  Walter  Powers;  1862,  Henry  Paul, 
J.  A.  Teller,  T.  J.  Cowles,  Jerry  Powers;  1863,  Henry  Paul,  T. 
G.  Cowles,  Henry  Knowels,  David  Boyes;  1864,  Henry  Paul,  B. 
Baboock,  T.  G.  Cowles,  H.  Bristol;  1865,  J.  Zimmerman,  W.  M. 
Burroughs,  S.  V.  R.  York,  Henry  Paul;  1866,  William  Coleman, 
William  Quinn,  William  Burroughs,  Myron  Stevens;  1867,  B. 
Sponhower,  John  Teller,  C.  Tiehnor,  C.  Shoemaker ;  1868,  omitted ; 
1869,  D.  H.  Chase,  S.  V.  R.  York,  S.  E.  Gaskill;  1870,  J.  Zim- 
merman, C.  J.  Shoemaker,  W.  M.  Coleman,  Willard  Nye ;  1871, 
Henry  Bera,  W.  Burroughs,  M.  V.  Bird,  J.  M.  Knapp;  1872, 
William  Burroughs,  S.  V.  R.  York,  Isaac  Cox,  James  Van  Sickle ; 

1873,  James  Van  Sickle,  Lewis  Drew,  Josiah  Hough,  A.  C.  Style ; 

1874,  S.  V.  R.  York,  James  Johnson,  G.  T.  Cowles,  Lewis  Drew ; 
1876,  Charles  Shoemaker,  W.  S.  Nye,  George  Browse,  George 
Bird;  1876,  record  omitted;  1877,  W.  S.  Nye,  C.  S.  Shoemaker, 
A.  E.  Dewey,  J.  H.  Powers;  1878,  J.  H.  Hough,  C.  Shoemaker, 
H.  C.  Van  Sickle,  J.  E.  Howarth ;  1879,  Frank  Cherry,  Henry 
Miller,  W.  J.  Shutt,  C.  H.  Stevens;  1880,  W.  S.  Nye,  W.  J.  Shutt, 
Henry  Stevens,  William  Clark. 


454 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


ALBERT  G.  DEWEY. 

As  an  example  of  what  a  life  of  industry  and  persever- 
ance will  accomplish  in  forming  and  shaping  the  character, 
we  present  this  subject.  He  was  born  Nov.  25,  1816,  in 
Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  is  the  oldest  child  of  Eliphalet 
and  Fannie  (Morton)  Dewey,  who  were  natives  of  New 
York,  and  married  in  1815,  Mr.  Dewey,  being  quite  a 
prominent  man,  holding  the  office  of  sheriff  of  Chautauqua 
County  ten  years,  besides  other  offices  of  trust.  When 
Albert  was  six  years  of  age  his  father  died,  leaving  a 
widow  and  the  two  sons.  After  the  death  of  her  husband, 
the  mother  with  her  boys  returned  to  her  old  home,  in 
Madison  County,  where  Albert  remained  until  he  was 
twelve,  when  he  went  to  what  was  then  Allegany  County, 
now  Livingston  County,  and  lived  with  his  uncle,  Mr.  S. 
Morton,  remaining  there  until  1838.  Having  arrived  at 
the  acknowledged  age  of  manhood,  he  came  to  Michigan 
with  his  uncle  and  family,  landing  in  Emmet,  Calhoun  Co., 
where  he  made  his  first  purchase  of  land,  containing  sixty 
acres,  which  he  improved  and  kept  four  years,  and  then 
sold,  and  devoted  his  time  to  milling,  having  interested 
himself  in  that  before,  owning  a  half-interest  in  a  grist-mill 
at  Lowell,  which  was  burned  in  January,  1849.  His  in- 
surance having  expired  the  first  of  the  month,  it  was  a  total 
loss,  leaving  him  incumbered  with  a  debt  of  three  thousand 
dollars. 

To  recover  this  he  conceived  the  idea  of  going  to  the  far- 
famed  gold-mines  of  California,  and  the  same  spring,  receiv- 
ing help  from  his  uncle,  he  started,  taking  the  overland 
route  in  March,  arriving  there  in  September,  agreeing  to 
give  his  uncle  one-half  of  what  he  made  in  two  years  to 
repay  him  for  his  kindness  in  starting  him.  In  October  he 
was  taken  sick,  and  in  December,  fearing  he  would  be  no 
better,  he  sailed  for  the  Sandwich  Islands,  where  he  re- 
mained until  February,  when  he  returned  to  San  Francisco 
dead  broke,  but  with  earth's  richest  blessing,  health.  He 
then  went  to  miniag,  which  he  followed  diligently  three  years. 
At  the  expiration  of  his  second  year,  having  never  for- 
gotten his  promise  to  his  uncle,  he  sent  him  one  thou- 
sand dollars,  being  oue-half  of  what  he  had  earned  by  the 
sweat  of  his  brow.  He  then  returned  to  Michigan,  and  in 
1854  was  married  to  Mrs.  Mandana  Wallace,  of  Gull  Prairie, 
Kalamazoo  Co.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  New  York 
where  she  was  born,  but  came  to  Michigan  when  she  was 
but  twelve  years  old.  After  marriage  they  moved  to  Kent 
County,  where  he  owned  land  near  his  brother,  remaining 
only  a  short  time,  when  they  both  sold  out,  moving  on  the 
farm  where  he  now  lives,  which  consisted  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  twenty  improved. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dewey  was  born  one  son,  who  died  in 
infancy,  but  Mr.  Dewey  passed  through  his  severest  trial 
in  September,  1855,  being  bereft  of  his  wife,  thus  leaving  a 
vacancy  in  his  home  and  a  void  in  his  heart  which  time  alone 
can  heal.  In  March,  1858,  in  Battle  Creek,  he  married 
Emeline  Cookson,  who  was  born  in  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Nov.  19,  1820.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Maine,  her 
mother  of  New  York,  she  being  one  of  a  family  of  five 


children.     The  mother  died  in  New  York  in  1832 ;  the 
father  in  1842. 

In  politics  Mr.  Dewey  is  an  ardent  Republican.  He  cast 
his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Gen.  Harrison.  Himself  and 
wife  have  been  members  of  the  Congregational  Church 
since  1866.  His  advantages  for  education  were  limited, 
attending  only  the  common  schools,  such  as  the  country 
affijrded  in  his  youthful  days.  He  has  a  very  fine  farm, 
under  a  good  state  of  cultivation,  yet  this  does  not  represent 
his  entire  property,  he  having  quite  an  amount  invested  in 
the  far  West.  He  is  what  might  be  termed  a  mixed  farmer, 
making  a  specialty  of  no  one  thing. 

Though  they  have,  never  been  blessed  with  children  of 
their  own,  still  they  have  been  allowed  to  enjoy  the  society 
of  them,  having  adopted  four  orphans, — raising  two  girls 
and  one  boy  until  they  started  in  life  for  themselves,  adopt- 
ing from  the  orphans'  home  in  Chicago  a  bright,  promising 
youth  of  little  less  than  three  summers,  who  only  lived  two 
short  years. 

Mr.  Dewey's  mother,  who  passed  her  later  years  with 
him,  died  at  his  home  in  1875,  and  when  her  lamp  of  life 
went  out  they  laid  her  in  a  sunny  nook,  where  she  is  quietly 
sleeping  the  sleep  of  the  blest. 


A.  P.  AND  B.  W.  KING. 

A.  P.  and  B.  W.  King  are  brothers  who  trace  their 
origin  with  commendable  pride  to  a  New  England  ancestry. 
They  were  born  in  Brighton,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.  A.  P. 
was  born  May  21,  1825,  and  B.  W.,  Aug.  25,  1827. 
Of  a  family  of  seven  children  only  two  were  girls,  and  all 
are  living  but  one  brother.  Their  father,  David  King,  was 
a  native  of  the  Bay  State,  where  he  was  born  Oct.  3, 1786. 
Their  mother,  Catharine  Booth,  was  born  in  Stafford,  Conn., 
June  16,  1794,  but  married  Mr.  King  in  1812  in  Seipio, 
Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y.  He  was  a  carpenter  and  joiner;  worked 
at  his  trade  in  New  York  until  the  spring  of  1841,  when 
he  with  his  family  moved  to  Michigan,  landing  in  Lyons, 
Ionia  Co.,  still  following  his  chosen  avocation  until  1845, 
when  he  was  killed  by  a  falling  limb.  Mrs.  King  re- 
mained on  the  home  until  her  death,  teaching  her  children 
by  her  example  habits  of  industry,  economy,  sociability,  and 
honesty.  Her  precepts  were  well  observed,  she  never  havino- 
cause  to  complain,  as  they  all  filled  the  qualifications  taught 
and  became  prosperous  and  respected.  The  subjects  of  this 
sketch  remained  at  home,  assisting  their  older  brothers  to 
clear  up  their  new  home,  until  they  were  of  age,  and  in 
consideration  for  said  work  received  a  deed  of  eighty  acres 
of  wild  land  in  Ionia  County.  In  the  spring  of  1846  A.  P. 
hired  out  to  Mr.  Jason  Cowles,  in  Johnstown,  Barry  Co., 
for  one  year,  and  with  this  bought  80  acres  more  in  Ionia 
County,  his  brother,  B.  W.,  still  remaining  at  home  im- 
proving their  first  purchase.  After  A.  P.'s  time  was  out 
in  Barry  County,  he  returned  to  Ionia  County,  and  built  a 
house  on  his  farm,  remaining  about  one  year,  making  other 
improvements.  June  1 ,  1 848,  he  married  Miss  Mary  York 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Polly  York,  who  were  both  natives 
of  Saratoga,  N.  Y.,  where  she  was  born  July  7, 1826.  Her 
father  was  a  farmer,  and  came  to  Michigan  when  she  was 


JOHNSTOWN  TOWNSHIP. 


455 


sixteen  years  of  age,  where  the  mother  died  in  1846,  the 
father  pursuing  life's  rugged  path  unaided  and  alone  until 
1878,  when  he,  too,  was  called  to  try  the  divine  reality  of  that 
which  is  beyond.  After  marriage,  instead  of  returning  to 
their  home  in  Ionia,  Mr.  King  bought  the  farm  where  he 
now  lives  of  his  wife's  father,  consisting  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty-eight  acres  on  sections  28  and  29,  Johnstown 
township,  running  in  debt  for  it.  In  about  one  year  the 
younger  brother  sold  out  his  interest  in  Ionia  and  joined 
his  brother,  he  marrying  Miss  Sallie  York,  a  sister  of  his 
brother's  wife.  They  have  always  lived  as  one  family,  thus 
proving  an  exception  to  the  old  adage,  "  No  house  is  large 
enough  for  two  families."  In  1850  they  disposed  of  their 
land  in  Ionia.  To  their  home-farm  they  have  added  at 
different  times,  until  it  now  contains  four  hundred  and 
fifteen  acres, — three  hundred  and  sixty-five  improved. 

Though  they  have  met  with  severe  losses,  losing  at  one 
time  by  fire  three  thousand  dollars,  they  rank  to-day  among 
the  leading  farmers  of  the  county.  They  might  be  termed 
mixed  farmers,  making  a  specialty  of  blooded  cattle  and 
horses.  They  have  at  present  forty  head  of  short-horns  as 
fine  as  can  be  found,  and  sixteen  head  of  fine  blooded 
horses. 

To  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  P.  King  were  given 
two  children, — Frances  H.,  born  May  16,  1851,  now  Mrs. 
Doty,  and  living  in  same  town,  and  Henry  N.,  born  Nov. 
23,  1853,  still  remaining  at  home.  In  politics  both  are 
Democrats,  but  not  office-seekers,  though  often  solicited. 
B.  W.  has  been  president  of  the  Agricultural  Society,  and 
was  nominated  for  the  office  of  sheriff,  but,  his  party  being 
in  the  minority,  he  was  defeated.  Mr.  A.  P.  King  and 
wife  have  been  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
for  twelve  years. 


J.  E.  FISK. 


This  man,  among  many  others,  is  in  the  truest  sense  of 
the  word  a  self-made  man,  one  who,  with  industry  and 
perseverance,  has  made  life  a  success.  He  was  born  in 
Litchfield,  N.  Y.,  March  24, 1815  ;  is  the  oldest  of  a  family 
of  seven.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Vermont.  His 
mother,  of  Pennsylvania,  was  of  Dutch  descent.  Mr. 
Fisk,  Sr.,  was  a  blacksmith ;  worked  at  his  trade  in  New 
York  until  1847,  when  he  moved  to  Michigan,  where  he 
died,  March  10, 1876,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-seven, 
having  buried  his  wife  in  1864.  J.  E.  Fisk  learned  his 
trade  of  his  father,  and  remained  at  home  until  he  was 
twenty,  when  he  started  for  himself,  working  in  his  father's 
old  shop.  On  reaching  his  majority  he  married,  in  Steu- 
ben County,  Miss  Samantha  Gregory,  who  was  born  in  the 
same  county,  Oct.  12,  1815.  Her  father  was  a  native  of 
New  York,  her  mother  of  Connecticut.  After  marriage 
they  remained  in  New  York,  he  still  working  at  his  trade, 
until  1839,  wheo  they  came  to  Michigan,  staying  one  year 
on  Goquack  Prairie,  Calhoun  Co.,  when  they  went  to 
Emmet,  same  county,  where  they  remained  some  three 
years,  he  still  working  at  his  chosen  avocation. 

In  1843  he  moved  on  the  farm  where  he  now  lives, 
then  containing  forty  acres,  on  section  31,  with  a  rude  log 
house  and  three  acres  partly  improved.     Mr.  Fisk  built  a 


shop,  and,  diligently  pounding  at  his  anvil,  exchanged  his 
work  with  his  neighbors,  thus  keeping  the  improvement  in 
progress  on  his  new  farm.  In  about  two  years  he  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  joining  his  farm.  The  farm  now  con- 
tains one  hundred  and  forty-nine  acres,  one  hundred  and 
twenty  in  a  fine  state  of  cultivation.  Mr.  Fisk,  though  a 
blacksmith  by  trade,  is  also  a  practical  farmer,  takes  great 
interest  in  the  improvement  of  stock,  and,  in  company  with 
his  youngest  son,  W.  H.  Fisk,  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  flock 
of  thoroughbred  registered  American  Merino  sheep,  having 
lately  made  a  purchase  of  sixteen  head  from  L.  I.  Stickner, 
F.  and  L.  E.  Moore's  flock  in  Vermont.  He  is  also  inter- 
ested in  the  culture  of  bees.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fisk  are  the 
parents  of  five  children,  of  whom  two  boys  and  one  girl 
are  living.  S.  S.  Fisk,  the  oldest,  is  married,  and  owns  a 
farm  joining  his  father's,  on  the  bank  of  Fine  Lake.  The 
next  son,  W.  H.  Fisk,  remains  at  home  and  carries  on  the 
farm  under  the  supervision  of  his  father.  The  daughter, 
Mira,  now  Mrs.  Brinnistool,  also  lives  at  home.  J.  E.  Fisk 
is  in  politics  a  Kepublican,  though  never  an  office-seeker. 
His  advantages  for  school  were  very  limited  ;  in  fact,  com- 
mencing to  learn  his  trade  when  he  was  so  small  he  had 
to  stand  on  a  stool  to  blow  the  bellows.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fisk  have  both  been  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  for 
the  past  twenty  years. 


T.   B.    HINCHMAN. 

Among  the  earliest  settlers  the  name  of  Hinchman  stands 
prominent  as  that  of  an  honest,  upright  man,  whose  ances- 
try trace  themselves  back  to  New  Jersey,  where  this  sub- 
ject was  born  in  Vernon  township,  Suffolk  Co.,  March  4, 
1803.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Blane)  Hinch- 
man, who  were  represented  by  a  family  of  seven  children. 
They  were  farmers,  and  lived  and  died  there, — the  father 
when  our  subject  was  about  ten  years  of  age,  his  mother 
in  1828.  T.  B.  left  home  when  quite  young  to  make  his 
mark.  The  reader  can  judge  for  himself  of  his  success. 
Worked  by  the  month  until  he  was  thirty  years  of  age, 
when  he  secured  a  partner  to  assist  him  in  traveling  the 
rugged  path  of  toil  by  marrying  Miss  Phebe  McCain, 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Amelia  McCain,  who  were  both 
natives  of  New  York,  where  Phebe  was  born  April  1, 1810, 
being  the  only  daughter  in  a  family  of  seven  children. 
They,  too,  tilled  the  soil,  and  both  died  in  New  York,  the 
father  in  1828,  the  mother  struggling  against  the  vicissi- 
tudes of  life  as  only  a  mother  can  until  1863,  when  she,  too, 
departed  to  that  land  from  which  no  traveler  returns.  After 
marriage  they  remained  in  New  York,  working  her  mother's 
farm  until  1836,  when,  they  came  to  Michigan,  landing  in 
Battle  Creek,  buying  a  house  and  lot ;  they  remained  there 
some  five  years,  earning  their  support  mostly  by  days'  work. 
In  1842  they  bought  and  moved  on  to  the  farm  where  the 
widow  now  lives.  His  first  purchase  consisted  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  in  the  state  of  nature,  to  which  he 
afterwards  added,  until,  at  his  death,  in  January,  1879,  his 
farm  contained  three  hundred  and  five  acres,  besides  owning 
other  land  in  the  township.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hinthman 
were  given  eight  children, — John  T.,  born  May  4,  1835  ; 


456 


HISTORY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Harrison,  bora  Nov.  14,  1837,  died  March  27,  1866; 
Samuel  T.,  born  July  21,  1840  ;  Millie  P.,  born  April  1, 
1843  ;  Louis  E.,  born  Jan.  4, 1846 ;  Mary  E.,  born  March 
11,  1848;  Seward,  born  March  4,  1850;  Edna  V.,  born 
Oct.  27,  1853. 

Mr.  Hinchmau  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  no  church,  though  he  always  attended  with  his  wife, 
who  has  been  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church  since 


she  was  twenty ;  in  fact,  was  one  of  the  first  members  of 
that  society  in  Battle  Creek.  Since  the  death  of  her  hus- 
band she  has  remained  on  the  farm  with  her  youngest  son, 
Seward,  who  carries  on  the  farm,  and  her  youngest  daughter, 
Edna  V.  Payne,  who,  since  the  death  of  her  husband,  some 
five  years  ago,  has  resided  with  her  mother.  The  rest  of 
the  children  are  married,  and  settled  near  by  on  good 
farms. 


MAPLE     GEOVE. 


The  township  of  Maple  Grove  lies  on  the  eastern  line  of 
Barry  County,  being  bounded  north  by  Castleton,  south  by 
Assyria,  west  by  Baltimore,  east  by  the  township  of  Kalamo, 
in  the  county  of  Eaton.  The  village  of  Nashville  embraces 
about  600  acres  of  Maple  Grove  within  its  corporate  limits, 
and  afibrds  to  the  people  of  the  township  a  very  convenient 
point  for  the  shipment  of  their  produce. 

Maple  Grove,  which  is  designated  on  the  United  States 
survey  as  township  2  north,  of  range  7  west,  was,  as  early 
as  1835,  the  resort  of  Eastern  land-lookers  and  speculators, 
and  two  years  later  was  chosen  as  tlie  home  of  an  actual 
settler.  Its  progress  was  not  rapid,  and  for  many  years  the 
voters  numbered  but  half  a  score.  It  was  at  this  time  under 
the  jurisdiction  o'f  Johnstown  (which  then  embraced  the 
four  townships  of  Johnstown,  Assyria,  Maple  Grove,  and 
Baltimore),  and  did  not  enjoy  an  independent  organization 
until  1846.  It  was  christened  by  the  wife  of  one  of  the  early 
pioneers.  Several  names  were  suggested  before  its  present 
significant  cognomen  was  adopted. 

The  soil  of  Maple  Grove  varies  greatly,  its  ingredients 
being  chiefly  sand,  gravel,  clay,  and  muck,  the  two  former 
of  which  predominate.  A  strong  clay  soil  prevails  in  much 
of  the  western  portion,  though  a  considerable  area  of  swampy 
land  is  also  to  be  seen  in  this  locality.  Wet  land  is  also 
observable  elsewhere  in  the  township,  but  a  good  drainage- 
system  has  rendered  the  most  of  it  productive.  In  the 
centre  and  on  the  eastern  border  much  good  land  is  found, 
which  is  admirably  adapted  to  the  growth  of  grain. 

The  last  census,  that  of  1873,  gives  the  area  of  wheat 
harvested  as  1573  acres,  and  that  of  corn  as  1112  acres, 
which  produced  27,339  bushels  of  the  former  and  40,442 
bushels  of  the  latter  grain.  Of  other  grains  26,803  bushels 
were  gleaned,  while  1254  tons  of  hay  were  cut.  This  yield 
has  been  greatly  augmented  by  the  improved  condition  of 
the  township  since  that  date.  Eighty-two  thousand  three 
hundred  and  thirty-four  pounds  of  maple-sugar  were  also 
made,  which  figures  attest  the  richness  of  its  maple-groves. 

The  surface  of  the  township  varies  greatly.  Many  ab- 
rupt declivities  are  apparent  in  the  centre  and  west,  while 
level  stretches  of  land  are  found  in  the  south  and  also  in 
the  west.    From  the  elevated  points  commanding  views  are 

*  By  E.  0.  Wagner. 


frequently  enjoyed.  Beech,  maple,  ash,  oak,  and  black- 
walnut  are  the  prevailing  woods,  while  tamarack  is  the 
usual  product  of  the  swamps.  No  pine  is  found  in  Maple 
Grove. 

Fruit  is  grown  in  abundance,  the  apple-trees  being  espe- 
cially prolific.  Very  few  farms  are  without  an  orchard  of 
choice  grafted  fruit.  Peaches  are  also  extensively  grown, 
the  soil  being  very  congenial  to  them.  Cherry-trees  like- 
wise yield  an  ample  harvest,  and  have  proved  a  source  of 
considerable  revenue  to  the  grower. 

EARLY  PURCHASES   0¥   LAND. 

The  lands  embraced  in  the  township  of  Maple  Grove 
were  early  purchased  by  the  following  parties : 


SECTION    1. 
Simeon  R.  Griffin,  1837., 

SECTION  2. 

Benjamin  Tate,  1837 

A.  K.  Kinney,  1837 

Charles  S.  Briggs,  1837. 
W.  H.  Reury,  1851 , 


Acres. 
633.37 


162.28 
163.27 
160.84 
160 


SECTION   3. 

Nelson  Spinks,  1837 

Benjamin  Tate,  1837.... 

L.  C.  Kinney,  1837 

J.G.  Seaman,  1849 


SECTION  4. 


J.  Meacham,  1836 

John  Cox,  1836 , 

Gideon  Hewitt,  1836.. 
A.  Cowles,  1836 


SECTION   5. 


W.  W.  White 

E.  Seeley 

Charles  Butler,  1836.. 
David  Riley,  1836.... 


SECTION   6. 

Hays  and  Dibble,  1836.... 

Charles  Butler,  1836 

Joseph  Badoock,  1847 

1853 

Richard  B.  Mead,  1854... 

SECTION   7. 

Hayes  and  Dibble,  1836.. 

Charles  Butler,  1836 

T.  B.  Skinner,  1853 


160 
163.27 
160 
164.23 


87.56 
245.72 
160 
160 


160 
329.19 

80 

91.99 


80 

240 
45.76 
46.12 

207.01 


57.99 
480 
68.37 


SECTION  8. 

Charles  Butler,  1836 320 

Nelson  Spinks,  1837 160 

Joseph  Badeook,  1853 120 

"  1854 40 

SECTION    9. 

Andrew  Hyde,  1836 320 

Luther  Nichols,  1836 80 

William  Thayer,  1836 80 

Mary  A.  Morrison,  1836..  80 
Granville  Town,  1836 80 

SECTION  10. 

William  M.  Glendy,  1836.  480 
Elias  Carpenter,  1836 160 

SECTION  11. 

William  Marshall  Glendy, 
1836 640 

SECTION  12. 

William  Marshall  Glendy, 
1836 640 

SECTION  13. 

H.  L.  Lawson,  1837 160 

Archibald  Douglas,  1837..  320 
Joseph  Merritt,  1837 160 

SECTION   14. 

William  Sutton,  1836 80 

Townsend  Sutton,  1836...  80 
William  M.  Glendy,  1836.  240 
George  W.  Moore,  1836...  240 

SECTION  15. 

Susan  Labar,  1836 240 

Persilla  Labar,  1836 80 


MAPLE  GROVE  TOWNSHIP. 


457 


Acres. 

Julius  Labar,  1836 160 

William  Sutton,  1836 80 

T.Sutton,  1836 80 

SECTION  16. 
School  land. 

SECTION  17. 

L.W.  Miner,  1836 320 

B.Jones,  1837 160 

George  D.  Moore,  1851...     40 

Josepli  Badcock,  1853 40 

State  swamp-land 80 

SECTION  18. 

Charles  Butler,  1838 160 

William  Tucker,  1836 160 

J.  De  Keimer,  1837 80 

George  D.  Moore,  1850....     80 

E.  H.  Gates,  1853 68.38 

T.  B.  Skinner,  1853 58.60 

SECTION  19. 

Samuel  B.  Eowe,  1837 160 

William  Briggs,  1837 276.96 

Ira  Kilburn,  1852 160 

SECTION  20. 
Samuel  Hicks,  1837 640 

SECTION  21. 

Jacob  Merritt,  1837 160 

H.  G.  Lawson,  1837 160 

George  Townsend,  1837...     80 

S.  Patterson,  Jr.,  1837 80 

James  A.  Hyde,  1852 40 

State  swamp-lands 80 

James  A.  Hyde,  1854 40 

SECTION  22. 

Samuel  L.  Wright,  1836..  80 

John  Mott,  1836 80 

William  Sutton,  1836 80 

Asa  Hoag,  1837 320 

Jacob  Merritt,  1837 80 

SECTION  23. 

Reuben  Fitzgerald,  1836..  160 

Wm.  Sutton,  1836 80 

Isaac  Sutton,  1837 80 

John  Mott,  1837 240 

Merritt  and  Hart,  1837...     80 

SECTION  24. 

Permelia  Hunsicker,  1836  320 

Asa  Hoag,  1836 160 

Philander  Green,  1837 160 

SECTION  25. 

John  Mott,  1837 160 

Kichard  P.  Hart,  1837....  160 

Gilbert  Higgins,  1837 160 

Joseph  Streeter,  1837 160 

SECTION  26. 

John  Mott,  1836 160 

Eliazer  Jones,  1836 80 


Acres. 

John  Mott,  1837 80 

Asa  Hoag,  1837 240 

Eliazer  Jones,  1837 80 

SECTION  27. 

Asa  Hoag,  1836 160 

E.  Jones,  1836 240 

Jacob  Merritt,  1837 80 

Richard  P.  Hart,  1837....  160 

SECTION  28. 

Edward  Parsons,  1836....  160 

Asa  Hoag,  1836 80 

E.  Jones,  1836 80 

Joseph  Merritt,  1837 80 

Asa  Hoag,  1837 80 

Merritt  and  Hart,  1837...  160 

SECTION  29. 

Edward  Parsons,  1836 160 

Horace  Wheeler,  1850 40 

J.  M.  Wheeler,  1852 160 

Anthony  Pierce,  1862 80 

Benj.  Pierce,  1852 80 

Thomas  Hill,  1854 120 

SECTION  30. 

N.  D.  Levar,  1852 40 

State  swamp-land 

Geo.  Cheeseman,  1854 40 

James  Hill,  1854 248.05 

Israel  Cheeseman,  1855...     40 
John  Cheeseman,  1855....     40 

SECTION   31. 

D.  R.  Button,  1848 160 

Wm.  Nickerson,  1848 137.54 

G.S.Merrick,  1848 160 

R.  D.  Hyde,  1852 40 

J.  li.  Graham,  1853 58.14 

J.  F.  Alley,  1864 40 

SECTION   32. 

Alanson  Town,  1836 160 

Aroh'd  Douglas,  1836 160 

0.  N.  Munger,  1836 160 

Elias  J.  Doty,  1836 160 

SECTION   33. 

A.  Douglas,  1836 160 

Nath'l  Starbuck,  1837 320 

State  swamp-land 160 

SECTION  34. 
John  Mott,  1837 640 

SECTION  35. 

John  Foster,  1836 80 

Wm.  Moore,  1836 80 

John  Mott,  1837 160 

Asa  Hoag,  1837 240 

1.  N.  James,  1837 80 

SECTION  36. 

Peter  Downs,  1836 160 

John  T.  Ellis,  1837 160 

Joseph  Merritt,  1837 320 


EAKLT  SETTLEMENTS. 

The  settlement  of  the  territory  of  Maple  Grove  began  in 
May,  1837,  when  Eli  Lapham,  accompanied  by  his  son 
Leander,  and  his  daughter  Sophronia,  made  a  weary  pil- 
grimage with  an  ox-team,  from  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  a  dis- 
tance of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  miles,  to  the  woods 
of  township  No.  2,  Mrs.  Lapham  and  five  younger  children 
being  left  behind. 

There  was  at  this  early  day  not  a  road  in  the  township 
in  question.  On  arriving  in  what  is  now  Assyria,  the  trav- 
elers halted  and  aecepted  the  cheer  offered  by  the  family 


of  Cleaveland  Ellis,  while  Mr.  Lapham  proceeded  to  cut  his 
way  to  the  quarter  of  section  35  which  he  had  previously 
purchased  from  John  Mott,  of  Jackson  County. 

Mr.  Lapham  immediately  constructed  a  rude  shanty  of 
logs,  into  which,  although  it  was  still  uncompleted,  the 
family  moved  the  following  day.  The  work  of  clearing 
was  at  once  begun,  and  5  acres  of  wheat  was  sowed  the 
same  year. 

In  the  July  following,  Mr.  Lapham  returned  to  Wayne 
County  and  brought  back  his  wife  and  five  children,  with 
another  load  of  household  goods,  also  drawn  by  oxen.* 

Wolves  were  numerous,  and  the  night  was  made  hideous 
with  their  howls.  Mrs.  Lapham  found  it  difficult  to  over- 
come her  terror  of  these  animals,  and  at  night  protected  the 
entrance  to  the  cabin  with  a  salt-barrel  placed  in  front  of 
the  blanket  which  served  as  a  door.  "  Massasaugas"  were 
also  abundant,  and  added  much  to  the  anxiety  of  the 
mother.  The  children  were  always  warned  to  carry  sticks 
when  out  of  doors,  with  which  to  keep  off  these  venomous 
serpents. 

The  little  log  cabin  erected  in  May,  when  the  bark  would 
peel,  was  roofed  and  floored  with  bark.  The  bark  on  the 
floor  showed  a  constant  tendency  to  curl  up,  and  it  was 
therefore  turned  over  daily  to  keep  it  flat.  With  the 
household  goods  brought  in  July  were  some  pieces  of  oil- 
cloth. In  dry  weather  these  did  duty  as  a  carpet,  but  on 
rainy  days  they  were  taken  up  and  spread  over  the  beds 
to  protect  them  from  the  water,  which  poured  through  the 
leaky  roof. 

Mr.  Lapham's  death  occurred  in  Calhoun  County,  in  1865. 
He  was  during  his  lifetime  an  exemplary  believer  in  the 
Quaker  faith,  and  much  of  his  time  was  devoted  to  exposi- 
tions of  its  peaceful  teachings.  His  venerable  companion 
died  at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Abram  S.  Quick. 
His  son,  Leander  Lapham,  resides  on  section  21,  in  Maple 
Grove,  where  he  has  been  engaged  in  both  commercial  and 
agricultural  pursuits. 

Abel  Hallock  came  from  Wayne  County  with  Mr.  Lap- 
ham, and  remained  in  township  1  (now  Assyria)  until  a 
shanty  was  erected  on  the  farm  on  section  26  now  occu- 
pied by  J.  C.  Dillon.  The  old  home  in  Wayne  County, 
however,  had  superior  attractions  for  Mr.  Hallock,  and  he 
returned  thither  in  1850  after  selling  his  land  to  John 
Baldwin.  Still  later  he  removed  to  Ypsilanti,  Mich.,  and 
subsequently  to  Howard,  Montcalm  Co.,  where  his  death 
occurred. 

William  Sutton,  a  former  resident  of  Battle  Creek,  en- 
tered 160  acres  in  1836  on  sections  22  and  23,  to  which 
he  removed  in  1838,  erected  a  shanty,  and  did  some  clear- 
ing. He  was  then  a  bachelor,  but  during  the  year  of  his 
arrival  he  wedded  Miss  Sophronia  Lapham,  the  daughter 
of  his  old  Wayne  County  neighbor.  This  marriage,  which 
occurred  at  the  house  of  the  bride's  father,  was  the  earliest 


*  Ho  likewise  brought  a  mare,  which  was  subsequently  the  occasion 
of  much  trouble.  About  two  years  after  reaching  Barry  County  she 
was  stolen  by  Indians,  but  two  years  later  was  recovered  by  Mr.  Lap- 
ham. Several  Indians  then  presented  themselves,  fully  armed,  at 
Mr.  Lapham's  house,  and,  with  many  threatening  gestures,  demanded 
the  animal  back.  Not  being  successful,  however,  they  resorted  to 
their  former  expedient,  and  stole  her  again. 


458 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


in  the  township,  and  Mrs.  Sutton  (while  Miss  Lapham) 
was  the  first  white  woman  who  passed  a  night  in  the  terri- 
tory of  Maple  Grove.  A  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sutton, 
born  in  1839,  was  the  first  child  born  in  the  township.  In 
1852,  Mr.  Sutton  sold  his  farm  to  Adam  Wolf,  and  after- 
wards moved  with  his  family  to  Calhoun  County,  where 
they  now  reside. 

Richard  McOmber,  the  fourth  pioneer  in  order  of  ar- 
rival, migrated  from  Wayne  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1838,  and 
located  upon  160  acres  on  section  22.  He  had  come  with 
wagon  and  team  to  Bufi^alo,  whence  he  had  crossed  the 
lake  to  Toledo,  and  from  there  had  again  traveled  by  wagon 
to  the  locality  just  mentioned.  With  Mr.  McOmber  came 
four  sons, — Philo,  Darwin,  Pliny,  and  Otis, — and  one 
daughter, — Amanda  (now  Mrs.  Aaron  Durfee,  of  Balti- 
more),— ^all  of  whom  during  the  first  year  remained  under 
the  parental  roof  Darwin  McOmber  subsequently  removed 
to  Baltimore  township,  while  Otis  has  become  a  resident  of 
Louisiana,  and  Pliny  carries  on  the  home-farm. 

On  Mr.  McOmber's  arrival  he  occupied  the  shanty  erected 
by  Wm.  Sutton  during  the  temporary  absence  of  that  gen- 
tleman. During  the  winter  a  house  was  erected,  and  the 
following  spring  4  acres  were  sowed  with  grain  and  culti- 
vated with  hoes,  no  plows  nor  horses  being  available  among 
the  stumps  and  trees.  Indians  were  numerous,  and  often 
slept  on  the  floors  of  the  cabin  when  belated  on  their  hunt- 
ing expeditions.  They  invariably  dragged  the  game  they 
had  shot  into  the  house  to  protect  it  from  wolves,  and 
always  offered  a  slice  of  venison  or  bear-meat  to  their 
hostess  for  supper. 

Richard  McOmber  died  in  1858,  at  the  house  of  his 
son,  in  Baltimore. 

John  Dean  followed  soon  after,  and  located  himself  upon 
80  acres  on  section  26.  Mr.  Dean  did  much  to  advance 
the  interests  of  the  township,  and  the  earliest  religious  ser- 
vices were  mostly  held  at  his  house,  when  Eli  Lapham 
usually  presided ;  also  ofiiciating  at  his  own  house  in  the 
same  capacity.  Mr.  Dean  subsequently  moved  away  from 
Maple  Grove,  his  farm  being  now  occupied  by  D.  Jackson. 

Abram  S.  Quick  left  the  attractive  scenes  of  Niagara 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  for  the  hardships  of  a  settler's  life  in  Michigan 
in  1839.  On  his  arrival  he  bought  160  acres  on  section 
34,  in  the  township  under  consideration.  Mr.  Quick,  like 
his  neighbor,  Mr.  Sutton,  came  to  the  township  a  single 
man,  but  soon  improved  his  opportunity  and  became  the 
husband  of  Rachel  R.  Lapham,  another  daughter  of  the  first 
settler.  They  were  married  according  to  the  Quaker  form, 
and  the  wedding-tour  was  limited  to  a  walk  to  the  house  of 
John  Dean  for  the  purpose  of  attending  a  Quaker  service. 
This  was  the  second  wedding  in  the  township,  both  the  first 
and  second  having  occurred  at  the  house  of  the  Quaker 
preacher,  Eli  Lapham.  Mr.  Quick,  in  connection  with  Daniel 
Baldwin,  erected  for  John  Mott  the  earliest  saw-mill  in  the 
township,  on  section  26,  in  which  they  had  a  half-interest. 
Later  it  was  wholly  owned  by  Mr.  Mott,  and  managed  for 
him  by  Mr.  Quick.  The  latter  erected  upon  his  land  the 
first  framed  house  in  the  township,  which  was  several  years 
afterwards  consumed  by  fire.  Ten  acres  were  cleared  by 
him  soon  after  his  arrival,  and  40  acres  were  made  ready 
for  cultivation  before  be  had  a  yoke  of  oxen  to  assist  in  bis 


labors.  Among  other  experiences  Mr.  Quick  relates  an 
encounter  with  a  bear,  which  very  seriously  alarmed  his 
excellent  wife,  and  enabled  him  for  a  brief  time  to  cultivate 
a  very  close  intimacy  with  the  animal.  A  well-directed  shot 
had  dislocated  the  jaws  of  the  beast,  and  allowed  his  victim 
to  escape  with  only  an  enthusiastic  hugging.  A  detailed 
biography  of  Mr.  Quick  is  given  at  the  close  of  the  town- 
ship history. 

E.  G.  Mapes  removed  from  Salem,  Mich.,  to  the  town- 
ship in  1h39  (as  near  as  can  be  ascertained),  and  located 
upon  160  acres  on  section  36.  Mr.  Mapes  served  as  the 
first  clerk  of  Maple  Grove  township,  and  was  frequently 
elected  to  other  local  offices.  He  at  length  died  on  the 
farm  he  had  cleared  up. 

A  pioneer  from  St.  Lawrence  Co.,  N.  Y.,  arrived  in  1841 
in  the  person  of  Peter  Downs,  who  purchased  160  acres,  in 
1836,  upon  section  36,  but  did  not  remove  on  to  it  until 
five  years  later.  He  subsequently  sold  it,  and  purchased 
on  section  15.  Mr.  Downs'  death  occurred  in  the  town- 
ship, at  the  residence  of  his  son-in-law,  in  1871. 

The  earliest  disciple  of  the  healing  art  in  Maple  Grove 
was  Dr.  Archelaus  Harwood,  who  located  himself  on  160 
acres  of  attractive  land  on  section  35  in  1840.  The  doctor 
belonged  to  the  Thomsonian  school,  and  exercised  his  pro- 
fessional skill  over  an  extended  territory.  He  inspired  very 
great  confidence  in  the  minds  of  his  patients,  among  whom 
he  dwelt  until  his  removal  to  Battle  Creek,  many  years 
later. 

Joseph  Badcock  came  to  the  township  in  1841,  and 
located  upon  92  acres  on  section  5.  He  was  an  energetic 
farmer  and  public-spirited  citizen,  holding  several  responsi- 
ble public  positions.  He  subsequently  removed  to  Ingham 
County. 

Adjoining  the  farm  of  Mr.  Badcock  was  that  of  Aaron 
Burgess,  who  located  upon  it  the  same  year.  He  still  sur- 
vives at  a  venerable  old  age,  being  yet  a  resident  of  the 
same  tract. 

J.  P.  Fuller  was  an  early  resident  of  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y., 
whence  he  removed  to  Jackson  Co.,  Mich.,  and  in  1842 
purchased  160  acres  of  unimproved  land  in  the  township. 
Upon  this  he  erected  a  shanty,  and  then  removed  his  family 
to  their  new  place  of  residence.  Abel  Hallock  and  James 
Owry  were  his  nearest  neighbors.  He  cleared  10  acres  the 
first  year,  but  soon  afte;  leased  his  farm  and  removed  to 
section  26  to  superintend  the  running  of  the  saw-mill  early 
built  on  that  section.  Subsequently  he  resumed  his  resi- 
dence on  his  farm,  but  in  1871  he  removed  to  Nashville, 
his  present  home.  His  son  now  occupies  the  old  farm  on 
section  25. 

Henry  Mallory,  a  former  resident  of  Calhoun  County, 
settled  in  the  township  in  1843,  taking  up  his  residence  on 
section  26  for  the  purpose  of  conducting  the  saw-mill  al- 
ready mentioned.  He  subsequently  made  his  home  on  sec- 
tion 21,  but  finally  removed  to  Nashville,  where  he  now 
resides.  Rufus  Brooks  made  his  advent  in  the  township 
in  February,  1843,  and,  though  not  among  the  earliest  ar- 
rivals, he  found  the  country  still  extremely  wild.  Mr. 
Brooks  was  among  the  earliest  township  officers,  and  served 
repeatedly  in  various  public  capacities.  He  is  still  an  en- 
terprising citizen  of  the  township. 


MAPLE  GROVE  TOWNSHIP. 


459 


Among  other  names  that  appear  conspicuously  among 
the  early  settlers  was  that  of  James  Buck,  originally  from 
Seneca  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  later  from  Calhoun  Co.,  Mich.  He 
purchased  20  acres  on  his  arrival,  to  which  he  added  40 
soon  after.  His  advent  occurred  in  March,  1843,  and  the 
house  of  J.  F.  Fuller  was  opened  to  him  until  his  own  log 
shanty  was  completed.  Mr.  Buck  was  a  soldier  of  the  war 
of  1812,  and  drew  a  pension  for  his  services.  His  death 
occurred  in  1877. 

Valentine  0.  Buck  came  from  the  State  of  New  York 
two  years  later,  and  was  for  a  while  employed  by  Cleaveland 
Ellis,  of  Assyria.     He  found  an  eligible  location  upon  160 
acres  on  section  19,  which  he  cultivated  and  made  pro- 
ductive.   Mr.  Buck  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  during 
the  first  year  of  the  township's  existence.    He  subsequently 
disposed  of  his  property  and  returned  to  the  Empire  State. 
D.  Gr.  Hamilton  came  from  Ohio  in  1846.     He  chose  a 
location  on  section  24,  where  he  had  purchased  80  acres  of 
Amos  Dillon.     He  found  Peter  Dillon  already  located  on 
the  same  section,  where  he  had  secured  140  acres,  one-half- 
mile  east.      There  his  family  found  a  welcome  until  a 
house  was  constructed.     For  seven  years  the  portion  of 
Maple  GrQve  immediately  north  of  Mr.  Hamilton  remained 
uninhabited.     After  this  date  a  new  impulse  was  given  to 
the  development  of  the  township  by  the  arrival  of  settlers 
from  Ohio  and  the  East,  which  promoted  its  rapid  improve- 
ment.    But  ten  voters  exercised  the  franchise  when  Mr. 
Hamilton,  came.     The  nearest  and  earliest  school-house, 
generally  known  as  the  "  Quail-trap,"  was  half  a  mile  south 
of  him.     Mr.  Hamilton,  in  1871,  removed  to  a  tract  of  80 
acres  on  section  13,  which  is  his  present  home. 

Orson  Dunham  was  one  of  the  arrivals  of  1847.  He 
purchased  40  acres  on  section  26,  which  was  totally  unim- 
proved. He  removed,  however,  several  years  later  to  a 
more  eligible  locality,  on  section  31,  where  he  still  resides. 
His  brother,  Charles  S.,  came  the  same  year,  having  for- 
merly been  a  resident  of  Eaton  County,  where  he  had 
located  in  1841.  He  at  first  superintended  the  running  of 
the  saw-mill  erected  by  John  Mott,  on  section  26,  and 
afterwards  purchased  80  acres  on  section  14,  where  he 
built  a  log  house  and  remained  many  years.  In  1872  he 
moved  to  section  15,  where  he  secured  80  acres,  on  which 
he  still  lives. 

In  1848  came  William  Jarrard,  a  former  resident  of 
Ohio.  Eighty  acres  on  section  15,  which  was  quite  un- 
cleared, afforded  him  an  opportunity  to  exercise  his  industry, 
and  it  is  still  his  home. 

Valentine  Ostroth  arrived  from  Crawford  Co.,  Ohio,  in 
1849,  and  occupied  a  tract  of  137  acres  on  section  4,  which 
he  found  entirely  uncleared.  Earlier  in  the  same  year 
came  George  Delbahuer,  whose  house  afforded  a  home  to 
the  settlers  that  immediately  followed  him. 

He  was  accompanied  by  his  son,  George  Delbahuer,  Jr., 
who  has  now  145  acres  there.  P.  M.  Hyde,  also  from 
Ohio,  located,  in  1850,  on  section  21,  his  land  embracing 
the  tract  now  occupied  by  the  hamlet  of  Maple  Grove. 

Of  the  settlers  after  1 850  we  can  make  but  a  cursory  men- 
tion. Among  those  of  the  next  few  years  were  Reuben 
Norton,  who  came  from  Maine  in  1851,  and  located  on  sec- 
tion 22;  George  Mari-hall,  previously  of  Seneca  Co.,  Ohio, 


who  made  his  home  on  section  4 ;  Adam  Wolf,  an  Ohio 
pioneer  of  1852,  who  purchased  William  Sutton's  farm,  on 
sections  22  and  23  ;  John  Wilkinson,  another  emigrant 
from  Maine,  who  bought  a  quarter  of  section  34  in  1852 ; 
J.  C.  Dillon,  who  came  from  Knox  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1853,  and 
located  on  section  26  ;  James  McKelvey,  of  Akron,  Ohio, 
who  became  a  resident  of  section  4  in  1852  ;  John  Stewart, 
another  emigrant  from  the  Buckeye  State,  who  located  on 
section  10  in  1855  ;  A.  J.  Culp,  from  Akron,  Ohio,  who 
located  on  section  16  the  same  year;  and  Levi  Elliott,  who 
made  his  home  on  section  22  in  1854.  Among  still  later 
settlers  may  be  mentioned  H.  0.  Bowen,  who  resides  on 
section  25  ;  H.  Dewey,  on  section  1 6 ;  George  D.  Moore, 
on  section  17  ;  William  0.  Freeman,  on  section  7  ;  Edward 
Moody,  on  section  21 ;  D.  Jackson,  on  section  26  ;  Gilbert 
Buck,  on  section  19  ;  Benjamin  Miller,  on  section  35 ; 
William  Kilburn,  on  section  19  ;  C.  W.  Taylor,  on  section 
23  ;  and  George  Dean  and  George  Mason,  on  section  16. 


TAX-PAYEES   OP   1846. 
The  following  is  the  resident  assessment-roll  of  Maple 
Grove  for  the  year  1846  : 

Acres. 

Seth  Phillips,  section  4 80 

E.  G.  Mapes,  section  36 160 

Rufus  Brooks,  section  25 80 

John  F.  Fuller,  section  25 160 

James  Buck,  section  24 20 

A.  S.  Quick,  section  34 160 

Eli  Laphaui,  section  35 160 

Peter  Dillon,  section  24 140 

Henry  Mallory,  section  23 80 

A.  Harwood,  section  35 160 

E.  McOmber,  section  22 160 

V.  O..Buok,  section  19 IBQ 

Henry  Deane,  section  25 40 

Henry  Mott,  sections  23  and  26 240 

E.  Austin,  sections  14  and  26 360 

Leander  Lapham,  section  21 ^ SO 

William  Sutton,  sections  15,  22,  and  23 .320 

Benjamin  Tate,  sections  2  and  25 120 

John  Dean,  section  26 40 

Aaron  Burgess,  section  5 100 

Joseph  Badcock,  section  5 92 

Peter  Downs,  sections  2  and  36 240 


EAKLT  HIGHWAYS. 

The  earliest  recorded  highway  in  the  township  was  sur- 
veyed by  Edward  Sutton  in  March,  1840,  and  is  described 
as  follows : 

"  Commencing  at  the  southwest  corner  of  section  34,  township  2 
north,  of  range  7  west,  running  north  on  tho  section-line  between 
sections  33  and  34, 10  chains  and  40  links:  thence  north  24J  degrees, 
east  11  chains  and  8  links;  thence  north  15i  degrees,  west  6  chains 
and  16  links;  thence  north  14J  degrees,  east  10  chains  and  16  links; 
thence  north  5  degrees,  west  10  chains  and  48  links;  thence  north 
26i  degrees,  west  6  chains  and  68  links;  thence  north  6i  degrees, 
west  15  chains  and  78  links ;  thence  north  19i  degrees,  west  1  chain 
and  45  links  to  said  section-line;  thence  north  on  the  line  10  chains 
to  the  section  corners  of  sections  27,  28,  33,  and  34 ;  thence  north  on 
the  line  to  the  corners  of  sections  27  and  28,  21  and  22 ;  thence  north 
on  the  line  between  sections  21  and  22,  22  chains;  thence  north  47 
decrees,  west  2  chains  and  20  links ;  thence  nonh  6  chains  and  50 
links ;  thence  north  26i  degrees,  east  4  chains ;  thence  north  on  said 
lino  6  chains  and  37  links  to  the  quarter-post  between  sections  21 
and  22;  thence  north  on  said  line  40  chains  to  section  corners  of 
sections  21  and  22  and  15  and  16;  thence  north  on  said  line  to  the 
quarter-post  between  sections  15  and  16;  thence  north  on  said  lino  4 
chains  and  84  links;  thepce  north  31  degrees,  west  25  chains  and  40 
links;  thence  north  14i  degrees,  west  138  chains;  thence  north  44i 
decrees,  west  59  chains  and  70  links  to  the  northwest  corner  of  sec- 
tion 4,  township  2  north,  of  range  7  west." 


460 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Another  road,  surveyed  the  same  month  and  year,  began 
at  the  northwest  corner  of  section  27  and  ran  to  the  north- 
east corner  of  the  same  section.  The  above  roads  were 
surveyed  under  the  direction  of  William  P.  Bristol  and 
Cleaveland  Ellis,  highway  commissioners  for  the  township 
of  Johnstown,  which  then  included  the  township  of  Maple 
Grove  within  its  limits. 

SCHOOLS. 

Educational  facilities  were  first  enjoyed  by  the  few  resi- 
dents of  the  township  in  1840.  Misses  Emma  and  Maria 
Mott,  daughters  of  the  prominent  land-owner,  John  Mott, 
had  made  Maple  Grove  their  residence,  where  a  house  had 
been  erected  for  their  convenience  by  Mr.  Mott,  on  section 
26,  the  spot  being  now  occupied  by  a  Mr.  Eastman.  Miss 
Emma  determined  soon  after  to  open  a  school,  and  was 
promised  the  patronage  of  the  few  settlers  who  lived  near 
and  had  small  children.  The  school  opened  with  six 
scholars,  and  did  not  greatly  increase  in  numbers  during 
its  brief  existence. 

The  first  school-house  was  built  on  section  25,  and  was 
known  as  the  "  Quail-trap,"  from  the  fact  that  some  enter- 
prising lads  found  it  a  convenient  rendezvous  in  their  expe- 
ditions in  search  of  these  birds.  This  building,  which  was 
in  district  No.  1,  was  removed,  and  a  new  and  more  spacious 
edifice,  on  section  24,  substituted.  The  township  is  now 
divided  into  six  whole  and  three  fractional  districts,  with 
the  following  board  of  directors :  William  G.  Brooks,  A. 
P.  Jarrard,  Frank  Fuller,  C.  R.  Palmer,  John  Hinkley, 
M.  H.  Palmer,  John  Day,  Y.  J.  Cassell,  Henry  Troyer. 
Three  hundred  and  eighty-four  children  receive  instruction, 
of  whom  21  are  non-residents.  In  the  course  of  a  year 
4  male  and  14  female  teachers  are  employed,  who  receive 
in  salaries  the  sum  of  $1253.70.  Nine  framed  school 
buildings  have  been  erected,  most  of  them  being  of  com- 
fortable but  unpretentious  proportions.  The  total  resources 
of  the  township  for  educational  purposes  have  reached  the 
sum  of  $2080.86. 

MAPLE   GEOVE   POST-OEFICE. 

The  principal  consequence  of  this  little  hamlet  is  derived 
from  the  fact  that  the  mail  is  distributed  here.  A  store 
was  built  here  by  John  Clark  in  1868,  for  the  purpose  of 
conducting  a  business  adapted  to  the  demands  of  the  neigh- 
boring country.  It  was  sold  at  the  expiration  of  two  years 
to  Gilbert  Lapham.  He  disposed  of  the  business  to  his 
father,  Leander  Lapham,  who  erected  a  convenient  build- 
ing in  1875,  to  which  he  removed  the  stock.  He  is,  how- 
ever, at  the  present  time  closing  out  the  enterprise  with  a 
view  to  retiring,  though  doubtless  some  enterprising  mer- 
chant will  succeed  him.  There  are  also  a  blacksmith-shop 
owned  by  Stephen  Savage,  and  a  wagon-shop,  the  proprietor 
of  which  is  T.  T.  Dewey.  The  postmaster  is  Johnson 
McKelvey. 

CHUKCH  OF  THE  UNITED  BKETHEEN. 

For  many  years  after  the  settlement  of  the  township  re- 
ligious services  were  occasionally  held  at  the  houses  of  the 
settlers.  In  1872,  under  the  ministrations  of  Rev.  L.  G. 
Gester,  a  church  under  the  auspices  of  the  above  denomi- 


nation  was  organized,  meetings  having  been  previously  held 
in  school-houses. 

The  earliest  pastor  remained  but  a  year,  and  was  followed 
by  Rev.  T.  Brigham,  who  was  succeeded  in  1874  by  Rev. 
H.  H.  Maynard,  and  he  in  1876  by  Rev.  B.  F.  Hunger- 
ford.  Rev.  George  Kilpatrick  came  in  1878  as  pastor  in 
charge,  and  the  present  one,  Rev.  D.  H.  Shelly,  was  called 
in  1879.  He  conducts  services  at  this  church  on  alternate 
Sabbaths.  A  spacious  brick  edifice  is  now  being  erected 
on  section  16  for  the  use  of  the  society.  The  present 
trustees  are  Horace  Dean,  George  Dean,  and  W.  H.  Whit- 
ney. 

THE  GEEMAN  EVANGELICAL  CHUECH. 
This  body  is  now  erecting  a  church  edifice  of  brick  on 
section  4,  in  which  services  are  to  be  conducted  in  both  the 
English  and  German  languages.  Rev.  Mr.  Miller,  of  Ionia, 
is  the  present  pastor,  who  expounds  the  faith  on  each  alter- 
nate Sabbath. 

THE   METHODISTS. 

A  society  of  Methodists  once  existed  in  the  township  and 
had  a  considerable  degree  of  success.  A  building  on  sec- 
tion 15,  formerly  a  school-house,  was  remodeled  and  used 
as  a  house  of  worship.  The  organization  was,  however, 
dissolved,  and  the  building  has  recently  been  demolished. 
The  Methodists  of  the  township  generally  worship  at  Nash- 
ville. 

OEGANIZATION  AND  OPFICEES. 

The  act  of  the  State  Legislature  erecting  the  township 
of  Maple  Grove  was  approved  March  25,  1846,  and  reads 
as  follows : 

"Be  it  enacted  hy  the  Senate  and  Houee  of  Hepreaeniaiivea  of  the 
State  of  Michigan^  That  township  number  two  north,  of  range  seven 
west,  in  the  county  of  Barry,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  set  off  and 
organized  into  a  separate  township  by  the  name  of  Maple  Grove,  and 
the  first  township-meeting  therein  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  Henry 
Deans,  in  said  township." 

The  first  township-meeting  was  held,  in  accordance  with 
the  above  act,  on  the  25th  of  March,  1846,  Peter  Downs 
being  chosen  moderator  and  Archelaus  Harwood,  Rufus 
Brooks,  V.  0.  Buck,  and  Elisha  G.  Mapes  inspectors  of 
election.  Archelaus  Harwood  acted  as  clerk.  The  following 
ofiScers  were  declared  elected  for  the  year  1846  :  Supervisor, 
Peter  Downs ;  Township  Clerk,  Elisha  G.  Mapes ;  Treas- 
urer, Abraham  S.  Quick ;  Assessors,  Peter  Downs,  E.  G. 
Mapes,  Joseph  Badcock ;  Highway  Commissioners,  El- 
dridge  Austin,  Eli  Lapham,  V.  0.  Buck  ;  Justices  of  the 
Peace,  Joseph  Badcock,  Eldridge  Austin,  V.  0.  Buck, 
Peter  Downs ;  School  Inspectors,  Archelaus  Harwood, 
William  Sutton ;  Constables,  Charles  Downs,  William 
Sutton,  Henry  Smith,  Henry  Mott. 

The  remaining  township  officers  to  the  present  year  are 
as  follows : 

SUPERVISORS. 
18J7,  Henry  Mallory;  1848,  Archelaus  Harwood;  1849-50,  Henry 
Mallory  ;  1851,  Archelaus  Harwood;  1852,  Henry  Mallory ;  1854, 
Leander  Lapham ;  1854,  Adam  Wolf;  1855,  Leander  Lapham; 
1856,  Townsend  Coats;  1857-59,  Leander  Lapham;  1860,  A.  C. 
Willson;  1861,  Adam  Wolf;  1862-64,  Leander  Lapham;  1865, 
Henry  Mallory;  1866-68,  Porter M.  Harwood;  1869,  Orrin  Cole; 
1870,  Leander  Lapham;  1871-72,  John  C.Clark;  1873-74,  Le- 


f  1 

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) 

MAPLE  GEOVE  TOWNSHIP. 


461 


anderLapham;  1875-77,  Adam  Wolf;  1878,  Orson  Swift;  1879, 
Leander  Lapham ;  1880,  Orson  Swift. 

TOWNSHIP  CLERKS. 
1847-48,  William  Sutton;  1849-50,  J.  F.  Fuller ;  1851,  P.  M.  Har- 
wood;  1852-54,  M.  N.  Dunham;  1865,  Pliny  McOmber;  1856, 
E.  C.  Palmer;  1857-69,  Abel  Simonds;  1860-61,  E.  C.  Palmer; 
1862,  M.  H.  Palmer;  1863,  William  C.  Lapham;  1864,  Abel 
Simonds;  1865-67,  Benjamin  Pierce;  1868,  John  C.  Clark; 
1869-73,  T.  T.  Dewey ;  1874,  Charles  S.  Dunham ;  1875,  Orrin 
H.  Cole;  1876-77,  William  H.  Griswold;  1878,  C.  M.  Gould; 
1879,  George  Spencer;  1880,  Adam  D.  Wolf. 

TREASUBERS. 
1847-49,  Abram  S.  Quick  ;  1860,  Daniel  Baldwin;  1851-52,  Leander 
Lapham;  185.3,  Peter  Downs;  1854,  Thomas  B.  Fuller;  1855-69, 
Joseph  B.  Spencer ;  1860-64,  P.  M.  Harwood ;  1865,  Charles  S. 
Dunham;  1866,  E.  H.  Mallory;  1867-68,  Joel  Brown;  1869,  John 
Gibson;  1870,  Alonzo  Streeter;  1871-74,  B.  G.  Potter;  1875-77, 
John  Mclntlre ;  1878,  Anthony  Ostroth ;  1879-80,  John  Hinckley. 

JUSTICES   OF   THE   PEACE. 

1847,  Joseph  Paddock,  A.  S.  Quick,  Richard  MoOmber ;  1848,  Har- 
low Lapham,  Daniel  Baldwin;  1849,  A.  S.  Quick,  Hiram  Coles; 
1850,  Rufus  Brooks,  Orson  Dunham;  1851,  Joseph  Badcook,  Wil- 
liam Sutton,  P.  M.  Hyde;  1852,  H.  0.  Bowen,  Sylvester  Dean; 
1853,  Peter  Downs,  Henry  Mallory;  1854,  Joseph  L.  Graham; 
1865,  Henry  Mallory,  Townsend  Coats;  1856,  Almeron  Holcomb ; 
1857,  Theodore  Branch,  P.  D.  Wight;  1858,  no  record;  1859, 
Theodore  Branch;  1860,  C.  W.  Taylor;  1861,  S.  W.  Mapes;  1862, 
John  W.  Willson;  1863,  George  D.  More,  Theodore  Branch; 
1864,  M.  H.  Palmer,  Henry  Mallory;  1865,  S.  J.  Badcock,  M. 
Gifford;  1866,  no  record;  1867,  Adam  Wolf;  1868,  William 
Brice;  1869,  Charles  Fowler;  1870,  J.  W.  Stokoe;  1871,  Leander 
Lapham;  1872,  Abel  Simonds,  N.  S.  Barnes;  1873,  Valentine 
Ostroth;  1874,  Adam  Wolf;  1875,  Orrin  H.  Cole,  H.  0.  Bowen; 
1876,  Orson  Dunham,  Robert  McCartney;  1877,  Valentine  Os- 
troth ;  1878,  C.  W.  Tailor ;  1879,  R.  McCartney ;  1880,  0.  F.  Long, 
William  Feighuer. 

SCHOOL  INSPECTORS. 

1847,  Arohelaus  Harwood;  1848,  A. Harwood,  Henry  Mallory;  1849, 
Henry  Mallory;  1850-51,  A.  Harwood;  1852,  Henry  Mallory,  A. 
Harwood;  1853,  William  Downs;  1854,  Orson  Dunham;  1855, 
no  record;  1856,  R.  J.  Durfee,  Joel  H.  Holmes ;  1857,  William 
Lapham ;  1858,  G.  W.  Willson,  J.  H.  Holmes ;  1859,  Selah  Mapes, 
J.  H.Holmes;  1860,  B.  H.  Mallory;  1861,  A.  C.  Willson;  1862, 
Charles  Webster;  1863,  A.  D.  Badcock,  S.  W.  Mopes;  1864,  S. 
W.  Mapes,  S.  J.  Badcook;  1865,  E.  H.  Mallory;  1866,  A.  E. 
Lapham ;  1867,  George  C.  Baer,  Warren  Heoox ;  1868,  no  record ; 
1869,  Benjamin  Pearoe;  1870,  George  Jay;  1871,  Benjamin 
Pearce;  1872,  William  Brice;  1873,  Jacob  Shoup ;  1874,  Wil- 
liam Brice;  1875,  Levi  Beigh;  1876-77,  Anthony  Ostroth;  1878, 
J.  B.  Marshall;  1879,  no  record;  1880,  W.  S.  Hecox. 

HIGHWAY  COMMISSIONERS. 

1847,  James  Buck,  Eli  Lapham  ;  1848,  Daniel  Baldwin,  Harlow  Lap- 
ham; 1849,  D.  G.  Hamilton;  1850,  John  Baldwin;  1851,  Joseph 
Badcock;  1852,  P.  M.  Hyde,  Joseph  Badcock;  1863,  Charles. 
Downs;  1854,  Joseph  M.  Wheeler;  1856,  V.  0.  Buck;  1856, 
Rufus  Brooks;  1857,  James  Ransom;  1858,  Martin  H.  Palmer; 
1859,  H.  J.  Hanchet;  1860,  Henry  Mallory;  1861,  Benjamin 
Pearce;  1862,  Silas  J.  Badcock;  1863,  Pliny  McOmber;  1864, 
Kufus  Brooks;  1866,. David  Demary ;  1866,  S.  J.  Badcock;  1867, 
J.  H,  Wilcox;  1868,  L.  B.  Potter;  1869,  Joel  .G.  Brown;  1870, 
B.  Pearoe;  1871,  Warren  Seeley;  1872,  John  McEntire;  1873, 
Benjamin  Pearce;  1874-77,  George  McCartney;  1878,  L.  A.  Em- 
ory; 1879,  William  G.  Brooks;  1880,  C.  L.  Bowen. 

ASSESSORS. 
1847   Peter  Downs,  Archelaus  Harwood;  1848,  Peter  Downs,  Orson 
Dunham;  1849,  Hiram  Coles,  Henry  Bowen  ;  1850,  E.  E.  Peck, 
JohnV.  Adams;  1851-62,  E.  Austin,  J.  D.  Joy;  1853,  J.  F. 
Fuller,  W.  0.  Buck. 


DIRECTORS   OP   THE  POOR. 
1847,  James  Buck,  Eli  Lapham;  1848,  Peter  Downs,  Abel  Hallock; 
1849,  John  Baldwin,  Orson  Dunham;  1850,  Thomas  0.  Bowen, 
Daniel  Baldwin;  1851-52,  Eli  Lapham,  Joel  Hyde;  1853,  Rufus 
Brooks;  1854,  Eldridge  Austin;  1855,  Abel  Simonds. 

SUPERINTENDENTS   OF  SCHOOLS. 
1875,  Robert  McCartney;  1876,  A.  R.  Seaman;  1877,  J.  J.  Baker; 
1878,  W.  S.  Hecox;  1879,  J.  J.  Baker;  1880,  Harriet  E.  Mosey. 

DRAIN   COMMISSIONERS. 
1875,  Jacob  Hoffman;  1876,  Orson  Dunham;  1877-78,  John  C.  Dil- 
lon; 1879,  John  Gibson;  1880,  Benjamin  Pearce. 

CONSTABLES. 
1847,  William  Sutton,  Victory  T.  Sutton;  1848,  H.  0.  Bowen,  E.  E. 
Peck;  1849,  D.  C.  Lapham,  V.  0.  Buck;  1850,  P.  M.  Hyde,  A. 
0.  Lewis,  Orson  Dunham;  1851,  A.  E.  Durfee,  H.  0.  Bowen, 
James  Hyde,  Selah  Hyde;  1852,  Darius  Lapham,  Thomas  Quick, 
Sylvester  Dean,  Isaac  Brooks ;  1853,  M.  W.  Buck,  George  D. 
More,  Rufus  Brooks,  David  Dixon;  1854,  George  McCartney, 
Isaac  Brooks,  Charles  Lester,  James  Hyde;  1855,  6.  D.  More, 
Rufus  Brooks,  Erwin  Harmon,  E.  Harrington;  1856,  Rufus 
Brooks,  Erwin  H.  Harmon,  Ira  Kibburn,  William  Downs ;  1857, 
Rufus  Brooks,  D.  S.  Willson,  Uriah  Buck,  Albert  S.  Eno;  1868, 
William  Downs,  Almeron  Holcomb,  William  0.  Truman,  Albert 
S.  Eno;  1859,  W.  0.  Freeman,  Rufus  Brooks,  C.  R.  Palmer, 
Stephen  Adams ;  1860,  Rufus  Brooks,  G.  D.  More,  H.  C.  Mead, 

A.  D.  Borland;  1861,  M.  W.  Buck,  L.  Lapham,  W.  0.  Freeman, 
P.  Cheesman;  1862,  V.  0.  Buck,  Rufus  Brooks,  W.  C.  Lapham, 

B.  Miller;  1863,  Rufus  Brooks,  P.  Cheesman,  A.  L.  Eno,  J.  J. 
Brooks;  1864,  P.  Cheesman,  L.  H.  B.  Newoomb,  Benjamin 
Pearce;  1865,  H.  A.  Harris,  A.  D.  Jarrard,  Rufus  Brooks, 
Thomas  Gould;  1866,  Daniel  P.  Wolf,  E.  F.  Moody,  William 
Stewart;  1867,  D.  P.  Wolf,  George  Snyder,  Henry  Cady,  Rufus 
Brooks;  1868,  Daniel  Darrow,  H.  C.  Cady,  Fred  Shoup,  Gilbert 
Lapham  ;  1869,  Ansel  Fowl,  Gilbert  Lapham,  Warren  Seeley,  D. 
P.  Wolf;  1870,  D.  P.  Wolf,  John  Potter,  Frederick  Mead;  1871, 
John  Gibson,  D.  P.  Wolf,  Warren  Seeley,  J.  Shoup ;  1872,  D.  P. 
Wolf;  1873,  Samuel  P.  Shafer,  D.  P.  Wolf,  Stephen  Savage;  1874, 
E.  Church,  P.  Anderson;  1875,  Adam  D.  Wolf,  R,  M.  Graham, 
Timothy  Brooks,  Fred  J.  Tuck;  1878,  C.  S.  Dunham,  Lewis 
Emory,  William  C.  Dunham,  Cordon  Wallace;  1877,  W.  C. 
Dunham,  Ira  Cummings,  A.  D.  Wolf,  William  Feighuer;  1878, 
Samuel  Shoup,  Ira  Cummings,  I.  Shoup,  Robert  Shoup;  1879, 
Samuel  B.  Norton,  Samuel  Shoup ;  1880,  Enos  Wolf,  Ira  Cum- 
mings, Samuel  Shoup,  R.  A.  Brooks. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


PLINY  McOMBEE. 

The  parents  of  Pliny  McOmber  were  residents  of  Gal- 
way,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  at  the  time  of  his  birth,  which 
occurred  in  that  place  on  the  15th  of  March,  1825.  When 
Pliny  was  about  eight  years  of  age  the  family  removed  to 
Marion,  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  attended  the  district 
school  during  the  winter  terms.  In  1836  the  advantages 
offered  by  the  new  State  of  Michigan  began  to  attract  great 
attention  among  the  farmers  of  the  Eastern  States,  and  a 
very  large  and  constantly  increasing  emigration  was  the 
result.  Among  those  who  became  infected  with  this  almost 
universal  desire  to  remove  West  for  the  purpose  of  bet- 
tering their  fortunes  on  the  virgin  lands  of  the  Peninsular 
State  was  Mr.  Kichard  McOmber,  who  came  to  Michigan 
in  the  summer  of  1837,  and  purchased  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  22,  in  Johnstown  (now  Maple  Grove),  and 


462 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


removed  to  it  with  his  family  in  the  fall  of  1838.  This 
purchase  had  been  made  from  John  Mott,  whose  daughters 
were  living  in  the  neighborhood,  one  of  these — Miss 
Emma  Mott — being  teacher  of  the  school  which  Pliny  first 
attended  in  Michigan. 

He  remained  at  home  with  his  father,  assisting  in  the 
labors  of  the  farm,  until  1848,  when,  in  company  with  two 
sons  of  Dr.  Harwood,  he  engaged  in  the  erection  of  a  saw- 
mill on  Cedar  Creek,  in  section  9,  of  the  township  of  Balti- 
more (then  Johnstown).  He  continued  to  operate  this  mill 
for  about  three  years,  when  he  returned  to  his  father's  farm, 
but  soon  after  went  to  Palmyra,  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  for  the 
purpose  of  attending  school  at  that  place.  After  a  year  of 
study  at  Palmyra  he  returned  home,  but  in  the  year  1852 
he  again  went  to  New  York  State,  where  he  attended  school 
at  Palmyra,  Wayne  Co.,  for  about  one  year.  While 
there  he  made  the  acquaintance  of  Miss  lilmily  Sanford, 
who  became  his  wife  on  the  2d  of  March,  1854.  The 
newly-married  couple  came  to  Michigan  and  lived  in  the 
family  of  his  father.  On  the  death  of  the  latter,  Pliny 
McOmber  came  into  the  pos.session  of  the  homestead,  where 
he  still  resides. 

Mr.  McOmber,  who  was  originally  an  old-line  Whig, 
became  an  ardent  Republican,  and  continued  a  firm  adherent 
to  the  principles  of  that  party  from  its  birth,  in  1856,  until 
the  organization  of  the  Greenback  party,  when  he  trans- 
ferred his  support  to  the  latter. 


LEANDER  LAPHAM. 

Among  the  honorable  names  associated  with  the  early 
history  of  Baltimore,  that  of  Eli  Lapham  stands  conspic- 
uous, not  less  from  the  purity  of  his  character  than  from 
the  fact  of  his  having  been  the  earliest  settler  within  its 
.boundaries.  His  birth  occurred  in  the  year  1791,  and  his 
marriage  at  the  age  of  twenty-one.  Having,  at  the  expi- 
ration of  the  third  year  after,  been  left  a  widower,  he  later 
married  Miss  Rachel  Crandall,  mother  of  Leander  Lap- 
ham.  Their  residence,  for  a  period  of  years  after  this  event, 
was  in  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.  During  the  year  1831,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lapham  and  six  children  removed  to  Livonia,  Mich., 
and  six  years  later  to  Maple  Grove,  Barry  Co.,  Mich. 
Eli  Lapham  survived  until  May,  1864,  when  his  death  oc- 
curred at  Augusta,  Mich.  His  memory  is  still  tenderly 
cherished  by  all  who  were  familiar  with  his  kindly  nature 
and  his  unselfish  life.  Leander  Lapham  was  born  in  Col- 
lins, Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  the  year  1819,  and  was  eighteen 
years  of  age  on  his  arrival  in  Maple  Grove.  Four  years 
after  he  was  married  to  Miss  Irena  Smith,  born  in  Con- 
necticut in  1815,  who  came  with  her  parents  to  Michigan 
in  1837.  Three  children  graced  their  cheerful  home, — 
Gilbert,  born  Aug.  12,  1846 ;  Alice  M.,  whose  birth 
occurred  Nov.  26,  1851 ;  and  Melville,  born  April  28, 
1853.  Alice,  the  daughter,  died  Feb.  24,  1852.  Mr. 
Lapham  early  became  interested  in  public  affairs,  voted 
first  the  Whig  ticket,  was  later  an  advocate  of  the  Free- 
Soil  platform,  and  is  now  an  ardent  Republican.  He  has 
represented  his  township  on  fifteen  occasions  as  supervisor, 
and  was  in  1864  a  representative  in  the  State  Legislature. 


Since  that  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  cares  of  his 
estate  and  the  superintendence  of  his  mercantile  interests. 
Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lapham  passed  through  all  the  priva- 
tions and  hardships  incident  to  the  settlement  of  a  new 
country  and  were  successful, — not  so  much  from  aid  and 
encouragement  tendered  them  as  from  a  firm  reliance  upon 
their  own  energy  and  capacity.  While  carving  out  a  career 
of  success  for  themselves,  they  were  not  unmindful  of  the 
kindly  word  and  helping  hand  which  was  frequently  a  pow- 
erful lever  to  the  success  of  others. 

Mrs.  Lapham  died  in  October,  1877,  and  in  January, 
1878,  Mr.  Lapham  married  Miss  Hannah  M.,  daughter  of 
Lonson  Dewey,  born  in  Almont,  Lapeer  Co.,  Oct.,  5,  1840. 
They  still  reside  in  Maple  Grove,  surrounded  by  a  pleasant 
circle  of  old  friends  and  relatives,  whose  esteem  and  regard 
they  possess  to  an  eminent  degree. 


ABRAM  S.   QUICK. 

Among  the  earliest  and  most  active  pioneers  in  Maple 
Grove  township,  Abram  S.  Quick  was  especially  prominent, 
and  now,  after  a  residence  of  upwards  of  forty  years  upon 
the  place  of  his  first  settlement  in  Barry  County,  enjoys  well- 
earned  comfort  and  ease.  His  father,  John  Quick,  was 
born  in  New  Jersey  and  lived  thereafter  in  Pennsylvania, 
Canada,  and  New  York,  and  in  1842  took  up  his  resi- 
dence with  his  son  Abram  in  Maple  Grove,  where  he  died,  in 
1851.  He  served  through  an  active  campaign  in  the  war 
of  the  Revolution,  and  had,  at  his  death,  reached  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninety-one.  Abram  S.  Quick  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  March  9, 1808,  the  sixth  child  in  a  family  of 
eight,  and,,  until  he  reached  his  majority,  lived  at  home 
with  his  parents,  working  chiefly  as  a  farm-hand.  This 
occupation  he  continued  here  and  there  until  1838,  when 
he  set  out  for  the  far  West,  and  at  Adrian,  Mich.,  ob- 
tained employment  with  the  Michigan  Southern  Railroad 
Company  as  "  boss"  of  a  party  of  laborers  at  work  on  the 
line.  In  the  fall  of  1838,  with  Abel  and  Daniel  Baldwin, 
be  penetrated  into  Maple  Grove  township,  Barry  Co.,  and 
erected  a  saw-mill  in  section  26,  upon  land  owned  by  John 
Mott,  a  Quaker,  living  then  in  Jackson  County,  with  whom 
the  mill  was  to  be  worked  on  shares.  From  Mott  the 
property  was  known  as  the  Quaker  Mill,  and  that  name  it 
retains  to  this  day.  This,  the  pioneer  saw-mill  of  Maple 
Grove,  was  carried  on  by  Quick  and  the  Baldwins  in 
company  until  the  spring  of  1840,  when  Mr.  Quick  (hav- 
ing, in  1839,  bought  a  place  on  section  34)  turned  his 
attention  to  clearing  and  cultivating  his  land,  and  upon 
that  place  he  has  ever  since  resided.  When  he  settled  in 
Maple  Grove  there  were  but  five  other  settlers  in  the  town. 
He  built  upon  his  present  place,  in  1840,  the  first  framed 
residence  in  Maple  Grove,  the  building  being  destroyed  by 
fire  in  1868,  and  put  out  one  of  the  first  two  orchards  in 
the  town.  By  exchanging  labor  with  his  neighbors  and 
attending  logging-bees,  he  managed  to  clear  and  fence  forty 
acres  of  his  land  before  he  owned  a  yoke  of  oxen,  and  has, 
during  his  life  in  Michigan,  chopped  and  logged  upwards  of 
two  hundred  and  fifty  acres.  During  the  hard  winter  of 
1842-43  he  cut  out  three  miles  of  the  road  to  Hastin"-s 


s**^-'' ' 


MAPLE  GROVE  TOWNSHIP. 


463 


and  worked  otherwise  early  and  late  to  save  his  home, 
which  was  mortgaged  to  Quaker  Mott,  and  by  him  threat- 
ened with  foreclosure.  In  18'12  his  wife  made  a  half- 
barrel  of  sugar,  carrying  the  sap,  and  boiling  it  in  small 
vessels,  while  he  chopped  the  wood.  The  home  was, 
however,  by  the  most  heroic  exertions,  saved  from  fore- 
closure, and  when  Quick  finally  got  it  clear  and  set  out  to 
build  a  house,  he  used  to  tramp  eleven  miles  to  Bellevue 
with  forty  pounds  of  sugar  on  his- back,  and  with  the  pro- 
ceeds, two  dollars  and  forty  cents,  buy  nails  to  use  in  the  con- 
struction of  his  dwelling. 

Mr.  Quick  has,  during  his  life  in  Maple  Grove,  been 
prominently  identified  with  the  interests  of  the  town- 
ship, and  has  often  been  called  upon  to  render  services 
in  local  offices  of  public  trust.  He  has  been  county 
superintendent  of  the  poor  two  terms,  treasurer  seven  terms, 
justice  of  the  peace  two  years,  and  for  a  number  of 
years  conspicuously  concerned  with  grange  affairs.  Rachel 
R.,  his  wife,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Collins,  Erie  Co., 
N.  Y.,  July  20,  1823,  being  fourth  in  a  family  of  eight 
children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eli  Lapham.  Her  parents 
were  natives  of  Vermont,  her  father  having  been  born  in 
1788,  and  her  mother  in  1800.  Eli  Lapham  moved,  with 
his  family,  from  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  to  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  in 
1830,  and  in  1837  pushed  on  to  Maple  Grove  township, 
in  Barry  County,  where,  upon  section  35,  with  a  son  and 
daughter  and  his  son-iu-law,  Abel  Hallock,  he  made  the 
pioneer  settlement  in  the  township.  He  was  a  Quaker 
minister,  preached  the  first  sermon  in  the  town,  and  every 
Sabbath  during  his  pioneer  experience  held  public  religious 
services,  and  preached  to  his  family,  to  neighbors,  and 
Indians,  as  they  gathered  at  his  house  or  the  houses  of 
others  in  response  to  his  invitation.  After  an  extended 
stay  in  Maple  Grove  he  removed  to  Battle  Creek,  and  died 
in  Calhoun  County  in  1864,  having  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death  continued  with  more  or  less  regularity  his  work  as 
a  minister  in  Maple  Grove  and  other  localities.  His 
widow  died  in  Maple  Grove  in  1877,  at  the  residence  of 
Mr.  Quick,  after  having  been  an  invalid  eight  years.  Mrs. 
Quick  has  herself  participated  in  hardy  pioneer  work  in 
Michigan.  She  was  married  to  Mr.  Quick,  in  Maple 
Grove ;  and,  from  the  time  she  became  a  pioneer's  wife, 
took  her  full  share  of  a  pioneer's  burdens.  As  an  instance 
it  may  be  noted  that,  during  the  hard  winter  of  1842-43, 
while  her  husband  was  at  work  cutting  ou^  roads,  she  cut 
her  own  firewood  and  drew  it  from  the  woods,  and  that 
spring  boiled  a  considerable  quantity  of  sugar.  She  has 
all  her  life  been  a  member  of  the  Quaker  Church,  and, 
during  her  father's  time,  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  frequent 
worship  according  to  that  faith.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Quick  have 
four  living  children,  viz.  :  George,  born  in  1842,  and 
now  living  in  Battle  Creek;  Irena  Sophronia,  born  in 
1845,  and  now  Mrs.  Elbridge  Potter,  of  Maple  Grove; 
Frank  M.,  born  in  1850,  and  now  a  farmer  in  Calhoun 
County;  Frederick  J.,  born  in  1853,  likewise  a  farmer, 
and  in  Maple  Grove. 


CHARLES  S.  DUNHAM. 

Charles  S.  Dunham,  one  of  Maple  Grove's  best  known 
citizens,  has  lived  in  the  town  upwards  of  twenty-seven 
years,  and  in  the  State  since  1837.  He  was  born  in 
Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  24, 1820,  of  good  old  New  Eng- 
land stock,  his  father  having  been  a  native  of  Massachu- 
setts, although  his  mother  was  born  in  New  York  State. 
At  the  age  of  ten  the  lad  Charles  was  called  upon  to  mourn 
his  father's  death,  and  with  his  mother,  brothers,  and  sis- 
ters faced  the  stern  necessity  of  battling  for  an  existence. 
In  1837  the  family  moved  to  Michigan,  and,  still  pursuing 
the  path  of  dependence  upon  his  labors,  Charles  engaged  in 
whatsoever  industry  his  hands  could  find  to  do,  his  chief 
fields  of  toil  being  in  Jackson  and  Kalamazoo  Counties,  and 
his  pursuits  those  of  farming  and  painting,  as  occasion 
served.  In  1841,  he  and  his  brother  Casper  purchased 
some  land  upon  section  30,  in  Eaton  County,  and  to  that 
place  the  family  moved  that  year,  Dec.  25,  1844.  Mr. 
Dunham  married  Catharine,  daughter  to  Peter  and  Pamelia 
Downs,  of  Maple  Grove  township,  Barry  Co.,  and  upon 
the  Dunham  farm,  in  Eaton  County,  the  worthy  couple 
lived  until  April  25,  1853,  when  they  moved  to  Barry 
County,  where  Mr.  Dunham  had  bought  new  land,  and  in 
Maple  Grove  they  have  ever  since  resided. 

Mr.  Dunham  has  always  concerned  himself  in  a  spirited 
way  with  the  advancement  of  the  interest  of  his  adopted 
town,  has  frequently  been  called  upon  to  fill  various  offices 
of  local  trust,  and  has  in  short  been  a  man  of  mark  and 
influence  in  the  community.  He  has  long  been  a  member 
of  the  orders  of  Odd-Fellowship  and  Freemasonry,  and  is 
now  connected  with  Nashville  Lodge,  No.  255,  F.  and  A. 
M.,  and  Hastings  Chapter,  No.  68,  R.  A.  M.  Mr.  Dun- 
ham takes  a  good  deal  of  pride  in  the  recollection  that  for 
thirty-nine  years  he  has  not  missed  a  season  of  sugaring. 
He  proposes  to  make  the  record  an  even  forty  years  and 
rest  content.  Mrs.  Charles  S.  Dunham,  as  already  recorded, 
was  the  daughter  of  Peter  and  Pameha  (Styles)  Downs. 
Her  father  was  born  in  Vermont,  Dec.  11,  1795,  and  her 
mother  in  Massachusetts,  Aug.  2,  1791.  They  were  mar- 
ried in  New  York,  July  21,  1817,  and  shortly  afterwards 
settled  in  St.  Lawrence  County,  where  Catharine  (now  Mrs. 
Dunham),  their  fourth  child,  was  born  Dec.  20,  1824.  In 
1837,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Downs  settled  in  Calhoun  Co.,  Mich., 
and  in  January,  1841,  became  settlers  upon  section  36,  in 
Maple  Grove  township,  in  Barry  County.  Later  they  re- 
moved to  section  15,  and  upon  the  place  now  owned  and 
occupied  by  Charles  S.  Dunham  died, — Mr.  Downs,  Oct. 
4,  1871,  and  Mrs.  Downs,  June  5,  1873. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dunham's  children,  three  in  number,  are 
all  living,  and  are  named  Peter  0.,  born  Aug.  3,  1846 ; 
Esther,  born  June  29,  1848;  and  Matthew  H.,  born  Aug. 
3,  1861.  Living  with  them  are  their  two  adopted  chil- 
dren, Evey  L.,  adopted  February,  1863,  and  Charles  E., 
adopted  February,  1880.  Of  Mrs.  Dunham's  family  two 
brothers  are  now  living,  and  of  Mr;  Dunham's  one  brother 
and  two  sisters. 


oeaistgeville; 


SuR'V'ET-TOWNSHiP  2  north  in  range  10  west,  known  as 
Orangeville,  lies  on  the  western  border  of  Barry  County ; 
having  Yankee  Springs  on  the  north,  Prairieville  on  the 
south,  Hope  on  the  east,  and  the  Allegan  county-line  on 
the  west.  The  township  contains  a  number  of  small  ponds 
or  lakes,  among  which  Fish  Lake,  near  the  centre,  is  con- 
spicuously attractive.  Gun  Lake  touches  the  northwest 
corner,  and  there  covers  about  1000  acres.  That  locality 
is  much  resorted  to  by  large  parties  of  pleasure-seekers  in 
the  summer  seasons,  and  from  Kalamazoo  especially  the 
visitors  gather  in  great  force. 

The  surface  of  the  country  is  undulating  and  hilly,  and 
the  soil  is  sandy,  yet  agriculturally  the  region  ranks  well. 
There  is  but  one  village,  called  Orangeville,  where  there  is 
a  post-ofiBce.  Although  three  separate  railway  projects 
through  the  town  have  been  agitated,  no  locomotive  has  yet 
presented  itself  for  welcome.  Such  an  event  is,  however, 
not  at  all  improbable. 

THE   PIONEERS'   ADVANCE. 

The  first  route  through  from  Gull  Prairie  to  the  present 
township  of  Orangeville  was  "  blazed"'  with  a  hatchet  by 
George  Brown,  who  in  the  fall  of  1835  marched  afoot  over 
the  ground,  looking  for  a  good  location,  while  his  son,  Wil- 
liam, followed  him  on  horseback.  Having  reached  what  is 
now  called  the  Brown  neighborhood,  he  concluded  to  make 
a  settlement  there,  and,  retracing  liis  steps  eastward,  took  up 
some  land  on  section  32.  With  his  wife  and  his  father,  Cal- 
vin Brown,  he  came  on  the  next  summer  from  Connecticut 
to  begin  active  preparations  in  the  work  of  making  a  home 
in  the  Michigan  wilderness.  Leaving  Mrs.  Brown  at 
Blashfield's,  in  Prairieville, — five  miles  south  of  their  des- 
tination,— the  two  Browns  pushed  on,  and  in  July,  1836, 
began  upon  section  32  their  pioneer  work  in  the  present 
township  of  Orangeville.  George  Brown  had  engaged  Jcrtin 
Pattdn  and  Joshua  J.  Pease  to  clear  some  of  his  land,  and 
found  them  on  the  ground,  they  having  come  to  the  town- 
ship in  April,  1836.  They  were  the  first  actual  residents 
of  the  township. 

After  remaining  at  Blashfield's  during  three  weary 
weeks  Mrs.  Brown  grew  restless  from  inactivity,  and,  eager 
to  join  her  husband  as  a  pioneer,  sent  word  to  him  to  that 
effect,  and  very  soon  afterward  appeared  before  him.  She 
found  upon  her  arrival  that  a  shanty  had  been  put  up 
on  the  Brown  place,  and  that  in  it,  besides  her  husband  and 
father,  were  living  John  Patton  and  Joshua  J.  Pease  with 
their  families.  Patton  and  Pease  were  brothers-in-law,  and 
had  come  in  together  partly  to  clear  land  for  Brown  and 
partly  to  improve  some  land  of  their  own  on  section  28, 


*  By  David  Schwartz. 


464 


and  abided  with  the  Browns  while  making  ready  their  own 
habitations.  Patton  and  one  Joseph  Brown,  of  Gull 
Prairie,  raised  a  saw-mill  on  section  28  in  1837,  but  did 
not  set  it  in  motion  until  1838.  This  pioneer  mill  was 
carried  on  for  some  time  by  Patton  and  Brown,  and  was 
naturally  a  valuable  convenience  to  the  incoming  settlers. 
The  water-power  has  not  been  suffered  to  waste  itself  in  much 
idleness  since  that  time,  and  still  turns  a  saw-mill  wheel, 
the  business  being  now  in  the  hands  of  Jefferson  Bagley. 

In  1837,  when  Henry  Brown  came  from  Connecticut  to 
make  a  settlement  in  Orangeville,  in  response  to  the  per- 
suasions of  his  brother  George,  he  found  in  the  Brown 
neighborhood  a  smart  little  community  of  pioneers.  There 
were  George  Brown  and  Calvin  his  father.  Duty  Benson, 
Isaac  Messer,  a  family  named  Adams  (who  soon  sold  out  to 
William  Dwellie,  of  Prairieville),  John  Patton,  and  Joshua 
Pease.  Of  the  settlers  above  mentioned  as  among  the 
pioneer  vanguard  of  Orangeville,  George  Brown,  Calvin 
Brown,  Duty  Benson,  and  John  Patton  are  dead.  Henry 
Brown  still  lives  on  section  32,  in  Orangeville,  where  he 
located  in  1837.  George  Brown's  widow  lives  on  the 
same  section,  Joshua  Pease  lives  in  Hope  township,  and 
Isaac  Messer  in  Carlton.  Following  close  upon  the  earliest 
comers  named  came  Elam  Nichols  and  Silas  Nichols,  to 
section  32 ;  Aaron  Ellis,  to  section  29  ;  J.  D.  Kelly,  to 
section  31 ;  William  Sykes,  to  section  20  ;  and  Hiram  Chase, 
to  section  29.  Dr.  Fordyce  Rhodes,  Orangeville's  pioneer 
physician,  came  to  the  town  in  1840,  and  occupied  the 
Messer  place,  on  section  32.  Elam  Nichols,  who  settled  on 
section  32  in  1838,  was  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  and  built 
not  only  the  first  school-house  the  town  had,  but  also  the 
first  framed  barn.  He  lived  in  the  town  but  a  year  or 
so,  and  then  moved  to  Gun  Plain.  Silas  Nichols  had  a 
family  of  twelve  children,  but  did  not  not  seem  to  con- 
sider that  complement  a  very  big  one,  for,  being  upon  one 
occasion  asked  by  preacher  Shaw  whether  he  had  much  of 
a  family,  replied,  "  Oh,  not  much  of  a  one ;  thirteen  or 
fourteen  children,  I  believe,"  as  if  one  child  more  or  less 
made  but  little  difference,  or  perhaps  as  if  the  children 
were  multiplying  so  rapidly  he  couldn't  keep  track  of  them. 

THE  BROWN  NEIGHBORHOOD, 
as  the  place  of  Orangeville's  first  settlement  was  called,  and 
is  called  to  this  day,  gathered  residents  quickly  after  George 
Brown  and  his  father  delivered  the  first  axe-strokes  upon 
Orangeville's  forest  giants.  The  settlers  were  all  moderately 
near  neighbors,  and  were  necessarily  fraternal  and  sociable. 
Hospitality  was  a  marked  feature  in  the  community,  and 
amid  the  toils  and  privations  of  pioneer  life  friendly  visits 
and  a  happy  interchange  of  social  sentiments  cheered  and 
refreshed  existence.     A  participant  in  the  events  of  that 


ORANGEVILLE  TOWNSHIP. 


465 


time  refers  with  glowing  animation  to  tlie  many  delightful 
social  occasions  incidental  to  his  pioneer  experience,  and 
honestly  believes  that  for  good  old-fashioned  enjoyinent 
and  hearty  hospitality  that  period  was  far  in  advance  of 
the  present  day,  and  that,  all  things  taken  into  considera- 
tion, there  was  more  solid  comfort  than  can  be  found  now 
in  any  community. 

Fever  and  ague  was,  however,  a  great  terror,  and  caused 
at  first  much  distress.  By  many  the  presence  of  the  dis- 
ease was  chargeable  to  the  fact  that,  the  settlers'  stock  of 
meat  being  usually  exhausted  by  May,  they  lived  largely  on 
cucumbers  and  milk,  and  fever  and  ague  rapidly  followed 
this  diet.  The  universal  ague  remedy  was  Dr.  Osgood's 
cholagogue,  and  in  every  household  it  was  as  common  as  were 
the  most  urgent  of  life's  necessaries.  Dr.  Osgood  lived  in 
Norwich,  Conn.,  and  made  a  vast  fortune  from  his  cholagogue, 
towards  which  Michigan  contributed  no  small  share.  Os- 
good visited  Michigan  but  once,  and  then  stopped  at  Yankee 
Lewis'  for  dinner,  and  in  dwelling  upon  the  excellence  of 
that  dinner  as  being  the  best  meal  he  ever  ate  he  never 
grew  weary. 

The  first  birth  in  the  settlement  was  that  of  Albertus, 
son  to  George  and  Mary  Ann  Brown,  who  was  born  July 
16,  1837.  The  first  girl  child  was  a  daughter  to  Isaac 
Messer,  born  also  in  1837,  and  now  Mrs.  Martha  Morrill, 
of  Hastings. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  Mrs.  Henry  Brown,  who 
died  in  July,  1837,  and  was  buried  on  Mr.  Brown's  farm. 
The  cemetery  in  the  Brown  settlement  was  not  laid  out 
until  some  time  afterward,  the  one  in  Prairieville  being 
used  in  common  by  both  towns. 

PIONEERS   IN   THE   NORTH. 

As  early  as  1837,  or  perhaps  1836,  one  McKnight  made 
a  small  clearing  on  section  9,  put  up  a  log  cabin,  and,  be- 
tween trading  with  Indians  and  keeping  a  house  of  enter- 
tainment for  such  land-lookers  as  happened  to  pass  that 
way,  managed  to  eke  out  a  precarious  subsistence.  Among 
the  land-seekers  who  were  entertained  at  McKnight's 
house  in  1838  was  David  Townsend,  who  bargained  with 
McKnight  for  the  40  acres  the  latter  occupied,  and  also 
left  with  him  $100,  with  which  McKnight  was  to  buy  more 
land  for  him.  Townsend  went  back  to  New  York,  and,  in 
1839,  came  out  with  his  family.  When  he  reached  the 
McKnight  place,  expecting  to  find  that  worthy  at  hand  with 
an  account  of  his  stewardship  in  the  $100  afiair,  he  found 
an  empty  cabin,  and  directly  learned  that  McKnight,  see- 
inf  before  him  a  more  inviting  financial  scheme  than  either 
keeping  tavern  or  trading  with  Indians,  had  slipped  away 
with  the  $100.  Neither  he  nor  the  money  was  ever  heard 
of  more. 

Joseph  Coffin,  an  Indian  trader,  was  living  on  the  town- 
line,  in  section  3,  when  Townsend  moved  in,  and  carried  on 
a  brisk  traffic  with  the  Indians,  especially  in  the  sale  of 
whisky  to  them.  Upon  that  whisky  the  redskins  used 
to  get  most  villainously  drunk,  and  then  their  howls  carried 
great  dismay  and  terror  to  the  souls  of  such  women  as 
resided  in  the  neighborhood,  but,  farther  than  that,  it  is 
not  recorded  that  they  inflicted  any  damage.  Coffin's  wife 
died  in  1840,  £^nd  shortly  after  that  he  moved  to  the  far 
59 


South.  John  and  James  O'Connor,  two  brothers,  were  the 
next  to  make  a  settlement  after  Townsend.  They  came  to 
section  3  in  September,  1838,  and  moved  from  the  town 
after  a  residence  therein  of  six  years.  E.  O'Connor,  a 
third  brother,  came  to  section  3  in  1839  and  still  lives 
there. 

In  December,  1838,  James  Stewart  came  from  Canada 
to  section  11,  and  occupied  land  located  by  his  father-in- 
law  in  1836.  At  the  same  time  Donald  McCallum  also 
came  from  Canada  and  settled  upon  the  same  section.  Mc- 
Callum moved  to  Hope  in  1851,  and  there  died.  Stewart 
still  lives  upon  his  old  farm.  In  the  northern  portion  of 
Orangeville  the  owners  of  lands  held  back  their  property  in 
most  cases  for  an  advance  in  price,  and  for  that  reason  that 
quarter  was  at  first  slow  in  being  populated.  Among  the 
earliest  in  following  Stewart  and  McCallum  were  John 
Gillespie  and  Adam  Elliott,  to  section  3  ;  James  McDer- 
mott,  to  section  12 ;  and  Isaac  Young,  to  sections  10  and 
11,  which  he  bought  of  Donald  McCallum. 

Settlers  thereabout  could  get  to  no  grist-mill  short  of 
Otsego  or  Gull  Prairie,  and  to  make  the  journey  to  either 
place  two  days,  and  often  more,  were  fully  occupied.  Fight- 
ing against  fever  and  ague  was  a  common  matter,  but,  fight 
as  they  would,  the  people  suffered  sorely,  and,  indeed, 
there  was  more  unhappiness  from  that  cause  than  from  all 
others  combined.  Dr.  Upjohn,  of  Gull  Prairie,  was  the 
only  available  physician,  and  his  welcome  presence  even 
could  not  always  be  counted  on  in  times  of  sickness,  for 
his  circuit  was  a  large  one,  and,  tax  his  energies  as  he 
might,  he  could  not  always  meet  his  engagements. 

South  of  Stewart  the  early  settlers  were  John  and 
George  Bugbee,  Otis  Bugbee,  Peter  Castle,  Elder  C. 
Blake,  a  preacher,  and  Calvin  Preston.  Farther  south, 
on  the  Grand  River  road,  S.  C.  Woodman,  still  living  on 
section  23,  came  to  that  place  in  January,  1846,  where 
John  Rogers  had  lived  a  while  and  cleared  about  an  acre. 
Among  the  settlers  in  his  neighborhood  soon  after  he  came 
in  were  the  Bugbees,  the  Castles,  Samuel  Youngs,  William 
Johncoek,  Joshua  Hart,  Ansel  Haven,  the  Osborns,  etc. 

Fishing  was  fine  sport  in  that  vicinity,  and  yielded  wel- 
come returns  too,  for  food  of  any  kind  was  not  over-plen- 
tiful among  the  pioneers.  Mr.  Woodman  recalls  a  fishing 
excursion  in  which  he  and  seven  others  participated,  and 
relates  that,  after  an  all-night  campaign,  they  got  home 
with  400  pounds  of  pickerel  and  bass,  many  of  which 
weighed  25  pounds  each.  He  and  his  son  were  great  deer- 
hunters,  and  counted  it  as  no  uncommon  occurrence  when 
they  brought  down  four  deer  a.day.  Hunting  and  trapping 
were  followed  by  the  settlers  not  only  as  a  sport,  but  as  a 
necessity.  Money  was  exceedingly  hard  to  get,  and,  as 
furs  and  deer-hides  always  commanded  cash,  they  were 
eagerly  sought  whenever  opportunity  offered. 

South  of  Woodman,  on  the  Grand  River  road,  Peter 
Falk  and  his  son  William  settled  on  section  26  in  1844, 
their  coming  to  Michigan  dating  from  1837,  when  they 
located  in  Barry  township.  William  Falk  was  a  cabinet- 
maker, and  his  services  in  that  capacity  were  in  almost 
constant  demand  in  the  neighborhood.  He  still  lives  on 
section  26.  His  wife  is  a  daughter  of  Richard  Collier, 
who  settled  on  the  Grand  River  road  in  1842.    Thereabout, 


466 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


among  the  early  comers,  were  also  Seth  Lewis,  Seymour 
Adams,  Augustus  Williams,  J.  H.  Earl,  A.  D.  Storms 
(who  located  upon  section  35  in  1841),  Elbridge  Smith, 
Aaron  Orr,  Charles  Matthews,  and  a  Mr.  Cass,  a  pensioner 
of  the  war  of  1812. 

The  earliest  settler  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  present 
village  of  Orangeville  was  Isaac  Fish,  who  located  in  1837 
in  Oakland  County,  and  in  1844  in  Orangeville,  upon 
section  17.  The  father  of  his  wife  was  Abner  Liverraore, 
who  settled  in  Oakland  County  in  1833.  The  region  in 
which  Mr.  Fish  made  his  Orangeville  home  was  in  1844  a 
wilderness.  On  the  south  his  nearest  neighbor  was  Wil- 
liam Sykes,  on  section  20,  and  on  the  north  David  Town- 
send,  two  and  a  half  miles  distant.  In  Mr.  Fish's  vicinity 
and  west  of  the  village^  the  settlers  came  in  rapidly  ahout 
1848.  Among  the  earliest  were  Josephus  Snook,  to  section 
20 ;  Parmenio  Wolcott,  to  section  17  ;  John  Valentino,  to 
section  17  (a  place  occupied  in  1864  by  Hiram  Harper,  a 
settler  in  Calhoun  County  in  1832)  ;  Sylvanus  Clark,  Leon- 
ard Johnson,  Liscomb  Brigham,  Joel  Johnson,  William 
England,  W.  W.  Wait,  Ezra  Barker,  and  S.  M.  Nichols. 

Watson  Wait,  one  of  those  named,  was  given  at  times  to 
uttering  original  expressions,  and  among  others  is  remembered 
to  have  remarked,  upon  returning  from  church  where  Elder 
Owen,  an  exhorter,  had  presided,  "  Oh,  nobody  preached. 
Elder  Owen,  he  just  read  a  short  chapter  from  the  Bible  and 
then  exaggerated."  Stillwell,  another  character,  is  remem- 
bered for  his  anti-abolition  speech,  in  which  he  charged  the 
Black  Republicans  with  running  150,000,000  of  slaves 
from  the  South  into  Canada ;  Pettingill  for  his  famous 
reply,  in  which  he  declared  that  such  a  number  of  people 
couldn't  stand  up  in  Canada ;  and  Valentine  for  his  rejoin- 
der to  the  effect  that  "  the  Upper  Providence  and  Lower 
Providence  of  Canada  were  bigger  than  the  whole  State 
of  Michigan." 

THE  GRAND  EAPIDS  EOAD. 
The  old  stage-road  extending  from  Battle  Creek  to  Grand 
Rapids,  vicL  Yankee  Springs,  passed  through  the  eastern 
portion  of  Orangeville  and  much  enlivened  that  section, 
for  the  volume  of  travel  was  something  quite  remarkable. 
On  that  thoroughfare  in  Orangeville  there  was,  however, 
but  one  tavern,  and  that  not  a  very  important  one.  Charles 
Peck  was  the  landlord  of  the  inn,  which  was  a  log  structure, 
and  stood  on  section  35,  upon  the  place  now  occupied  by 
J.  H.  Earl.  Peck  opened  his  house  about  1838,  and  it 
was  then  the  only  house  in  the  township  on  that  road.  Of 
course  this  highway  was  a  great  convenience  to  the  pioneers, 
for  it  gave  them  ready  means  of  communication  with  the 
outer  world,  and,  as  stages  and  other  vehicles  passed  over  it 
frequently  each  day,  there  was  always  a  chance  to  send  to 
market  or  secure  the  performance  of  any  similar  commis- 
sion. This  business  of  "  sending  to  town"  by  the  stages 
for  such  articles  as  might  be  needed  was  carried  forward 
liberally,  and  at  various  points  along  the  line  the  driver 
would  take  up  orders  from  people  who  had  in  some  cases 
come  miles  to  intercept  the  stage.  Merchants  at  Battle 
Creek  used  to  drive  a  flourishing  trade  in  the  execution  of 
these  orders  by  stage,  and  the  experience  of  one  clerk  is 
recalled  to  the  effegt  that  it  W£^s  no  uncommon  thing  for 


him  to  work  all  night  in  the  preparation  of  goods  to  be 
transported  by  the  stages  the  next  morning. 

OTHER  ROADS. 
On  the  15th  of  July,  1S43,  a  road  was  laid  out,  com- 
mencing in  the  centre  of  the  highway  north  of  the  Rogers 
House,  running  thence  north  and  east  to  the  northwest  corner 
of  section  2.  Before  that  date  the  Yankee  Springs  and  Pine 
Lake  road  had  been  laid  out,  and  March  29,  1844,  a  road 
was  laid  out  beginning  at  a  stake  in  the  Grand  River  road, 
running  thence  south  to  the  east  line  of  section  10,  thence  to 
a  stake  in  the  highway  north  of  the  Rogers  House.  March 
25, 1845,  the  survey  of  a  road  was  made  from  the  quarter- 
post  on  the  east  side  of  section  25,  thence  north  and  west  to 
"  McCallum's  road."  May  10,  1848,  it  was  agreed  that  of 
the  road  between  the  two  towns  Orangeville  should  take 
the  part  from  the  Grand  River  road  west  to  the  centre  of 
section  33,  and  Prairieville  from  the  centre  of  section  33 
to  the  southwest  corner  of  section  32.  A  road  from  John 
Patton's  to  Prairieville  was  laid  June  12,  1843,  and  May 
10,  1847,  one  running  from  the  Grand  River  road  at  the 
south  line  of  section  23,  northwest  and  north  to  the  Grand 
River  road  near  the  line  between  sections  14  and  15.  May 
10,  1847,  the  town-line  road  from  the  quarter-post  on  the 
south  side  of  section  35  east  to  the  town-line  was  laid, 
and  Deo.  9,  1847,  a  road  was  laid  between  the  towns  of 
Yankee  Springs  and  Orangeville,  running  two  and  a  half 
miles  due  east  from  the  quarter-post  on  the  s  outh  line  of 
section  34,— Yankee  Springs  to  work  one  and  a  half  miles, 
and  Orangeville  the  remainder. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  first  school  known  to  the  history  of  Orangeville  was 
taught  by  Mrs.  Isaac  Messer,  in  1837,  i°  lier  home  on 
section  32.  She  had  8  or  10  scholars  and  taught  about 
two  months.  After  that,  in  the  spring  of  1838,  a  framed 
district  school-house  was  built  by  Elam  Nichols,  a  carpenter 
and  joiner  living  in  the  township.  The  contract  for  build- 
ing the  house  was  taken  by  Henry  Brown,  who  hauled 
the  lumber  for  it  from  Gun  Plain  and  Silver  Creek.  The 
building,  which  stood  on  George  Brown's  farm,  cost  |400 
completed,  and  now  does  duty  as  one  of  the  out-houses  on 
Henry  Brown's  place.  Although  the  school-house  was  not 
built  until  1838,  the  district,  including  all  of  township  2,  was 
organized  as  district  No.  12  in  Prairieville,  July  4,  1837. 

The  first  school-teacher  in  that  house  was  Harriet  Hoyt, 
and  after  her  the  early  teachers  were  Calvin  White,  Jr., 
Miss  S.  M.  Woodard,  Miss  Mansfield,  and  Hannah  Benson. 

On  the  4th  of  April,  1838,  district  No.  12  was  changed 
to  No.  3,  and  there  were  then  attached -to  it  sections  4,  5, 
and  6,  in  township  1.  Oct.  18, 1843,  the  district  was  changed 
to  No.  1.  March  10,  1845,  district  No.  7,  in  Prairieville, 
was  organized  to  include  the  north  half  of  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  1,  the  whole  of  section  2,  the  south  half 
and  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  3,  the  east  half  of  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  4,  the  east  half  of  section  9,  the 
whole  of  sections  10  and  11,  the  west  half  of  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  12,  the  whole  of  section  14,  and 
the  east  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  15,  in 
town  2.     The  first  meeting  of  the  district  was  held  at  the 


ORANGEVILLE  TOWNSHIP. 


467 


house  of  Adam  Elliott,  March  21,  1845.  Nov.  21,  1845, 
the  northwest  quarter  of  section  2  and  the  north  half  of 
section  3  were  set  off  to  district  3,  of  Yankee  Springs. 

In  answer  to  the  petition  of  Peter  Falk  and  others,  dis- 
trict No.  8  was  organized,  Nov.  7,  1846,  and  included  sec- 
tions 23,  24,  25,  26,  35,  36,  and  the  east  halves  of  sections 
22,  27,  and  34.  A  log  school-house  was  built  on  section 
26  by  Peter  Falk  and  J.  C.  Woodman.  Mary  Warner,  of 
Prairieville,  taught  the  first  term  in  that  school-house. 
Oct.  4,  1849,  upon  the  petition  of  Isaac  Fish  and  others. 
No.  4  was  formed,  and  embraced  sections  7,  8,  17,  18,  19, 
20,  and  21,  and  the  north  half  of  section  29. 

Oct.  14,  1849,  district  No.  7  was  changed  to  No.  2,  and 
June  7,  1851,  No.  5  was  organized  out  of  sections  1,  2,  3, 
and  4.  Fractional  district  No.  7  was  formed  June  30, 
1851,  and  included  portions  of  Martin  and  Gun  Plain  and 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  30,  the  west  half  of  sec- 
tion 31,  the  west  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  and  west 
half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  31  in  Orangeville. 
Nov.  5,  1853,  district  No.  5  was  dissolved  and  attached 
to  No.  2.  At  the  same  meeting  No.  2  was  changed  td  No. 
1,  No.  3  to  No.  2,  and  No.  4  to  No.  3. 

May  8, 1854,  the  districts  in  the  township  were  numbered 
and  divided  as  follows :  No.  1  included  sections  1,  2,  3, 
4,  the  east  halves  of  the  northeast  and  southeast  quarters 
of  section  9,  and  the  whole  of  sections  10,  11,  12,  13, 
14,  and  15.  No.  2  included  sections  23,  24,  25,  26,  the 
east  half  of  section  27,  the  east  half  of  section  22,  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  34,  and  the  north  half  of  sec- 
tion 36.  In  No,  3  were  sections  5,  6,  7,  8, 17, 18, 19,  20, 
21,  and  the  northeast  quarter,  the  east  half,  and  the  north- 
west half  of  section  29.  In  fractional  district  No.  3  were 
sections  35,  the  south  half  of  36,  and  the  southeast  quar- 
ter of  section  34.  In  fractional  district  No.  7  were  the 
west  half  and  the  west  half  of  the  east  half  of  section  31, 
and  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  30.  Fractional  dis- 
trict No.  1  included  the  west  halves  of  sections  22,  27,  and 
34,  the  whole  of  sections  28,  32,  and  33,  the  south  half  of 
section  29,  the  west  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
29,  the  north  half  and  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  30, 
the  east  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  and  the  east  half  of 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  31. 

The  school  reports  for  the  years  1847, 1848, 1849, 1850, 
1851,  1852,  1854,  and  1858  show  the  following  numbers: 


1847. 


Dist. 
No.  X. 
No.  3.. 
No.  7.. 


Scholars, 
,..     36 
,..     21 
..     25 


Total.. 


1848. 

Fractional  No.  1 48 

Fractional  No.  3 9 

No.  3 27 

No.  7 32 


Total., 


1849. 


No.]., 
No.  2., 
No.  3., 


Total., 


116 


30 
28 


126 


Dist.  Scholars. 

No.  3 36 

No.  4 31 

Fractional  No.  3....  14 

Fractional  No.  7....  7 

Total 165 

1854. 

No.  1 50 

No.  2 38 

No.  3 47 


Dlst.  Scholars. 

Fractional  No.  1 54 

Fractional  No.  3 19 

Total 208 

1858. 

No.  1 ., 56 

No.  2 45 

No.  3 95 

Fractional  No.  3....  29 

Fractional  No.  1....  33 

Fractional  No.  7....  9 

Total 267 


Dist. 

1850. 

Scholars. 

No.  1. 

....     43 

No.  2. 

....     60 

No.  3. 

....     28 

No  4 

....     25 

Total 

....  156 

1851. 

No.  1. 

....     38 

No.  2. 

....     47 

No.  3. 

....     33 

No.  4. 

....     19 

No.  5. 

....     17 

Total.... 

....  154 

1852. 

No.  1. 

....     33 

No.  2. 

....     44 

Appended  is  a  list  of  the  teachers  appointed  in  the  town 
between  1847  and  1860  : 

Sally  M.  Daly,  Aug.  10, 1847. 

E.  B.  Van  Vleet,  Dec.  2,  1847. 

Mary  A.  Warner,  May  3,  1848. 

Miss  S.  Allen,  June  12,  1848. 

Emeline  Spalding,  Oct.  8,  1848. 

Jacob  Nevins,  Dec.  4,  1848. 

Chester  H.  Williams,  Dec.  3,  1848. 

Mary  Bush,  Jan.  7,  1850. 

Milo  Chamberlain,  Jan.  24,  1850. 

Martha  A.  Warner,  Martha  L.  Farr,  Sarah  Betts,  May  4, 1850. 

Augusta  Brown,  June  15,  1850. 

Jamerf  Blake,  June  25,  1851. 

Diantha  Farr,  May  5,  1851. 

Alvina  Chamberlain,  June  7,  1851. 

Mary  Nash,  June  2S,  1851. 

Mary  Warner,  Dec.  3,  1851. 

Miss  Marion  H.  Bown,  Delia  Hill,  April  27,  1852. 

Eli  Hathaway,  Nov.  27,  1852. 

C.  H.  Brewster,  Dee.  5,  1852. 

William  L.  Brown,  Dee.  22,  1852. 

Koaetta  Walker,  Feb.  23,  1863. 

Amanda  M,  Browason,  April  16,  1853. 

Keturah  Watson,  Cynthia  Farr,  Sarah  A.  Dawson,  April  8, 

1854. 
George  W.  Tuthill,  Nor.  8,  1854. 
Milton  A.  Brown,  Deo.  2,  1854. 
Mary  Heleu  Williams,  Jan.  24,  1855. 
Welles  A.  Johnson,  Jan.  20,  1855. 
Mary  S.  Wing,  April  14,  1855. 
Juliette  Haydon,  May  14,  1855, 
Helen  Brown,  July  20,  1855. 
A.  L.  Ewell,  Nov.  3,  1855. 
George  Brainard,  Nov.  24,  1855. 
Jerome  E.  Rockwood,  Dec.  15,  1855. 
William  P.  Stanley,  Dec  2,  1855. 
Lemuel  W,  Wing,  May  5,  1856. 
Euth  A.  Tefft,  May  6,  1856. 
Adelaide  McKay,  May  19,  1856. 
Homer  Paddock,  Thomas  M.  Brady,  Nov.  14,  1856. 
Corydon  A.  Tefft,  Dec.  2,  1856. 
.  W.  Pilber,  Feb.  7,  1857. 
Ada  I.  Salisbury,  Sarah  C.  Fish,  Helen  MoGown,  Margaret 

A.  McGown,  Ruth  Lilly,  April  18,  1857. 
Harriet  Tuttle,  May  5,  1857. 
Mr.  Gilson,  Nov.  7,1857. 
Mr.  Dobin,  Nov.  26,  1857. 
Charles  G.  Matthews,  Nov.  30,  1857. 
L.  W.  Wing,  April  10,  1858. 
A.  B.  Austin,  Nov.  6,  1858. 
Harriet  Falk,  April  10,  1859. 
Marion  Lewis,  April  10,  1869. 
Ira  Osgood,  Deo.  20,  1859. 
Lemuel- Wing,  Dec.  20, 1859. 
Ruth  Lilly,  Dec.  15,  1869. 
John  McCallum,  Dec.  15,  1859. 

The  annual  school  report  for  1879  presented  the  follow- 
ing statistics : 


468 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Number  of  districts  (whole,  5  ;  fractional,  2) 7 

"  children  of  school  age 323 

Average  attendance 296 

Value  of  property $3650 

Teachers'  wages $812 

The  school  directors  for  1879  were  J.  S.  Young,  Frank- 
lin Patton,  Severn  Thompson,  John  Van  Luke,  Oliver 
Chalker,  F.  Chamberlain,  and  C.  M.  Smith. 


ORGANIZATION  AND  OFPICERS. 

Township  2  north,  range  10  west,  was  a  portion  of  Prai- 
lieville  until  April  1,  1847,  when,  under  an  act  approved 
May  4,  1846,  it  was  organized  as  Orangeville.  The  name 
was  bestowed  in  pursuance  of  a  suggestion  by  Peter  Falk, 
who  wished  to  have  it  named  Orange,  in  recollection  of 
a  township  of  that  name  in  Ohio,  whence  he  came  to  Mich- 
igan, but,  there  being  already  an  Orange  in  Michigan,  a  com- 
promise was  effected  on  Orangeville. 

The  first  town-meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Isaac 
Fish,  April  5,  1847.  Samuel  C.  Woodman  was  chosen 
moderator,  Seth  Lewis  clerk,  and  George  Brown  and 
Aaron  L.  Ellis  inspectors  of  election.  The  votes  cast  for 
supervisor  were  43,  of  which  George  Brown  received  22 
and  Adam  Elliott  21.  For  clerk,  Henry  Brown  had  23, 
William  Falk  18,  and  George  Brown  1.  For  treasurer, 
Donald  McCallura  received  23,  and'  David  Townsend  20. 
For  justice  of  the  peace,  Isaac  Fish  and  Aaron  Ellis  re- 
ceived each  22,  Adam  Elliott  28,  and  Donald  McCallum 
20.  Ellis  and  Fish  drew  lots,  and  the  latter  was  declared 
elected.  The  several  candidates  for  highway  commissioners 
were  John  C.  Bugbee,  Robert  Emory,  Royal  Ellis,  Wil- 
liam E.  Sykes,  and  David  Townsend,  of  whom  Sykes, 
Bugbee,  and  Emory  were  elected.  For  school  inspectors 
the  candidates  were  Curtis  Brigham,  Jr.,  Robert  Emory, 
George  Brown,  and  Donald  McCallum,  of  whom  Brigham 
and  Brown  were  chosen.  The  assessors  elected  were  Isaac 
Fish  and  Joshua  J.  Pease.  Poormasters,  Seymour  Adams, 
Stephen  Nichols,  George  W.  Bugbee,  and  Joseph  Cole. 
Overseers  of  highways,  Samuel  C.  Woodman,  in  district 
No.  1 ;  John  Gillespie,  in  No.  2 ;  Michael  Powers,  in  No. 
3  ;  Isaac  Fish,  in  No.  4  ;  Stephen  Nichols,  in  No.  5  ;  Duty 
Benson,  in  No.  6 ;  Joseph  Cole,  in  No.  7. 

At  the  same  meeting  12  votes  were  given  for  license, 
and  21  votes  for  no  license.  Ten  dollars  were  voted  to  bo 
raised  for  the  children  of  poor  parents,  and  $60  for  the 
"  contingent  expenses"  of  the  town. 

From  1848  to  1880  the  persons  chosen  annually  to  serve 
as  supervisore,  clerks,  treasurers,  and  justices  of  the  peace 
were  the  following : 

SUPERVISORS. 
1S48-49,   George   Brown;  1850,  H.  Brown;  1851,  B.  6.  Salisbury 
1852,  George  Brown;  1853,  E.  G.  Salisbury;  185J,  E.  Smith 
1855,  P.  Falk;  1856,  E.  Smith;  1857,  II.  Brown;  1858,  E.  Smith 
1869-60,  II.  Brown;  1861,   E.  Smith;  1862-63,  Aaron   Blake 
1864-66,  J.  H.  Earl;  1867,  W.  T.  Dodge;  1868-69,  H.  Brown 
1870,  ^V.'1.  Dodge;    1871,   E.  C.  Pheteplace;  1872-74,  Henry 
Brown;  1875,  Eli  Nichols;  1876,  J.  ^V.  Uoughtalin;  1877,  L.  A. 
Nichols;  1878-79,  Eli  Nichols;  1880,  L.  A.  Nichols. 

CLERKS. 
1848,  H.  Brown  ;  1849,  J.  N.  Hathorn  ;  1850,  M.  Chamberlain ;  1851 
-52,  H.  Brown;  1853,  E.  Smith;  1854,  Peter  Falk;  1855-56,  Eli 
Nichols;  1857-59,  II.  C.  Turner;  1860,  A.  Reid;  1861,  W.  W. 


Hopkins;  1862,  6.  H.  Brooks;  1863,  L.  W.  Wing;  1864,  AV.  H. 
Cressy;  1805,  H.  C.Turner;  1866,  G.  H.Brooks;  1867,  H.  E. 
Storms;  1868,  Eli  Nichols;  1869-70,  W.  II.  Cressy;  1871-74,  L. 
W.  Wing;  1875,  J.  A.  Turner;  1876-77,  H.  C.  Turner;  1878,  S. 
W.  Goucher;  1879-80,  A.  Murdock. 

TREASURERS. 

1848-49,  D.  McCallum;  1850-51,  0.  0.  Bugbee;  1852,  William  Falk; 
1853,  A.  D.  Storms;  1854-55,  J.  II.  Earl;  1866-57,  S.  Nichols; 
1858-60,  Aaron  Blake;  1861,  S.  C.  Woodman;  1862-63,  J.  II. 
Earl;  1864-68,  James  Blake;  1869,  F.  M.  Searles;  1870-76,  H. 
Hewit;  1877,  S.  M.  Nichols;  1878,  William  Townsend;  1879-80, 
E.  N.  Brown. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 

1848,  George  Brown;  1849,  J.  C.  Bugbee;  1850,  Isaac  Fish;  1851,  S. 
C.  Woodman;  1852,  George  Brown;  1853,  J.  N.  Hathorn;  1854, 
II.  Brown;  1856,  Eli  Hathaway;  1856,  W.  T.  Dodge;  1857,  E. 
McGown;  1858,  C.  L.  Stratton ;  1859,  William  Falk;  1860,  P. 
Wolcott;  1861,  J.  B.  Benson;  1862,  L.  AV.  Wing;  180.3,  J.  R. 
Benson;  1864,  N.  J.  Nevins;  1866,  W.  II.  Cressy;  1866,  T.  B. 
Diamond;  1867,  J.  S.  Terry;  1868,  H.  Hewitt;  1869,  T.  B.  Dia- 
mond; 1870,  A.  A.  Russell;  1871,  W.  H.  Sl;anley;  1872,  Ansel 
Haven;  1873,  A.  Murdock;  1874,  F.  T.  Johnson;  1875,  John 
Stewart;  1876,  S.  E.  Bowen  ;  1877,  A.  Murdock;  1 878, S.  Nichols; 
1879,  T.  B.  Diamond ;  1880,  William  Ilall. 

EARLY  JURORS.  -' 

In  1847,  Aaron  L.  Ellis,  Henry  Brown,  David  Town- 
send,  Adam  Elliott,  Samuel  C.  Woodman,  James  A. 
Hathorn,  and  Duty  Benson  were  grand  jurors,  and  Isaac 
Fish,  William  E.  Sykes,  George  Brown,  Stephen  Nichols, 
John  C.  Bugbee,  Samuel  Youngs,  and  Peter  Falk  were 
petit  jurors. 

For  1848,  Curtis  Brigham,  Jr.,  R.  H.  Bristol,  Isaac 
Diamond,  Joshua  Hart,  Thomas  W.  Lindeman,  Donald 
McCallum,  Isaac  Osborn,  and  Elbridge  Smith  were  grand 
jurors,  and  John  H.  Williams,  Josephus  Snook,  Royal 
Ellis,  John  Patton,  Parmenio  Wolcott,  James  Stewart, 
Adam  D.  Storms,  and  Joshua  J.  Pease  were  petit  jurors. 

The  grand  jurors  for  1849  were  Aaron  L.  Ellis,  Wil- 
liam Sykes,  David  Townsend,  Henry  Brown,  Henry  Lyon, 
Peter  A.  Keeler,  James  N.  Hathorn,  and  Otis  C.  Bugbee; 
the  petit  jurors  were  Thomas  Osborn,  Aaron  Blake,  Peter 
Falk,  Samuel  Hart,  Isaac  Fish,  George  Brown,  John  C. 
Bugbee,  and  Aaron  Orr. 

In  1850  the  grand  jurors  were  Donald  McCallum,  Cal- 
vin Preston,  Isaac  Osborn,  Henry  Lyon,  William  Betts, 
and  John  S.  Stone ;  the  petit  jurors,  John  Patton,  Aaron 
Blake,  Isaac  Diamond,  Curtis  Brigham,  Elbridge  Smith, 
and  John  P.  Kelly. 

ORANGEVILLE  MILLS  POST-OFFICE. 
The  post-office  at  the  village,  which  was  called  from  the 
outset  Orangeville  Blills,  because  there  was  already  an 
Orangeville  post-office  in  the  State,  was  established  about 
1853.  Hiram  Tillotson  was  the  first  postmaster,  followed 
by  Eli  Nichols  in  1855  ;  H.  C.  Turner  in  1861 ;  Eli  Nichols 
(second  term)  in  1868  ;  W.  H.  Cressy  in  1868  ;  and  after 
Cressy,  Mrs.  S.  H.  Thiers,  the  present  incumbent.  At 
first  the  mail-route  that  supplied  the  office  extended  from 
Kalamazoo  to  Yankee  Springs,  and  mail  was  received  once 
a  week  from  each  point.  The  office  is  now  on  the  route 
between  Plainwell  and  Middleville,  and  has  a  mail  twice  a 
week.  Until  1853  the  residents  in  the  township  had  to 
go  to  either  Prairieville  or  Yankee  Springs  for  their  mail. 


OKANGEVILLE  TOWNSHIP. 


469 


PHYSICIANS. 
Dr.  H.  C.  Turner  has  been  practicing  in  the  village 
without  interruption  since  1855.     He  then  came  from  Illi- 
nois to  visit  his  sister,  Mrs.  J.  C.  Snook,  -in  Orangeville, 
and,  being  pleased  with  the  place,  determined  to  become  a 
resident.     A  Dr.  Johnson  practiced  in  the  town  from  1854 
to  1855,  Dr.  Horace  B.  Herrick  from  1858  to  1863,  and 
in  1870,  Dr.  Turner's  son  Jerome  was  associated  with  his 
father  in  practice.     The  foregoing  brief  resumi  includes 
the  complete  history  of  the  medical  profession  in  the  village 
of  Orangeville.     Earlier  than  any  of  the  foregoing,  how- 
ever, was  Dr.  Fordyce  Ehodes,  who  settled  in  the  Brown 
neighborhood,  on  section  32,  in  1840,  and  practiced  his 
profession  until  his  departure,  in  1842. 

FATALITIES. 

The  first  interments  at  the  village  cemetery  were  those 
of  two  young  men  named  Truman  Clark  and  George 
Sweet,  who  lost  their  lives  in  1858  while  crossing  Gun 
Lake  on  the  ice,  which,  proving  weaker  than  they  expected, 
let  them  down  to  death.  About  1860  one  Merrill  hung 
himself  in  his  barn  while  laboring  under  an  attack  of  men- 
tal despondency;  Henry  Castle  was  killed  by  a  runaway 
team  in  1875,  and  in  1878  Stephen  Wieks,  living  on  sec- 
tion 29,  hung  himself  to  a  tree.  In  1868,  David  Witherell, 
a  school-teacher  living  in  Prairieville,  went  into  Blue  Lake 
for  a  bath,  and,  getting  beyond  his  depth,  was  drowned. 

EAKLY   BELIGIOUS  Ei?FOETS. 

"Father"  Daubney,  a  local  Methodist  Episcopal  preacher 
of  Gull  Prairie,  was  one  of  the  most  energetic  of  pioneer 
ministers,  and  from  one  end  of  Barry  County  to  the  other 
he  was  vigilant  in  the  work  of  seeking  new  settlements, 
and  introducing  therein  the  public  worship  of  God.  As 
he  was  in  many  other  towns,  so  was  he  also  in  Orangeville, 
the  first  to  offer  the  settlers  the  privilege  of  "  a  sermon  in 
the  sanctuary."  His  visit  resulted  immediately  from  the 
efforts  of  Aaron  Ellis,  a  settler  on  section  29,  who  had  in 
the  East  long  been  leader  of  a  Methodist  Episcopal  class. 
Father  Daubney  preached  at  the  school-house  in  the  Brown 
neighborhood  in  1840,  and,  in  1841,  when  Kev.  Mr.  Bush 
came  upon  the  Hastings  Circuit,  he  organized  a  class  in 
Orangeville.  It  was  under  the  leadership  of  Aaron  Ellis, 
and  included  the  families  of  the  Peases,  Bensons,  Pattons, 
etc.  Rev.  Mr.  Worthington,  who  succeeded  Mr.  Bush  on 
the  circuit,  lived  in  Orangeville,  and  kept  the  member- 
ship of  the  class  up  to  a  good  number  during  his  ministra- 
tions. After  a  while,  however,  there  arose  a  period  of 
religious  inactivity,  and,  although  the  class  met  with  more 
or  less  regularity  till  1870,  its  existence  was  not  a  flourish- 
ing one.     Since  1870  it  has  had  no  meetings. 

About  1843  a  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Blaine,  in  the  house  of  Donald  McCallum,  with 
eight  members,— John  Stewart  and  wife,  Alexander  Stew- 
art and  wife,  Donald  McCallum  and  wife,  James  Stewart 
and  wife.  The  church  was  called  the  Yankee  Springs 
Presbyterian  Church,  although  located  in  Orangeville,  the 
reason  therefor  being  that  the  people  in  the  northern  por- 
tion of  Orangeville,  being  socially  and  otherwise  allied  with 
Yankee  Springs,  adopted  the  name  of  Yankee  Springs  for 


that  locality,  quite  as  much  perhaps  to  give  vent  to  their 

sympathetic  friendship  as  anything  else.     Church  services 

were  held  nearly  all  the  time  from  1843  to  1875,  once  in 

two  weeks,  by  ministers  from  Grand  Rapids,  but  in  the 

latter  year  they  were  permanently  discontinued,  the  church 

membership  having  been  seriously  weakened  by  deaths  and 

removals. 

FIRST   BAPTIST  CHURCH  OP   OEANGEVILLE. 

Dec.  4,  1852,  a  meeting  was  held  at  the  school-house 

near  Henry  Brown's  "  to  consider  the  prospects  of   the 

Baptist  denomination  in   this  vicinity."       Elder  Samuel 

Lamb  presided,  and  it  was  resolved  to  invite  a  council  to 

meet  December  29th.    On  that  day  representatives  from  the 

churches  of  Yorkville,  Otsego,  Castleton,  and  Hope  met  in 

council  and  elected  G.  W.  Johnson  moderator,  and  C.  W. 

Calkins  clerk.     The  names  of  those  presented  for  church 

fellowship  were  Archibald  S.  Allen  and  wife,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 

Sylvenus  Clark,  J.  H.  Calkins  and  wife,  J.  N.  Hathorn 

and  wife,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Osborn,  James  and  Mary 

Campbell,  Nancy  Betts,  Lucy  Rude,  Martha  Williams,  Mrs. 

Lent,  and  Mrs.  Isaac  Fish.     The  church  was  named  the 

■  Pine  Lake  Baptist  Church  ;  Elder  Samuel  Lamb  was  chosen 

pastor,  and  Sylvenus  Clark  and  James  H.  Calkins  deacons. 

Of  the  members  above  mentioned  Mrs.  Fish  was  the  first 

one  baptized  into  the  church. 

After  Elder  Lamb  ended  his  service  James  Campbell,  a 
licentiate,  preached  a  while,  and  then  came  Revs.  P.  Don- 
aldson, J.  Harris,  T.  Z.  R.  Jones,  Elder  Spooner,  and  (after 
a  vacancy  in  the  pulpit  of  a  few  years)  Elders  Tripp,  Car- 
roll, and  Fay. 

In  1860  the  place  of  worship  was  changed  to  the  vil- 
lage of  Orangeville,  and  the  name  of  the  organization  to 
the  Orangeville  Baptist  Church.  In  the  year  named  the 
erection  of  a  church  edifice  was  begun,  but  progressed 
slowly  in  the  face  of  financial  diflSculties.  During  its 
construction  Elder  Jones  was  the  pastor,  and  when  he  re- 
ceived $70  as  the  result  of  a  donation  party  he  gave  the 
entire  sum  to  aid  in  the  building  of  the  church.  Although 
bcun  in  1860,  the  edifice  was  not  fully  completed  until 
five  years  later. 

With  the  close  of  Elder  Fay's  labors  in  1875  the  church 
ceased  its  active  functions  as  an  organization,  by  reason  of 
the  decline  in  membership,  and  since  that  time  only  occa- 
sional and  irregular  services  have  been  held  in  the  church 
building.  A  flourishing  Sunday-school  of  forty  or  more 
scholars,  in  charge  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Wing,  holds  regular 
Sabbath  sessions  in  it,  and  is  generously  supported. 

THE  ORANGEVILLE  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL 
CLASS 
was  organized  June  2,  1858,  as  a  point  in  the  Prairieville 
Circuit,  then  in  charge  of  Rev.  S.  A.  Osborn.  The  class 
remained  in  that  circuit  until  1876,  when  it  was  transferred 
to  the  Martin  Circuit.  The  organizing  members  of  the 
class  were  Aaron  L.  Ellis,  Leader ;  Phoebe  Ellis,  Cecelia 
Ellis  Edward  Pratt  and  wife,  Emeline  Sweet.  Up  to  the 
year  1879  preaching  was  enjoyed  pretty  regularly,  but 
after  that  the  numbers  of  the  class  were  so  diminished 
that  meetings  were  discontinued,  and  thus  far  have  not 
bee    resumed. 


470 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


ORANGEVILLE  LODGE,  No.  181,  P.  AND  A.  M., 
was  organized  Nov.  4,  1865,  in  the  hall  of  the  village 
tavern,  and  Jan.  11, 1866,  a  charter  was  issued.  The  first 
officers  chosen  were  Eli  Nichols,  W.  M. ;  W.  T.  Dodge, 
S.  W. ;  A.  S.  Pierson,  J.  W. ;  I.  Willison,  Treas. ;  M.  H. 
Wing,  Sec.  ;  W.  E.  Bramble,  S.  D. ;  J.  S.  Terry,  J.  D. ; 
B.  D.  Wing,  Tyler.  Prom  1865  to  1879  Eli  Nichols 
served  as  W.  M.  each  year,  except  in  1869,  when  W.  T. 
Dodge  occupied  the  office.  The  officers  in  1880  were 
Eugene  D.  Youngs,  W.  M. ;  J.  W.  Briggs,  S.  W. ;  Arch- 
ibald Murdock,  J.  W. ;  George  H.  Ford,  Treas. ;  J.  A. 
Turner,  Sec. ;  Eli  Nichols,  S.  D. ;  Thomas  B.  Ellsworth, 
J.  D. ;  C.  H.  Thurston,  Tyler. 

The  lodge  has  now  a  membership  of  45,  and  has  contin- 
ued to  enjoy  since  its  institution  a  healthful  prosperity. 
The  fine  hall  now  occupied  and  owned  by  the  lodge  was 
built  in  1870.  There  is,  moreover,  upwards  of  $150  in 
the  treasury,  the  organization  is  clear  of  debt,  and  this, 
too,  after  having  freely  and  frequently  contributed  towards 
the  support  of  needy  members  of  the  order,  and  especially 
towards  the  relief  of  yellow-fever  sufferers  in  the  South. 
Such  a  record  is  an  exceptional  one  for  a  country  lodge, 
and  it  is  naturally  a  subject  of  local  pride. 

ORANGEVILLE   GRANGE,  No.  424, 

was  organized  May  4,  1874,  with  40  members.  Henry 
Hewitt  was  chosen  Master,  and  John  Cameron,  Overseer. 
Following  Mr.  Hewitt  the  succession  of  Masters  has  been 
E.  C.  Phetteplace,  L.  A.  Nichols,  and  C.  P.  Woodman. 
Although  the  membership  is  now  but  35,  the  grange  is  a 
prosperous  organization.  Meetings  are  held  once  each  fort- 
night in  the  grange  hall  at  the  village,  built  in  1878.  The 
present  official  list  is  C.  F.  Woodman,  M. ;  R.  C.  Nor- 
ton, Sec;  Henry  Hewitt,  0.;  L.  A.  Nichols,  L. ;  Lavern 
Thompson,  Treas. ;  George  Clark,  Steward  ;  Edwin  Bright, 
Assistant  Steward  ;  C.  A.  Snook,  Chaplain  ;  John  Valen- 
tine, G.  K. ;  Mary  Clark,  Stewardess. 

ORANGEVILLE   VILLAGE. 

In  the  fall  of  1850,  E.  G.  Salisbury  and  his  brother-in- 
law,  one  Barney,  bought  of  Parmenio  Wolcott  a  mill-site 
and  water-power  on  section  17,  and  began  the  erection  of 
a  saw-mill,  which  they  completed  in  the  summer  of  1851. 
They  carried  on  the  saw-mill  in  company  until  1853,  when 
Barney  sold  his  interest  to  E.  G.  McGown,  after  which 
the  firm,  until  1856,  was  Salisbury  &  McGown.  Mean- 
wliile  the  erection  of  a  grist-mill  was  begun  late  in  1855, 
and  completed  late  in  the  ensuing  year.  At  that  time  the 
entire  business  passed  under  the  control  of  McGown,  who 
retained  it  until  his  death,  in  1861.  The  mill-race  which 
now  conveys  the  motive-power  to  the  mills  was  dug  by 
Salisbury  &  McGown,  and  may  be  mentioned  as  an  expen- 
sive undertaking.  It  is  about  one  hundred  rods  in  length, 
and  is  supplied  by  Fish  Lake,  a  very  handsome  sheet  of 
water.  Salisbury  &  McGown  made  a  plat  on  their  land 
purchase,  near  the  mill,  in  1854,  of  a  village,  and  called  it 


Orangeville,  which  then  included,  however,  only  that  por- 
tion of  the  village  now  east  of  the  business  quarter.  In 
1856,  John  G.  Nichols  platted  an  addition,  in  which  the 
western  half  of  the  village  lies. 

The  first  trader  at  the  village  of  Orangeville  was  James 
Campbell,  who  came  hither  about  1853  and  opened  a  small 
store  in  one  of  the  rooms  of  his  residence.  He  closed 
his  business  in  1855,  upon  the  arrival  of  George  Clark, 
who  carried  on  trade  until  1857.  In  the  fall  of  1854,  Eli 
Nichols  entered  the  arena  as  an  Orangeville  merchant,  and 
after  an  experience  of  seven  years  sold  out  to  C.  C.  Brown, 
whose  place  was  taken  in  1863  by  George  Sherwood  and  B. 
D.  Wing.  Eli  Nichols  resumed  business  in  1865,  and 
since  then  has  been  the  leading  merchant  in  the  village. 
Besides  his  store,  there  is  also  the  establishment  of  M.  P. 
Arbour. 

The  first  carpenter  to  come  to  the  village  was  Edward 
Terry,  and  closely  following  him,  in  1853,  came  Stephen 
Nichols,  also  a  carpenter,  who  is  still  a  resident  in  the  vil- 
lage. George  Beattie,  the  village  blacksmith,  came  hither 
in  1854,  and  upon  the  spot  he  then  set  up  his  forge  he  has 
labored  steadily  to  this  day. 

A  village  tavern  was  built  and  opened  in  1855  by 
Winchester  T.  Dodge,  who  was  the  landlord  thereof  for 
some  years  thereafter.  It  was  the  4th  of  July,  1855,  that 
was  fixed  upon  as  an  appropriate  day  for  celebrating  in  a 
formal  way  the  opening  of  Dodge's  tavern,  and,  several  of 
the  most  spirited  citizens  of  the  town  taking  hold  of  the 
matter,  it  was  determined  to  have  a  "  bang-up  blow-out." 
To  that  end  they  went  over  to  Hastings  on  the  3d  of 
July  to  borrow  a  cannon  known  to  belong  to  certain  citizens 
of  that  town.  The  cannon  was  at  that  time,  however,  found 
to  be  in  the  possession  of  landlord  Emory  at  Middleville. 
Armed  with  an  order  for  its  delivery,  the  Orangeville 
people  went  over  there,  but,  the  cannon  being  intended  by 
Emory  to  take  part  in  Middleville's  own  Independence 
Day  demonstration,  he  declined  most  emphatically  to  give 
it  up. 

Repulsed,  but  not  beaten,  the  Orangeville  party  drew 
oflf,  and  sent  post-haste  for  reinforcements  to  their  township. 
These  arriving  some  time  after  midnight,  a  hurried  and 
mysterious  move  was  made  upon  Emory's,  but  Emory,  on 
the  alert,  met  them  with  a  bold  front.  They  heeded  not 
his  warnings  or  threats  even  of  sharp  violence,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  push  him  briskly  aside,  while  they  laid  hold  of 
the  cannon.  Despite,  too,  the  appearance  upon  the  scene 
of  Mrs.  Emory,  and  her  skillful  flank  movement,  backed 
by  a  broomstick  attack  that  was  meant  to  work  destructive 
damage,  the  attacking  forces  got  safely  away  with  their 
prize,  and  by  daylight  landed  it  in  Orangeville  in  ample 
time  for  a  glorious  hurrah,  made  perhaps  additionally 
glorious  by  the  remarkable  triumph  at  Middleville.  Emory 
subsequently  sought  to  avenge  himself  by  causing  the  arrest 
of  the  invaders,  but  they  turned  the  tables  by  prosecuting 
him  for  selling  liquor  in  opposition  to  law,  and  in  the  end 
he  was  glad  to  compromise  the  matter  by  withdrawing  his 
complaint. 


PRAIRIEVILLE. 


Prairieville  is  described  on  the  United  States  survey 
as  township  1  north,  range  10  west.  Until  the  year  1841 
it  was  a  part  of  Barry  township.  In  that  year  Barry  was 
divided^  and  the  western  half,  eomprising  townships  1  and 
2,  range  10,  received  the  name  of  Spaulding.  That  name 
was  changed  in  1843  to  Prairieville.  In  1847  Prairieville 
township  was  divided,  the  northern  half  receiving  the  name 
of  Orangeville.  To  prevent  confusion,  the  name  Prairie- 
ville will  be  applied  in  this  sketch  only  to  the  territory  of 
township  1  north,  in  range  10  west. 

NATURAL  FEATURES. 

The  surface  is  diversified.  A  range  of  hills  extending 
from  the  southwest  to  the  east  and  north  renders  the  central 
and  western  portions  broken  and  hilly.  A  continuation  of 
GruU  or  Garden  Prairie  occupied  a  part  of  the  southern 
region  at  the  time  of  settlement,  terminating  in  the  hills 
around  Crooked  Lake,  and  the  more  abrupt  ridges  border- 
ing on  Gull  and  Long  Lakes.  The  level  tracts  in  the  east 
consisted  mainly  of  small  circular  belts  of  prairie  and  oak- 
openings.  The  only  peculiar  formation  in  the  township  is 
a  bed  of  siliceous  rock  in  the  north  part  of  Long  Lake. 
Under  the  microscope  it  appears  to  be  composed  of  the 
shells  of  minute  living  animals, — probably  diatoms. 

The  township  forms  part  of  the  divide  between  the  Kala- 
mazoo and  Thornapple  Rivers.  The  streams,  therefore,  are 
small  and  unimportant.  There  are  many  beautiful  lakes. 
Pine,  Gull,  and  Crooked  being  the  largest.  Gull  Lake  in- 
dents the  southeastern  border.  The  water-level  of  many  of 
them  is  gradually  changing,  the  water  becoming  more  shal- 
low from  year  to  year.  The  most  remarkable  example  is 
that  of  Crooked  Lake.  It  is  estimated  that  its  depth  has 
decreased  at  least  seven  feet  since  the  first. settlement  of 
the  township.  Thus  several  of  the  more  shallow  arms  of 
the  lake,  covering  some  hundreds  of  acres,  have  been  con- 
verted into  marshy  tracts  of  land.  They  cannot  long  con- 
tinue in  this  state.  Every  year  the  plow  cuts  off  a  few 
furrows  mor&,  and  the  next  generation,  at  least,  will  be 
able  to  sow  and  reap  where  their  ancestors  passed  the 
time  with  boat  and  fishing-tackle. 

Although  the  hills  are  in  many  places  stony,  they  are, 
with  few  exceptions,  very  productive,  being  especially  adapted 
to  wheat.  The  fertility  of  the  openings  and  prairie-belts 
is  unsurpassed. 

CURIOUS  REMAINS. 

In  many  of  these  localities  the  first  settlers  found  mounds 
and  garden-beds,  supposed  by  some  to  have  been  cultivated 
by  some  very  ancient  race.  The  mounds  were  evidently 
burial-places.     The  cultivated  tracts  were  laid  out  in  beds 


*  By  G.  A.  MoAlpine. 


from  twelve  to  fifteen  feet  wide  and  from  fifty  to  sixty  feet 
long.  The  paths  were  from  ten  to  fifteen  inches  deep. 
They  differed  very  much  in  various  localities,  except  that 
they  were  all  laid  out  due  north  and  south.  In  some  places, 
especially  north  of  Pine  Lake,  on  the  farm  settled  by  Eli 
Waite,  they  were  covered  with  a  growth  of  heavy  timber .f 

EARLY   SETTLEMENT. 

Upon  one  of  these  belts  of  prairie  Amasa  S.  Parker,  a 
native  of  Connecticut,  settled  in  the  spring  of  1831,  having 
reached  Richland,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  the  year  previous.  He 
built  him  a  log  house,  it  is  said,  without  any  assistance 
whatever.  In  June,  1831,  he  entered  his  land,  which  was 
the  west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  35,  and 
soon  after  began  to  build  a  barn,  which  he  completed  during 
the  summer.  He  was  the  first  settler  in  Prairieville  town- 
ship, and  also  the  first  in  Barry  County. 

In  the  fall  of  1833,  Orville  Barnes  sold  his  farm  in  Rich- 
land and  settled  on  section  '35,  just  east  of  Mr.  Parker. 

The  next  year,  1834,  Mr.  Parker  was  married  to  Miss 
Celestia  C.  Barnes,  whose  father  built  the  Yorkville  Mills. 
Late  in  the  fall  of  1834  a  party  of  surveyors  came  to  the 
house  of  Mr.  Parker  and  desired  to  have  some  provisions  taken 
to  the  Thornapple  River.  Mr.  Parker  accordingly  fastened 
boards  to  an  axle,  and  with  a  load,  consisting  of  corn-meal 
and  salt  pork,  drawn  bya  yoke  of  oxen,  proceeded  to  follow 
an  Indian  trail  through  the  wilderness.  It  was  probably 
the  first  team  driven  to  the  Thornapple  through  Prairieville 
and  the  adjoining  townships. 

The  party  reached  the  place  of  destination  without  acci- 
dent, having  camped  one  night  on  the  way  in  the  locality 
afterwards  named  Yankee  Springs. 

The  next  day  Mr.  Parker  set  out  alone  to  return.  The 
snow  had  fallen  to  a  considerable  depth,  rendering  it  almost 
impossible  to  follow  the  trail.  The  snow  continued  to  fall 
at  intervals  during  the  day.  Towards  evening  he  lost  his 
way,  but  fortunately  struck  the  trail  near  the  place  where 
they  had  camped  the  night  previous.  There  were  still  a 
few  live  coals,  and  with  them  he  finally  succeeded  in  light- 
ing a  fire.  The  wolves  gathered,  and  through  the  whole 
night  filled  the  woods  with  their  dismal  bowlings.  Mr. 
Parker  was  compelled  to  remain  on  guard  and  exercise  the 
closest  attention  to  prevent  their  attacking  his  cattle,  which 
were  chained  to  a  tree.  He  reached  home  the  next  day 
nearly  exhausted. 

In  the  fall  of  1834,  C.  W.  Spaulding,  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, who  had  reached  Climax  Prairie  several  years  pre- 
vious, came  to  Prairieville  and  located  on  section  23.  He 
built  a  house,  and  in  the  spring  of  1835  brought  his  family. 


■(■  See  Chapter  II.  of  the  general  history. 


471 


472 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


About  the  same  time  Linus  Ellison  settled  on  section  24. 
He,  however,  sold  soon  after  and  went  to  what  is  now  Barry 
township. 

In  1835,  Asahel  C.  and  Hiram  Tillotson  located  on  sec- 
tion 23,  between  Mr.  Otis  and  Mr.  Spaulding,  both  Being 
then  unmarried.  Ambrose  Mills  selected  a  home  on  the 
east  line  of  section  24.  Nicholas  and  William  Campbell 
with  their  families  and  an  unmarried  brother  located  on 
section  25,  south  of  Mr.  Otis.  Norman  Doming,  a  bache- 
lor, settled  on  section  10 ;  he  was  subsequently  married  to 
Catherine  Doolittle.  Isaac  Otis,  from  Homer,  Cortland 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  emigrated  with  his  wife  and  four  children  to 
this  township  in  1835,  and  purchased  the  farm  of  Linus 
Ellison,  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  24,  where  he 
resided  until  his  death.  Mr.  Otis  was  the  first  supervisor 
of  Barry  township  when  it  included  the  whole  county,  and 
held  other  responsible  local  ofiSoes. 

The  settlement  of  Prairieville  had  thus  far  been  confined 
chiefly  to  the  prairie  and  the  more  thinly  wooded  districts. 
The  succeeding  year  (1836)  several  entries  were  made  in 
the  western  and  northern  parts.  Youngs  Gilkey,  then  un- 
married, purchased  a  part  of  section  28,  and  built  a  house. 
Eli  Waite  was  the  first  settler  in  the  northwestern  part  of 
the  township.  He  reached  section  6  in  the  early  spring  of 
1836,  having  previously  traveled  over  the  township  on  horse- 
back. About  six  weeks  after  her  arrival  Mrs.  Waite  died, 
this  being  the  first  death  in  the  township.  She  was  buried 
on  the  east  end  of  the  farm,  and  Mr.  Waite  was  laid  beside 
her  many  years  later.    The  next  settler  was  William  Shelp. 

Wells  Byington  and  wife,  a  newly-married  couple  from 
Now  York,  reached  Prairieville  in  the  spring  of  1837. 
They  occupied  the  house  built  by  Youngs  Gilkey.  As  an 
illustration  of  the  small  troubles  which,  as  well  as  the  great 
ones,  so  frequently  annoyed  the  pioneer,  we  may  mention 
that  one  morning,  finding  he  had  no  fire  and  having  no 
means  of  lighting  one,  Mr.  Byington  was  obliged  to  take  a 
shovel  and  go  two  miles  and  a  half  to  the  house  of  C.  W. 
Spaulding  for  a  few  coals  of  fire.  Mr.  Byington  subse- 
quently moved  to  Barry  town.ship,  where  he  still  lives. 

Hiram  Lewis  came  from  New  York  to  Yankee  Springs 
in  1837,  where  his  brother  William  was  keeping  a  hotel. 
Ho  purchased  a  farm  in  that  township  and  remained  there 
a  year  or  two.  He  sold  his  farm  in  1840,  however,  and 
purchased,  in  the  spring  of  1841,  80  acres  on  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  2,  where  the  village  of  Prairieville  now 
stands,  and  subsequently  purchased  the  north  half  of  that 
section.  The  same  year  he  was  elected  the  first  supervisor 
of  the  township  of  Spaulding.  During  that  season  he  built 
a  hotel  on  the  spot  where  the  present  one  stands.  It  was 
burned  a  few  years  later,  and  rebuilt.  He  filled  many 
offices  in  the  township  during  his  residence  there,  but  about 
1867  he  removed  to  Kalamazoo  County,  where  he  died. 

John  Bowne  emigrated  from  Homer,  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y., 
in  the  spring  of  1836,  to  Prairieville,  and  lived  during  the 
summer  on  the  farm  of  Asahel  Tillotson.  In  the  fall  of 
1837  he  purchased  land  in  the  present  township  of  Barry, 
but  subsequently  traded  farms  with  Hiram  Tillotson,  in 
Prairieville.  In  1850  he  was  a  member  of  the  State  Senate. 
His  son,  Andrew  Bowne,  is  a  well-known  banker  in  the  city 
of  Hastings. 


David  Hamburg,  a  bachelor,  came  to  the  township  before 
1840,  and  purchased  the  farm  now  owned  by  Jacob  Bron- 
stetter.  He  boarded  at  Thomas  Storms',  on  the  west  side 
of  Crooked  Lake,  and  used  to  cross  that  lake  to  work  his 
farm.  One  evening  in  winter  while  crossing  on  the  ice  to 
Mr.  Storms'  he  broke  through  and  was  drowned.  As  he 
did  not  return,  his  friends  went  to  seek  him,  and  saw  his  hat 
upon  the  ice,  where  he  doubtless  had  thrown  it.  He  had 
struggled  earnestly  against  his  fate,  for  the  ice  was  broken  a 
considerable  distance  around  the  place  where  he  fell  through. 
His  body  was  recovered  the  next  day. 

Erastus  Cressy,  a  native  of  Roe,  Franklin  Co.,  Mass., 
emigrated  to  Michigan,  with  his  wife,  three  sons,  and  three 
daughters,  in  1842.  He  arrived  at  Gull  Prairie  on  the 
17th  of  October  of  that  year,  and  the  next  day  moved  into 
what  is  now  Prairieville,  halting  on  section  28,  where  ho 
lived  about  a  year.  He  purchased  the  east  half  of  section 
29,  and  during  the  summer  of  1843  built  a  plank  house 
upon  it,  and  also  plowed  12  acres  of  land.  The  prairie 
was  about  three  miles  south  from  him,  and  the  land  where 
he  located  was  known  as  oak-openings.  In  the  winter  of 
1842  and  1843,  Mr.  Cressy  sold  the  northwest  quarter  of 
the  northwest  quarter  of  section  29  to  Lorin  Bingham  for 
a  horse,  saddle,  and  bridle. 

William  Marshall  came  from  Ontario'  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in 
1839,  and  settled  where  he  now  lives.  He  rowed  a  boat 
across  Crooked  Lake,  and  helped  break  the  first  land  on 
the  farm  now  owned  by  Jacob  Bronstetter.  This  place 
was  then  owned  by  David  Hamburg,  who  was  afterwards 
drowned  in  Crooked  Lake.  Mr.  Bronstetter  came  to  the 
township  in  1854. 

Albert  Warner,  with  his  mother,  brother,  and  sisters, 
came  to  Prairieville  from  Sandy  Creek,  N.  Y.,  and  located 
where  he  now  lives,  in  1845.  The  farm  was  first  settled 
by  Elisha  Weed. 

INDIANS. 

In  the  winter  of  1836-37  the  Rev.  Leonard  Slater 
brought  a  band  of  Indians,  numbering  300,  from  Grand 
Rapids  to  Prairieville.  They  were  located  on  the  northern 
part  of  section  35  and  the  adjoining  parts  of  sections  26 
and  27.  Mr.  Slater  erected  a  church  for  them  in  1840, 
which  was  also  used  as  a  school-room.  It  was  on  the 
north  part  of  section  35.  Mr.  Slater  taught  there  a  while, 
and  later  his  daughter  Emily.  Previous  to  this  time  a 
log  house  was  used.  It  stood  on  the  knoll  opposite  the 
site  of  William  Shean's  house.  The  Indians  remained  in 
Prairieville  until  1852,  when  they  were  removed.  During 
their  stay  many  died.  They  were  buried  in  the  field,  now 
an  orchard,  at  the  termination  of  the  road  running  east 
from  Cressy's  Corners,  and  in  the  fields  on  either  side  of 
that  road,  near  the  end.  They  were  also  buried  near  In- 
dian Lake.  Their  chief.  Noonday,  who  is  said  to  have  led 
the  Indians  who  accompanied  the  British  at  the  attack  on 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  in  December,  1813,  and  to  have  set  fire  to 
that  village,  died  in  Prairieville.  A  stone  was  raised  to 
mark  his  grave,  but  relic-seekers  have  long  since  carried 
away  the  last  fragment.  After  the  removal  of  the  Indians 
the  church  was  moved  to  Kalamazoo.  The  bell  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  school-house  at  the  village  of  Prairieville. 


PRAIRIEVILLB  TOWxNSHIP. 


473 


ROADS. 

Down  to  1837  no  roads  were  located.  There  were  several 
Indian  trails  crossing  the  township  in  different  directions. 
One  running  east  and  west  struck  the  Kalamazoo  River  in 
the  vicinity  of  Otsego;  two  others  crossed  the  township 
north  and  south  ;  one  of  these  passed  along  the  west  side  of 
Crooked  Lake,  leading  to  the  Thornapple  River  ;  the  other 
ran  north  from  Cressy's  Corners,  passing  between  Pine  and 
Shelp  Lakes.  These  trails  were  serviceable  in  the  summer, 
but  in  the  winter,  when  the  ground  was  covered  with  snow, 
it  was  difiScult  (for  white  men  at  least)  to  follow  them. 
This  was  remedied, by  "blazing"  the  trees  at  intervals  on 
either  side.  The  trees  along  the  trail  last  described  were 
blazed  by  George  Brown  about  the  year  1835. 

The  year  1837  was  an  eventful  one  for  Prairieville  town- 
ship. Everywhere  improvements  were  pushed  forward. 
The  first  school-house  in  the  township  was  built.  Roads 
were  located  in  every  direction.  The  axe,  the  precursor  of 
civilization,  was  constantly  at  work,  log  cabins  were  arising 
here  and  there  through  the  forest,  and  around  them  the 
clearings  were  rapidly  extending  their  area.  The  settle- 
ment of  the  townships  to  the  north  had  already  commenced, 
and  the  trails  leading  northward  had  become  the  usual  lines 
of  travel. 

The  road  from  Gull  Prairie  to  the  Thornapple  River  was 
the  first  in  Barry  County.  At  the  second  town-meeting 
held  in  the  county  a  committee  of  five  was  appointed  to 
assist  the  commissioners  in  locating  this  road,  and  if  they 
should  locate  it  across  Crooked  Lake,  f  500  was  voted  for 
bridging  the  same.  This  road  was  established  across 
Crooked  Lake  on  the  18th  of  April,  1837,  but  was  subse- 
quently vacated,  and  the  road  from  the  base-line  through 
section  35,  along  the  west  side  of  Crooked  Lake,  was  estab- 
lished the  next  winter. 

The  next  road  is  described  as  beginning  at  a  "  black-oak 
tree  at  the  head  of  the  Beaver  Dam,  so  called"  (which  was 
situated  on  section  7,  in  the  present  township  of  Barry), 
leading  southwest,  as  at  present,  until  it  reached  the  south- 
west corner  of  section  12,  in  Prairieville,  and  running  thence 
south  between  Barry  and  Prairieville  until  it  met  the  Cook 
road,  which  was  established  the  same  day.  The  Cook 
road  extended  from  the  base-line,  in  the  vicinity  of  Jones' 
Mill,  situated  on  the  outlet  of  Long  Lake,  northeast  around 
Gull  Lake,  and  thence  east  through  sections  31  and  32,  in 
Barry  township.     This  road  has  never  been  much  changed. 

The  Pine  Lake  road  began  on  the  western  line  of  section 

6.     It  extended  north  and  east  into  Orangeville,  and  was 

intended,  no  doubt,  to  give  the  settlers  in  that  township 

communication  with  Otsego.     The  next  road  began  at  the 

corner  on  the  west  line  of  sections  18  and  19,  running  east, 

with  many  crooks  and  angles,  until  it  finally  reached  the 

Town-Line   road,  between  Barry   and  Prairieville.      The 

Brown  road,  running  northward  from   Cressy's  Corners, 

between  Pine  and  Shelp  Lakes,  and  the  Town-Line  road, 

between  Orangeville  and  Prairieville,  were  established  about 

the  same  time.     They  were  all  located  in  1837  or  the  early 

part  of  1838. 

CHUKCHES. 

The  Methodist  Church  at  the  village  of  Prairieville  was 

organized  by  Rev..  R.  Daubney,  a  local  preacher,  in  1842  or 

60 


1843.  The  records  do  not  show  who  were  the  original 
members  of  the  class.  The  meeting-house  was  built  in 
1871,  while  the  Rev.  J.  White  was  pastor.  The  society  at 
present  is  under  the  care  of  Rev.  S.  W.  Calkins. 

The  Methodist  society  at  South  Pine  Lake  was  first  or- 
ganized in  1858,  under  Elder  Gage.  Until  1869  the  so- 
ciety met  in  the  district  school-house.  At  that  time  a  church 
edifice  was  built,  at  an  expense  of  about  $3000.  It  was 
dedicated  by  Dr.  George  B.  Josslyn,  of  Albion  College. 

The  Sabbath-schools  of  the  whole  township  are  combined 
in  a  union  association.  It  is  a  regular  and  permanent  so- 
ciety, having  been  organized  in  1861,  and  having  continued 
in  active  operation  ever  since. 

LODGE  No.  297,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
This  society  was  organized  May  6, 1876,  with  the  follow- 
ing-named persons  as  charter  members :  P.  G.,  J.  Boynton, 
M.  J.  Goss,  S.  E.  Bowen,  W.  W.  Bugbee,  T.  B.  Diamond, 
W.  E.  Bowen,  Frank  S.  Bowen. 

MILLS. 

The  first  saw-mill  in  the  township  was  built  by  George 
H.  Thomas,  at  the  head  of  Gull  Lake,  in  1850.  It  was 
destroyed  by  fire  in  1856. 

In  1867,  Mr.  Thomas  built  the  first  and  only  grist-mill 
ever  erected  in  the  township. 

THE  VILLAGE    OE   PEAIKIEVILLE. 

The  village  of  Prairieville,  situated  in  the  northern  part 
of  the  township,  has  a  population  of  about  200.  The  first 
store  was  built  by  a  Mr.  Keeler.  He  was  followed  by  Ben- 
jamin &  Searles.  There  are  at  present  two  general  stores, 
owned  respectively  by  Brown  &  Goss  and  George  M.  Evers. 
The  hotel  originally  built  by  Hiram  Lewis  occupied  the 
same  site  as  the  one  now  standing. 

Mr.  L.  H.  Shcdd,  the  present  proprietor,  came  to  Prairie- 
ville from  New  York  in  1868.  There  are  several  smaller 
business  places,  a  post-office,  two  blacksmith-  and  wagon- 
shops,  two  harness-shops,  a  planing-mill  now  building,  etc. 

PHTSICIANS. 

The  physicians  who  first  located  in  the  township  were 
Drs.  Alverson  and  Sheldon.  The  former  built  the  house 
now  owned  by  Dr.  J.  W.  Sackett,  and  carried  on  a  store. 
They  both  departed  about  1850.  Dr.  Parkhurst  succeeded 
them,  and  remained  till  1853.  Dr.  J.  W.  Sackett  studied 
medicine  in  Massachusetts  and  practiced  in  Pembroke, 
Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.  In  October,  1853,  he  came  West,  and, 
after  looking  over  the  country,  decided  to  settle  at  Prairie- 
ville. Accordingly,  on  the  4th  of  June,  1854,  he  located 
with  his  wife  at  that  village,  where  he  has  been  in  constant 
practice  from  that  time.  The  nearest  physician  upon  his 
arrival  and  for  several  years  after  was  at  Gull  Prairie,  ten 
miles  distant.     Dr.  Sackett  is  the  only  permanent  physician 

in  the  township. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  first  division  of  the  old  township  of  Barry  (then 
comprising  the  whole  county)  into  school  districts  will  be 
found  in  the  history  of  that  township.  In  this  division 
Prairieville,  or  rather  township  1,  range  10,  was  set  off  as. 


474 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


district  13,  and  in  this  district,  the  first  school-house  was 
built,  on  section  24.  Miss  Theoda  Spaulding,  afterwards 
Mrs.  Knappen,  taught  the  first  school  in  the  county,  in  an 
unfurnished  room  in  her  father's  house.  She  is  still  living, 
in  Richland,  Kalamazoo  Co. 

The  missionary  school  was  started  in  1838  or  1839,  be- 
ing taught  by  Rev.  Leonard  Slater,  and  subsequently  by  his 
daughter  Emily. 

On  the  7th  of  November,  1843,  sections  1,  2,  and  3  of 
Prairieville  were  united  with  34,  35,  and  36  of  Orangeville, 
and  formed  district  No.  3.  In  1845,  upon  the  petition  of 
Robert  King,  school  district  No.  4  was  formed  from  sections 
7,  8,  17,  18,  19,  and  20.  The  school-house  was  built  in 
1846.  Miss  Martha  Warner  was  the  first  teacher  in  that 
district.  At  the  same  meeting,  in  compliance  with  the  pe- 
tition of  Erastus  Cressy,  the  immediate  neighborhood  of 
Cressy's  Corners  was  set  oiF  as  a  school  district.  The  house 
was  built  in  1846.  Miss  Lydia  Benson  had  previously 
taught  a  private  school  in  the  house  of  Erastus  Cressy. 
The  next  term  was  taught  by  her  sister.  Miss  Chloe  E. 
Benson,  afterwards  Mrs.  Albert  Warner. 

The  school-house  in  the  village  of  Prairieville  was  built 
in  1845.  It  was  subsequently  destroyed  by  fire,  when  the 
one  now  standing  was  erected.  The  bell  is  the  one  used 
by  Leonard  Slater  on  the  Indian  reservation. 

The  amount  of  money  paid  by  the  township  for  teachers 
during  the  first  years  varied  from  $1  to  $1.50  per  month. 
They  received,  however,  f  4  to  $6  per  month,  the  difierence 
being  made  up  by  fees  from  scholars.  Accordingly,  in 
1842,  the  township  voted  $15,  and  in  1845  $20,  for  the 
benefit  of  those  children  whose  parents  were  unable  to  pay 
for  their  tuition. 

In  1842  reports  were  made  from  but  two  schools.  The 
number  of  scholars  was  58.  The  report  of  1847,  at  the 
time  Orangeville  was  set  off  from  Prairieville,  shows  7 
schools  to  have  been  taught  during  the  year,  with  an 
attendance  of  155  scholars. 

The  districts  have  been  subdivided  and  rearranged  from 
time  to  time.  In  1879  there  were  10  school  districts, 
whole  and  fractional,  while  the  number  of  scholars  is  not 
far  from  300. 

The  total  amount  of  money  raised  for  school  purposes 
was  about  $1900. 

We  append  the  names  of  early  teachers  in  Prairieville 
and  vicinity:  Miss  Theoda  Spaulding,  Miss  Sallie  M. 
Woodard,  Miss  Sarah  Elizabeth  Peck,  Miss  Rachel  Brown, 
Miss  Caroline  Tillotson,  Miss  Sarah  Calkins,  Miss  Martha 
Warner,  Miss  P.  Warner,  Miss  Eunice  M.  Nevins,  L.  Polly, 
Miss  Allen,  Mrs.  Abigail  Hill,  Dr.  White,  0.  Chamberlin, 
Miss  Samantha  Woodard,  Miss  Julia  Woodard. 

POLITICAL   HISTOKY. 

In  the  spring  of  1838  Barry  County  was  divided  into 
four  townships.  Prairieville  was  set  off  as  a  part  of  Barry 
township.  Party-lines  had  not  yet  been  strongly  drawn. 
In  local  matters  the  best  men,  without  much  regard  to 
politics,  were  usually  elected. 

In  regard  to  national  politics  the  Democratic  party  was 
generally  in  the  ascendency  until  1854.  Local  offices  were 
gradually  drawn  into  the.  political  vortex,  and  in  1853  the 


Democracy  was  in  possession  of  every  office  in  the  town- 
ship. In  1854  the  result  was  a  division  of  the  offices. 
In  1855  the  Republican  party  was  organized,  and  in  the 
spring  of  that  year  the  entire  Republican  ticket,  with  C. 
W.  Spaulding  at  the  head,  was  elected.  In  the  Presidential 
election  of  1856,  John  C.  Fremont,  the  Republican  candi- 
date, received  a  plurality  in  Prairieville  over  Buchanan, 
Democratic,  and  Fillmore,  American.  The  predominance 
of  the  Republican  party  in  that  township  continued  un- 
interrupted until  1877. 

Then  the  Greenback  party,  led  locally  by  George  H, 
Thomas,  entered  the  field.  Mr.  Thomas  had  been  a  pop- 
ular leader  in  the  Republican  ranks  since  1857,  having 
twice  been  elected  to  the  Senate  and  once  to  the  Legislature 
of  the  State.  The  Greenback  ticket  was  elected  in  1877 
and  1878,  but  in  1879  the  Republican  party  succeeded  by 
from  one  to  three  majority.  In  1880  the  Republican  ma- 
jority varied  from  twelve  to  twenty.  The  following  is  the 
list  of  officers  of  the  township  from  its  organization,  in 

1841,  to  1880: 

SUPERVISORS. 
1842-a,  C.  W.  Spaulding;  1845,  John  J.  Nichols;  1846,  Amasa  S. 
Parker;  1847,  Hiram  Lewis;  1848,  Amasa  S.  Parker;  1849,  L. 
Brigham;  1850,  Henry  Edgeoomb ;  1851,  Hiram  Lewis;  1852, 
John  Brown  ;  1853,  B.  B.  Van  Vlcet;  1854,  J.  W.  Knight;  1856, 
C.  W.  Spaulding;  1856,  E.  B.  Van  Vleet;  1857-59,  George 
Thomas;  1860,  David  B.  Cook;  1861,  George  Thomas;  1862, 
David  R.  Cook  ;  1863,  George  Thomas ;  1864-68,  Amos  C.  Towne ; 
1869,  George  Thomas  ;  1870-71,  Amos  C.  Towno  ;  1872-73,  John 
Q.  Cressy;  1874-76,  John  J.  Perkins;  1877-78,  George  Thomas; 
1879,  Washington  Cooper;  1880,  Amos  C.  Towne. 

TOWN  CLERKS. 
1842-44,  Henry  Brown;  1845,  Royal  Ellis;  1846,  Henry  Brown; 
1 847,  Robert  Allen  ;  1 848,  Samuel  Peters  ;  1849,  E.  B.  Van  Vleet ; 
1860,  M.  Mills;  1861,  James  H.  Calkins;  1852,  Harvey  Park- 
hurst;  1853,  J.  W.  Knight;  1854,  George  0.  Lewis;  1855,  Alex- 
ander Stanley  ;  1856,  J.  W.  Saokett;  1867-58,  William  Palmer; 
1859,  William  L.  Brown;  1860,  Adolphus  Morse;  1861,  A.  T. 
Morse;  1862,  Emery  G.  Alverson ;  1863-64,  William  Palmer; 
1865,  E.  S.  Brown;  1866,  Frank  B.  Austin;  1867,  Russell  E. 
Combs;  1868-70,  W.  M.  Scudder;  1871,  Ira  M.  Slawson ;  1872- 
75,  W.  M.  Scudder;  1876-77,  E.  S.  Brown;  1878,  James  H. 
Evers;  1879,  E.  S.  Brown;  1880,  John  Cairns. 

TREASURERS. 
1842-44,  Amasa  S.  Parker;  1845,  Isaac  Fish;  1846,  C.  W.  Spaulding; 
1847,  John  Browne;  1848-49,  Henry  Edgecomb  ;  1850,  Tunis 
Collier;  1851,  Seymour  H.  Tillotson  ;  1852,  Albert  Warner;  1853, 
Seymour  Adams  ;  1854,  George  L.  Stewart ;  1855,  John  Van  De 
Walter;  1866,  Tunis  Collier;  1857,  G.  L.  Stewart;  1858,  David 
R.  Cook ;  1859,  J.  W.  Sackett ;  1850,  William  Brown ;  1861-62, 
Chester  Atwood;  1863,  N.  Cook  ;  1864-65,  J.  J.  Perkins;  1866- 
67,  C.  P.  Pendill;  1868-69,  F.  B.  Austin  ;  1870-71,  J.  Q.  Cressy; 
1872-73,  Rawson  Crandall;  1874-76,  William  Lindsey;  1876-78, 
Washington  Cooper ;  1879-80,  J.  W.  Briggs. 

JUSTICES   OF   THE   PEACE. 

1842,  Norman  Deming,  Hiram  Tillotson;  1843,  E.  R.  Miller,  Aaron 
S.  Ellis;  1844,  George  Brown;  1845,  Amasa  S.  Parker,  John 
O'Conor;  1846,  Archibald  S.  Allen;  1847,  Archibald  S.  Allen, 
Alonzo  Richmond;  1848,  Albert  Warner,  Orville  Barnes;  1849 
James  Stewart,  John  J.  Nichols,  James  H.  Carpius;  1850 
John  J.  Nichols;  1851,  R.  Brainard ;  1862,  Hiram  Lewis;  1853^ 
Norman  Stanley,  John  G.  Freeman ;  1856,  Sylvanus  Cook,  Oscar 
F.  Bronson;  1856,  John  G.  Freeman,  Sylvanus  Cook;  1857, 
Amos  C.  Towne ;  1858,  Thaddeus  Pendill,  H.  B.  Brownell ;  1869* 
S.  H.  Cook ;  1860,  Myron  Swift;  1861,  George  Brainard,  J.  Bar- 
ber; 1862,  Thaddeus  Pendill;  1863,  Horace  Flowers,  A.  C.  Towne ; 
1864,  Myron  C.  Swift, A.  J.  Brown,  Robert  S.  King;  1865,  David 


PRAIKIEVILLB  TOWNSHIP. 


475 


Reynolds ;  1866,  C.  H.  Swartout ;  1867,  John  Q.  Cressy  ;  1868,  W. 
D.  Brown;  1869,  David  Reynolds;  1870,  C.  H.  Swartout;  1871, 
George  Brainard  ;  1872,  W.  L.  Brown;  1873,  David  Reynolds; 
1874,  C.  H.  Swartout;  1875,  George  Brainard;  1876,  William 
Bramble  ;  1877,  M.  C.  Crandall,  William  'A.  Thomas ;  1878,  C. 
P.  Pendill;  1879,  Robert  Marshal;  1880,  W.  C.  Brown. 

COMMISSIONERS  OP  HIGHWAYS. 
1842,  Aaron  L.  Ellis,  Orville  Barnes,  Wm.  H.  Dwelle;  1843,  Orville 
Barnes,  Henry  Edgecomb,  John  I'atton ;  1844,  Norman  Deming, 
Orville  Barnes,  Isaac  Diamond;  1845,  David  Hamburg,  Abner 
Tillotson,  David  Townsend  ;  1846,  Eli  Waito,  Joshua  J.  Pease, 
Seymour  Adams,  David  Hamburg,  A.  S.  Allen,  Albert  Warner,  M. 
Nichols,  Franklin  Spaulding,  David  Townsend,  Brastus  Cressy; 

1847,  David  Hamburg,  Norman   Deming,  and   D.  C.  Benson; 

1848,  D.  C.  Benson,  Nicholas  Campbell;  1849,  Ira  Clark;  1850, 
Richard  Collier;  1851,  Congdou  Brown;  1852,  Asher  Stanley; 
1853,  George  C.  Lewis;  1854,  Congdon  Brown;  1855,  R.  Brain- 
ard; 1856,  David  Honeywell;  1857,  C.  W.  Spaulding;  1858,  T. 
C.  Pendill,  George  K.  Williams,  James  W.  Sackett;  1859-60, 
Chester  Atwood;  1861,  E.  Robinson;  1862,  Congdon  Brown; 
1863,  J.  J.  Perkins;  1864,  Alexander  MoBain ;  1865,  David. 
Reynolds;  1866,  Wm.  Iiindsey;  1867,  John  Q.  Cressy;  1868, 
Bushrod  W.  Johnson;  1869,  J.  J.  Perkins;  1870,  George  Brain- 
ard; 1871,  Peter  De  Wolf;  1872,  J.  J.  Perkins,  Martin  Daniels; 
1873,  George  Brainard;  1874,  Martin  Daniels;  1876-76,  J.  J. 
Perkins;  1877,  Joseph  II.  Cook;  1878,  George  Brainard;  1879, 
James  Burohard;  1880,  William  H.  Burchett. 

CONSTABLES. 
1842,  Calvin  Lewis,  Henry  Edgecomb,  Freeman  Willett,  John  Storr; 
1843,  Henry  Edgecomb,  David  C.  Benson,  Freeman  Willett,  Sey- 
mour Adams;  1844,  Henry  Edgecomb,  George  W.  Nye,  David  C. 
Benson,  Seymour  Adams;  1845,  Orin  Clark,  James  Stewart,  Wm. 
H.  Whitney,  Seymour  Adams ;  1846,  John  Allen,  B.  W.  Spaulding, 
Seymour  Adams,  Henry  Edgecomb;  1847,  Henry  Edgecomb,  Wm. 
Benson,  B.  W.  Spaulding;  1848,  Tunis  Collier,  D.  0.  Carr,  B.  W. 
Spalding,  Thomas  Storr  ;  1849,  Tunis  Collier,  Nicholas  Campbell, 
William  Benson,  Stephen  Nichols;  1850,  Peter  Youngs,  V.  Jones, 
Thomas  Storr,  Stephen  Nichols ;  1851,  George  Stewart,  Thomas 
Storr,  Stephen  Nichols,  Congdon  Brown;  1852,  Stephen  Nichols, 
Thomas  Storr,  John  Bowne,  Hiram  Chase;  1853,  Jonas  Hall, 
Stephen  Nichols,  John  Bowne,  Henry  Amerman ;  1854,  Thomas 
Storr,  William  Benson,  Stephen  Nichols,  Alonzo  Campbell ;  1855, 
Charles  Lamb,  Jabez  Sackett,  David  Cook,  William  G.  Brown ; 

1856,  William  Stanley,  J.  B.  Sackett,  Hiram  Shelp,  Hiram  Chase ; 

1857,  George  Brooks,  Jabez  B.  Sackett,  George  W.  Nye,  B.  Chase; 
1868,  Jossua  Cramer,  Charles  Swartout,  A.  King,  C.  G.  Ma- 
thews; 1859,  Charles  Swartout,  J.  B.  Sackett,  J.  B.Cramer, 
John  Q.  Cressy;  1860,  J.  B.  Sackett,  Elihu  Robinson,  John  B. 
Cramer,  Daniel  M.  Clark;  1861,  J.  B.  Sackett,  J.  B.  Cramer, 
Preston  Flowers,  J.  Cooper ;  1862,  J.  Van  Deusen,  Peter  Geiger, 
Abram  Smith,  William  King;  1863,  Daniel  M.  Clark,  Amos  C. 
Hall,  Daniel  Fellows,  Daniel  Randall;  1864,  John  Perkins, 
Daniel  Fellows,  M.  G.  Brown,  John  Williams;  1865,  A.  D.  Cook, 
Joel  Soudder,  C.  P.  Pendill,  J.  Q.  Cressy;  1866,  James  Cooper, 
E.  D.  Pease,  John  Q.  Cressy ;  1867,  Bdwin  M.  Bast,  B.  Robin- 
son, Daniel  M.  Fry,  Bdwin  J.  King;  1868,  Joel  Miller,  Caleb 
Lamb,  Elihu  Robinson,  Daniel  M.  Fry;  1869,  Elihu  Robinson, 
Daniel  M.  Fry,  Joel  F.  Miller,  W.  H.  King;  1870,  Elihu  Robin- 
son, Wm.  Scudder,  William  Carpenter,  Wm.  H.  King;  1871, 
W.'h.  Willis,  James  A.  Cooper,  W.  H.  King;  1872,  Wm.  M. 
Soudder,  James  Brown,  Caleb  France,  James  A.  Cooper ;  1873, 
Myron  H.  Wells,  Caleb  France,  Wm.  M.  Soudder,  Milo  Freeman ; 
1874,  Albert  McAllister,  W.  M.  Soudder,  William  King,  David  P. 
Flowers;  1875,  W.  M.  Soudder,  C.  P.  Pendill,  0.  W.  Picrson,  W. 
H.  King;  1876,  W.  M.  Scudder,  Henry  E.  Wood,  Isaac  Van 
Or'man,  Albert  Storr;  1877,  Herman  C.  Wood,  Isaac  Van  Orman, 
C  H  Mosher,  Lyman  Cross;  1878,  Caleb  France,  C.  H.  Mosher, 
MiloHammond,  Ralph  Van  Orman;  1879,  Wm.  Holden,  Arthur 
Van  DeWalker,  John  H.  Freeman,  C.  H.  Ruggles;  1880,  C.  H. 

■      Buggies,  J.  F.  Koster,  Edwin  McKay,  Ezra  Busker. 

DIRECTORS  OF  THE  POOR. 
1842  Eli  R.  Miller,  John  Patton;  1843,  Duty  Benson,  Asahel  Tillot- 
son; 1844,  Joseph  Merriman,  Duty  Benson;  1845,  Richard  Col- 


lier, Duty  Benson;  1846,  Duty  Benson,  Erastus  Cressy;  1847, 
Norman  Deeming,  Asahel  Tillotson;  1848,  Richard  Collier,  Eli' 
Waite;  1849,  Richard  Collier,  William  Marshil;  1850,  Eli  Waite, 
Laban  Alverson ;  1851,  Newell  Barber,  Dayid  Steele  ;  1852,  Wil- 
liam L.  Granger,  Eli  Waite;  1853,  David  Steele,  Bli  Waite ;  1854, 
John  Wales,  Titus  Stanley ;  1865,  James  C.  Benjamin,  Eli  Waite  ; 
1856,  William  Marshal,  Hiram  Lewis;  1857,  Jonas  Kershaw, 
Samuel  Lamb;  1868,  Eli  Waite,  C.  W.  Spaulding. 

SCHOOL  INSPECTORS. 
1842,  Leonard  Slater,  Robert  S.  King,  George  Brown;  1843,  Leonard 
Slater,  Robert  S.  King;  1844,  Leonard  Slater;  1845,  Orville  Barnes;; 
1846,  Peter  A.  Keeler;  1847,  Ira  Clark;  1848,  M.  Mills;  1849, 
Leonard  Slater;  1850,  Isaac  Otis,  John  Bowne;  1861,  M.  Mills, 
George  Brainard ;  1862,  Oscar  F.  Bronson  ;  1853,  J.  C.  Benjamin  ; 
1854,  0.  F.  Bronson,  John  F.  Freeman;  1855,  Henry  Stewart; 
1866,  O.F.  Bronson;  1857,  Chester  Stewart;  1858,  James  W 
Sackett;  1869,  William  Palmer;  1860,  Charles  Stewart;  1861,  J. 
H.  Cook  ;  1862,  James  W.  Sackett;  1863,  Chester  Atwood  ;  1864, 
James  W.  Sackett ;  1865,  A.  H.Gaston;  1866,  James  W.  Sackett; 
1867, Frank  B.  Austin ;  1868,  C.  P.  Pendill;  1869,  George  Brain- 
ard; 1870,  Brainard  Slater,  J.  W.  Sackett;  1871,  Charles  Swart- 
out; 1872,  Brainard  Slater;  1873,  C.  P.  Pendill;  1874,  Brainard 
Slater;  1875,  Joel  Barber;  1876,  Theodore  Keys;  1877-78,  Frank 
P.  Sheen ;  1879-80,  Robert  Doolittle. 

SUPERINTENDENTS    OF    SCHOOLS. 
1875,  CortezP.  Pendill;  1876-78,  Merrill  C.  Crandall;  1879-80,  R.  B. 
Richards. 

ASSESSORS. 
1842,  Asahel  Tillotson,  William  Shelp ;  1843,  F.  Holden,  Joshua  J. 
Pease;  1844,  Erastus  Cressy,  William  Shelp;  1845,  no  record; 
1846,  Franklin  Spalding,  Robert  King;  1847,  A.  S.  Fenton,  Wil- 
liam Shelp ;  1848,  John  Barber,  Franklin  Spaulding ;  1849,  no 
record;  1850,  R.  Brainard,  John  Van  DeWalker. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


FRANCIS  HOLDEN. 

Among  the  successful  farmers  and  early  settlers  of  Barry 
County  the  name  of  Francis  Holden  will  long  be  remem- 
bered. He  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  sagacity  and 
perception  and  of  remarkable  energy  and  determination, 
and  had  he  received  a  liberal  education  would  have  made 
an  enviable  reputation  in  any  calling.  He  was  born  in  Ver- 
mont, June  9, 1812  ;  his  father  was  a  farmer  and  emigrated; 
to  Cortland  County,  N.  Y.,  in  an  early  day,  but  little  is 
known  of  his  history  further  than  that  he  was  an  indus- 
trious, hard-working  man,  but  lacked  that  faculty  of  accu- 
mulating property  which  was  a  marked  feature  in  the  char- 
acter of  his  son.  Francis  was  thrown  upon  his  own  re- 
sources at  an  early  age,  and  for  several  years  was  employed 
in  some  capacity  on  the  Erie  Canal.     In  the  autumn  of 

1836  he  came  to  Michigan.  A  brother-in-law  had  pre- 
ceded him,  and  had  settled  near  Albion,  Calhoun  Co.,  with 
whom  Mr.  Holden  spent  the  winter.  The  following  spring 
he  went  to  Richland,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  and  hired  to  Foster 
Gilkey,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  that  town  ;  with  him  he  re- 
mained several  years ;  his  wages  were  carefully  husbanded, 
and  his  first  investment  was  in  eighty  acres  of  government 
land  in  the  town  of  Prairieville,  Barry  Co.     This  was  in 

1837  and  from  that  time  until  his  death,  in  1877,  a  period 
of  forty  years,  his  career  was  remarkable  from  the  fact  that 
upon  his  arrival  in  Calhoun  County  he  had  but  three  dol-. 


476 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN   AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


lars  and  died  the  wealthiest  man  in  the  county.  He  dealt 
in  farm  property  extensively,  and  at  one  time  was  one  of  the 
largest  real-estate  owners  in  the  county.  He  seemed  to 
have  an  intuitive  knowledge  of  values,  and  his  judgment 
in  business  matters  was  almost  infallible.  In  1841  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Kairaiaziek,  daughter  of  Frederick  Davis,  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  Kalamazoo  Co.  Mrs.  Holden  pos- 
sesses many  of  the  distinguishing  characteristics  of  her  hus- 
band, and  his  success  is,  perhaps,  attributable  in  a  large 
measure  to  her  thrift  and  industry.  She  was  born  in 
Livonia,  Livingston  Co.-,  N.  Y.,  Jan.  8,  1822.  She  is  the 
mother  of  five  children,  three  of  whom  are  living :  John, 
the  only  son,  resides  upon  the  old  farm ;  Ann,  now  Mrs. 
Doty,  lives  in  Nebraska ;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  Nor- 


ton, of  Hastings.  The  life  of  Mr.  Holden  is  one  worthy 
of  emulation  in  many  respects,  and  his  history  shows  the 
result  of  a  life  of  economy  and  industry.  In  political  mat- 
ters Mr.  Holden  manifested  a  lively  interest.  He  was  a 
staunch  Republican,  and  did  much  to  advance  the  interests 
of  that  party.  He  was  a  man  of  marked  social  qualities"; 
he  loved  a  good  joke,  and  enjoyed  the  society  of  his  family 
and  friends.  His  early  life  was  one  of  toil  and  privation, 
and  his  early  associations  were  such  as  invariably  depress, 
although  they  probably  developed  many  strong  points  in 
his  character  that  might  otherwise  have  remained  dormant ; 
but  starting  in  life  as  he  did,  with  only  a  good  constitution 
and  a  strong  pair  of  hands  as  his  capital,  he  is  worthy  of  a 
conspicuous  position  among  the  self-made  men  of  the  county. 


MRS.    ALBERT    AVARNER. 


ALBERT   WARNER. 


ALBERT   WARNER. 


Among  the  early  settlers  of  Prairieville  township  we  find 
the  name  of  Albert  Warner,  who,  with  his  mother,  brother, 
and  three  sisters,  came  from  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  the 
month  of  October,  1845,  and  located  on  sections  7  and  18. 
Albert  was  born  in  Sandy  Creek  township,  Oswego  Co.,  Sept. 
26,  1820.  His  father  was  an  early  settler  in  that  town, 
where  he  had  bouglit  forty  acres  of  land  and  had  cleared 
and  improved  it,  and  the  writer  of  this  believes  there  never 
was  worse  land  to  clear.  On  the  home-farm  the  boyhood 
days  of  Albert  were  passed,  going  two  miles  to  school 
through  the  winter  months,  with  the  snow  at  times  four 
feet  deep.  When  he  was  fifteen  years  old  his  father  and 
brother  went  away  from  home  to  work  at  the  carpenter's 
trade,  leaving  him  in  charge  of  the  farm.  Two  years  later 
the  death  of  the  father  left  the  brothers  to  care  for  the 
family.  This  was  faithfully  done.  Burton  working  out  by 
the  month,  while  Albert  managed  the  farm.  In  the  spring 
qf  1845  the  farm  was  sold,  and  Albert  soon  after  took  a 
trip  through  'lis  States  of  Michigan,  Illinois,  and  Wis- 
ppnsin,  looking  fpr  n  hqine.     ^her  hearing  his  report  the 


family  decided  to  settle  in  Barry  County.  Burton  came 
with  his  family  by  public  conveyance;  the  rest  of  the 
family  by  team.  The  new  farm  consisted  of  one  hundred 
and  two  acres,  nearly  all  new,  with  only  a  log  house,  and 
that  of  the  most  primitive  style.  The  roof  was  covered 
with  slabs,  boards,  and  shakes,  with  one  door  and  no  win- 
dows, the  only  light  they  had  coming  down  the  old- 
fashioned  stick  chimney,  which  served  the  double  purpose 
of  chimney  and  skylight.  In  this  house  both  families, 
consisting  of  seven  persons,  lived  a  year.  It  was  finally 
improved,  and  served  as  a  comfortable  home  for  many  years, 
until  in  1859  it  was  replaced  with  the  large  and  commo- 
dious house  now  occupied  by  Albert  and  his  family,  and 
which  was  then  the  finest  in  the  town.  In  the  spring  of 
1847  the  brothers  divided  their  land,  Albert  taking  the 
fifty-six  acres  on  section  18  as  his  share,  and  which  was 
all  the  land  he  owned  for  several  years. 

Mr.  Warner  has  never  speculated,  but  has  given  his  en- 
tire attention  to  farming,  and  has  prospered  beyond  his  ex- 
pectation.    The  farm  of  fifty-six  acres  has  been  enlarged 


PRAIEIEVILLE  TOWNSHIP. 


477 


to  one  of  three  hundred  acres,  with  other  tracts  making  two 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  more,  also  a  farm   in   Kansas 
of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  all  the  result  of  in- 
dustry, economy,  and  good  management.     In  politics  Mr. 
Warner  was  in  early  life  a  Democrat,  but  joined  the  Eepub- 
lican  party  at  its  organization,  and  has  since  been  an  ardent 
supporter  of  its  principles,  though  he  has  never  desired  or 
sought  political  advancement.     In  cljurch  matters  he  has 
for  years  been  very  active,  and  has  done  much  to  advance 
the  cause  of  religion  in  his  county,  having  helped  build 
several  churches, — the  South  Pine  Lake  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  especially,  towards  which  he  and  his  family 
subscribed  nearly  one-third  of  its  original  cost;     He  has 
been  one  of  its  trustees  from  the  time  it  was  organized 
until  the  present  time,  and  a  class-leader  since  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  full  membership,  save  a  year  when  absent.     He 
has  also  been  connected  for  many  years  with  the  Sabbath- 
schools  of  his  town,  serving  most  of  the  time  as  superin- 
tendent, and  being  one  of  the  original  organizers  of  the 
Prairieville  Sabbath-school  Association.     In  October,  1879, 
Mr.  Warner  and  his  wife  asked  for  letters  and  withdrew 
from  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  in  March  fol- 


lowing joined  the  Wesleyans  in  organizing  a  church  in 
Gun  Plain  township,  Allegan  Co.,  of  which  society  he  is  a 
steward  and  class-leader.  He  is  strongly  opposed  to  all 
secret  societies,  and  is  a  strong  anti-Mason.  On  the  2d 
day  of  May,  1848,  Mr.  Warner  was  married  to  Miss  Chloe 
Benson,  who  was  born  June  30,  1825,  in  Ellisburg,  Jef- 
ferson Co.,  N.  Y.,  from  whence  her  father  and  mother, 
"  Duty"  and  Phebe  Benson,  emigrated  to  Michigan  in 
1835,  settling  in  Jackson  County,  and  moving  to  what  is 
now  Orangeville  in  1836,  where  they  were  among  the  first 
settlers.  Mrs.  Warner  taught  some  of  the  first  schools  in 
Barry  County,  which  occupation  she  pursued  eight  years, 
some  of  the  time  receiving  one  dollar  per  week  for  her  ser- 
vices, and  perfectly  satisfied  with  that  sum.  As  pioneers 
in  many  good  works  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Warner  stand  second 
to  none,  and  now  in  the  even-time  of  life  they  can  look 
back  upon  many  deeds  well  done,  and  a  record  without  a 
stain  or  blemish.  There  have  been  born  to  them  five  chil- 
dren, viz. :  J.  L.,  born  Nov.  1,  1849  ;  Leroy  B.,  Aug.  14, 
1852;  Lura,  Nov.  14,  1854  (died  March  29,  1855); 
Lester,  Feb.  22,  1858 ;  and  Frankie,  May  23,  1863  (died 
Aug.  8,  1864). 


JOHN  J.  PERKINS. 


In  the  month  of  March,  1818,  John  Perkins,  then  a 
lad  nineteen  years  old,  bought  fifty  acres  of  land  in  the 
then  almost  unbroken  wilderness  of  Franklin  townchip. 
Portage  Co.,  Ohio.  This  was  but  one  year  after  the  cele- 
brated leap  of  Brady,  the  Indian-fighter,  who,  in  escaping 
from  the  Indians,  jumped  across  the  Cuyahoga  River,  a 
distance  of  twenty-seven  feet.  Mr.  Perkins  was  poor  in 
purse,  but  rich  in  strength  of  purpose,  industry,  and 
energy.     He  was  born  in  Woodstock,  Windsor  Co.,  Vt., 


Aug.  17,  1799,  and  left  his  home  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
years  to  seek  his  fortune.  After  buying  his  land  he  drove 
a  team  between  Franklin  and  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  hauling  flour 
to  Pittsburg,  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and  fifteen  miles, 
and  returning  loaded  with  dry  goods.  This  occupation  he 
pursued  five  years,  then  went  on  to  his  farm  and  commenced 
to  clear  and  improve  it.  To  his  farm  he  added  from  time 
to  time,  until  he  owned  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  well- 
improved  land,  part  of  which  he  still  owns.     He  married 


478 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN   AND   BARKY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Polly  Ruggles,  who  died  Oct.  16,  1863.  There  were  born 
to  them  eight  children,  of  whom  John  J.  Perkins  was  the 
fourth.  He  was  born  in  Franklin  township  Dec.  14, 1827, 
and  grew  to  manhood  on  the  farm  of  his  father.  Like  the 
farmers'  boys  of  that  day  he  was  early  taught  to  work,  re- 
ceiving only  such  education  as  could  be  obtained  by  a  few 
months'  attendance  at  the  district  school  during  the  winter 
months  and  a  three  months'  term  at  the  Kent  Academy. 
Nov.  13,  1840,  Mr.  Perkins  was  joined  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Maria  L.  Mars,  daughter  of  Rev.  Adolphus  Mars 
and  Harriet  (Keyes)  Mars.  She  was  born  July  10,  1825, 
and  died  April  11,  1878.  After  his  marriage  his  father 
gave  him  an  acre  of  land,  on  which  he  built  a  house  and 
barn,  and  where  he  resided  until  1857,  working  his  father's 
farm,  and  by  that  means  getting  a  start  in  life.  He  then 
traded  his  place  for  eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  3,  in 
Prairieville,  paying  a  difference  of  two  hundred  dollars. 
The  land  was  entirely  new,  but  has  been  cleared  and  im- 
proved by  Mr.  Perkins.  The  farm  now  comprises  one 
hundred  and  six  acres  of  land,  well  improved,  with  good 
buildings,  fences,  etc.,  the  result  of  hard  work  and  rigid 
economy.  In  politics  Mr.  Perkins  has  always  been  a  rad- 
ical Republican,  as  has  his  father.  Since  his  residence  in 
the  township  he  has  most  of  the  time  held  some  one  of  the 
town  offices.  For  seventeen  years  he  has  been  highway 
commissioner,  three  terms  supervisor,  three  years  township 
treasurer,  and  many  times  a  delegate  to  the  county  conven- 
tions, filling  the  offices  with  credit  to  himself  and  those  who 
elected  him.  For  many  years  he  has  been  a  member  of 
the  order  of  Odd-Fellows,  and  has  held  every  office  in  the 
lodge  of  which  he  is  a  member.  There  were  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Perkins  three  children,  viz.:  Ellen,  Jan.  24,  1848, 
died  March  19,  1864  ;  Alice,  March  17,  1849  (married  to 
Wm.  H.  Scudder,  who  is  now  register  of  deeds  of  Barry 
County,  and  resides  at  Hastings) ;  and  Zylpha  0.,  Dec.  5, 
1850,  married  to  Clias.  H.  Ruggles,  who  served  in  the 
Union  army  nearly  five  years ;  came  home  quartermaster 
of  the  13th  Michigan  Infantry ;  now  residing  near  Prairie- 
ville. 


WILLIAM   YOUNG  GILKEY. 

Of  the  early  settlers  of  Prairieville  there  were  none  who 
did  more  towards  clearing  up,  improving,  and  advancing 
its  agricultural  interests  than  the  pioneer  named  above. 
He  was  born  in  Chester  township,  Windsor  Co.,  Vt.,  June 


10,  1805.  When  nineteen  years  old,  his  health  having 
failed,  he  went  to  Boston,  hoping  that  the  sea  air  might  be 
beneficial.  He  remained  in  Boston  eight  years,  and  en- 
tirely recovered  his  health.  During  that  time  he  worked 
at  whatever  he  could  get  to  do,  part  of  the  time  being  a 
night-watchman.  In  1832,  Mr.  Gilkey  started  for  Mich- 
igan with  a  horse  and  cutter,  making  the  trip  with  that 
conveyance.  Prior  to  his  arrival  his  brother  Foster  had 
settled  on  Gull  Prairie,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  where  Young  joined 
him,  and  they  at  once  entered  into  partnership,  remaining 
so  until  the  death  of  Young,  which  occurred  Jan.  13, 1868. 
The  brothers  became  owners  of  large  tracts  of  land  in  Kala- 
mazoo, Allegan,  and  Barry  Counties,  and  became  widely 
known  as  enterprising,  successful  business  men.  In  1845, 
Mr.  Gilkey  went  on  to  a  farm  in  Gun  Plain  township,  where 
he  remained  three  years,  then  went  into  Prairieville,  Barry 
Co.,  where  the  brothers  owned  thirteen  hundred  acres  of 
wild  land.  This  became,  under  his  management  and  in- 
dustry, a  large  and'  well-improved  farm,  with  large  and 
commodious  buildings,  a  sketch  of  which  appears  on 
another  page.  As  a  farmer  Mr.  Gilkey  was  progressive ; 
in  all  business  matters  honorable  and  just;  and  was  consid- 
ered to  be  among  the  most  successful  agriculturists  of  the 
county.  He  acquired  a  large  fortune,  the  inevitable  result 
of  a  long  life  of  industry,  frugality,  and  honorable  dealing. 
In  politics  Mr.  Gilkey  was  a  Republican,  in  religion  a  Bap- 
tist, of  which  cliurch  he  was  for  many  years  a  member, 
and  for  the  support  of  which  he  was  a  liberal  subscriber. 
Mrs.  Lydia  W.  Gilkey  (now  Woodhams)  was  born  in  Bos- 
ton, Mass.,  Jan.  11,  1820,  and  was  married  to  Mr.  Gilkey, 
Deo.  17,  1845.  Her  parents.  Deacon  Curtis  Brigham  and 
wife,  emigrated  to  Richland,  Kalamazoo  Co.,  in  December, 
1833,  from  whence  he  moved  into  Gun  Plain  township, 
where  he  was  among  the  first  settlers.  He  was  a  licensed 
preacher  in  the  Baptist  Church  before  leaving  Massachu- 
setts, and  soon  opened  meetings  in  his  new  home.  In  May, 
1835,  he  organized  the  first  Sabbath-school  in  Allegan 
County,  having  in  March  previous  organized  a  meeting  in 
the  log  school-house,  where  he  delivered  the  first  sermon 
preached  in  Gun  Plain  township.  Mr.  Brigham  and  Father 
Daubney  for  many  years  took  charge  of  the  funerals  far 
and  near. 

There  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gilkey  the  follow- 
ing children :  Curtis  0.,  Sept.  3,  1847  ;  William  E.,  June 
5,  1850;  Martha  J.,  Feb.  28,  1852;  Willard  E.,  March 
24,  1854 ;  Mary  0.,  April  5,  1856 ;  and  John  W.,  Feb. 
1,  1859. 


K  U  T  L  A  N  D. 


Rutland  comprises  survey-township  3  north,  range  9 
west,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Irving,  on  the  south 
by  Hope,  on  the  east  by  Hastings,  and  on  the  west  by 
Yankee  Springs.  It  is  traversed  on  the  northeast  by  the 
Thornapple  Eiver  and  the  Grand  Rapids  division  of  the 
Michigan  Central  Railroad,  and,  as  an  example  of  the 
tortuous  course  pursued  by  the  river  in  the  township,  it 
may  be  observed  that  within  a  distance  of  a  trifle  more 
than  a  mile  the  railway  crosses  the  stream  five  times.  Rut- 
land voted  Dec.  16,  1865,  to  raise  fSOOO  in  aid  of  the 
proposed  Chicago  and  Michigan  Grand  Trunk  Railroad,  to 
fun  from  Ridgway,  on  the  Grand  Trunk  Railroad,  by  way 
of  Lansing,  to  the  village  of  St.  Joseph,  and  so  on  to  the 
Indiana  State  line,  but  the  project  failed. 

Rutland  has  neither  village,  post-office,  church -building, 
nor  business  enterprise  of  any  kind  (save  agriculture) 
within  its  limits.  Potter  &  Newton  carried  on  a  cheese- 
factory  in  the  township  in  1879,  but  in  the  fall  of  that  year 
it  was  consumed  by  fire.  The  loss  was  the  removal  of  a 
widely  appreciated  benefit,  but  there  is  at  present  a  strong 
probability  that  the  factory  will  be  re-established.  Inci- 
dental to  agriculture,  there  is  considerable  business  among 
the  farmers  in  the  way  of  bee-keeping.  The  largest  num- 
ber of  swarms  is  in  the  collection  of  Huron  Healy,  who  has 
thirty,  and  who  has  kept  bees  in  Rutland  since  his  arrival 
in  the  town,  in  1857.  There  are  several  farmers  who 
average  twenty  swarms,  and  many  who  have  a  smaller  num- 
ber, so  that,  altogether,  bee-keeping  in  Rutland  is  some- 
thing of  an  industrial  feature. 

THE   PIONEER  AEMY. 

Rutland's  advance-guard  of  pioneers  was  led  by  Lorenzo 
Cooley  and  one  De  Groat,  who,  happening  to  meet  in  Hast- 
ings in  the  summer  of  1836,  while  looking  for  a  land 
location  in  Michigan,  agreed  to  settle  in  the  township  now 
called  Rutland,  provided  they  could  secure  places  to  suit 
them.  De  Groat  went  out  into  the  township  to  pick  out  a 
couple  of  farms,  and  soon  returned,  reporting  that  he  had 
selected  for  himself  160  acres  on  section  14,  and  for  Cooley 
80  acres  on  section  1,  northeast  of  the  river,  bordering  the 
eastern  shore  of  Long  Lake.  When  Cooley  came  to  look 
at  his  purchase  he  was  not  suited,  and  induced  De  Groat  to 
let  him  have  in  exchange  one  of  the  80-acre  lots  on  sec- 
tion 14.  Thereupon  Cooley  and  De  Groat  rolled  up  a 
shanty  on. the  former's  land,  and  De  Groat,  lodging  with 
Cooley's  family  temporarily,  began  the  task  of  girdling  a 
few  acres  of  his  own  land  preparatory  to  putting  in  a  crop. 
While  engaged  in  the  work  he  fell  sick,  and  died  within  a 
few  weeks  after  beginning  his  pioneer  life.     His  death 


»  By  David  Schwartz. 


took  place  in  Cooley's  house,  and  in  the  newly  laid  out 
grave-yard  at  Hastings  he-was  the  first  person  to  be  buried. 
Shortly  after  that  occurrence  Cooley  so  seriously  injured 
himself  in  lifting  heavy  timber  that,  before  the  Hastings 
cemetery  had  received  another  occupant,  he  was  laid  therein 
beside  De  Groat,  with  whom  he  had  bravely  penetrated  the 
Western  wilds,  and  with  whom  he  put  aside  the  burdens 
of  a  pioneer  existence  before  that  existence  had  fairly 
begun. 

Meanwhile,  Estes  Rich,  who  had  entered  land  on  section 
9  as  early  as  March,  1836,  came  into  tihe  township  and 
made  a  commencement.  After  Cooley's  death  his  widow 
continued  to  reside  on  the  place,  and  in  1838  married  Mr. 
Rich.  Their  first  child — Loren,  now  living  in  Wisconsin — 
was  born  in  1839,  and  was,  beyond  a  doubt,  the  first  white 
child  born  in  the  town.  Mrs.  Rich  died  in  1845,  and 
was  buried  on  the  Rich  farm  upon  the  land  subsequently 
platted  for  a  cemetery,  and  still  in  use.  When  the  burial- 
ground  was  laid  out,  it  was  found  that  Mrs.  Rich's  grave 
would  necessarily  occupy  a  place  in  one  of  the  walks,  and 
there  it  was  allowed  to  remain.  He  who  wishes,  therefore, 
to  find  the  earliest  grave  in  the  cemetery  need  only  to  look 
in  the  southeast  corner  for  one  that  lies  in  the  footpath. 

Rich  sold  his  place,  some  time  after  the  death  of  his 
wife,  to  one  Toppen,  and  went  northward  on  a  prospecting- 
tour.  Toppen  was,  however,  unable  to  meet  his  pledged 
payments,  and  the  land  therefore  reverted  to  Rich,  who 
returned  to  Rutland,  took  possession,  and  remained  until 
1871,  when  he  moved  to  Kansas,  his  present  home. 

The  first  house  built  in  Rutland  was  Cooley's,  the  second 
was  Rich's,  and  the  third  Maj.  Mott's.  The  latter  settled 
in  1838  upon  land  lying  in  both  Rutland  and  Yankee 
Springs,  his  dwelling  being,  however,  in  the  former  town- 
ship upon  section  18,  close  to  the  line.  Mott  was  con- 
spicuous as  a  singing-master,  but  as  a  pioneer  did  not  make 
an  enduring  mark,  since  he  stopped  only  two  years,  and 
then  returned  to  Battle  Creek,  whence  he  had  come. 

The  oldest  settler  now  resident  in  Rutland  came  into 
the  township  for  a  permanent  location  next  after  Maj. 
Mott.  His  name  is  Ira  Shipman,  and  the  land  he  now 
occupies,  on  section  20,  he  entered  in  1836  and  settled  in 
1838.  Migrating  from  New  York  State  in  1836,  he  lo- 
cated, at  the  land-office  in  Kalamazoo,  160  acres  of  land  in 
township  No.  3,  on  section  20.  He  walked  from  Kala- 
mazoo to  his  purchase,  looked  the  place  over,  and  con- 
cluded that  as  there  was  nobody  in  the  township  he  would 
defer  his  settlement.  He  accordingly  returned  to  Marshall, 
where  he  remained  until  the  next  spring.  Setting  out  again 
for  his  land  to  learn  whether  the  country  had  begun  to 
settle,  he  found  Lorenzo  Cooley  on  section  14,  in  Rutland, 
and  a  Mr.  Henyon,  on  Bull's  place,  in  Irving,  near  the  Rut- 

479 


480 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


land  line.  He  was  not  ambitious  enough  to  begin  the 
pioneer  business  with  only  one  settler  in  the  township,  and 
that  one  not  even  a  neighbor,  so  he  once  more  retraced  his 
steps  to  Marshall,  determined  to  wait  there  another  twelve- 
month before  making  the  third  venture. 

Back  again  in  1838  he  came,  and  then,  finding  Estes 
Rich  on  section  9  and  Maj.  Mott  on  the  west  town-line,  he 
concluded  to  stay  and  bear  them  company.  For  the  next 
six  weeks  his  habitation  was  a  shelter  of  elm -bark  just 
commodious  enough  to  let  him  crawl  under  it  when  night 
came  on.  At  the  close  of  each  Saturday  he  used  to  go  over 
to  Calvin  G.  Hill's  house,  in  Yankee  Springs,  and  remain 
until  Monday  morning,  when,  packing  up  provisions  suffi- 
cient to  last  during  the  week,  he  would  set  out  for  his  farm, 
and  there  until  the  ensuing  Saturday  night  would  chop 
away  alone,  for  he  had  at  that  time  no  family,  and,  as  to 
hard  pioneer  work,  he  became  noted  as  a  very  extraordi- 
nary character,  preferring  to  labor  unaided,  although  sorely 
taxed  in  his  energies  at  times. 

After  living  six  weeks  under  the  insufficient  shelter  of 
elm-bark  Shipman  put  up  i  rough  shanty,  and  for  two 
years,  or  thereabout,  continued  his  accustomed  mode  of  ex- 
istence, during  which  lie  accomplished  wonders  in  the  busi- 
ness of  land-clearing. 

MAKSAC  AND  THE  POTATOES. 
One  Monday  morning  Shipman,  coming  as  usual  from 
Hill's  to  begin  his  week's  work,  was  somewhat  surprised  to 
observe  upon  approaching  his  shanty  that  through  the 
chimney  hole  in  the  roof  there  came  a  volley  of  flying 
potatoes,  and,  divining  at  once  that  there  must  be  a  thiev- 
ing Indian  at  the  bottom  of  the  business,  he  hid  behind  a 
tree  and  awaited  developments.  Presently  the  discharge 
of  potatoes  ceased,  and  following  them  through  the  aper- 
ture appeared  the  form  of  one  Marsac,  an  Indian,  who, 
springing  to  the  ground  and  peering  anxiously  about  as  if 
to  be  assured  the  owner  of  the  shanty  was  not  about,  made 
ready  to  gather  his  plunder  preparatory  to  bearing  it  away. 
At  this  juncture  Shipman  from  his  concealed  position  dis- 
charged his  rifle,  for  the  purpose,  however,  of  simply 
frightening  the  red-skin,  and  that  the  project  was  eminently 
successful  may  be  unhesitatingly  accepted  as  the  truth. 
While  Marsac  still  trembled  and  grew  pale  with  the  sudden 
terror  that  had  come  upon  him,  Shipman  came  to  view 
and  with  angry  threats  demanded  to  know  how  he  dared 
come  there  on  a  thieving  expedition.  Marsac  begged  pit- 
eously  for  mercy,  saying  that  his  squaw  and  pappoose  were 
buckatah  (hungry),  and,  not  having  anything  for  them  to 
eat,  he  grew  desperate  and  resolved  to  steal  from  Shipman's 
shanty.  He  found,  he  said,  the  door  fastened,  and  so 
crawled  down  the  chimney-hole. 

"  That  excuse  makes  no  difiierence,"  replied  Shipman ; 
"  you  mustn't  come  here  to  steal,  and  I  ought  really  to 
shoot  you,  but  I'll  let  you  off  this  time,  promising  that  if 
I  ever  catch  you  at  it  again,  I'll  make  an  end  of  you." 
Compelling  the  Indian  to  pick  up  the  potatoes  and  carry 
them  into  the  shanty,  he  renewed  his  admonishment  and 
warned  him  to  clear  out,  whereupon  Marsac,  glad  to  get 
off  so  easily,  took  to  his  heels.  It  was  rare,  indeed,  that 
Indians  were  thieves  in  that  vicinity,  and  in  this  case  it  is 


fair  to  suppose  that  the  squaw  and  pappoose  must  have  been 
so  very  buckatah  that  Marsac  concluded  he  had  rather  steal 
than  see  them  starve. 

WOLF-MUSIC. 

About  Shipman's  ears  as  he  lay  beneath  his  bark 
shelter  the  wolves  used  to  make  night  hideous  with  their 
howls.  To  drive  the  creatures  off  he  aimed  to  keep  a 
blazing  fire  all  night  long,  but  sometimes  the  fire  went  out, 
and  then  the  wolves,  emboldened,  would  gather  in  as  if  to 
make  a  raid  upon  the  sleeping  pioneer.  At  such  times 
the  woodman  would  awake  with  a  sudden  start,  and,  blazing 
away  with  his  rifle,  would  put  the  cowardly  pack  to  flight. 
Often  he  has  stood,  he  says,  at  the  door  of  his  shanty  and 
shot  down  deer,  which  were  not  only  plentiful,  but  so  tame 
that  they  scarcely  appeared  to  mind  the  presence  of  human 
beings. 

In  1840,  Mr.  Shipman  went  back  to  New  York  on  a 
visit,  leaving  his  place  in  charge  of  Peter  Cale,  a  Canadian. 
He  stayed  in  Now  York  until  1842,  and,  having  married, 
brought  his  wife  to  Michigan.  Reaching  his  place  in  Rut- 
land, he  found  that  Cale  had  sold  off  all  the  movables  and 
sloped  for  Canada.  Shipman  made  a  fresh  start,  went  to 
housekeeping,  and  on  that  spot  has  continued  to  live  to 
this  day. 

Two  days  before  Shipman  came  to  Rutland  with  his  wife, 
in  1842,  his  brother-in-law,  Chauncey  H.  Brewer,  moved 
in  and  took  possession  of  the  place  previously  settled  by 
Maj.  Mott,  and  sold  by  him  to  George  B.  Manchester,  then 
a  farm-hand  in  the  township,  and  now  a  resident  of  Thorn- 
apple.  Brewer  moved  to  Indiana,  after  a  somewhat  ex- 
tended stay  in  Rutland,  and  now  lives  in  Nebraska. 

BULL'S  PEAIKIE. 

A.  E.  Bull  located  land  in  Irving  and  Rutland  as  early 
as  1836,  and  began  work  upon  it  in  1837  ;  but  as  he  lived, 
or  put  up  a  cabin,  on  the  Irving  portion  of  the  land,  he 
seems  to  have  been  considered  a  pioneer  in  that  town- 
ship rather  than  Rutland.  All  of  his  land  (and  he  had  sev- 
eral hundred  acres)  except  40  acres  was,  however,  in 
Rutland,  and  it  is  reasonably  clear  that  he  was  a  Rutland 
pioneer,  although  he  himself  did  not  do  much  pioneer  work 
in  person.  He  engaged  people  to  work  on  his  place,— Mr. 
John  Henyon  among  the  first,— and,  having  mercantile 
ventures  at  Schoolcraft,  Diamond  Lake,  and  White  Pigeon, 
moved  here  and  there  as  occasion  demanded.  He  "ave 
however,  close  personal  attention  to  the  progress  of  his 
affairs  in  Rutland  and  Irving,  and,  being  moreover  busily 
engaged  as  a  surveyor  in  laying  out  roads  in  each  town, 
he  was  at  his  Irving  house  a  good  deal  of  the  time. 

It  was  not,  however,  until  his  marriage,  in  1846,  that  he 
settled  permanently  upon  his  farm.  He  lived  on  the  40 
acres  in  Irving  until  1858,  when  he  erected  a  commodious 
mansion  on  the  Rutland  portion  of  his  estate,  where  his 
widow  still  resides.  In  1865  he  paid  a  visit  to  his  early 
Eastern  home  in  Massachusetts,  and  while  there  sickened 
and  died. 

On  the  bank  of  the  river  near  Bull's  place  in  Rutland, 
Indians  used  to  gather  in  considerable  force  and  remain 
some  time,— long  enough  at  least  to  give  their  encampments 


MRS.    LYDIA   A.    BULL. 


Photos,  by  0.  L.  Heath,  Hasting 


ALBERT  E.  BULL. 


ALBERT   E,    BULL. 


The  subject  of  this  biography,  by  all  that  can  be 
learned  from  his  associates  in  life,  was  a  man  of  more  than 
ordinary  ability ;  he  was  emphatically  a  man  of  affairs,  in- 
dustrious, sagacious,  enterprising,  and  public-spirited.  He 
was  born  in  Sheffield,  Berkshire  Co.,  Mass.,  March  4, 1808. 
His  father,  William  Bull,  was  of  English  descent,  a  Quaker 
in  his  religious  views,  and  a  man  of  wealth  and  prominence. 
He  was  educated  for  a  physician,  but  the  profession  was  not 
a  congenial  one,  and  he  became  a  farmer.  Albert  E.  re- 
ceived a  collegiate  education  and  studied  law,  but  chose  the 
profession  of  a  civil  engineer,  and  shortly  after  he  attained 
his  majority  he  went  to  Florida,  where  he  was  employed 
by  the  government  in  the  survey  of  government  lands.  In 
1832  he  came  to  Michigan  and  located  at  "  Insley's  Cor- 
ners," on  Prairie  Ronde,  Kalamazoo  Co.  Here  he  was 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  in  company  with  a  Mr. 
Kellogg.  In  the  latter  part  of  that  year  he  dissolved 
partnership  with  Mr.  Kellogg  and  removed  his  stock  of 
goods  to  what  is  now  Schoolcraft,  then  known  as  the 
"  Island,"  and  prosecuted  a  successful  business  in  merchan- 
dising for  many  years.  Sept.  7,  1832,  he  purchased  and 
received  a  deed  of  conveyance  from  Col.  Lyman  D.  Daniels 
for  forty  acres  of  land,  being  the  south  half  of  the  west 
half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  18,  in  township  4 
south,  of  range  11  west,  in  Kalamazoo  County.  This  land 
he  surveyed  and  platted  as  "  Bull's  addition"  to  the  village 
of  Schoolcraft.     A  large  portion  of  this  tract  of  land  has 


substantial  buildings  erected  upon  it,  and  constitutes  the 
larger  and  better  portion  of  the  village.  Up  to  the  time  of 
his  removal  to  Barry  County,  Mr.  Bull  was  closely  identified 
with  the  development  of  Schoolcraft  and  vicinity ;  his  edu- 
cation in  civil  engineering  and  surveying  made  his  services 
of  great  value  to  the  people.  His  reading  had  been  ex- 
tensive, and  his  library,  consisting  of  more  books  than  those 
in  the  possession  of  any  of  his  neighbors,  was  a  source  of 
disseminating  much  knowledge  among  the  early  settlers. 
Mr.  Bull  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  town  of  Rutland, 
where  he  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land,  and  where  he 
was  extensively  engaged  in  agricultural  operations  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  March,  1865,  at 
Great  Barrington,  Mass.  He  is  spoken  of  by  those  who 
knew  him  best  as  a  man  of  superior  business  capacity, 
public-spirited  in  the  extreme,  and  one  whose  sympathy  in 
behalf  of  the  unfortunate  and  destitute  was  always  readily 
enlisted.  Hon.  H.  G.  Wells,  of  Kalamazoo,  who  knew 
him  intimately,  says,  "  He  was  a  valuable  citizen  and  a 
most  useful  pioneer."  In  1846  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Lydia  A.  Shaw,  of  Volina,  Cass  Co.,  Mich.  Mrs.  Bull 
was  born  in  Fairfield  Co.,  Conn.,  Oct.  24,  1826,  and  came 
to  Michigan  with  her  father's  family  in  1830.  In  1866 
Mrs.  Bull  was  again  married,  to  Albert  E.  Bull,  a  nephew 
of  her  first  husband.  He  was  a  man  of  great  benevolence 
and  a  prominent  member  of  the  Congregational  Church. 
He  died  October,  1878. 


RUTLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


481 


the  air  of  Indian  villages.  There  was  an  Indian  burying- 
ground  there  in  which  the  graves  were  numerous.  They 
are  now  no  more  to  be  seen,  even  by  faint  indication.  The 
plow  has  leveled  the  mounds  and  turned  up  many  a  bone 
once  a  member  of  a  savage  frame.  Indian  relics,  such  as 
stone  arrow-heads,  tomahawks,  and  various  implements, 
have  been  unearthed  from  time  to  time  and  carried  away 
by  relic-hunters. 

Among  the  foremost  pioneers  in  Rutland  was  David 
Rork,  a  New  Yorker,  who  made  his  appearance  in  1843. 
He  moved  from  New  York  to  Wisconsin  in  1841,  and  after 
an  unsatisfactory  two-years'  experience  in  that  country 
concluded  to  turn  his  face  eastward,  and,  as  he  had  a  sister 
in  Michigan, — Mrs.  Estes  Rich,  of  Rutland, — called  there 
en  route  to  pay  her  a  visit.  While  in  Rutland  he  was  per- 
suaded by  Rich  to  locate  there,  and,  being  rather  pleased  with 
the  country,  he  did  locate  there,  buying  80  acres  of  Rich 
on  section  10.  He  put  up  a  log  cabin,  and,  with  his  fam- 
ily, moved  into  it  March  29,  1844.  That  house  was  the 
fifth  one  built  in  the  township,  and  stood  about  opposite  the 
present  residence  of  A.  D.  Rork.  David  Rork  died  of 
typhoid  fever  in  1854, — a  year  in  which  that  disease  car- 
ried off  quite  a  number  of  people  in  the  neighborhood. 

In  June,  1843,  Finch  Mead,  of  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y., 
came  to  Rutland  alone  to  look  at  160  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 15  that  he  had  bought  of  one  Bennett  Chambers,  a 
Dutchess  County  school-teacher  and  Western  land  speculator. 
Mead  had  paid  $500  for  the  land  upon  Chambers'  repre- 
sentations, and  finding,  upon  inspection,  that  the  invest- 
ment was  a  good  one,  made  all  haste  back  to  New  York, 
and  in  June,  1844,  returned  with  his  family,  in  which 
were  11  children.  While  resting  during  his  journey  at 
Hastings,  Mead  was  lucky  enough  to  encounter  a  man 
from  Yankee  Springs  with  a  load  of  pine  lumber.  He 
bought  it  on  the  spot,  took  it  with  him  to  Rutland,  and 
put  up  a  shanty  without  delay.  Clearing  land  was  an  un- 
familiar occupation  to  Mr.  Mead.  He  and  his  married  son 
Charles,  who  came  West  with  him,  had  been  wagon-makers 
in  New  York,  and  when  they  began  to  pioneer  in  Rutland 
they  found  themselves  somewhat  at  loss  to  know  how  to 
get  on  according  to  the  most  approved  frontier  methods. 
For  example,  instead  of  disposing  of  their  timber  as  fast 
as  they  felled  it,  they  deferred  the  work  of  cutting  up  until 
they  had  leveled  a  score  or  so  of  trees.  David  Rork,  hap- 
pening over  one  day  while  Mead  and  his  sons  were  chop- 
ping, laughed  at  them  as  he  explained  how  they  created  a 
good  deal  of  unnecessary  labor  for  themselves  by  a  failure  to 
understand  how  to  do  the  work  properly.  He  offered  a 
few  wise  suggestions,  and  they  found,  by  adopting  them, 
that  they  had  learned  something  which  helped  them  on 
very  much.  Charles  Mead  didn't  fancy  a  pioneer's  life, 
and  after  giving  it  a  fair  trial  went  to  Hastings,  where  he 
opened  a  wagon-shop,  and  followed  that  business  until  his 
death,  in  1866. 

In  the  spring  of  1845,  Finch  Mead  made  a  move  to  sec- 
tion 10,  where  he  now  lives,  and  put  up  a  log  house.  For 
the  shingles  he  used  on  it  he  went  into  Allegan  County, 
and  made  a  two  days'  journey  of  it.  For  the  window- 
sash  he  had  to  go  to  Grand  Rapids,  and  altogether  he 
experienced  no  little  trouble  in  the  cgnstruction  of  a  home, 
61 


In  that  house  he  still  lives,  and  a  substantial  home  it  is  to 
this  day. 

When  he  first  came  to  Rutland,  Mr.  Mead  set  off  a  corner 
of  his  house  as  a  workshop,  and  as  he  was  the  only  me- 
chanic in  the  township  he  was  soon  in  liberal  demand  among 
the  settlers.  Since  his  location  in  the  township,  in  1844,  he 
has  done  a  good  deal  work  at  ^his  old  trade,  and  in  that 
time  has  made  upwards  of  30  complete  farm-wagons  for 
his  neighbors. 

NOETH   OP  THE   RIVEE. 

When  Mead  came  into  the  town,  there  were  on  the  north 
side  of  the  river  Edwin  and  Asa  Rice,  two  brothers,  who  on 
that  side  of  the  stream  were  the  pioneer  settlers  in  Rutland. 
Edwin  Rice  lived  on  section  2,  but  in  1851  he  sold  his 
place  to  Marble  Bates,  then  just  come  io,  and  moved  to  Illi- 
nois, in  which  State  both  he  and  his  brother  Asa  now  live. 
Edwin  M.  and  A.  H.  Bates,  sons  of  Marble,  came  West 
also  in  1851,  but  did  not  settle  there  until  somewhat  later. 
The  pioneers  in  that  portion  of  the  township  then  included 
Betiajah  Dowd,  Isaac  Crowell,  Lyman  Newton  (living  now 
on  section  22),  Samuel  McMurray,  J.  W.  Stebbins,  John  K. 
Lothridge,  James  Lothridge,  Manning  Dowd,  and  R. 
Smith,  the  latter's  farm  being  now  occupied  by  B.  Kurtz. 
Settlements  in  that  vicinity  were  caused  quite  early  by  the 
completion  of  the  stage-road  between  Battle  ^raek.  and 
Grand  Rapids,  which  passed  through  the  northeastern 
corner  of  Rutland,  and  over  which  there  was  considerable 
lively  traflBc. 

W.  W.  Ralph  lived,  in  1844,  on  section  13,  and  Lewis 
Ensign  on  section  11,  both,  however,  south  i)f  the  river. 
On  section  11  also  lived  Henry  Standish,  who  moved  after- 
wards to  Hastings.  Lewis  Ensign  lives  now  in  Detroit, 
where  he  follows  the  trade  of  a  printer. 

Mr.  Mead  remembers  that  in  1844  it  was  no  uncommon 
thing  to  see  deer  in  his  door-yard,  and  to  see  them  fre- 
quently, too,  feeding  among  the  cattle,  quite  as  unconcerned 
as  the  cattle  themselves.  Indians  roaming  in  squads  of  a 
score  or  more  often  diversified  the  landscape,  and  on  the 
river  their  canoes  were  familiar  sights.  By  river  they 
chose  most  frequently  to  travel  on  their  trading-journeys  to 
Hastings,  and  many  is  the  time  that  the  stream  bore  them 
and  their  craft  in  throngs  as  they  pushed  on  to  market. 

Benajah  Dowd,  a  New  Yorker,  who  settled  on  section  12, 
in  1850,  after  a  year's  residence  in  Hastings,  died  there  in 
1851.  His  son  Solon  made  a  settlement  in  Hope  town- 
ship in  1850,  and  from  there  moved  to  Rutland,  where  he 
now  lives,  on  section  26.  J.  R.  Robinson,  a  settler  likewise 
in  Hope  in  1851  with  his  father,  became  a  resident  of  Rut- 
land in  1866,  upon  the  place  he  now  occupies,  first  im- 
proved by  Henry  Pickle.  One  Dow  was  a  moderately  early 
settler  on  the  Hastings  road,  and  put  up  a  log  house  upon 
David  Rork's  place,  in  which  he  made  shoes.  He  remained, 
however,  but  a  short  time,  and  after  his  departure  his  house 
came  into  renewed  service,  as  a  school-house.  S.  C.  Prin- 
dle,  who  located  on  section  4  in  1848,  had  come  with  his 
father  to  Michigan  in  1836.  In  1864  he  removed  to 
Hastings,  and  for  sixteen  consecutive  years  filled  the  office 
of  probate  judge. 

George  Williams  was  a  settler  in  1854  upon  section  11, 


482 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


where  lie  now  lives.  Then  it  was  wild  land,  and  upon  it 
Mr.  Williams  cut  the  first  stick.  Among  his  neighbors 
were  Isaac  Cowell,  Marble  Bates,  Elva  Cross,  Manning 
Dowd,  Lyman  Newton,  James  Olner,  Martin  Smith,  Isaac 
Hendershott,  and  others.  In  June,  1854,  James  McNutt 
came  from  Irving,  where  he  had  been  living  since  1845, 
and  made  a  location  on  section  9,  whence  he  removed  in 
1872  to  his  present  home,  on  section  17.  In  the  neigiibor- 
hood  of  section  17,  and  in  the  northwestern  corner  of  the 
township,  there  was  scarcely  any  attempt  at  settlement  be- 
fore 1854  or  1855.  Maj.  Mott,  and  after  him  Chauncey 
H.  Brewer,  were  the  earliest  in  that  quarter.  About  1854 
there  came,  as  the  next  reinforcements,  Alexander  Corning 
and  his  two  sons,  Alexander  and  Benjamin,  and  his  son-in- 
law,  one  Leavenworth.  They  occupied  six  80-acre  lots  on 
section  8,  which  the  elder  Corning  had  entered ;  but  their 
stay  was  brief.  Before  leaving  they  leased  the  land  to 
Simon  Wilcox  and  Jabez  Campbell,  who  occupied  it  until 
Huron  Healy  came  into  possession,  in  1857,  and  at  once 
made  a  settlement. 

Huron  Healy  moved  with  his  father,  Samuel,  from  New 
York  in  1836  to  Washtenaw  County,  where  he  lived  until 
his  settlement  in  Rutland.  Straight  south  the  nearest 
neighbor  he  had  was  Ira  Shipman.  West  there  were 
Ciiauncey  H.  Brewer,  Thomas  Slater,  and  Moses  Campbell, 
while  on  the  north  was  R.  H.  Wilcox  on  section  5  (where 
he  had  been  since  1855),  Lafayette  Douglas,  Roswell 
Holden,  and  Ijah  Marshall. 

Other  later  settlers  in  North  Rutland  were  George 
Brown  in  the  northwest,  and  on  the  Hastings  road  William 
Perry  and  William  S.,  his  father,  William  S.  Chidester, 
whose  fixther,  Gardner  Chidester,  settled  in  Ionia  County 
in  1839,  David  Eycleshimer,  F.  Campbell,  and  Peter 
Howard. 

SOUTH  HALF   OF  THE   TOWNSHIP. 

In  the  southern  half  of  the  township,  the  only  settlement 
made  previous  to  1850  was  that  by  Ira  Shipman,  on  sec- 
tion 20.  Somehow  the  desire  for  lands  in  the  south  was 
not  very  ardent,  and  in  that  district,  even  after  the  northern 
portion  was  fairly  populated,  there  was  still  unbroken 
wilderness.  The  earliest  to  penetrate  into  the  eastern 
portion  of  the  south  half  of  Rutland  were  Joshua  Peck 
and  Reuben  Dunham,  who,  in  1850,  made  settlements 
upon  adjoining  places  in  section  23.  Peck  lived  there 
until  1873,  when,  in  a  fit  of  mental  aberration,  he  commit- 
ted suicide.  He  was  found  lying  dead  in  his  house,  the 
upper  portion  of  his  head  blown  off  and  a  discharged  shot- 
gun close  by,  showing  that,  after  lying  down,  he  had 
placed  the  muzzle  against  his  head,  discharged  the  weapon 
with  his  foot,  and  straightway  passed  into  eternity. 

Reuben  Durham  lived  with  his  wife  and  child  in  a 
framed  shanty  14  by  20,  upon  80  acres  of  land  acquired 
under  a  soldier's  warrant  by  right  of  his  services  in  the 
war  of  1812.  In  1852,  Durham's  cabin  received  within 
its  hospitable  walls  the  family  of  George  W.  Crosby,  con- 
sisting of  six  persons.  Crosby,  who  had  married  a  sister 
of  Mrs.  Durham,  had  moved  from  New  York  to  Illinois, 
intending  to  settle  there,  but,  not  liking  the  country,  con- 
cluded to  settle  in  Michigan,  and,  stopping  at  ICalamaz.oo, 


took  up  on  a  soldier's  warrant  160  acres  in  Rutland  town- 
ship, upon  section  26.  From  Kalamazoo  he  came  out 
to  Rutland  in  December,  1852,  and,  as  related,  lodged 
at  Durham's.  In  the  Durham  shanty,  containing  but  one 
room,  the  two  families,  comprising  nine  persons,  lived  after 
a  fashion  for  the  space  of  the  six  weeks  which  it  took 
Crosby  and  his  sons  to  build  their  own  shanty. 

When  Crosby  got  fairly  located  he  found  himself  a  mile 
or  so  from  his  nearest  neighbors.  Peck  and  Durham,  while 
south,  east,  and  west  of  him  to  the  town-lines  there  was 
not  a  solitary  settler.  Upon  his  place  Mr.  Crosby  lived  until 
May,  1879,  when  he  was  buried  upon  a  spot  on  his  farm 
which,  directly  after  his  arrival,  twenty-seven  years  before; 
he  had  chosen  as  the  ground  in  which  he  desired  to  be  laid 
away  to  rest.  Upon  the  old  farm  still  lives  C.  R.  Crosby, 
who  came  with  his  father  in  1852,  and  who  has  there  had 
his  home  ever  since. 

Previous  to  Crosby's  location  a  hay-road  had  been  cut 
out  by  David  Rork,  from  his  place  to  a  marsh  south  of 
Crosby's,  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  the  hay,  which  grew 
luxuriantly  upon  the  marsh,  and  which  was,  moreover,  of 
excellent  quality.  This  hay-road  was  a  decided  convenience 
to  the  new  settlers,  and,  as  such,  was  duly  appreciated. 

The  next  to  settle  in  the  neighborhood  was  Henry  Pickle, 
an  ex-soldier  of  the  war  of  1812,  who  took  up,  on  a  soldier's 
warrant,  the  land  now  occupied  by  J.  R.  Robinson,  in  sec- 
tion 26.  Mr.  Pickle  now  lives  in  the  township  of  Yankee 
Springs,  and,  although  upwards  of  ninety  years  of  age,  is 
quite  hearty  and  active.  Of  the  settlers  herein  named, 
Durham,  Peck,  and  Pickle  were  ex-soldiers.  Peck  of  the 
Mexican  war  and  the  other  two  of  the  war  of  1812.  Dur- 
ham died  in  Rutland  in  1860. 

A  HUSH  FOR  LAND. 

The  years  1854  and  1855  witnessed  an  important  ac- 
cession to  the  settlements  in  the  Crosby-  district,  and  for  a 
time  the  new  recruits  were  quite  a  multitude.  Indeed, 
the  new-comers  were  so  many,  and  so  besieged  the  ones  al- 
ready on  the  ground  for  flour,  potatoes,  and  other  necessary 
commodities,  that  the  prices  of  those  articles  rose;  under  the 
spirited  demand,  to  a  high  figure,  while  it  was  with  difficulty 
that  lumber  could  be  obtained  fast  enough  to  meet  the  needs 
of  those  desirous  of  building  framed  houses.  A  reason  for 
this  animated  condition  of  affairs  may  be  easily  found  in 
the  fact  that  there  was  considerable  government  land  in  that 
neighborhood,  and  that  it  was  to  be  had  at  $1.25  the  acre. 
For  some  reason,  land  speculators  who  had  greedily  absorbed 
the  northern  portion  of  the  township  had  not  cared  to  in- 
vest in  the  south,  and  so  for  some  time  the  lands  lay  uncalled 
for  until  emigrants  carried  the  facts,  when,  as  has  been 
told,  there  came  a  rapid  demand  ibr  places.  Farms  then 
bought  at  government  price  are  to-day  easily  worth  more 
than  twenty  times  that  price,— that  is  to  say,  160  acres' 
bought  then  for  $200  would  sell  to-day  for  $5000. 

West  of  Crosby,  near  Cooley  Lake,  A.  D.  Rork,  William 
Munger,  M.  S.  Cooley,  John  R.  Cooley,  Harmon  Munger, 
and  James  Van  Wagnen  were  among  the  first  comers  in 
1854  and  1855.  Of  these  the  only  one  still  living  there  is 
James  Van  Wagnen,  on  section  26,  where  he  settled  in 
1855.    In  1856,  C.  H.  Stone,  of  Ohio,  made  a  settlement 


RUTLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


483 


on  section  27,  in  the  heart  of  a  wilderness  of  heavy  timber, 
and  reared  the  home  which  has  sheltered  him  from  that  day 
to  this.  On  the  north  was  C.  H.  Bowen ;  west  of  him, 
Isaac  Powell  and  Horace  Hull,  who  had  been  there  a  year ; 
and  still  farther  west,  at  Pine  Lake,  were  John  0.  Riley, 
Philander  and  Ferrell  Otis,  and  Walter  and  Joseph  Barrett, 
all  of  whom  had  just  moved  in.  Walter  Barrett's  place  is 
now  occupied  by  C.  A.  Newland,  whose  father  was  an  early 
settler  in  Kalamazoo  County,  and  lives  now  in  Eaton  County. 
At  Mr.  Newland's  house  lives  his  wife's  mother,  the  widow 
of  J.  K.  Bingham,  who  came  to  Michigan  as  a  pioneer  in 
1827,  since  which  time  Mrs.  Bingham  has  lived  in  the  State, 
herself  a  Michigan  pioneer  of  fifty-three  years'  standing. 

Upon  section  21,  Isaac  Diamond,  a  settler  in  Lenawee 
County  in  1840,  made  a  location  in  1854.  In  1870  he 
died  at  the  house  of  his  son,  Isaac  L.,  on  section  16.  Isaac 
L.  joined  his  father  in  Rutland  in  1855,  and  divided  his 
time  between  his  father's  house  and  that  of  his  brother-in- 
law,  E.  T.  Hun,  near  by,  until  1862,  when  he  moved  to 
his  present  home,  on  section  16.  Until  1854  section  16 
was  a  forest  without  a  human  inhabitant.  The  first  settler 
to  locate  upon  it  was  Elijah  Rogers,  who  in  the  year  men- 
tioned made  a  clearing  there,  and  directly  after  that  Daniel 
Oakes  settled  near  him,  followed  in  turn  by  his  brother 
Christopher  Oakes.  Rogers  died  in  1866,  Daniel  Oakes 
in  1857,  and  Christopher  Oakes  in  1856. 

Among  other  settlers  in  the  southern  half  of  Rutland 
may  be  mentioned  B.  R.  Blanchard  (who  claims  to  be  the 
first  person  who  made  a  permanent  white  settlement  in  the 
township  of  Baltimore),  Henry  11.  Wood,  and  H.  N.  Mon- 
roe, who  moved  with  his  father,  H.  Gr.  Monroe,  to  Paw  Paw, 
in  Van  Buren  County,  in  1838,  where  they  lived  until 
1846.  The  elder  Monroe  moved  then  to  Calhoun  County, 
where  he  now  lives.  H.  N.  Monroe  came  to  Rutland  in 
1865,  and  occupied  a  place  first  settled  by  Elmer  Johnson, 
and  afterwards  bv  Charles  Tillotson.  There  were  also~  A. 
B.  Smith  (an  early  settler  in  Orangeville),  Philip  W.  Bur- 
gess, Edward  Gorham,  C.  W.  Biggs,  J.  W.  Tanner  (a  set- 
tler in  Washtenaw  County  in  1844),  Thomas  Kelley,  John 
Dawson,  G.  W.  Loehr,  Norman  Johnson,  Daniel  Dean,  and 
George  Williams  (whose  father  settled  in  Irving  upon  the 
Ingraham  place  in  1848). 

PODUNK. 

There  is  a  place  on  the  Rutland  map  called  Podunk, 
although  the  visitor  to  that  locality  expecting  to  find  a 
village  there  would  probably  pass  through  the  place  quite 
unconscious  of  the  fact  that  Podunk  was  before  and  round 
about  him.  The  locality  was  named,  it  appears,  by  J.  S. 
Van  Wagnen,  twenty  or  more  years  ago,  when,  at  a  casual 
meeting  of  some  of  the  residents  of  the  vicinity,  the  sug- 
gestion was  started  that  the  settlement  ought  to  be  called 
Cooleyville,  since  the  Cooleys  were  among  the  first  to  come 
in  there.  Other  names  were  suggested,  when  Van  Wagnen 
abruptly  exclaimed,  "  Pshaw  !  call  it  Podunk,  and  be  done 
with  it,"  Podunk  being  the  name  of  a  cross-roads  village 
in  Ohio,  where  Van  Wagnen  had  lived,  to  whom  it  seemed 
that  the  name  would  fit  excellently  well  on  the  present 
occasion.  Upon  a  sudden  impulse  the  name  was  adopted  by 
those  present,  but  when  an  attempt  was  made  to  introduce 


it  generally  there  was  a  strong  protest  against  the  measure, 
and  many  declared  that  so  ugly  a  name  should  not  be  ap- 
plied to  so  fine  a  neighborhood. 

This  spirit  of  opposition  aroused  within  the  promoters  of 
the  project  a  strong  determination  to  make  the  name  stick  in 
spite  of  everything.  They  took  especial  pains  to  sound  the 
fame  of  Podunk  far  and  wide,  called  the  attention  of  casual 
visitors  to  the  fact  that  they  were  in  Podunk,  erected  sign- 
boards in  various  portions  of  the  township  certifying  that 
it  was  so  many  miles  to  Podunk  (as  the  case  might  be), 
and  eventually  caused  the  name  to  be  inscribed  on  the  town- 
map  ;  so  stamping  and  hammering,  as  it  were,  the  name  of 
Podunk  upon  the  face  of  passing  events  that  Podunk  the 
neighborhood  remains,  and  will,  doubtless,  remain  for  all 
time,  to  all  of  which  the  neighborhood  has  long  since  be- 
come resigned  as  to  the  inevitable. 

PIONEER  HIGHWAYS. 

One  of  the  first  roads  laid  out  in  the  township  was  one 
from  Hastings  along  the  south  bank  of  the  river  to  be- 
yond Estes  Rich's  place,  and  so  on  across  Glass  Creek  by 
Maj.  Mott's  to  the  Grand  Rapids  and  Battle  Creek  road 
through  Yankee  Springs.  The  present  Yankee  Springs 
road  from  Hastings  through  Rutland  was  at  first  a  mere 
path,  and,  although  it  was  a  much  more  direct  route  to  Yan- 
kee Springs  than  the  one  used,  it  was  considered  too  rough 
a  road  to  be  easily  utilized,  and  was  but  little  followed  save 
now  and  then  by  some  venturesome  being  who  preferred  a 
short  cut  to  a  longer  and  smoother  thoroughfare.  The  high- 
way now  known  as  the  Yankee  Springs  road  was  surveyed 
by  George  B.  Manchester,  September  20,  21,  and  22, 1847, 
and  commenced  sixty  rods  west  of  the  quarter-post  on  the 
south  lino  of  section  11,  whence  it  was  run  west  and  south 
four  miles  and  two  hundred  and  one  rods  to  intersect  a 
road  formerly  run  from  Yankee  Springs  to  Ira  Shipman's. 
Sept.  22,  1847,  Manchester  surveyed  a  road  commencing 
forty-five  rods  east  of  the  quarter-post  on  the  south  line  of 
section  10,  and  thence  running  east  and  north  to  the  road 
running  from  Rich's  to  Hastings.  Dec.  25,  1847,  a  road 
was  laid  from  the  corners  of  sections  4,  5,  8,  and  9  west- 
ward, to  intersect  "the  old  road."  Jan.  11,  1848,  a  road 
was  laid  from  the  west  town-line,  at  the  corners  of  sections 
7  and  18  east  and  south,  to  intersect  the  road  running  from 
Hastings  to  Yankee  Springs  via  Shipman's.  No  less  than 
eleven  highways  were  constructed  in  Rutland  in  1848. 

On  the  10th  of  May,  1847,  Commissioners  IraShipman, 
Edwin  Rice,  and  David  Rork  divided  the  township  into 
three  road  districts,  as  follows :  District  No.  1  to  contain 
sections  1,  2,  3,  and  12,  all  that  part  of  the  east  half  of  sec- 
tion 10  north  of  the  river,  and  all  those  portions  of  sections 
11  and  13  north  of  the  river.  District  No.  2  to  contain 
section  4,  the  east  half  of  section  5,  the  east  half  of  section 
8,  all  of  section  9,  the  west  half  of  section  10,  that  part 
of  the  east  half  of  section  10  south  of  the  river,  the  part 
of  section  11  south  of  the  river,  all  of  section  13  south  of 
the  river,  and  all  of  sections  14,  15,  22,  23,  24,  25,  26, 
27,  34,  35,  and  36.  District  No.  3  to  contain  the  west 
half  of  section  5,  all  of  sections  6  and  7,  the  west  half  of 
section  8,  and  all  of  sections  16,  17,  18,  19,  20,  21,  28, 
29,  30,31,32,  and  33. 


484 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BAERY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


The  time  of  the  formation  of  subsequent  road  districts, 
as  the  town  grew  apace,  is  given  as  follows:  No.  4  in 
March,  1848;  Nos.  5,  6,  and  7  in  1853;  Nos.  8,  9,  10, 
11,  and  12  in  1854;  and  Nos.  13  and  14  in  1862.  In 
the  spring  of  1880  the  number  of  road  districts  in  the 
town  had  risen  to  30. 

The  report  of  the  highway  commissioners  for  the  year 
1847  recited  the  labor  assessment  to  be  forty-two  and  a 
quarter  days  in  district  No.  1,  of  which  twenty-eight  and 
a  half  days  were  paid ;  one  hundred  and  a  quarter  days  in 
No.  2,  of  which  thirty-three  and  a  half  days  were  paid ; 
and  eighty-seven  days  in  No.  3,  of  which  fifteen  and  a  half 
days  were  paid.  The  report  further  specified  that  "jobs 
were  let  to  the  amount  specified  before,  to  wit :  No.  1  for 
8104.25,  No.  2  for  $135.75,  No.  3  for  $162.50.  Included 
in  the  above  is  $40  for  old  jobs  in  district  No.  3,  also  $24 
to  procure  a  new  scraper  for  each  district,  leaving  $62  as 
the  amount  of  unfinished  jobs.  The  above  gives  a  sum- 
mary of  the  improvements  made  on  roads  for  the  past 
year." 

The  report  for  the  year  1848  shows  the  following  assess- 
ment of  labor:  Sixty-six  and  a  half  days  in  No.  1,  of  which 
forty-eight  and  three-quarters  were  paid ;  fifty-four  days  in 
No.  2,  of  which  ten  and  a  quarter  days  were  paid ;  eighty- 
eight  and  three-quarters  days  in  No.  3,  of  which  twenty- 
one  and  a  half  days  were  paid ;  and  seventy  and  a  half 
days  in  No.  4,  of  which  forty-one  and  three-quarters  days 
were  paid.  Jobs  were  let  as  follows :  In  No.  1  for  $68, 
in  No.  2  for  $47.44,  in  No.  3  for  $66,  and  in  No.  4  for 
$15.94. 

SCHOOLS. 

In  the  winter  of  1844  there  was  a  school  on  Bull's 
Prairie,  in  Irving,  where  Chloe  Benson  taught,  and  to  that 
school  the  children  of  Rutland's  settlers  were  sent.  In  the 
summer  of  1845,  Maria  Lacey  taught  school  in  a  log  shanty 
built  on  section  9  by  James  Lothridge,  who  had  b'ought  a 
piece  of  land  of  Estes  Rich  and  put  up  a  cabin,  but,  finding 
himself  unable  to  pay  the  purchase-money,  had  moved 
away. 

Upon  the  separation  of  Rutland  from  Irving,  the  for- 
mer township  was  allowed  the  sum  of  $7.04  in  school 
money  and  $33.90  in  library  money.  Sept.  11,  1847, 
School  Inspectors  John  W.  Stebbins  and  W.  W.  Ralph  met 
at  the  house  of  W.  W.  Ralph,  and  organized  school  district 
No.  2,  to  which  was  apportioned  the  entire  northwestern 
quarter  of  the  town,  con.sisting  of  sections  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9, 
16,  17,  and  18.  July  15, 1848,  school  district  No:  1  'was 
organized,  and  included  the  northeastern  quarter  of  the 
town,  or  sections  1,  2,  3, 10,  11, 12,  13,  14,  and  15.  The 
apparent  organization  of  No.  2  before  No.  1  was  established 
seems  somewhat  strange,  but  such  are  the  facts  as  gleaned 
from  the  school  inspectors'  records. 

On  the  18th  of  February,  1850,  No.  1  was  divided, 
and  all  south  of  the  river  was  set  off  as  district  No.  3. 
Oct.  4,  1854,  districts  4  and  5  were  organized.  No.  4 
was  composed  of  sections  23,  24,  25,  26,  35,  and  36.  No. 
5  included  19,  20,  29,  30,  31,  and  32.  No.  0,  organized 
Sept.  19,  1855,  contained  sections  16  and  17,  the  south 
half  of  section  18,  the  north  half  of  19,  and  the  whole  of 
sections  20  and  21.     No.  7  was  organized  May  24,  1860, 


and  contained  sections  22,  27,  28,  33,  and  34.  No.  8 
was  organized  Feb.  4,  1867,  and  included  section  18,  the 
west  three-fourths  of  section  17,  and  the  northwestern 
quarter  of  section  20.  No.  9  was  organized  Feb.  27, 
1869.  The  first  annual  report  recorded  appears  under 
date  of  1854,  and  sets  forth  that  during  that  year  the 
number  of  scholars  in  attendance  upon  the  town-schools 
was  84  in  three  districts,  having,  respectively,  33,  29,  and 
22.  The  amount  of  public  money  received  that  year  was 
$36.45. 

The  school  inspectors'  records  show  that  school-teachers' 
certificates  were  granted,  from  June  7,  1848,  to  April  14, 
1860,  inclusive,  to  the  following  persons : 

June  7,  184S,  Clarissa  A.  Dwight. 

Deo.  2,  1848,  Solon  Dowd. 

Nov.  10,  1849,  Solon  Dowd. 

Deo.  16,  1850,  J.  M.  Darling,  Clarissa  Dwight. 

June  20,  1853,  Sarah  J.  Freeman,  Miss  Bemcnt. 

Nov.  n,  1853,  Daniel  Striker. 

April  24,  1854,  Eliza  Endley. 

May  8,  1S54,  Lorinda  M.  Cowell. 

Nov.  4,  1854,  H.  H.  Eemenl,  A.  D.  Rork. 

Deo.  8,  1855,  Betsey  A.  CrowoU. 

April  26,  1856,  Alice  Striker. 

May  24,  1856,  Julia  Williams. 

June  16,  1856,  Grace  Sterns. 

April  24,  1858,  Elvira  C.  Brewer. 

Aj)ril  28,  1858,  Sarah  A.  Messer. 

May  3,  1858,  Emily  M.  Johnson. 

May  12, 1858,  Julia  Mapes. 

April  9,  1859,  Julia  Freeman,  Nellie  Hawlcy,  Harriet  Sartwell, 
Mary  J.  Ellis,  Laura  C.  Ellis,  Mary  E.  Sanders,  Emily  J.  P.  Sanders, 
Ellen  Campbell. 

April  12,  1859,  Mary  Mead,  Lovisa  Cross. 

Nov.  5,  1859,  Miss  S.  E.  Fancher,  Elvira  Brewer,  Jennie  Brewer, 
Elizabeth  Fancher,  Frances  Brewer. 

April  14, 1860,  Elizabeth  Fancher,  Mary  Annas,  Laura  Newton, 
Sarah  Bradley,  Laura  Jane  Brewer. 

The  ofiicial  report  for  1879  provides  the  subjoined  school 

statistics  : 

Number  of  districts  (whole,  8;  fractional,  1) 9 

"  children  of  school  age 386 

Average  attendance 317 

Value  of  property $6520 

Teachers'  wages $1013 

The  school  directors  for  1879  were  B.  Kurtz,  C.  II. 
Rogers,  P.  W.  Burgess,  C.  R.  Crosby,  W.  H.  Otis,  G.  L. 
Bronson,  J.  W.  McCrary,  George  \V.  Wing,  and  E.  E. 
Gorham. 

OEGANIZATION  AND  OFFICERS. 
Township  3,  range  9,  was,  on  the  22d  of  March,  1839, 
made  a  portion  of  Yankee  Springs  township.  On  the  16th 
of  March,  1847,  it  was  given  an  independent  organization  as 
Rutland;  the  name  being  bestowed  at  the  suggestion  of 
Winslow  W.  Ralph,  who  came  from  Rutland,  Vt.,  to 
Michigan,  and  became  an  early  settler  in  the  township  men- 
tioned. The  first  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  David 
Rork,  April  5,  1847.  J.  W.  Stebbins  was  chosen  chair- 
man, W.  W.  Ralph  clerk,  and  John  K.  Lothridge  and 
Estes  Rich  inspectors  of  election.  The  voters  on  that  oc- 
casion numbered  17,  as  follows:  David  Rork,  John  W. 
Stebbins,  Samuel  McMurray,  Winslow  W.  Ralph,  Abel 
Rice,  George  B.  Manchester,  Chauncey  H.  Brewer,  Ira 
Shipman,  Edwin   Rice,  John  K.   Lothridge,  Asa   Rice, 


RUTLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


485 


Estes  Rich,  Israel  Brewer,  0.  L.  Ingraham,  John  Loth- 
ridge,  Frederick  Gun,  "William  Gun. 

The  full  list  of  township  officials  is  here  given  :  John  K. 
Lothridge,  Supervisor ;  George  B.  Manchester,  Clerk ; 
Chauncey  IT.  Brewer,  Treasurer ;  Winslow  W.  Ralph, 
John  W.  Stebbins,  and  Samuel  McMurray,  Justices  of  the 
Peace ;  W.  W.  Ralph  and  John  W.  Stebbins,  School  In- 
spectors; Edwin  Rice,  David  Rork,  and  Ira  Shipman, 
Highway  Commissioners ;  Frederick  Gun,  Abel  Rice,  Di- 
rectors of  the  Poor ;  0.  L.  Ingraham  and  William  Gun, 
Constables.  The  pathmasters  were  George  B.  Manchester, 
in  district  No.  1 ;  David  Rork,  in  No.  2 ;  John  K.  Loth- 
rige,  in  No.  3 ;  Orrin  L.  Ingraham,  in  No.  4.  It  was  re- 
solved to  dispense  with  assessors,  to  forego  also  a  tax  on 
dogs,  and  to  raise  but  $100  for  current  expenses  that  year. 
Appended  will  be  found  the  names  of  those  annually 
chosen  from  1848  to  1880  to  serve  as  supervisors,  clerks, 
treasurers,  and  justices  of  the  peace : 

SUPEllVISORS. 
184S,  George  B.  Manchester;  1819,  Harvey  Tower;  1850,  David  Rork; 
1851,  II.  J.  Kenfield;  1852,  L.  C.  Balch;  1853,  S.  C.  Prindle ; ' 
1854,  George  H.  Keith;  1855,  L.  C.  Baloh;  1856,  Edwin  Kice; 
1857-59,  A.  D.  Rork ;  1860,  George  Williams;  1861,  W.  J.  Bar- 
rett; 1862,  A.  D.  Rork;  1863,  T.  Phillips;  1864,  A.  D.  Rork; 
1865,  T.  Phillips;  1866,  Ira  L.  Nye;  1867,  James  Camphell ; 
1868-69,  Huron  Healy ;  1870-73,  Lewis  Wilcox;  1874,  John 
Dawson;  1875-77,  J.  D.  Benham;  1878-79,  C.  A.  Newland. 

CLERKS. 
1848,  J.  K.  Lothridge;  1849,  A.  F.  Corning;  1850,  S.  C.  Prindle; 
1851,  L.  H.  Ensign;  1852,  H.  J.  Kenfield;  1853,  L.  H.  Ensign; 
1854^55,  A.  D.  Rork;  1856,  S.  C.  Prindle;  1857,  Charles  Tillot- 
son  ;  1858,  I.  L.  Dimond ;  1859,  0.  C.  Bates ;  1860,  S.  C.  Prindle ; 
1861,  S.  A.  Bentley;  1862,  Peter  Rork;  1863,  0.  G.  Crane;  1864, 
P.  L.  Rork;  1865,  J.  P.  Mead;  1866,  H.  N.  Monroe;  1867,  I.  L. 
Diamond;  1868,  W.  S.  Chidester;  1869-70,  S.  W.  Lane;  1871, 
Henry  Martin;  1872-73,  S.  W.  Lone;  1874,  N.  Johnson;  1875, 
W.  D.  Barlow;  1876,  P.  Burgess;  1877,  P.  W.  Burgess;  1878-79, 
Willard  Perry. 

TREASURERS. 

1848,  James  Lothridge  ;  1849,  L.  H.  Ensign ;  1850,  R.  B.  Shaw ;  1851, 
Estes  Rich;  1852,  William  S.  H.  Mapes;  1853-58,  E.  0.  John- 
son; 1859-62,  J.  0.  Reily ;  1863,  A.  D.  Eork;  1864,  J.  0.  Reily; 
1865,  William  Perry;  1866,  A.  D.  Rork;  1867,  William  Perry; 
1868,  George  Brown;  1869,  M.  Dowd;  1870,  James  Nims  ;  1871, 
N.  II.  Cross;  1872,  J.  A.  Nims;  1873-74,  A.  D.  Rork;  1875-77, 
William  Perry;  1878-79,  J.  Edger. 

JUSTICES   OF  THE   PEACE. 
1848,  C.  H.  Brewer;  1849,  S.  C.  Prindle;  1850,  J.  W.  Stebbins;  1851, 
Isaac   Cowell;  1852,  C.H.  Brewer;  1853,  C.Livingston;  1854, 
W.  S.  H.  Mapes;  1855,  J.  P.  Cook;  1856,  I.  L.  Hendershott; 
1857,  A.  J.  Benham;  1858,  W.S.H.  Mapes;  1859,  S.  McMurray  ; 
I860,  C.  H.  Stone;  1861,  Huron  Healy;  1862,  H.Wilcox;  1863, 
L.  Newton;  1864,  M.  Bates;  1865,  0.  G.  Crane;  1866,  J.  R. 
Cooley ;  1867,  G.  W.  Crosby  ;  1868,  S.  P.  Cady ;  1869,  B.  R.  Blanch- 
ard;  1870,  John  Cooley;  1871,  David  Hoy ;  1872,  A.  D.  Rork; 
1873,  D.M.  Weaver;  1874,  J.  F.  Mead;  1875,  E.  M.Bates;  1876, 
I.  Erway ;  1877,  Eli  Erway;  1878,  Solon  Doud;  1879,  J.  Blanch- 
ard. 
At  the  general  election  in  November,  1847,  the  poll-list 
was  as  follows  :  John  W.  Stebbins,  Frederick  Gun,  William 
Gun,  Ira  Hunter,  Edwin  Rice,  Asa  Rice,  Abel  Rice,  Sam- 
uel McMurray,  Jr.,  Chauncey  H.  Brewer,  Cornelius  Liming- 
ton,  0.  L.  Ingraham,  Samuel  McMurray,  Estes  Rich,  J.  K. 
Lothridge,  G.  B.  Manchester,  David  Rork,  Wm.  Kenfield, 
Winslow  W.  Ralph,  Ira  Shipman,— nineteen  in  all. 


In  April,  1848,  the  voters  numbered  twenty-one,  as  fol- 
lows :  J.  K.  Lothridge,  Winslow  W.  Ralph,  Samuel  Mc- 
Murray, Stephen  Riggs,  Ira  Shipman,  Frederick  Gun, 
James  Lothridge,  Wm.  Kenfield,  <!.  H.  Brewer,  0.  L. 
Ingraham,  Samuel  McMurray,  Jr.,  Harvey  Tower,  Abel 
Rice,  Asa  Rice,  David  Rork,  A.  F.  Corning,  L.  H.  En- 
sign, John  Burdick,  Henry  Standish,  John  W.  Stebbins, 
Ira  Hunter. 

The  poll-list  in  April,  1850,  contained  the  following 
names:  S.  A.  Rowley,  S.  C.  Prindle,  Abel  Rice,  Coben 
Balch,  Finch  Mead,  Edwin  Rice,  John  Burdick,  David 
Rork,  Isaac  Cowell,  Solon  Dowd,  R.  B.  Shaw,  Luther  C. 
Balch,  Ira  Shipman,  Henry  Standish,  Alonzo  Bierce,  W. 
W.  Ralph,  Cornelius  Limington,  L.  H.  Ensign,  Samuel 
McMurray,  C.  H.  Brewer,  J.  W.  Stebbins,  J.  C.  Dota, 
Stephen  Riggs,  I.  Limington,  Frederick  Gun,  A.  F.  Corn- 
ing, Asa  Rice,  0.  L.  Ingraham,  G.  B.  Manchester,  Samuel 
Hopkins,  Harvey  Tower,  E.  Prindle,  Wm.  I.  Parish,— 33. 

At  the  spring  election,  in  1879,  the  votes  numbered  279. 

POST-OFFICES. 

The  first  jjpst-office  in  Rutland  was  established  at  C.  H. 
Brewer's,  on  Glass  Creek,  in  1858,  and  called  Glass  Creek 
Post-Office.  Mr.  Brewer  was  the  first  postmaster,  and  upon 
his  removal  from  town  the  office  was  transferred  to  Moses 
Campbell.   After  enduring  a  year  longer  it  was  discontinued. 

The  stage-route  from  Kalamazoo  to  Grand  Rapids  passed 
Ira  Shipman's,  and  in  1862  a  post-office  was  established  at 
his  house,  and  called  Rutland  Centre.  Within  less  than  a 
week  afterwards  the  stage-route  was  changed  and  the  post- 
office  abolished.  Mr.  Shipman  enjoyed  the  distinction  of 
being  postmaster  long  enough  to  handle  about  a  half-dozen 
letters.  Since  the  days  of  Glass  Creek  and  Rutland  Centre, 
Rutland  has  had  no  post-office  within  its  limits. 

EELIGIGN"  IK  EUTLAND. 

The  early  settlers  in  Rutland  found  conveniences  for  re- 
ligious worship  close  at  hand  in  Hastings,  and  for  that 
reason  there  was  no  attempt  to  provide  services  nearer 
home  previous  to  1850,  and  then  the  experiment  proved  a 
failure,  since  the  general  opinion  appeared  to  be  that  there 
was  no  especial  occasion  for  forming  a  religious  organiza- 
tion while  the  village  churches  were  so  easily  reached. 
From  that  day  to  this,  mainly  for  the  same  reason,  church 
organizations  in  Rutland  have  been  few  and  far  between, 
while  as  to  church  buildings  the  township  has  never  had 
one,  and  has  now  but  two  religious  societies,  both  Methodist. 

The  pioneer  religious  organization  was  a  Methodist  Epis- 
copal class  formed  in  the  school-house,  on  section  11 ,  in  1852, 
with  12  members,  and  attached  to  the  Irving  Circuit  as  the 
North  Rutland  class.  The  members  were  Wm.  Rork,  S.  C. 
Prindle  and  wife,  Lorin  Rich,  Finch  Mead  and  wife,  Daniel 
Wilcox  and  wife,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Geo.  W.  Crosby  and  their  two 
sons.  Finch  Mead  was  chosen  class-leader,  and  for  the  space 
of  five  years  the  class  continued  to  have  services  with  more 
or  less  regularity.  In  1857  meetings  were  discontinued ;  and, 
although  periodical  efforts  looking  to  a  revival  have  been 
made  since,  the  results  have  been  only  transitory  in  their 
character.  The  last  attempt  at  a  restoration  of  interest 
occurred  in  1879,  and  since  that  time  preaching  has  been 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BAREY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


enjoyed  once  a  fortnight,  Rev.  J.  J.  McAllister,  of  Irving, 
being  the  pastor.  There  are  at  present  13  members,  of 
whom  Finch  Mead  is  leader  ;  and  there  is  also  a  Sunday- 
school,  of  which  D.  Sceels  is  the  superintendent. 

The  Rutland  Methodist  Episcopal  class  was  organized 
in  1864  in  the  school-house  on  section  16,  with  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Ira  Nye,  Mrs.  Freyer,  and  Mrs.  I.  L.  Diamond 
as  members,  Ira  Nye  being  class-leader.  In  1866  the  class 
was  transferred  to  the  log  school-house  on  section  17,  and 
was  reorganized,  with  25  members,  as  follows  :  Hiram  Nich- 
ols, class-leader ;  Susan  Nichols,  R.  B.  Blanchard  and  wife, 
Sarah  Diamond,  Lorin  Rich,  Sherman  and  Ellen  Rich, 
Horace  and  Harriet  Cowell,  Isaac  L.  and  Lydia  Diamond, 
Ira  and  Emma  Shipman,  Sylvester  and  Ravila  Dean,  Daniel 
and  Mary  Wilcox,  Marilla  Munger,  Daniel  E.  and  Maria 
Nichols,  Emma  Martin,  E.  R.  French,  Anna  M.  French, 
Finch  Mead. 

The  class  was  at  first  attached  to  the  Hastings  Circuit, 
but  in  November,  1869,  was  transferred  to  the  Irving  Cir- 
cuit, where  it  still  remains.  Succeeding  Mr.  Nichols,  J. 
M.  Whittemore  was  chosen  class-leader  Oct.  2,  1870,  and 
yet  fills  the  office.  Rev.  A.  P.  Moors,  the  preacher  in 
charge,  was  followed  in  1869  by  N.  D.  Marsh,  and  after 
him  Revs.  H.  H.  Parker,  E.  Hayes,  M.  Browning,  0.  B. 
Whitmore,  and  J.  J.  McAllister  have  been  the  preachers. 
The  membership  is  now  33,  and  that  of  the  Union  Sunday- 
school,  held  at  the  same  place,  from  50  to  60.  Mrs.  J.  M. 
Whittemore  is  the  superintendent,  and  has  as  assistants 
four  teachers. 

There  have  been  in  times  past  various  religious  organiza- 
tions in  the  township,  especially  a  Methodist  Episcopal  class 
and  Free-Will  Baptist  Church  at  Podunk,  and  a  close-com- 
munion Baptist  Church  north  of  there,  but  they  have 
all  passed  out  of  existence.  There  is,  however,  still  at  Po- 
dunk a  flourishing  Union  Sunday-school,  whereof  C.  H. 


Stone  is  the  superintendent,  and  at  which  the  average  at- 
tendance is  from  50  to  60. 

THE  WOMAN'S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 

This  was  formed  in  the  Chidester  school-house,  Feb.  20, 
1880.  The  officers  chosen  on  that  occasion  were  Mrs.  A. 
H.  Bates,  President;  Mrs.  H.  N.  Monroe,  Vice-President; 
Mrs.  David  Eycleshimer,  Secretary ;  and  Mrs.  Wm.  Perry, 
Treasurer.  Rutland  encourages  also,  through  the  efibrts  of 
Red  Ribbon  clubs,  the  good  work  of  temperance,  and  with 
results  to  this  time  of  an  especially  gratifying  character. 

RUTLAND   GRANGE,  No.  145. 

This  body  was  formed  in  December,  1873,  in  the  log 
school-house  on  section  17,  with  30  charter  members.  The 
officers  then  chosen  were  William  Dudley,  M. ;  Asahel  Lu- 
ther, 0. ;  Martin  Blanchard,  L. ;  William  R.  Blanchard, 
Steward  ;  A.  S.  Dean,  Chaplain ;  Thomas  Kelly,  Sec. ;  U.  I. 
Baldwin,  Treas.  After  Mr.  Dudley,  Asahel  Luther  served  as 
Master  in  1875, 1876, 1877,  and  1878.  Harry  Healy,  who 
was  chosen  Master  in  December,  1878,  was  re-elected  in  De- 
cember, 1879.  Meetings  were  held  in  members'  houses  until 
the  summer  of  1875,  when  a  hall  was  built  near  the  school- 
house,  on  section  17.  In  1878  it  was  moved  due  west, 
just  over  the  line,  into  Yankee  Springs  township.  The 
membership  is  now  about  50.  The  officers  are  Harry 
Healy,  M. ;  A.  G.  Culver,  0. ;  Chauncey  Noyes,  L. ; 
John  Whittemore,  Chaplain  ;  Asahel  Luther,  Sec. ;  Huron 
Healy,  Treas. ;  Elkanah  Morford,  Steward ;  E.  P.  Whit- 
more, Assistant  Steward ;  James  Matthews,  G. ;  Mrs.  Huron 
Healy,  Ceres ;  Mrs.  Harry  Healy,  Pomona ;  Mrs.  James 
Matthews,  Flora;  Mrs.  E.  P.  Whitmore,  Stewardess.  Reg- 
ular sessions  are  held  on  the  second  and  fourth  Saturday 
of  each  month. 


-** 


THORNAPPLE. 


Thornapple  township,  so  named  from  Thornapple 
River,  which  received  its  designation  from  the  bountiful 
growth  of  thornapple-trces  upon  its  banks,  is  designated 
on  the  United  States  survey  as  township  4  north,  in  range 
10  west.  It  occupies  the  northwestern  corner  of  Barry 
County.  Kent  County  lies  on  the  north,  Allegan  County 
on  the  west,  the  township  of  Yankee  Springs  on  the  south, 
and  that  of  Irving  on  the  east. 

The  surface  of  the  country  is  undulating,  and  in  many 
places  hilly.  The  township  was  originally  covered  by  oak- 
openings,  except  in  the  northwest,  where  heavy  timber 
prevailed.  It  is  agriculturally  rich,  and  contains  not  only 
numerous  fine  farms,  but  many  elegant  rural  homes.  The 
Thornapple  River  flows  from  south  to  north,  and  along  its 
course  passes  the  Grand  Rapids  branch  of  the  Michigan 

*  By  David  Schwartz. 


Central  Railroad.  Middleville,  the  only  village  in  Thorn- 
apple,  is  a  thriving  place,  .and  one  of  the  two  railway- 
stations  in  the  township. 

THOENAPPLE'S  PIONEERS. 
The  earliest  white  settler  in  Thornapple,  and  the  founder 
of  the  village  of  Middleville,  was  Calvin  G.  Hill,  widely 
known  in  his  lifetime  as  "  'Squire"  Hill.  He  was  a  native 
of  New  York,  and  in  the  fall  of  1834  purchased  from  the 
government  400  acres  lying  on  both  sides  of  Thornapple 
River,  within  the  present  limits  of  the  village  of  Middle- 
ville. He  began  at  once  to  make  improvements  on  section 
27,  where  he  put  up  a  log  cabin  on  the  hill,  directly  oppo- 
site the  place  now  occupied  by  Leonard's  hotel.  Mr.  Hill 
found  an  attractive  country  of  oak-openings  and  a  good 
strong  water-power  on  the  river,  which  doubtless  helped  to 


JOHN    CARVETH. 


E.    B.    MESSER. 


AMOS    HANLON. 


H.    li.    SMITH. 


THORNAPPLE  TOWNSHIP, 


487 


induce  him  to  make  that  selection  of  land.  In  1835,  Mr. 
Hill,  having  made  a  clearing  and  prepared  a  comfortable 
habitation,  brought  out  his  family  and  became  a  permanent 
resident. 

Elias  Hill,  his  brother,  also  came  at  this  time  with  his 
family,  and  located  upon  section  28,  now  esteemed  one  of 
the  most  fruitful  in  the  county.  Elias  Hill  had  two  grown 
sons,  of  whom  Hugh  M.  settled  near  by,  while  Collins 
lived  with  his  father  several  years. 

Calvin  6.  Hill's  two  grown  sons  were  Alpheus  M.  and  Al- 
bert C.  The  latter  made  a  settlement  on  section  27,  but 
sold  the  place  to  Ashbel  Beach,  who  came  in  1836.  Albert 
then  turned  his  attention  to  the  business  of  breaking  land 
for  others,  and  achieved  much  local  fame  as  a  land-breaker. 
He  constructed  an  enormous  plow,  before  which  he  drove 
six  or  more  pairs  of  cattle,  and  went  about  the  country 
doing  excellent  service.  Alpheus  M.,  the  second  son  of 
Calvin  G.  Hill,  became  identified  with  the  milling  business 
at  Middleville,  and  was  a  prominent  man  until  his  death 
in  the  military  service  during  the  war  for  the  Union. 

Ashbel  Beach,  to  whom  Albert  C.  Hill  sold  his  place  in 
1836,  was  a  hardy  pioneer,  and  was  locally  celebrated  as 
the  man  who  plastered  his  house  with  potato  plaster  be- 
cause he  happened  to  take  an  eccentric  notion  that  ho 
would  have  no  other  kind.  It  turned  out,  however,  that 
the  material  was  excellent  and  still  serves  its  original  pur- 
pose faithfully. 

In  the  fall  of  1835  Henry  Leonard  entered  the  new  set- 
tlement with  his  family  and  located  upon  a  farm  on  section 
22,  which  he  had  bought  of  Calvin  G.  Hill,  and  upon 
which  his  son  Orrin  Leonard  now  lives.  With  Henry 
Leonard  came  his  stepson,  Charles  Paull,  a  carpenter,  who 
was  then  a  young  bachelor.  Mr.  Paull  was  the  pioneer 
carpenter  in  the  settlement,  and  from  the  date  of  his  first 
appearance  there  until  the  present  time  he  has  followed  the 
same  trade  in  the  same  neighborhood  with  but  little  in- 
terruption. 

Although  there  was  excellent  water-power  near  at  hand, 
on  Thornapple  Biver,  Mr.  Hill  concluded,  doubtless,  that 
the  construction  of  a  dam  at  that  point  would  be  too  great 
an  undertaking,  and  so,  when  he  determined  to  build  a  saw- 
mill, he  went  over  to  Duncan  Lake,  in  the  northwest,  and 
erected  a  mill  upon  a"  creek  in  that  locality.  The  timbers 
of  the  structure  were  hewn  logs.  One  Ebenezer  Duncan, 
who  had  made  a  settlement  hard  by,  was  the  first  white 
resident  of  that  locality,  and  he  took  part  in  the  building  of 
the  mill,  as  did  also  Henry  Leonard.  Both  these  gentlemen 
were  subsequently  concerned  with  the  management  of  the 
enterprise.  This  mill  was  erected  in  the  fall  of  1836,  and 
was,  of  course,  the  pioneer  mill  of  Thornapple.  It  was 
used,  however,  but  a  few  years,  when  it  became  dilapidated 
and  worthless. 

The  first  emigrants  into  Duncan's  neighborhood  directly 
after  his  settlement  were  Newton  and  Bainbridge  Gage,  and 
there  was  also  one  Freeman,  who  was  interested  with  Calvin 
G.  Hill  in  the  mill,  at  the  outset.  Mr.  Duncan  afterwards 
settled  upon  section  28,  but  eventually  removed  to  Oregon, 
his  present  home. 

Henry  Leonard  was  a  man  of  mark  in  the  community ; 
was  one  of  the  first  coroners  of  the  county ;  and  until  his 


death,  in  1863,  was  prominently  concerned  in  township 
affairs.  Philip  Leonard,  now  living  in  Middleville,  was  a 
brother  of  Henry,  and  at  the  solicitation  of  the  latter  came 
out  to  Thornapple  in  the  fall  of  1836.  He  worked  in  Mr. 
Hill's  saw-mill  a  year  or  so,  then  went  north,  and,  after  a 
few  months'  absence,  settled  in  Yankee  Springs  township, 
whence  he  removed  to  Middleville  in  1865.  Mr.  Leonard 
tells  the  story  of  his  going  to  mill  for  his  brother  in  the 
early  days,  and  how  he  drove  thirty-six  miles  to  Kalamazoo, 
only  to  be  told,  when  he  got  there,  that  he  couldn't  have 
his  grist  ground  under  two  days,  at  least,  by  reason  of  the 
numerous  applications  ahead  of  him.  Determined  not  to 
wait  so  long,  young  Philip  went  on  to  Comstock's,  four 
miles  east,  found  the  miller  abed,  aroused  him,  persuaded 
him  to  grind  the  grist  that  night,  and  by  daybreak  turned 
his  team  towards  home.  Mr.  Leonard  recalls,  likewise, 
how  he  used  to  go  to  Kent  (now  Grand  Rapids)  after  pro- 
visions, and  how  he  was  once  obliged  to  pay  $40  in  gold 
for  a  barrel  of  pork. 

'Squire  Hill  was  well  known,  not  only  by  the  settlers  in 
his  own  neighborhood,  but  to  the  county  at  large.  He  was 
the  first  county  surveyor,  and  his  services  were  in  demand 
all  over  the  county.  As  a  surveyor  he  was  doubtless  ener- 
getic, but  he  used  to  return  some  very  curious  and  vague 
bills  of  survey ;  as,  for  example,  he  would  describe  the 
boundaries  of  a  certain  tract  of  land  as  "  running  north  to 
a  certain  plowage,  east  to  a  certain  wood-pile,"  forgetting 
apparently  that  both  plowage  and  wood-pile  were  landmarks 
of  an  exceedingly  uncertain  character.  Mr.  Hill  was  widely 
respected,  and  lived  upon  the  spot  of  his  early  settlement 
until  his  death,  in  1867. 

James  Moreau,  a  Frenchman,  established  a  trading-post  on 
Scales'  Prairie  as  early  as  1835  or  before,  and  traded  with 
the  Indians  to  some  extent.  He  tried  also  to  accommodate 
travelers,  but  his  house  could  hardly  be  termed  a  tavern. 
Henry  Leonard,  farther  north,  was  likewise  frequently 
called  upon  to  lodge  wayfarers,  and  at  one  time  his  house 
was  regarded  as  a  place  of  popular  resort  for  travelers. 
Moreau  left  his  place  on  the  prairie  early  in  1837,  and 
moved  to  Grand  Rapids,  where  he  kept  a  hotel  for  some 
years.  Robert  Scales,  a  young  man  who  had  been  at  work 
for  Moreau  on  the  prairie,  and  from  whom  the  locality 
took  its  name,  remained  on  Moreau's  place,  and  was' 
counted  among  the  settlers  until  he  removed  to  Kalamazoo, 
where  he  died. 

One  James  Anderson,  at  one  time  a  clerk  in  a  govern- 
ment land-ofiBee,  located  some  land  on  section  15  in  a  bend 
.  of  the  river,  and  in  company  with  a  Capt.  Edward  Macy 
laid  out  there  in  1837  a  village,  which  they  called  Thorn- 
apple.  They  published  a  large  number  of  highly-colored 
maps,  and  evidently  expected  Thornapple  to  be  a  remark- 
able town.  Such  it  might  have  become,  perhaps,  had  not 
Anderson  been  compelled  to  fiy  to  New  Orleans  on  account 
of  some  unfortunate  business-entanglements  which  threat- 
ened him  with  criminal  prosecution.  As  it  was,  the  pro- 
posed village  of  Thornapple  never  had  any  existence  except 
on  the  aforesaid  maps. 

In  the  year  1839,  Huston  Cisler  moved  into  the  town- 
ship from  Irving,  where  he  had  worked  two  years  for  A. 
B.  Bull.     Mr.  Cisler  made  a  settlement  on  section  33,  in 


4SS 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Thornapple,  and  remaiDed  a  resident  of  the  township  until 
his  death,  in  1S67.  He  found  on  section  21  William  H. 
Brown,  who  afterwards  went  to  Kent  County  and  founded 
Brownville,  and  on  section  28  Robert  Scales,  of  whom 
mention  has  already  been  made.  In  18-10  came  George 
and  Joseph,  two  sons  of  Huston  Cisler,  who  were  then 
young  men,  and  who,  after  working  for  some  time  as  farm- 
hands, became  farmers  themselves,  and  have  ever  since  re- 
sided in  the  township,  George  being  now  on  section  27, 
and  Joseph  on  section  33.  In  that  neighborhood,  also, 
David  Mattison,  John  Cook,  George  Stokoe,  and  Thomas 
Cranson  were  among  the  early  settlers,  and  there  they  stUi 
reside. 

Shortly  aft«r  1840,  J.  B.  Freeman,  living  now  on  sec- 
tion 12,  came  from  Flint  and  made  his  home  at  Middleville, 
and  there  also,  at  an  early  period,  Geoi^e  W.  Cline  took  up 
his  residence.  In  IS-M,  Robert  Harper  penetrated  the 
forest  and  located  upon  section  20,  where  he  now  lives. 
The  road  passing  north  and  south  through  his  farm  was 
then  chopped  out,  but  not  a  highway  of  much  travel. 
East,  his  nearest  neighbor  was  C.  V.  Patrick ;  south,  Elias 
Hill ;  but  neither  west  nor  north  had  he  a  neighbor  in  the 
township,  except  Ebenezer  Duncan,  Newton  Gage,  and 
Bainbridge  Gage,  over  at  Duncan  Lake.  Samuel  Davis 
came  with  Harper,  and  still  lives  on  section  20,  where  he 
then  located.  Soon  after  that  Kawson  White  made  a  set- 
tlement upon  section  15,  and  found  on  section  14  Asa  G. 
and  Leonard  Stimson,  who  had  been  there  some  little  time. 
The  Colbys  and  John  Brink  were  early  settlers  near  there. 
East  of  the  village  Charles  McQueen  and  John  A.  Rob- 
ertson made  settlements  in  1846.  They  had  worked  to- 
gether as  farm-hands  in  New  York  State,  and  together  ^ 
came  to  ^lichigan  in  search  of  new  homes.  McQueen  lo- 
cated on  section  24,  and  Robertson  on  section  25,  where 
they  still  live.  While  they  were  preparing  their  own 
places  for  habitation,  they  boarded  with  Ebenezer  Rathbun, 
who  had  been  living  on  section  25  since  1843,  and  who 
subsequently  lost  his  life  in  the  military  service. 

West  of  McQueen  a  settlement  was  made  by  Thomas 
Riggs,  now  living  on  section  26,  and  in  that  neighborhood 
earjj-  settlements  were  also  made  by  JeflFerson  Lee,  Archi- 
bald McQneen,  and  Duncan  Campbell,  the  latter  of  whom 
came  from  Prairieville,  where  his  father  was  a  pioneer. 

In  1851,  when  Franklin  Bliss  settled  on  section  24, 
where  Leonard  Wilcox,  now  of  Irving,  had  made  a  clear- 
ing of  2  acres,  he  had  no  neighbor  on  the  north  except  an 
Indian  called  "  Chippewa,"  who  owned  40  acres  on  section  1 
and  lived  in  a  log  cabin.  At  that  time  a  well-traveled 
stage-road  crossed  Bliss'  farm, — tlie  one  which  ran  be- 
tween Grand  Rapids  and  Hastings.  Farther  north  Solo- 
mon Clark  settled  on  section  12  in  1854,  and  beyond  that 
C.  I.  Kiock  located  in  1858,  on  section  2:  Mr.  Klock  now 
lives  on  section  2,  with  John  Moxon,  who  came  with  him 
into  the  township.  Klock's  neighbors  on  the  south  were 
Cornelius  Walrath  and  his  sons ;  on  the  north,  John  Klock 
and  Henry  Smith ;  on  the  west,  the  Forbes  family ;  and 
on  the  east,  John  Moe  and  a  Mr.  Badgrow.  That  same 
spring,  Simeon  Lawrence  settled  on  section  11.  At  that 
day  the  northeastern  portion  of  the  township  was  a  new 
country,  for  until  then  the  land-owners  had  chosen  to  dis- 


courage settlements  by  holding  the  property  out  of  the 
market.  After  1858,  however,  the  population  began  to 
multiply  rapidly,  and  that  locality  is  now  well  peopled,  con- 
taining, moreover,  many  valuable  farms. 

Upon  section  3,  B.  F.  Hungerford  made  a  location  in 
184S,  when  there  were  in  that  vicinity  only  Michael  Wood 
and  E.  H.  Searles  (whose  son,  G.  W.,  now  lives  in  Middle- 
ville). Soon  afterwards  came  H.  W.  Burch,  still  resident  of 
section  3.  Proceeding  westward,  near  Duncan  Lake  the 
chronicler  finds  that  the  Kilmers  were  the  early  settlers 
after  Ebenezer  Duncan  and  the  Gages.  John  Kilmer  was 
on  section  7,  and  near  there  was  his  brother  William. 
That  neighborhood  was  by  cdmmon  consent  known  for 
some  time  as  Kilmertown.  Dilman  Bechtel  bought  John 
Kilmer's  place  in  1859.  William  Kilmer's  son  George  re- 
sides now  on  section  7.  Richard  Benjamin,  an  early  set- 
tler, married  one  of  William  Kilmer's  daughters. 

Bainbridge  Gage's  place  is  now  occupied  by  Valentine 
Adam,  who  came  soon  aft^er  Bechtel,  and  upon  the  place  of 
first  settlement  in  that  vicinity,  made  by  Ebenezer  Duncan, 
Mrs.  William  Woolgar  now  resides. 

John  Latimer,  a  pioneer  in  Allegan  County,  lives  on 
section  18,  and  there,  too,  lives  the  widow  of  Henry  Col- 
vin,  one  of  Michigan's  early  settlers,  who  died, in  1879. 
0.  T.  Whitcomb,  on  section  8,  located  in  Eaton  County  in 
1838.  G.  M.  Mitchell,  on  section  21,  made  his  home  in 
MiddlevDle  in  1853,  having  then  been  in  the  State  ten 
years.  George  Cook,  who  came  to  Michigan  in  1847, 
made  a  permanent  settlement  in  Thornapple  in  1857.  F. 
W.  Collins,  on  section  28,  has  resided  in  Michigan  since 
1835,  when  he  became  a  resident  of  Washtenaw  County. 
E.  D.  Sprague,  now  living  in  Middleville,  came  to  the 
township  in  1850,  and  lived  a  while  on  section  35  with  his 
father,  John,  who  had  come  in  1848,  and  who  died  in 
1858.  His  son  settled,  in  1850,  in  Yankee  Springs,  and 
in  1856  removed  to  his  present  home.  J.  R.  Russell 
came  to  Middleville  in  1853,  when  the  village  was  yet 
hardly  perceptible,  and  located  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river,  where  he  now  lives.  Among  the  early  settlers  may 
be  named  also  the  De  Golias,  the  Prindles,  George  C.  Lewis, 
and  William  Coman,  and  among  the  later  ones  Joseph  T. 
Crumback,  J.  C.  Bray,  Charles  Spreen,  J.  B.  Pumfrey, 
Samuel  Carlisle,  and  J.  C.  Smith. 

THE  GEAND  KAPIBS  KOAD. 

The  stage-route  from  Battle  Creek  through  Yankee 
Springs,  and  so  on  to  Grand  Rapids,  passed  through  Mid- 
dleville ;  and  on  the  road  near  there  James  Moreau  kept  a 
house  of  entertainment  on  Scales'  Prairie,  as  did  Henry 
Leonard  on  section  22.  A  great  deal  of  travel,  exclusive 
of  the  stages,  passed  over  that  road,  and  Moreau's,  as  well 
as  Leonard's,  was  often  so  full  of  travelers  that  a  bed  on 
the  floor  was  esteemed  a  luxury  by  late  comers.  Roadside 
inns  in  those  days  were  popular  affairs,  and,  however  hum- 
ble, were  so  liberally  patronized  that  their  landlords  were 
among  the  favored  ones  of  the  land. 

INDIAN  TILLAGES. 
There  was  an  Indian  village  on  Scales"  Prairie  and  one 
on  section  35,  where,  even  after  1840,  members  of  the 


THORNAPPLE  TOWNSHIP. 


489 


Chippewa,  Ottawas,  and  Pottawattamie  tribes  used  to 
gather  yearly  to  the  number  of  from  fifty  to  a  hundred 
families,  and  make  their  tented  homes  for  months  at  a 
time.  Indian  dances  or  pow-pows  were  common,  and  were 
sure  to  attract  the  curious  and  interested  attention  of  the 
white  settlers,  between  whom  and  the  savages  the  relations 
were  pleasant  and  harmonious.  Dr.  Parkhurst  relates  that 
the  redskins  used  to  have  periodical  jollifications  upon  the 
ground  now  occupied  by  the  Johnson  House,  and  that  the 
exhibitions  were  exceedingly  entertaining  to  civilized  ob- 
servers. Once  he  was  called  to  the  spot  to  prescribe  for  a 
sick  squaw  who  had  been  given  over  to  die,  and,  as  he  hap- 
pened to  cure  her,  he  was  afterwards  held  in  such  esteem  by 
the  members  of  her  tribe  that,  even  after  their  removal  to 
the  far  north,  they  sent  to  him  for  advice  and  medicine 
when  any  of  their  number  fell  sick. 

Indian  encampments  were  frequent  along  the  river,  and 
at  the  location  of  the  two  villages  above  alluded  to  there 
were  burial-grounds,  the  graves  in  which — once  numerous 
— have  been  long  since  leveled  by  the  plowshare,  although 
to  this  day  the  farmers  in  those  localities  often  turn  up 
the  red  man's  bones  in  plowing  the  soil. 

The  first  cemetery  laid  out  for  the  white  settlers  was  lo- 
cated on  section  27,  upon  land  donated  by  Calvin  G.  Hill. 
The  village  cemetery  is  now  upon  the  east  side  of  the  river, 
and  occupies  a  picturesque  elevation,  whence  one  may  gain 
a  fine  view  of  the  neighboring  village  and  the  surrounding 

country. 

OE&ANIZATION  AND   OFFICERS. 

Thornapple  township  was  organized  under  a  legislative 
act  approved  March  6,  1838,  and  then  included  the  north- 
west  quarter  of  the  county,  now  occupied  by  the  townships 
of  Thornapple,  Yankee  Springs,  Eutland,  and  Irving. 
Yankee  Springs  was  set  off  in  March,  1839,  and  Irving  in 
April,  1839  (the  latter  then  including  Rutland). 

The  first  annual  meeting  in  Thornapple  was  held  at  the 
house  of  B.  S.  Dibble,  April  2,  1838  ;  Calvin  G.  Hill  and 
Henry  Leonard  were  inspectors  of  election,  and  Aarad 
Freeman  and  Cyrus  E.  Turner  clerks.  The  officials  elected 
on  that  occasion  were :  Supervisor,  Calvin  G.  Hill ;  Clerk, 
Henry  Leonard;  Assessors,  Benjamin  Cummings,  Estes 
Rich,  and  John  Miles;  Commissioners  of  Highways, 
Calvin  G.  Hill,  William  Lewis,  and  Chester  Field ;  Jus- 
tices of  the  Peace,  Hiram  Lewis,  Aaron  Freeman,  and 
Lorenzo  Cooley ;  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  Henry  Leonard 
and  Benjamin  Cummings ;  Inspector  of  Primary  Schools, 
C.  G.  Hill,  John  Miles,  and  Estes  Rich  ;  Collector,  William 
H.  Whitney  ;  Constables,  Ashbel  Beach,  Robert  Scales,  B. 
S.  Dibble,  and  William  H.  Whitney ;  Highway  Overseers, 
Calvin  Lewis,  in  district  No.  1  ;  Robert  Scales,  in  district 
No.  2  ;  Lorenzo  Cooley,  in  district  No.  3. 

There  is  no  record  showing  the  number  of  votes  cast  at 
the  first  election,  but  at  the  second  one,  in  April,  1839,  the 
voters  were  16.  The  names  of  these  even  cannot  now  be 
told,  since  the  early  poll-lists,  together  with  other  town 
records,  were  destroyed  by  fire.  The  supervisors,  clerks, 
treasurers,  and  justices  of  the  peace  from  1839  to  1879  were: 

SUPERVISORS. 
1839,  C.  G.  Hill;  1840,  C.  V.  Patrick;  1841,  G.  B.  Freeman;  1842, 
C.  G.  Hill;  1843-44,  J.  W.  Barton;  1845,  Elias  Hill;  1846,  W. 

62 


H.Brown;  1847-48,  C.  V.  Patrick;  1849,  R.  C.  Trobridge ;  1850, 

C.  V.  Patrick;  1851,  E.  H.  Searles ;  1852,  D.  S.  Bugbeo;  1853, 
W.W.Ralph;  1854,  D.  C.  Holden ;  1855,  D.  S.  Bugbee;  1856, 
J.  B.  Freeman;  1857,  S.  C.  Sprague ;    1858-59,  J.  F.  Emory; 

1860,  A.  M.  Hill;  1861,  C.  V.  Patrick;  1862,  3.  F.  Emory;  1863, 

D.  S.  Bugbee;  1864,  E.  II.  Searles;  1865-66,  D.  S.  Bugbee;  1867, 
J.  F.  Emory;  1868,  Joseph  Bray;  1869,  J.  F.  Emory;  1870-72, 
F.W.Collins;  1873,  D.  S.  Bugbee;  1874-75,  J.  F.  Emory ;  1376, 
F.  W.  Collins;  1877,  J.  F.  Emory;  1878-79,  G.  B.  Manchester. 

CLERKS. 
1839,  IT.  Leonard;  1840-41,  W.  W,  Paull ;  1842,  Henry  White;  1843 
-44,  A.  C.  Hill;  1845-46,  A.  M.  Hill;  1847,  H.  Dennison;  1848, 
J.  Sloeum  ;  1849,  R.  J.  Bugbee;  1850,  A.  C.  Bruen;  1851-52,  J. 
B.  Freeman;  1853,  I.  N.  Keeler;  1854,  W.  W.  Ralph;  1855-56, 
S.  S.  Parkhurst ;  1857-59,  T.  A.  De  Riemer ;  1860,  A.  A.  Mead  ; 

1861,  C.W.Lewis;  1862,  C.  A.  Bailey ;  1863,  A.  A.  Mead  ;  1864, 
F.  L.  Blake ;  1865,  M.  C.  Swift ;  1866,  T.  A.  De  Riemer ;  1867,  F. 
Alexander;  1868-69, M.  F.  Bowling;  1870,  S.  G.  Webster;'  1871, 
Aaron  Clark;  1872,  T.  A.  De  Riemer;  1873,  P.  W.  Niskern; 
1874^76,  W.  L.  Cobb;  1877-79,  B.  A.  Almy. 

TREASURERS. 
1839-43,  Chester  Field  ;  1844-45,  C.  V.  Patrick ;  1846,  A.  C.  Hill ; 
1847-49,  D.  S.  Bugbee;  1850,  C.  C.  Paull;  1851,  D.  C.  Holden; 
1852,  C.  C.  Paull;  1853-54,  J.  B.  Freeman;  1855,  A.  A.  Mead; 
1856,  C.  M.  Queen;  1857-62,  C.  C.  Bliss;  1863,  W.  B.  Reming- 
ton; 1864-65,  Aaron  Lynd;  1866,  I.  N.  Keeler;  1867,  Ileman 
Parish;  1868-70,  Smith  Sandford;  1871,  S.  G.  Webster;  1872- 
74,  S.  C.  Rich;  1875,  W.  H.  Johnson;  1876,  T.  C.  Wilkins;  1877 
-78,  P.  C.  Freeman  ;  1879,  Oscar  White. 

JUSTICES. 
1839,  F.  Ingraham;  1840,  C.  V.  Patrick;  1841,  H.  Leonard;  1842, 
W.  B.  Gage;  1843,  W.  H.  Brown;  1844,  Elias  Hill;  1845,  J.  W. 
Barton;  1846,  E.  B.  Barrington ;  1847,  A.  C.  Hill;  1848,  Michael 
Wood;  1849,  C.  J.  Hill;  1850,  J.  Kilmer;  1851,  C.  M.  Page; 
1852,  W.  W.  Paull;  1853,  J.  R.  Russell;  1854-55,  W.  B.  Gage; 
1856,  S.  C.  Henyon;  1857,  Luther  Parish;  1858,  D.  N.  Gage; 
1859,  John  Slocum;  1860,  W.  W.  Ralph;  1861,  C.  A.  Bailey; 

1862,  D.  N.  Gage;  1863,  W.  W.  Paull;  1864,  J.  R.  Russell; 
1865,  J.  F.  Emory;  1866,  D.  N.  Gage;  1867,  N.'  P.  Matthews; 
1868,  W.L.  Cobb;  1869,  J.  F.Emory;  1870,  D.  Bechtel;  1871, 
J.  C.  Smith;  1872,  W.  L.  Cobb  ;  1873,  M.  M.  Prindle;  1874,  D. 
Bechtel;  1875,  J.  C.  Smith;  1876,  W.  L.  Cobb;  J877,  P.  H. 
Evans;  1878,  D.  Bechtel;  1879,  S.  Clark. 

At  the  election  held  in  1840  there  were  cast  but  13  votes ; 
in  1845  the  number  had  increased  to  31  ;  in  1847  to  60  ; 
and  in  1853  to  98.  In  1858  there  was  a  material  advance 
to  196,  and  in  1868  to  341.  In  1843  the  jurors  drawn 
were  as  follows:  Grand  jurors,  A.  C.  Hill,  William  B. 
Gage,  William  H.  Brown,  Chester  Field,  Elias  Hill,  Charles 
Paull ;  petit  jurors,  William  P.  Scofield,  John  Page,  C.  V. 
Patrick,  Robert  Scales,  Adolphus  Harwood,  George  C. 
Freeman. 

May  3, 1845,  the  jurors  drawn  were  Adolphus  Harwood, 
C.  V.  Patrick,  J.  D.  Wilcox,  Ashbel  Beach,  S.  H.  Beach, 
A.  M.  Hill,  William  H.  Brown,  Charles  Williams. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  school  inspectors  was  held  April 
12,  1838.  Calvin  G.  Hill  was  chosen  chairman,  and  the 
township  divided  into  five  school  districts,  the  present  town- 
ship of  Thornapple  constituting  district  No.  1.  This  was 
subdivided  the  next  year  into  four  districts,  but  these  were 
soon  after  again  united  as  one. 

In  a  report  made  by  the  inspectors  of  this  district  in 
1843  the  number  of  children  in  the  district  between  the 
as'cs  of  four  and  eighteen  was  set  dowp  as  19  ;  the  number 


490 


HISTORY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


attending  over  eighteen  and  under  four  years  of  age,  at  10. 
The  report  also  states  that  school  was  kept  seven  months, 
that  J.  H.  Hare  and  Jane  Hill  were  the  teachers,  that  Hare 
received  $43  for  three  months'  service,  and  that  for  four 
months  Jane  Hill  received  hut  $16. 

In  May,  1843,  Jane  Hill  and  Amanda  Harwood  were 
appointed  teachers.  In  Novemher,  1843,  George  B.  Man- 
chester and  A.  C.  Hill  received  appointments,  and  in  that 
year  $40  were  raised  for  a  township  library.  May  4, 1844, 
Jane  Hill  was  appointed  to  teach  in  district  No.  2,  and 
Nov.  2,  1844,  Samuel  C.  Sprague  became  a  teacher  in  the 
same  district.  Mary  A.  Bugbee  was  appointed  to  teach 
in  June,  1845,  and  Joshua  C.  Goodrich  in  October,  1845. 

District  No.  3  was  organized  Nov.  29,  1845,  and  the 
first  meeting  in  the  district  was  held  Jan.  17,  1846,  at  the 
house  of  Robert  Scales.  In  1846,  Caroline  Leonard  and 
W.  B.  Goodrich  were  appointed  teachers. 

District  No.  4  was  organized  in  September,  1849 ;  No. 
5,  in  1853;  No.  6,  in  1857;  and  No.  7,  in  1868.  The 
condition  of  the  seven  township  schools,  as  set  forth  in  the 
official  report  for  1879,  appears  in  the  following  abstract : 

Number  of  districts f 

"  children  of  school  age 573 

Average  attendance 45S 

Value  of  property...., $21,100 

Teacher's  wages ^2  05S 

The  school  directors  for  1879  were  John  Moe,  P.  C. 
Freeman,  J.  S.  Johnson,  J.  C.  Slyter,  James  Carlisle,  C. 
Eosenberger,  and  A.  A.  Thompson. 

VILLAGE   OE   MIDDLEVILLE. 

EAELY   EVENTS. 

Calvin  G.  Hill  was  the  early  proprietor  of  the  site  upon 
which  MiddleviJle  village  was  first  laid  out,  and  probably 
surveyed  it  a  few  years  previous  tb  1850,  although  the 
village  was  not  formally  recorded-  until  April  12,  1859, 
when,  the  record  says,  Calvin  G.  Hill,  A.  C.  Bruen,  and 
"VV.  W.  PauU  were  the  village  proprietors.  Since  then  ad- 
ditions have  been  made  as  follows  :  Keeler's  addition,  April 
27,  1869  ;  Johnson's  addition,  June  14,  1869  ;  Braddock's 
addition,  Jan.  21, 1870  ;  Shupe's  addition,  April  23, 1870. 
Previous  to  1843  the  place — what  there  was  of  it — was 
commonly  known  as  Thornapple,  but  when  the  Middleville 
post-office  was  removed  thither  in  the  year  mentioned,  the 
village  assumed  the  name  it  now  bears.  The  first  bridge 
over  the  river  at  that  point  was  built  in  1843,  the  con- 
tractor being  W.  W.  Paull,  who  came  to  the  town  in  1841. 
Up  to  1850  the  growth  of  the  village  was  painfully  slow, 
and  for  even  some  years  after  that  gave  no  very  brilliant 
promise. 

In  1846,  Denison  Bugbee  built  a  saw-mill  on  the  east 
side  of  the  river,  and  in  1850  disposed  of  it  to  Alpheus 
M.  Hill,  who  materially  enlarged  it.  In  1849  there  was  a 
strongly  expressed  desire  for  a  grist-mill,  and,  A.  C.  Bruen 
offering  to  build  one  if  he  were  given  some  assistance,  the 
residents  thereabout  turned  out  and  gave  such  aid  that  Mr. 
Bruen  finished  the  structure  at  a  comparatively  small  ex- 
pense. The  building  of  two  mills  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river  led  the  way  to  the  location  of  other  business  enter- 
prises on  that  side  the  stream,  a  store  being  opened  in 
1850  by  I.  N.  Keeler,  and  a  hotel  in  1852  by  Ralph 


Bugbee.  In  1843,  Hiram  Dennison  set  up  a  blacksmith's 
shop  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  but  although  he  was 
the  first  blacksmith  to  locate  for  any  length  of  time,  there 
was  one  before  him, — name  now  unknown, — who  had  a 
shop  on  the  hill  for  a  very  limited  period.  Dr.  Parkhurst 
opened  the  pioneer  drug-store  in  the  village, — the  location 
being  where  Parkhurst  &  Freeman's  drug-store  now  stands. 
A.  A.  Mead  enjoyed  the  distinction  of  being  the  pioneer 
tailor,  while  John  Slocum  was  the  pioneer  shoemaker  and 
a  pettifogger  in  the  bargain. 

MIDDLEVILLE  MERCHANTS. 
I.  N.  Keeler,  still  a  resident  of  Middleville,  but  retired 
from  active  trade  since  1860,  was  the  pioneer  merchant  of 
the  village.  He  came  hither  from  Prairieville  in  1850, 
bringing  a  stock  of  goods  which  he  put  into  a  room  of  A. 
C.  Brucn's  house,  which  stood  where  Parkhurst  &  Free- 
man's drug-store  now  is.  John  Slocum,  the  village  shoe- 
maker, did,  previous  to  Keeler's  advent,  pretend  to  do  a 
little  trading  with  the  Indians,  but  his  business  was  of  an 
exceedingly  limited  capacity,  and  scarcely  gave  him  the 
right  to  call  himself  a  trader.  Indians  were  also  liberal 
customers  with  Keeler ;  supplying  that  pioneer  merchant 
with  the  mnjor  portion  of  his  business  for  some  time. 

When  Mr.  Keeler  became  a  member  of  the  village  com- 
munity ho  found  there  a  grist-mill,  carried  on  by  A.  G. 
Bruen,  who  had  built  it  in  1849.  It  occupied  the  site 
upon  which  French's  mill  now  stands.  Alpheus  Hill  was 
carrying  on  the  saw-mill  (across  the  way  from  the  grist- 
mill) which  had  been  built  by  Denison  Bugbee  in  1846. 
B.  F.  Hungerford  was  the  proprietor  of  the  blacksmith's 
shop  (and  had  been  since  1848)  which  was  opened  in  1843 
by  Hiram  Dennison,  the  pioneer  smith  of  the  village.  New- 
ton Gage,  a  shingle-maker,  was  there,  as  were  William  W. 
Paull  and  his  brother  Charles,  carpenters.  Calvin  G.  Hill 
was  living  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  as  were  his  two 
sons,  Albert  and  Alpheus. 

Mr.  Keeler  sold  goods  from  Bruen 's  house  a  few  months, 
when,  having  completed  a  store  building  across  the  way,  he 
moved  into  his  new  quarters.  Until  1860  he  was  actively 
engaged  in  business  in  Middleville  as  a  merchant,  but  since 
that  time  has  lived  the  easier  life  of  a  capitalist. 

Mr.  Keeler  monopolized  the  trade  of  the  town  until  1851, 
when  Theodore  D.  Nelson  entered  the  field.  That  gentle- 
man, however,  retired  at  the  close  of  the  year.  Among 
the  merchants  who  came  in  after  that  were  a  Mr.  Eaton, 
John  Bruen,  Parkhurst  &  Sprague,  M.  &  H.  Wright,  De 
Riemer  &  Jordan,  and  many  others,  whose  order  of  comin<' 
cannot  be  recalled.  M.  &  H.  Wright  erected  the  firs° 
brick  store  or  block,  now  called  the  Wright  Block.  De 
Riemer  &  Jordan  began  business  in  1854  in  the  old  store 
of  T.  D.  Nelson,  who  had  been  bought  out  by  Ralph  & 
Jordan,  this  latter  firm  being  succeeded  by  De  Riemer  &  Jor- 
dan. T.  A.  De  Riemer,  a  member  of  the  latter  firm,  still  does 
business  in  Middleville.  His  residence  in  Michigan  dates 
from  1835,  when,  with  his  father,  he  came  to  Eaton  County. 
Middleville  to-day  enjoys  a  fine  country  trade  and 
boasts  upwards  of  a  dozen  excellent  stores.  I.  N.  Keeler 
&  Son  and  Geo.  Luther  &  Son  are  leading  dry-goods  mer- 
chants; J.  B.  Kessler,  E.  M.  Shufelt,  R.  W.  Young,  and 


THORNAPPLE  TOWNSHIP. 


491 


C.  D.  Barrell  leading  grocers ;  Charles  Pitman,  B.  A. 
Almy,  and  S.  B.  Smith  hardware  merchants;  R.  B. 
Messer,  dealer  in  agricultural  machinery;  Parkhurst  & 
Freeman,  J.  B.  Kessler,  and  T.  Mears,  druggists ;  Kcssler 
&  Moore,  clothiers.  Aside  from  the  mills,  the  only  man- 
ufactory is  the  foundry  of  Chas.  A.  French,  who  makes 
plows,  cultivators,  etc.  The  village  contains  an  estimated 
population  of  1000,  and  boasts  as  much  trade  as  any  place 
of  its  size  in  Western  Michigan. 

HOTELS. 

The  first  village  tavern  was  a  framed  house,  built  in 
1852  by  Chas.  V.  Patrick,  a  farmer,  upon  the  site  of  the 
Johnson  house.  Ralph  Bugbee  rented  the  house  and  was 
the  first  landlord ;  but  he  remained  the  Boniface  only  a 
short  time,  when  Patrick  himself  took  possession.  After 
him  W.  W.  Ralph  and  John  F.  Emory  were  the  landlords. 

The  house  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  known  as  Leon- 
ard's Hotel,  was  built  by  Calvin  G.  Hill,  about  1840,  for  a 
store,  but  was  never  devoted  to  that  purpose.  It  held  a  school 
at  first,  was  then  used  as  a  residence,  and  finally  being  pur- 
chased by  C.  V.  Patrick,  was  by  him  converted  into  a  hotel. 
He  kept  it  a  while,  and  sold  it  to  C.  P.  Dow,  from  whom 
it  passed  into  the  possession  of  Philip  Leonard. 

MIDDLEVILLE   POST-OFFICE. 

In  the  spring  of  1839,  B.  S.  Dibble,  then  living  on 
section  2,  in  Yankee  Springs  township,  was  called  upon  by 
Lucius  Lyon,  Congressman,  of  Kent  County,  then  on 
his  way  to  Washington,  who  incidentally  remarked  that  Mr. 
Dibble  ought  to  have  a  post-office  at  his  house  by  reason 
of  his  distinction  as  a  pioneer.  Upon  Dibble's  agreeing  to 
take  the  postmastership, — although  there  was  an  office  at 
Yankee  Springs,  five  miles  distant, — Lyon  wanted  to  call 
the  office  Dibbleville,  but  Dibble  wouldn't  have  it,  as  he 
didn't  like  the  name,  although  it  was  his  family-name. 
Somebody  suggested  that  an  Indian  village  near  there  on 
the  river  was  called  "  Middle  Village,"  by  reason  of  being 
midway  between  Kalamazoo  and  Kent,  and  so  the  name  of 
Middleville  was  adopted  for  the  proposed  post-office.  Dibble 
received  his  appointment  as  postmaster  July  3,  1839,  and 
kept  the  office  at  his  house  until  1842,  when  he  resigned 
to  take  a  contract  for  carrying  the  mail  between  Kalamazoo 
and  Kent.  Middleville  post-office  was  on  that  route,  and 
received  a  mail  twice  a  week  each  way,  Orson  Withey 
bein"  mail-carrier  when  it  was  established. 

After  Mr.  Dibble  resigned  the  office,  it  passed  to  John 
W.  Bradley,  who  continued,  however,  to  keep  it  at  Dibble's 
house  until  1843,  when  a  change  of  location  was  effected 
to  the  site  of  the  village  of  Middleville,  where  Calvin  G. 
Hill  was  living.  The  place  thereabout  was  commonly 
known  as  Thornapple,  but  upon  the  transfer  of  the  post- 
office  to  that  locality  it  became  known  as  Middleville,  and 
that  name  it  has  ever  since  retained.  Upon  the  transfer, 
Calvin  G.  Hill  was  appointed  postmaster.  Following  him 
the  incumbents  of  the  office  have  been  A.  C.  Bruen,  W. 
W.  Ralph,  John  F.  Emory,  Abraham  A.  Mead,  Milton 
Mead,  and  M.  F.  Dowling.  During  the  three  months 
ending  Dec.  31,  1879,  the  Middleville  office  made  sales 
of  stamps,  envelopes,  etc.,  to  the  amount  of  $415.95,  and 


for  the  same  period  issued  money-orders  to  the  amount  of 
$2820.69,  and  paid  $1684.29  on  orders  issued  against  the 
office. 

MIDDLEVILLE  UNION  SCHOOL. 
The  first  school-house  built  in  the  township  stood  in 
what  is  now  Middleville,  upon  the  west  side  of  the  river,  and 
just  north  of  where  Leonard's  hotel  stands.  The  structure 
was  of  logs,  and  Charles  Paull,  the  carpenter,  "  finished  it 
off"  in  as  high  a  style  of  art  as  circumstances  permitted. 
Sarah  Paull  was  the  first  teacher,  and  Mr.  Coman  the  second. 
Rev.  Mr.  Wilcox,  a  Disciple  minister,  taught  the  school,  and 
preached  also  to  a  church  organization  which  met  in  the 
school-house,  and  which  was  the  pioneer  religious  society  of 
the  township.  About  1840  a  frame  school-house  replaced 
the  log  building.  Near  the  same  time  one  of  C.  G.  Hill's 
daughters  opened  a  select  school  in  a  framed  building  which 
her  father  had  erected,  but  carried  it  on  only  a  short  time. 
The  village  school  was  kept  on  the  west  side  of  the  river 
until  1854,  when  a  brick  house  was  put  up  on  the  lot  now 
occupied  by  the  Union  school,  the  lot  being  donated  by 
Calvin  G.  Hill,  and  thereupon  the  school  on  the  west  side 
was  abandoned.  In  1871  the  present  fine  Union  school 
building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $15,000.  It  contains  four 
departments, — primary,  intermediate,  grammar,  and  high 
school, — in  which  the  attendance  of  pupils  in  March,  1880, 
was  288.     The  principal  is  Charles  W.  Pickell. 

THE  BAK  OF  MIDDLEVILLE. 
Middleville's  first  lawyer,  B.  H.  Fuller,  came  to  the  vil- 
la"-e  in  1856,  and  practiced  from  that  time  to  1860,  when  he 
left  town  for  an  absence  of  four  years.     He  returned  in 

1864,  and  resumed  practice,  but  died  in  1865.  Meanwhile, 
Harvey  Wright  opened  a  law-office  in  1861,  and  remained 
until  1868,  when  he  changed  his  habitation  to  Hastings. 
Asa  Leonard  began  to  practice  in  the  village  in  1861,  but 
not  lonf  afterwards  entered  the  army,  and  was  killed  in 
action.     W.  L.  Cobb,  who  became  a  Middleville  lawyer  in 

1865,  is  still  one,  having  in  the  interim  been  a  justice  of 
the  peace  twelve  years,  and  Circuit  Court  commissioner  six  "^ 
years.  George  C.  Worth  practiced  from  1867  to  1869 ; 
John  Carveth  from  1869  to  the  present  time ;  A.  H.  Ellis 
from  1871  to  1878 ;  and  Aaron  Clark  (now  in  Grand 
Rapids)  from  1874  to  1879.  P.  W.  Niskern,  now  practicing 
in  Hastings,  was  a  lawyer  in  Middleville  from  1871  to  1877, 
as  well  as  a  newspaper  publisher.  M.  P.  Jordan  and  A.  P. 
Cady,  still  in  village  practice,  began  in  1879. 

MIDDLEVILLE  PHYSICIANS. 
Previous  to  1848  the  country  around  Middleville  de- 
pended for  medical  attendance  upon  Hastings,  and  chiefly 
upon  Dr.  Upjohn.  There  was  in  the  northern  portion  of 
Thornapple  township  one  James  Bell,  who  called  himself  an 
herb-doctor,  and  who  used  indeed  to  be  called  frequently  to  , 
prescribe  for  the  sick,  but  until  Dr.  S.  S.  Parkhurst  came 
to  the  village,  in  1848,  the  neighborhood  boasted  no  resi- 
dent regular  medical  practitioner.  Dr.  Parkhurst  was, 
however,  but  a  student  when  he  became  a  resident  in  Mid- 
dleville and  simultaneously  undertook  to  teach  the  village 
school,  with  the  understanding,  however,  that  if  his  medi- 
cal practice  required  it  he  would  give  up  the  school.    AI- 


492 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


tliougli  he  was  frequently  called  to  see  patients,  and  some- 
times had  even  to  dismiss  his  scholars  so  that  he  might  re- 
spond to  a  call,  he  taught  through  the  term.  He  returned 
thereupon  to  college,  graduated  in  1850,  and  then  resuming 
his  practice  in  Middleville,  has  been  one  of  the  village  phy- 
sicians ever  since. 

Following  Dr.  Parkhurst  came  Dr.  Johnson,  who  re- 
mained but  two  years.  Dr.  John  Sweezey,  who  began  to 
practice  in  1858,  removed  to  Indiana  in  1860,  and  is 
yet  there.  Dr.  Henderson  came  in  1861,  stopped  a  year, 
and  then  sailed  for  England,  his  early  home.  Dr.  Carroll 
remained  from  1863  to  1864 ;  Dr.  Negley,  from  1864  to 
1867;  Dr.  Scott,  from  1866  to  1867;  Dr.  Ellis,  from 
1868  to  1869;  and  Dr.  Barnard,  from  1871  to  1872. 
Besides  Dr.  Parkhurst,  the  practicing  physicians  in  Middle- 
ville are  G.  W.  Mattison,  who  came  in  1867 ;  Amos  Han- 
Ion,  in  1869  ;  S.  C.  Rich,  in  1870  ;  A.  Billington,  in  1871 ; 
J.  B.  Ferguson,  in  1876 ;  and  P.  J.  FuUerton,  in  1879. 

MIDDLEVILLE'S   BANK. 

The  private  bank  of  Bowne  &'  Combs,  now  doing  busi- 
ness in  the  village  under  the  State  banking  laws,  is  the  only 
banking  institution-  Middleville  has  ever  had.  The  firm 
was  formed  in  March,  1873,  has  an  available  capital  of 
$150,000,  an  average  deposit  account  of  $15,000,  and  an 
average  loan  account  of  $45,000.  The  managing  partner 
is  R.  E.  Combs. 

THE  GIBBS  TRAGEDY. 
In  August,  1879,  James  Gibbs,  marshal  of  the  village 
of  Middleville,  while  conveying  one  James  Jansen  (or 
Johnson)  and  his  brother  to  the  lock-up  on  some  trifling 
charge,  was  fatally  stabbed  by  James  Jansen,  who  at  once 
fled.  Gibbs  died  within  twelve  hours,  and  a  search  for 
Jansen  discovered  him  in  Chicago  (whence  he  had  written 
a  letter  to  Middleville  and  thus  disclosed  his  whereabouts). 
He  was  captured  within  a  week  after  the  murder,  and,  being 
tried  in  February,  1880,  was  promptly  convicted  of  murder 
in  the  second  degree,  and  sentenced  to  the  State  prison  for 
fifteen  years. 

INCORPORATION  AND  OFFICERS. 
The  village  of  Middleville  was  incorporated  under  an  act  of 
the  Legislature  approved  March  27,  1867  ;  and  embraced 
"  all  that  tract  of  Thornapple  township  lying  in  the  southeast 
quarter,  the  east  half  of  the  southwest  quarter,  the  south 
half  of  the  northeast  quarter,  and  the  southeast  quarter  of 
the  northwest  quarter  of  section  22  ;  the  southwest  quarter, 
the  south  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  23  ;  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  26 ;  the  northeast  quarter  and 
the  east  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  27." 

The  first  election  was  held  May  6,  1867 ;  J.  F.  Emory, 
J.  R.  Russell,  Frederick  Alexander,  and  L.  W.  Payne  were 
chosen  inspectors.  A  full  list  of  the  officials  elected  on 
that  occasion  is  given  as  follows :  President,  I.  N.  Keeler 
(who  received  48  votes,  the  entire  number  cast)  ;  Recorder, 
Wm.  L.  Cobb ;  Treasurer,  M.  F.  Dowling ;  Assessor,  J. 
F.  Emory;  Trustees  (two  years),  S.  W.  Walrath,  Philip 
Leonard,  L.  W.  Payne ;  (one  year)  Aaron  Lynd,  A.  H. 
Slocum,  M.  C.  Swift. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  Common  Council,  held  May 
25,  1867,  H.  Wright  was  appointed  village  attorney,  W. 


W.  PauU  village  marshal,  J.  F.  Emory  and  P.  Leonard 
overseers  of  highways. 

The  names  of  those  chosen  annually  from  1868  to  1880  to 
be  presidents,  clerks,  treasurers,  and  trustees  are  as  follows : 


1868.- 


1869.- 


1870.- 


1871.- 


1872.- 


-President,  Ilarvey  Wright;  Clerk,  William  L.  Cobb;  Treas- 
urer, M.  F.  Dowling ;  Trustees,  Robert  Wilson,  Orrin  Leon- 
ard, Charles  Dietrich. 
I. — President,  William   L.  Cobb;  Recorder,   Herbert   Olmstead; 
Treasurer,  M.  F.  Dowling;  Trustees,  Eli  Shape,  William  M. 
Boltwood,  Philip  Leonard. 
-President,  William  L.  Cobb;    Recorder,  Simon   G.  Webster; 
Treasurer,  Marion  F.  Dowling;  Trustees,  John  Y.  Bevier, 
Samuel  PauU,  Robert  Wilson. 
-President,  William  L.  Cobb;  Recorder,  P.  W.  Niskern;  Treas- 
urer, M.  F.  Dowling;  Trustees,  Philip  Leonard,  William 
Boltwood,  Eli  Shupe. 
-President,  Frank  H.  De  Golia;  Recorder,  A.  H.  Ellis;  Treas- 
urer, Heman  Parish;  Trustees,  M.  F.  Dowling,  B.  S.  Dibble, 
Benjamin  A.  Almy. 
1873. — President,  I.  N.   Keeler;  Recorder,  A.  H.  Ellis;  Treasurer, 

■ ;  Trustees,  D.  S.  Bugbee,  T.  A.  De  Riemer,  O.  R. 

Russell. 
1874.— President,  A.  H.  Ellis;  Recorder,  M.  M.  Prindle;  Treasurer, 
Samuel  C.  Rich;  Trustees,  E.  D.  Sprague,  M.  F.  Dowling, 
Ira  Morgan. 
1875.— President,  A.  H.  Ellis;  Recorder,  H.  D.  Purdy;  Treasurer, 
William  H.  Johnson;  Trustees,  T.  A.  De  Riemer,  R.  E. 
Combs,  G.  W.  Searles. 

1876. — President, • ;  Recorder,  A.  B.  Southwiok;  Treasurer, 

;  Trustees,  Ira  A.  Morgan,  George  W.  Mattison, 

Marcenas  Wright. 
1877.— President,  A.  E.  Combs;  Recorder,  H.  D.  Purdy;  Treasurer, 
F.  H.  De  Golia;  Trustees,  J.  H.  MoKevitt,  D.  W.  John- 
son, S.  B.  Smith. 
-President,  E.  G.  Sprague;  Recorder,  E.  M.  Slayton;  Treas- 
urer, T.  B.  French ;  Trustees,  Charles  Annison,  H.  De  Golia, 
A.  E.  Southwick. 
-President,  B.  G.  Sprague;  Recorder,  H.  D.  Purdy;  Treasurer, 
Thomas   D.   French;    Trustees,   Frederick  Spangemacher, 
Charles  Pitman,  Curtis  Runnels. 
-President,    Marcenas   Wright;    Recorder,    G.   W.    Mattison; 
Treasurer,  Thomas  D.  French;  Trustees,  Isaac  Trone,  I.  N. 
Keeler,  Charles  Annison.    (Hyland  De  Golia  was  elected  to 
fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  resignation  of  I.  N.  Keeler.) 

CHtTECHES. 
THE  OLD  DISCIPLE  CHURCH. 

The  first  public  religious  services  in  Thornapple  town- 
ship were  held  according  to  the  faith  of  those  known  as 
Disciples  or  Campbellites.  Calvin  G.  Hill  and  Henry 
Leonard  were  members  of  that  denomination,  and  soon 
after  their  settlement  in  Thornapple  took  measures  to 
afford  the  infant  community  the  privilege  of  public  wor- 
ship. An  old  church-record  relates  that  "  The  congrega- 
tion of  Disciples  as  associated  at  Thornapple  first  had  its 
existence  in  the  families  of  Calvin  G.  Hill  and  Henry 
Leonard,  who,  in  the  fall  of  the  year  1835,  emigrated  to 
this  place  from  the  county  of  Monroe,  N.  Y.,  and  who 
were  the  first  families  settled  in  the  surveyed  township  for 
agricultural  purposes,  who  agreed  immediately  after  their 
settlement  to  meet  together  on  Lord's  day  at  each  other's 
houses  to  keep  the  ordinances,  and  for  social  worship  and 
edification.  Appointed  Calvin  G.  Hill  as  moderator  and 
to  officiate  in  the  administration  of  the  ordinances,  which 
practice  has  continued.  .  The  Disciples,  having  multiplied, 
deem  it  necessary  in  the  order  of  events  now  to  perfect  a 
more  complete  organization.  Do  this  12th  day  of  Febru- 
ary, 1843,  appoint  C.  G.  Hill  and  Henry  Leonard  to  pre- 


1878.- 


1879.- 


1880.- 


THOKNAPPLE  TOWNSHIP. 


493 


pare  a  book  of  record  with  the  names  of  the  several  indi- 
viduals attached  to  the  congregation." 

On  the  same  day  (Feb.  12,  1843)  Luther  Goodrich  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  bishop,  or  overseer,  of  the  congre- 
gation, and  A.  C.  Hill  to  the  office  of  clerk. 

A  list  of  the  persons  who  became  members  of  the  church 
during  1843  is  here  given  as  follows :  Betsey  Beach,  Lucy 
PauU,  Ruth  L.  Freeman,  Laura  Ann  Goodrich,  Ellen  E. 
Hill,  Martha  J.  Hill,  Francis  Hill,  Delia  Hill,  Harriet 
Hill,  Caroline  Leonard,  Sabina  Patrick,  William  H.  Brown, 
Lemuel  PauU,  George  C.  Freeman,  Susanna  Freeman, 
Ann  Naylor,  Sr.,  Ann  Naylor,  Jr.,  Sallie  Hill,  Luther 
Goodrich,  Calvin  G.  Hill,  Henry  Leonard,  Charles  Paull, 
William  W.  Paull,  Jeremiah  Freeman,  Ashbel  Beach, 
Albert  C.  Hill,  Emeline  Irons,  Rhoda  Goodrich,  Charlotte 
Hill,  Betsey  Leonard,  Eliza  Paull,  Sarat  Naylor,  Clarissa 
Brown,  Elmira  Hill,  Calvin  Hill. 

On  the  18th  of  June,  1843,  Luther  Goodrich  and  C.  G.  Hill 
were  made  overseers  of  the  congregation,  and  Charles  Paull 
deacon,  and  from  the  record  it  would  appear  that  on  that 
day  the  church  organization  was  completed.  In  January, 
1845,  W.  W.  Paull  was  appointed  clerk  in  the  place  of  A. 
C.  Hill,  who  had  removed  from  the  township,  and  in  Septem- 
ber, 1845,  J.  C.  Goodrich  was  chosen  bishop  of  the  con- 
gregatiori.  Meetings  were  held  in  a  log  school-house  near 
Squire  Hill's  house,  and  under  its  overseers  the  church  flour- 
ished four  or  five  years.  Afterwards  there  came  one  Wilcox, 
who  combined  with  the  business  of  preaching  that  of  teach- 
ing school.  He  was  a  person  of  a  convivial  turn  of  mind, 
and  strongly  inclined  to  freedom  in  religious  belief.  He 
was  doubtless  a  man  of  honest  convictions  and  possessed 
many  excellent  traits  of  character,  but  somehow  he  caused 
dissensions  in  the  church,  and  himself  fell  into  disfavor. 
The  upshot  of  it  was  that  the  church  was  dissolved  in 
1847  and  has  never  been  re-established. 

THE   FIRST  CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH. 

On  the  5th  of  April,  1846,  a  meeting  was  held  at  the 
house  of  A.  A.  Mead,  in  Yankee  Springs,  for  the  purpose 
of  organizing  a  Congregational  Church.  Rev.  Z.  T.  Hoyt 
was  chosen  moderator,  T.  W.  Webber  and  G.  B.  Man- 
chester deacons,  and  A.  A.  Mead  stated  clerk ;  where- 
upon it  was  resolved  "  that  the  persons  present  organize 
themselves  into  the  First  Congregational  Church  of  Yellow 
Springs."  The  organizing  members  were  eleven  in  number, 
and  included  T.  W.  Webber  and  Maria,  his  wife,  C.  H. 
Brewer  and  Amelia,  his  wife,  G.  B.  Manchester,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  A.  A.  Mead,  Nathan  Barlow  and  Sarah,  his  wife,  and 
Mrs.  Mary  C.  Lewis.  December  6th  the  sacrament  of  the 
Lord's  Supper  was  administered  for  the  first  time,  Rev.  Z. 
T.  Hoyt  officiating,  on  which  occasion  Jane  Stokoe  and 
Mrs.  Indiana  F.  Corning  were  united  by  letter. 

In  December,  1853,  the  church  joined  the  Grand  River 
Congregational  Association.  In  December,  1854,  the  place 
of  worship  was  removed  from  Yankee  Springs  to  the  village 
of  Middleville,  and  the  church  name  changed  to  that  of 
the  First  Congregational  Church  of  Middleville,  worship 
beino-  held  in  the  village  school-house.  Sept.  21,  1856,  it 
was  voted  to  leave  the  Grand  River  Association  and  join 
the  Kalamazoo  Presbytery,  and  April  5,  1863,  it  was  re- 


solved to  join  the  Grand  Rapids  Association,  of  which  the 
church  is  still  a  member. 

The  village  school-house  was  used  for  worship  until 
1863,  when  Charles  PauU's  hall  was  occupied.  In  1866 
this  was  vacated  for  Swift's  hall,  which  served  until  the 
completion  of  the  present  church  edifice,  in  the  spring  of 
1871.  There  was  at  first  some  litigation  over  the  church 
property,  which  was  productive  of  discouragement  and  loss 
of  membership  for  two  or  three  years.  These  difficulties 
were  at  length  happily  settled,  and  the  period  of  prosperity 
which  then  began  has  continued  to  the  present  time. 
From  1846  to  1880  the  accessions  to  the  church  have  ag- 
gregated 170.     The  membership  now  numbers  64. 

The  first  pastor.  Rev.  Mr.  Hoyt,  preached  from  1846  to 
1852  ;  Rev.  0.  F.  Waldo  from  1852  to  1854  ;  Rev.  D.  B. 
Campbell  from  ^1854  to  1856  ;  and  Rev.  Mr.  Wheelock 
in  1857.  During  Mr.  Wheelock's  pastorate.  Rev.  T.  Jones 
assisted  in  a  protracted  meeting  at  which  19  persons  were 
added  to  the  membership.  Feb.  1,  1858,  Rev.  J.  W. 
Kidder  began  his  labors,  and  continued  them  until  Nov. 
22,  1868.  Early  in  1869  Rev.  Mr.  Raymond  became 
the  pastor,  and  was  succeeded  in  March,  1872,  by  Rev.  D. 
B.  Campbell.  Rev.  J.  J.  Bunnell  preached  from  July, 
1874,  to  November,  1875,  and  Rev.  Benjamin  Moore  from 
that  time  until  June,  1878.  In  October,  of  the  latter 
year.  Rev.  W.  S.  Bugbee,  the  present  pastor,  began  his 
term  of  service. 

The  church  trustees  are  George  Luther,  Charles  Pitman, 
and  Richard  Watkins ;  the  deacons,  William  C.  Pratt,  A. 
F.  Gillett,  and  Richard  Watkins,  Mr.  Pratt  having  been 
one  of  the  deacons  since  1854.  Charles  Pitman  is  super- 
intendent of  the  Sabbath-school,  which  has  an  average  at- 
tendance of  75. 

EIRST   BAPTIST   CHURCH. 

On  the  23d  of  April,  1853,  a  few  Baptists  met  in  the 
old  "  Prairie"  school-house  on  Scales'  Prairie,  and  organized 
the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Thornapple.  The  members 
numbered  nine,  as  follows :  A.  Harwood,  J.  J.  Mattison,  J. 
Sprague,  Rev.  F.  Donaldson,  Mary  Harper,  Emily  Matti- 
son, Marian  Harwood,  Theresa  Pratt,  and  Lufannie  Don- 
aldson. An  attempt  had  previously  been  made  to  organize 
a  church  in  that  vicinity,  but  the  enterprise  was  short-lived. 

Upon  the  day  of  the  organization  Rev.  Mr.  Donaldson  was 
called  to  be  the  pastor,  and  J.  J.  Mattison  was  elected  deacon. 
Of  the  nine  organizing  members  above  named,  those  now 
living  are  Mrs.  William  H.  Brown,  of  Alaska  (formerly 
Mrs.  Donaldson),  Mary  Harper  (yet  a  member  of  the 
church),  and  Theresa  Pratt.  July  3d  the  Lord's  Supper 
was  commemorated  for  the  first  time,  and  August  14th  the 
ordinance  of  baptism  was  administered  to  John  Griffith. 
June  21,  1854,  the  church  united  with  the  Kalamazoo 
Association,  and,  in  April,  1855,  the  organization  indicated 
its  adhesion  to  the  cause  of  total  abstinence  by  expelling  a 
member  for  violating  the  temperance  pledge. 

On  the  12th  of  April,  1856,  a  church  society  was  or- 
ganized, Nelson  Coman,  Robert  Harper,  and  William 
Paull  being  chosen  trustees.  Rev.  Mr.  Donaldson  was  the 
pastor  till  his  death,  in  May,  1857,  and  was  followed  by  Rev. 
B.  H.  Sheppard,  who  terminated  his  labors  in  September, 


494 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


1859.  In  August,  1860,  Rev.  D.  Osborn  became  the 
pastor,  and  in  August  of  that  year  the  Prairie  school-house 
was  exchanged  as  a  place  of  worship  for  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  at  Middleville,  the  agreement  being  to 
pay  $30  per  month  for  its  use  at  such  times  as  the  Meth- 
odists could  spare  it.  Rev.  Mr.  Osborn  retired  in  Febru- 
ary, 1863,  and  was  followed  by  Rev.  0.  W.  Wade.  In 
September,  1863,  the  church  withdrew  from  the  Kalamazoo 
Association  to  join  the  Grand  River  Association.  In 
September,  1865,  Mr.  Wade  closed  his  labors,  and  Rev.  Mr. 
Osborn  was  resettled  in  April,  1866.  In  August  of  that 
year  the  name  of  the  church  was  changed  to  that  of  the 
First  Baptist  Church  of  Middleville. 

In  1867  the  fine  church  edifice  now  in  use  was  com- 
pleted, being  dedicated  in  January,  1868.  The  building  cost 
about  $4000,  which  was  promptly  subscribed  before  work 
was  begun.  Previous  to  April  12,  1868,  the  church  was 
represented  as  to  its  Sunday-school  interest  in  a  Union 
school,  but  on  the  date  named  a  Baptist  Sabbath-school  was 
organized.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  the  church  joined  the 
Thornapple  River  Association,  which  disbanded,  however, 
almost  immediately,  whereupon  this  society  united  with  the 
Grand  Rapids  Ass6ciation,  in  which  it  still  remains. 

Rev.  G.  N.  Annis  followed  Mr.  Osborn  in  December, 
1868,  and  was  succeeded  in  November,  1871,  by  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Rees,  who  remained  but  a  year.  There  was  no  settled 
pastor  until  July,  1874,  when  Rev.  C.  E.  Conley  began  his 
pastorate,  and  continued  therein  until  early  in  1878.  His 
successors  have  been  Revs.  0.  P.  A.  Spinning  and  S.  L. 
Trumbull,  the  latter  being  now  in  charge. 

Since  1853  the  members  received  into  the  church  have 
numbered  250.  The  present  membership  is  111.  The 
society  owns,  besides  the  church  building,  a  parsonage,  which 
was  erected  in  1876. 

The  trustees  are  Clark  Kenyon,  B.  D.  Sprague,  T.  C. 
Wilkins,  Robert  McArthur,  and  Wm.  H.  Severance ;  the 
deacons,  Robert  Harper,  T.  C.  Wilkins,  Robert  McArthur, 
and  James  V.  Whitney.  Charles  W.  Piokell  is  superin- 
tendent of  the  Stfnday-school,  which  has  twelve  officers  and 
teachers,  and  an  average  attendance  of  85. 

FIRST   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH. 

Late  in  1854,  or  early  in  1855,  Rev.  Aaron  Bradley 
organized  a  Methodist  Episcopal  class  in  the  village  school- 
house,  and  of  that  class  memory  now  recalls  C.  W.  Bassett 
and  wife,  J.  R.  Russell,  William  Fenton  and  wife,  and 
Stephen  Walrath  and  wife  as  members.  J.  R.  Russell  was 
the  first  class-leader,  and  Mr.  Bradley,  who  organized  the 
class,  supplied  the  preaching  two  years,  preaching  also  at 
Caledonia.  The  list  of  the  church's  ministers  since  Mr. 
Bradley's  time  includes  Rev.  Messrs.  Stafford,  Gee,  Jenkins, 
Wakefield,  Van  Wyck,  Marble,  Master,  Hulen,  Wigle,  and 
I.  B.  Tallman,  the  latter  being  the  present;  pastor. 

The  earliest  record  now  obtainable  reports  the  "first 
Quarterly  Conference  for  Middleville  Circuit,  Kalamazoo 
district,"  as  being  held  at  Middleville,  Nov.  19, 1865,  when 
those  present  were  Rev.  E.  Marble,  preacher  in  charge, 
A.  Wakefield,  C.  W.  Bassett,  J.  Sweet,  M.  Vincent,  D. 
Olmstead,  R.  G.  Culver,  J.  R.  Russell,  J.  W.  Bradley,  and 
H.  W.  Burch. 


The  circuit  then  embraced  the  classes  of  Caledonia, 
Middleville,  Thornapple,  West  Thornapple,  Leighton,  and 
Yankee  Springs. 

In  1859  a  church  edifice  was  erected,  the  school-house' 
having  been  used  till  that  time.  The  church  now  owns  a  par- 
sonage also,  and  has  a  flourishing  membership  of  about  70. 
The  trustees  are  T.  D.  Buck,  Amos  Hanlon,  P.  W.  Niskern, 
G.  H.  Johnson,  J.  R.  Russell,  Joseph  Barrell,  and  A.  H. 
Stanford.     The  class-leader  is  A.  H.  Stanford. 

George  Ickes  is  the  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school, 
which  has  eight  teachers  and  an  average  attendance  of  50. 

SOCIETIES. 
MIDDLEVILLE   LODGE,  No.  231,  F.  AND  A.  M. 

This  lodge  was  chartered  Jan.  10,  1868,  when  Henry 
Cogshall  was  appointed  M. ;  H.  I.  Whitney,  S.  W. ;  and 
M.  F.  Dowling,  J.  W.  The  organizing  members  of  the  lodge 
were  Henry  Cogshall,  H.  I.  Whitney,  Harvey  Wright, 
Henry  Colvin,  George  Brink,  L.  W.  Payne,  Samuel  Little- 
field,  and  William  Wolgar.  From  1868  to  1880  the  Mas- 
ters have  been  Henry  Cogshall,  Horace  I.  Whitney,  Harvey 
Wright,  S.  C.  Rich,  A.  H.  Ellis,  G.  W.  Mattison,  and  Wil- 
liam H.  Severance.  The  lodge  has  now  a  membership  of 
80,  and  has  occupied  finely-appointed  apartments  in  the 
Wright  Block  since  1873.  The  officers  are  now  William 
H.  Severance,  W.  M. ;  George  W.  Searles,  S.  W. ;  J.  J. 
McAllister,  J.  W. ;  G.  W.  Mattison,  Sec. ;  J.  C.  Smith, 
Treas. ;  L.  W.  Payne,  S.  D. ;  T.  C.  Wilkin,  J.  D. ;  J.  R. 
Russell,  Tyler. 

MIDDLEVILLE    CHAPTER,  No.  44  (ORDER    OP   THE 
EASTERN   STAR),  A.  M. 

This  chapter  was  chartered  Oct.  4,  1876,  with  12 
members.  George  W.  Mattison  was  V.  P.  ;  Mrs.  I.  A. 
Morgan,  Sec. ;  Mrs.  Frank  De  Golia,  Treas.  The  officers 
at  present  are  Mrs.  George  W.  Mattison,  W.  M. ;  G.  W. 
Searles,  W.  P. ;  Mrs.  William  H.  Severance,  A.  M. ;  Mrs. 
G.  W.  Searles,  Conductress  ;  Miss  Jennie  Combs,  A.  C. ; 
G.  W.  Mattison,  Sec. ;  Mrs.  Jefierson  Lee,  Treas. 

THORNAPPLE  LODGE,  No.  265,  I.  0.  0.  F. 
On  the  7th  of  September,  1875,  this  lodge  was  char- 
tered with  the  following  members :  Amos  Hanlon,  P.  H. 
Horner,  Herbert  Olmstead,  Edwin  Fallas,  Dwight  John- 
son, and  T.  A.  De  Riemer.  Since  July,  1878,  the  lodge  has 
occupied  commodious  quarters  in  Grange  Hall.  The  mem- 
bership is  now  55,  and  the  officers  as  follows :  Charles  An- 
derson, N.  G. ;  Amos  Hanlon,  V.  G. ;  L.  E.  Moore,  Rec. 
Sec. ;  T.  A.  De  Riemer,  P.  Sec. ;  W.  Moe,  Treas. 

MIDDLEVILLE   LODGE,  No.  34,  DAUGHTERS   OF   RE- 
BEKAH. 

This  lodge  was  organized  April  19,  1879,  with  12  mem- 
bers. Present  officers  are  Mrs.  Charles  Deitrich,  N.  G. ; 
Mrs.  M.  M.  Hodge,  V.  G. ;  Mrs.  G.  W.  Ickes,  Reo.  Sec; 
T.  A.  De  Riemer,  Fin.  Sec. 

THORNAPPLE   GRANGE,  No.  38. 
This  grange  was  organized  July  22,  1873,  in  Middle- 
ville, with  28  members.     J.  H.  Lane  was  the  first  Master  ; 
J.  Damoth,  0. ;  Aaron  Clark,  L. ;  William  C.  Pratt,  Chap- 


THORNAPPLE  TOWNSHIP. 


495 


lain ;  J.  C.  Crumback,  Treas. ;  T.  A.  De  Riemer,  Sec. 
Regular  sessions  are  held  in  Grange  Hall,  at  Middleville. 
The  chief  ofiScers  are  now  J.  C.  Bray,  M. ;  H.  Searles,  0. ; 
E.  H.  Lent,  L. ;  Mrs.  J.  C.  Bray,  Chaplain ;  J.  A.  Robert- 
son, Sec. ;  J./C.  Russell,  Treas. 

MIDDLEVILLE  REFORM  CLUB. 
This  temperance  organization  was  called  into  existence 
in  January,  1877,  and  commenced  its  career  amid  much 
popular  enthusiasm.  Fully  one  hundred  and  fifty  people 
signed  the  pledge  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  club,  and  the 
good  work  thus  auspiciously  begun  has  continued  since 
then  to  thrive  under  the  same  ministi'ations.  The  club 
has  now  an  active  membership  of  40,  and  has  regular 
Wednesday  evening  assemblies  at  Red  Ribbon  Hall. 

WOMEN'S  CHRISTIAN  TEMPERANCE  UNION. 
The  Women's  Christian  Temperance  Union  was  organized 
in  January,  1877,  and  received  at  once  a  large  number  of 
members,  who  have  labored  energetically  for  the  cause  of 
temperance  and  accomplished  much  good.  Mrs.  Mary 
Pinney  is  the  President,  Mrs.  Charles  Pitman,  Sec,  and 
Mrs.  James  Fenton,  Treas. 

PARMELEE   STATION. 

North  of  Middleville  is  Parmelee  Station,  on  the  Michi- 
gan Central  Railroad,  so  named  in  honor  of  E.  K.  Parme- 
lee, who,  after  pioneering  in  Lenawee  and  Hillsdale  Coun- 
ties from  1836  to  I860,  came  in  the  latter  year  to  Thorn- 
apple,  and  located  on  section  10.  In  August,  1874,  the 
railway  company  established  Parmelee  Station,  Mr.  Parmelee 
donating  land  for  that  and  other  railway  purposes,  and  the 
neighborhood  residents  paying  for  the  erection  of  a  depot 
building.  Mr.  Parmelee  was  appointed  station  agent,  and 
in  1878  was  made  postmaster,  upon  the  creation  of  Parme- 
lee post-ofiSce.     He  still  holds  both  those  offices. 

Sherk  &  Cline's  elevator  at  the  station  gives  farmers  a 
convenient  grain-market,  and  there  is  moreover  a  brisk  ship- 
ment at  Parmelee  of  railway-ties.  Seven  thousand  ties 
were  received  during  February,  1880,  and  the  estimate  then 
was  that  the  receipts  of  ties  between  January  and  September 
would  aggregate  fully  50,000.  Frederick  Alexander  carries 
on  a  store,  B.  F.  Hungerford  has  a  blacksmith-shop ;  there 
is  also  a  saw-mill  and  turning-lathe,  while  a  "  bcnding"- 
factory  is  about  to  be  established,  so  that  Parmelee  is  posi- 
tively looking  up.  Two  religious  organizations — a  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  class,  of  which  H.  W.  Burch  is  leader,  and 
a  United  Brethren  class,  of  which  Mrs.  George  Cline  is 
leader — worship  at  a  neighboring  school-house  on  alternate 
Sundays,  and  enjoy  encouraging  support. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 


R.  HARPER. 

Among  the  resident  farmers  of  Thornapple  township 
none  occupy  a  higher  place  than  R.  Harper.  Sufi'olk- 
shire,  in  England,  gave  him  birth  in  the  year  1813,  and, 
although  his  parents  were  of  the  poorer  class,  they  were 


accounted  among  the  most  industrious  and  esteemed  mem- 
bers of  the  community  in  which  they  lived.     At  the  age 
of  about  fifty  the  father,  Charles  Harper,  determined  to 
make  an  efibrt  towards  bettering  his  prospects,  and  with  his 
family  set  sail,  in  1829,  for  Canada.     His  family  consisted 
of  himself,  wife,  and  ten  children,  and  of  these  latter  was 
R.  Harper,  who,  from  the  age  of  eleven,  had  managed  to 
eke  out  his  own  livelihood.     His  first  year's  labor  on  his 
own   behalf  yielded   him  but  one  pound,  and  upon   his 
arrival  in  Canada — Quebec  being  the  place  chosen  by  the 
elder  Harper  as  a  location — the  lad  obtained  employment 
with  a  farmer  at  seven  dollars  a  month.     Thus  he  labored 
a  year  or  more,  and  then,  learning  that  the  "  States"  ofiered 
better  inducements,  proceeded  thither  with  an  elder  brother 
and  resumed  his  farming  experience  upon   a  place  near 
Ogdensburg,  in  St.  Lawrence  Co.,  N.  Y.     There  he  tarried 
two  years,  and  in  1834  took  service  as  a  laborer  with  Silas 
Ball,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  for  whom  he  worked  at  first  for 
eight  dollars  a  month,  and  so  faithfully  did  he  attend  to 
his  duties  and  increase  his  value  that  he  remained  with 
Mr.  Ball  nine  years,  and  was  receiving  at  the  close  of  his 
term  the  then  excellent  pay  of  one  dollar  a  day.     Having 
saved  a  snug  sum,  he  bought  forty  acres  near  Rochester, 
and   after   materially  improving  the  property   exchanged 
it  for  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Thornapple  town- 
ship, Barry  Co.,  upon  which  he  has  ever  since  made  his 
home.    In  1837  he  married  Mary  Colby  (born  in  Heniker, 
Cheshire  Co.,  N.  H.,  in  1809,  and  successively  a  resident, 
with   her  parents,  of  Schoharie    County  and   Rochester, 
N.  Y.),  and  in  the  spring  of  1844  they  moved  westward 
to  take  possession  of  their  Michigan  wilderness,  upon  which 
not  a  single  axe-stroke  had  been  delivered.     In  the  midst 
of  the  dense  forest  they  set  up  their  rude  log  cabin,  labored 
heroically  and  energetically  in  the  worLof  winning  a  com- 
fortable home,  slowly  but  surely  progressing  in  the  task  as 
the  years  moved  on,  and  in  their  declining  years  enjoy  the 
well-earned  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  for  the  toils  of 
early  life  they  are  now  reaping  the  reward  of  happy  ease. 
The  Harper  farm  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  county,  and  the 
Harper  residence — of  which  a  view  may  be  seen  in  this 
work — an  ornament  to  the  town. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harper  have  been  active  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church  of  Middleville  since  that  church  was  organ- 
ized, and  during  that  extended  period  they  have  ever  been 
regarded  as  exemplary  exponents  of  that  faith,  contributing, 
moreover,  with  generous  liberality  to  the  support  of  the 
organization,  and  especially  towards  the  erection  of  a  house 
of  worship.  Four  children  have  been  born  to  them,  but 
of  these  four  only  one  has  been  spared.  Eliza  A.,  who 
was  born  Feb.  11,  1838,  died  Jan.  17,  1860;  Laura  J., 
born  June  25,  1843,  died  Oct.  1,  1846 ;  George  A.,  born 
Feb.  22,  1849,  died  March  27,  1877 ;  Charles  E.,  born 
Sept.  16,  1853,  still  lives  to  cheer  the  evening  of  his 
parents'  lives,  and  even  as  he  prizes  and  appreciates  the 
privilege  of  staying  and  comforting  them,  so  they,  rejoicing 
in  the  possession  of  a  son's  devotion,  are  calmly  grateful  to 
Heaven  and  content  to  descend  the  hill  of  life  by  easy  and 
pleasant  paths. 


496 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


WILLIAM   COLBY. 

William  Colby  was  born  in  Roxbury,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  18, 
1822,  and  was  one  of  twelve  children  vouchsafed  as  bless- 
ings to  the  union  of  his  parents.  When  William  was  a 
lad  of  but  seven  his  father  removed  to  Western  New  York, 
in  Monroe  County,  and  in  the  town  of  Grace,  William 
remained  until  reaching  his  sixteenth  year,  when  for  fifty 
dollars  he  purchased  his  "  time"  of  his  father,  and  agreed 
to  pay  the  purchase-money  out  of  the  first  funds  he  should 
earn.  Ambitious  to  grow  up  with  a  new  country,  he  set 
out  for  Michigan,  and  in  Washtenaw  County  entered  upon 
a  life  of  earnest  action,  working  upon  a  farm  in  the  sum- 
mer at  ten  dollars  and  a  half  a  month,  and  in  a  cooper's 
shop  in  Salem  in  the  winter  season.  In  that  locality  he 
remained  thus  employed  until  the  summer  of  1841,  having 
meanwhile  canceled  his  father's  claim  of  fifty  dollars  out 
of  his  first  year's  earnings,  when  he  passed  on  to  Blason,  in 
Cass  County,  Mich.,  and  there,  taking  service  with  a  cooper, 
continued  with  him  until  his  marriage,  March  4,  1843,  to 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Peter  Williams.  The  young  couple 
settled  in  Mason,  and  for  the  next  year  Mr.  Colby  divided 
his  time  between  coopering,  farming,  and  trafficking  in 
real  estate.  In  the  autumn  of  1844  they  moved  to  North- 
field,  in  Washtenaw  County,  where  Mr.  Colby  pursued  his 
accustomed  avocations  until  June,  1847,  when  he  changed 
his  residence  to  Marshall,  and,  purchasing  an  eighty-acre 
farm  of  John  Weller,  lived  upon  it  until  the  following 
November,  when,  again  moving,  they  made  their  home  in 
Bristol,  Ind.,  until  the  fall  of  1852,  Mr.  Colby  having 
continued  to  that  time  to  labor  at  his  trade.  Then  they 
took  possession  of  a  purchase  in  Thornapple  township  of 
eighty  acres  of  wild  land,  and  engaged  in  earnest  in  the 
work  of  pioneering.  Their  pioneers'  log  cabin,  a  sketch 
of  which  is  embodied  in  this  work,  was  a  primitive  and 
homely  affair,  but  a  source  of  much  comfort  after  all. 
They  cleared  their  land  with  rapid  strokes  and  energetic 
will,  and,  living  upon  it  until  the  spring  of  1861,  sold  it 
for  two  thousand  dollars,  and  with  the  proceeds  purchased 
a  fine  farm  containing  sixty-five  acres  of  improved  land  two 
miles  eastward.  To  that  purchase  they  made  additions  until 
1865,  when  the  farm  comprised  no  less  than  three  hundred 
and  forty  acres.  In  1865,  Mr.  Colby  began  his  prepara- 
tions for  the  erection  of  a  new  brick  residence,  and  in  1870 
completed  the  beautiful  home  he  now  occupies,  illustrated, 
as  will  be  seen,  in  an  accompanying  sketch. 

Elizabeth  (Williams)  Colby  is  the  daughter  of  Peter 
Williams,  a  Virginian,  a  veteran  of  the  war  of  1812,  and 
an  early  resident  in  Shenandoah  County,  where  he  followed 
the  business  of  gunmaking,  dealt  also  in  cattle  and  horses, 
and  owned  moreover  a  farm  of  six  hundred  acres.  Strongly 
anti-slavery  in  his  principles,  he  declined  to  remain  in  Vir- 
ginia beyond  1837,  when,  with  his  family  of  eleven  chil- 
dren, he  migrated  to  Yorktown,  Elkhart  Co.,  Ind.,  where 
William  Colby  met  and  married  Mr.  Williams'  daughter 
Elizabeth. 

The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Colby  number  four, 
as  follows :  Amanda  Jane,  born  Dec.  6,  1843 ;  Rebecca 
Ann,  born  Sept.  15,  1846;  D.  W.,  born  Aug.  11,  1850; 
Albert  Franklin,  born  Aug.  11,  1861. 


R.  B.  MESSER. 

R.  B.  Messer,  now  a  leading  merchant  in  Middleville, 
was  born  in  Carlton,  Barry  Co.,  Aug.  28,  1844.  His 
parents,  Isaac  and  Hannah  (Benson),  were  natives  respec- 
tively of  New  Hampshire  and  New  York,  and  were  mar- 
ried in  Jackson  Co.,  Mich.,  in  1836.  They  settled  directly 
afterwards  in  Orangeville,  Barry  Co.,  and  in  1839  became 
residents  of  Carlton,  where  they  made  their  home  upon 
eighty  acres  on  section  20,  and  experienced  in  common  with 
all  early  comers  the  vicissitudes,  hardships,  and  trials  of 
pioneers.  * 

R.  B.  Messer  remained  upon  his  father's  farm  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  eighteen,  when,  desirous  of  viewing 
more  of  the  world  in  which  he  lived,  he  set  out  upon  a 
tour  to  California,  and  journeyed  vid  the  Isthmus  of  Pan- 
ama. He  tarried  upon  the  Pacific  Slope  four  years,  passing 
his  time  chiefly  in  farming  in  Marine  and  Sonoma  Counties, 
Cal.,  and  when  he  returned  eastward  passed  again  vid  Cen- 
tral America.  Domiciled  once  more  in  Michigan,  he  at- 
tended Parsons'  College,  at  Sturgis,  and  in  the  winter  of 
1868,  purchasing  five  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Mason 
County,  moved  upon  the  place  in  1869.  A  year  spent 
thereon  was  quite  sufficient  to  satisfy  him,  and  at  the  end 
thereof  he  returned  to  Carlton  and  bought  one  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  of  the  old  Messer  homestead.  There  he 
resumed  the  life  of  an  agriculturist,  and  in  May,  1871, 
married  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  L. 
Sisson,  who  at  the  age  of  nine  removed  with  her  parents 
from  Huron  Co.,  Ohio,  to  Irving,  Barry  Co.  Her  father 
is  now  a  resident  of  Hastings. 

In  1876,  by  reason  of  his  wife's  failing  health,  Mr. 
Messer  concluded  to  give  up  the  arduous  duties  of  the 
husbandman,  and,  removing  to  Middleville  with  his  family, 
engaged  in  the  business  of  selling  agricultural  implements. 
This  trade  he  has  steadily  pursued  since  1876,  and  with 
constantly  expanding  success. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Messer  have  but  one  child,  Gracie  E.,  born 
March  21,  1873. 


L  N.  KEELER. 
To  I.  N.  Keeler  belongs  the  distinction  of  having  been 
the  pioneer  merchant  in  Middleville,  and  the  further  dis- 
tinction of  having  been  closely  and  vigorously  associated  with 
the  general  progress  of  that  village  since  its  foundation. 
He  was  born  in  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  17,  1822,  his 
father,  Isaac,  being  of  American  birth,  and  his  mother, 
Clarissa  (Althouse),  of  German  nativity,  and  was  fourth  in 
a  family  of  six  children.  Young  Isaac  lost  his  father  at? 
the  age  of  nine,  and  soon  thereafter  he  went  to  live  with 
Nathaniel  Mead,  of  Saratoga  County,  and  with  him  re- 
moved to  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  gained  a  livelihood 
until  sixteen  years  of  age  as  a  farm-hand.  After  that,  for 
five  years,  he  lived  in  Saratoga  County,  and  by  laboring 
during  the  summers  and  attending  school  in  the  winters  he 
laid  the  foundation  of  a  substantial  practical  education  that 
served  him  to  excellent  purpose  in  after-years.  After  at- 
taining his  majority  he  continued  to  reside  in  Saratoga 
County  until  the  fall  of  1849,  industriously  pursuing  the 


F.    W.  CO  LLINS. 


¥.  W.  COLLINS. 


F.  W.  Collins  comes  of  Revolutionary  stock,  and  was  born 
in  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  16,  1826.  His  father,  Moores  F. 
Collins,  was  a  native  of  Windsor,  Vt.,  and  in  early  childhood 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.  Life  upon  his 
father's  farm  was  the  familiar  feature  of  his  early  manhood,  but, 
more  fortunate  than  many  of  his  fellows,  he  received  the  bene- 
fits of  an  excellent  education,  and  among  his  classmates  was 
one  who  became  afterwards  Governor  De  Witt  Clinton.  In 
after-years  Collins  received  from  Governor  Clinton  a  commission 
as  colonel  in  the  State  militia,  and  was  with  Gen.  Winfield 
Scott  at  the  battle  of  Lundy's  Lane.  At  the  time  of  his  death 
in  Ann  Arbor,  in  1878,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four,  he  was  sup- 
posed to  be  the  last  of  the  valiant  band  that  fought  under  Scott 
in  that  memorable  engagement.  Incidental  to  his  experience 
as  colonel  of  the  militia,  it  is  related  that  at  a  general  muster 
he  had  a  controversy  with  his  adjutant,  and,  as  an  outcome,  it 
was  arranged  to  settle  the  difference  by  a  duel.  One  of  Col- 
lins' seconds  was  his  uncle,  who,  seeking  to  avert  bloodshed 
and  give  a  harmonious  ending  to  the  proposed  tragedy,  contrived 
to  have  the  dueling  ground  fixed  upon  a  hill-top.  The  princi- 
pals were  placed  back  to  back,  with  pistols  in  hands,  and  in- 
structions to  march  ten  paces  forward,  wheel  and  fire.  Marching 
forward  the  required  distance,  they  wheeled,  and  lo !  the  hill-top 
intervened  between  them,  and  to  each  the  circumstance  pre- 
sented itself  in  such  a  ridiculous  light  that  they  forswore  their 


enmity  upon  the  spot,  made  up  their  quarrel,  and  were  firm 
friends  ever  after. 

Col.  Collins  migrated  in  1835  from  New  York  to  Wash- 
tenaw Co.,  Mich.,  and  there  F.  W.  Collins  passed  the  years  until 
he  reached  his  majority,  dividing  his  time  meanwhile  between 
attending  school,  working  upon  his  father's  farm,  and  teaching 
the  village  school.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  located  a  piece 
of  school  land  in  Pulaski  township,  Jackson  Co.,  and  two  years 
later  married  Mary  McDowell,  of  Washtenaw  County,  to  which 
place  her  parents  had  come  in  1824,  among  the  first  of  the 
pioneers  in  that  county.  In  1854  Mr.  Collins  changed  his  resi- 
dence to  Allegan  County,  where,  in  the  town  of  Leighton,  he 
occupied  a  farm  untU  1868,  when  he  settled  upon  a  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acre  tract  in  Thornapple  township,  and  to  that 
haa  since  added  two  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  so  that  he  has 
now  an  extensive  and  handsomely  appointed  farm.  Bepubli- 
canism  is  his  political  faith,  and  on  numerous  occasions  he  has 
been  called  upon  to  serve  his  fellow-citizens  in  an  official  capa- 
city. He  sat  in  the  State  Legislature  during  the  session  of  1873, 
and  again  in  1874,  during  the  extra  session  called  for  a  revision 
of  the  State  Constitution.  As  supervisor  he  has  served  an  ag- 
gregate of  seventeen  years  in  the  counties  in  which  he  has  re- 
sided. He  has  reared  a  family  of  four  children, — two  boys  and 
two  girls, — and,  surrounded  by  the  comforts  of  an  elegant  home, 
pursues  the  even  tenor  of  his  life-long  industrious  experience. 


THOKNAPPLE  TOWNSHIP. 


497 


occupations  of  farmer  and  carpenter.  Then  he  determined 
to  venture  into  broader  fields,  and,  casting  about  for  a  prom- 
ising location,  fixed  upon  the  State  of  Michigan.  He  tar- 
ried for  a  while  in  Prairieville,  where  his  brother  was  in 
trade  as  a  merchant,  and  in  the  spring  of  1850  pushed  over 
to  the  then  infant  village  of  Middleville,  in  Barry  County, 
and  there  opened  the  first  store  known  in  Middleville  his- 
tory. His  first  stock  of  goods,  purchased  on  a  capital  of 
three  hundred  dollars,  was  brought  from  New  York  to 
Galesburg,  vid  lake  and  railroad,  and  thence  transported  by 
wagons  to  Middleville,  a  distance  of  thirty-three  miles, 
through  a  new  country  and  over  bad  roads  or  at  times  no 
roads  at  all.  Mr.  Keeler,  keeping  pace  in  his  enterprise 
with  the  growth  of  the  village,  continued  to  be  its  leading 
merchant  until  1858,  when  he  retired  from  active  trade 
participation  to  an  eighty-acre  farm,  just  north  of  the 
village,  which  he  enlarged  to  three  hundred  and  eighty 
acres,  of  which  he  sold  one  hundred  and  five  acres,  includinjr 
his  buildings,  and  rebuilt  at  his  present  location,  at  the  head 
of  Grand  Rapids  Street.  He  continued  after  his  retirement, 
and  continues  to  this  day,  to  retain  business  interests  in  the 
village.  He  purchased  a  part  proprietorship  in  Wright's 
block,  upon  the  erection  thereof,  and  later  he  bought  the 
entire  property.  Since  1858  he  has  trafficked  extensively 
in  real  estate,  and  pursued,  in  short,  business  enterprises  of 
.various  kinds  with  such  success  that  he  occupies  at  this 
time  a  prominent  place  among  the  wealthy  capitalists  of  the 
county.  From  the  position  of  an  humble  trader,  in  1850, 
with  barely  capital  enough  to  give  him  a  start  in  the  forest 
hamlet,  he  has  risen  by  the  sheer  force  of  energy  and  perse- 
vering industry  to  independent  wealth,  and  to  each  of  his 
sons,  as  he  has  come  of  age,  he  has  been  easily  enabled  to 
give  abundant  worldly  goods  to  insure  a  prosperous  business 
career.  In  June,  1851,  Mr.  Keeler  married  Harriet  E. 
Ellsworth,  born  in  Windsor,  Vt.,  Jan.  19,  1832,  orphaned 
at  the  age  of  six  months,  adopted  by  Augustus  Pease,  and 
residing  successively  in  Ohio  and  Michigan.  She  began 
when  quite  young  to  teach  school,  and  as  a  teacher  in  Michi- 
gan filled  that  useful  field  until  her  marriage.  Of  their 
six  children  four  still  live.  Isaac  H.,T)orn  June  22,  1856, 
is  now  in  company  with  his  father  doing,  to  all  appearances, 
a  successful  retail  dry  goods  and  general  merchandise  busi- 
ness, which  is  entirely  in  his  charge  ;  William  E.,  Aug.  28, 
1859  ;  Miner  S.,  Oct.  18,  1862  ;  and  George  L.,  April  8, 
1865.  Edwin  A.,  born  Sept.  26,  1853,  died  March  24, 
1877  ;  a  daughter,  born  April  10,  1858,  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  Keeler  has  won  a  worthy  name  as  an  honorable  mer- 
chant and  upright  citizen,  not  only  in  his  adopted  home, 
but  throughout  Barry  County.  Integrity  and  honesty  have 
been  the  watchwords  of  his  business  career  and  the  stepping- 
stones  to  his  success.  He  has  labored  faithfully  to  gather 
the  fruits  of  earnest  toil  and  manly  action,  and  in  the  even- 
inw  of  life  enjoys  to  the  full  a  well-won  reward. 


DR.  AMOS  HANLON. 

Among  the  well-known  and  skillful  physicians  of  Barry 
County,  Dr.  Amos  Hanlon,  of  Middleville,  occupies  a  de- 
servedly prominent  place.      He  was  born  at  Niagara  Falls, 
63 


Canada,  July  1,  1842,  of  Irish  and  American  parentage, 
his  father,  Dennis  B.,  having  emigrated  from  Ireland  to 
Quebec,  Canada,  in  1825.  His  mother,  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, went  to  Canada  in  1800,  and  is  now  eighty-three 
years  old.  The  elder  Hanlon  came  of  an  aristocratic  Irish 
family,  and,  being  a  young  man  of  excellent  education, 
became,  upon  his  arrival  in  Canada,  a  school-teacher, — a 
pursuit  that  he  followed  several  years.  He  was  intended 
by  his  parents  for  the  Catholic  ministry,  but  he  preferred 
Protestantism,  and  during  his  life  in  Canada  occupied 
several  places  of  important  public  trust  under  the  govern- 
ment up  to  his  death,  in  1865.  Upon  the  cessation  of  his 
common-school  studies  young  Amos  took  up  the  study  of 
medicine  and  pursued  it  in  Canada  until  prepared  to  grad- 
uate. He  determined,  however,  to  become  ultimately  a 
practicing  physician  in  the  "  States,"  and  to  that  end  en- 
tered the  Ann  Arbor  University  as  a  member  of  the  class 
of  1867-68.  Graduating,  he  returned  to  Canada,  and  for 
a  year  studied,  while  he  also  practiced.  In  1869  he  located 
as  a  physician  in  Bay  Co.,  Mich.,  and  in  October  of  that 
year,  discovering  a  more  inviting  field,  passed  over  to  Mid- 
dleville, where  he  has  been  a  practitioner  continuously  since 
1869. 

Dr.  Hanlon  conceives  it  to  be  important  for  a  physi- 
cian to  continue  in  diligent  study  even  while  in  practice, 
and  that  principle  he  has  practically  maintained  and  still 
maintains.  During  the  winter  of  1875-76  he  attended  a 
course  of  study  at  the  Hahnemann  Medical  College  and 
Cook  County  Hospital  of  Illinois,  and  received  a  doctor's 
degree.  He  received  also  an  honorary  degree  from  the 
Chicago  Homoeopathic  College,  and  these  valuable  college 
and  hospital  experiences  he  proposes  to  follow,  after  a 
two  years'  interval,  with  a  winter  at  Bellevue  Hospital,  in 
New  York.  In  recognition  of  his  skillful  proficiency  he 
has  been  tendered  a  chair  in  one  of  the  medical  colleges  of 
Canada,  but  this  honor  he  was  forced  to  decline,  because 
he  preferred  to  remain  where  he  had  made  his  professional 
reputation,  and  where  his  large  practice  made  it  his  duty 
to  remain.  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Hanlon  was  born  in  Michigan 
in  1850,  and  married  Dr.  Hanlon  in  July,  1878.  Her 
father,  Oliver  A.  Lewis,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and 
her  mother,  Eliza,  born  in  Connecticut,  became  Michigan 
pioneers  in  1835,  in  the  town  of  Dryden,  Lapeer  Co., 
where  Mr.  Lewis  still  lives. 


J.  C.  BRAY. 


The  parents  of  J.  C.  Bray  were  John  and  Joanna 
(Sweazy)  Bray,  natives  of  Sussex  Co.,  N.  J.,  and  about 
the  year  1820  settlers  in  Dumfries,  Brant  Co.,  Canada. 
In  that  place  J.  C.  Bray  was  born,  May  26,  1832,  and 
there  made  his  home  until  he  reached  his  twenty-second 
year,  when,  receiving  from  his  father  one  thousand  dollars 
as  his  portion,  he  decided  to  become  a  Michigan  pioneer, 
and,  purchasing  in  the  spring  of  1855  a  partially  improved 
eighty-acre  lot  on  section  28,  in  Thornapple  township, 
Barry  Co.,  made  a  permanent  settlement  thereon.  His 
first  habitation  was  a  12  by  16  board  shanty,  with  but  one 
window  and  one  door,  and  in  this  primitive  structure  he 


498 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


opened  "  bachelor's  hall."  During  the  first  twelve  months 
of  his  occupancy  he  cleared  and  broke  considerable  land, 
when,  receiving  a  good  oifer  for  the  property,  he  sold  it, 
remaining,  however,  long  enough  to  take  ofi'  the  crops 
which  had  been  reserved.  Subsequently  he  visited  Illinois, 
Iowa,  Wisconsin,  Kansas,  and  Missouri  in  search  of  a  new 
location,  but  returned  eventually  to  Michigan  and  settled 
in  Johnstown  township,  Barry  Co.,  upon  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  in  section  17.  At  the  close  of  a  two  years' 
residence  in  Johnstown  he  disposed  of  his  place  and  bought 
an  eighty-acre  farm  in  section  28,  Thornapple  township, 
about  fifty  acres  being  partially  improved.  He  set  at  once 
about  the  work  of  improving  the  place.  He  replaced  the 
dwelling  with  a  substantial  and  imposing  edifice,  put  out 
additional  orchards,  added  by  and  by  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  more  to  his  first  purchase,  and  continued  to 
steadily  improve  the  appointments  of  his  possession,  until 
he  owns  to-day  one  of  the  best  farms  in  Thornapple,  a 
sketch  of  which,  as  well  as  his  residence,  will  be  found  in 
this  book.  April  27,  1867,  Mr.  Bray  married  Mrs.  Har- 
riet E.  Johnson,  widow  of  Amos  H.  Johnson,  M.D. 
Mrs.  Bray  (whose  maiden  name  was  Harriet  E.  Leek) 
was  born  in  Catlln  township,  Schuyler  Co.,  N.  Y.,  July 
19,  1834.  Mr.  Bray  has  long  been  actively  connected 
with  the  Barry  County  Agricultural  Society,  and,  as  its 
president  and  superintendent  during  several  terms,  con- 
tributed largely  towards  the  society's  present  flourishing 
condition.  Mr.  Bray  is  in  politics  a  Republican,  but  he 
is  in  no  sense  a  politician.  The  cares  of  his  business  de- 
mand his  whole  attention,  and  he  prefers  to  the  empty 
honors  of  a  political  life  the  consciousness  that  he  is  re- 
spected by  his  fellow-citizens  as  one  who  joins  with  them 
in  prosperously  maintaining  the  substantial  interests  of  the 
community  in  which  he  lives.  He  is,  moreover,  a  staunch 
advocate  of  temperance  principles,  and  in  their  behalf  he 
is  always  foremost  in  lending  the  influence  of  his  voice 
and  example. 


GEORGE   CISLER. 

About  the  year  1780,  George  Cisler,  a  native  and  resi- 
dent of  Germany,  conceived  a  desire  to  emigrate  to  Amer- 
ica, but  so  poor  was  he  that  to  furnish  sufiicient  money  to 
pay  his  passage  was  for  him  an  impossible  task.  In  this 
emergency  he  ofiered  to  mortgage  himself  to  a  ship  captain 
for  the  price  of  his  passage,  and  upon  such  terms  was  car- 
ried over  sea  to  the  New  World.  In  the  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania he  made  his  first  habitation,  and  there,  by  labor- 
ijng  for  the  owners  of  the  vessel  that  had  brought  him  over, 
soon  discharged  their  claim  upon  him.  His  after-life  he 
spent  in  Pennsylvania,  and  at  his  death  left  a  family  of  six 
children,  of  whom  the  youngest  (Huston)  married,  upon 
reaching  manhood.  Miss  Rachel  Scott,  of  English  parent- 
age, and  reared  in  his  turn  a  family  of  six  children,  includ- 
ing, like  his  fatlier's,  four  boys  and  two  girls.  Huston  Cisler, 
with  a  portion  of  his  family,  removed  in  1830  to  Washte- 
naw Co.,  Mich.,  and  afler  spending  six  years  there  as  a 
pioneer  migrated  to  Irving  township,  in  Barry  County,  Where 
he  took  charge  of  the  farm  of  Albert  E.  Bull.  George 
Cisler,  one  of  his  sons  (born  in  Lycoming  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct. 


28,  1821),  who  had  not  moved  westward  with  the  family, 
joined  his  father  at  Mr.  Bull's  place  in  1837.  In  Irving 
he  stopped  until  1844,  and  labored  here  and  there  as  a  farm- 
hand. In  1844  he  purchased  with  his  savings  a  forty  acre 
tract  of  wild  land  upon  section  28,  in  Thornapple  town- 
ship, and  in  1845  took  up  a  permanent  residence  upon  it. 
In  common  with  all  pioneers,  he  encountered  all  the  hard- 
ships and  privations  incident  to  life  in  the  West  at  that 


GEORGE   CISLER. 

day  ;  but  a  strong  constitution  and  ardent  ambition  gave 
him  strength  to  sustain  his  labors  and  to  acquire  eventually 
a  handsomely-improved  farm  of  two  hundred  and  eighty 
acres.  Recently  he  has  disposed  of  some  of  his  land,  and  has 
now  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  containing  substantial 
and  commodious  farm -buildings,  fine  orchards,  etc.  In 
1852  Mr.  Cisler  married  Helen  M.  Stephens,  by  whom  he 
had  four  children,  of  whom  but  one  (Frank  A.)  is  livin". 
Mrs.  Cisler  died  in  1861,  and  in  1865  Mr.  Cisler  married 
for  his  second  wife  Elizabeth  A.  Warfield,  widow  of  Wil- 
liam Warfleld,  who  lost  his  life  in  the  military  service  of 
the  United  States.  Of  the  last  union  have  been  born  two 
children,  Martha  G.,  Sept.  5,  1868,  and  George  T.,  Jan. 
25,  1877.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Cisler  died  May  6,  1880.  Mr. 
Cisler  has  ever  stood  in  the  foremost  rank  among  the 
industrious  and  prosperous  farmers  of  Thornapple  town- 
ship, and  amid  the  busy  cares  of  existence  he  has  found 
neither  time  nor  inclination  to  seek  political  distinction. 
He  is  content  to  fill  with  credit  the  place  in  the  social 
sphere  to  which  events  have  assigned  him,  and  wisely  be- 
lieves that  in  such  a  field,  well  cultivated,  one  may  win 
more  honors  and  greater  esteem  than  in  the  broadest  area 
ever  embraced  in  a  political  career. 


JOHN   CARVETH. 
The  parents  of  John  Carveth,  of  whom  this  article  will 
treat,  were  Edward  and  Emeline  (Brant)  Carveth.    John, 
the  second  in  a  family  of  four  children,  was  born  in  Saranae, 


THOKNAPPLE  TOWNSHIP. 


499 


Ionia  Co.,  Mich.,  March  12,  1841,  and  resided  in  Ionia 
County  until  he  reached  his  twelfth  year.  He  obtained 
his  education  upon  his  father's  farm  and  at  school.  At  the 
age  of  twelve  he  removed  with  his  father  to  Jlonroe  Co., 
Mich.,  and  four  years  after  that  his  father  died,  aged  fifty- 
nine.  Between  the  ages  of  sixteen  and  twenty  John  passed 
his  time  in  educational  pursuits,  as  school-pupil,  and  later 
as  school-teacher.  In  1866  he  entered  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness in  Lowell,  Mich.,  and,  abandoning  it  at  the  end  of 
a  year,  commenced  the  study  of  the  law  at  Middlevillc. 
In  1868  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  since  then  he 
,has  been  steadily  engaged  in  a  Fuccessful  law  practice.  Mr. 
Carveth  is  esteemed  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  capable 
attorneys  in  Barry  County,  and  during  his  comparatively 
brief  legal  career  has  accumulated  through  his  professional 
labors  a  handsome  competence.  His  profession  is  his  pride, 
and,  although  he  has  enjoyed  political  distinction,  he  pre- 
fers to  abide  within  the  sphere  of  his  professional  callings 
and  win  all  his  honors  there. 

Of  his  father's  children  there  are  three  living.  William, 
the  eldest,  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight,  leaving  a  widow 
and  two  children,  who  have  been  provided  for  since  Wil- 
liam's death  by  his  brother  John.  The  latter  was  the  second 
of  his  father's  children.  Hamilton,  the  third,  resides  upon 
his  brother  John's  farm,  one  and  a  half  miles  from  Middle- 
ville.  Margaret,  the  fourth,  is  the  wife  of  George  Hart,  of 
Keene,  Ionia  Co. 

Mr.  John  Carveth's  family  consists  of  his  wife  and  three- 
year-old  daughter.  Mrs.  Carveth  is  the  daughter  of  Aaron 
and  Mercy  Clark,  the  latter  now  a  resident  of  Grand  Rapids. 
Mr.  Carveth's  mother,  aged  seventy-four,  is  living  at  Mr. 
Carveth's  home,  in  Middleville. 


S.  B.  SMITH. 


Torrey  Smith  was  born  in  Crittenden  Co.,  Vt.,  in  the 
year  1800,  and  in  the  Green  Mountain  State  and  Western 
New  York  passed  thirty-six  years  of  his  life  amid  the  dis- 
turbing and  trying  events  which  be^et  the  pioneers  of  those 
localities  in  the  earlier  days.  Marrying  Jane  Eedden,  a 
native  of  County  Cavan,  Ireland,  he  determined  to  become 
a  Michigan  pioneer,  and  in  1836  settled  in  Ada,  Kent  Co., 
where  he  purchased  ninety  acres  of  wild  land,  and  where 
he  continued  to  live  until  his  death,  in  1871,  aged  seventy- 
one,  his  wife  having  died  there  about  two  years  before. 
At  the  first  election  held  after  the  organization  of  the 
Whig  party  he  cast  the  only  vote  polled  in  his  township 
by  that  party,  but  lived  long  enough  to  see  them  win  con- 
spicuous triumphs  after  all.  Of  his  nine  children  six  are 
now  living,  viz.,  Charles  (present  residence  unknown) ; 
Alvira,  widow  of  the  late  Judge  Tracy,  of  Grand  Eapids ; 
Henry,  hotel  proprietor  at  Ada,  Mich.,  and  owner  of  the 
Smith  homestead ;  George,  a  farmer  of  Ravenna,  Muskegon 
Co.,  Mich. ;  Eliza,  now  Mrs.  Charles  Skellenger,  of  Ada, 
Kent  Co. ;  and  S.  B.  Smith,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  a 
prominent  merchant  in  Middleville,  Barry  Co.,  Mich. 

The  latter  was  born  in  Genesee  township  (now  the  sub- 
urbs of  the  city  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.),  Aug.  31,  1826,  and 


at  the  age  of  twenty-one  began  to  build  his  fortunes  by 
hiring  himself  by  the  month  for  farm  labor.  He  was  still 
pursuing  the  even  tenor  of  a  farmer-hand  when,  in  1861, 
the  first  gun  in  the  Southern  Rebellion  sounded  from  Fort 
Sumter.  Prompt  to  the  call  for  three  months'  men  he 
enlisted,  April  23d  of  that  year,  in  Company  A,  Third 
Michigan  Infantry.  Before  the  regiment  was  ready  to 
leave  for  the  seat  of  war,  notification  was  received  from 
the  Governor  that  men  were  desired  for  (hxee  years,  and 
upon  that  announcement  nearly  every  man  in  the  Third 
re-enlisted  for  that  term  of  service.  The  regiment  pro- 
ceeded to  Washington,  reaching  there  June  16th,  Smith 
being  then  a  corporal  of  the  color-guard  of  the  command. 

The  first  engagement  participated  in  by  the  Third  took 
place  at  Blackburn's  Ford,  July  18,  1861,  and  on  the  21st 
there  was  the  second  conflict  at  the  same  place.  Then 
followed  the  affairs  of  Mason's  Cross-Roads,  Munson's 
Hill,  Yorktown,  Williamsburg,  Fair  Oaks,  and  Chicka- 
hominy.  At  the  latter  engagement,  which  was  fought 
May  31,  1862,  Smith  received  a  musket-ball  through  the 
neck  and  right  shoulder,  a  second  in  the  right  lung,  where 
it  still  reposes,  and  a  third  through  the  left  hip,  while  no 
less  than  thirteen  balls  passed  through  his  coat.  Into  that 
memorable  action  the  Third  Michigan  was  led  by  Gen. 
Phil.  Kearney,  and  bore  itself  in  a  gallant  and  glorious 
manner.  Among  the  wounded  conveyed  from  the  field 
was  Smith,  who,  along  with  other  similar  victims  of  the 
conflict,  was  at  White  House  Landing  put  aboard  a  vessel 
and  shipped  to  Fortress  Monroe.  Just  before  the  fortress 
was  reached.  Smith  learned  that  those  of  the  wounded 
considered  able  to  stand  the  journey  were  to  be  taken  to 
hospital  at  New  York  City,  while  the  residue  were  to  be 
left  at  Fortress  Monroe.  He,  being  considered  badly  hurt, 
was  set  aside  for  the  latter  place,  but  he  was  more  anxious 
to  go  to  New  York,  and  by  the  judicious  expenditure  of 
five  dollars  induced  some  soldiers  to  tran.sfer  his  cot  to  the 
party  intended  for  that  point.  So  he  reached  the  metrop- 
olis, and  after  a  brief  stay  in  the  hospital  at  that  point  was 
conveyed  by  his  friends  to  Michigan,  where  he  remained 
until  the  following  August.  On  the  19th  of  that  month 
he  reported  again  for  duty,  and  found  his  regiment  with 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  under  Gen.  Pope.  Directly 
thereafter  the  command  was  concerned  in  the  advance  from 
Warrenton  Junction,  and  was  in  a  continuous  skirmish 
with  the  enemy  until  the  advance  reached  Groveton,  or 
field  of  the  second  Bull  Run  fight,  where  a  two  days' 
engagement  ensued,  and  this  on  the  third  day  was  followed 
by  the  fight  at  Chantilly,  where  Gen.  Kearney  met  his 
death.  Later  the  regiment  fought  under  Burnside  at 
Fredericksburg,  Dec.  13,  1862,  and  for  gallant  services  on 
that  field  Smith  was  commissioned  second  lieutenant,  and 
assigned  to  the  command  of  Company  D. 

The  Third  Michigan  encamped  at  Falmouth  during  the 
winter  of  1862-63  with  Burnside's  command,  and  took 
part  in  several  skirmishes,  but  none  of  these  were  fruitful 
save  in  loss  of  men.  Lieut.  Smith  was  with  his  regiment 
under  Hooker  at  Chancellorsville,  took  part  in  the  action 
of  the  previous  night,  in  which  Stonewall  Jackson  was 
killed,  and  at  Chancellorsville,  on  the  30th  of  May,  1863, 
had  his  leflb  leg  carried  away  by  a  twelve-pound  shot.     His 


500 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


leg  was  amputated  upon  the  field  of  battle,  and  in  due 
time  he  was  transferred  to  hospital  at  Alexandria.  When 
recovered  suiBciently  to  undertake  the  journey  he  obtained 
a  sixty  days'  leave,  and  visited  his  Michigan  home  for  a 
season  of  recuperation.  While  at  home  he  received  noti- 
fication of  his  transfer  to  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps.  He 
was  assigned  to  duty  at  the  Judiciary  Square  Hospital, 
Washington,  D.  C,  and  commissioned  captain  by  President 
Lincoln  (the  commission  being  now  in  his  possession).  He 
remained  on  duty  in  Washington  until  August,  1865,  and 
was  then  transferred  to  Fairfax  Co.,  Va.,  where  he  took 
charge  of  the  interests  of  the  freedmen  over  a  district 
covering  that  portion  of  Virginia  lying  between  the  Rap- 
pahannock and  Potomac  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  Alexandria 
excepted,  with  headquarters  at  Leesburg,  Loudon  Co. 
Capt.  Smith  was,  moreover,  in  charge  of  affairs  incident 
to  the  reconstruction  of  Virginia,  and  under  his  direction 
the  reconstructed  State  held  its  first  election. 


In  that  field  of  duty  he  remained  until  Nov.  16,  1868, 
when  he  retired  permanently  from  public  service  to  the  old 
homestead  at  Ada,  having  meanwhile  married,  Sept.  3, 
1866,  Miss  Mariana  Sutton,  of  Flint  Hill  farm,  Fairfax 
Court-Housc,  Va.  Upon  his  return  to  Michigan  he  be- 
came the  editor  of  the  Lowell  Journal,  and  after  an  edi- 
torial life  of  a  year  entered  upon  the  business  of  lumber 
dealing  and  milling  at  Lowell,  which  he  discontinued  in 
August,  1872,  to  engage  in  the  September  following  in  the 
hardware  trade  at  Middleville.  In  1877  he  added  to  that 
business  that  of  dealing  in  agricultural  implements,  in 
which  he  carries  on  now  one  of  the  most  flourishing  and 
extended  of  all  similar  branches  of  trade  in  Barry  County. 

Of  eight  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  seven 
are  living,  viz. :  Florence  and  Frank,  born  in  Virginia ; 
Gracie  and  Sidney,  born  in  Lowell;  Frederick,  Blanche, 
and  Jessie  in  Middleville.  Willie,  who  was  born  in  Mid- 
dleville, died  February,  1875. 


woodland; 


Township  4  north,  in  range  7  west,  known  since  Feb. 
16,  1842,  as  Woodland,  occupies  the  northeastern  corner  of 
Barry  County,  and  has  the  Ionia  county-line  on  the  north, 
Castleton  township  on  the  south,  the  Eaton  county-line  on 
the  east,  and  Carlton  township  on  the  west.  The  town- 
ship occupies  high  ground,  and  of  its  23,040  acres  but  646 
are  occupied  by  "  waste-lands,"  most  of  these  being  covered 
by  a  portion  of  Jordan  Lake,  which  penetrates  the  township 
on  section  4.  The  surface  of  the  country  is  generally  level, 
and  from  almost  any  point  one  may  obtain  for  miles  around 
a  charming  view  of  one  of  the  handsomest  agricultural 
districts  in  the  State. 

Agriculturally,  Woodland  stands  at  the  head  of  all  the 
townships  in  Barry.  The  soil  is  remarkably  productive  and 
varied  in  character.  For  fruit,  wheat,  and  vegetables  it  is 
especially  noted,  and  that  the  pursuit  of  farming  is  a  prof- 
itable occupation  goes  without  saying.  Indeed,  handsome 
and  substantial  farm-houses  and  wide-reaching  farms  are  in 
Woodland  the  rule  rather  than  the  exception.  Its  people 
are  prosperous,  and  need  but  a  railway  through  the  town- 
ship to  make  them  doubly  so. 

Woodland  is  also  famous  for  containing  within  its 
borders  more  church  buildings  by  far  than  can  be  boasted 
by  any  other  township  in  the  county.  Nine  temples  of 
worship  are  inclosed  by  its  lines,  while  upon  its  south  and 
west,  in  Hastings,  Castleton,  and  Carlton,  are  three  more, 
liberally  supported  by  Woodland  people,  and  the  erection 
of  still  another  edifice  is  in  contemplation  in  the  "  Canada" 
settlement. 

Many  of  Woodland's  best  and  most  prosperous  farmers 
are  Germans,  who  for  thrift  and  industry  are  famous  far  and 

*  By  David  Schwartz. 


near.  They  came  to  the  town  as  early  as  1846,  and  now 
form  a  community  not  only  strong  in  numbers,  but  import- 
ant in  wealth. 

PIONEER  HISTORY. 
THE  THREE  BACHELORS. 

The  township  of  Woodlaad  was  opened  to  the  advance 
of  the  army  of  civilization  in  the  autumn  of  1837,  by 
Charles  Galloway,  Jonathan  Haight,  and  Samuel  S.  Haight. 
The  latter  has  passed  from  the  stage  of  life,  but  the  first 
two  still  live  in  the  township,  of  which  they  have  been  hon- 
ored citizens  since  they  first  struck  their  axes  into  the  trunks 
of  Woodland's  forest  monarchs,  forty-three  years  ago. 

These  three  were  young  bachelors  when  in  1836  they 
met  in  Livingston  Co.,  Mich.,  each  eager  to  participate  in 
the  great  work  of  pioneering  in  the  West.  Pending  the 
arrangement  of  some  plan  to  further  this  interest,  Samuel 
Haight  and  Galloway  pushed  on  to  Ionia  County,  where 
they  secured  employment  with  a  carpenter,  and  in  April, 
1837,  being  joined  there  by  Jonathan  Haight,  they  agreed 
to  start  with  the  latter  on  a  land-looking  tour.  Isaac  Knapp, 
who  had  been  through  Barry  County,  suggested  to  them 
that  township  4  north,  in  range  7  west,  then  an  unbroken 
forest,  offered  fine  inducements  to  the  pioneer,  and  into 
that  town  the  three  bachelors  penetrated  in  company. 
Timbered  land  was  what  they  sought,  and  timbered  land  for- 
sooth they  found  in  township  4  so  much  to  their  tast«  that 
they  promptly  made  locations  therein, — Jonathan  Haight  on 
the  southwest  quarter,  Samuel  Haight  on  the  west  half  of  the 
northeast  quarter,  and  Galloway  on  the  west  half  of  the 
southeast  quarter,  all  on  section  15.  It  was  in  May,  1837, 
that  they  made  this  visit,  and  all  hands  returned  at  once 
to  Portland,  Ionia  Co.     There  Samuel  Haight  and  Gallo- 


WOODLAND   TOWNSHIP. 


501 


way  resumed  their  carpentering,  while  Jonathan  Haight, 
meeting  Isaac  Knapp  there,  agreed  to  return  to  town  4 
with  the  latter,  who  was  going  over  to  look  at  some  land 
he  owned  on  section  17.  To  stay  them  on  their  journey 
they  carried  a  bag  of  provisions  and  a  bushel  of  potatoes. 

Knapp  and  Haight  camped  on  section  17  long  enough  to 
chop  an  acre  or  so,  throwing  the  parings  of  the  potatoes, 
upon  which  they  subsisted  during  their  stay,  upon   the 
ground    and    covering   them    with   leaves.      Knapp   and 
Haight  then  returned  to  the  haunts  of  civilization,  but  in 
pursuance  of  previous  agreement  the  two  Haights  and  Gal- 
loway met  at  Scott's,  in  Clinton  County,  in  Oeteber  of  that 
year,  equipped  with  a  supply  of  provisions,  and  otherwise 
prepared  to  venture  into  township  4  for  a  permanent  settle- 
ment.    They  journeyed  vid  the  river  in  a  canoe  to  Port- 
land, capsized  their  craft,  and  lost  some  of  their  supplies, 
but  reached  Portland  alive.     At  Portland  they  hired  a 
Mr.  Kilburn  to  carry  their  goods  across  the  country  with 
an  ox-team,  and  for  the  entire  journey  of  twenty-two  miles 
through  the  woods   Samuel   Haight  marched  ahead  with 
compass  and  tomahawk  "  blazing"  a  route,  while  Jonathan 
Haight  and  Galloway  followed  with  axes  cutting  out  a  road 
for  Kilburn's  conveyance.      After  a  two  days'  trip  they 
reached  their  destination,  Oct.  14,  1837,  and  that  night 
slept  under  a  bark  shanty,  which  Samuel   Haight  had  put 
up  on  his  piece  of  land  during  the  summer,  in  anticipation 
of  the  move  in  the  fall. 

The  shanty  had,  for  the  sake  of  room  and  convenience, 
been  built  over  a  depression  in  the  ground,  and  into  this 
inviting  place  the  four  tired  travelers  crept  to  sleep  the 
sweet  sleep  of  the  just,  only,  however,  to  be  riidely  awak- 
ened during  the  night  to  the  conviction  that  a  heavy  rain- 
storm had  deluged  their  bed-chamber  and  converted  their 
bed  into  a  lake.  The  rest  of  the  night  they  spent  in  a  vain 
search  for  dry  spots  in  their  habitation.  Early  the  next 
mornin"  they  began  the  construction  of  a  better  domicile, 
and  by  nightfall  they  had  a  decently  comfortable  log  house. 
In  that  log  cabin  the  three  bachelors  lived  in  delight- 
ful harmony  three  years,  and  then,  one  of  their  number, 
Samuel  Haight,  marrying,  "bachelors'  hall"  became  a 
thing  of  the  past.  After  the  bachelors  got  their  cabin  up 
in  good  shape,  it  occurred  to  Jonathan  Haight  to  go  over 
to  Knapp's  chopping  and  see  what  the  potato  parings  had 
■yielded.  That  the  parings  had  done  exceedingly  well  was 
manifest  in  the  sight  of  a  fine-looking  potato-patch,  and 
"from  this  patch,"  says  Jonathan  Haight,  "we  dug  and 
carried  to  our  cabin  eighty  bushels  of  excellent  potatoes." 
After  housing  their  potatoes  and  killing  a  few  deer  the 
bachelors  set  about  the  work  of  clearing  land,  and  for  three 
months  worked  so  steadily  and  bravely  that  at  the  close 
of  that  time  they  had  chopped  30  acres. 

In  January,  1838,  they  returned  together  to  Livingston 
County  for  a  fresh  supply  of  provisions,  and,  coming  again 
to  their  bachelors'  hall,  in  March,  brought  with  them  a  pair 
of  oxen  and  two  cows.  Apropos  of  these  two  cows,  the 
bachelors  found  them  a  source  of  much  vexation  as  well  as 
comfort.  The  creatures  wandered  about,  of  course,  at  will, 
and  at  first  had  a  bad  habit  of  wandering  back  towards  the 
country  whence  they  had  been  brought.  When  upon  re- 
tiring at  night  the  bachelors  would  hear  the  jingling  of  the 


cow-bells  off  in  the  northeast,  they  knew  that  one  of  the 
three  would  have  to  set  out  at  daylight  the  next  morning 
to  bring  the  bovines  back  from  the  Grand  River,  whither 
they  were  sure  to  stray.  The  one  selected  to  make  the 
chase  would  be  off  at  break  of  day  on  a  twenty-two-mile 
jaunt  to  the  river  at  Portland,  and  there  overhauling  the 
cows  would  drive  them  home  at  a  lively  pace.  Such  an 
incident  was  a  common  occurrence,  and  upon  one  occasion, 
when  Samuel  Haight  made  the  trip,  he  was  gone  twenty- 
four  hours ;  living  during  that  time  on  milk  which  he  got 
from  the  cows,  and  using  his  hat  for  both  milking-pail  and 
drinking-cup. 

Mush  and  milk  was  a  favorite  diet,  and  in  the  preparation 
of  this,  as  well  as  of  most  of  the  dishes  they  consumed, 
Galloway  was  the  master-mind,  or  cook,  and  a  skillful  cook 
he  was,  too,  so  report  saith.     One  hot  July  day,  as  usual, 
he  was  boiling  a  pot  of  mush  in  the  rooniy  fireplace,  when, 
his  attention  being  drawn  to  "  something  white"  that  ap- 
peared to  be  falling  from  the  chimney  into  the  mush,  he 
called  out  to  Jonathan  Haight:  "Jonathan,  what's  that  drop- 
pins;  into  the  mush?     Looks  like  ashes,  don't  it?"     Jon- 
athan took  a  hasty  glance  and  said  :  "  Yes,  of  course,  that's 
ashes  ;"  and  then,  appalled  by  a  sudden  thought,  went  out 
upon  the  roof  and  inspected  a  saddle  of  venison  he  had  a 
few  days  before  hun^  in  the  chimney  to  be  smoked.     Just 
as  he  had  expected,  the  venison  had  succumbed  to  the  heat 
by  breeding  skippers,  and  under  the  influence  of  the  ascend- 
ing fire  the  skippers  had  loosed  their  hold  upon  the  venison  to 
drop  into  the  pot  of  mush  below.     The  "something  white" 
which  Galloway  thought  was  ashes  was  something  else  of 
not  quite  so   inviting  a  character.     Jonathan    concluded 
that  to  reveal  the  truth  would  be  to  condemn  the  mush 
to  destruction,  and,  as  mush  was   mush    those  days,  ob- 
tained after  much  tribulation  and  prized  accordingly,  he 
held  his  peace,  and  with  his  two  friends  dined  heartily 
upon  the  mush,  milk,  and  skippers.     He  told  them  the 
story,  however,  after  dinner,  and,  although  they  took  it 
sorely  to  heart  that  they  had  been  so  put  upon,  philosophy 
gave  them  resignation  to  the  belief  that  it  would  have  been 
"  a  sin  to  waste  the  mush  anyway. 

Galloway's  pioneer  bread,  made  of  salt,  flour,  and  water, 
had  a  most  extraordinary  faculty  for  growing  as  hard  as  a 
stone  after  being  baked  a  little  while,  and  when,  one  day, 
an  Indian  stole  a  half-loaf  from  the  cabin  during  the  ab- 
sence of  the  bachelors,  it  was  voted  that  no  pursuit  would 
be  made  of  him,  since  any  attempt  on  his  part  to  eat  the 
bread  would  recoil  upon  him  with  disastrous  eflFect,  and 
thus,  poetically,  his  sin  would  be  also  his  punishment. 

Jonathan  Haight  was  laid  up  for  a  time  with  an  axe- 
wound,  but,  getting  impatient  at  confinement,  ventured  out 
one  day,  although  quite  lame,  to  get  a  deer.  He  encount- 
ered a  fine  buck  and  shot  him,  but  when  he  sought  to  lay 
hold  of  him  his  buckship  proved  to  be  full  of  life,  and  ran 
away  until  he  fell  apparently  exhausted  in  a  "  cat-hole." 
Jonathan  sought  once  more  to  drag  him  by  the  heels,  when 
the  animal  showed  fight.  The  hunter  fled,  and  the  deer 
gave  such  hot  chase  that  the  crippled  young  man  had  hard 
work  to  escape  from  him.  The  buck,  however,  soon  weak- 
ened from  loss  of  blood,  and  ere  long  fell  and  gave  up  the 
ghost. 


502 


HISTORY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Among  the  many  recollections  recalled  by  Mr.  Galloway 
of  life  at  bachelors'  ball,  is  one  that  the  bachelors  used,  on 
the  warm  summer  days,  to  split  rails  stripped  to  the  skin, 
for  the  work  was  so  hard  and  the  weather  so  hot  that 
the  knowledge  of  the  fact  that  there  was  no  one  within 
miles  of  the  locality  readily  suggested  the  comforting  idea 
of  getting  along  without  such  annoyances  as  clothes.  Mr. 
Galloway  recalls  further  that  the  first  furrow  made  in  Wood- 
land was  made  by  him  on  Samuel  Haight's  place,  and,  still 
further,  the  fact  that  when  the  bachelors  went  to  Ionia  to 
mill  they  cut  out  a  road  every  step  of  the  way,  and,  still 
further,  that  when  one  of  a  pair  of  steers  broke  his  neck, 
the  owners  sent  word  to  the  settlers  that  beef  was  to  be 
given  away,  and  that  the  settlers  came  from  far  and  near 
for  the  promised  luxury,  and  carried  it  away  with  rejoicing 
and  thankful  hearts. 

As  before  mentioned,  the  bachelors  lived  together  until 
Samuel  Haight  married.  The  date  of  that  incident  was 
April  12,  1841,  and  Charlotte  Brown,  of  Danby,  Eaton 
Co.,  was  the  bride.  She  made  her  bridal-tour  from  Danby 
to  her  Woodland  home  upon  an  Indian  pony,  with  no 
trappings  upon  him  except  a  folded  blanket  in  place  of  a 
saddle  and  a  bark  halter.  Bachelors'  hall  received  the 
newly-married  pair,  and  there  they  made  their  home.  Gal- 
loway married,  in  1843,  one  of  Daniel  Hager's  daughters, 
and  they,  for  their  wedding-tour,  walked  through  the  woods 
from  the  home  of  the  bride's  father  to  the  bridegroom's 
cabin,  where  their  first  meal  was  eaten  from  a  table  made 
of  a  barrel  and  a  board. 

THE   HAGERS. 

The  next  settlers  in  Woodland  were  the  Hagers,  who 
located  upon  section  36,  in  the  spring  of  1838.  Daniel 
Hager  came  from  Pennsylvania  in  the  fall  of  1837,  to  Eaton 
County,  with  a  family  often  children,  of  whom  seven  were 
boys.  Of  the  latter,  W^illiam,  Joseph,  and  Daniel,  Jr., 
made  settlements  of  their  own  upon  section  36,  in  Wood- 
land, in  March,  1838.  In  their  neighborhood  fever  and 
ague  caused  much  tribulation  and  trouble.  For  three 
months  the  Hagers  and  everybody  about  them  were  so  gen- 
erally afflicted  with  the  sickness  that  there  were  not  enough 
well  people  to  look  after  the  sick  ones,  and  when  little 
Huldah  Hager  died,  in  October,  1838,  there  were  but  four 
people  among  all  the  Hager  families  well  enough  to  assist  at 
her  burial.  Into  the  southeast  corner  of  the  town  directjy 
after  the  Hagers  came  the  Cooper  brothers, — AUyn  B.  and 
J.  H., — who  located  upon  section  35,  and  at  a  little  later 
date  came  also  J.  M.  Cole,  D.  C.  Sheldon,  and  J.  Corsett. 

THE   JORDAN  NEIGHBORHOOD. 

In  the  fall  of  1838  the  neighborhood  south  of  Jordan 
Lake  received  its  first  settlers  in  Phineas  Coe  and  family, 
who  after  tarrying  two  weeks  with  the  three  bachelors  went 
over  to  their  land,  upon  section  9.  The  Coes  were,  how- 
ever, ill  suited  to  Michigan  pioneer  life,  and  after  strug- 
gling two  years  or  more  gave  up  their  arduous  task.  He 
eventually  moved  to  California,  and  died  there ;  while  she, 
a  well-educated  woman,  went  to  New  York  City,  and  in 
after-years  became  an  attorney-at-law. 

In  December,  1838,  John  A.  Jordan,  with  his  wife  and 


infant  child  and  John  Potts,  journeyed  together  from  Liv- 
ingston County  to  Woodland,  where  the  former  had  land 
on  section  4,  and  the  latter  some  on  section  3.  Their  trip,  at 
best  a  weary  one  through  trackless  woods,  became  on  Christ- 
mas day  too  dreary  for  expression  when  in  a  blinding  snow- 
storm they  came  to  a  halt  several  miles  from  the  cabin  of 
the  Haights  and  Galloway,  whither  they  were  bound.  They 
had  cut  their  road  from  Portland,  and  for  the  most  of  the 
time  had  subsisted  upon  the  milk  of  their  cow,  but  on 
Christmas  day  they  found  themselves  in  a  wooded  maze 
out  of  which  they  could  not  well  hew  a  thoroughfare.  So 
they  slept  in  the  snow  that  night,  or  tried  to  sleep  (for 
hunger  and  cold  fought  against  comforting  rest),  and  in  the 
morning,  leaving  their  oxen  chained  to  a  tree,  set  out  afoot 
to  find  bachelor's  hall,  which  they  reached  after  a  miserable 
tramp,  and  were  heartily  welcomed. 

Jordan  Lake,  near  which  Mr.  Jordan  lived,  was  a  favorite 
resort  for  Indians,  who  gathered  thereabout  in  great  num- 
bers to  hunt  and  fish.  During  the  spring  and  summer  of 
1842  they  slew  a  great  many  deer,  and  left  the  carcasses 
to  fester  in  the  sun,  from  which  troublesome  odors  arose 
in  the  land  and  much  loud  complaint  went  up  upon  all 
sides  from  white  settlers. 

A   WAR-CLOUD. 

At  this  time  a  party  of  settlers,  including  John  Potts, 
Isaac  Hoyt,  Orlien  Jordan,  J.  A.  Jordan,  Jonathan  Haight, 
Joseph  Hager,  William  Hager,  and  H.  H.  Smoke,  gathered 
upon  the  bank  of  Jordan  Lake,  where  there  was  a  party  of 
Indians,  one  of  whom  was  engaged  in  repairing  a  canoe. 
Potts  had  a  hatchet  in  his  hand,  and  when  J.  A.  Jordan 
dared  him  to  throw  it  at  the  Indian  canoe-mender,  to  see 
how  much  he  could  scare  him,  Potts  threw  it  at  once, — 
glad  to  show  his  dislike  for  the  savages, — and  although  he 
didn't  hit  the  Indian  he  did  hit  the  canoe,  and  badly 
damaged  it.  At  this  the  Indians  rose  up  to  a  man,  and 
with  angrily-flashing  eyes  grasped  their  weapons  as  if  to 
take  speedy  vengeance  for  the  ofiense. 

Potts  and  his  brother  pioneers  became  considerably 
alarmed,  and  prudently  but  slowly  retired,  fearing  all 
the  while  that  the  savages  would  attack  them,  but  bravely 
determined  nevertheless  to  make  a  good  fight  should  the 
issue  come  in  that  shape.  The  Indians  did  not,  however, 
press  the  matter  to.a  conflict,  but  they  made  many  demon- 
strations of  anger,  in  which  it  must  be  admitted  they  were 
fully  justified.  The  incident  served,  nevertheless,  to  fan 
the  fires  of  opposition  to  the  red  man  already  lighted 
by  the  public  feeling  about  the  deer  carcasses,  and  as  a 
result  a  council  of  citizens  from  Carlton,  Woodland,  Odessa, 
and  Sunfield  decided  that  the  Indians  must  go.  A  com- 
pany of  twenty- five  armed  men  being  formed,  with  Moses 
Durkee  in  command,  a  march  was  made  for  the  lake,  where 
the  Indians  were  met,  and  warned  that  their  presence 
in  the  vicinity  could  no  longer  be  tolerated.  To  thjs 
order  they  ventured  to  object, — at  first  mildly  and  then 
emphatically, — but  Durkee  and  his  men  were  resolved 
to  make  them  go  or  fight,  and  when  the  savages  were  con- 
vinced of  this  they  went  away,  although  very  reluctantly. 
They  came  back  after  that,  but  as  they  were  not  disturbed 
again  it  is  presumed  they  took  better  care  of  their  slain  deer. 


WOODLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


503 


Orlien  Jordan,  a  New  Yorker,  was  in  Macomb  Co.,  Mich., 
in  1836,  and  in  that  year  entered  80  acres  of  land  on 
section  3,  in  what  is  now  Woodland.  '  In  April,  1837, 
he,  Henry  Lee,  and  Daniel  Moors  walked  from  Utica,  in 
Macomb  County,  to  Woodland  to  see  the  land,  traveling 
one  hundred  and  forty-four  miles,  mostly  over  the  Indian 
trail  between  Pontiac  and  Grand  Kapids,  and  going  some- 
times thirty-five  miles  "  between  houses." 

Their  first  night  on  Jordan's  place  was  spent  in  camp  under 
a  tree  which  held  three  bear-cubs.  They  kept  a  watch-fire 
all  night  to  keep  off  the  old  bear,  and  slew  the  cubs  in  the 
morning.  Mr.  Jordan  returned  at  once  with  his  compan- 
ions to  Utica,  and  did  not  come  to  Woodland  for  a  perma- 
nent settlement  until  1841,  when  he  found  already  on 
the  ground  John  A.  Jordan  on  section  4,  H.  H.  Smoke, 
David  Hyatt,  and  John  Potts  on  section  3,  and  Phincas 
Coe  on  section  9.  Settlements  in  that  portion  of  the  town 
were  at  first  slowly  made,  but  in  moderately  rapid  succes- 
sion came  Reuben  Haight  in  1842,  George  N.  Meyers,  Z. 
B.  Meyers,  Samuel  Meyers,  John  Meyers,  John  Otto,  L. 
W.  Otto,  David  Hough,  and  Parsons  Hall. 

THE   HOLMES   NEIGHBORHOOD. 

Levi  THolmes  walked  from  Detroit,  in  1842,  to  Woodland 
to  look  at  some  land  he  had  bought  on  section  29,  and 
walked  east  again  as  far  as  Jackson.  In  1843  he  brought 
his  family  to  his  Michigan  wilderness  and  settled  them 
temporarily  in  a  shanty  on  Jesse  Townsend's  farm,  in  sec- 
tion 30,  where  Mr.  Townsend  had  begun  to  pioneer  in  July, 
1838.  In  that  shanty,  Mr.  Holmes  humorously  remarks, 
it  didn't  rain  very  much  more  than  it  did  out  of  doors, 
■'  except  in  places."  Richard  Youngs  and  his  son  Samuel 
were  on  section  30.  Section  29  was  an  unbroken  wilder- 
ness, and  on  section  20  was  Chas.  Palmerton,  whose  brother 
Jerome  was  on  section  17.  Upon  section  17,  too,  Lawrence 
Shriner  had  been  living  since  1839.  John  McArthur,  a 
settler  in  Ann  Arbor  in  1834,  had  made  a  start  on  section 
20  in  January,  1843,  and  near  him  on  the  same  section 
was  Sylvester  McDerby. 

Lawrence  Shriner,  mentioned  above,  was  an  eccentric  old 
fellow.  He  had  been  a  canal-boatman  and  was  rough  and 
lough,  but  good-natured.  He  used  to  say  that  he  knew 
sap  was  got  from  trees  by  squeezing  them  with  log-chains, 
but  he  couldn't  make  sugar,  because  he  didn't  know  how 
to  stop  the  sap  when  it  got  started.  He  would  loan  his 
ox-team  when  called  upon,  but  never  unless  the  borrower 
would  solemnly  pledge  himself  to  whip  the  off-ox  merci- 
lessly. He  would  often  start  for  mill  through  the  woods 
at  sundown,  and  was  in  short  always  doing  something  odd, 
and  constantly  surprising  his  neighbors  with  some  queer 
freak. 

Holmes  was  sorely  discouraged  soon  after  he  settled. 
The  rain  poured  into  his  shanty  and  made  life  therein  a 
misery,  work  was  hard,  provisions  were  scarce,  and,  to  cap 
the  climax,  he  wounded  himself  so  severely  while  putting  up 
his  log  house  that  he  was  forced  to  take  to  his  bed.  "  Had  I 
had  money  enough  to  go,"  says  he,  "  I  would  have  gone  back 
to  New  York  and  stayed  there,  but  money  wasn't  to  be  had, 
and  I  could  do  nothing  but  stay  and  make  the  best  of  it." 
He  moved  his  family  into  his  log  house  before  it  had  either 


door  or  window,  and  the  fear  of  Mrs.  Holmes  that  wolves 
would  be  sure  to  get  at  them  through  the  blanketed  open- 
ings he  remembers  with  a  laugh.  When  he  went  to  mill  he 
carried  an  axe  ju.«t  as  sure  as  he  carried  a  grist,  for  every- 
body on  a  journey  in  those  days  had  to  cut  his  own  road. 

Two  of  Mr.  Holmes'  children  went  out  one  afternoon  to 
look  up  the  family  cows,  and,  not  returning  by  nightfall, 
there  was  an  alarm,  and  the  neighbors  speedily  gathered 
with  horns  and  lanterns  to  hunt  for  the  lost  ones.  An 
eager  but  protracted  search  discovered  the  little  ones  asleep 
upon  a  bed  of  leaves.  They  said  they  went  "  around  and 
round,"  and  when  they  found  they  were  lost  resolved  to 
say  their  prayers,  go  to  sleep,  and  in  the  morning  try  to 
find  their  way  home. 

An  Indian  chief  called  Sobba  called  on  Mr.  Holmes  and 
said  he  wanted  to  trade  a  pony  for  a  yoke  of  steers.  Upon 
being  asked  where  his  pony  was,  he  replied,  "  Oh,  off  in 
the  woods  somewhere."  "  But  I  can't  trade  that  way," 
said  Mr.  Holmes.  "  I  must  see  your  pony."  "  Well," 
replied  Sobba,  "  the  pony  is  in  the  woods ;  you  give  me 
the  steers  and  hunt  the  pony;  you'll  find  him."  Sobba 
thought  it  hard  that  he  couldn't  make  a  bargain  as  he  pro- 
posed. Upon  another  occasion  Sobba  called  at  Holmes' 
house,  and,  there  happening  to  be  a  female  visitor,  he  said, 
"  Mr.  Holmes,  these  your  two  squaws  ?"  "  Oh,  no,"  said 
Holmes  ;  "  one  is  all  I  can  take  care  of."  "  Um  !"  grunted 
the  chief  "  I  thought  you  had  two,  and  I  wanted  to  trade 
my  squaw  for  one  of  them." 

Into  the  Holmes  neighborhood,  soon  after  1843,  came, 
among  other  settlers,  George  Demond,  Samuel  Durkee,  J. 
N.  Curtiss,  and  James  Swin  ;  and  north  of  there,  at  a  later 
date,  S.  V.  Anway,  Ira  Stowell,  G.  W.  Rising,  and  J.  G. 
Flowers.  Four  years  before  Mr.  Holmes,  or  in  1839, 
Alonzo  Barnum  and  Orrin  Wellman  settled  on  section  34 
and  Edward  Bump  on  section  27.  Asa  Wheeler  was  a 
settler,  in  1840,  upon  section  27,  and  in  the  same  year,  on 
section  26,  Miner  Mallett  became  his  neighbor.  Isaac 
Barnum  came  to  section  27  in  1842,  and  in  that  year 
Ebenezer  Sawdy  located  on  section  15,  his  nearest  neighbor 
then  being  Nehemiah  Lovewell,  on  section  22.  When  Ira 
Ingersen  settled  upon  section  22,  in  1845,  he  found  there, 
besides  Lovewell,  also  Melvin  Barnum.  Some  years  after, 
George  Cramer  settled  in  section  27,  upon  land  occupied 
by  George  Davenport  in  1855. 

THE    GERMAN    COMMUNITY. 

What  is  known  as  the  "  German  community''  in  Wood- 
land was  founded,  in  1846,  by  Michael  Rowlader,  who  came 
to  the  township  in  September  of  that  year,  and  made,  with 
his  family,  a  settlement  upon  section  14,  where  at  the  same 
time  John  H.  Dillenbeck  and  Thaddeus  Houghton  also 
located.  Mr.  Rowlader  and  the  married  sons  who  came 
with  him  brought  families  whose  numbers  aggregated  17. 
Their  first  night  in  Woodland  was  spent  at  the  house  of 
Alonzo  Barnum,  who  himself  had  a  family  of  seven,  and  in 
Barnum's  log  cabin,  boasting  but  one  apartment,  the  24 
people  slept  that  night,  and  closer  quarters  no  pioneers  were 
perhaps  ever  called  upon  to  occupy. 

There  was  no  other  settlement  by  Germans  until  1852, 
when  Jacob  Felta  made  his  home  upon  section  23,  Chris- 


50-1 


HISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


tian  Berkley  upon  section  14,  and  Conrad  Hanes  upon  sec- 
tion 15,  the  three  families  having  come  to  the  township  in 
company.  Shortly  after  that  the  Germans  came  in  rapidly. 
Among  those  coming  earliest  were  the  families  of  Michael 
Reiser  and  his  son  Jacob,  J.  F.  Smith,  Mr.  Neidhammer, 
Jacob  Funk,  A.  Baetinger,  John  Cramer,  Gottfried  Risler, 
J.  G.  Swartz,  George  Hitt,  M.  Schwitzer,  J.  Baling,  the 
Schaibleys,  Bayhas,  Schulers,  Wagners,  Bitzas,  Eckhardts, 
Rhineharts,  Broadbecks,  Fenders,  Entzes,  and  Metzgers. 

THE    "CANADA"   SETTLEMENT. 

The  northwest  corner  of  Woodland,  known  as  Canada, 
by  reason  of  many  of  the  settlers  being  Canadians,  was  first 
occupied  in  1844  by  James  Matthews  and  his  sons,  who 
came  hither  from  Kalamazoo  County,  chopped  40  acres  on 
section  6,  and  lived  there  in  a  log  cabin  about  a  year,  when 
all  returned  to  Kalamazoo.  There  the  elder  Matthews  died, 
and  the  sons,  not  caring  to  continue  in  the  pioneer  business, 
sold  the  land  to  George  Myers,  who  came  out  in  1849,  and 
made  the  first  permanent  settlement  in  "  Canada."  Fol- 
lowing him  the  settlers  in  the  neighborhood  were  Welling- 
ton Curtis,  Albert  Main,  John  M.  Curtis,  P.  Cunningham, 
David  Smith,  Allen  Lipscomb,  and  Henry  Bower. 

THE    KILPATRICKS. 

The  Kilpatrick  neighborhood,  on  section  24,  was  first 
settled  in  1847,  when  John  Kilpatrick,  his  wife,  and  nine 
children  came  to  the  township  to  occupy  land  bought  by 
John  Kilpatrick,  Jr.,  in  1844.  When  John,  Jr.,  first  went 
to  the  place  he  found  himself  two  days  making  the  trip  from 
Joseph  Shore's  place,  on  section  35,  to  the  Kilpatrick 
place,  on  section  24,  with  an  ox-teamj  his  roads  having  to 
be  cut  and  his  bridges  having  to  be  built  as  he  went  along. 
John,  Jr.,  built  upon  section  24,  in  1854,  a  hewn  log  saw- 
mill, the  pioneer  one  in  Woodland.  It  seemed  a  late  day 
for  a  pioneer  saw-mill,  but  water-power  was  not  plentiful 
there,  and,  as  saw-mills  were  near  at  hand  in  neighborino- 
townships,  the  Woodland  settlers  were  not  so  anxious  for 
one  as  were  early  settlers  in  other  townships.  Joel  St. 
John  now  carries  on  a  mill  on  the  site  of  the  one  built  by 
Kilpatrick. 

THE   GLORIOUS   FOURTH. 

The  first  Fourth  of  July  celebration  in  Woodland  was 
held  at  Asa  Wheeler's  house  in  1844,  on  which  occasion 
about  200  people,  from  five  towns,  enjoyed  themselves  with 
a  picnic,  listened  to  an  oration  delivered  by  I.  A.  Holbrook 
of  Hastings,  fired  occasional  patriotic  salutes  with  a  mounted 
musket-barrel,  and  had  a  glorious  time  generally.  The 
second  celebration  was  held  in  1845,  at  Jordan  Lake  on 
section  4,  when  lawyer  Jennings,  of  Hastings,  was  the 
orator,  he  and  his  wife  having  ridden  out  on  horseback  to 
the  merrymaking. 

THE  FIRST  BIRTH,  MARRIAGE,  Etc. 
As  to  the  first  birth  in  town  there  appear  to  be  conflict- 
ing opinions.  Generally,  it  is  understood  that  the  distinc- 
tion of  "  first-born  in  Woodland"  belongs  to  Jesse  Jordan, 
now  living  on  section  28.  The  date  of  his  birth  was  Sept. 
29,  1839,  and  the  place  his  father's  farm,  on  section  4. 
On  the  other  hand,  it  is  stoutly  maintained  by  many,  and 
with  good  reason,  that  the  first  child  born  in  the  town  was 


Huldah,  daughter  of  Joseph  Hager,  then  living  on  section 
36.  The  date  of  her  birth  is  given  as  May  14,  1838  ;  the 
date  of  her  death,  October,  1838  ;  and  the  place  of  her  burial, 
William  Hager's  farm,  on  section  36.  Admitting  the  truth 
of  the  statements  as  to  the  Hager  child,  she  was  not  only 
the  first-born  of  white  children  in  Woodland,  but  was  also 
the  first  to  die  therein,  and  the  first  to  be  buried  in  the 
township.  There  are  extant  no  public  records  of  the  births 
and  deaths  of  that  time,  and,  as  the  parents  of  both  of  the 
children  have  passed  away,  the  surest  evidence  upon  the 
disputed  points  is  not  available.  The  best  living  witness  is 
Mrs.  Charles  Galloway,  who  declares  that  Huldah  Hager 
was  the  first.  As  she  was  a  sister  of  Joseph  Hager,  and 
was  a  young  lady  at  the  time,  she  would  naturally  recollect 
the  facts,  and  there  is  every  reason  for  considering  her 
statement  correct. 

The  first  funeral  sermon  heard  in  Woodland  was  preached 
in  1841,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Worthington,  preacher  in  charge  on 
the  Hastings  Methodist  Episcopal  Circuit,  at  the  house  of 
Miner  Mallett,  on  the  occasion  of  the  death  of  the  wife  of 
J.  W.  Buckle,  of  Hastings.  The  text  of  that  sermon  is 
remembered  to  have  been  taken  from  Job  xvi.  22.  Mrs. 
Buckle  was  visiting  her  sister,  Mrs.  Mallett,  at  the  time  of 
her  death,  and  was  buried  on  Mr.  Mallett's  farm.  She  was 
doubtless  the  first  adult  person  to  die  in  the  town. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  Rhoda  Wellman,  of  Wood- 
land, to  Oliver  Racey,  of  Castleton.  The  happy  event  took 
place  in  the  house  of  the  bride's  father,  in  the  year  1841. 
The  second  marriage  was  that  of  Joanna  Wellman  to  Ed- 
ward Bump. 

The  first  public  burying-ground  laid  out  in  the  township 
was  given  a  place  upon  J.  A.  Jordan's  farm,  in  section  4, 
where  it  still  serves  its  original  purpose.  The  first  burial 
therein  was  that  of  Martha  Ann,  daughter  of  John  Potts, 
Sept.  19,  1846.  The  first  grown  person  buried  there  is 
believed  to  have  been  Moses  Wadleigh,  who,  in  1848,  was 
killed  by  the  fall  of  a  tree.  Similarly,  the  first  person 
(Ira  Ingersen)  buried  in  the  second  cemetery  laid  out  in 
the  township,  on  section  27,  was  killed  while  riding  to  mill 
upon  a  load  of  saw-logs,  which  were  overturned  and  crushed 
him.     The  date  of  the  casualty  was  Jan.  27,  1853. 

In  1865,  Samuel  Perkins  was  killed  by  a  falling  tree 
and  in  1876,  Edwin  Maples,  while  logging,  met  with  an 
accidental  death.  In  1869  a  party  of  pleasure-seekers,  in- 
cluding Alonzo  and  Estella  Otto,  Miss  Melissa  Simmons, 
and  a  Miss  Spalding,— the  latter  of  Kalamazoo,— were  boat^ 
ing  on  Jordan  Lake.  While  their  merriment  was  at  its 
height  Miss  Spalding  fell  from  her  place  into  the  water,  and, 
although  she  was  promptly  rescued,  the  confusiqn  incident 
upon  the  restoration  was  so  great  that  no  sooner  had  she 
been  landed  safely  in  the  boat  than  the  little  craft  cap- 
sized, and  of  the  six  persons  therein,  the  four  already 
named  were  drowned.  In  June,  1852,  Edward  Lovewell 
went  out  upon  Jordan  Lake  to  fish,  and  in  an  unlucky 
moment  fell  from  his  canoe,  and  was  drowned. 

EDUCATIONAL   HISTORY. 
The  pioneer  school   of  Woodland  was  a  subscription: 
school,  taught  in  1841  by  Hattie  Bidwell,  of  Battle  Creek, 
at  Mr.  Wellman's  house,  in  the  Wheeler  district.    The  first 


WOODLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


505 


school  taught  by  a  teacher  holding  a  certificate  from  the 
school  inspectors  was  one  kept  by  Mrs.  Alonzo  Barnum, 
in  the  winter  of  1841-42,  at  her  home,  on  section  34. 
She  taught  the  school  three  months,  and  had  among  her 
pupils,  besides  her  own  children,  those  of  the  Malletts, 
Wheelers,  and  Wellmans. 

School  district  No.  1  was  formed  May  9,  1842,  and 
included  sections  25,  26,  27,  28,  33,  34,  and  the  west  half 
of  section  35.  No.  2  was  organized  June  8,  1842,  and 
contained  sections  2,  3,  4,  9,  10,  11.  Fractional  district 
No.  2  was  organized  Sept.  2,  1845,  and  included  portions 
of  Carlton,  Castleton,  and  Hastings,  with  section  31  and 
the  west  half  of  section  32  in  Woodland.  May  28,  1842, 
fractional  district  No.  1  was  formed,  to  embrace  portions  of 
Sunfield,  Vermontville,  and  Woodland.  Fractioiial  district 
No.  3,  formed  Oct.  26,  1844,  included  portions  of  Castle- 
tonand  Woodland.  District  No.  3  was  organized  in  1845, 
and  that  winter  Matilda  Ingersen  taught  the  first  school 
there,  receiving  for  her  services  the  sum  of  seventy-five 
cents  a  week.  In  the  Wheeler  district,  the  teacher  next 
following  Hattie  Bidwell  was  Electa  Lee,  of  Ionia  County. 

The  annual  school-*eports  for  1844,  1845,  and  1848 
give  the  following  as  the  teachers  in  those  years : 

184i. — Mary  E.  Wheeler,  Eunice  Lacey,  Sarah  Crippen,  T.  B.  Bar- 
num, Alida  Youngs. 

1845. — Electa  Lee,  Mary  M'heeler,  Laura  Mallett,  Lorana  Downs, 
Alida  Youngs. 

1848. — Franklin  Barber,  Louisa  Barnum,  Laura  Keyser,  Thirza 
Smoke,  William  Kibby,  Cordelia  Kussell,  Mosos  Dillenbeck, 
Eunice  Hale,  Mary  E.  Whqjler. 

In  1844  the  books  used  in  the  schools  were  Cobb's  and 
Elementary  Spelling-Books,  Cobb's  Juvenile  Eeader,  Par- 
ley's G-eography,  English  Reader,  Grammar,  and  "  Testa- 
ments." 

SCHOOL   MONEYS. 

Reports  for  1845  and  1847  give  the  following  as  appro- 
priations of  money : 

1845.  1847. 

Appro-  Appro- 
District.          Children,  priation.  District.          Children,  priation. 
No.l....  28         $10.77  No.l....  23  $8.31 
Fractional  No.  1....  10            3.45  "   2....  16  5.78 
"           "    2....     7             2.69  "    3....  21  7.59 
"          "    3....     7            2.69  Fractional  No.  2....     7  2.53 

"            "    3....  11  3.98 

From  the  official  report  for  1879  has  been  taken  the 
following : 

Number  of  districts  (whole,  7;  fractional,  1) 8 

"         children  of  school  age 537 

Average  attendance *^" 

Value  of  property $4375 

Teachers'  wages $1131 

The  school  directors  for  1879  were  John  Hynes,  A.  B. 
Barnum,  J.  Dillenbeck,  H.  C.  Carpenter,  N.  C.  Ransford, 
J.  Simmons,  A.  J.  Palmerton,  and  A.  G.  Ki'lpatrick. 

THE  DOCTORS  OF  WOODLAND. 
The  pioneer  resident  physician  of  Woodland  was  Dr. 
Jackson  Wicks,  who  lived  on  section  15  and  practiced 
medicine  in  the  township  from  1850  to  his  death,  in  1861. 
Dr.  Joseph  Adolphus  lived  for  a  while  north  of  the  present 
village,  and  practiced  from  1852  to  1855.  Previous  to 
Dr.  Wicks'  time  Dr.  Upjohn,  of  Hastings,  was  the  medical 
reliance  of  Woodland,  as  he  was  in  the  early  days  pretty 
64 


much  all  over  the  county.  The  third  Woodland  doctor  was 
John  W.  Gaucher,  whose  period  of  service  was  from  1859 
to  1865.  The  first  physician  to  locate  at  the  village  was  Dr. 
A.  S.  Brandt,  who  came  hither  in  1862  and  left  in  1864. 
R.  B.  Rawson  came  in  1864  and  remained  until  1874. 
In  1865  Dr.  Henry  Smith  became  one  of  the  village 
physicians,  and  continued  to  be  one  until  1873.  Dr. 
David  Kilpatrick  now  practices  in  the  village,  where  he 
has  been  a  physician  since  1866,  and  there,  too.  Dr.  H. 
C.  Carpenter  has  been  in  practice  since  1871.  As  to 
other  physicians,  apart  from  the  foregoing.  Dr.  DriscoU 
was  in  the  village  from  1868  to  1871 ;  Charles  Russell, 
from  1876  to  1879  ;  Henry  Tremain,  from  1874  to  1877 ; 
Dr.  Turner,  about  six  months  in  1876 ;  and  Dr.  Johnson 
six  months  in  1879. 

ORGANIZATION   AND  OFFICERS. 

Under  an  act  of  the  Legislature  approved  Feb.  16,  1842 , 
town  4  north,  in  range  7  west,  was  set  off  from  Hastings 
township  and  called  Woodland,  the  name  being  bestowed  as 
appropriate  to  a  town  densely  covered  with  heavy  timber. 

The  first  town-meeting  was  held  the  first  Monday  in 
April,  1842,  at  the  house  of  Alonzo  Barnum,  and  at  the 
election  then  held  21  votes  were  cast.  The  full  list  of  the 
officials  chosen  on  that  occasion  is  as  follows :  Super- 
visor, H.  H.  Smoke ;  Clerk,  Samuel  S.  Haight ;  Treasurer, 
John  A.  Jordan ;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  Charles  Palmer- 
ton,  Asa  Wheeler,  Jonathan  Haight,  H.  H.  Smoke ;  High- 
way Commissioners,  Samuel  Youngs,  A.  B.  Cooper,  John 
Potts;  School  Inspectors,  Alonzo  Barnum,  A.  B.  Cooper, 
S.  S.  Haight ;  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  Nehemiah  Lovewell, 
Orlien  Jordan ;  Constables,  Jerome  Palmerton,  A.  B. 
Cooper,  and  Orlien  Jordan ;  Assessors,  Asa  Wheeler  and 
Nehemiah  Lovewell.  At  the  same  meeting  $150  were 
raised  for  "  incidental  expenses." 

In  1843  the  money  raised  by  the  township  included  $86.31 
for  general  expenses,  $21.96  for  schools,  $25  for  library, 
and  $200  for  highways.  Below  are  given  the  names  of 
those  chosen  each  year,  from  1843  to  1880,  to  serve  as 
supervisors,  clerks,  treasurers,  and  justices  of  the  peace  : 

SUPERVISORS, 
1843,  H.  H.  Smoke;  1844,  J.  M.  Cole;  1845,  Levi  Holmes;  1846-48, 
.T.W.T.Orr;  1849-50.  M.  T.  Wheeler;  1851,  J.  W.  T.  Orr;  1852 
-53,  M.  T.  Wheeler;  1854,  no  record;  1855,  M.  T.  Wheeler; 
1856,  P.  Cramer;  1857-53,  M.  T.  Wheeler;  1859-60,  E.  C.  Nash  ; 
1861,  P.  Cramer;  1862-66,  no  record;  1867,  M.  T.Wheeler; 
1868,  A.  P.  Holly;  1869,  M.  T.Wheeler;  1870,  E.  C.  Nash; 
1871-73,  E.  P.  Barnum;  1874,  J.  Jordan;  1875-77,  I.  Stowell; 
1878-80,  A.  J.  Kilpatrick. 

CLERKS. 
1843,  S.S.  Haight;  1844,  E.  Sawdy;  1845-46,  S.C.  Skinner;  1847, 
I.  S.  Ingersen;  1848,  J.  Haight;  1849,  Levi  Holmes;  1850,  J. 
W.  T.  Orr;  1851,  S.  S.  Haight;  1852,  W.  I.  Dillenbeck;  1853, 
J.  Haight;  1854,  no  record;  1856,  I.  H.  Hooper;  1856,  L.  J. 
Wheeler;  1857-60,  S.  S.  Ingersen ;  1861,  William  Emory;  1862 
-66,  no  record;  1867,  S.  Stowell;  1868,  W.  R.  Stinehcomb;  1869, 
S.s'.  Ingersen;  1870,  E.  Cole;  1871,  A.  W.  Shriner;  1872-73,0. 
A.  Hough;  1874,  W.  P.  Holly;  1875-76,  H.  C.  Carpenter;  1877, 
W.  P.  Holly;  1878-79,  F.  F.  Hilbert;  1880,  E.  G.  Holbrook. 

TREASURERS. 
1843,  S.  S.  Haight;  1844,  J.  A.  Jordan;  1845-49,  N.  Lovewell;  1850, 
J.  A.  Jordan;  1851,  G.  Cramer;  1852,  J.  A.  Jordan;  1853,  J. 


506 


IIISTOKY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BAKRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


Kilpatriok;  1854,  no  record;  1855,  George  Cramer;  1856-69,  B. 
M.  Mallett;  1860-61,  0.  Jordan;  1862-66,  no  record;  1867,  L. 
Hilbert;  1868,  J.  F.  Hofer;  1869,  S.  Haight;  1870,  R.  W. 
Shriner;  1871,  A.  B.  Barnum;  1872,  S.  S.  Ingersen ;  1873,  0. 
Jordan;  1874,  S.  S.  Ingersen;  1875-76,  J.AV.  Holmes;  1877-78, 
D.  B.  Cooper:  1879-80,  J.  W.  Holmes. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 
1843,  H.  H.  Smoke;  1844,  N.  Lovewell;  1845,  J.  M.  Cole;  1846,  L. 
Holmes;  1847,  Hiram  Wood;  1848,  B.  Sawdy;  1849,  Asa 
Wheeler;  1850,  J.  W.  T.  Orr;  1851,  L.  Holmes-;  1852,  G.  W. 
Meyers;  1853,  A.Wheeler;  1854,  no  record;  1855,  B.  Sawdy; 
1856,  G.  W.  Meyers;  1857,  P.  Cramer;  1858,  Joseph  Klise;  1859, 
W.  Wood;  1860,  B.  Sawdy;  1861,  J.  Haight;  1862-66,  no 
record;  1867,  J.  Kilpatriok,  Jr.;  1868,  S.  Haight;  1869,  D. 
Dreskell;  1870,  0.  F.  Munion ;  1871,  B.  Sawdy;  1872,  G.  D. 
Barden;  1873,  J.  Jordan;  1874,  J.  Kilpatrick;  1875,  J.  Stinch- 
comb ;  1876,  G.  D.  Barden ;  1877,  J.  Jordan ;  1878,  J.  Kilpat- 
riok; 1879,  C.  A.  Hough;  1880,  J.  R.  Barnum. 

THE  VOTEKS   OF    1843. 

At  a  special  election  in  April,  1843,  for  associate  judge 
of  the  Circuit  Court,  the  votes  cast  in  Woodland  numbered 
fifteen,  as  follows :  S.  Haight,  Jonathan  Haight,  C.  Pal- 
merton,  D.  Hyatt,  S.  S.  Haight,  R.  Youngs,  H.  H.  Smoke, 
A.  Wheeler,  P.  Hall,  Nehemiah  Lovewell,  J.  A.  Jordan, 
0.  Wellman,  J.  Potts,  B.  Bump,  E.  Bennett. 

THE  VOTERS  OE  1844. 
At  the  annual  election  in  1844  the  voters  were  40  in 
number,  as  follows :  Isaac  Barnum,  Melvin  C.  Barnum, 
D.  Hyatt,  P.  Hall,  J.  Hyatt,  0.  Jordan,  J.  Haight,  J. 
McArthur,  J.  Palmerton,  E.  Sawdy,  C.  Palmerton,  I. 
Hoyt,  T.  Galloway,  M.  L.  Wheeler,  E.  Bump,  R.  Youngs, 
S.  S.  Durkee,  Levi  Holmes,  H.  H.  Smoke,  A.  B.  Cooper, 
A.  Wellman,  J.  A.  Jordan,  S.  McDerby,  0.  S.  Wheeler, 
C.  Sheldon,  S.  C.  Skinner,  M.  T.  Wheeler,  J.  Potts,  A. 
Wheeler,  H.  L.  Wheeler,  C.  Galloway,  E.  Bennett,  L. 
Shriner,  N.  Lovewell,  J.  Hager,  William  Hager,  S.  S. 
Haight,  J.  M.  Cole,  D.  Hager,  M.  Mallett. 

THE  VOTERS  OE  1845. 
The  voters  at  the  annual  election  in  1845  were  44,  all 
told.  They  were  James  A.  Galloway,  Richard  Hyatt, 
H.  H.  Smoke,  David  Hyatt,  George  Dennen,  Samuel  S. 
Durkee,  Miner  Mallett,  Orvill  Wheeler,  John  McArthur, 
Richard  Youngs,  John  A.  Jordan,  Isaac  Hoyt,  H.  L. 
Wheeler,  A.  B.  Cooper,  Asa  Wheeler,  Warren  Wickham, 
S.  McMurray,  E.  Hynes,  Edwin  Bennett,  Samuel  McMur- 
ray,  Jr.,  Isaac  Barnum,  Hiram  Bronson,  Michael  Hynes, 
M.  L.  Wheeler,  Clinton  Sheldon,  Charles  Galloway,  Orlien 
Jordan,  William  Hager,  Levi  Holmes,  Joseph  Hager,  John 
Potts,  Milo  T.  Wheeler,  A.  Wellman,  Nehemiah  Lovewell, 
Samuel  S.  Haight,  Jonathan  Haight,  D.  Hager,  J.  Palmer- 
ton, S.  C.  Skinner,  E.  Sawdy,  C.  Palmerton,  James  M. 
Cole,  Melvin  C.  Barnum,  Lawrence  Shriner. 

THE   JURORS    IN    1845,  '46,  AND  '47. 

In  1845  the  grand  jurors  chosen  were  Charles  Gallo- 
way, S.  S.  Haight,  A.  B.  Cooper,  M.  T.  Wheeler,  Charles 
Palmerton,  and  H.  H.  Smoke.  The  petit  jurors  were 
Clinton  Sheldon,  M.  C.  Barnum,  John  McArthur,  0.  Jor- 
dan, J.  M.  Cole,  and  Daniel  Hager. 

In  1846  the  grand  jurors  were  J.  A.  Jordan,  Jonathan 


Haight,  S.  C.  Skinner,  Levi  Holmes,  John  Potts,  Joseph 
Otto.  The  petit  jurors  were  Hiram  Bronson,  Asa  Wheeler, 
J.  W.  T.  Orr,  John  Durkee,  Jesse  Townsend,  and  Miner 
Mallett. 

In  1847  Nathan  Clifford,  J.  M.  Cole,  Jerome  Palmer- 
ton, Orlien  Jordan,  Jonathan  Haight,  and  Hiram  Wood 
were  the  grand  jurors,  and  H.  H.  Smoke,  Ira  Ingersen, 
Hiram  Bronson,  Daniel  Hager,  Levi  Holmes,  and  Nehe- 
miah Lovewell  the  petit  jurors. 

POST-OFFICES. 

Early  in  the  history  of  Woodland  the  settlers  obtained 
their  letters  from  Hastings.  In  1849  the  Woodland  post- 
oflfice  was  established,  and  the  appointment  of  postmaster 
given  to  Nehemiah  Lovewell.  Ebenezer  Sawdy  was  the 
earliest  mail-carrier,  and  at  first  brought  the  mail  from 
Odessa  afoot  once  a  week  in  his  vest-pocket  or  a  handker- 
chief, as  happened  to  be  most  convenient.  There  was,  how- 
ever, some  protest  against  that  method  of  transporting  the 
United  States  mail,  and  at  the  end  of  six  months  a  mail- 
pouch  was  provided,  The  succession  of  postmasters  after 
Mr.  Lovewell  was  A.  B.  Cooper,  1 854  ;  Lawrence  Hilbert, 
1861;  Asa  Pike,  1863-  Milo  T.~Wheeler,  1865 ;  Milo 
Barnum,  1868;  Lawrence  Hilbert,  1870;  Ward  Shriner, 
1870  ;  J.G.  Meyers,  1873;  S.  S.  Haight,  1874  ;  David  Kil- 
patrick, 1875.  Mail  is  received  from  Hastings  three  times 
a  week.  ' 

Coates  Grove  Post-office,  on  the  south  town-line,  at  which 
George  Coates  is  postmaster,  was  established  in  1879. 

Blair  Post-office,  in  the  southeast,  was  established  about 
1858.  J.  M.  Cole  served  as  postmaster  several  years,  when 
the  office  was  moved  into  Castletotf.  Returning  to  Wood- 
land, it  was  given  in  charge  of  Mahlon  Cooper,  and  in  1878 
was  discontinued. 

RELIGIOUS  HISTORY. 

Probably  the  first  public  religious  worship  in  Woodland 
was  held  at  the  house  of  Alonzo  Barnum,  in  1839  or  1840, 
when,  in  the  presence  of  a  few  neighbors,  Mr.  Barnum  con- 
ducted the  services,  which  included  a  prayer  and  a  brief  ser- 
mon. Elder  Hess,  of  Portland,  visited  Woodland  about 
then,  and  held  meetings  at  settlers'  houses  occasionally. 
Alonzo  Barnum  was  an  exceedingly  diligent  -and  zealous 
man  in  religious  affairs,  and  labored  earnestly  from  the 
period  of  his  arrival  in  the  settlement  for  the  advancement 
of  the  cause  of  public  piety.  In  the  winter  of  1839  he 
heard  of  the  presence,  in  Mrs.  John  Potts,  on  section  4,  of 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  went 
over  to  see  her,  promptly  organizing  a  prayer-meeting  in 
her  house,  the  first  ever  held  in  the  township. 

"  Father"  Daubney,  the  pioneer  Methodist  Episcopal 
circuit-rider,  assisted  by  a  missionary  named  Bennett,  or- 
ganized Woodland's  first  Methodist  Episcopal  class  in 
1840.  The  members  were  five  in  number,  and  the  house 
of  worship  was  Alonzo  Barnum's  residence.  Since  then  re- 
ligion has  flourished  apace  in  Woodland,  and  boasts  to-day 
in  the  township  twice  as  many  temples  as  it  can  find  in  any 
other  town  in  the  county. 

As  before  remarked,  Alonzo  Barnum  was  a  man  of  re- 
markable religious  zeal.     He  was  at  one  time  an  ordained 


WOODLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


507 


minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  ahhough  later 
he  joined  the  United  Brethren  Church.  During  his  early 
residence  in  Woodland  he  kept  a  journal  of  events,  devoted 
more  especially  to  the  progress  of  religion  in  the  new  settle- 
ment.    Prom  that  diary  is  taken  the  subjoined  extract ; 

"Sunday,  June  14,  1841,  town  of  Hastings,  Barry  Co.,  Jliohigan 

Stiite. Glory  to  God  for  his  goodness  and  mercy  to  me  and  my  little 

family  !  Thougli  my  pen  lias  long  been  silent  through  a  multitude  of 
cares  and  perplexities,  yet  my  Lord  has  been  with  me.  In  the  year 
1839,  in  the  month  of  November,  I  moved  to  Michigan,  Barry  Co.,  town- 
ship of  Hastings.  But  few  inhabitants  and  all  woods,  no  society,  and 
no  meetings  of  any  kind  held  in  the  township  twelve  miles  square.  In 
consequence  of  this  I  lost  much  ground.  I  left  the  bosom  of  a  good 
society  in  which  I  lived  ten  years.  I  now  felt  the  loss  of  brethren. 
In  the  summer  of  1840  I  proposed  to  my  neighbors  to  come  together, 
and  I  would  read  a  sermon  of  Wesley's  to  them,  and  we  would  spend 
an  hour  in  worshiping  the  Lord  who  made  us.  The  people  seemed 
verv  willing,  and  on  the  Sabbath  we  met  for  the  first  time. 

"  I  prayed  to  my  heavenly  Father  that  he  would  open  some  way 
that  the  gospel  might  be  preached  to  us  likewise.  The  good  Lord 
heard  my  prayer,  and  sent  Brother  Daubney  to  preach  to  us  for  the 
first  time.  He  came  forty  miles.  On  May  26,  Brother  Bennett,  the 
missionary  from  Eaton  County,  preached  to  us,  and  formed  a  class  of 
12  members,  of  which  I  was  chosen  leader,  and  oh,  may  the  gracious 
Lord  bless  them  !  I  here  insert  their  names  :  Alonzo  Barnum,  Jane 
Potts,  Sophia  Barnum,  Daniel  Hager,  Abel  Barnum,  Emeline  Cooper, 
Anna  Barnum,  Keuben  Haighf,  Betsey  Barnum,  Sally  Ann  Haight, 
Esther  Durkee,  Charlotte  Haight." 

WOODLAND   METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   ENGLISH 
CHURCH. 

The  Woodland  Methodist  Episcopal  class  now  worship- 
ing at  Woodland  Centre  was  organized  in  the  Galloway 
school-house  in  1847  by  the  preacher  in  charge  of  the 
Hastings  Circuit.  The  organizing  members  were  John  H. 
Dillenbeck  and  wife,  Charles  Galloway  and  wife,  Pattie 
Eogers,  and  Mrs.  J.  W.  T.  Orr,  Charles  Galloway  being 
chosen  class-leader.  In  1860  the  class  removed  its  place  of 
worship  to  the  school-house  at  the  centre,  and  there  a  house 
of  worship  was  erected  in  1871,  and  dedicated  in  August 
of  that  year.  The  class  is  attached  to  Woodland  Circuit, 
in  charge  of  Rev.  J.  F.  Orwick,  who  preaches  at  the 
centre  once  in  two  weeks.  The  membership  is  42.  The 
class-leader  is  William  P.  Hawley ;  the  assistant  class- 
leader,  John  H.  Dillenbeck.  The  trustees  are  J.  W. 
Stinchcomb,  C.  A.  Hough,  George  W.  Smith,  and  William 
P.  Hawley.  The  Sunday-school,  in  charge  of  Burt.  S. 
Hawley  and  eight  teachers,  has  an  average  attendance  of 
90  scholars. 

FREE-WILL   BAPTIST   CHURCH. 

On  the  12th  of  March,  1867,  a  meeting  was  held  at  the 
house  of  David  Eastman,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  the 
Free-Will  Baptist  Society  of  Woodland,  when  James  Tyler, 
Jeremiah  FiUey,  and  William  Root  were  elected  trustees. 
Previous  to  that  date,  on  Feb.  9,  1867,  in  the  Gordon 
school-house.  Elders  Santee  and  Tupper  had  organized  the 
church,  under  authorization  from  the  Grand  River  Quarterly 
Meeting,  assisted  by  Elder  G.  W.  Moffit,  who  had  for  a 
week  or  more  been  holding  a  series  of  meetings.  On  that 
occasion  those  received  into  church  fellowship  were  James 
Tyler,  William  Root,  Ann  Root,  Lucien  Nichols,  Caroline 
Eastman,  Deborah  Roosa,  and  Delia  Roosa.  William  Root 
was  chosen  clerk.  Elder  Myron  Tupper,  who  was  called 
to  the  pastorate,  preached  about  three  years,  during  which 


time  he  declined  to  receive  any  pay  for  his  services.  April 
2,  1870,  John  R.  Barnum  was  chosen  clerk,  and  since  that 
time  has  filled  the  oiBce  uninterruptedly.  Directly  upon 
the  organization  of  the  society  the  erection  of  a  meeting- 
house was  begun,  but  the  work,  which  was  mainly  contri- 
buted by  members  of  the  church,  progressed  so  slowly  that 
it  was  not  completed  until  1871.  The  succession  of  pastors 
after  Elder  Tupper  included  Elders  Bascomb,  Weaver,  and 
Bates.  Elder  Bates  preached  about  three  years  to  April  1, 
1879,  since  which  time  the  church  has  been  without  a 
pastor. 

The  church  is  attached  to  the  Lansing  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing, and  has  a  membership  of  13.  The  trustees  are  J.  R. 
Barnum,  George  Tyler,  and  Joseph  Nichols.  No  deacon 
has  ever  been  chosen. 

THE    FIRST   BAPTIST  CHURCH. 

At  the  request  of  Rev.  H.  T.  Fero  there  was  a  meeting 
at  the  house  of  Ira  Ingersen,  May  13, 1846,  to  discuss  the 
project  of  organizing  a  Baptist  Church  in  Woodland. 
At  a  subsequent  meeting,  July  11,  1846,  Elders  H.  T. 
Fero  and  Samuel  Lamb  being  present,  the  organization  was 
eifected  with  the  following  members  ;  H.  H.  Smoke,  Thirza 
Jane  Smoke,  Isaac  Barnum,  Roxey  Barnum,  Amos  Wheeler, 
Wealthy  Wheeler,  Heman  Dodge,  Sarah  Ingersen,  Henry 
Barnum,  Nancy  Palmerton,  E.  P.  Barnum,  Almira  Wheeler, 
John  Barnum.  In  the  church  council  were  representatives 
from  the  churches  of  Ionia,  Lyons,  Kalamazoo,  and  Rock- 
saud.  Heman  Dodge  was  chosen  clerk,  and  Isaac  Barnum 
deacon. 

Among  the  early  pastors  were  Elders  Lamb,  Tompkins, 
Pillsbury,  Munger,  and  Gould,  among  the  later  ones  Elders 
Bassett,  Wheelock,  Monroe,  and  Burgess,  the  latter  being 
now  the  pastor  in  charge.  J.  P.  Holbrook  is  now  the 
deacon,  and  B.  F.  Densmore  the  clerk.  The  church  mem- 
bership is  34.  Services  are  held  in  the  Free- Will  Baptist 
church  once  a  fortnight. 

The  two  Baptist  Churches  have  a  Union  Sunday-school, 
which  has  regular  Sunday  sessions,  winter  and  summer. 
S.  S.  Ingersen  is  the  superintendent.  The  average  attend- 
ance is  53,  and  the  number  of  teachers  employed  eight. 

WOODLAND  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  (GERMAN)  CHURCH. 
A  German  Methodist  Episcopal  class  was  formed  about 
1855,  in  the  Galloway  school-house,  and  included  the  fam- 
ilies of  Jacob  Felta,  George  Hitt,  Conrad  Hanes,  and  Gott- 
fried Risler,  Risler  being  chosen  class-leader.  Rev.  Jacob 
Krebil,  the  first  pastor,  preached  two  years,  and,  following 
him,  supplies  were  furnished  from  Grand  Rapids  once  in 
two 'weeks  for  some  years.  The  church  struggled  feebly 
for  a  long  period  and  gathered  strength  slowly.  Meetings 
were  held  in  the  Galloway  school-house  until  1871,  when 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  (English)  church  at  the  centre 
was  occupied.  In  1876  the  German  Society  built  a  hand- 
some church  edifice  at  the  centre,  and  enjoys  now  a  season 
of  considerable  prosperity. 

To  1874  the  class— having  then  a  membership  of  17— 
was  attached  to  the  Grand  Rapids  Circuit.  Since  then  it 
has  belonged  to  the  Irving  Circuit,  and  has  preaching  once 
in  two  we°eks,  ^he  preachpr  in  charge  being  Clements  Held- 


508 


HISTOKY  OP  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


myer,  and  the  class-leader  John  Schaibley.  The  trustees 
are  John  Schaibley,  C.  A.  Hough,  Jacob  Felta,  John  Rul- 
ing, Lawrence  Hilbert.  John  Geiger  is  superintendent  of 
the  Sunday-school,  which  has  an  average  attendance  of  24 
scholars,  and  a  corps  of  six  teachers. 

WESLEYAN  METHODIST  CHURCH. 
A  Wesley  an  Methodist  class  was  organized  in  the  Cheney 
school-house,  Carlton,  in  1858,  by  Elder  Tapley,  with  15 
or  20  members,  and  after  a  time  a  portion  of  the  class  was 
transferred  to  the  Canada  school-house.  In  1874,  Elder 
Clark  held  a  revival  meeting  at  that  point,  and  since  then 
services  have  been  held  regularly  once  in  two  weeks.  The 
class  is  on  the  Woodland  Circuit,  in  charge  of  Elder  Tap- 
ley,  has  a  membership  of  10,  and  "is  under  the  leadership 
of  Samuel  Campbell.  Worship  is  now  held  in  the  school- 
house,  but  measures  are  afoot  for  the  speedy  erection  near 
there  of  a  church  building. 

GERMAN    BAPTIST   CHURCH. 

The  German  Baptists,  now  worshiping  in  a  church  on 
the  south  town-line  and  in  the  Galloway  school-house,  were 
organized  into  a  church  at  Enos  Crowell's  house  by  elders 
Isaac  Miller  and  George  Long,  and  at  organization  num- 
bered about  30  members.  Enos  Crowell,  I.  N.  Miller, 
and  Saml.  Smith  were  chosen  deacons,  and  Elder  Isaac 
Miller  the  pastor.  Elder  Miller  has  continued  in  the  pas- 
torate from  the  first,  and  preaches  now  once  a  month  in 
each  place, — the  school-house  and  the  church.  Enos  Crow- 
ell and  Henry  Smith  are  now  the  deacons,  and  Alexander 
Price  and  David  Flora  "  speakers  in  the  first  degree.'' 
The  church  membership  is  45. 

UNITED  BRETHREN  CHURCHES. 
The  first  church  edifice  erected  in  Woodland  was  built 
by  the  members  of  the  Meyers  United  Brethren  class,  on 
section  3,  about  1852.  The  class  was  organized  June  30, 
1850,  with  6  members,  as  follows  :  George  N.  Meyers,  class- 
leader;  Ziba  B.  Meyers,  class-steward  ;  Mary  Meyers,  Eliza- 
beth Meyers,  John  Meyers,  and  Catherine  Meyers.  July 
31,  1852,  the  class  had  a  membership  of  22,  and  was  a 
point  in  the  Barry  mission,  in  charge  of  William  Ken- 
nard,  missionary.  The  class  has  now  a  membership  of 
40,  and  is  attached  to  Barry  Circuit,  on  which  the  preacher 
in  charge  is  Rev.  William  N.  Briedenstein,  who  preaches 
at  the  Meyers  church  once  in  two  weeks.  Jacob  Kin"  is 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school,  which  has  48  schol- 
ars and  five  teachers.  The  class-leader  is  Silas  Meyers,  and 
the  trustees  are  Emanuel  Cramer,  Silas  Meyers,  and  Philip 
Davis. 

The  Kilpatrick  United  Brethren  class  was  organized 
in  the  Kilpatrick  neighborhood  about  1856,  and  was  at 
first  chiefiy  composed  of  members  of  the  Kilpatrick  families, 
George  Kilpatrick  being  the  class-leader.  The  class  was 
on  a  circuit  that  reached  from  Charlotte,  in  Eaton  County, 
to  Cascade,  in  Kent  County,  and  was  able  to  have 
preaching  only  once  a  month.  Meetings  were  held  in  the 
Kilpatrick  school  house  until  1871,  when  the  present  house 
of  worship  was  built.  The  class  is  now  on  the  Castleton 
Circuit,  in  charge  of  Rev.  Isaac  Maurer,  and  meets  for 
worship  onpe  ^  fqrtpight.     The  class-leader  is  A.  G.  Kil- 


patrick, and  the  trustees  Charles  Galloway,  John  Kilpatrick, 
and  A.  G.  Kilpatrick.  In  the  Sunday-school,  of  which  W. 
D.  Berry  is  superintendent,  the  average  attendance  of  schol- 
ars is  60,  and  the  teachers  six  in  number. 

In  1871  this  class  was  joined  by  a  class  organized  some 
years  previous  in  Michael  Rowlader's  house  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Kennard. 

In  the  "  Canada"  settlement  is  the  Third  United  Breth- 
ren or  "  Tamarack"  church,  which  was  built  in  1878,  and 
in  which  now  worships  the  United  Brethren  class  formed 
by  Elder  A.  Miller  in  1860,  in  the  "  Canada"  school-house. 
The  organizing  members  were  H.  B.  Lipscomb,  leader ; 
David  Smith,  steward ;  Annie  Lipscomb,  Balsar  King, 
Jacob  G.  King,  exhorter ;  Hugh  Dodd,  Miles  Lipscomb, 
Angeline  Lipscomb,  Margaret  Dodd,  Polly  A.  Haskins, 
Anna  Curtiss,  Ferington  Todd,  Mary  J.  Mclnarie,  Nancy 
McTnarie,  William  Sears,  and  Fanny  Sears.  Since  1860 
there  has  been  preaching  once  in  two  weeks.  Rev.  Wil- 
liam N.  Briedenstein  is  the  preacher  in  charge,  Randy 
Lipscomb  is  the  class-leader,  Jacob  Bear,  Calvin  Demary, 
and  Ezra  Pierce  the  trustees,  Norton  Rainsford  the  class- 
steward,  and  Dennis  Haskill  the  Sunday-school  superin- 
tendent. The  church  is  exceedingly  prosperous,  and  has  a 
membership  of  80. 

GERMAN  LUTHERAN  CHURCH. 

About  the  year  1856  the  German  Lutherans  in  Wood- 
land began  to  hold  religious  meetings  in  the  Galloway 
school-house,  and  after  that  at  the  houses  of  Michael 
Reiser  and  others.  The  worshipers  included  the  Reiser, 
Baetinger,  Berkley,  Mauch,  Metzger,  Richart,  Schmidt, 
Swartz,  Smith,  and  Neidhammer  families.  Rev.  Mr.  Folz, 
of  Lansing,  the  first  minister,  preached  once  in  six  weeks  for 
a  year,  and  then  Rev.  Adam  Berkly,  of  Lansing,  entered 
upon  a  pastorate  which  lasted  upwards  of  ten  years,  during 
which  he  preached  once  a  month.  Upon  Mr.  Berkly's 
departure  the  members  of  the  church  built  a  parsonage 
and  engaged  Rev.  Mr.  Duhring  as  their  first  stationed  pastor, 
who  preached  for  them  each  Sunday.     His  successors  have 

been  Revs.  Klein  and  Charles  Adams,  the  latter  of 

whom  has  been  in  charge  since  1872.  A  church  was  built 
on  section  10  in  1862.  The  Sunday-school  in  charge  of 
Jacob  Reiser  has  an  average  attendance  of  40  scholars. 
The  first  trustees  of  the  church  were  M.  Baetinger,  C. 
Bayha,  and  J.  G.  Swartz.  The  present  trustees  are  Adam 
Baetinger,  Jacob  Funk,  and  George  Mauch.  The  elders 
are  Jacob  Reiser  and  Jacob  Mall. 

EVANGELICAL  (GERMAN)  CHURCH. 

About  I860,  Rev.  Mr.  Geiger  was  delegated  by  the 
Indiana  Conference  to  organize  an  evangelical  church  in 
Woodland,  and  he  formed  accordingly  two  classes, — one  at 
the  Meyers  church,  and  one  at  the  red  school-house. 
Among  the  families  represented  by  the  organizing  mem- 
bers were  those  of  the  Millers,  Wagners,  Schulers,Bayhas, 
Rowladers,  Eckardts,  Entz,  Smiths,  Schaibleys,  and  Feltas. 
In  1861  the  erection  of  a  church  edifice  upon  section  12 
was  begun,  but  the  work  was  not  finished  until  1866, 
about  which  time  both  classes  were  consolidated. 

The  membership  is   now   about   40.      Rev.   Frederick 


WOODLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


509 


Miller  is  the  pastor,  George  Smith  the  class-leader,  W. 
Rowlader  assistant  class-leader,  Frederick  Eckardt  Sun- 
day-school superintendent,  and  W.  Rowlader,  Frederick 
Eckardt,  and  Jacob  Smith  trustees. 

SECRET^SOCIETIES. 
WOODLAND  LODGE,  No.  304,  F.  AND  A.  M., 
was  organized  Aug.  29, 1871,  and  chartered  Jan.  11, 1872. 
The  first  officers  chosen  were  John  P.  Phillips,  W.  M.  ■ 
Wm.  H.  Lee.S.  W. ;  S.  S.  Ingersen,  J.  W. ;  Lawrence 
Hilbert,  Treas. ;  D.  B.  Coville,  Sec. ;  Samuel  Stowell,  S.  D. ; 
(;.  A.  Hough,  J.  D.  John  P.  Phillips  was  Worshipful 
Master  continuously  until  June,  1875,  when  Wm.  P.  Haw- 
ley  was  chosen,  and  he  was  in  turn  followed  by  John  P. 
Phillips,  the  present  Master.  Tho  lodge  has  now  a  mem- 
bership of  62,  and  is  a  flourishing  organization. 

The  present  officers  are  J.  P.  Phillips,  W.  M. ;  W.  H. 
Lee,  S.  W. ;  S.  S.  Ingersen,  J.  W. ;  Lawrence  Hilbert, 
Treas. ;  C.  A.  Hough,  Sec. ;  J.  Schaibley,  S.  D. ;  George 
W.  Smith,  J.  D. ;  C.  H.  Snyder,  Tyler. 

WOODLAND  CHAPTER,  ORDER  OF   THE  EASTERN  STAR, 
was  organized  Feb.   19,  1880.     Mrs.  Ellen  Carpenter  is 
the  Matron  ;  W.  H.  Lee,  Patron  ;  and  Mrs.  Frank  StowcU, 
Assistant  Matron.     The  membership  is  23. 

WOODLAND  LODGE,  No.  289,  I.  0.  0.  F., 
was  instituted  Feb.  5,  1877,  with  the  following  members: 
0.  P.  Abbott,  N.  G. ;    George  Harden,  V.   G. ;  Henry 
Stinchcomb,  P.  S. ;  John  Stevens,  Treas. ;  Michael  Rupe, 
Warden  ;  John  Valentine,  I.  G. 

Since  -the  organization  of  the  lodge  the  office  of  Noble 
Grand  has  been  filled  by  O.  P.  Abbott,  G.  D.  Barden, 
Wesley  Meyers,  D.  B.  Cooper,  Joshua  Glenn,  Andrew 
Carpenter,  and  C.  S.  Palmerton.  The  present  membership 
is  43.  The  officers  are  C.  S.  Palmerton,  N.  G. ;  James 
Black,  V.  G. ;  Eugene  Davenport,  Sec. ;  F.  P.  Palmerton, 
P.  Sec. ;  Douglas  B.  Cooper,  Treas. 

WOODLAND  LODGE,  No.  817,  I.  0.  G.  T., 

was  chartered  Jan.  6,  1875.  The  charter  was  issued  to 
H.  C.  Carpenter,  W.  C.  T. ;  Mrs.  H.  C.  Carpenter,  W. 
V.  T.;  J.  W.  Stinchcomb,  W.  C. ;  C.  A.  Hough,  W. 
S. ;  J.  F.  Holbrook,  W.  A.  S. ;  Burt  Hawley,  W.  F. 
S.;  Mrs.  J.  F.  Holbrook,  I.  G. ;  Mattie  E.  Hough, 
D.  M. ;  Mrs.  L.  J.  Downing,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Stinchcomb, 
L.  H.  S. ;  Perry  Stowell,  Marshal ;  Ira  Stowell,  P.  W.  C. 
T.;  Mrs.  E.  D.  Stowell,  Mrs.  C.  A.  Hough,  R.  H.  S.; 
W.  T.  J)owning,  0.  G. ;  George  W.  Smith,  W.  Treas. ; 
A.  J.  Carpenter,  Mrs.  A.  J.  Carpenter,  Fidus  E.  Fish,  E. 
G.  Holbrook. 

The  members  now  number  60.  The  officers  are  B.  S. 
Hawley,  W.  C.  T. ;  Dora  Haight,  W.  V.  T. ;  H.  J.  Stow- 
ell, W.  C. ;  E.  G.  Holbrook,  W.  S. ;  J.  F.  Orwick,  W.  A. 
S. ;  Hattie  Carpenter,  F.  S. ;  Mrs.  Ellen  Carpenter,  Treas. ; 
Hiram  Waltz,  Marshal;  Claudie  Haight,  I.  G. ;  Austin 
Stowell,  0.  G. ;  W.  P.  Hawley,  P.  W.  C.  T. ;  C.  A.  Holt, 
Lodge  Deputy. 


WOODLAND  CENTRE. 

There  is  at  the  centre  of  the  township  a  smart  little  vil- 
lage, which  has  been  growing  of  late  as  if  its  vigor  were 
just  beginning  to  make  itself  felt,  and  which,  with  a  railway 
through,  would  rapidly  become  a  business  point  of  no  trifling 
importance.  The  citizens  have  recognized  this  fact,  and 
more  than  one  eff'ort  has  been  made  to  have  a  railway- 
line  through  the  township,  but,  beyond  the  surveys  of 
two  or  three  proposed  routes,  nothing  has  yet  been  accom- 
plished. Just  now  there  is  some  talk  of  a  railway  between 
Grand  Rapids  and  Lansing,  via  Woodland,  but  how  it  will 
eventuate  remains  to  be  seen. 

The  first  location  near  the  present  village  site  was  made 
in  1847  by  John  McArthur,  who  then  moved  to  the  place 
on  section  21  he  now  occupies.  The  centre  of  the  town- 
ship was  then  a  wilderness,  which  was  first  intruded  upon 
by  Nicholas  Snyder,  who,  about  1849,  set  up  a  blacksmith- 
shop,  which  he  carried  on  until  1854,  and  then  sold  to 
Melohior  Baetinger,  who  still  occupies  the  site  and  still 
devotes  it  to  its  original  use.  In  1853,  Stephen  Haight, 
a  carpenter  and  joiner,  located  upon  the  present  site  of  the 
village,  and  there  has  since  continued  to  live.  Presently 
along  came  one  Jacob  Strauss,  a  Hebrew  peddler,  with  a 
pack  on  his  back,  who,  concluding  that  the  centre  invited 
the  attention  of  a  resident  trader,  rented  a  log  house  pre- 
viously occupied  by  Snyder,  the  blacksmith,  as  a  residence, 
— diagonally  opposite  the  shop, — stocked  it  with  a  handful 
of  goods,  and  launched  out  as  the  pioneer  merchant  of 
Woodland  Centre.  Strauss'  advent  occurred  in  1853,  and 
shortly  after  his  coming  he  engaged  Stephen  Haight  to 
build  for  him  a  framed  residence, — the  first  framed  house 
erected  in  that  locality. 

Strauss  did  not  find  the  volume  of  trade  to  his  liking, 
and  at  the  end  of  a  year  or  so  departed  with  his  goods. 
Booth  &  Chapin,  of  Lowell,  followed  him  as  traders,  and 
to  them  succeeded  Lederer  &  Cookingham,  but  neither  firm 
discovered  inducements  sufficiently  strong  to  call  for  a  long 
stay,  and  thus  the  early  commercial  history  of  Woodland 
Centre  partook  of  a  changeable  character.  In  1859,  when 
the  field  of  trade  lay  unoccupied,  a  Mr.  Richardson,  of 
Hastings,  engaged  Ira  Stowell  and  Stephen  Haight  to  build 
him  a  framed  store  in  Woodland  Centre,  on  the  present 
"  post-office  corner."  This  store  Richardson  filled  with  a 
decent  stock  of  goods,  but  he  failed  to  make  a  success  of 
his  venture,  and  gave  it  up  at  the  end  of  a  year.  Solomon 
Goodyear,  of  Hastings,  rented  the  building  of  Richardson, 
and  brought  out  two  loads  of  goods,  but  was  discouraged  at 
the  prospect  of  gain  in  so  thin  a  neighborhood,  and  without 
unloading  his  wagons  ordered  them  back  to  Hastings.  He 
straightway  sold  his  lease  to  Lawrence  Hilbert,  who,  in 
1860,  reopened  the  place,  and,  unlike  his  predecessors, 
stuck  to  the  business,  and  made  a  succets  of  it;  having 
continued  in  trade  at  the  centre  to  this  day,  and  having 
ever  since  his  advent  been  the  leading  merchant  of  the  town. 

After  1860  the  village  began  to  exhibit  some  improve- 
ment. Henry  Bauer  followed  Hilbert  with  a  second  store, 
which  he  kept  in  a  10  by  15  shanty,  and  carried  on  about 
three  months.  Barnum  &  Eastman  came  in  and  made  a 
bid  for  trade,  but  at  the  end  of  a  year  their  establishment 
was  consumed  by  fire,  and  they  closed  their  experience  at 


510 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN   AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


the  centre.  In  1866  the  hamlet  had  got  along  so  far  that 
Jonathan  Haight,  Lawrence  Hilbert,  and  John  McArthur, 
owners  of  property  thereabout,  platted  a  village  there.  In 
1874  they  made  an  addition.  As  remarked  at  an  earlier 
stage,  Woodland  Centre  is  now  a  place  of  some  pretensions. 
Its  business  interests  are  represented  by  two  general  stores, 
a  hard  ware-store,  drug-store,  shoe-store,  two  millinery-stores, 
grocery-store,  etc.  In  manufactures  it  has  a  grist-mill^ 
saw-mill,  oar-factory,  cheese-factory,  and  wagon-shops. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES. 


JOHN  KILPATRICK. 

John  Kilpatrick,  a  view  of  whose  home  appears  upon 
another  page  of  this  work,  was  born  in  Ayrshire,  Scotland, 
May  12, 1820,  and  the  eldest  in  a  family  of  eleven  children. 
He  lived  at  home  until  June  8,  1842,  when  he  set  sail  for 
that  land  of  promise  of  which  so  many  longing  hearts  in 
the  Old  World  dream, — America.  After  a  month's  tossing 
on  the  broad  Atlantic,  he  found  himself  in  New  York  City, 
literally  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land.  Leaving  the  city  be- 
hind him,  he  found  himself  in  Monroe  County,  where  he 
went  to  work  on  a  farm  by  the  year,  afterwards  buying  a 
quarter-section  of  wild  land  in  Michigan  from  the  man  he 
worked  for,  and  in  the  summer  of  1847  sent  for  his  father, 
who  sold  what  little  property  he  possessed  in  Scotland  and 
brought  his  family  to  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  where  John  met 
them,  and  together  they  came  to  Michigan.  They  built 
a  house  on  his  land  and  lived  together  about  one  year, 
when  his  father,  John  (Senior)  built  a  house  on  land  he  had 
bought,  and  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred March  14,  1869,  when  he  was  seventy-one  years  of 
age.  His  wife,  Janet,  survived  him  until  Oct.  22,  1878, 
aged  eighty-one. 

John,  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  was  married  Feb.  29, 
1852,  to  Eunice  Wilson,  a  native  of  New  York.  To  this 
marriage  were  born  John  Bruce,  Sept.  1,  1853,  died  May 
18,  1856,  and  Mary  E.,  born  Sept.  9,  1857^  who  died  Feb. 
7,  1858.  The  wife  and  mother  soon  followed,  departino- 
this  life  Dec.  7,  1858. 

Nov.  2,  1859,  Mr.  Kilpatrick  married  Miss  Margaret 
Hagar,  whose  people  were  very  early  settlers  in  this  State. 
Two  children  were  born  to  them, — Mary  A.,  born  Aug.  6 
1860,  died  Sept.  10,  1861 ;  and  Andrew  C,  born  Nov.  21,' 
1862.  Again  Mr.  Kilpatrick  was  afflicted  by  the  loss  of  his 
wife,  which  occurred  Nov.  30,  1863. 

July  16,  1865,  he  was  for  the  third  time  married,  this 
wife,  Mrs.  Mary  Shaffer,  having  lost  her  husband  in  the 
army.  They  are  the  parents  of  the  following  children, — 
Samuel,  born  May  17,  1868,  died  Aug.  8,  1870  ;  David 
A.,  born  Aug.  14,  1870,  died  Sept.  8,  1871 ;  Jesse,  born 
Jan.  2,  1873  ;  Viola,  born  May  26, 1875 ;  and  John  Hays, 
born  Jan.  17,  1877. 

In  politics  Mr.  Kilpatrick  is  a  Republican ;  started  as  a 
Free-Soiler ;  has  held  several  town  offices.  Is  a  member  of 
the  United  Brethren  Church,  of  which  he  has  been  one  of 
the  trustees  since  its  organization  in  his  neighborhood. 


LEVI  HOLMES. 

Isaac,  the  father  of  Levi  Holmes,  was  a  native  of  New 
•  York,  and  by  trade  a  harness-maker  ;  married  a  Miss  Losee, 
had  by  her  eight  children,  Levi,  the  subject  of  our  sketch, 
being  the  seventh,  and  born  in  1811. 

At  an  early  age  Levi  was  hired  out  by  his  father  as  a 
common  farm-laborer,  and  remained  in  that  condition  until 
he  was  about  twenty-one  years  old.  Then  he  began  life 
for  himself,  continuing  in  the  same  employment,  working 
for  Mr.  Philo  Reed,  a  farmer  in  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.  By 
economy  and  industry  he  was,  in  1843,  enabled  to  buy  of 
his  employer  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  wild  land  in 
Michigan,  where  he  now  resides.  He  came  during  the 
same  year  to  improve  his  purchase,  first  building  a  log  hut. 
In  1858  he  built  the  residence  he  now  occupies,  which  is 
one  of  the  best  in  the  township. 

In  1844  he  was  elected  supervisor,  serving  one  year,  then 
one  year  as  town  clerk,  and  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  six- 
teen years.  Has  also  been  highway  commissioner,  and  for 
several  years  school  director. 

In  1835,  at  Amenia,  Dutchess  Co.,  he  married  Miss  Lois 
Toug,  of  New  Milford,  Conn.  They  have  reared  eight 
children,  all  living  to-day. 

Mr.  Holmes  is  known  as  a  zealous  churchman ;  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  all  his  life  in 
Woodland,  and  during  that  time  has  acted  as  local  preacher 
some  five  years.  Has  been  class-leader  during  his  entire 
church  experience.  In  1874  the  church  known  as  the 
Holmes  church  was  erected.  This  church  has  beep  freely 
endowed  by  Mr.  Holmes ;  in  fact,  he  is  its  chief  supporter, 
and  to  his  efforts  and  money  the  church  is  chiefly  indebted 
tor  its  existence. 

Mr.  Holmes'  life  has  been  eminently  upright  and  pure, 
temperate  in  all  things,  using  neither  liquors  nor  tobacco, 
and  devoting  his  spare  time,  energies,  abilities,  and  means 
towards  the  advancement  and  betterment  of  many  of  his 
neighbors  and  fellow-citizens. 


GEORGE  M.  DAVENPORT. 

Solomon  Courtright,  the  great-grandfather  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was  of  English  origin  and  a  resident  of  New 
Jersey  all  his  life,  and  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
army. 

Martin  Davenport  was  his  grandfather  on  his  father's 
side,  of  German  descent,  and  also  a  resident  of  New  Jersey. 
His  gTandmother  was  Catharine  Courtright.  His  father, 
Alanson  Davenport,  born  in  New  Jersey  in  1807,  was  by 
occupation  a  farmer.  His  mother  was  Eliza  (Meddaugh) 
Davenport,  and  born  in  1806. 

We  have  thus  briefly  sketched  the  genealogy  of  Mr. 
Davenport  as  giving  evidence  in  itself  of  the  sterling  quali- 
ties which  our  subject  in  nature  possesses.  George  M. 
was  the  eldest  in  his  father's  family  of  eight  children,  and 
born  in  Caroline,  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  3,  1828. 
He,  to  use  a  common  expression,  worked  out  a  good  part 
of  his  time  until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  giving  his  wages 
to  his  father.  Then  he  began  to  learn  the  carpenter  aad 
joiner's  trade;  came  to  Michigan,  June  10,  1855,  locating 


WOODLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


511 


on  the  land  where  he  now  resides.  He  had  previously 
married  in  Ohio,  where  she  then  resided,  Miss  Hester 
Sutton.  They  have  had  one  child,  Eugene  Davenport, 
born  to  them.  A  view  of  the  old  log  hut  where  he  was 
born  may  be  seen  in  the  sketch  of  Mr.  Davenport's  resi- 
dence, which  appears  upon  another  page.  Eugene  now 
resides  at  home  ;  was  educated  at  the  agricultural  college  at 
Lansing,  where  he  pursued  his  studies  for  four  years  and 
graduated.  He  has  purchased  a  half-interest  in  his  father's 
property,  and  together  they  propose  to  put  into  practice 
the  principles  of  business  and  scientific  knowledge  he  has 
acquired.  Their  farm  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation, 
while  the  house  is  said  to  be  one  of  the  best,  if  not  the 
best,  in  the_  township,  and  was  built  by  Mr.  G.  M.  Daven- 
port himself.  The  family  is  an  unusually  harmonious  one, 
working  together  in  all  things.  None  of  them  are  mem- 
bers of  any  church,  but  have  a  wide  reputation  for  lib- 
erality, and  as  citizens  and  neighbors  are  kind  and  obligin". 
Mr.  Davenport  is  one  of  those  men  who  will  overcome  any 
and  all  obstacles  to  meet  his  obligations ;  and  by  this  and  his 
business  qualifications  has  established  a  reputation  of  un- 
doubted credit,  which  has  assisted  greatly  in  his  material 
prosperity. 


-   JOSEPH  W.  STINCHCOMB. 

Joseph  W.  Stinchcomb  is  a  son  of  James  and  Priscilla 
Stinchcomb,  and  a  native  of  Perry  Co.,  Ohio,  where  he  was 
born  July  2,  1828.  When  he  was  two  years  of  age  his 
father  removed  to  Bloom  township,  Seneca  Co.,  same  State. 
Here  his  boyhood  and  youth  were  passed,  receiving  not  only 
a  liberal  academic  education,  but  also  a  practical  education 
in  the  labor  of  the  farm  and  at  the  carpenter's  and  joiner's 
trade,  which  latter  business  he  followed  winters,  workinar  at 
farming  summers,  with  the  exception  of  ten  terms  of  school- 
teaching,  until  the  fall  of  1860,  when  he  removed  to  Michi- 
gan, and  settled  in  the  township  of  Sunfield,  Eaton  Co.,  on 
a  new  piece  of  land,  upon  which  he  cleared  some  seventy 
acres,  then  removed  to  Woodland  township,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  In  the  fall  of  1858  he  married  Mary  Ellen 
Winters,  of  Crawford  Co.,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Eli  Win- 
ters of  the  same  place.  They  are  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren, four  of  whom  are  still  living. 

Mr.  Stinchcomb  says  when  he  first  came  to  his  present 
home  it  was  a  wilderness,  but  he  has  made  it  blossom  like 
the  rose,  his  farm  being  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  with 
excellent  improvements  and  a  residence  universally  ad- 
mired by  all  beholders. 

Mr.  Stinchcomb  has  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  for  over  thirty  years,  and  during  that 
time  has  held  many  of  the  various  church  oflSces.  He  has  also 
held  many  political  oflSces ;  was  a  Whig  until  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Republican  party,  with  which  he  has  since  been 
identified ;  has  held  the  office  of  school  inspector,  of  high- 
way commissioner,  justice  of  the  peace,  and  was  elected  as 
the  Eepublican  candidate,  by  a  popular  majority  over  all 
opposition,  representative  of  the  first  district  of  Barry 
County  in  1876.  In  all  positions  of  public  trust  as  well  as 
in  his  private  life  and  business  Mr.  Stinchcomb  has  won  an 
unviable  reputation  for  integrity,  ability,  industry,  and  ex- 


emplary conduct,  being  of  good  habits,  honorable  in  his 
dealings  with  his  fellow-man,  and  conscientious  in  all  thin-s. 


STEPHEN  S.  INGERSON. 
Stephen  S.  Ingerson  can  trace  his  lineage  from  the  Bid- 
wells,  of  England,  his  grandfather,  George  Bidwell,  being 
a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  In 
178-1  moved  his  family  and  household  goods  to  Starksboro', 
Vt.,  being  the  first  settler  in  that  township.  Here  Sarah 
Bidwell  was  born,  Jan.  4,  1795,  and  on  the  10th  of 
October,  1813,  married  Ira  Ingerson,  also  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont. This  union  was  productive  of  nine  children,  of 
whom  our  subject  was  the  youngest,  and  born  in  Hunting- 
ton, Vt.,  July  3,  1835.  Here  he  lived  until  five  years  of 
age,  when  they  removed  to  Moukton,  Vt.  Then,  in  1845, 
came  with  his  parents  to  his  present  home,  where  his  father 
purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  wild  land  and 
began  the  clearing  necessary  to  the  planting  of  crops,  etc. 
From  the  age  of  six  to  sixteen,  Stephen  spent  about  one- 
half  of  his  time  in  the  district  school ;  his  father,  bein" 
determined  to  educate  his  children,  used  to  work  at  shoe- 
making  until  after  midnight  in  order  to  keep  them  in 
school  and  pay  their  bills.  In  consequence,  all  his  children 
received  a  liberal  education,  although  he  three  times  lost 
his  property  through  the  dishonesty  of  others.  He  was 
accidentally  killed  while  on  his  way  to  a  saw-mill,  some 
three  miles  distant,  with  a  load  of  logs,  the  ox-team 
which  he  was  driving  turning  out  of  the  road  for  water  to 
drink,  overturning  the  sleigh  with  him.  After  this  sad 
event,  which  happened  when  Stephen  was  seventeen  years 
old,  he  remained  with  and  supported  his  mother  until  Dec. 
7,  1856,  when  he  married  Miss  Frances  E.  Lee,  of  Wood- 
land, although  a  native  of  Ulysses,  Tompkins  Co.,  N.  Y. 
They  have  had  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  living. 

Mr.  Ingerson  is  not  an  actual  member  of  any  church, 
although  contributing  liberally  towards  their  support,  and 
being  superintendent  of  the  Union  Sabbath-school  of  the 
Free-Will  Baptist  Church  for  the  last  three  years,  and  for 
ten  years  has  been  an  active  attendant  and  supporter  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

In  politics  he  is  a  Republican  ;  was  elected  township  clerk 
when  twenty-one  years  old ;  held  that  office  four  years ;  then 
for  several  terms  was  township  treasurer,  afterwards  town 
clerk,  again  was  deputy  postmaster  two  years,  and  commis- 
sioner of  highways  two  years,  which  office  he  still  holds. 
Has  been  administrator  of  several  estates,  and  held  the 
position  of  guardian  of  minors  since  he  was  twenty-three 
years  old ;  for  three  years  has  been  president  of  the  Town- 
ship Insurance  Company. 

He  began  the  battle  of  life  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  with 
his  interest  in  the  farm,  then  said  to  be  worth  one  hun- 
dred dollars,  and  fourteen  dollars  in  personal  property,  and 
by  industry,  thrift,  and  good  habits,  alone  and  unaided,  ex- 
cept by  his  good  wife,  secured  a  fine  property  and  home ; 
says  he  has  never  turned  a  person  from  his  doors  who 
applied  in  the  name  of  charity  for  bread  or  hospitality,  and 
has  supplied  their  needs  without  asking  a  question,  simply 
because  he  felt  it  his  imperative  duty. 


512 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY  COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


DAVID    B.    KILPATRICK. 

DR.  DAVID   B.  KILPATRICK. 

The  ancestors  of  this  gentleman  are  well  known  in  Scotland 
as  an  ancient  and  warlike  family,  and  the  lineage  is  trace- 
able back  to  the  struggles  of  the  Covenanters.  The  doctor 
himself  is  a  native  of  Ayrshire,  Scotland,  where  he  was 
born  April  7,  1837,  and  was  the  ninth  in  a  family  of 
eleven  children.  In  1847,  when  ten  years  of  age,  he,  in 
company  with  his  father,  came  to  America ;  settled  first  in 
Hastings,  Mich.  After  a  stay  of  one  winter,  came  to 
Woodland,  and  located  on  the  farm  known  as  the  Kilpat- 
rick  farm,  which  he  assisted  in  clearing.  From  1856  to 
1858  David  attended  school  in  Vermootville,  the  latter  year 
removing  to  Kalamazoo,  where  he  attended  the  Kalamazoo 
College  classical  course  until  the  spring  of  1864,  with  the 
exception  of  six  months'  service  in  the  Second  Michigan 
Infantry,  Company  K,  during  the  year  1861,  being  one  of 
four  brothers  in  the  war  against  the  Rebellion.  He  then  en- 
tered the  Michigan  University,  at  Ann  Arbor ;  remained  six 
months,  when  his  health  failed.  Then  he  went  to  Roches- 
ter University,  and  was  graduated  July  12, 1865,  as  A.B.  in 
the  classical  course,  continuing  his  studies  in  the  medical 
department  of  the  Michigan  University,  at  Ann  Arbor,  until 
the  spring  of  1866,  and  began  the  practice  of  medicine  in 
Woodland  in  summer  of  the  same  year.  In  1874  took 
another  course  of  lecture-drill  in  hospital  clinics,  and  was 
graduated  at  the  Detroit  Medical  College  on  the  3d  of 
March,  1875. 

Dr.  Kilpatrick  married,  March  7,  1872,  Miss  Minnie 
McArthur,  a  native  of  Woodland  township,  born  in  1850, 
and  a  daughter  of  John  McArthur,  one  of  the  early  settlers, 
who  came  as  early  as  1842.  They  are  the  parents  of  two 
children,  both  daughters. 

In  religious  convictions  the  doctor  is  a  Baptist,  and  in 
politics  a  radical  Republican,  an  advocate  of  temperance, 
and  has  never  used  either  spirituous  liquors  or  tobacco. 
Has  educated  himself,  or  by  manual  labor  (working  in  hay- 
ing and  harvest  during  the  summer  vacation  and  teaching 
school  two  winters)  acquired  the  means  to  prosecute  his 


MRS.   DAVID   B.    KILPATRICK. 

studies  and  carry  him  through  college, — starting  a  poor  boy 
and  without  friends  able  to  assist  him  in  those  times. 

His  character  and  standing  in  the  community  are  best 
evinced  by  the  respect  and  esteem  in  which  he  is  held,  not 
only  as  a  citizen,  but  as  a  professional  man. 


WASHINGTON   ROWLADER. 

Washington  Rowlader  was  the  youngest  son  and  seventh 
child  in  the  family  of  Michael  R.  and  Margaret  (Velta) 
Rowlader,  his  birth  occurring  in  Herkimer  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Dec.  8,  1830.  He  remained  at  home,  attending  school 
some  eight  or  ten  terms,  until  after  his  father  had  moved 
to  Woodland  township,  which  occurred  in  1848.  Upon 
reaching  the  age  of  twenty  he  commenced  to  support  him- 
self, as  he  was  not  needed  at  home.  With  nothing  but  his 
clothes,  which  he  says  were  not  worth  six  dollars,  he  reso- 
lutely began  the  struggle  of  life,  and  with  determination 
to  not  only  obtain  the  living  which  the  world  is  supposed 
to  owe  every  one,  but  something  more  and  better.  Re- 
turning to  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  he  labored  six  months  for 
seventy-two  dollars,  then,  in  company  with  his  brother, 
came  again  to  Woodland,  and,  buying  a  Mexican  land-war- 
rant, secured  the  tract  of  land  upon  which  he  now  resides, 
and  which  by  perseverance  and  industry  he  has  made  into 
one  of  the  finest  farms  and  homes  in  Woodland  township. 
Mr.  Rowlader  relates  that  upon  first  taking  up  his  land  he 
tried  to  borrow  money  enough  of  his  uncle,  who  had  plenty, 
to  purchase  an  axe,  but  he  refused,  saying  he  was  fearful 
he  would  never  be  repaid. 

In  1855  he  married  Miss  Parmelia  Myers,  of  Odessa, 
Ionia  Co.,  Mich.  They  were  the  parents  of  three  children, 
of  whom  two  are  living.  Mr.  Rowlader  was  afflicted  by 
the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  July  23,  1865.  He  was 
again  married  March  14,  1866,  this  time  to  Miss  Kate 
Miller,  also  of  Ionia  County,  daughter  of  Gotleib  and 
Christina  B.  Miller,  who  emigrated  to  this  country  from 
Germany  in  1836.     To  this  last  union  five  children  have 


WOODLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


513 


been  born,  of  wbom  four  are  living.  Among  the  other 
drawbacks  Mr.  Eowlader  has  experienced  was  the  paying 
out  during  the  first  twelve  years  of  his  married  life  eleven 
hundred  dollars  for  medical  attendance. 

Mr.  Rowlader  belongs  to  the  Evangelical  Church,  of 
which  he  has  been  a  member  for  fourteen  years,  although 
his  Christian  experience  extends  over  a  period  of  twenty- 
five  years ;  Mrs.  Rowlader  has  also  been  a  member  of  the 
game  church  for  twenty-one  years.     He  is  Republican  in 


politics,  eschews  tobacco,  whisky,  tea,  and  cofiee,  and  in 
his  life  and  labor  gives  abundant  testimony  of  the  virtues 
and  preserving  power  of  temperance.  He  seldom  walks, 
nearly  always  runs,  and,  although  following  this  practice 
and  laboring  early  and  late  for  years,  is  in  good  health  and 
well  preserved,  and  says  no  day's  work  has  ever  done  him 
harm  yet.  Is  a  splendid  type  of  German  thrift  and  indus- 
try. His  farm  consists  of  two  hundred  and  thirty  acres, 
one  hundred  and  sixty  being  under  high  cultivation. 


HENRY   C.    CARPENTER. 

DR.  HENRY  C.  CARPENTER 
was  a  son  of  Cyril  Carpenter,  born  in  Rrunswick,  Medina 
Co.,  Ohio,  March  28, 1836,  and  the  only  son  in  a  family  of 
four  children.  At  the  age  of  one  year  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Geneva,  N.  Y.  At  the  age  of  three  he  returned 
to  Rrunswick,  Ohio,  where  they  resided  until  Henry  was 
fifteen  years  old,  and  then  removed  to  Ionia  Co.,  Mich. 
Henry,  having  had  the  advantages  of  a  good  district-school 
education,  taught  school  winters,  working  on  the  farm 
summers.  This  continued  until  1864,  when  he  commenced 
the  study  of  medicine,  graduating  in  Cleveland  m  1868. 
After  his  return  from  college  he  did  not,  as  most  young 
professionals  do,  go  West,  but  settled  down  at  home,  build- 
ing up  a  good  practice  in  the  town  of  Sebewa,  Ionia  Co. 
In  the  spring  of  1872  he  moved  to  Woodland,  where  he 
now  lives,  doing  a  large  and  increasing  business.  In  prac- 
tice, a  homoeopathist. 

Sept.  15, 1864,  he  married  Miss  Ellen  S.  Cooper,  a  native 
of  New  York,  born  Aug.  30,  1843.  Her  father,  Israel 
Cooper,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Woodland,  coming 
to  this  township  about  1835,  afterwards  returning  to  New 
York,  and  subsequently  to  Michigan;  this  was  in  1852; 
they  there  remained  until  their  death. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carpenter  are  the  parents  of  four  children, 
-viz. :  Claude  E.,  born  Aug.  10,  1865  ;  George  H.,  born 
May  9,  1867 ;  Lottie  E.,  born  Nov.  12,  1871 ;  Mary  A., 
born  Dec.  11,  1873,— all  of  whom  are  living. 
65 


MRS.    HENRY  C.   CARPENTER. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carpenter  have  both  been  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church  since  their  marriage.  Dr.  Carpenter  is  in 
politics  a  Republican,  although  not  seeking  political  pre- 
ferment. They  are  surrounded  by  a  large  circle  of  friends, 
who  esteem  the  doctor  not  only  as  a  professional  man,  but 
himself  and  estimable  wife  for  those  social  qualities  and 
sterlin"  virtues,  which  are  the  foundation  and  superstructure 
of  ^r  society  and  social  system,  and  through  these  the 
woof  and  warp  of  our  free  government. 


ALANSON  P.  HOLLY, 

although  not  a  pioneer  in  the  township  of  Woodland,  was 
one  of  its  most  enterprising  men  and  citizens,  being  truly 
what  is  called  a  self-made  man.  He  was  born  in  the  town- 
ship of  Whitehall,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  June  7,  1817. 
His  father,  Birdsill  Holly,  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and 
Alanson,  early  giving  evidence  of  a  natural  taste  for  me- 
chanics, was  apprenticed  at  the  machinist  trade  and  soon 
became  one  of  the  best,  and  worked  as  foreman  in  the  shop 
of  Abel  Downs  for  twenty  years.  He  then  went  to  Lock- 
port,  N.  Y.,  and  worked  for  his  brother— who  was  the  in- 
ventor of  the  Holly  water-works— in  the  Holly  Manufac- 
turing Company's  shops. 

In  August,  1866,  Alanson,  together  with  his  family, 
moved  to  Woodland,  where  he  bought  a  tract  of  land,  but 
for  ei"ht  years  traveled  for  the  Holly  Manufacturing  Com- 


514 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


pany;  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  returned  to  his  farm 
in  Woodland,  and  continued  farming  operations  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  May  15,  1879. 

Mr.  Holly's  wife,  whom  he  married  Oct.  13,  1840,  was 
a  Miss  Harriet  Stowell,  a  native  of  Bainbridge,  Chenango 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  the  second  in  a  family  of  ten  children.  To 
this  union  were  born  five  children, — Ira  A.,  born  March 
27,  1843;  Susan  J.,  born  Feb.  22,  1845;  William  Perry, 


Jan.  8,  1847;  Fred  Henry,  born  June  28,  1850;  and 
Burt  S.,  born  Nov.  10,  1857.  Ira  A.  Holly  is  settled  in 
Burlington,  Iowa,  the  others  in  different  parts  of  Michigan, 
the  mother  and  one  son  living  on  the  second  farm  pur- 
chased by  Mr.  Holly,  the  one  he  first  purchased  when  he 
came  to  Michigan  being  one-half  mile  east  of  the  centre, 
where  he  resided  two  years.  A  view  of  their  present  home 
we  give  upon  another  page  of  this  work. 


YANKEE     SPRIISrGS. 


This  township,  lying  on  the  western  border  of  the  county, 
is  composed  of  survey-township  3,  in  range  10,  and  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Thornapple  township,  south  by 
Orangeville,  east  by  Rutland,  and  west  by  the  Allegan 
county-line.  The  surface  of  the  town  on  the  west  is  occu- 
'pied  by  numerous  small  lakes  or  ponds,  while  in  the  south- 
west corner  Gun  Lake,  lying  in  four  townships,  covers 
upwards  of  2000  acres.  This  lake  is  a  somewhat  noted 
resort  for  anglers,  picnic-parties,  and  other  pleasure-seekers, 
and  on  its  western  shore,  in  Smith's  grove,  the  Spiritualists 
of  Barry  and  adjoining  counties  gather  each  summer  in 
considerable  numbers  for  camp-meeting  exercises,  which  last 
generally  about  a  week,  and  attract  crowds  of  curious  people. 

The  waters  of  the  lake  are  clear,  and  in  many  places 
deep.  Whitefish  and  other  choice  specimens  of  the  finny 
tribe  abound,  and,  as  the  waters  are  free  to  all  who  care  to 
cast  the  seductive  fly,  the  fishing  season  always  brings  troops 
of  anglers.  The  Wayland  Fishing  Club  and  the  Hastings 
Fishing  Club  have  boat-houses  on  the  lake  in  Yankee 
Springs,  and  partake  there  each  year  of  much  refreshin<' 
sport. 

There  has  latterly  been  talk  regarding  a  project  looking  to 
the  drainnge  of  Gun  Lake  and  adjacent  ponds  into  the 
Thornapple  River,  but  whether  the  enterprise  is  likely  to 
culminate  in  success  very  soon  is  somewhat  uncertain.  Cer- 
tain it  is  that  the  reclamation  of  the  country  covered  by 
these  lakes  will  provide  a  vast  acreage  of  valuable  pasture 
or  meadow-lands. 

A  singular  feature  in  the  topography  of  the  township  is 
the  fact  that  on  the  west  the  streams  flow  southward,  while 
on  the  east  they  run  towards  the  north. 

On  the  west  the  township  was  originally  pretty  well 
occupied  by  swampy  pine-lands,  which  are,  however,  now 
well  cleared  and  drained.  The  rest  of  the  township  was  an 
oak  forest,  and  in  many  places  a  very  attractive  region. 

At  this  time  Yankee  Springs  is  a  township  of  fairly  good 
agricultural  resources,  and  it  is,  moreover,  replete  with  scenic 
beauty.  Looking  towards  the  west,  one  may  discern  from 
the  eastern  elevations  a  wide  and  varied  natural  expanse, 
dotted  with  forest,  lake,  and  plain,  and  presenting  a  most 
pleasing  and  picturesque  prospect. 


*  By  David  Schwartz. 


The  township  contains  two  post-offices,  but  neither  village 
nor  church  edifice.  Schools  are  abundant,  farming  is  a 
profitable  pursuit,  and  the  people  form  an  industrious  and 
well-to-do  community. 

"YANKEE  BILL,"  THE  PIONEER. 
The  spot  in  Yankee  Springs  township  now  pointed  out  as 
the  place  where  once  stood  the  famous  roadside  inn  of  "  Yan- 
kee Bill  Lewis"  was  the  location  of  the  first  white  settle- 
ment in  Yankee  Springs.  The  settlement  was  made  early 
in  the  year  1836,  by  Calvin  Lewis,  a  New  Yorker,  who  had 
bought  land  on  section  35.  The  great  Indian  trail  between 
Kalamazoo  and  Kent  passed  that  way,  and,  as  consider- 
able travel  moved  over  the  route,  it  occurred  to  Lewis  that 
a  tavern  at  that  point  would  supply  a  serious  need  and 
bring  him  in  some  money.  So,  with  the  assistance  of  his 
brother-in-law,  one  Tryon,  he  put  up,  near  some  cool  springs, 
a  house  of  tamarack  and  oak  logs.  This  was  in  the  spring 
of  1836,  and  before  he  got  his  log  tavern  finished  along 
came  William  Lewis,  his  brother,  who  on  his  way  to  In- 
diana had  turned  aside  to  visit  Calvin.  So  pleased  was 
William  with  the  country,  and  especially  with  the  opening, 
at  that  particular  point,  for  an  energetic  pioneer  and  tavern- 
keeper,  that  he  bargained  successfully  with  Calvin  for  the 
purchase  of  the  property,  promptly  relinquished  his  Indiana 
project,  and  set  himself  at  once  to  the  completion  of  the 
business  that  Calvin  had  begun. 

William  Lewis  called  his  log  tavern  the  "  Mansion  House  " 
and  hung  a  sign  bearing  that  name  on  a  tree  near  his  door. 
Some  travelers,  however,  had  in  1835  cut  the  name  of 
"Yankee  Springs",  on  a  tree  standing  there.f  and  the 
locality  soon  became  generally  known  by  that  name.  The 
hotel  also  was  called  the  "  Yankee  Springs  House"  instead 
of  the  "  Mansion  House,"  becoming  celebrated  throughout 
the  State  by  the  former  name. 

In  1837  a  stage-route  was  established  between  Battle 
Creek  and  Grand  Rapids,  or  Kent,  and,  as  it  followed  the  old 
Indian  trail,  Lewis'  tavern  was  of  course  a  point  on  the 
route,  and  a  famous  one,  too,  as  shall  presently  appear  In 
Its  course  through  Yankee  Springs  township,  the  road 
passed  over  a  country  of  light  oak-openings,  which  gave  a 


t  See  page  33  of  the  general  history. 


YANKEE  SPRINGS  TOWNSHIP. 


515 


natural  and  easy  highway.  The  course  was  essentially  that 
now  pursued  by  the  route  between  Yankee  Springs  and 
Middleville,  and  varied  only  as  the  increasing  travel  cut  up 
the  path  and  caused  new  parallel  roads  to  be  made  by  the 
stages,  for  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  these  vehicles  could 
pass  through  the  open  woods  almost  anywhere,  and  pick  out 
such  road  as  best  suited. 

By  and  by  travel  over  this  road  grew  extremely  active,  and 
in  the  same  degree  Lewis'  tavern  gained  importance,  and 
by  degrees,  to  accommodate  increasing  business,  he  expanded 
its  proportions  by  adding  new  structures,  until  there 
were  of  the  tavern-stand,  six  buildings,  each  a  story  in 
height,  and  all,  save  one,  constructed  of  logs.  Jumbled 
together  in  a  confused  mass,  these  six  edifices  presented 
neither  an  imposing  nor  a  graceful  appearance,  but  they 
were  the  hurried  creations  of  backwoods  life,  and  were 
built  when  there  was  no  time  to  waste  over  architectural 
symmetry  or  beauty.  Travelers  that  way,  struck  by  the 
odd  collection  of  log  cabins,  and  struck  more  by  the  delight- 
ful entertainment  found  there,  used  to  mention,  in  their 
letters  to  Eastern  newspapers,  their  pleasant  experiences  at 
the  "  little  huts  at  Yankee  Springs."  It  was  a  standing 
joke  of  the  time  that  Lewis'  tavern  was  a  six-story  building, 
but  that  the  six  stories  were  all  on  the  ground. 

When  Lewis  became  a  popular  landlord,  and  his  tavern 
grew  in  fame,  he  came  also  to  be  known  far  and  wide  as 
Yankee  Bill  or  Yankee  Lewis,  and  by  one  or  the  other  of 
these  nameshewasspokenof until theday of hisdeath.  He 
was  known  all  along  the  road,  and  the  hospitable  and  enter- 
taining character  of  his  tavern  was  such  that  travelers 
would  make  urgent  efforts  to  reach  Yankee  Bill's  so  they 
could  pass  the  night  there,  while  stage-coach  passengers, 
bowling  along  towards  the  old  tavern,  felt  renewed  cheer- 
fulness and  satisfaction  at  the  thought  of  the  good  things 
sure  to  be  awaiting  them  there. 

So  brisk  was  business  at  the  Yankee  Springs  House  that 
it  was  a  common  thing  for  100  people  to  tarry  there  of  a 
night,  while  on  one  occasion  no  less  than  60  teams  were 
stabled  there  between  sunset  and  sunrise.  Landlord  Lewis 
was  a  skilled  caterer,  noted  for  the  inviting  and  wholesome 
fare  of  his  table,  and  was,  moreover,  so  attentive  to  busi- 
ness that  he  rarely  failed  to  receive  in  person  every  traveler 
who  tarried  with  him.  He  cultivated  a  vegetable  garden 
hard  by  his  tavern,  and,  having  a  gardener  expert  at  his 
trade,  took  an  inordinate  pride  in  making  that  department 
a  great  success,  since  upon  it  he  depended  greatly  in  pro- 
viding his  guests  with  toothsome  delicacies  and  palatable 
luxuries.  This  garden  he  delighted  in,  and  never  tired  of 
displaying  its  attractive  features  to  passing  wayfarers. 

Lewis  was  a  jovial,  good-natured  landlord,  given  to  con- 
viviality, and  sociable  to  an  extraordinary  degree.  He 
had  a  coterie  of  chums,  who  paid  him  frequent  visits,  and 
with  them  he  often  engaged  in  such  entertaining  sport  as 
foot-racing  and  similar  pastimes.  One  Saturday  evening,  a 
half-dozen  or  more  of  his  cronies  being  at  the  tavern  for  a 
Sunday  visit,  Lewis  arranged  a  foot-race,  and  down  the  hill 
the  entire  party  ran  in  great  spirits.  Who  won,  who  lost, 
what  the  stakes  were,  or  what  time  the  racers  made,  tra- 
dition fails  to  disclose,  but  it  does  tell  how  one  of  the 
contestants  so  exercised  himself  that  he  shook  three  false 


teeth  out  of  his  head  into  the  sand,  and,  although  all  hands 
joined  subsequently  in  a  determined  search  for  the  missing 
molars,  they  were  never  found,  and,  according  to  popular 
belief,  they  are  to  this  day  in  the  sand  where  they  fell. 

Lewis  was  at  his  best,  however,  when  the  stage-horn 
announced  from  the  top  of  the  neighboring  hill  the  near  ap- 
proach of  the  welcome  stage.  Four  stage-coaches  loaded 
down  and  drawn  by  four  horses  passed  daily  for  a  time  over 
the  road  each  way,  and  it  may  be  believed  that  Lewis' 
tavern,  the  only  stage-house  upon  a  stretch  of  nearly  twenty 
miles  of  road  either  way,  was  like  an  oasis  in  the  desert. 
Landlord  Lewis  was  in  his  most  gracious  and  graceful  mood 
when  the  stage  rolled  up  to  his  door,  and  he  did  the  honors 
in  approved  style. 

He  made  a  good  deal  of  money  at  the  tavern-stand  and 
owned  considerable  land,  but  always  frankly  confessed  that 
he  couldn't  save  money  as  his  brothers  did.  He  was, 
however,  a  man  of  some  influence,  and  went  for  one  term 
to  the  State  Legislature. 

About  1850  there  was  an  attempt  towards  the  construc- 
tion of  a  plank-road  from  Augusta  to  Grand  Bapids,  vid 
Yankee  Springs,  and  in  anticipation  of  the  renewal  of 
traffic  Lewis  not  only  made  preparations  to  replace  his  log 
huts  with  a  fine  tavern -building,  but  at  his  own  expense 
built  two  miles  of  the  proposed  road.  The  whole  project 
failed,  however,  and  the  new  tavern  never  came  into  exist- 
ence. Travel  over  the  old  road  continued,  however,  to  be 
considerable  until  the  completion,  in  1855,  of  a  plank-road 
from  Kalamazoo  to  Grand  Rapids  through  Allegan  County 
caused  a  diversion  of  traffic  to  that  route,  and  then  the  glory 
as  well  as  the  usefulness  of  the  Yankee  Springs  House 
departed.  Lewis  lea.sed  the  stand  to  Solomon  Burch  and 
retired  to  a  farm,  where  he  died  in  1860.  His  widow  still 
survives,  and  resides  in  Kent  County.  After  Burch 's  time 
Winchester  Dodge  kept  the  place,  and  after  that  young 
Calvin  Lewis,  but  the  tavern  was  not  of  much  consequence 
after  the  stage-route  was  changed,  and  all  traces  of  it  have 
long  since  disappeared. 

Mr.  Tryon,  already  spoken  of  as  having  assisted  Calvin 
Lewis  in  making  a  settlement,  returned  eastward  soon  after 
William  Lewis  came  West.  Calvin  Lewis,  after  selling  out 
to  William,  bought  a  farm  hard  by  and  became  a  pioneer 
in  earnest.  During  the  latter  portion  of  his  life  he  kept  a 
tavern  on  his  place,  on  section  27.  Hiram  Lewis,  also  a 
brother  of  William,  settled  in  Yankee  Springs  in  1837, 
but  afterwards  moved  to  Prairieville,  and  died  in  1879  in 
Kalamazoo. 

OTHER  PIOISTEEE  TAVERNS. 
On  the  same  Battle  Creek  and  Grand  Rapids  stage-road 
were  two  other  taverns  in  Yankee  Springs,  locally  famous 
as  roadside  inns,  and  kept  respectively  by  Benjamin  S.  Dib- 
ble and  Philip  Leonard.  Mr.  Dibble  was  the  third  settler 
in  the  township,  Calvin  and  William  Lewis  having  (as  has 
been  seen)  been  the  first  two.  His  first  visit  was  in  May, 
1836,  on  a  land-looking  tour.  He  immediately  purchased 
320  acres  on  section  2,  and  returned  to  New  York  for  his 
family,  and  in  October,  1836,  he  became  a  settler  in  Yankee 
Spring's.  Until  the  following  February  the  home  in  which 
he  and  his  family  set  up  their  domestic  altar  was  a  rude 


516 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


shanty,  with  neither  floor,  door,  window,  nor  chimney.  For 
the  latter  a  hole  in  the  roof  answered,  although,  when  the 
rains  of  heaven  made  their  way  through  it  to  the  family 
beneath,  it  must  have  answered  but  poorly.  A  blanket 
served  as  a  door,  and  thus  comfortless,  but  sustained  by  the 
hope  of  something  better,  the  family  endured  existence 
until  February,  when  they  moved  into  a  newly-erected  log 
house. 

Mr.  Dibble  was  appointed  postmaster  at  the  newly-estab- 
lished office  of  Middleville  in  1839.  In  1842  he  took  a 
contract  for  carrying  the  mail  between  Kalamazoo  and  Kent, 
and  after  that  was  mail-contractor  and  tavern-keeper  for 
twenty  years.  The  tavern  he  opened  shortly  after  he  settled, 
and  called  it  the  Silver  Creek  House.  It  was  about  five 
miles  north  of  Yankee  Bill's  tavern,  and  was  freely  patron- 
ized. In  1840  Dibble  sold  the  stand  to  Philip  Leonard, 
who  removed  the  old  sign  and  announced  to  the  traveling 
public  by  a  new  one  that  the  house  was  the  "  Middleville 
Cottage,  by  P.  Leonard."  It  was  known,  too,  as  the  Half- 
Way  House,  for  it  was  at  first  thought  to  stand  just  mid-way 
between  Battle  Creek  and  Grand  Rapids,  whereas  subsequent 
surveys  disclosed  the  "  half-way"  point  to  be  about  two 
i6iles  south  of  the  tavern.  Shortly  after  selling  out  to 
Leonard,  Mr.  Dibble  moved  about  a  mile  southward,  on 
the  same  road,  and  became  the  landlord  of  a  second  tavern, 
which  he  named  "  The  Washington''  and  dedicated  to  the 
cause  of  temperance.  When  he  raised  his  sign  he  had 
quite  a  company  at  hand  to  celebrate  the  event.  Of  the 
speeches  made  on  that  occasion  the  one  best  remembered 
was  made  by  Mr.  George  B.  Manchester,  who  said,  "  We 
raise  here  to-day  this  cold-water  sign :  may  it  hang  tri- 
umphantly in  the  heavens  until  it  brings  down  all  the  hot- 
water  signs  in  the  land" 

In  parting  with  the  history  of  the  stage-road  and  the 
roadside  inns,  passing  reference  may  be  made  to  Bill  Van 
De  Walker  and  John  Crampton,  two  famous  stage-drivers 
on  the  line.  Van  De  Walker  was  considered  a  great  "  whip," 
and  was  popular  all  along  the  route  as  a  jovial  character,  and 
one  withal  who  would  put  his  passengers  through  on  time, 
or — to  use  his  expression — "  bust  a  trace."  Among  other 
things,  Crampton  was  more  especially  distinguished  as  the 
possessor  of  a  very  much  extended  horn,  which  some  reck- 
less chronicler  has  described  as  "  nine  feet  long,"  but  which 
was  in  reality  a  very  important  instrument,  with  which  he 
delighted  to  awaken  the  musical  echoes  and  to  flourish  in 
all  the  pride  of  professional  dignity. 

SETTLERS  AND  ANECDOTES. 

The  settlement  of  the  township  was  carried  forward  in  the 
autumn  of  1836  by  Luther  Hill,  who  then  located  on  sec- 
tion 12,  and,  following  him,  by  his  son,  Calvin  Hill,  who, 
in  the  same  fall,  made  a  settlement  on  section  11,  he  having 
lived  for  a  year  previous  in  Prairieville.  Calvin  Hill  (still 
living  on  section  11)  remembers  that  when  he  came  to  the 
town  first  the  country  struck  him  as  one  of  the  prettiest 
he  had  ever  seen.  The  oak-timber  was  light  and  open, 
while  the  ground  was  profusely  decked  with  wild-flowers, 
and,  although  there  was  a  prospect  of  tough  pioneer  work 
and  perhaps  of  privations,  nature  seemed  to  offer  a  beautiful 
consolation  for  anticipated  hardships. 


Those  hardships,  however,  did  not  realize  in  every  re- 
spect the  settler's  apprehensions.      Ready  communication 
with  the  outside  world  by  the  stage-road  gave  to  the  pio- 
neers in  Yankee  Springs  advantages  which  those  in  other 
quarters  sorely  missed,  and  placed  them  within  reach  of 
the  comforts  of  life,  provided  they  were  possessed  of  the 
financial  aeans  to  obtain  them, — means  which,  be  it  ob- 
served, were  not  always  at  hand  in  the  daily  routine  of 
frontier  existence.     As  in  many  other  localities,  there  were 
frequent  troublesome  incursions  by  wolves  and  bears  upon 
the  small  stock  of  the  settlers,  while  animated  experiences 
with  wolves  on  the  part  of  the  settlers  themselves  broke, 
if  they  did  not  embellish,  the  somewhat  prosaic  monotony 
of  pioneer  pursuits.     Calvin  Hill  recalls  how,  in  the  year 
1840,  he  went  one  night,  across  lots  through  the  snow,  to 
visit  his  father,  and  how,  upon  returning,  he  was  chased 
by  a  pack   of  wolves.      Grievous   was   his   dismay  and 
great  was  his  haste  as  he  fled  towards  home  before  his  fero- 
cious pursuers,  but  fortune  favored  him  in  giving  him  but  a 
short  distance  to  cover  before  reaching  his  house,  else  he 
might  not  have  been  spared  to  tell  the  story.     As  it  was, 
he  reached  his  door-yard  just  as  the  leader  of  the  hungry 
horde  was  close  upon  him.     With  a  loud  cry  Hill  leaped 
the  -fence ;  at  that  instant  his  wife  appeared  at  the  door- 
way with  a  light,  and  the  wolves,  suddenly  appalled  by  the 
cry  and  the  light,  stopped  short,  when  in  a  trice  their 
intended  victim  was  safe  within  the  walls  of  his  cabin. 

On  the  west  the  early  settlements  were  near  Barlow 
Lake,  and  were  made  by  Nathan  Barlow,  John  Miles, 
Nelson  Coman,  and  C.  W.  Bassett,  in  1837.  Mr.  Barlow, 
who  located  on  section  7,  built  the  first  saw-mill  in  the 
township.  He  was  a  man  of  mark,  was  one  of  the  associ- 
ate judges  chosen  upon  the  organization  of  the  county, 
and  was  a  resident  of  Yankee  Springs  until  his  death,  in 
1855. 

C.  W.  Bassett,  now  living  on  section  4,  bought  his 
present  farm  in  1836,  and,  in  the  fall  of  1837,  brought  his 
family  to  the  place.  His  cabin  had  an  opening,  but  no  door, 
and  a  blanket  was  the  best  available  substitute  to  be  found 
for  that  article.  He  went  to  mill  to  Battle  Creek  (where 
all  the  early  settlers  had  to  go  for  a  similar  purpose)  shortly 
after  coming  in,  and  was,  of  course,  compelled  to  leave  his 
wife  and  child  behind  to  endure  as  best  they  could  the 
distress  of  their  lonely  situation.  Mr.  Bassett  was  gone 
nearly  a  week,  and  when  he  returned  he  found  the  family 
without  provisions  and  long  anxiously  awaiting  relief,  but 
more  especially  glad  at  his  coming  back  because  of  the  ter- 
rible frights  they  had  endured  through  the  howling  of  the 
wolves.  These,  Mrs.  Bassett  declared,  had  kept  her  com- 
pany early  and  late,  and  had  made  the  week's  existence 
a  continued  terror,  as  she  was  in  constant  fear  lest  they 
should  dash  upon  her  through  the  unprotected  doorway 
of  the  cabin  and  fall  murderously  upon  herself  and  little 
one. 

Mr.  Bassett  tells  a  story  which  shows  the  misfortunes 
that  attended  the  poor  pioneer  in  need  of  a  doctor.  Ur^ed 
on  by  a  rebellious  tooth,  he  started  afoot  for  Prairieville  to 
get  relief  from  a  German  physician  living  there.  When 
he  arrived  there,  however,  it  was  to  learn  that  the  doctor 
had  been  engaged  in   the  business  of  passing  counterfeit 


YANKEE  SPRINGS   TOWNSHIP. 


517 


money,  and  had  fled  the  country  to  avoid  arrest.  Pushing 
on  to  Gun  Marsli  to  find  another  physician,  he  reached 
there  only  to  be  told  that  the  doctor  had  gone  to  Pine 
Creek  to  mill.  Desperate  and  determined,  Bassett  con- 
tinued on  to  Gun  Plain,  but,  alas  !  the  practitioner  there 
had  gone  to  Kalamazoo.  Nerving  himself  for  a  final  effort, 
he  set  out  for  Otsego  to  find  Dr.  Coats,  but  en  route  thither 
he  met  the  Gun  Marsh  doctor  coming  back  from  mill.  He 
rode  home  with  him,  and  then,  as  if  in  mockery  of  the 
victim's  sufl"ering  experience,  the  man  of  medicine  broke 
the  tooth  upon  his  first  attempt  to  extract  it. 

Bassett  would  have  no  more  of  such  butchering,  and 
he  waded  home  through  the  snow,  having  been  gone  two 
days,  traveled  forty-five  miles,  and  come  back  with  a  worse 
tooth  than  he  had  when  he  started.  "  I  went  to  Middle- 
ville,"  he  says,  "  had  the  tooth  cut  out  with  a  jack-knife 
and  dug  out  with  a  shoemaker's  awl,  and  so  got  rid  of  it 
at  last." 

Nelson  Coman,  now  living  on  section  4,  tarried  with 
Bassett  a  while,  and  in  1838  married  and  settled  upon  the 
farm  he  now  occupies.  He  was  one  of  the  early  school- 
teachers in  the  county,  and,  having  a  school  at  Middleville 
one  winter,  used  to  make  the  trip  over  there,  a  distance  of 
eifht  mHes,  in  the  morning  and  back  again  in  the  evening 
to  do  his  "  chores,"  the  snow  being  sometimes  four  feet  deep. 
In  1839  he  threshed  out  some  wheat  upon  the  frozen 
ground,  took  it  over  to  Judge  Barlow's,  cleaned  it  in  the 
judge's  fanning-mill,  and  carried  it  tn  Battle  Creek  to  mill. 
When  he  got  the  flour  home  he  had  been  just  a  week  at 
the  job.  For  letters  he  and  others  resident  in  the  neigh- 
borhood had  to  go  to  "  Yankee  Lewis',"  a  round  trip  of  ten 
miles,  and  also  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  paying  a  postage 
of  twenty-five  cents  per  letter. 

Mr.  Coman  was  out  quite  late  one  night  in  search  of  his 
cows,  and,  in  the  darkness  losing  his  way,  he  concluded  to 
camp  out  for  the  night,  but,  not  fancying  a  bed  on  the 
ground  while  the  wolves  were  howling  about  him,  he  took 
lodgment  in  a  tree,  and  in  this  lofty  perch  passed  what  must 
have  been  a  wearisome  time  until  daylight. 

John  Miles  and  James  Hoskinson  had  just  preceded 
Bassett  into  the  settlement,  but  the  latter  was  not  aware  of 
their  presence,  or  the  presence  indeed  of  any  neighbors  in 
that  direction,  until  one  day  when  he  and  his  wife  went 
over  to  Coman  marsh  after  hay.  While  there  Mrs.  Bassett 
suddenly  cried,  "  Oh,  I  hear  a  cow-bell,  and  I  know  we've 
got  neighbors."  Similarly,  Miles  didn't  know  that  Bassett 
or  anybody  else  was  in  the  vicinity  until,  seeing  wagon- 
tracks  in  the  marsh,  he  knew  he  had  new  neighbors. 

In  that  vicinity  also  Shaftoe  and  William  Lowry,  two 
brothers,  settled  in  1838,  but  their  stay  was  limited  to  a 
few  years.  T.  P.  Johnson,  one  of  the  hardiest  and  heartiest 
of  pioneers,  bought  land  on  section  12,  in  March,  1836,  but 
did  not  occupy  it  as  a  settler  until  1841.  Meanwhile  he 
worked  at  Squire  Calvin  Hill's,  in  Thornapple,  and  took  an 
active  part  in  the  pioneer  work  of  that  region.  Although 
still  a  land-owner  in  Yankee  Springs,  his  hom-e  is  in  Mid- 
dleville. A.  Stokoe,  on  section  5,  was  a  settler  in  1840, 
William  and  James  Thome  made  locations  on  section  10  in 
1839,  and  in  the  northeast  Charles  Kellogg,  John  W.  Brad- 
ley, and  A.  H.  Bradley,  his  brother,  were  among  the  Yankee 


Springs  pioneers  of  1840.  Among  the  later  comers,  J.  J. 
Mattison  settled  in  1847,  James  Youngs  in  1848,  and 
William  Pratt  in  1851. 

In  the  year  1839  there  came  from  New  York  John 
Stewart,  who  made  a  settlement  on  section  34,  and  lived 
there  until  about  1864,  when  he  removed  from  the  town^ 
and  died  in  1873,  in  Mississippi.  Edwin  Naylorj  with  his 
family,  had  come  in  shortly  before  Stewart,  and  made  a 
home  on  section  34.  The  Naylor  farm  was  occupied  in 
1851  by  James  Campbell,  who  kept  store  near  Lewis' 
tavern.  Edwin  Naylor,  after  being  joined  by  his  father, 
William  Naylor,  remained  in  town  a  few  years,  and  then 
moved  to  Port  Huron.  James  Norris  was  a  settler  in  the 
winter  of  1838  upon  section  26.  He  came  from  Washtenaw 
County,  where  he  had  been  living  four  years,  and  had  with 
him,  besides  his  own  family,  a  hired  man  named  Watts,  who 
himself  became  subsequently  a  resident  on  section  25. 
Darby  Doyle  settled  on  section  35,  in  the  spring  of  1839, 
and  soon  thereafter  came  James  Watson  to  the  same  neigh- 
borhood, where  ho  bought  some  land  of  Hiram  Lewis. 
Following  close  upon  Watson  the  new-comers  included 
Moses  Doyle,  Alexander  Stewart,  John  Dnffee,  and  a  Mr. 
Hardee,  and  later  still  George  H.  Ford,  Daniel  Brown, 
Samuel  Potter,  and  William  Ellsworth. 

The  first  birth  in  Yankee  Springs  was  that  of  James 
T.,  a  son  of  Benjamin  S.  Dibble.  He  was  born  March  27, 
1837,  and  now  lives  in  Thornapple  township.  The  first 
marriage  was  that  of  William  Whitney,  a  shoemaker,  living 
near  the  Lewis  tavern,  to  a  Miss  Rogers,  in  1840,  Hiram 
Lewis  performing  the  marriage  ceremony.  The  first  death 
was  that  of  a  man  named  Thomas,  who  woiked  for  land- 
lord Lewis.  Thomas  was  out  on  Deep  Lake  on  a  fishing 
excursion,  and  by  some  mischance  fell  into  the  water  and 
was  drowned.  His  body  was  recovered,  and  buried  in  the 
graveyard  south  of  the  tavern,  where  William  Lewis  had 
given  the  town  a  piece  of  land  for  burial  purposes.  Thomas 
was  the  first  person  to  be  buried  therein,  and  Mrs.  William 
CofBn,  of  Orangeville,  the  second. 

Nathan  Barlow,  who  settled  near  Barlow  Lake,  in  IS'S?, 
built  there,  with  his  son  Nathan,  in  1840,  the  first  saw- 
mill. He  disposed  of  it  to  Timothy  Miles,  who  trans- 
ferred it  to  0.  C.  Bates,  and  he  to  B.  H.  Bowen.  The 
latter  took  possession  of  the  property  in  1864,  and  in  1871 
built  also  a  grist-mill,  whence  the  locality  has  been  known 
from  that  day  as  Bowen's  Mills.  William  Lewis  owned  a 
saw-mill,  on  section  9,  about  1850,  having  bought  it  when 
he  purposed  building  a  new  tavern.  Later,  Silas  Headley 
built  a  small  grist-mill  there. 

William  Lewis  put  up  about  1840,  near  his  tavern-stand, 
a  store  building,  which  was,  however,  first  used  for  a  school. 
A  store  was  opened  in  it  a  few  years  later  by  Seth  Lewis, 
and  after  him  it  was  kept  by  James  Campbell,  who  was  its 
last  proprietor. 

MAILS  AND  POST-OFFICES. 
About  1837  a  post-office  was  established  in  Yankee 
Springs,  and,  as  Yankee  Bill  Lewis  was  appointed  postmaster, 
of  course  the  post-office  was  at  the  tavern.  In  those  early 
days  it  was  the  rule  for  mail-carriers  to  allow  each  post- 
master seven  minutes  and  a  half  to  pick  from  the  mail-bag 


518 


HISTOllY   OF  ALLEGAN  AND  BARllY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


the  letters  intended  for  his  oflBce,  and,  as  that  business  was 
done  by  going  over  the  entire  contents  of  the  mail-bag,  the 
time  limit  forced  postmasters  to  use  the  utmost  diligence. 
Yankee  Bill,  with  an  eye  to  dispatch,  would  dump  the  con- 
tents of  the  mail-bag  upon  the  bar-room  floor,  and  then  he 
and  the  members  of  his  household  would  fall  to  and  pick 
out  the  Yankee  Springs  letters.  Sorting  the  mail  in  that 
fashion  was  doubtless  an  interesting  performance,  but  a 
post-oflSce  agent  happening  along  that  way  one  day,  and  ob- 
serving it,  ordered  a  stop  put  to  that  method  of  procedure, 
— that  is,  he  did  so  as  soon  as  he  had  recovered  from  his 
amazement.  During  Mr.  Lewis'  term  the  name  of  the 
post-oflBce  was  changed  to  Gates,  just  as  the  township  name 
was,  but  restored  almost  immediately  to  the  old  one.  Lewis 
was  the  postmaster  until  his  death,  and  was  succeeded  in 
order  by  John  Crump,  Stephen  Potter,  and  Albert  Springer, 
the  latter,  who  is  now  the  incumbent,  having  been  appointed 
in  the  autumn  of  1878. 

In  1839  an  office  called  Middleville  was  established  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  town,  and  B.  S.  Dibble  appointed 
postmaster.  J.  W.  Bradley  was  appointed  in  1842,  and 
in  1843  the  office  was  removed  to  the  village  of  Middleville. 
Gun  Lake  post-office,  in  the  western  part  of  the  town- 
ship, was  established  about  1850.  The  first  postmaster  was 
Nathan  Barlow,  and  the  second  John  Miles,  who  was  like- 
wise the  mail-carrier,  bringing  the  mail  from  Wayland  to 
Gun  Lake  on  horseback.  At  times  his  daughter  Fanny 
(now  Mrs.  Chappell)  relieved  her  father  as  mail-carrier,  and 
report  says  that  Miss  Fanny,  being  fond  of  reading,  would 
so  devote  herself  to  the  contemplation  of  her  book  while 
riding  along  on  old  Dobbin  that  the  mail-bag  would,  un- 
known to  her,  slip  from  the  horse  on  the  way  ;  the  fair  rider 
being  so  interested  in  her  story  that  not  until  her  arrival 
at  her  destination  would  she  discover  the  loss  of  the  mail. 
This  is  said  to  have  happened  more  than  once,  but,  as  luck 
would  have  it,  the  mail-bag  was  always  recovered. 

John  A.  Miles  succeeded  John  Miles  as  postmaster,  and 
in  1865  E.  H.  Bowen  was  appointed.  In  1871  he  caused 
the  name  of  the  office  to  be  changed  to  Bowen's  Mills. 
Mr.  Bowen  retired  in  1877,  and  was  followed  by  C.  H. 
Armstrong,  the  present  incumbent. 

ROAD  DISTEICTS. 
In  1843  there  were  five  road  districts  in  the  town,  and 
in  these  respectively  the  residents  were  as  follows : 
No.  1. 

John  W.  Bradley,  aection  1 32^)  " 

A.  H.  Bradley,  section  1 \  ]2o 

J.  W.  Miles,  section  11 j20 

Calvin  Hill,  sections  11  and  12 ".     37 

Luther  Hill,  section  12 [\  253 

B.  S.  Dibble,  section  2 '.'  240 

Philip  Leonard,  section  2 30 

T.  P.  Johnson,  section  12 240 

Lyman  Hill '.'." Poll  tax 

William  Watts .1 

No.  2. 

Seth  Bowerman,  section  10 gO 

W.  B.  Thorn,  section  10 '  120 

J.  L.  Thorn,  section  10 '  go 

Elisha  Weeks,  section  10 .."!!!!!  40 

No.  3. 

C.  W.  Bassett,  section  4 240 

Nelson  Com  an,  section  4 16q 


Acres. 

J.  L.  Miles,  section  4 160 

Nathan  Barlow,  sections  8  and  16 316 

N.  Barlow,  Jr Poll  tax 

No.  4. 

James  Hoskinson,  section  19 124 

John  Miles,  sections  19,  20,  30 343 

Znchariah  Ward,  section  19 75 

J.  A.  Miles,  section  21 98 

Lorenzo  Miles Poll  tax 

Ward  Miles " 

No.  5. 

William  Lewis,  sections  25,  26,  27,  34,  35 596 

Nelson  Gardner,  section  26 80 

William  Naylor,  section  34 160 

Darby  Doyle,  lot 

James  Norris,  sections  26  and  27 183 

James  Watson,  section  34 75 

John  Stewart,  section  34 80 

W.  H.  Whitney Poll  tax 

Nelson  Watson " 

William  Vnn  Derwaker " 

Mr.  Gilbert " 

EELIGIOUS. 

Yankee  Springs  has  never  had  a  church  edifice  within  its 
limits,  nor  yet  many  religious  organizations.  Of  the  latter 
there  are  to-day  perhaps  two  or  three.  There  was  preach- 
ing as  early  as  1837  at  Lewis'  tavern-stand,  and  afterward 
in  the  building  used  as  a  school-house,  where  Methodist, 
Presbyterian,  and  Baptist  preachers  held  forth,  as  they  hap- 
pened to  travel  that  way.  A  Methodist  class  was  formed  at 
that  pointquite  early,  but  its  subsequent  progress  was  far  from 
vigorous.  It  is  now  somewhat  disorganized,  and,  although 
efi'orts  have  been  made  to  resume  worship,  there  have  been 
but  few  meetings  during  the  past  year.  Bev.  Daniel  E. 
Stocking,  now  living  near  there,  took  charge  of  the  circuit 
iu  1867,  and  at  that  time  preached  at  no  less  than  nine 
diflFerent  points.  About  1850  there  was  in  the  southwest 
portion  of  Yankee  Springs,  and  in  the  northern  part  of 
Orangeville,  a  community  of  Catholics,  who  bought  Lewis 
McCIoud's  residence  and  converted  it  into  a  house  of  wor- 
ship. They  obtained  the  occasional  services  of  priests  from 
Grand  Rapids,  and  for  several  years  had  regular  services. 
They  laid  out  a  cemetery  near  by,  and  prospered  as  a  church 
until  the  removal  from  the  neighborhood  of  a  major  portion 
of  its  members  caused  its  dissolution.  The  church  edifice 
and  cemetery,  both  in  Yankee  Springs  township,  are  yet 
observed  as  landmarks,  although  long  since  out  of  service. 

The  first  preaching  in  the  western  portion  of  the  town 
was  by  Eev.  Mr.  Daubney,  at  the  residence  of  C.  W. 
Bassett,  in  1839.  A  Methodist  Episcopal  class  was  organ- 
ized at  J.  W.  Bradley's  house  by  Rev.  Mr.  Worthington 
in  1842,  but  its  life  was  not  extended. 

The  Gun  Lake  Methodist  Episcopal  class  was  organized 
at  the  Bobbins  school-house  in  1860,  and  enjoyed  con- 
siderable prosperity. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  school  inspectors  was  held  April 
29,  1839,  at  the  Yankee  Springs  tavern,  the  officials 
being  John -Miles,  Seth  Lewis,  and  Nelson  Coman.  At  a 
meeting  held  May  8th  following,  nine  school  districts  were 
organized,  as  follows:  District  No.  1,  commencing  at  the 
northeast  corner  of  section  1,  running  thence  west  on  ihe 
section-line  to  the  northwest  corner  of  section  3 ;  thence 


YANKEE  SPKINGS  TOWNSHIP. 


519 


south  on  the  section-line  to  the  southwest  corner  of  section 
10 ;  thence  east  on  the  section-line  to  the  southeast  corner 
of  section  12  ;  thence  north  on  the  section-line  to  the  place 
of  beginning.     District  No.  2,  to  include  sections  13,  14, 
15,  22,  23,  and  24.     District  No.  3,  to  include  sections  25, 
26,  27,  34,  35,  and  36.     District  No.  4,  to  commence  at 
the  northeast  corner  of  section  16,  and  run  west  on  the 
section-line  to  the  quarter-post  on  the  north  line  of  section 
17  ;  thence  south  to  the  middle  of  section  17  ;  thence  west 
to  the  quarter-post  on  the  west  line  of  section  17;  thence 
north  to  the  northwest  corner  of  section  17 ;  thence  west 
to  the  northwest  corner  of  section  18  ;  thence  south  on  the 
section-line  to  the  corner  of  town  3  north,  range  10  west ; 
thence  east  on  the  town-line  to  the  southeast  corner  of 
section  33,  in  said  town ;  thence  north  on  the  section-line 
to  the  northeast  corner  of  section  16.     District  No.  5,  to 
commence  on  the  northeast  corner  of  section  4,  to  run 
thence  west  on  the  town-line  to  the  northwest  corner  of 
section  6  ;  thence  south  to  the  southwest  corner  of  section 
7  •  thence  east  to  the  northeast  corner  of  section  18  ;  thence 
south  on  the  section-line  to  the  quarter-post  on  the  west 
line  on  section  17  ;  thence  east  to  the  middle  of  section  17  ; 
thence  north  to  the  quarter-post  on  the  north  line  of  sec- 
tion 17  ;  thence  east  to  the  southeast  corner  of  section  9; 
thence  north  to  the  place  of  beginning.     District  No.  6,  to 
include  sections  1,  2,  3,  10,  11,  12, 13, 14,  and  15,  in  town 
3  north,  range  9  west.     District  No.  7,  to  include  sections 
22,  23,  24,  25,  26,  27,  34,  35,  and  36,  in  town  3.     Dis- 
trict No.  8,  to  include  sections  19,  20,  21,  28,  29,  30,  31, 
32,  and  33,  in  town  3.     District  No.  9,  to  include  sections 
4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9,'  16,  17,  and  18,  in  town  3. 

The  first  school  in  the  township  was  taught,  in  1840,  by 
Mary,  daughter  of  Nathan  Barlow,  in  a  framed  building 
put  up  by  Yankee  Lewis  near  the  tavern  for  a  residence, 
but  used  first  as  a  school-house,  and  subsequently  as  a 
store :  being  later  remodeled  as  a  barn,  and  still  used  as 
such.  A  log  school-house  was  built  in  that  district  the  next 
summer,  in  which  the  early  teachers  were  Eliza  Hoskinson, 
a  Mr.  Dixon,  and  Rachel  Bowne. 

From  1843  to  1860  the  following  persons  received  cer- 
tificates to  teach  school  in  the  township : 

Amanda  Harwood,  May  15,  18i3. 

Zerba  Brewer,  July  16,  1843. 

Laura  Angel,  July  10,  1843. 

Mary  Ann  Bowerman,  May  11,  1844. 

Huldah  Ann  Brewer,  May  3,  1845. 

Mary  Jane  Stokoe,  May  19,  1845. 

George  B.  Manchester,  Deo.  1,  1845. 

Abigail  Warner,  May  2,  1846. 

Delia  Hill,  July  23, 1846. 

Frances  C.  Hill,  May  1,  1847. 

Eliza  Hoskinson,  May  11,  184?. 

Delia  Hill,  May  11,  1847. 

Clarissa  M.  Payne,  June  5, 1847. 

Miss  Rouse,  Dec.  4,  1847. 

"Willard  B.  Goodrich,  Dec.  9,  1847. 

Eliza  A.  Kenfield,  May  15,  1848. 

Eliza  A.  Hoskinson,  Fanny  E.  Miles,  Nov.  30,  1848. 

Charles  H.  Miles,  Dec.  27,  1848. 

Charles  Goodell,  Dee.  10,  1849. 

Maletta  Hills,  Jan.  5,  1850. 

Harriet  M.  Hill,  Emily  E.  Sprague,  April  13,  1850. 

Franeina  Monteith,  May  25,  1850. 

Harriet  M.  Brewer,  May  6,  1S50. 


Martha  Baloh,  July  7,  1851. 
Eliza  E.  Hardy,  May  12,  1852. 

Sedgwick,  Dec.  25,  1852. 

Maletta  Hills,  Jan.  3,  1853. 

Mary  L.   Patrick,  Eliza  Hoskinson,   Fanny  E.  Miles, 

April  9,  1853. 
Laura  Ann  Williams,  May  23,  1853. 
Lucinda  Gowell,  Nov.  5, 1853. 
Jane  Brewer,  May  22,  1854. 
Lewis  Jordan,  Nov.  27,  1854. 
Miss  A.  G.  Hill,  Dec.  1,  1854. 
Mary  E.  Hubbard,  May  18,  1855. 
Mary  Williams,  Laura  Williams,  April  17,  1855. 
Marietta  Balch,  April  10,  1856. 
Lucy  A.  Houstatter,  May  20,  1856. 
Laura  B.  Naylor,  May  15,  1856. 
Samuel  W.  Wing,  E.  S.  Burnett,  Nov.  1,  1866. 
Pamelia  Cranson,  April  11,  1857. 
Lucy  McDonald,  April  27,  1857. 
Margaret  McGown,  Sarah  C.  Fish,  May  23,  1857. 
Fanny  Miles,  June  20,  1857. 
James  Mead,  Nov.  14,  1857. 

Isaac  Dimond,  Nov.  21,  1857. 

Miss  A.  M.  Bugbee,  Miss  M.  A.  Hill,  April  10,  1858. 

Adeline  J.  Peake,  May  24,  1858. 

Sarah  J.  Power,  May  3,  1858. 

George  D.  Lewis,  Nov.  22,  1858. 

Henry  White,  Francis  Kinnon,  Nov.  29,  1858. 

Nellie  Purdy,  Lucinda  Coman,  Adelia  Cranson,  April 
9,  1859. 

Angela  Hays,  May  2,  1859. 

Harriet  Smith,  May  7, 1859. 

Mary  L.  Young,  May  17,  1859. 

Fidelia  Parker,  July  12,  1859. 

John  Miles,  E.  R.  Chandler,  S.  A.  Mattison,  Nov.  5, 1859. 

S.  0.  Bryant,  Nov.  26,  1859. 

W.  Kidder,  Dec.  3,  1859. 

The  official  school  report  for  1879  presented  the  follow- 
ing statistics : 

Number  of  districts  (whole,  6 ;  fractional,  4) 10 

"          children  of  school  age 378 

Average  altendance 329 

Value  of  property |3340 

Teachers'  wages $1255 

The  school  directors  for  1879  were  A.  T.  Sylvester,  G. 
W.  Spaulding,  A.  Springer,  J.  A.  Beebe,  B.  P.  Burpee, 
J.  W.  Briggs,  E.  L.  Noyes,  Daniel  Duffy,  William  Gordon, 
and  Edwin  Brink. 


THE   BEACH  HOMICIDE. 

Some  time  in  1868  Milton  Beach  and  Leonard  Stock- 
dale,  two  farmers  of  Yankee  Springs,  had  some  trouble 
concerning  the  breaking  of  a  piece  of  land,  which  Beach 
had  agreed  to  look  after,  but  neglected.  Arraigned  by 
Stockdale  for  his  default.  Beach,  a  very  violent  man, 
grew  furiously  angry,  and  assaulted  Stockdale  with  an  ox- 
whip.  The  latter,  happening  to  have  an  open  penknife  in 
his  hand  at  that  juncture,  closed  with  his  assailant,  and  in 
the  ensuing  struggle  Beach  was  stabbed.  He  was  carried 
home,  and,  despite  skillful  surgical  attention,  died  within  a 
week.'  Stockdale  was  tried  on  the  charge  of  murder,  but 
acquitted  on  the  plea  of  self-defense.  _ 

The  year  1877  furnished  another  local  tragedy  in  the 
suicide  of  Mrs.  Charles  Turner,  who  lived  on  section  23. 
The  cause  of  her  desperate  taking  off  was  not  clearly  de- 
fined, but  was  generally  charged  to  mental  depression. 


520 


HISTORY  OF  ALLEGAN  AND   BARRY   COUNTIES,  MICHIGAN. 


YANKEE  SPRINGS  GRANGE,  No.  243, 
■was  organized  Feb.  5,  1874,  with  30  members  and  officers, 
as  follows :  J.*W.  Briggs,  M. ;  Buel  Bradley,  0. ;  James 
Bobbins,  L. ;  H.  E.  Buxton,  Sec. ;  E.  H.  Bowen,  Treas. ; 
Robert  Misner,  Steward.  Except  during  the  year  1878, 
when  Bradley  Leek  held  the  office,  J.  W.  Briggs  has  been 
the  Master  since  the  organization  of  the  grange.  The 
present  membership  is  40.  The  officers  are  J.  W.  Briggs, 
M. ;  Robert  Misner,  0. ;  Bradley  Leek,  L. ;  S  0.  Smith, 
Chaplain ;  J.  A.  Martin,  Sec. ;  James  Partridge,  Treas.  ; 

Benjamin  B.  Burpee,  Steward ;  Culver,  Gate-Keeper. 

Meetings  are  held  at  the  residence,  but  by  the  close  of  the 
year  the  grange  will  probably  have  a  hall. 

BARLOW  LAKE  LODGE,  No.  981,  L  O.  G.  T., 
organized  June,  1879,  has  now  a  membership  of  about  70, 
and  is  officered  as  follows :  J.  W.  Briggs,  W.  C.  T. ;  Mi- 
nerva Goodspeed,  W.  V.  T. ;  Nora  Hugget,  Treas. ;  George 
Knickerbocker,  Sec. ;  Burdett  Briggs,  Marshal ;  E.  D. 
Pease,  P.  W.  C.  T. 

ORGANIZATION  AND  OFFICERS. 
A  legislative  act  approved  March  22,  1839,  detached 
townships  3  north,  in  ranges  9  and  10  west,  from  Thorn- 
apple,  and  called  them  Yankee  Springs.  An  act  approved 
March  16,  1847,  set  off  township  3,  in  range  9,  and  called 
it  Rutland.  The  naae  of  Yankee  Springs  was  not  palatable 
to  all  the  residents  therein,  and  as  the  result  of  the  efforts 
of  Calvin  Hill  and  others,  in  1848,  the  Legislature  substi- 
tuted Gates  for  Yankee  Springs,  Gates  being  the  town  in 
New  York  State  whence  the  Hills  came.  William  Lewis, 
who  had  given  the  township  its  first  name,  refused  to  see  it 
crowded  out  by  Gates,  and  by  determined  exertions  suc- 
ceeded, during  the  session  of  1848-49,  in  having  the  old 
appellation  restored,  since  when  it  has  been  undisturbed. 

The  township  was  of  course  named  from  the  springs, 
and  the  origin  of  the  name  of  the  latter  will  be  found  on 
page  33  of  the  general  history. 

The  first  town-meeting  was  held  at  the  Yankee  Springs 
Mansion  House,  April  1,  1839.  Hiram  Lewis  was  chosen 
chairman,  T.  L.  Thorn  secretary,  and  Shaftoe  Lowry, 
Estes  Rich,  Nathan  Barlow,  and  James  L.  Thorn- inspec- 
tors. The  voters  at  that  meeting  numbered  30,  as  follows : 
Gustin  Watson,  William  Lewis,  James  L.  Thorn,  Nathan 
Barlow,  Calvin  Lewis,  Hiram  Lewis,  John  Stewart,  William 
Olmstead,  William  Watts,  Francis  Mitavier,  B.  S.  Dibble, 
Alexander  St.  John,  H.  D.  Tisdale,  W.  B.  Thorn,  J.  W.' 
Bradley,  Nelson  Coman,  Abraham  Bradley,  Calvin  Hill, 
James  Norris,  Ira  Shipman,  Orlando  Pierce,  Shaftoe  Lowry| 
John  Miles,  John  A.  Miles,  James  Hoskinson,  Estes  Rich,' 
John  Farr,  C.  W.  Bassett,  Zechariah  Ward,  Hariison 
Bradley. 

A  full  list  of  the  persons  chosen  as  officers  is  as  follows : 
Supervisor,  Nathan  Barlow  ;  Clerk,  Scth  Lewis  ;  Treasurer, 
Hiram  Lewis ;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  J.  W.  Bradley,  Nel- 
son Coman,  Shaftoe  Lowry;  Highway  Commissioners, 
William  Lewis,  Nathan  Barlow,  J.  W.  Bradley;  Assessors,' 
John  Miles,  Charles  W.  Bassett,  J.  L.  Thorn;  School 
Commissioners,  John  Miles,  Nelson  Coman,  Seth  Lewis  • 
Overseers  of  the  Poor,  James  Norris,  James  Hoskinson' 


Estes  Rich  ;  Collector,  B.  S.  Dibble ;  Constables,  B.  S. 
Dibble,  W.  B.  Thorn,  George  Fowler;  Sealer  of  Weights, 
William  Lewis;  Road  Supervisors:  in  district  No.  1,  Har- 
rison Bradley ;  in  No.  2,  Nathan  Barlow ;  in  No.  3,  James 
Hoskinson  ;  in  No.  4,  Hiram  Lewis ;  in  No.  5,  Estes  Rich. 

At  the  same  meeting  it  was  voted  to  raise  $200  for  town 
expenses  the  ensuing  year,  to  allow  town  officers  $1.50  per 
day  for  transacting  town  business,  and  to  pay  a  bounty  of 
$5  on  all  wolves  taken  in  the  town. 

Appended  is  a  list  of  the  persons  who  have  been  elected 
annually  as  supervisors,  clerks,  treasurers,  and  justices  of 
the  peace  from  1840  to  1879  : 

SUPERVISORS. 
1840,  ]Sr.  Barlow;  1841,  William  Lewis;  1842-43,  John  Miles;  1844, 
J.  W.  Bradley;  1845,  John  Miles;  1846,  N.  Coman;  1847,  W. 
Lewis;  1848,  B.  Weeks;  1849-51,  J,  Miles;  1852,  J.  Campbell; 
1853-55,  J.  Miles;  185&,  P.  Leonard;  1857-60,  J.  Miles;  1861, 
C.  W.  Bassett;  1862,  T.  Miles;  1863,  C.  Hill;  1864,  T.  Miles; 

1865,  J.  Parrish;  1866,  J.  Miles;  1867,  J.  Parrish;  1868-72,  J. 
W.  Briggs ; -1873,  James  Youngs;  1874-77,  Z.  B.  Hoyt;  1878, 
James  Youngs;  1879,  G.  H.  Ford. 

CLERKS. 
1840,  J.  W.  Bradley ;    1841,  Seth  Lewis ;    1842-43,  N.  Barlow,  Jr  ; 
1844,  N.  Coman;   1845,  C.  W.  Bassett;    1846,  William  Naylor; 
1847,  T.  W.  Webber;  1848,  P.  Leonard;  1849-55,  N.  Coman; 

1866,  J.  Miles;  1857,  N.  Coman;  1858,  P.  W.  Hosliinson ;  1859 
-61,  E.  R.  Chandler ;  1862,  J.  W.  Miles;  1863-64,  Nelson  Coman; 
1865,  G.  W.  Slade;  1866-72,  T.  A.  Hubbard;  1873-75,  C.  H. 
Coman  ;   1876,  6.  H.  Spaulding ;    1877-79,  C.  W.  Armstrong. 

TREASURERS. 
1840,  W.  B.  Thorn;  1841,  James  Norris;  1842,  C.  W.  Bassett;  1843- 
44,  William  Lewis;  1845-46,,A.  A.  Mead;  1847-48,  B.  S.  Dibble; 
1849,  C.  W.  Bassett;  1850,  A.  A.  Mead;  185U52,  C.  W.  Bassett; 
1853-60,  J.  W.  Miles;  1861,  N.  Coman;  1862-76,  William  Wat- 
son: 1877-78,  A.  Turner;  1879,  I.  N.  Hubbard. 

JUSTICES  OP  THE  PEACE. 
1840,  Nelson  Coman;  1841,  William  Lewis;  1842,  W.  B.  Thorn;  184.3, 
John  W.  Bradley;  1844,  N.  Gardner;  1845,  N.  Barlow;  1846,  j! 
Hoskinson;  1847,  Levi  Hardy;  1848,  J.W.Bradley;  1849,  N. 
Barlow;  1850,  Calvin  Hill;  1851,  J.  0.  Riley;  1852,  W.C.Pratt; 
1853,  N.  Barlow;  1854,  Daniel  Brown;  1855,  Calvin  Hill;  1856,' 
J.  W.  Bradley;  1857,  S.  Potter;  1858,  S.  Shattuok;  1859,  c! 
Trask;  1860,  William  C.  Pratt;  1861,  S.  Potter;  1862,  P.  W. 
Hoskinson;  1863,  J.  J.  Bowerman;  1864,  W.  C.  Pratt;  1865,  S. 
Potter;  1866,  E.  H.  Bowen;  1867,  C.  Hill;  1868,  G.  W.  Wile'ox ;" 
1869,  D.  N.  Stocking;  1870,  E.  Phetteplaoe;  1871,  George  Rob- 
bins;  1872,  G.W.Wilcox;  1873,  D.  N.  Stocking;  1874,  C.  Hill; 
1875,  L.  Baldwin;  1876,  A.  P.  Sylvester;  1877,  S.  Potter;  1878* 
C.Hill;  1879,  L.Baldwin. 

The  jury-list  for  1840  was  composed  of  John  Miles, 
Nelson  Coman,  W.  B.  Thorn,  J.  L.  Thorn,  J.  W.  Bradley, 
Calvin  Hill,  and  James  Hoskinson,  as  grand  jurors,  and 
John  W.  Barton,  John  Stewart,  Hiram  Lewis,  James 
Norris,  A.  H.  Bradley,  Philip  Leonard,  and  Seth  Lewis,  as 
petit  jurors. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH. 

HENRY  D.  NORRIS. 

James  Norris  was  born  in  1799,  near  Montpelier  Vt 
and  until  he  was  nineteen  years  of  age  passed  his  life  'upon 
a  farm,  save  for  a  period  during  the  war  of  1812   when  he 


YANKEE  SPRINGS  TOWNSHIP. 


621 


was  employed  as  a  mail-carrier  in  the  military  service. 
Beaching  his  twentieth  year,  he  determined  to  become  the 
architect  of  his  own  fortune,  and  so  he  penetrated  into  the 
then  wilderness  of  Genesee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  where  he  lived 
until  the  spring  of  1834,  and  where  he  married  Miss  Cla- 


HENRT   D.    NORRIS. 

rinda  Kinner.  In  1834  he  moved  to  Ypsilanti,  Mich.,  and 
rented  a  farm  of  his  brother.  There  he  lived  until  Decem- 
ber, 1838,  when  he  moved  with  his  family  to  Yankee 
Springs  township,  in  Barry  County,  where,  on  section  26, 
he  had  located  in  1835,  through  Mr.  Angell^f  Marshall, 
one  hundred  and  three  acres.  Mr.  Norris  reached  Yankee 
Springs  on  Christmas  Eve,  in  1838,  and  occupied  a  por- 
tion of  the  house  of  Hiram  Lewis.  Without  loss  of  time 
66 


he  set  about  the  erection  of  a  log  cabin  upon  his  place,  and 
the  following  spring  moved  into  it.     He  died  in  Yankee 
Springs,  Nov.  19,  1875,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 
owned,  in  addition  to  his  original  purchase,  eighty  acres 
on  section  27.     He  was  during  his  residence  in  Yankee 
Springs  a  respected  and  honored  citizen,  and  at  his  death 
was  generally  lamented.     Henry  D.  Norris,  his  son,  was 
born  in  New  York,  Aug.  30,  1832,  and  was  but  six  years 
of  age  when  his  father  came  to  Yankee  Springs.     Beared 
from  his  youth  to  be  a  farmer,  he  chose  to  follow  in  his 
father's  footsteps,  and,  marrying  Sarah  J.,  daughter  of  Ed- 
ward and  Angelina  Ford  (who  removed  to  Michigan  from 
Saratoga  County  in  1850),  he  settled  himself  in  life  as  an 
agriculturist.     Inheriting  the  old  homestead  of  one  hun- 
dred and  three  acres  on  section  26,  he  has  developed  and 
expanded  his  enterprise  as  a  farmer  to  such  good  purpose 
that  to  that  one  hundred  and  three  acres  he  has  added 
upwards  of  three  hundred.     He  has,  furthermore,  put  into 
execution  liberal  and  progressive  theories  in  the  manage- 
ment of  his  farm,  as  for  example  the  introduction  of  wind- 
power  and  machinery  for  the  cutting  of  feed,  grinding 
grain,  etc.,  upon  his  place.    Still  following  new  and  untried 
fields,  he  has  undertaken  an  experiment  in  peach-culture, 
and,  believing   that  peaches   can    be  profitably  grown  in 
Yankee  Springs,  has  set  out  an  orchard  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty  trees.     Should  the  venture  prove  a  success,  he 
will  turn  his  attention  and  devote  his  land  wholly  to  that 
branch  of  agriculture.     Mr.  Norris  is  a  quiet,  unassuming 
gentleman,  endowed,  however,  with  much  energy  of  char- 
acter and  a  shrewd  foresight  in  matters  of  business.     In 
politics  his  faith  lies  with  the  Republican  party,  but  in  the 
pool  of  politics  he  does  not  care  to  dabble,  since  the  more 
engrossing  affairs  of  business  are  exclusively  the  study  of 
his  life.     His  family  consists  of  his  wife  and  two  children, 
—Minnie,  aged  five,  and  John,  aged  one.