A history of Van Buren County, Michigan a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests Volume I, Part 33

Author: Rowland, O. W. (Oran W.), 1839-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 674


USA > Michigan > Van Buren County > A history of Van Buren County, Michigan a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests Volume I > Part 33


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 (link on the Part 1 page).


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Barnum, Alfred II., Paw Paw; enlisted May 13, 1861, at Paw Paw; killed in action at Williamsburg, Virginia, May 5, 1862.


Barnum, John H., Decatur; enlisted October 16, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged for disability November 7, 1862.


Branch, Elam, Lawrence; enlisted April 30, 1861, at Paw Paw ; corporal; discharged July 24, 1862, on account of wounds received in action.


Briggs, David, Hamilton; enlisted May 15, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged July 1, 1864.


Brown, Henry R .; enlisted May 1, 1861, at Paw Paw; wagoner; discharged June 27. 1865.


Brown, Stephen F., Waverly; enlisted September 18, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged June 6, 1865.


Bullard, William H., Paw Paw; enlisted April 22, 1861, at Paw Paw; drummer; transferred to Invalid Corps; present residence, Niles, Michigan.


Burnham, Horatio, Lawton; enlisted April 30, 1861, at Paw Paw; died at Wooster, Ohio, August 15, 1863.


Butler, Cyrus H., Decatur; enlisted April 30, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged for disability March 15, 1862.


Carney, Edward, Decatur; enlisted May 1, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged July 1, 1864.


Canoll, William H., Decatur; enlisted May 1, 1861, at Paw Paw ; second lieutenant; resigned November 20, 1861.


Case, Harvey S., Decatur; enlisted May 1, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged in July, 1864.


Chaffee, Thomas J., Waverly; enlisted April 22, 1861, at Paw Paw; sergeant; brevet second lieutenant and first lieutenant; dis- charged July 20, 1864. Died at Paw Paw, December 30, 1910.


Chamberlain, Henry, Decatur; enlisted May 1, 1861, at Paw Paw : sergeant ; promoted to first lieutenant; killed in action at the Wilderness May 5, 1864; buried in National cemetery at Fred- ericksburg, Virginia, grave No. 330.


Chevalier, John F., Decatur; enlisted April 30, 1861, at Paw Paw; sergeant; discharged July 1, 1864.


Clark, James, Almena; enlisted October 18, 1861, at Paw Paw ; wounded in action at Wapping Heights, Virginia, July 23, 1863; discharged December 10, 1864.


Constable, William, Paw Paw; enlisted May 14, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged December 31, 1862, on account of wounds re- ceived in action at Williamsburg, Virginia, May 5, 1862.


Coon, Carlton, Paw Paw; enlisted April 22, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged for disability, January 5, 1862.


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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY


Covey, Armand, Waverly ; enlisted April 27, 1861, at Paw Paw; killed in action at Fair Oaks, Virginia, June 25, 1862.


Covey, Hiram F., Waverly; enlisted April 26, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged for disability January 20, 1863; re-entered ser- vice in Company G, Thirteenth Infantry; died at Savannah, Geor- gia, March 18, 1865; buried in National cemetery at Beaufort, South Carolina, grave No. 4655.


Crandall, Henry, Keeler; enlisted May 14, 1861, at Paw Paw ; transferred to United States Cavalry, October 28, 1862.


Craw, Joseph W., Hartford; enlisted April 26, 1861, at Paw Paw; died at Mill Creek, Virginia, July 22, 1862, of wounds re- ceived in action at Williamsburg, Virginia, May 5, 1862.


Cockett, Charles S., Decatur; enlisted May 14, 1861, at Paw Paw ; corporal ; promoted to commissary sergeant ; discharged July 11, 1864.


Crofoot, Edward J., Paw Paw; enlisted April 22, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged October 4, 1864.


Cumings, Adelbert W., Paw Paw; enlisted May 2, 1861, at Paw Paw; fifer ; discharged for disability, January 22, 1862; re-enlisted in Company II, Twelfth Infantry, September 2, 1864; discharged May 6, 1865; present residence Paw Paw.


Dedrick, Philip C., Lawrence; enlisted April 29, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged for disability August 3, 1861.


Dolliver, David, Paw Paw; one of the original Company; no record.


Dutton, Leonard, Decatur; enlisted May 1, 1861, at Paw Paw; wounded in action at Bull Run, Virginia, August 29, 1862; dis- charged July 1, 1864.


Emerling, Anthony, Paw Paw; enlisted October 28, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged October 7, 1864.


Emery, John, Paw Paw; enlisted October 16, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged June 27, 1865; deceased.


Fertig, Andrew N .; enlisted April 23, 1861, at Paw Paw; dis- charged July 1, 1864.


Fitzsimmons, Philip; enlisted May 13, 1861, at Paw Paw; killed in action at Spottsylvania Court House, Virginia, May 12, 1864.


Fitch, James, Decatur; one of original Company ; no record.


Garver, Samuel, Lawton; enlisted April 27, 1861, at Lawton; wounded in action at Williamsburg, Virginia ; transferred to Sec- ond United States Cavalry.


Gorham, Allen, Almena; enlisted October 18, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged for disability August 23, 1862; re-entered service in Company K, Twenty-eighth Infantry; first sergeant; discharged June 5, 1866.


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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY


Harrison, Alexander M., Paw Paw; enlisted April 25, 1861, at Paw Paw; corporal; discharged for disability July 26, 1862; died at Bangor.


Hathaway, W. H., Waverly; one of original Company; no record.


Hartman, Jeremiah, Hamilton; enlisted May 15, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged October 26, 1864, on account of loss of left arm in action at Salem Church, Virginia, May 31, 1864.


Hayes, Richard, Paw Paw; enlisted April 22, 1861, at Paw Paw; absent wounded at muster out of Company. Died at Paw Paw.


Hinckley, Gilman, Antwerp; enlisted November 1, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged June 27, 1865.


Hodges, Herrick, Lawrence; enlisted April 29, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged for disability, October 24, 1861; re-enlisted in Company I, Seventeenth Infantry; wounded in action at An- tietam, Maryland, September 17, 1862; discharged for disability June 1, 1863; gunshot wound through lung and left leg; present residence South Haven, Michigan.


Holt, Benjamin, Paw Paw; enlisted October 28, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged for disability March 4, 1863; died at Paw Paw.


House, Edward E., Paw Paw; enlisted May 15, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged for disability, July 10, 1861.


Hugo, William H., Paw Paw; entered service as captain June 21, 1861, at Paw Paw; promoted to major; transferred to Twenty- fifth Infantry.


Hulbert, Nathan, Waverly; enlisted October 18, 1861, at Paw Paw; corporal; discharged June 27, 1865.


Kilburn, William H., Paw Paw; enlisted May 1, 1861, at Paw Paw; sergeant; promoted to second lieutenant; killed in action at Williamsburg, Virginia, May 5, 1862.


Lamphere, Albert, Paw Paw; enlisted May 6, 1861, at Paw Paw; died November 21, 1862.


Lewis, William H., Hartford; enlisted May 20, 1861, at Paw Paw; wounded in action at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; detailed at Harwood hospital, Washington, D. C .; no further record.


Longwell, James M., Paw Paw; entered service at organization as first lieutenant ; promoted to captain; resigned November 21, 1862; died at Paw Paw.


McDonald, William, Decatur; enlisted May 20, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged July 1, 1864.


McGhan, Porter H., Decatur; enlisted April 29, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged January 21, 1863, on account of wounds re- ceived in action at Antietam, Maryland.


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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY


McGill, Florence; enlisted May 25, 1861, at Paw Paw; dis- charged for disability November 1, 1862.


Melvin, Frederick, Bloomingdale; enlisted April 12, 1861, at Paw Paw; killed in action at Williamsburg Road, Virginia, June 25, 1862.


Miner, Charles W., Paw Paw; enlisted April 26, 1861, at Paw Paw; killed in action at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 2, 1863.


Moon, Alvah F., Decatur; enlisted April 26, 1861, at Paw Paw ; corporal; killed in action at Williamsburg, Virginia, May 5, 1862.


Loveland, Andrew, Paw Paw; one of original Company; no record.


Moore, Charles W., Paw Paw; enlisted April 22, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged July 1, 1864.


Myers, Henry B., Decatur; enlisted April 30, 1861, at Paw Paw; corporal; wounded in action at Williamsburg, Virginia, May 5, 1862; discharged June 27, 1865.


Newcomb, Seth B., Almena ; enlisted October 20, 1861, at Paw Paw; died July 28, 1864.


Parliman, Byron, Paw Paw; enlisted April 27, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged for disability January 26, 1863.


Parrish, Herman S., Lawton; enlisted May 20, 1861, at Paw Paw; transferred to Invalid Corps.


Patrick, Dexter D., Almena ; enlisted April 2, 1861, at Paw Paw; died June 3, 1862, of wounds received in action at Williamsburg, Virginia, May 5, 1862.


Perry, Stephen, Decatur: enlisted April 27, 1861, at Paw Paw ; discharged June 27, 1865.


Price, William H., Paw Paw; enlisted April 22, 1861, at Paw Paw; died May 22, 1862, on account of wounds received in action at Williamsburg, Virginia, May 5, 1862.


Place, Willard, Hamilton; enlisted May 1, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged July 1, 1864.


Priest, Albert, Decatur; enlisted May 1, 1861, at Paw Paw; dis- charged for disability March 15, 1862.


Putnam, Ira W., Hamilton; enlisted May 20, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged May 20, 1863.


Ransom, Albert H., Lawton; one of original Company; no record.


Reese, Henry, Porter; enlisted April 30, 1861, at Paw Paw; transferred to Second United States Cavalry.


Remalia, Stephen, Almena; enlisted November 1, 1861, at Paw Paw; drowned at Harrison's Landing, Virginia, August 8, 1862.


Rickard, John, Paw Paw; enlisted October 16, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged for disability February 14, 1863; died at Paw Paw. Vol. 1-20


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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY


Robb, Elias, Lawrence; enlisted May 20, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged for disability October 14, 1862.


Robinson, Lyman, Paw Paw; enlisted April 22, 1861, at Paw Paw; transferred to Second United States Cavalry.


Rogers, Don C., Decatur; enlisted May, 1, 1861, at Paw Paw; sergeant .; promoted to first lieutenant; discharged April 9, 1864, on account of wounds received in action.


Roundy, Averill J., Lawrence; enlisted April 22, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged October 2, 1862, on account of wounds received in action at Williamsburg, Virginia, June 25, 1862; present resi- dence Paw Paw.


Rowe, Daniel W., Lawrence; enlisted May 20, 1861, at Paw Paw; killed in action at Williamsburg Road, Virginia, June 25, 1862.


Ryan, Michael, Lawrence; enlisted May 22, 1861, at Paw Paw; sergeant ; transferred to Second United States Cavalry ; discharged December 6, 1864; re-entered service in Company B, Tenth Cav- alry; discharged November 7, 1865; present residence Kalamazoo.


Saunders, Silas, Paw Paw; enlisted October 30, 1861, at Paw Paw; died at Falmouth, Virginia, February 4, 1863.


Saxton, Hiram G., Paw Paw; enlisted April 27, 1861, at Paw Paw; wounded in action at Williamsburg, Virginia, May 5, 1862 and at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 2, 1863; discharged April 27, 1864; re-entered service in Company H, Ninth Infantry; dis- charged June 20, 1865.


Sherman, Walter L., Decatur; enlisted May 1, 1861, at Paw Paw; died at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 2, 1863.


Sirrine, Art, Paw Paw; enlisted April 20, 1861, at Paw Paw; transferred to Second United States Cavalry.


Sirrine, John, Paw Paw; enlisted April 25, 1861, at Paw Paw; transferred to Second United States Cavalry; wounded in action at Winchester, Virginia, September 19, 1864; discharged for dis- ability December 13, 1864; present residence Paw Paw.


Story, Parker, Almena; enlisted May 20, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged for disability January 20, 1863.


Swift, Francis M., Decatur; enlisted April 20, 1861, at Paw Paw; transferred to Sixteenth United States Infantry.


Teale, Charles W .; enlisted July 13, 1861, at Paw Paw; dis- charged February 10, 1862.


Timmons, Lewis G., Keeler ; enlisted May 1, 1861, at Paw Paw; wounded in action at Williamsburg, Virginia, June 22, 1862; dis- charged July 1, 1864.


Tucker, Augustus B., Breedsville; enlisted May 3, 1861, at Paw Paw; killed in action at Williamsburg Road, Virginia, June 25, 1862.


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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY


Van Fleet, William, Lawrence; enlisted May 6, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged for disability September 29, 1862.


Van Ostran, Clare E., Hartford; enlisted April 24, 1861, at Paw Paw; corporal; discharged July 1, 1864.


Walrath, Byron, Paw Paw; enlisted October 17, 1861, at Paw Paw; killed in action at Williamsburg, Virginia, May 5, 1862.


Whitehead, William; enlisted July 7, 1861, at Paw Paw; dis- charged August 15, 1861.


Williams, John W., Paw Paw; enlisted April 22, 1861, at Paw Paw; discharged July 1, 1864.


Wright, Alfred G., Paw Paw; member of original Company ; no record.


OTHER COMPANIES OR REGIMENTS


Forty-second Illinois Infantry : Mabury, James D., Paw Paw; corporal; Company E; enlisted July 26, 1861; died at Nashville, Tennessee, September 20, 1863.


Miller, Jesse, Paw Paw; enlisted Company E, July 26, 1861; discharged December 5, 1862.


Mills, Andrew J., Hartford; assistant surgeon ; enlisted August 11, 1863; discharged April 16, 1865.


Tanner, John, Mattawan ; Company H; enlisted August 23, 1861; wounded and taken prisoner at Stone River, Tennessee, December 31, 1862; discharged September 10, 1864.


Forty-fourth Illinois Infantry : Andrews, George B., Lawrence; Company H; enlisted August 1, 1861; discharged September 15, 1864.


Bennett, John A., Columbia; Company H; enlisted September 1, 1861; discharged September 25, 1865.


Benton, Sylvester, Antwerp; Company H; enlisted September


1, 1861; discharged for disability June 2, 1862.


Bliss, John, South Haven; Company H, August 1, 1861; dis- charged September 25, 1865.


Garver, Martin, Lawton; enlisted August 1, 1861; discharged September 25, 1865.


Graham, Wells, Pine Grove; Company H; enlisted August 1, 1861; died at Rolla, Missouri, January 20, 1862.


Harris, Ira K., Pine Grove; Company H; enlisted August 1, 1861 ; discharged September 25, 1865.


Harris, James H., Waverly ; Company H; enlisted August 1, 1861; died at Rolla, Missouri, February 18, 1862.


Harris, James W., Hamilton; Company H; enlisted August 1, 1861; died of wounds, September 20, 1863.


Johnson, Job, Columbia ; Company H; enlisted September 1, 1861; discharged February 28, 1865.


Knowles, Charles, Columbia; Company H; enlisted September


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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY


1, 1861; corporal; discharged for disability, June 14, 1865; gun shot wound.


Meachum, Calvin, Arlington; Company H; enlisted September 1, 1861; discharged September 25, 1865.


Munson, Alfred, Columbia; enlisted March 31, 1864; corporal; discharged September 25, 1865.


Orvette, Alvah, Decatur; Company H; enlisted August 1, 1861; died at Rolla, Missouri, March 7, 1862.


Patterson, George C., Covert; Company B; enlisted September 3, 1861; discharged for disability, March 31, 1863.


Pitts, George W., Decatur; Company H; corporal; enlisted August 1, 1861; supposed to have been killed by guerrillas, at Forsyth, Missouri, April 18, 1862.


Regan, Christopher, South Haven; Company H; enlisted Sep- tember 1, 1861; discharged for disability, February 6, 1863.


Sickendick, George D., Columbia; Company H; enlisted Sep- tember 1, 1861; discharged September 25, 1865.


Thompson, George H., Arlington; Company H; enlisted August 1, 1861; killed in action at Stone River, Tennessee, December 11, 1862.


Tibbitts, Eugene D., Pine Grove; Company H; enlisted August 1, 1861; discharged September 25, 1865.


Van Fleet, Samuel N., Lawrence; Company H; enlisted August 1, 1861; discharged for disability February 28, 1862. Subse- quently became entirely blind as a result of his service.


MISCELLANEOUS REGIMENTS


Andrews, Isaac B., Hartford; Company G, Thirty-ninth Illi- nois Infantry; enlisted September 10, 1861; killed in action at Drury's Bluff, Virginia, May 16, 1864.


Bardwell, Joseph H., Paw Paw; Battery I, First Illinois Artil- lery ; sergeant ; enlisted February 10, 1862; discharged July 26, 1865.


Beddo, Horace, Paw Paw; Battery I, First Illinois Artillery ; enlisted February 19, 1862; discharged July 26, 1865.


Campbell, William W., Paw Paw; Twenty-first Indiana Bat- tery; enlisted September 9, 1862; discharged June 10, 1865.


Dunham, Hiram G., Hartford; Company G, Thirty-ninth Illi- nois Infantry ; enlisted August 19, 1861; died at Cumberland, Maryland, February 23, 1862.


Magoon, Edward M., Paw Paw; Battery I, First Illinois Artil- lery ; enlisted February 21, 1862; discharged for disability July 11, 1862.


Mitchelson, Thomas F., Paw Paw; Battery I, First Illinois Artillery ; enlisted February 10, 1862; died at Pittsburg Land- ing, Tennessee, July 11, 1862.


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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY


Moon, O. F., Decatur; Battery I, First Illinois Artillery ; enlisted February 6, 1862; no further record.


Pierce, Charles J., Decatur; corporal; Battery I, First Illinois Artillery ; enlisted February 12, 1862; discharged July 6, 1865.


St. John, George, Hartford; Battery I, First Illinois Artillery ; enlisted January 29, 1862; died at Moscow, Tennessee, July 2, 1862.


Smith, George, Decatur; Battery I, First Illinois Artillery ; en- listed February 6, 1862; discharged July 26, 1865.


O'Dell, Barnabas, Paw Paw; enlisted in United States navy, March 1, 1865; served on United States steamers, Collier and Great Western; discharged August 20, 1865. Present residence, Paw Paw.


Teed, Augustus, Almena; enlisted United States navy, March 1, 1865.


Foster, Ebenezer; enlisted in Ninth United States Colored Heavy Artillery, August 13, 1864, at Decatur; mustered August 13, 1864; no further record.


Fowler, Galpin; enlisted in Ninth United States Colored Heavy Artillery ; mustered August 13, 1864, at Decatur ; no further record.


Good, Horace; enlisted in Ninth United States Colored Heavy Artillery, at Decatur; mustered August 13, 1864; no further record.


During this great struggle for the life of the nation the state of Michigan furnished to the government something over 90,000 troops, of whom nearly 15,000 lost their lives by sickness or in battle. Van Buren county furnished 1,884 men. When we re- member that the total population of the county in 1860 was only 15,224; that the total enrolment of men liable for military duty in December, 1864, was only 1,540; that the war tax of the county was $155,637 and that nearly $100,000 was paid by the county for the relief of soldiers' families, we get some faint idea of the great sacrifices demanded and cheerfully made. Soldiers from Van Buren county were found in seventy regiments from Michi- gan and other states.


But neither figures of arithmetic, nor figures of speech, can record the sacrifices and the suffering, nor the deep underlying current of patriotism that was the dominant spirit in those days that tried men's souls. That this great nation is once more united, that sectionalism and strife no longer exist, that all are animated by the spirit of patriotism that knows no north, no south, no east, no west, is sufficient cause for our everlasting gratitude and thank- fulness.


We sometimes feel that faith in the perpetuity of our free in- stitutions that was manifested by the little lad when, during the


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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY


Civil war, he saw a rainbow spanning the eastern heavens. "Moth- er, mother, oh ! mother!" he exclaimed, pointing upward with his innocent little hands, "God is a Union man. I know he is a Union man because I saw his flag in the sky, and it was red, white and blue."


SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR


Van Buren county was well represented in the Spanish-American war. Perhaps no county in the state sent a greater number of young men, in proportion to population, to free the Cubans from Spanish oppression, than did Van Buren. Some were in Cuba, some were in the Philippines and some did not get beyond the borders of their own country. The author regrets that after diligent search, he has been wholly unable to procure a list of the names of the Van Buren county boys who volunteered in that struggle. There seemed to be no way in which a complete list could be procured, as the state has not, as yet, made any compilation of the names of its soldiers who participated in that contest as it did of those who served in the Civil war. Rather than mention a few names picked up here and there, it was thought best not to mention any.


CHAPTER XII


GEOLOGY OF COUNTY


THE CAMBRIAN-ORDOVICIAN-THE SILURIAN AGE-DEVONIAN- LOWER CARBONIFEROUS-THE PLEISTOCENE (LAST CHAPTER).


By R. A. Smith, B.A., M.A., Assistant Geologist Michigan Geo- logical and Biological Survey


In order to understand the geological history of Van Buren county, one must know the geological history of the rock forma- tions of Michigan itself, for Michigan may be considered as a geo- logical unit of which Van Buren county is but a small and insep- arable part. If the thick screen of unconsolidated sands, gravels, and clays which, almost everywhere, form the surface deposits of the state, could be removed, the bed-rock formations would appear lying one within the other like a pile of very shallow but gigantic basins. The rims of the outer basins are exposed in northern Michigan, on the western side of Green Bay, in northern Illinois, in Ohio, and on the eastern side of Georgian bay in Canada. The rims of the smaller basins occur successively toward the center in a more or less concentric manner, until the smallest basin, the Sag- inaw coal basin, lies wholly in lower Michigan and almost in its exact geographical center. These beds or formations are sediment- ary deposits of sandstones, conglomerates, shales, limestones, etc. Obviously, the lowest bed was deposited first and each successively higher bed followed in order, so that the oldest rocks are the low- est and the youngest are at the top.


THE CAMBRIAN


For a long time previous to the deposition of the lowermost paleozoic sediments, the region extending from the Arctic ocean to the Gulf of Mexico appears to have been land. Through geolog- ical forces, it was slowly depressed from the southwest and the sea slowly came in over Texas following the continued sinking of the land to the northeast, until all of the Mississippi valley and most of the Great Lakes region was occupied by a vast interior or epi- continental sea, which persisted all through Palaeozoic times to


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IIISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY


the end of the Carboniferous,-a period equal to half the time scale since the Algonkian. This sea was, in the main, shallow, for the deposits were largely those of sands and gravels, which are the marks of wave action, shore currents and rivers. This period is known as the Cambrian. At the close of this period of encroach- ment by the sea, Michigan was covered by a shallow sea with prob- able land to the north and east of Georgian bay and to the north of Lake Superior.


Since Michigan was the last region to sink beneath the water, only the upper beds of the Cambrian are found in Michigan. They are for the most part red sandstones and are known as the Lake Superior or Potsdam sandstone, of which the Pictured Rocks on the south shore of Lake Superior furnish a most picturesque ex- ample. These sandstones, if present at all under Van Buren county, must lie buried beneath several thousand feet of later sedi- ments.


THE ORDOVICIAN


The Cambrian period was one of steady encroachment of the sea from the southwest. The Ordovician age which followed was one of continued general depression with wider and clearer seas yet shallow and warm, so that, in Middle Ordovician time, enorm- ous deposits of limestone were laid down, now called the Trenton limestone. Naturally, the Lower Ordovician deposits are those of transition from the sandy shore deposits of Cambrian time to those of limestone in Middle Ordovician and show evidences of local emergences, represented by the Calciferous and St. Peters sandstones. The St. Peters is a true emergence sandstone, present in Wisconsin and Minnesota, but unfortunately it is hard to dis- tinguish it in Michigan from other underlying sandstones that are known to belong to the uppermost Cambrian. We find it present at Rapid river in the Upper Peninsula, but nothing definite is known concerning it in lower Michigan.


The deposition of limestone was ended in Middle Ordovician time, however, by the raising up of a long low arch or anticline, extending northward from Nashville and Cincinnati through Ohio. This is known as the Nashville and Cincinnati anticline. In west- ern Ohio this arch divides into two branches, one passing north- ward into western Ontario and southeastern Michigan, and the other northwestward into Indiana. This anticline, together with the "Wisconsin Island" and the ancient Archean highland on the north and northeast, tended to make a great gulf over Michigan running northwest to southeast, thus separating the Michigan basin from the more open sea to the southwest in the Mississippi valley. This emergence resulted in the deposition of muds now represented


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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY


by the Utica, Lorraine and Richmond shales. The Utica shales in Michigan are black, while the others are mainly blue.


The elevation of the Nashville and Cincinnati anticline was only an expression of a more or less general upward movement of the continent as a whole until the deposits were largely above water and exposed to the agents of erosion, so that when the land again sank below the water the six hundred feet of Utica, Lorraine and Richmond muds of lower Michigan were deposited unconformably upon an eroded and worn down surface. Little is known of this pre-Richmond emergence in lower Michigan, as very little is known of Ordovician formations as a whole in the Lower Peninsula. They are all so deep that no wells in Van Buren county or in the south- western part of the state have positively reached them, though borings further from the center of the Michigan basin, as at South Bend, Indiana, at Cheboygan and at Manitoulin island, Lake Huron, indicate the Lorraine to be fairly uniform in thickness and persistent throughout the Lower Peninsula. The Trenton, the great oil horizon of Ohio, has been sought by oil prospectors in all parts of the state, but probably it has not been reached in the southwestern counties.




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