USA > Michigan > Hillsdale County > Compendium of history and biography of Hillsdale County, Michigan > Part 1
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GO 977.401)
MIL
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01075 5053
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2018 with funding from Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
https://archive.org/details/compendiumofhist00reyn
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COMPENDIUM
OF
HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY
OF
HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
.
1
ILLUSTRATED.
ELON G. REYNOLDS, Editor.
"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote generations."-MACAULAY.
CHICAGO A. W. BOWEN & CO. PUBLISHERS, ENGRAVERS AND BOOK MANUFACTURERS
Tell me a tale of the timber lands- Of the old-time pioneers ; Somepin' a pore man understands With his feelin's well as ears. Tell of the old log house,-about The loft, and the puncheon flore- The old fi-er place, with the crane swung out, And the latch-string thugh the door. -JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY.
FOREWORD.
1143151
From innumerable sources of information-many of them broken, fragmentary, and imperfect-from books, records, manuscripts, private documents and personal information and knowledge, the very capable editor has gathered much of value respecting this favored county of Hillsdale and its savage and civilized occupancy. The historian and his corps of efficient assistants have zealously endeavored to separate truth from error, fact from fiction, as these have come down to them from the already half-forgotten days in legend, tradition and the annals of the past. The people of the county can well congratulate themselves that so learned a man and so able and conscientious an editor as Mr. Elon G. Reynolds could be obtained. His labors in this connection adds greatly to the long years of service he has given to the institutions of the city and county. His history of Hillsdale College, in this volume, is of high value, comprehensive and exhaustive.
The publishers herewith desire to express their thanks to those of the citizens whose patriotic and loyal interest in the county of their birth · or residence have caused them to give a generous and loyal assistance to this enterprise, by their financial support rendering its publication pos- sible ; to those who have contributed the excellent portraits scattered as fitting illustrations throughout its pages, thereby greatly enhancing the value of the volume ; to all whose willing service and unfailing courtesy have ever fully responded to aid in the efforts to make this memorial his- tory a valuable and thoroughly comprehensive exhibit of the events and the people of old Hillsdale county. The publishers feel a satisfaction in being able to so creditably place these writings in an attractive and enduring form, and trust that their faithful efforts will be suitably appreciated.
A. W. BOWEN & Co.
00. bl 0 0
Rouve Berkhanes-
History may be formed from permanent monuments and records, but lives can only be written from personal knowledge, which is growing every day less and less, and, in a short time, is lost forever.
-SAMUEL JOHNSON.
CONTENTS OF HISTORY.
CHAPTER. PAGE.
I. HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 19
Description-Soil-Rivers and Streams-Prehistoric-The Great Trail-Indian occupancy -- Pottawatomies-Baw Beese-Indian exe- cution-Removal of the Indians-Beauty of the landscape-"Oak openings"-"Plains"-Profusion of game, grasses and wild fruits- Extinguishment of Indian title-Description of land ceded-Terms of treaty-Survey of Chicago Road-Early erroneous ideas of Mich- igan-The first settler-First crop of corn-First "mill"-Benaiah Jones, Jr .- Moses Allen's death and burial.
II. EARLY HISTORY-By F. M. Holloway, Esq. 26
Treaty of General Cass with Pottawatomies-Coming of immi- grants-Blazed trails-The changed view concerning Michigan, how produced-North American Review articles-Locations of first set- tlers-The town of VANCE-Establishment of Hillsdale county- Black Hawk War-Its influence on proposing settlers-Great scare-Close of preliminary history-HILLSDALE COUNTY: Its Cre- ation, Description and Topography-The Ninth District-First county officers-Townships created-Wheatland-Fayette-First supervisors-First town meetings-Difficulties concerning south- ern boundary of the State-Boundary war-National interference -Delay in State's admission to the Union-Names and purchases of early pioneers-First store and merchants-First mill-First hotel-First school district-Early schools and teachers.
III. EARLY PIONEER CONDITIONS.
32
Early Jonesville-The incoming pioneers-Character of the immi- grants-Habits and manners-Charity and kindness-Anecdotes of primitive justice-Jokes-Counterfeiters-Whence came the set- tlers ?- Conditions in Western New York-Pioneers a superior race -Important decisions of local court-Early homes and method of building-Food and cooking-Early crops and prices-Flax and its preparation-Spinning, weaving and the making of clothing- Sheep and wool-Feather beds-House Furnishings-Spinning bees -Logging bees-Democracy-Moral. .
IV. LESSONS AND VICISSITUDES
Lessons to be learned-Development of civilization-Object of life -Dangers to shun-Wherein lies safety-Illustrations of pioneer
38
xii
CONTENTS OF HISTORY.
. CIIAPTER.
PAGE.
living and vicissitudes-Jesse Hill-C. C. Fowler-The Carmichaels -John W. Johnson-H. P. Ilitchcock-Norman S. Sharp-Joseph L. Farnham -- Samuel Riblet-E. B. Seeley-Pioneer life in Pitts- ford-Mrs. Southworth's story-Warren Smith.
V. PROGRESS OF THE COUNTY 43
The county in 1838-Railroad building-New courthouse-A great celebration -- Program of the exercises-Changes in the county by decades-Present agriculture-Synopsis of county treasurer's re- port of 1880-Salaries, etc .- Valuation in 1890-Population in 1900 -Intelligence-Politics-Rural free delivery-Improvements, etc. -Banks and banking institutions.
VI. EARLY PLACES, PEOPLE, ETC 49
Jonesville-Prominent carly settlers-Early lawyers-Physicians -Postoffice-Mail rontes-Early industries-Methodist Episcopal church-Presbyterian church-Protestant Episcopal church-Bap- tist church-Early schools-School districts-Early mentions, births and settlers-First newspaper-Loyalty in Civil War-Deal carriage works-Płatting of Jonesville-Its incorporation, etc.,- First movement to create a city at Hillsdale-Its first landed pro- prietors-Township of Hillsdale-Incorporation of city, etc.,-Rail- roads-Early business enterprises-Hillsdale village in 1838 and 1839-First sermon-First organized church-First "Fourth of July" celebration-Hillsdale before 1840-Fowler's addition- Rapid growth-Some prominent citizens of early Hillsdale-
Progress and development-First postmaster-Railroad construc- tion -- Warehouses-First election and officers of Ilillsdale vil- lage-First school district and school houses-First school board -Odd Fellows and Freemasonry-Early newspapers-Methodist and other churches.
VII. ABOUT THE TOWNSHIPS.
57
Adams-North Adams-Allen-Amboy-Cambria-Cambria Mills -Camden-Camden village-Fayette-Jefferson-Osseo-Litchfield -Litchfield village-Moscow-Pittsford-Pittsford village-Scipio -Mosherville-Somerset -- Wheatland-Ransom - Reading-Read- ing village -- Woodbridge-Wright.
VIII. HILLSDALE COLLEGE-By Elon G. Reynolds. 66
Religious thought of the Eighteenth century-Benjamin Randall- Free Willers-First Free Will Baptist church-High moral stand- Need of an educated ministry-Concerning the establishment of a denominational school in Michigan-Michigan Central College- Distinguished early students-Attempts to secure a charter-Erec- tion of buildings -- Donations for apparatus and library-Early members of faculty-Charter obtained-First female graduates- Unprecedented growth of school-Change of location agitated-
xiii
CONTENTS OF HISTORY.
CHAPTER.
PAGE.
Resolution of board of trustees-Visiting committee appointed- Professor Dunn visits Hillsdale-Other prospective locations- Coldwater and Hillsdale to compete for the college-Committee in regard to new location-Coldwater's offer-William Waldron- Hillsdale offers to raise $15,000-Hillsdale secures the college- Large contributions-Corner-stone laid at Hillsdale July 4, 1853- Suit in chancery-Spring Arbor excited-Professor Churchill threatened-Dark days-State constitution prohibited charters- New law introduced and passed-Hillsdale College. organized- First trustees-Object of the institution-Raising endowment and other fund's-Scholarships-Geauga Seminary-Merged in Hills- dale College.
IX. HILLSDALE COLLEGE. Continued.
72
Opening term of Hillsdale College-Payroll of teachers-Number of students first year-Total number of graduates-Early graduates -Civil War period-Center building destroyed by fire-New build- ings to be erected-Knowlton Hall-Fine Arts Hall-Cost of erec- tion-Gymnasium-Treasurer's first report-Annual gain in en- dowment-Professorships-Large contributors-College library- Professor Dunn-Annual statement of 1903-Sources of income for college-List of trustees-Presidents-Excellent financial manage- ment-Celebration of semi-centennial of the laying of the corner- stone-Some prominent graduates-Newton J. Corey-Oliver W. Pierce-Hon. Lewis Emery-A. W. and W. W. Mitchell-Will M. Carleton-Hon. Albert J. Hopkins-Bion J. Arnold-Prominent jur- ists-Prominent educators-Clergymen-Hon. Washington Gard- ner-Hon. Samuel R. Dresser-Frank D. Baldwin-Captain Charles V. Gridley-Importance, value and character of the college.
X. ROSTER OF THE CIVIL WAR.
81
INDEX TO SKETCHES, ETC.
Abbott, A. H.
427
Bump, B. H 232
Denning, J. H. 247
Dennis, I. 1. 253
DeVoe, W. II. 243
Dibble, E. A. .. 285
Dickerson, C. J. 88
Ditmars, W. H .. 246
Ditmars, W. R. 245
Dobson, B .. 140
Doolittle, C. C. 82- 92
Archer, O. M.
354
Carter, W. E.
231
Arnold, B.
79
Case, D. D .. 91
Ash, J. W.
116
Case, F. B.
91
Ash, P ..
115
Champlin, E. P.
92
Doty, H. F
143
Atterbury, W. H. 215
Chandler, I. Q.
129
Doty, S.
141
Doty, O. 430
Donglass, A. W 248
Donglass, J. F. 249
Drake, W. 436
Dresser, E. H. 365
Dresser, H. H. 365
Dresser, S. R. 80
Duryea, M. J. 252
Duryea, W. H.
251
Barkman, E. 219
Childs, L. H. 130
Barnaby, C. W. 221
Citizens Bank, Allen .
123
Eldred, Il.
143
Barre, C. M 330
Clement, C. .
131
Barre, H. W. 355
Conger, A. G.
240
Barrington. J. O 116
Cook, C ..
361
Bates, O 356
Cook, C. F.
261
Bates, J. A.
356
Cook, H ..
329
Bates, W.
117
Cook, J. P
260
First National Bank. . 201
First State Savings Bank 188
Fitzsimmons, J. F 368
Fitzsimmons, G. 368
Ford, B. E. 145
Fowler, C. C
39
Benge, W. N.
123
Cox,
Cressy, A.
113
Fowler, H.
314
Berry, W. 457
Cressy, J. S
114
Fowle, J. 441
Fowle, O. 315
Frankhanser, W. H. 255
Freeman, R. W 434
French, Joseph 411
Blackman, H. C.
237
Cummins, T. J
134
Frisbie. J. L. 102-146
Fuller, C. E. 426
Fuller, S. O.
371
Bow. H. 1.24
127
Bowditch, J.
126
Daniels, J. W. 135
Darling, J. G. 135
Galloway, J. C.
374
Darling, J. H.
137
Galloway, J. S. 186
Gardner, G. F. 374
Gardner, G. B. 386
Gier, F. M. 376
Britten, R. R.
244
Day, L.
147
Gier, S. J.
254
Buell, G. W 231
Buck, A. B. 229
Deal, J. J. 244
Glasgow, S. W
443
C'ahalan, .l. 300
Allen, Moses. 25-26-
58
Cambria Township 133
Carbine, T. P. 127
Alward, J. B. 352
Carmichael, C. & B.
40
Archer, M. 353
Carpenter, W. A 128
Doty, A. G. 141
Doty, A. W 429
Doty, E. 142
Bachelder, K. 217
Baily, E. 121
Chase, M. W.
230
Baker, G. W.
215
Baker, W. Y. 216
Chester, F
360
Baker, H. R. 216
Chester, G. C.
112
Baker. W .. 218
Chester, O. D.
363
Baldwin, F. D. 80
Cheney, P. .
172
Barker, L. .
221
Childs, W. B.
238
Barnes, N. H. . : 222
Citizens Bank, Litchfield 211
Emery, J., Ir. 50- 79
Everett, R. A. 144
Farnham, J. L 41
Ferguson. A. V 253
Baxter, H. 87
Cook, N. R.
239
Beecher, C. O
223 210
Cooper, J. C.
415
Beers, H.
Corey, N. J.
78
Belden, L .. 224
Bell, T. H. E.
357
Cousins,
241
Bibbins, W. L. 227
Crommer, D.
417
Bishop, B ... 154
Cunningham, E. H.
419
Bishopp, S. D. 225
Cunningham. E. W
79
Blackman, E. A. 237
Cunningham, P
134
Blackmar, F. S. 227
Boone, WV
227
Cutler, M. F. 434
Cutler, G. W. 102
Gaige, P. S. 146
Galloway, E. R 373
Bower, W. W 449
Bradley, B. C. 358
Bradley, J. C ..
359
Davis, A. L. 137
Davis, E. C .. 455
Brezee, W. H.
228
Briggs, G. W.
259
Davis, S. W. 92
Dayton, O 242
Gilmore, S. 375
Ackerly, H. H. 351
Burt, E. 428
Alamo Mfg. Co 277
Burt, Thos. Sr. and Jr 414
Aldrich, B. F.
212
Aldrich, H. C.
213
Alward, B. R. 451
Chandler, L ...
450
Chappell, J. D.
233
Clase, P. W
186
Edwards, A. C. 249
Fowler, F.
99-366
Benson, E. W 125
Cornell, J. P
242
132
Curtis, D. A 250
Bowditch, C.
XV
INDEX TO SKETCHES, ETC.
Glasgow, W. 442
Kirby, R. S. 157
Gorsuch, C. H. 456
Kirby, W 156
Graham, M. 256
Knapp, P. 287
Gray, W .H. 149 Knapp, S. 286
Gregg, N. M. 149
Green, B. F. 256
Gregory, E. B. 257
Gridley, C. V.
80
Grosvenor, E. O 109
Gurney, C. H. 112
Hackett, L. S. 435
Hadley, S. B.
82
Hadley, Z ...
148
Hall, C. W
377
Hall, F. M.
259
Hall, M. E. 262
LeFleur, H. B.
381
O'Meara, W. 303
Omega Cement Co. 293
Olds, J. 52
Oliver, W. A. 393
Osborn, J. M. 176
Osius, C. P. . 179
Osius, W. C. 179
Palmer, W. H. 422
Parish, J. H. 178
Parsons, C. B. 82
Patterson, J. B 301 -
Payne, J. D.
302
Penoyar, L. 398
Peterson, R. S 304
Peirce, J. W.
180
Hillsdale Gas Co. 269
Hillsdale Grocery Co 284
McCowan, A. L. 290
Mccutcheon, A. J 421
Pierce, O. W. 78
Post, M. D. L. 183
Post, L. H. 457
Powell, C. A
305
Hitchcock, H. P.
40
Holloway, F. M.
26-49
Howard, F. J. .
271
Howard, L. A.
271
Hopkins, H .H.
270
Hopkins, S. D
450
Hughes, L.
274
Hughes, W.
273
Hulce, C. P. 421
Iles, J. C .. 154
Mark, G. A.
282
. Raymond, J. W 187
Reed, J. T. .
185
Reed Family 459
Resseguie, W. E. 454
Reynolds, A. 396
Reynolds, A. B 396
Reynolds, C. B. 395
Reynolds, E. G. 234
Reynolds, E. W. 396
Riblet, S .. 240
Riggs, J. J .. 403
Robe & Tanning Co. 397
Robertson, S. V ... 99
Roethlisberger, F. A. 188
Rogers, F. A 400
Rogers, W. 399
Kies, C. A. 276
Moore, I. 389
Moore, J. B 79
Morey, F. E. 297
Morgan, C. H. 297
Roy, C. H .. 307
Rumsey, E. H. 189
Kirby, J. J.
157
Myers, C. 391
Myers, J .. 392
Myers, W. 393
Niblack, J. W 390
Nichols, R. L. 171
Nimocks, C. A. 87
Norris, C. S. 203
Norris, Jason B 169
Norris, Joel B 202
Norton, A. L. 172
Norton, E. P. . 173
Northrop, W. B. 218
Nye, N. P.
174
Oakley, C. 87
O'Hanlon, O 176
Hancock, J. A
Leonardson, S.
418
Harring, M. 151
Lickly, J. W.
439
Harris, H. 263
Hawkins, V. 439
Hawkins, W. B.
438
Lloyd, G. W.
270
Hawley, J .. 99
Lombard, G. W
82
Haynes, H. E. 380
Heator, J. J .. 264
Lovejoy, A. J.
211
Heckman, W. W
77
Herring, J. 267
Herring, M.P. 268
Hill, J .. 39
Hillsdale County Gazette 253
Hillsdale Democrat 237
McCarty, J. B 384
McCowan, H. 289
Pettit, W. H. H. 423
Phillips, D. 181
Hillsdale Leader 351
Hillsdale Savings Bank 260
Hinkle, H.
153
Hirsch, C ..
265
McIntyre, M 292
Mckellar, D
168
Pratt, D. L. .
266
Mckellen, C
356
Pratt, J. H.
92
Ramsdell, J. J. 230
Randall, B. 66
Ranney, L. S. 303
Ransom, H .. 306
Ransom, W. M. 307
Rawson, A. P. 305
Rawson, M. L. 184
Marsh, E. S
167
Masters, F. L. 295
Mead, T. S. 95
Meigs, L .. 388
Meigs, M. I.
398
Johnson, W. C. 452
Joiner, C. . .. 152
Jones, B., Jr. 24- 80
Kellogg, I. H. 382
Kelly, M. W 280
Mickle, J.
385
Kemp, N. B 283
Miller, H. C.
173
Kempton, M. 279
Miller, L. . 296
Mitchell, A. W 79
Mitchell, C. T. 138
Mitchell, W. W. 79
Rose, C. . 183
Root, L. H. 433
Rowley, N. R. 447
Kinney, A. L. 383
Kirby Family 156
Mosher, G. W. 300
Rumsey, G. W. 182
·
Lowe, C. Y. 164
Lowery, T. J 445
Lyon, F. A. 166
Mccutcheon, W 420
McDougal, J 362
McNabb, D. 290
McNair, J .. 431
McWilliam, J. G. 387
MacRitchie, W.
291
Mallory, A.
294
Maples, C. A
164
March, E. J
81- 95
Ingersoll, H. J 101
Jackson, G. A. 275
Johnson, C. C. 275
Johnson, J. W.
40
Mercer, J. G. '295
Mercer, S. A. 294
Mercer, W ... 378
Mercer, W. W 380
Kennedy, S. 280
Keough, W. 274
Kesselring, L. 283
Kies, D. C. 285
King, J. F. 278
Koon, C. E. 89
Koon, M. B. 77
Kreiter, P. 281
Kroh, J. H. 159
Lake, E. 180
Lane, H. 160
Lane, O. B. 443
Lane, R. D.
175
Lawrence, C. E. 162
Lawrence, E. 287
Lazenby C .. 158
Haggerty, J.
258
150
Leonardson, J.
402
Lindsey, C. C.
288
Litchfield Gazette.
372
Long, J. 161
Lovell, E. 163
xvi
INDEX TO SKETCHES, ETC.
Russ. L. E. 410
Stevens, E. 321
Watkins, D. J. 195
Rutan, W. M. 308
Stewart, F. M.
201
Watkins, J. H. 432
Stimson, C .. 321
Watkins, J. M. 130]
Stock. F. W. 298
Watkins, J. R. 204
Saltzgiber. J.
424
Sawyer, W. H.
170
Stoner. I. J.
428
Watkins, S. 203
Schaad, Z. 309
Strait, R ..
346
Watkins, W ..
205
Sutton, J. R. 408
Watkins, Mrs. Z. W
123
Schmitt, F. 190
Sutton. R. B. 408
Way, P.
206
Scowden & Blanchard Co 157
Taylor, 322
Weir, A
337
Seeley, E. B.
41
Terwilliger, C. W. 447
Westfall, G. W.
338
Seeley, P. B.
401
Thomas, A. S.
324
Whelan, A. I.
339
Seelye, R. F. 452
Tinims, D. W
394
Whelan, B.
340
Severance, M. P. 130a
Tolford, P. B.
325
White, C. E.
341
Shaneour, J 448
Toner, J.
325
Whitbeck, R. B.
338
Sharp. W. D.
310
Turner, J. P.
193
209
Shattuck, E. A
311
Shepard, P. B.
313
Tuttle, H. S.
425
Whitney, W. G
453
Silvernail, P. A
194
Wigent, A. J.
413
Sinclair, R. A.
316
Wigent, M.
413
Slaght, J. 197
Wight, T.
42
Slaght, J. A.
198
Van Aken, C. T
329
206
Southworth, R. N
199
Veeder, C. S.
Williams A.
341
Southworth, T. M.
200
Vosper, R. ..
95
Williams, C. H.
459
Smith, C. E.
198
Vrooman, S. B.
87
Willard, J. 344
343
Smith. F. H
317
Wade, C. F 293
Winchester, A. M. 344
345
Smith, G. A ..
318
Wadsworth, T. N
194
Wisner, D. A.
103
Sınith, L. T
320
Waldron, W
120
Wolf, G. P.
213
Smith, W ..
43
Walsh, J. J.
332
Wolf, M.
208
Smith, W. H.
320
Walworth, H. S
207
Wood, M. G.
348
Smith, G. E.
404
Ward, J. H.
333
Woodward, E 214
42
Sprowls, John.
406
Warren, H. M. 334
Worthing, A.
350
St. Anthony's Church. 299
Warren, J. M. 335
Wyllis, G. C. .
348
State Bank, Reading. 142 Washburn, E. M. 336
Wyllis, J. A.
412
INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS.
Grosvenor. E. O. .
. Frontispiece
Hopkins, Mrs. S. D .. Facing 226
Reynolds, E. G.
Facing 66
Bishop, B.
.Facing 154
Leonardson, J ..
402
Sawyer, W.
66
170
Barre, C. M.
330
Leonardson, S .. 418
Seelye, R. F ..
50
Cousins, J.
132
Leonardson, Mrs. H. M. 419
Seelye, Mrs. R. F 50
Curtis, W 107
McDougal. A. 362
16
362
Severanee, Mrs. M. P. 66
146
Fowle. Mrs. B. 46
314
McDougal, J.
362
Smith, S. S.
370
Freeman, R. W.
434
McDougal, Mrs. J.
362
Smith, Mrs. S. S.
370
Freeman, Mrs. R. W.
434
Mark, G. A.
282
Stock, F. W.
298
Fuller, C. E.
146
Mercer, W ..
378
Strait, R ..
346
Fuller, Mrs. C. E. . 146
Mitchell, C. T.
139
Strait, Mrs. R.
347
Galloway, J. S.
186
Norris, J. B. .
202
Timms, D. W.
394
Glasgow, S. W.
306
Northrop, W. B ..
218
Watkins, J. M.
80
Glasgow, W ..
442
Pratt, D. L.
266
Watkins, L. R ..
122
Hopkins. S. D.
226 Russ, L. E. 410
Watkins, Mrs. Z. W.
123
Stoddard, J. A. 405
Watkins, L. R. 122
Scott, W. A. 310
Weaver. L. D
444
Scowden. J. 158
Térpening, L. H. 323
Weir, A. B ..
337
Sharp, N. S. 40
Travis, G. R.
326
Whitney. A. R.
Whitney, J. C.
89
Sheriff, [. W. 191
192
Underwood, G. W
327
Underwood, W. A. 196
Willits, M
Smith, C. H.
315
wilson, H. K.
Smith, Le G. J 319
Waldron, H.
118
Wisner. I. G.
347
Smith, S. S
370
Walsh, F. H
331
Wolf, J.
Sprowls, James 407
Ward, J. T.
333
Worden, R.
Severance, M. P .. 66
146
Fowle, B. 314
McDougal, Mrs. A.
331
Whitney, W. G.
409
Sheriff, S. T.
Wigent, F. M
342
Turrell, H. N.
328
Sampson. W. J. 118
PART FIRST
HILLSDALE COUNTY MICHIGAN
FULLY HISTORICAL
Out of monuments, names, words, proverbs, tra- ditions, records, fragments of stone, passages of books, and the like, we doe save and recover somewhat from the deluge of time .- LORD BACON
CHICAGO: A. W. BOWEN & CO. 1903
We tell today the deeds of story, And legends of the olden time ; While voices, like an unseen glory, Still charm us as a silver chime. The old and new join loving hands, The Past before the Present stands ; The ages give each other greeting, And years recall their old renown ; Their acts of fortitude repeating That won for them historic crown.
COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY
OF
HILLSDALE CO., MICHIGAN.
This beautiful and productive county is one of the southern counties of the State. Bounded on the north by Calhoun and Jackson counties, on the east by Lenawee county, on the south by Ohio, on the west it is bordered by Indiana and Branch county. Organized in 1835, it now embraces the city of Hillsdale and eighteen organized town- ships, Adams, Allen, Amboy, Cambria, Camden, Fayette, Hillsdale, Jefferson, Litchfield, Moscow, Pittsford, Ransom, Reading, Scipio, Somerset, Wheatland, Woodbridge and Wright. The very rich county of Hillsdale lies on the dividing ridge between Lake Erie and Lake Michigan, and its altitude is about the greatest of any section of the Lower Peninsula, some points attaining the height of from 600 to 640 feet above Lake Erie, something more than 1,100 feet above the tidewater of the ocean. The surface is undula- ting, a portion being hilly, marshes are here and there interspersed. Many beautiful, clear ponds, or lakes, dot the country, fed by pure spring wa- ter ; the number runs up into hundreds, one au- thority saying that "there are 365, one for each day of the year." In the early days these were full of delicious fish.
The name Hillsdale arises from the prevalence of "hills" and "dales," and its exquisite natural beauty rivals the artistic work shown by English landscape gardeners on the large estates of Kent and Somersetshire. At the time of its first occu- pancy by the whites the northern half of the coun- ty was dotted with burr, black and white oaks, the numerous groves being known as "oak open- ings," the country appearing like a succession of orchards. The remainder of the county was heav- ily timbered with oak, whitewood, black walnut, maple, hickory and other trees, many of them being of large size. The soil varies from a light, · dry sand and loam, to a black, rich alluvium, and all parts of the country have been ever productive, yielding the best of crops of grain, grass and roots under the skillful touch of intelligent husbandry. The mineral products are scarcely worthy of men- tion, consisting, as they do, of small deposits of iron, lime and only the traces of other metals, but there are some fine quarries of excellent sand- stone, suitable for building and for grindstones.
The county is well watered, for in addition to the lakes mentioned, there are numerous small streams, among them the St. Joseph river
20
HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
of the Maumee, the St. Joseph of Lake Michigan, the Little St. Joseph, the south branch of the Kalamazoo river, Hog river, and Bean, Goose and Sand creeks. The St. Joseph and Kalamazoo rivers furnished admirable mill sites and water powers which were early utilized to the manifest benefit of the county. Evidences of a prehistoric race of inhabitants and of their extended residence here is shown by the number of their burial mounds appearing, notably in Jefferson township, where they are quite numerous north of the chain of eight lakes, of which Deer lake is largest, and in the vicinity of Bird lake. Those that have been examined show, besides the skeletons of the bur- ied people, pottery, pipes and other articles, dis- tinctly those of Indian workmanship.
The occupation of Hillsdale county before the coming of the whites has left little sign of its existence. Whatever prehistoric peoples may have rambled along its pleasant hillsides or bathed in the limpid waters of its lakes, they departed lience and left no traces except the mounds, which are elsewhere mentioned. The thrilling events of border warfare and of Indian atrocities re- corded no deed of bloodshed on this fair land. Tecumseh, Pontiac and other valiant and historic Indian chiefs, concocted their dark designs against the whites in other places, by other streams, and the Indian history of this section is largely one great blank. Probably bands of war- riors going to slaughter and destroy, or return- ing home from savage forays, traversed the great trail crossing the county. Perhaps disconsolate captives were also hurried along its winding way. but no record has been made and the tongues that might tell were palsied by death generations ago. In the construction of this great Indian trail that led across the state from one great lake to another, and also in its branches, the red men avoided the larger marshes, kept on the highest attainable ground and crossed the streams at the best natural fording places. Entering the county in the township of Somerset, not quite two miles from the northeast corner of the county, the trail ran nearly west to the site of the village of Mos- cow, thence southwesterly to the crossing of the St. Joseph at Jonesville, thence southwesterly
through Allen, leaving the county half a mile north of the center of that township.
In the first quarter of the Nineteenth Century a band of less than 200 Pottawatomies made this county their home. They had no permanent abid- ing place, but frequented, for the greater part of the time, the eastern portion of the county, their migrations ranging from Baw Beese lake and Hillsdale into Pittsford, Jefferson, Adams and Wheatland. They occasionally made long travels to Lenawee county and into Ohio and Indiana, always returning to the vicinity of Baw Beese lake. They built cabins of bark, but they were not congregated into a village, nor did their occu- Pants remain all of the time in the same location. There were a few small open fields of a few acres cach, where the squaws raised corn and beans, but their resources for food were principally hunting and fishing. An old trading-post, owned by one Campau, existed at this period on Allen's Prairie, where the furs they collected were ex- changed for guns, powder, calico, whisky and other desirable commodities. The nominal chief of this band was an ordinary looking, fat, good- natured Indian, known as Baw Beosc.
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