USA > Michigan > St Joseph County > History of St. Joseph County, Michigan; Volume I > Part 1
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ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
MICHIGAN VOL I
HISTORY
OF
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
MICHIGAN
PREPARED UNDER THE EDITORIAL SUPERVISION OF
H. G. CUTLER, GENERAL HISTORIAN
HON. R. R. PEALER, CHARLES B. KELLOGG, E. B. LINSLEY, MRS. DELIA S. CROSSETTE, MRS. ALICE M. BOSSET, MRS. HENRY CHURCH, MRS. W. C. CAMERON AND OTHER LEADING MEN AND WOMEN, ADVISERS AND CONTRIBUTORS.
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME I
PUBLISHERS: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY CHICAGO NEW YORK
PREFACE
The main interest attaching to a county history depends upon a personal, or individual flavor; it is largely a story of the citizen, the family or the community. But the county can no more cut itself adrift from the great outside world than the individual, in this day and generation, can make a hermit of himself and refuse to associate with the members of his family and his neighbors.
The latter statement peculiarly applies to St. Joseph county, and a consistent attempt has been made throughout this work to show its relations to the northeastern and the southwestern regions in whose connecting highway it lay. There is no doubt that this section of southern Michigan owes its early development to the fact that the old Chicago trail from Detroit (whose course was so closely followed in the survey of the Chicago Road) passed through the southern part of the county. That great highway of travel intro- duced it to a comparatively large acquaintance in early times, and a more intimate knowledge of the country transformed visitors into home-seekers and settlers.
In this, as in other matters, the authors have endeavored to arrange the facts so that the picture of the development of St. Joseph county to its present fine proportions shall be revealed gradually and methodically, that the reader may not lose the gen- eral lines of growth in a mass of details, however interesting and instructive.
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY.
ILLUSTRATIONS
TITLE
PAGE
Scene on Klinger's Lake
2
View on Portage River 11
Remains of an Old-Timer
44
Wayne County of 1803-5
76
Old Court House (1842)
86
The Court House of Today
90
Willie White Pigeon
138
Descendants of White Pigeon
140
"Wild-Cat" Money of 1839
150
White Pigeon's Grave
154
An End of Sturgeon Lake
208
Manufacturing Section, Three Rivers
309
High School Building, Three Rivers
323
Riverside Cemetery (G. A. R. Plat in Foreground)
330
Sturgis Union School
362
Oak Lawn Cemetery, Sturgis
364
Methodist Church, Sturgis
382
Mill Dam, Colon
397
The Colon Union School
405
Union School, Mendon
409
St. Edward's Parish Church, Mendon
424
Centerville Union School
429
Burr Oak in the Fifties
436
The Old Mill, White Pigeon
326
The Kellogg Strawberry Farms, Three Rivers
358
Bridge and Light and Power Plant, Constantine
392
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
GENERAL FEATURES.
DRAINAGE OF THE COUNTY-ITS LAKES-GEOLOGICAL FEATURES -BUILDING MATERIALS-SOIL AND AGRICULTURE-PEPPER- MINT AND OIL-EARLIEST GROWERS AND MANUFACTURERS- OIL DISTILLATION-GOOD PIONEERING COUNTRY-"THE ST. JOSEPH RIVER," BY DELIA S. CROSSETTE. 1-14
CHAPTER II.
MOUND BUILDERS AND INDIANS.
ANCIENT GARDEN BEDS-THE COLON MOUNDS-FORTIFICATIONS- SACRIFICIAL FIRE-PLACE-NOTTAWA-SEEPE RESERVATION-AR- RIVAL OF PATRICK MARANTETTE-PAPER BY MRS. ALICE (MAR- ANTETTE) BOSSET-THE POTTAWATOMIES IN 1830-SAU-AU- QUETT RELINQUISHES RESERVATION-LANDED IN KANSAS- THE BLACK HAWK WAR-THE FIRST PAYMENT-ATTEMPTED MURDER OF SAU-AU-QUETT-DEATH OF MORREAU-DETAILS OF 15-27 SAU-AU-QUETT'S MURDER.
CHAPTER III.
ALONG TRAIL AND RESERVATION.
THE OLD CHICAGO TRAIL-BLACK HAWK USED IT-HIS SENSE OF HONOR-SURVEYORS USE THE OLD TRAIL-THE ROAD PUT THROUGH THE COUNTY-FIRST MAIL ROUTE AND STAGES- SURVEYORS ADVERTISE THE COUNTRY-WAYNE COUNTY PIO- NEERS-JUDGE STURGIS COMES-NOTTAWA PRAIRIE SETTLERS-
V
vi
CONTENTS
SITES OF CONSTANTINE AND THREE RIVERS-CENTERVILLE AND COLON-FRENCH SETTLERS OF MENDON-FIRST COMERS TO BURR OAK TOWNSHIP- THE WASHTENAW TRAIL-SETTLE- MENTS ABOUT NOTTAWA-SEEPE-GEORGE MATTHEWS-THE DUNKIN BROTHERS-McMILLAN AND SHERMAN-JOSEPH BUT- LER-ROBERT COWAN AND WIFE-ANDREW WATKINS. 28-40
CHAPTER IV.
PIONEER THINGS AND EVENTS.
FIRST LAND ENTRIES-LAND OFFICES-FIRST ORCHARDS-PIONEER AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS-FIRST MILLS OF THE COUNTY- FIRST REAL GRIST MILL-OTHER EARLY INDUSTRIES-COM- MENCEMENT OF BUSINESS-THE HOTEL APPEARS-ENTER POST- OFFICE AND MAIL ROUTE-LIFE AND DEATH-COUNTY SEAT LOCATED-CIVIL, POLITICAL, JUDICIAL-RELIGIOUS-EDUCA- TIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL -- MEDICAL SOCIETY AND PHYSICIANS -COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY-"THE OLD LOG HOUSE," BY L. D. WATKINS IN "PIONEER COLLECTIONS"-"PIONEER- ING IN SOUTHERN MICHIGAN," BY PROFESSOR J. W. BEAL- "OLD TIMES FROM A WOMAN'S STANDPOINT, " BY MRS. HENRY CHURCH-"MAPLE SUGAR MAKING," FROM "ST. JOSEPH COUNTY REPUBLICAN." 41-68
CHAPTER V.
THE CIVIL BODY.
SOUTHERN MICHIGAN A MILITARY KEY-BRITISH LOTH TO WITH- DRAW-BRITISH-AMERICAN LAND COMBINE-CONGRESSIONAL INTRIGUE-DOWNFALL OF CONSPIRACY-NARROW ESCAPE FOR SOUTHERN MICHIGAN-AMERICAN CIVIL JURISDICTION -WAYNE COUNTY ORGANIZED-FIRST LAND TITLES AND SURVEYS- TOWNSHIP OF ST. JOSEPH-COUNTY GOVERNMENT INAUGU- RATED-THE ORIGINAL TOWNSHIPS-FIRST ELECTION IN COUNTY PROPER-CHANGES IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT-SUBDIVISION OF ORIGINAL TOWNSHIPS-FIRST TOWN MEETINGS-WHITE PIG- EON, TEMPORARY COUNTY SEAT-CENTERVILLE, PERMANENT
vii
CONTENTS
COUNTY SEAT-JAIL, FIRST COUNTY BUILDING-OFFERED BRIBE TO BE RE-JAILED-A TERRIFYING LOCK-NEW JAIL ERECTED-TEMPORARY COURT HOUSE-TWO "PERMANENT" COURT HOUSES-PROTECTING THE COUNTY RECORDS-FA- MOUS ROBBERY OF RECORDS-CARE OF THE COUNTY'S POOR- COUNTY OFFICIALS (1830-1910)-EDUCATION IN THE COUNTY -BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF PIONEER SETTLEMENT. 69-97
CHAPTER VI. COUNTY PIONEER SOCIETY.
LEADING ORGANIZERS-CONSTITUTION OF SOCIETY-FIRST OFFICERS -ANNUAL MEETINGS FROM FIRST TO THIRTY-SEVENTH (1873- 1910) -CAME PRIOR TO 1840-DEATH OF HON. E. H. LOTHROP (SECOND ANNUAL MEETING) -YEAR 1845 MADE MEMBERSHIP LIMIT (FOURTH MEETING)-SETTLERS OF THIRTY YEARS ELIGI- BLE (FIFTH MEETING)-HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTIONS IN 1880-1 -PETER KLINGER, OF KLINGER'S LAKE-DEATH OF THREE FOR- MER PRESIDENTS (FOURTEENTH MEETING)-MINISTER PAID IN CATS AND DOGS-LETTER FROM SAMUEL P. WILLIAMS (TWENTY- FIRST MEETING) -DEATH OF HON. ANDREW ELLISON AND HON. S. P. WILLIAMS (TWENTY-FOURTH MEETING)-GREATEST SUC- CESS UP TO DATE (THIRTY-THIRD ANNUAL MEETING). 98-134
CHAPTER VII.
WHITE PIGEON TOWNSHIP.
WHITE PIGEON PRAIRIE-STORY OF CHIEF WHITE PIGEON-SEQUEL TO THE STORY-UNVEILING OF THE MEMORIAL-MRS. W. C. CAMERON'S ADDRESS-OTHER PROCEEDINGS-THE PIONEER TRIO-JUDGE WINCHELL-LEONARD CUTLER-ARBA HEALD- FIRST FARMS IN THE COUNTY-"OLD DIGGINS, " FIRST HOTEL- END OF COLONEL SAVERY-VILLAGE PLATTED-PIONEER COUNTY SCHOOL HOUSE-FIRST RELIGIOUS SERVICES-CUTTING DOWN AND BUILDING UP-TOPOGRAPHY, DRAINAGE AND LAKES -"PIONEER INCIDENTS," BY CHARLES B. KELLOGG-FIRST FARMERS AND BUSINESS MEN-KELLOGG BROTHERS-JUDGE
viii
CONTENTS
LEVI BAXTER-GEORGE W. BEISEL-ENGLISH SETTLERS-ROB- ERT CLARK, THE SURVEYOR-CHIEF WHITE PIGEON AND INDIAN PRAIRIE-ITEMS BY WILLIAM BAIR-"WEBSTER'S VISIT TO WHITE PIGEON, " BY MRS. A. E. KELLOGG. 135-157
CHAPTER VIII.
OLD WHITE PIGEON CONTINUED.
MOTTVILLE TOWNSHIP OF TO-DAY-QUIMBY AT THE GRAND TRAV- ERSE-FIRST FARMS OPENED-MOTTVILLE VILLAGE PLATTED- FIRST BRIDGE A GOOD ADVERTISER-ONCE A GREAT SHIPPING POINT-LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP-JACOB MCINTERFER, FIRST SET- TLER-GEORGE BUCK AND HOTEL-"ECHOL'S" RISE AND FALL -EARLY MILL ENTERPRISES-FIRST FARMS-MOAB AND ST. JOSEPH VILLAGES-THREE RIVERS PLATTED-FIRST TOWN MEETING AND OFFICERS-BEGINNING OF THINGS-LOCKPORT BOAT BUILDING AND BOATING-TOWNSHIP OF CONSTANTINE- MEEK'S MILLS OR CONSTANTINE-JUDGE MEEK SURVEYS CON- STANTINE-THE CITY'S EARLY MANUFACTURES-FIRST TOWN MEETING-NATURAL FEATURES-FLORENCE TOWNSHIP-EAR- LIEST SETTLEMENTS-ALVIN CALHOON-BANNER MINT AND OIL TOWNSHIP-FABIUS TOWNSHIP-STUDDED WITH SPARKLING LAKES-FIRST PERMANENT SETTLER-FIRST ELECTIONS AND OFFICERS. 158-177
CHAPTER IX.
OLD SHERMAN TOWNSHIP.
THE TOWNSHIP AS NOW-EARLY SETTLERS-LANDS, TAXES AND PRODUCTS-CULTIVATION OF MINT-OFFICIAL ROSTERS-ROADS AND POSTOFFICES-SCHOOLS AND ATTENDANCE-POPULATION- POLITICAL RECORD-FAWN RIVER TOWNSHIP-JUDGE STURGIS- OTHER EARLY LOCATIONS-FIRST POSTMASTERS-RISE OF MANUFACTURES-PIONEER ELECTION AND ROADS-PROPERTY AND VALUATIONS-EX-VILLAGE OF FREEDOM-WARFARE AND MURDER-CAPT. TOLL AND FAWN RIVER VILLAGE-FRANCIS FLANDERS, FATHER AND SON-TINY TOWNSHIP-STURGIS,
ix
CONTENTS
LAST TOWNSHIP-SAD COMING OF A PIONEER-GEORGE BUCK'S DEATH-FIRST HOTELS-NOTTAWA TOWNSHIP-JUDGES CON- NOR AND STURGIS-INTRODUCTION OF FRUITS, ETC .- CENTER- VILLE PLATTED-TOWNSHIP OF COLON-SCHELLHOUS BROTHERS -COLON VILLAGE-BURR OAK TOWNSHIP-HASLET AND SNOW -FIRST FRAME RESIDENCE-TOWNSHIP IN GENERAL. 178-216
CHAPTER X.
OLD FLOWERFIELD TOWNSHIP.
FIRST SETTLER, MICHAEL BEADLE-EARLY FLOWERFIELD AND HOW- ARDVILLE-REDUCED TO PRESENT AREA-APPROPRIATE NAME- FIRST ROAD AND NOTED TRAIL-FIRST TOWNSHIP OFFICERS- How LEONIDAS WAS NAMED-DESCRIPTION OF TOWNSHIP-IN- DIAN TRADER HATCH-PERMANENT SETTLERS OF 1831-THE COWEN MILLS-CAPTAIN LEVI WATKINS-FIRST HOTELS-HOR- TICULTURAL SPROUTINGS-SETTLERS OF 1834-40-FIRST TOWN MEETINGS - FACTORYVILLE - LEONIDAS VILLAGE - MENDON TOWNSHIP-FRANCOIS MOUTAN AND PATRICK MARANTETTE- VILLAGE OF MENDON FOUNDED-SETTLERS FROM 1833 TO 1837- OLD-TIME OFFICIALS-GENERAL PHYSICAL FEATURES-PARK TOWNSHIP-FIRST SETTLERS ALONG FISHER'S LAKE-FIRST TOWN MEETING-PARKVILLE AND MOORE PARK. 217-234
CHAPTER XI.
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY IN WAR. BY HON. R. R. PEALER.
IN THE BLACK HAWK WAR-MEXICAN WAR AND HON. ISAAC D. TOLL-FRANCIS FLANDERS, JR .- IN THE CIVIL WAR-THE ELEVENTH MICHIGAN-HISTORY OF THE NINETEENTH- TWENTY-FIFTH INFANTRY-SEVENTH MICHIGAN-FIRST MICHI- GAN INFANTRY-SECOND MICHIGAN-FOURTH MICHIGAN-THE ISOLATED SIXTH-THE FIFTEENTH INFANTRY-THE ARTIL- LERY-OTHER MILITARY BRANCHES IN CIVIL WAR-SPANISH- AMERICAN WAR. 235-283
X
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XII.
THE BENCH AND THE BAR. BY HON. R. R. PEALER.
SUPREME COURT OF MICHIGAN-JUDGE WOODWARD-DIVISION OF LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIAL-THE STATE SUPREME COURT- JUDGE RANSOM-CONSTITUTED A SEPARATE BODY-CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES-JUDGE OSBORN-PROBATE COURT JUDGES- JUDGE BARRY-JUDGE CROSS-PIONEER PROBATE MATTERS- FIRST REGULAR COURT ROOM-THE OLD COUNTY COURT -- FIRST LAWYER ADMITTED TO BAR-PERSONNEL OF PIONEER LAWYERS-JUDGE SEVERENS-TALCOTT C. CARPENTER-JUDGE KEIGHTLEY-JUDGE PEALER-THE ANDREWS FAMILY-AT- TORNEYS OF 1877-LAWYERS OF TO-DAY. 284-306
CHAPTER XIII.
THREE RIVERS.
WATER POWER AND MANUFACTORIES-MANUFACTURE OF PAPER- OLD BOWMAN FLOUR MILL-HON. EDWARD S. MOORE-HON. A. C. PRUTZMAN-HOME-COMING PIONEER LITERATURE- GEORGE W. BUCK-ARTHUR SILLIMAN-SYLVESTER TROY-AL- LEN WESCOTT-THE RICHARDSON LETTER-LETTER OF J. C. MORSE-CORPORATION OF THREE RIVERS-PUBLIC SCHOOL SYS- TEM-FIRE PROTECTION AND WATER SUPPLY-RIVERSIDE CEME- TERY-THE SHEFFIELD CAR COMPANY-R. M. KELLOGG COM- PANY-THREE RIVERS ROBE TANNERY-OTHER INDUSTRIES- FIRST NATIONAL BANK-STATE SAVINGS BANK-BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION-THE CIVIC LEAGUE-THE LOCAL PRESS-METHODISTS AS CHURCH PIONEERS-FIRST PRESBY- TERIAN CHURCH-THE BAPTIST CHURCH-FIRST REFORMED CHURCH-ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN-THE MASONIC BODIES-THE ODD FELLOWS-KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS-G. A. R. POST-D. A. R. AND MRS. LUCY F. ANDREWS-M. W. A. AND OTHER SOCIETIES. 307-352
xi
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XIV.
CITY OF STURGIS.
RAILROAD EXPANSION-HON. J. G. WAIT AS A RAILROAD MAN-NOT REALLY STURGIS UNTIL 1858-HOTEL, STAGE LINES AND MAILS -STURGIS AS IT IS-PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM-CITY WATER, LIGHT AND POWER-FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY-CORPORATION AND FIRE DEPARTMENT-TOWNSHIP AND CITY CEMETERY-METHOD- IST PIONEERS-BAPTIST CHURCH-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH- -EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN, ST. JOHN'S AND TRINITY-ST. JOHN'S PARISH HOUSE (EPISCOPAL)-PIONEER MASONS-ODD FELLOWS AND OTHER ORDERS-STURGIS W. C. T. U .- WOMAN'S LITERARY CLUB-THE LOCAL PRESS-GROBHISER-CABINET MAK- ERS COMPANIES-AULSBROOK & JONES FURNITURE COMPANY- STURGIS STEEL GO-CART COMPANY-ROYAL CHAIR FACTORY- OTHER INDUSTRIES-BANKS. 353-374
CHAPTER XV. CONSTANTINE.
DEVELOPMENT OF RIVER TRADE-THE BARRYS OF CONSTANTINE- CORPORATIONS OF 1837 AND 1861-SUBSTANTIAL WATER POWER IMPROVEMENTS-CONSTANTINE MILLING COMPANY- OTHER LEADING MANUFACTORIES-CONSTANTINE'S GREAT BRIDGE-"SAFETY FUND" BANK-FIRST STATE AND COMMER- CIAL STATE BANKS-THE TOWN OF THE PRESENT-CITY WATER AND LIGHT-CONSTANTINE NEWSPAPERS-THE METHODIST CHURCH-FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH-MRS. CROSSETTE'S RECOLLECTIONS-THE REFORMED CHURCH-MESSIAH EVAN- GELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH-SECRET AND BENEVOLENT SOCIE- TIES. 375-390
CHAPTER XVI.
COLON AND MENDON.
OLDEST COLON MANUFACTORY-THE PIONEER MERCHANT-THE HILLS, FATHER AND SONS-OPERA HOUSE BLOCK-THE LAMB KNIT GOODS COMPANY-OTHER MANUFACTORIES-SECURES
xii
CONTENTS
RAILROAD CONNECTIONS-COLON IN THE SEVENTIES-SCHOOLS -COLON SEMINARY-"COLON EXPRESS"-CHURCHES AND SO- CIETIES-MENDON FOUNDED AS A VILLAGE-DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY MANUFACTORIES-OLD HOTELS-MENDON BANKS-COR- PORATION AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS-FREE LIBRARY-THE MENDON PRESS-CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES-ST. EDWARD'S PARISH (CATHOLIC)-METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 391-413
CHAPTER XVII.
CENTERVILLE AND BURR OAK.
THE TOLLS AT CENTERVILLE-VILLAGE CORPORATION-LANDLORDS AND POLITICS-CENTERVILLE FLOUR MILLS-KNIT GOODS MAN- UFACTURING-BANKING CRAZE-SOLID BANKS-JOSIAH WOLF -VILLAGE OF TO-DAY-THE CENTERVILLE PRESS-SCHOOLS- THE M. E. AND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES-MASONS, MACCA- BEES AND OTHER SOCIETIES-BURR OAK VILLAGE-THE COR- PORATION-SHEFFIELD MANUFACTURING COMPANY-GARMENT FACTORIES-BURR OAK BANKS-UNION SCHOOL-ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER PLANT-TELEPHONE COMPANY-"THE BURR OAK ACORN"-THE M. E. AND EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCHES-SECRET AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 414-434
CHAPTER XVIII. VILLAGE OF WHITE PIGEON.
BEAUTIFUL VILLAGE SKETCH-HISTORICAL REVIEW-WHITE PIG- EON ACADEMY-DISTRICT AND UNION SCHOOLS-WHITE PIG- EON NEWSPAPERS-FARMERS' SAVINGS BANK-LOCAL INDUS- TRIES-WHITE PIGEON M. E. CHURCH-THE PRESBYTERIAN AND REFORMED CHURCHES-ST. JOSEPH'S (CATHOLIC) CHURCH- THE ALBA COLUMBA CLUB-SECRET, BENEVOLENT AND PATRI- OTIC SOCIETIES. 435-448
€
History of St. Joseph County
CHAPTER I.
GENERAL FEATURES.
DRAINAGE OF THE COUNTY-ITS LAKES-GEOLOGICAL FEATURES -BUILDING MATERIALS-SOIL AND AGRICULTURE-PEPPER- MINT AND OIL-EARLIEST GROWERS AND MANUFACTURERS- OIL DISTILLATION-GOOD PIONEERING COUNTRY-"THE ST. JOSEPH RIVER," BY DELIA S. CROSSETTE.
The keynote to the history and progress of St. Joseph county is the valley of the St. Joseph river. Its main stream enters the county from the east, passing diagonally through Sturgeon lake, then cutting the southwestern corner of Leonidas township and flowing westward to the village of Mendon; thence in a southwest- erly direction across the northwestern corner of Nottawa township and through the northeast, central and western sections of Lockport township to the city of Three Rivers. It then flows in a nearly southerly course from Lockport township to the southeastern sec- tion of Fabius township and the eastern portions of Constantine to the city by that name, and passes from St. Joseph county by way of the townships of Constantine and Mottville.
DRAINAGE OF THE COUNTY.
Each of the sixteen townships which compose St. Joseph county is copiously drained by the main stream of the St. Joseph river, or some of its numerous branches, and the western and east- ern townships are plentifully sprinkled with beautiful lakes, Fabius and Colon townships being especially fortunate in this regard. The most noteworthy conjunction of streams in St. Joseph county occurs at the city of Three Rivers, where Rocky and Portage rivers join the main channel of the St. Joseph from the north.
Vol. 1-1 1
2
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
The Fawn river enters the county from Indiana, runs north- erly and enters the St. Joseph above Constantine. The Pigeon rises in the same state near the southern lakes of St. Joseph county and enters the St. Joseph below Mottville, running through the townships of White Pigeon and Mottville in a westerly direction.
Nottawa creek enters the St. Joseph near the southwest corner of Leonidas township from Branch county, while Hog creek, which rises in the same county to the east, drains Burr Oak, Nottawa and Lockport townships, entering the St. Joseph river on section 30 of the township last named.
Swan creek empties into Sturgeon lake near the entrance of
SCENE ON KLINGER'S LAKE
the St. Joseph and flows through the northeastern portion of Burr Oak township and the southern and eastern sections of Colon.
ITS LAKES.
As stated, the principal lake surface in St. Joseph county is confined to Colon township in the east and Fabius township in the west; in the former are Sturgeon, Palmer, Long and Beaver lakes and in the latter, Corey's, Pleasant, and Clear lakes, as well as many others of smaller area. Among the other larger and most beautiful lakes in St. Joseph county are Pickerel, Klinger's and Aldrich lakes in White Pigeon township, Fisher's lake in Park township and Portage lake in Mendon township. There are also
3
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
numerous small lakes in Nottawa-such as Evans and Sand-and in Sherman, such as Fish, Chapin, Crotch, Thompson's, Johnson's and Middle.
It will be at once understood how this network of streams and lakes in St. Joseph county has guaranteed its high standing from the first as an agricultural and fruit raising country, besides con- tributing to its strength as an industrial section of the state by furnishing its citizens with an abundance of water power.
PRAIRIES AND OAK OPENINGS.
Perhaps the second most striking physical feature of St. Joseph county is its constant succession of beautiful prairies and oak open- ings which stretch from Burr Oak township, in the far southeast, to Flowerfield township in the extreme northwest, and along the main valley of the St. Joseph river from Mendon to Mottville town- ship.
GEOLOGICAL FEATURES.
This peculiar and beautiful feature of the landscape is ac- counted for by the prehistoric forces of geology. It is a well estab- lished fact that lakes Michigan and Huron were at one time con- nected by a great river, or estuary, which passed almost diagonally across the southern peninsula of Michigan. The present valley of the St. Joseph river, with its numerous branches and network of lakes, was in those times a section of this connecting band between the two lakes, and the floor of its beautiful prairies was laid by deposits which sifted down from these ocean waters which then mingled with the great sea stretching over the northern por- tion of the United States and the northeastern section of Canada to the British Isles.
In many portions of St. Joseph county geologists have found many rare specimen belonging to the Silurian, or reptile age, and the Carboniferous, or coal age, when this section of the country was under the dominion of the sea. A list of some of the more impor- tant specimens is here given :
Fossils of the Lower Silurian age, Trenton period: Radiates- popyp corals, the petraia corniculum, columnaria alveolata, taeni- asta spinoza. Mollusks-chateles lycoperdon or costalis leptaena plicifera, ptilodictya fenestrata, retepora incepta, trilobites, caly- mene senaria.
4
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
Hudson period: Radiates-favisstella stellata.
Upper Silurian, Niagara period: Radiates-chaeteles-corals, chonophyllum Niagarense, favosites Niag. Mollusks-fenestella. Radiates-crinoids, caryocrinus ornatus. Brachiopods-atrypa nodostriata; spirifer sulcatus occidentalis; O. testudintaria.
Carboniferous: trigoncarpum, tricuspidatum and lepidoden- dron. Some very perfectly preserved crinoid stems, showing the star-shaped joint most distinctly.
Devonian, carniferous period: Radiates-Zaphrentis gigantes, Z. Rafinesquii, Phillipsastrea verneuill; cyahophyllum rugosum; favosites Goldfussi; syringopora Maclurii; aulopora corunta.
Following the geological ages when the limestones and other rock deposits were crudely formed in St. Joseph county was what is known as the Glacial epoch, when the great glaciers from the north- east crept over a large portion of Canada and northern United States, not missing southern Michigan or St. Joseph county in their resistless onward movement. It is probable that they assisted in forming the valley of the St. Joseph river and scooping out some of the lake basins. From some cause which is still unsolved by sci- entists and geologists, the climate of this portion of the globe was so moderated that the glaciers melted and retreated northward, forming gradually, as is supposed, the nucleus of the chain of great lakes.
In many portions of St. Joseph county there are abundant evidences of glacial action, the most striking and conclusive being perhaps the presence of huge boulders which are foreign to this part of the state and must have been carried by some other agency than water. It is a peculiarity that, as a rule, they seem to be found rather in the oak openings than on the prairies. On the west side of the township of Constantine, there are large quantities of boulder stone, as also in Nottawa, Leonidas and Fawn River town- ships. This boulder stone, which is undoubtedly a portion of the glacial drift, is composed largely of flint, granite, gneiss, trap and quartz, some fine garnets being also found imbedded in it.
BUILDING MATERIALS.
The stone has been used to a considerable extent in building cellars and foundation walls and occasionally an entire building has been constructed of it, as for instance, the Union School House at Centerville. In the bottom of many of the lakes and marshes in
5
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
St. Joseph county are also marl beds, formed largely of shells which carry, of course, a large portion of lime. In the early settlement of the county, this deposit was manufactured into a sort of lime- stone, but since the days of free transportation its manufacture has been abandoned, as the natural limestone is much stronger and more durable. But neither the boulder stone nor marl beds have been found in sufficient quantities to be considered of real commer- cial value.
Building materials have never formed an important item in the natural wealth of St. Joseph county. Its building rocks were too deeply imbedded in the glacial drift, or soil, to be easily reached, and from the first it seemed to be ordained that it was to be an agricultural and horticultural country.
SOIL AND AGRICULTURE.
The soil is for the most part rich sandy loam, light and warm, and both mechanically and chemically adapted to the raising of fruit. On White Pigeon and Sturgis prairies, this soil changes to a heavier loam, and on Nottawa prairie is noticeably black and reaches to a remarkable depth. It is in the prairie soils that such staple grains as wheat and corn have so thriven, and in the oak openings mint culture has been carried to a remarkable state of perfection. Both the raising of peppermint and its distillation into oil still form a very important industry in the county, although the output, neither of the mint nor the oil, is as large as it was in former years.
The raising of peaches received quite a serious setback by the severe winters which followed that of 1850, but the industry has since revived and now St. Joseph county is one of the banner pro- ducers of the country. Cherries are also productive and a certain crop. Plums were once the most abundant natural fruit crop of the county. They were also cultivated at quite an early day, but growers were greatly discouraged for a number of years by the ravages of the Corculio. The scientific investigations of recent years have resulted in almost exterminating this pest to plum grow- ers, so that this branch of horticulture is again on the upper grade.
PEPPERMINT AND OIL.
Peppermint, in the production of which St. Joseph county led the United States for many years, if not any section in the world of
6
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
equal area, began to be cultivated in 1835. As is well known, its manufactured product, oil of peppermint, has been an important ingredient in confectionery, perfumery and pharmaceutical prep- arations for many years. Although the United States produces annually about four fifths of all the peppermint distilled in the world, the banner section of America has been transferred from St. Joseph county, which some forty years ago produced one fourth the amount raised in the United States. Several counties in Michigan have overtaken St. Joseph-Allegan, Berrien, Kala- mazoo, Van Buren and Eaton preceding it, with Branch county, to the east, a close competitor. On the authority of Charles W. Schellhous, government oil inspector, it is safe to say that Allegan county now produces about 50,000 pounds of essential oil of mint and St. Joseph about 20,000.
In 1865 the county produced 40,000 pounds of mint-oils, and in 1870 only 23,000, while the figures for 1910 will probably be even less than those of forty years ago.
Mr. Sawyer commenced the cultivation of mint on White Pigeon prairie, within the present limits of the town of Florence, this pioneer in the combined industry of raising and manufacturing bringing the roots of the plant from Ohio. Before he distilled any of the crop, he sold his farm to Glover and Earle (1836), who con- tinued the culture for a time. But these pioneer cultivators made up their minds that the prairies were entirely unsuited to the growth of mint, and it was discontinued for several years. About 1840, Marshall and Orrin Craw introduced its culture into the oak openings in the northern part of Florence township. This experi- ment proved such a success that the Craw brothers continued both the cultivation of the plant and the distillation of its essential oils for several years, and their example was followed by many of the settlers in the oak openings, these lands bringing high prices both to investors and those who wished to dispose of them to ambitious cultivators. Ranney & Smith began the culture in 1843, and within the next twenty years the business of raising peppermint and distilling oils from it reached huge proportions.
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