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 52
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).
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 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
TAXPAYERS AND TAXES OF 1839
The resident taxpayers of the township in 1839, when the first assessment was taken were as follows: George S. Bishop, Calvin Fields, Aaron Barney, Marcus Merriman, Samuel Bradt, Elisha Geer, John Comley, Daniel Evans, Samuel Gunton, W. H. Keeler, Truman Foster, G. W. Geer, F. Pitcher, A. W. Broughton, James Brooks, William L. Butterfield, William Lake, James Nesbitt, Ralph Mason, Jackson Pratt, Joseph Pratt, Colcott Pratt, Joseph McClintock, James M. Lombard, G. A. Bentley, Henry Coleman, Zebina Stearns, Sidney Stearns, Hale Wakefield, Caleb Bartlett, Silas F. Howell, Lewis Johnson, Robert Nesbitt, Philotus Haydon and Alexander Sloan.
The assessment of the above named residents was the sum of $19,642, of which $15,962 was on real estate and $3,680 on person- alty. Non-resident lands, which comprised by far the greater por- tion of the town, were assessed at the sum of $54,456, making the total valuation of the township $74,098. Practically all lands were assessed at four dollars per acre, which was a liberal valuation for those days. The total tax levy for the year was $522.94.
The valuation of the township at the assessment taken in 1911 was $621,600 and the tax levy was for the sum of $9,613.36. The town ranks as eleventh in wealth among the townships of the county.
FIRST BUILDING AND FIRST PERMANENT SETTLER
It is said that the first building ever erected within the present boundaries of Hamilton was a hunter's cabin on section thirty- three, built by Benjamin Reynolds and Joel Clark, two Kalama- zoo county Nimrods who were accustomed to visit the vicinity oc- casionally on hunting excursions. The story is related that Reyn-
506
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
olds intended to make a settlement in the township and that in 1834 he brought his wife with him to the cabin with the intention of remaining. Shortly afterward, while the lady was looking for their cow that had strayed into the forest, she became lost in the woods. Her cries for help were unheard and it was not until the following morning that she was discovered several miles from home in an adjoining township. Her experience was so unpleasant that she declared she would not stay ; that she would not live where she could not take a walk out of sight of the house without getting lost. She was as good as her word, and, notwithstanding the en- treaties of her husband, she shook the dust of Hamilton from her feet and, of course, that ended his plan to become a permanent resident of that locality. Not long afterward, they settled in the township of Porter where the forests were not quite so dense, and there spent the remainder of their lives.
The first entry of land in Hamilton was made by Robert Nesbitt, who located a tract on section four in the spring of 1835, and at once settled there and began his improvements The history of Hamilton with no mention of Robert Nesbitt, would be like the play of Hamlet with Hamlet left out. Previous to coming to Ham- ilton with his brothers, John and James, he had been living in Kalamazoo. Mr. Nesbitt had theretofore been interested in the building of mills in the state, and one inducement for the selec- tion of his new location was the fact that Brush creek ran through his land and afforded an eligible site for the construction of a fairly good water power. He lost no time in taking advantage of the situation and at once proceeded in the erection of a saw-mill. He had to haul all his lumber and other supplies from Prairie Ronde, but so energetically did he proceed with his undertaking that his mill was ready to begin operations early in the summer of 1836. For a number of years this mill was the only one for miles around, and when the Michigan Central Railroad was built through the county it did a rushing business and was kept running night and day to supply material for the railway construction. For many years thereafter the mill continued to do a profitable busi- ness.
In 1856 Mr. Nesbitt erected a flouring mill on the same site and continued to operate as long as he lived. To his other extensive business interests, he added that of a land agent and in that ca- pacity bought and sold thousands of acres of land, being himself, at one time, the owner of upwards of 2,500 acres. Mr. Nesbitt died at his Hamilton home, on the 11th day of April, 1888, at the age of seventy-eight years. The people of the township are now enjoy- ing the fruits of his pioneer labor. He was a man of great energy ; an excellent business man, honorable and upright; a good all-
507
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
around man and citizen. His life was a fine illustration of the char- acter of the sturdy pioneers who transformed Van Buren county from a wilderness into a garden, from an almost impenetrable forest into a land of beautiful farms and elegant homes.
ALSO SETTLED PRIOR TO 1844
In 1835, Zebina Stearns came to Hamilton, taking up his quar- ters in the Reynolds hunters' shanty. Mr. Stearns afterward en- tered land on section seventeen and remained a resident of the town until his death in 1846. He was joined by his son Sidney, who had previously been engaged in the business of driving stage in the eastern part of the state. He remained a resident of Hamil- ton until his decease which occurred on the 4th day of May, 1885, in the seventy-second year of his age.
James Nesbitt, a brother of Robert, removed from Keeler in 1835 and located lands on sections thirteen and fourteen. He lived there until 1849, when, one day, he was found dead at the bottom of his well. There were some suspicions of foul play, but investi- gation failed to throw any light on the manner of his death, the mystery of which was never solved.
In 1835 Lewis Johnson came to Hamilton from the eastern part of the state along with his father and Zebina Stearns. He settled on section eighteen and remained and continued to reside there until he died in 1872. The elder Johnson returned to the state of New York, which had been their former place of residence, after remaining in Hamilton for about three years.
Aaron Barney, from the state of New York, was also a settler in the township in 1835. He located on section thirty-eight. He lost his wife in 1838 and he, himself, died in 1858.
A man named Lyon, who also came to the township in 1835, remained but one year. He sold his possessions to Philotus Hay- don, who became a man of prominence, not only in Hamilton but in the county. He was somewhat eccentric and many anecdotes are related of him, some of which may, perhaps, be genuine, but, as is apt to be the case, it is probable that most of them are imaginary. Mr. Haydon took quite an active part in the politics of his day and served at different times in the state legislature, both as a rep- resentative and as a senator. He died at his farm on section eight- een, in 1866. He was probably the most prominent and noted man that ever lived in the township. His son, Arthur W., is yet a resi- dent of Hamilton and is well and favorably known throughout the county, and, like his father, is somewhat prominent in political circles.
508
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
Other settlers of the township, who came in 1836, were James M. Lombard, Henry C. McClure and his son, Henry ; John Comley ; George Geer and his brother, Elisha; S. T. Howell, Hale Wake- field, Caleb Bartlett, and Joseph McClintock. In 1837 other set- tlers were Henry Coleman, Samuel Bradt, Jackson and Colcott Pratt, George S. Bishop, Marcus Merriman, Calvin Fields and James Brooks.
Fields removed to Kansas and Merriman eventually took up his residence in Paw Paw, where he died on the 22d day of January, 1892, at the age of eighty-eight years and nine months.
James Brooks, with his wife and two children, settled on sec- tion thirty-three, where he resided on the same place until his death in 1876. It is related of him that he was once so completely lost in the forest that he could not find his way out and that he was rescued by a searching party after wandering four days in the woods. Leonard Tisdale and Solomon B. Hagar were also promi- nent among the early settlers of the township. The latter served as its supervisor for eight consecutive years.
George A. Bentley, Alexander Sloan, and Palmer Earl were among the settlers of 1838-9. Truman Foster came in 1840. He was both farmer and school teacher. He taught in the adjoining township of Lawrence and was the second teacher to be employed in that town.
Thomas Harris came from the state of New York in 1842, with a Rooseveltian family of fourteen children. He died in 1863.
George Bennett was also an early settler of the town. He removed to the village of Decatur where he died at an advanced age.
Stephen Osborn settled in the town in 1843, just north of Os- born Lake, together with his wife and ten children. The lake takes its name from the Osborn family. He died in 1853.
The first white child born in the township was Mason Wake- field, whose birthday was the fifth day of July, 1836. The sec- ond birth was that of Miss Mary, daughter of Robert Nesbitt, in September, 1837. She died in the morning of life, just before reaching the age of twenty years.
The first marriage of Hamilton residents was that of Robert Nes- bitt and Maria, daughter of John Comley. The ceremony was per- formed in the township of Lawrence, on the first day of December, 1836, by John D. Freeman, a justice of the peace.
ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE PIONEERS AND THEIR TIMES
The first death was that of Mr. Knickerbocker, who with his family located on the bank of the lake that bears his name in 1835. He died as the result of exhaustion and exposure and the hard-
509
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
ships endured, within a few days after he had occupied his un- finished pioneer cabin. The circumstances connected with this death were peculiarly harrowing. Hearing of the matter, Robert Nesbitt and Zebina Stearns went to the premises and found a most distressful scene. The dead man lay in one corner of the floorless, roofless shanty, while the weeping widow and children, gathered around a smouldering fire in another corner of the hut, completed a picture of utter wretchedness. Stearns at once started for Paw Paw, some fourteen miles distant, and in due time returned with Peter Gremps of that village and Elder Junia Warner, who preached the funeral sermon. Mr. Gremps provided the coffin and in accordance with the request of the dying man, he was buried on the island in the lake which bears his name, and there his bones still rest. After her husband's decease, the widow returned to her friends in the east.
A story related by Sidney Stearns is illustrative of the indomit- able energy and pluck that characterized those hardy settlers of early days. There came along one day, said Mr. Stearns, to his father's cabin, two foot travelers, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Johnson; he carrying an axe on his shoulder and leading a cow, and she carrying a bundle, which, with another bundle borne by her hus- band, represented the entire worldly possessions of the worthy couple. It was but a limited outfit for the beginning of strenuous pioneer life, but, like many others under similar circumstances, they did not fear hardship or short allowances. Johnson knew that with his good axe, he could, if health was spared, hew his way to success and prosperity, and, with the help of his equally brave wife, he struggled for even the commonest necessaries of life until at last grit and perseverance won success.
In 1837 Henry D. Coleman built a tavern in the township on the line of the Territorial road some four or five miles from the present village of Decatur. Travel by stage was very brisk along that highway prior to the completion of the Michigan Central Railroad, and as long as the stage route was continued Coleman did an extensive and profitable business. He had put all his means into this enterprise, but shortly afterward borrowed a few hun- dred dollars, with which he purchased a small stock of goods and opened up a mercantile business on a limited scale in one corner of his tavern. He then turned his attention to the matter of @b- taining a postoffice for the town, which he succeeded in doing and was himself appointed postmaster. When the stage route was abandoned, the office was abolished and Coleman removed to a farm on section four, where he died in 1857. He was a man of some prominence and was elected as associate judge of the circuit court in 1842. After his removal, the tavern became known as Brown's
510
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
Tavern and acquired rather an unsavory and undesirable reputation. Charles N. Poor, a blacksmith in Keeler, removed his shop to Cole- man's new location, where he remained and stuck to his bellows as long as the stages stuck to the road, after which he removed to California.
Aaron W. Broughton, who came to Hamilton in 1839, brought with him a considerable stock of merchandise, opened up quite a pretentious store near the residence of Philotus Haydon, and for a considerable time transacted a flourishing business. Mr. Brough- ton removed to Paw Paw, where he spent the remainder of his life. He became an influential citizen of the county, and in 1846 was elected to the office of judge of the county court.
SCHOOLS THEN AND NOW
There were no grist mills easy of access to the early settlers of Hamilton, and as "going to mill" was no pleasant task not infre- quently the home made mill on the top of a hollowed out stump was brought into requisition for a temporary supply of corn meal, or "johnny-cake timber," as it was sometimes called.
About the year 1837 or 1838 Mrs. Millard, who lived with her daughter, Mrs. Bennett, taught a day school and a Sunday school at her mother's house. Not long afterward Robert Nesbitt pro- cured the services of Miss Litchfield, who came from Pennsylva- nia to teach his children. The first public school was taught in the Little Red Schoolhouse near Coleman's tavern in 1837, and was patronized by some twenty pupils.
The condition of the public schools of the township at the pres- ent time is shown by the following official figures: Total number of pupils of school age, 266; volumes in school libraries, 1,061; number of schoolhouses, nine; estimated value of school property, $7,600; district indebtedness, $150; teachers employed, nine; ag- gregate number of months school taught, seventy-three; sum paid for teachers' salaries, $3,065. To the township was apportioned the sum of $2,032.50 from the primary school fund of the state for the year 1911.
While there are no church edifices in Hamilton, the people are not without religious privileges. There are two Methodist Epis- copal societies holding regular meetings and there are three Sun- day schools.
The secret societies are Hamilton Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, which has upwards of seventy members; the Modern Woodmen, and two societies of the Gleaners. The ladies have a club of their own, not secret.
The inhabitants of the township are practically all engaged in
511
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
the pursuit of agriculture and horticulture. The grape industry is becoming of some importance, there being several hundreds of acres of vineyard in the eastern part of the township, while celery is extensively cultivated on the low lands in the south-eastern por- tion.
THE HAMILTON TOWNSHIP FAIR
An unique feature in the history of the township, which is worthy of special notice, is the Hamilton Township Fair. The following sketch of the origin and growth of that institution was written by Arthur W. Haydon, at the request of the compiler of this work : "In the spring of 1876, a party of Hamilton farmers went to a sheep shearing festival at the home of B. G. Buel, on Little Prairie Ronde. At the next grange meeting the writer spoke of the good time they had and of the value of such meetings in general and suggested that the Hamiltonians hold an annual sheep shearing and organize a township fair. Captain Josiah Hendryx, Henry Smith and others spoke in favor of the plan, and from this beginning the first fair was held at the grange hall.
"It began as a township fair, but soon claimed jurisdiction throughout the world.
"As it finally developed, it differed essentially from the ordinary fair in that it was entirely free as to entries and admission, and its premiums consisted of honorary cards or ribbons. The neces- sary funds to cover expenses were secured by a moderate charge for booths, games, amusements, etc.
"It styles itself 'The Great Free Fair;' dear to the hearts of the children and also to the 'grown ups,' who like to take a day off, meet friends and have a good time.
"It has been addressed from year to year by noted men, govern- ors, congressmen and candidates for high public position, who come gladly and without pay to meet the 'dear people' of Hamilton and vicinity.
"It is at the present time less of a fair and more of a reunion, and its continued popularity is evidenced by an attendance of from one thousand to five thousand people. The township has purchased forty acres of land adjoining the grange hall property for the present use, at least, of the fair. Ultimately this may be- come Hamilton's 'Picnic Park,' if the forest trees growing thereon can be protected from fires.
"Taking a retrospective glance over the history of Hamilton, the greatest benefits seem to have come from the advent and the influence of the grange, the fair, and later the Woodmen, the Gleaners and the Woman's club.
512
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
"Though without a village as a business center, we have the Grange Hall, suitable for church and funeral services; also used as a town hall, for caucuses, rallies and elections; for the fair, en- tertainments, socials, lectures, parties, theatricals, etc. These ad- vantages, together with the great work done within the various societies, have resulted in concentrating and developing social ties and friendships, and building up an interest and pride in Hamilton among its citizens."
Mr. Haydon speaks none too enthusiastically of the township of which he has been, ever since arriving at years of maturity, an influential and highly respected citizen.
A spring time or early summer drive along some of the fine highways of the town, between rows of magnificent shade trees, with elegant farm buildings on either side, fertile farms covered with bountiful crops, orchards in full bloom, filling the air with fragrance, thrifty vineyards clothed in a dress of emerald green, presents a scene greatly to be enjoyed. While Hamilton is not among the most populous of the townships of the county, it is one of the best and its thrifty, intelligent people keep fully abreast of the developments of these twentieth century days.
CHAPTER XXVIII
TOWNSHIP OF HARTFORD
FIRST THINGS AND EVENTS-ALLEN'S PAPER TOWN-FIRST AC- TUAL SETTLERS-TERRITORIAL AND OFFICIAL-" WHEN THE WORLD GOES WRONG WITH ME"-THE VILLAGE OF HARTFORD- EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL-CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES- - BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIES.
Nearly all have passed away, Our pioneers we knew so well, Before whose steady, sturdy strokes The mighty forests, prostrate fell. The winter blast that sweeps the sky, No more disturbs their calm repose Than Summer evening's latest sigh, That o'er them gently blows.
As the present generation is enjoying their heritage in this fruit- ful land bequeathed to them by pioneers of stalwart worth, they should pause and consider whence came the fine development of their inheritance, and be not like the animals that roamed the primeval forests, partaking of the food they found in such abun- dance, without ever looking up to see whence it came.
Michigan first became known to the white man some two hun- dred and fifty years ago. It was then occupied by the Miami In- dians, who afterward migrated to the eastward. Their camp fires had scarcely ceased to burn before the ancestors of the present Pottawattamies swept south around Lake Michigan from Ouiscon- sin (Wisconsin) taking possession of this beautiful land.
Michigan is an Indian word signifying "monstrous lake." The Ottawas say it was pronounced by them "Mi-chi-gum."
NAMED AND ORGANIZED
The township of Hartford was organized in 1840, by act of the legislature. Ferdino Olds, Burrill A. Olney, Thomas Conklin and some others settled in the southern part of the township as early as 1837. Ferdino Olds, being the first settler, was permitted to name the town which he did, calling it Hartland, after his native
513
Vol. 1-33
514
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
town in the state of New York, but learning of another town of the same name in the state, at the suggestion of Mr. Olney, the name was changed to Hartford.
After the first election, nearly every man in the township was filling one or more offices. The officers chosen at that first town meeting as follows: Supervisor, Joseph Ruggles; township clerk, Burrell A. Olney; township treasurer, Joseph Ruggles; assessors, Thomas Conklin, Richard B. Everitt and Alexander Newton; high- way commissioners, Richard B. Everitt, Cornelius Williams, Alvah De Long and Alexander Newton; constables, Alexander Newton, Richard B. Everitt, Smith Johnson and Burrell A. Olney.
FIRST THINGS AND EVENTS
The first schoolhouse, built of logs, was erected in the southeast part of the township. There were five pupils, and the school was taught by Olive Poole who received the munificent salary of $1.25 per week.
The first Protestant sermon preached in the township was by Rev. John Hammond, a Baptist traveling missionary, father of the late Henry Hammond and Mrs. Brodhead.
The first wedding was that of Mehitable Cone to Thomas Kemp. The next day Lucy Allen and James Griffin, and Abigail Mellen and Edward Eber were married at the home of Ira Allen. This double wedding was conducted by two magistrates, William Thomas and Burrell A. Olney, each marrying one couple and di- viding the honors and the fees. No cards were issued, no wedding bells were rung and few presents were given. At that time there was but a trail between Hartford and Watervliet, in Berrien county, along which the bridal party passed in single file, in order to be present at a dance and supper gotten up by the two bride- grooms at the latter place.
In 1852 Wilkes and Fowler built a house on what is now the southwest corner of Main and Center streets in the village of Hartford. Wilkes raised a small crop of wheat, took it to Niles and traded it for whiskey and soon afterward the place was nick- named "Bloody Corners." Hartford postoffice and a semi-weekly mail between Paw Paw and St. Joseph was established in 1855. James Griffin was the first postmaster.
Mr. Engle says: "I came to Hartford in the fall of 1855 and built a log cabin ten by twelve feet, one mile east of Stoughton's Corners, where I lumbered during the winter; returned the fol- lowing year accompanied by my sister, Mrs. P. A. Travis. I was married in 1857 and again returned with my wife and my brother, the late Dr. W. A. Engle, and built in what is now the village of
515
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
Hartford. Weare Hilliard and Roswell Hart, who had settled here two years before, were our nearest neighbors-Roswell and I owned one partnership dog. I well remember how all the cattle of the surrounding country used to congregate at night on the main corner to rid themselves of the flies and how the jargon of fifty cow bells-more or less-disturbed our slumbers, until, in our wrath, we would arise and let loose the dog which never failed to scatter them like autumn leaves before the wind."
The lands embraced in the present township of Hartford were first opened for settlement in 1829. In 1834, a noted hunter and trapper, the first white man ever known to come to Hartford, built a log shanty one mile east of the present village of Hartford and covered it with bark. Here he spent his winters hunting and trap- ping, returning to Niles in the county of Berrien, which place he made his summer headquarters. His cabin was called the "Half- way House," being about equidistant from Dowagiac creek and Black river. His habitual dress was trousers of deer-skin, a blouse and a slouch hat. He continued to occupy his shanty until 1844. This cabin remained for a good many years and was designated as the "Hunter House."
ALLEN'S PAPER TOWN
In 1835 John Allen opened business in Brush Creek (Lawrence) on the credit system, and made a failure. Being of a speculative turn, he conceived the idea of platting a village and disposing of the lots to strangers in the east.
"Could we with ink the ocean fill, Were Earth of parchment made, And every single stick a quill, Each man a scribe by trade, To write the tricks of scheming men Would dip the ocean dry."
At that time Waterford (Watervliet) was in its infancy. Hog Creek was about half way between Brush Creek and Waterford, and so our pioneer speculator located his imaginary village on the stream referred to, a few rods north of where it emptied its wa- ters into the Paw Paw river, naming it Middletown, and proceeded with Yankee shrewdness to make sale of lots to people in his former Green Mountain home. At that time the late Luther Sutton, then but a lad, was one of the parties to a practical joke in con- nection with Allen's paper town. Some half dozen families who had gathered at Brush Creek-its original name was Mason, but it was then better known as Brush Creek-and, supposing Middle- town to be quite a village, planned to make it a visit. The com-
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.