USA > Michigan > Ionia County > History and directory of Ionia County, Michigan: containing a history of each township: the name, occupation, location, and post-office address of every man in the county, 1872 > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23
JAMES H. FOX, Contractor and Builder.
Also Manufacturer and Dealer in
PINE
MBER
Dressed Flooring, Ceiling, Beveled Siding,
PICKETS, BOX SHOOKS,
Lath and Shingles,
SASH AND DOORS, MOULDINGS, BRACKETS,
ETC., ETC.
NORTH SIDE MAIN STREET,
Muir, Michigan.
SPECIAL ATTENTION GIVEN TO BILLS OF DRESSED LUMBER.
HISTORY
AND
DIRECTORY
IONIA COUNTY,
MICHIGAN;
CONTAINING A
€
HISTORY OF EACH TOWNSHIP ; THE NAME, OCCUPATION, LOCATION, AND POST- OFFICE ADDRESS OF EVERY MAN IN THE COUNTY; A LIST OF POST- OFFICES IN THE COUNTY ; A SCHEDULE OF POPULATION ; AND OTHER
VALUABLE STATISTICS.
-
COMPILED AND PUBLISHED BY J. D. DILLENBACK, COUNTY HISTORY, DIRECTORY, AND MAP PUBLISHER, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.
W. S. GEORGE & Co., Printers and Binders, LANSING, MICHIGAN.
INTRODUCTION.
N presenting this work to the large number of citizens who have subscribed for it throughout the county, the publisher confesses to a certain degree of pride in the short space of time in which so extensive a work has been compiled, the great amount of information which it contains, its neat typographical appear- ance, and substantial binding. Still, he is by no means, blind to its defects. In gathering and arranging nearly seven thousand and five hundred proper names, there have doubtless been some mistakes and omissions, incident to all works of this character. In collecting the historical matter, great pains was taken to obtain the most reliable information, yet the compilers were of course restricted in most cases to the facts furnished them by the early settlers still living, and may have been misled in some instances. The history of Ionia was written by Mason Hearsey, Esq., of that village, and those of the other townships by the publisher or canvassers in his employ.
The generous patronage and cordial co-operation of all classes of the community have fully justified the publisher's reliance on their intelligence and public spirit ; and he is under obligations in every town to the township officers and old residents for historical and statistical information, always cheerfully furnished.
IONIA MICH., Nov. 15, 1872.
INDEX TO ADVERTISERS.
PAGE.
Allison & Bedford, jewelers, Ionia
143
Amsden A. & Co., Lyons woolen-mills
107
Antisdel A. R., hotel, Grand Rapids 131
Arndt H. R., physician, Ionia .
149
Babcock V., hotel, Hubbardston
119
Bailey Joseph W., Portland Observer
151
Barnard W. S., news-dealer, books, jewelry, Ionia
117
Beal Handel, insurance, Ionia
155
Begole J. & J. & Co., lumber, lath, shinges, etc., Muir
111
Bowser Brothers, crockery, Portland
197
Brock B. H. & Son, grocers, Muir
111
Brown S. S., hotel, Belding
135
Charles Almon, real estate, Ionia
101
Church J., baker and confectioner, Muir
111
Clark C. A. woolen-mills, Ionia
125
Cooper & Thayer, dry-goods, Ionia
155
Cooper, Wilson & Wood, dry-goods, Ionia . 94, 102, 108, 116, 128, 136, 144, 152, 160, 173 Conrad J. H. agricultural implements, Ionia 97
Cotharin J. C., hardware, Portland 172
133
Divine D. A., carriage and wagon makers, Ionia
103
Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, Ionia
145
First National Bank, Muir
109
Flower W. H., watchmaker and jeweler, Muir
109
Fosmir & Sherman, carriage-makers, Lyons
117
Gradt Charles, music
Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad Co., lands .
101
Halbert A. E., drugs, etc.
119
Hall & Townsend, land, Ionia
93 95 105
Hill F. J. & R. G., steam-engines, Ionia
93
Hill & Storm, Portland Iron Works
127
Hinman & Perrigo, wagon and carriage makers, Portland .
129
Hitchcock H. W., hardware, Hubbardston
123
Homan J. F., jeweler, Hubbardston
149
Fox James H., contractor and builder, doors, sash, etc., inside front cover. Gooding Bros. & Co., doors, sash, etc., Belding
103
91
Hall & Cole, manufacturers of boots and shoes, Lyons
107
Hathaway Dr. V., dentist, Ionia
Hawley Wm. C., commission, plaster, Lyons
Hearsey R., planing-mill, Ionia
95
Bartlett H. P., business college, Lansing
153
Blatt Joseph, furniture, Cook's Corners
135
Cowman J. W., general store, Hubbardston 121
Deitz & Co., wagon and carriage makers, Cook's Corners
10
INDEX TO ADVERTISERS.
PAGE.
Hubbardston Lumber Company
121
Husted N. P., nursery, Lowell
147
Hutchinson Dr. B. M., druggist, Lyons
105
Ingalls & May, carriage and wagon makers, Lyons
113
Jones Lafayette, physician, Pewamo
115
Kelley & Son, physicians and druggists, Lyons
113
Kidd J. M., fanning-mills, sash, etc., Ionia
143
Kling Geo., wholesale liquors, Ionia
99
Knight Alex. A., furniture, Ionia
123
Ludwick J. & Son, general store, Pewamo
117
Ludwick J. E. & Co., flour, grain, plaster, wool, etc., Pewamo
117
Martin Irving E., doors, sash, blinds, etc., Smyrna
135
McFarlane A. & Co., dry-goods, etc., Lyons
155
National Bank of Lyons
105
Osborn O. S., veterinary surgeon, Smyrna
135
Peck & Power, American Hotel, Pewamo
115
Pennington John, general store, Pewamo
115
Pennington Wm. D., furniture, Lyons
119
Perry & Look, attorneys, Lowell
129
Pettinger A. S., flour, feed, etc., Pewamo
115
Phister A. V., Hubbardston Advertiser
141
Portland Woolen-mills Company
131
Rich H. & Co., dry-goods, etc., Ionia
149
Robinson G. W., architect, Grand Rapids
123
Rork Bros., pump-makers, Palo
119
Ross & Ewing, druggists, Portland .
129
Russell & Steele, flouring and planing mills, Palo
119
Schild John, carriage factory, Ionia
139
Shepard Duncan, harness shop, Ionia
155
Sherman T. W., watchmaker and jeweler, Portland
131
Smith G. R., jeweler, Portland
155
Smith & Lowe, books and stationery, Ionia
91
Stannard W. B., Exchange Hotel, Pewamo
113
Stanton E. H. & Co., lumber, etc., Ionia
93
Stebbins Joseph, grocer, Pewamo
97
Sterns J. D., lumber, Smyrna
133
Stevens H. G., hardware, Portland
155
Stevenson Frank, dry-goods, etc., Ionia, last page.
137
Summ Geo. & Co., brewery, Ionia .
103
Thompson C. Oscar, general agency, Ionia
153
Tower O. & O. S., hardware, Ionia
99
Van Alstine Mrs. L. H., millinery, Hubbardston
121
Voorhees E. D., hats, caps, furs, Ionia .
143
Wagar & Co., lumber, lath, and shingles, Muir
109
Webber L. & Son, bankers, Portland
153
Webber S. W. & Co., bankers, Muir
107
Wells & Morse, attorneys, Ionia
91
Willey L. B., agricultural implements, Lyons
125
Willett & Yates, agricultural implements, Ionia
91
Woodward K. W., stone quarry, Ionia
125
Wortman Wm. & Son, hotel, Palo .
133
Wright Mrs. Emma, millinery, Ionia
155
Irish D. & E. L. & Co., clothing, Ionia, last page.
-
Stevenson T. G. & Co., Ionia Sentinel
.
GENERAL INDEX.
PAGE
Berlin, History of
26
Boston, History of
28
Campbell, History of
33
County Officers, List of 12
Danby, History of 35 Directory of Ionia County
89
Easton, History of
38
Ionia County, Sketch of
15
Ionia Village, History of . 17
Keene, History of 41
Lyons, History of
44
North Plains, History of
51
Odessa, History of
59
Orange, History of
62
Orleans, History of
65
Otisco, History of
68
Portand, History of
75
Population, Table of
13
Postoffices, List of
14
Ronald, History of
83
Sebewa, History of
86
STATE OFFICERS.
Governor,
JOHN J. BAGLEY.
Lieutenant Governor,
HENRY H, HOLT.
Secretary of State, . DANIEL STRIKER.
State Treasurer,
VICTORY P. COLLIER.
Commissioner of State Land Office,
LEVERETT A. CLAPP.
Auditor General,
WILLIAM HUMPHREY.
Superintendent of Public Instruction,
DANIEL B. BRIGGS.
State Board of Education, . . E. WILLITS, D. E. BROWN, W. J. BAXTER.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
1 -
State Senator, . HENRY H. HINDS.
Representative, 1st District,
WILLIAM SESSIONS.
Representative, 2d District,
SHIVERICK KELLOGG.
Sheriff,
EDSON P. GIFFORD.
Judge of Probate, WILLIAM H. WOODWORTH.
County Clerk,
HENRY C. SESSIONS. JOHN MORTON.
County Tresurer,
Register of Deeds,
ALFRED H. HEATH.
Prosecuting Attorney, EDGAR M. MARBLE,
Circuit Court Commissioners, WM. O. WEBSTER, WM. L. STRICKLAND.
County Surveyor,
THOMAS CORNELL.
Coronerz,
ETHAN S. JOHNSON, JOHN H. WELCHI.
POPULATION OF TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES, ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS OF 1870.
TOWNSHIPS.
POPULATION.
Berlin,
1,587
Boston,
1,947
Campbell, 1,121
1,176
Easton,
1,401
Ionia,
4,148
Keene, .
1,272
Lyons,
2,151
North Plains,
1,976
Odessa,
950
Orange,
1,382
Orleans,
1,426
Otisco,
1,578
Portland,
1,353
Ronald,
. 1,354
Sebewa,
1,139
Total,
27,682
VILLAGES.
2,494
Ionia,
1,060
Portland,
Muir, 843
Saranac,
724
Lyons,
705
Hubbardston
531
Pewamo,
302
Danby,
POSTOFFICES.
NAMES.
Algodon, Belding,
Campbell,
Chadwick,
Collins,
Danby,
Easton, . Hubbardston,
Ionia,
Keene,
Kiddville,
Kossuth,
Lake City,
Lyons,
Maple,
Matherton,
Muir,
North Plains,
Orange,
Orleans,
Otisco,
Palo,
Pewamo, Portland,
Saranac, Sebewa,
Smyrna,
South Boston,
South Cass, West Campbell,
Wood's Corners.
TOWNSHIPS. Otisco. Otisco. Campbell. Orleans. Portland. Danby. Easton. North Plains. Ionia. Keene. Otisco. Portland. Odessa. Lyons. Portland. North Plains. Muir. North Plains. Orange. Orleans. Otisco. Ronald. Lyons.
Portland. Boston. Sebewa. Otisco. Boston. Odessa. Campbell. Orleans.
1
IONIA COUNTY.
HIS county was organized in 1837, and the first election was held in April of that year. The total number of votes cast at this election was 293, and the fol- lowing named officers were elected : Associate Judges-Isaac Thompson, Truman H. Lyon ; Clerk-Asa Bunnell ; Register of Deeds-Adam L. Roof ; Treasurer-John E. Morrison ; Judge of Probate-Wm. D. Moore; Sheriff- Elhannon W. Curtis ; District Surveyor-Buell H. Mann ; Coroners-Philo Bogue and Thaddeus O. Warner.
The county at that time comprised but two townships : Ionia and Maple ; the latter now divided into several townships and the name no longer retained.
In 1838 there were three additional townships organized : Portland, Boston, and Otisco. The total number of votes cast was 348. In 1839 there were 414 votes cast, and in 1840, 493.
According to the census of 1850, Ionia County numbered 7,597 inhabitants, and ranked as the twentieth county in the State in population. In 1860 it had 16,665 inhabitants and ranked as the nineteenth. In 1870 it had 27,681 inhabitants, and ranked as the sixteenth.
The county is well watered by Grand River, Flat River, Maple River, Fish Creek, and their numerous tributaries.
The Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad passes through the center of the county, having stations in Boston, Ionia, and Lyons.
The Detroit, Lansing & Lake Michigan Railroad has stations in Danby, Portland, Orange, Lyons, Ionia, Orleans, and Otisco.
The Ionia, Stanton & Northern Railroad extends north from Ionia through Easton and Orleans.
A short branch extends from the D., L. & L. M. R. R. at Kiddville, in Otisco to Belding.
The Jonesville, Marshall & Northern Railroad is being constructed through the east- ern tier of townships.
There are five weekly newspapers published in the county : The Ionia Sentinel ; the Ionia Standard; the Portland Observer: the Hubbardston Advertiser; and the Grand River Herald. The last named is printed at Muir.
The Ionia County Agricultural Society has held sixteen annual fairs. Its grounds are located adjoining the village of Ionia, and comprise 20 acres of land on the bank of the Grand River. The race-track, half a mile in length, is one of the best in the State. The officers in 1872 are : A. F. Kelsey of Berlin, President ; W. D. Arnold of Ionia, Secretary ; and James W. Loomis of Berlin, Treasurer.
The Excelsior Agricultural Society holds annual fairs at Cook's Corners, in Otisco.
16
IONIA COUNTY.
The Hubbardston Central Fair Association has members in the four counties of Ionia, Montcalm, Gratiot and Clinton, and holds its annual fairs at Hubbardston.
The Farmer's Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Ionia County has been in exist- ence for more than nine years, and during that time thirty-five losses by fire and dam- ages to buildings by lightning have been sustained, adjusted, and paid ; amounting to $10,937.35. There have been but six assessments upon members to pay losses, amount- ing to $5.30 upon $1,000 insurance for over nine years. The company has issued 3,604 policies, and its present membership is 2,073. The policies average $2,123.86, all upon farm property in Ionia County. The company is restricted in its field of operations to this county, where each member may exercise his right in the election of officers, de- termining all expenditures, auditing accounts, and correcting any imperfections in its charter and by-laws. The present officers of the company are: President, Alonzo Sessions ; Vice President, S. A. Ycomans ; Secretary, Oscar Talcott; Assistant Secre-' tary, F. S. Freeman ; Treasurer, William Sessions ; Directors, Benj. H. Preston, R. R. Cook, A. S. Stannard, Jerry Spaulding, Willard Hawley.
On section twenty-three in the township of Ionia is a ledge of red sandstone which has been worked for several years. It is of large extent and virtually inexhaustible. The only quarry now opened is owned and operated by K. W. Woodward, who is selling large quantities in all parts of the State. It is unsurpassed in beauty by any sandstone in the west, as will be acknowledged by all who have seen the two Method- ist churches, the Congregational church, the new Baptist church, Mr. Moran's block, and numerous other churches and blocks in Grand Rapids which are trimmed with it; also the First National Bank building in Ionia, and Ball's block and Cappon, Bertsch & Co.'s block in Grand Rapids, which are entirely fronted with this material.
IONIA VILLAGE.
ONIA was first occupied by white people as a place of settlement in June, A. D. 1833. In the autumn of the previous year Hon. Samuel Dexter, then a resident of Herkimer County, N. Y., visited Michigan for the purpose of selecting a place of settlement for himself and others. Being pleased with the northwest quarter of section nineteen, town seven north, range six west, in Ionia County, he entered the same at the land office, then at Kalamazoo, and returning to Herkimer County, devoted the winter to preparing himself and family for emigration in the spring, and in persuading others to join in the enterprise. The company consisted of sixty-two persons. A canal boat was chartered for use as far as Buffalo, and fitted up with temporary accom- modations for the families ; their goods and chattels placed on board, consisting of furniture sufficient only for comfort, farming and mechanic's tools, wagons, and such portion of their teams as were not necessary to draw the boat, being furnished with forage on board and taking their turn upon the tow-path. In this manner they left the vicinity of Little Falls at the opening of navigation, bound for an unbroken wilder- ness more than a hundred miles beyond the extreme western border of civilization. To many of their old neighbors and friends such an undertaking seemed like one of not only extreme folly, but of great danger to health and life, and a sure precurser to financial ruin ! But the subject had been well considered, the toils, privations and dangers all contemplated, and the resolution deliberately taken ; and although the breaking up of old associations, the parting with neighbors and friends and the aban- doning of old homesteads were severe trials, they were bravely met. Preparations being completed, farewells being said, all took their places on board, while one of their number, a middle-aged man with musical voice and strong lungs (said to have been Joel Guild), struck up, with great animation, the song "We're bound for Michigania." Not only Mr. Dexter, but several of the other men of his company were well known for many miles along the canal, and their enterprise had become known for a considerable distance, so that for the first day or two they found the villages and landing-places along their route in many places crowded with friends and acquaint- ances who had come to take a last look and say a last parting word, and among them many strangers whose curiosity had been excited to have a look at a company who possessed the hardihood to actually enter upon such an undertaking. For a while the song of " Michigania " answered the curiosity of the crowds along the canal, but the excitement of the occasion and the labor of singing becoming too wearisome, our musical friend procured a long board, upon which he wrote with chalk the burden of his song, and attached it to the side of the boat.
In this way the colony proceeded to Buffalo, where they dismissed their canal boat, transferring themselves and goods to a steamboat, and arrived without accident at Detroit. But now the real hardships were to begin. The goods and families were loaded on the wagons, the teams attached, and with a guide, who as assistant sur-
3
.
18
HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF IONIA COUNTY.
veyor was familiar with the country, they struck into the wilderness, cutting their own road as they went. Their progress was necessarily slow, and to the women and children, unaccustomed to such hard fare, wild scenes, and severe fatigues, the labors were almost overwhelming. But with very few exceptions their courage and resolu- tion kept them to their work, if not with cheerfulness, at least without murmuring. Nearly two weeks were consumed in the journey from Detroit; and when within about thirty miles of their destination, a child of Mr. Dexter's that had been quite unwell for several days, became so much worse that the company halted. During the day the child died. Its remains could not well be carried along, and so a funeral had to be improvised in the wilderness. Among the company a wooden trunk of suitable size was found, which being emptied of its contents, served for a coffin, and there beneath the overshadowing forest, far from human habitation, this child of Christian parents, amidst the prayers and tears of sympathizing friends, was consigned to its last resting-place.
{ The company moved on, and on the second day arrived at their destination. They got home ! Home ? Yes; but what a home! The earth was there, the grass, the trees, but not a sign of civilization ! One hundred and thirty miles from the last house of civilization, six families (including more than thirty women and children) had found their home ! and had met with a hearty welcome !
Those who are familiar with the village of Ionia will understand me when I say that an Indian plantation occupied an acre or two of ground on the spot now occupied by the machine shops, and south of there to the border of the prairie. The Indians also had several pretty good wigwams. As they were occupying these grounds only by sufferance, having sold them several years before to the United States Government, they understood it would be necessary to leave whenever the land was wanted for settle- ment. Although they had planted their grounds to corn, beans, pumpkins, melons, etc., and the crops were well started, they very willingly consented to sell, not only their crops but wigwams, thus furnishing a temporary shelter till better could be provided.
It was the middle of June : too late to plant or sow spring crops even were the ground ready, which it was not. Besides, the first care was to prepare more comfort- able shelter. The women and children were lodged in the wigwams. The men made shift to occupy the tents, wagons, and such other shelter for sleeping as circumstances and the musquitoes, then very abundant, would permit.
The colony consisted of Mr. Dexter's family, of nine persons; Mr. Yeoman's family, nine persons ; Mr. Darius Winsor's family, seven persons ; Oliver Arnold's family, ten persons ; Joel Guild's family and Edward Guild's family, whose numbers are not now remembered ; Dr. W. B. Lincoln, then recently commenced practice ; one or two un- married brothers of Mr. Dexter, and several other men whose names are not now recollected.
Mr. Winsor and both the Guilds with their families soon after went to the Rapids and settled there. Mr. Dexter, Mr. Yeomans, Mr. Oliver Arnold, with their families, and Dr. Lincoln remained permanently here ; and those of them now living are among the most respectable and respected people of this place.
The first thing to be provided for was shelter. Two log houses were immediately commenced ; one for Mr. Dexter stood on the spot now occupied by J. Smoltz's brick building ; the other, for Mr. Winsor, in the eastern part of the village near the present residence of D. Irish, Esq. As soon as Mr. Ycomans could go to Kalamazoo and take up the necessary land, a house was commenced for him. No great trouble was experienced in getting up the bodies of these houses, and in constructing such other parts as could be made by chopping, hewing, boring, or splitting ; but when it
.
19
HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF IONIA COUNTY.
came to doors or windows, the absence of saw-mills was greatly felt. This difficulty was remedied, however, the next season, H. V. Libhart completing a saw-mill near Lyons the next summer, and Mr. Dexter building another about two and a half miles west of the settlement the same year. But the supply of food during the winter and spring following became a serious question. In November of the same year (1833) a considerable accession to the settlement was made by the arrival of the Cornell family, consisting of four men, six women, and two children. The scarcity of accommodations and the lateness of the season prompted the men of the place to im- mediate action, and as soon as the land could be secured they all turned out to help, and in two weeks a house for the accommodation of the new comers was as far completed as it could be without sawed lumber. It was occupied by the family about the first of December, bed-quilts and blankets supplying the place of doors and windows.
Late in the autumn a man who had just made a settlement at Lyons, came to Ionia and proposed to supply the people with pork, flour, and such other articles of provision as were indispensable, to be brought in from Detroit early in the winter. To this pro- position the people readily assented, as many of them had neither time nor means of transportation to procure such articles themselves.
The Cornells had brought with them as far as Detroit a considerable stock of sup- plies, but had not sufficient means of transportation to bring through any more than a temporary supply. Except a little cold, rough weather in the middle and latter part of November, the fall and winter was remarkably mild. This was very favorable to the unprotected condition of the colony, and greatly favored them in making and com- pleting their preparations for the rigors of the winter and the next year's planting. As soon as the Cornell family got settled and a shelter, they commenced preparations for getting their supplies from Detroit. A couple of ox-sleds were constructed, and such other preparations made as were deemed necessary, and the cold weather and snow, so necessary to their use, were eagerly looked for. But they did not come. Day after day and week after week passed by, and still the mild Indian summer continued. At length, about the middle of January, it became a little colder; it froze nights. The river, which must be crossed at the very outset, became frozen across, but so thin a sheet as scarcely to bear a man. Night after night for nearly two weeks the men walked about four miles to a suitable place, and labored several hours in carrying water in pails and pouring it on the ice that it might freeze and strengthen it for crossing. At length Providence favored them with a fall of snow, and the journey was com- menced. Three of the Cornell brothers started-two for the supplies and one for stock, -to the Northern part of Ohio. The teams reached Detroit, got their supplies, and had started out into Oakland county on their return when the weather changed, the snow all disappeared in a few hours, and the frost, where there was any, started from the ground. Sledding was impracticable ; wagons could not be procured, and the only alternative was to wait. Nearly six weeks elapsed before the teams could again start. "The supplies promised to the settlement by the man from Lyons, had, in the meantime, totally failed to appear. By the end of January scarcely a day's rations remained in the settlement. Occasionally a little venison or fish was procured from the Indians. Maple sugar, manufactured by the Indians, could be obtained from the traders; and from the same source a small supply of Indian corn was obtained. A hand-mill, con- structed like a common coffee-mill, only much larger and fitted with two cranks, served to crack this corn into a coarse meal, and for four or five weeks this coarse corn- meal and maple sugar was the principal reliance for sustaining life in the settlement. The Cornells finally, early in March, arrived with their supplies; the others never came ! But by a generous distribution the settlement was relieved ; and never since has experienced such a strait.
1
20
HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF IONIA COUNTY ..
It is often said that the darkest time is just before day. So it proved in this case ; for although the settlers of this place did not for many years feed upon dainties or sleep upon down, they were never afterwards reduced to corn and sugar.
During the summer of 1834 several other families and individuals joined the settle- ment, and considerable progress was made in clearing land, improving buildings, and especially in getting a saw-mill in operation about two and a half miles west of the settlement. But no wheat was yet raised, so that the main supply of breadstuff had to be brought from Detroit, being shipped around the lakes to Grand Haven, and then brought up the river in canoes, a tedious journey of six hundred miles, attended with much expense and many long delays. No steamboats were then employed in the com- merce of the upper lakes, and the circuitous route, with the uncertainty of the winds, contributed much to these delays. A severe frost in the latter part of June, 1834, destroyed some of the spring crops and injured others, and cast a gloomy shadow over the hopes and prospects of the settlement. If these people, comparatively poor at the out- set, and greatly impoverished by the change of localities, had come so far, borne such exposures and fatigues, and incurred such expenditures, to find themselves in a wilder- ness whose climate was so inhospitable as to make the prospect of raising sufficient for subsistence a matter of grave doubt, then, indeed, was their case a gloomy one ! But time finally dissipated these gloomy forebodings, and patient, persevering industry began to add, one after another, those indispensable improvements without which civili- zation cannot long endure.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.