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 59
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
It was early evident to Mr. Gremps that the Territorial road would pass through Paw Paw, and, recognizing that that route would become a great thoroughfare across the state, he wanted a public house-a tavern-established in his new village. Meeting Daniel O. Dodge at Schoolcraft one day in 1834, prior to his re- turn east, he offered to give him an entire block and build a board house upon it if he would come and "keep tavern" in the place. Dodge accepted the offer and opened an inn which became one of the most noted public houses in southwest Michigan. "Dodge's
1
579
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
Tavern" was known far and wide, it being one of the principal stopping places along the whole line of that famous thoroughfare, which is known to this day as the "Territorial road." This tavern was a board shanty containing four rooms and measured about sixteen by twenty-four feet. It was enlarged in 1835 and rebuilt in 1836. Travel by stage along the route was very brisk. It is said that sometimes Dodge had as many as a hundred people to entertain and Mrs. Dodge did the cooking for all of them. The tavern stood on what is now the south side of Main street and was nearly hidden by trees. Indeed, trees were so abundant in Paw Paw, that even after the village was platted travelers often passed through it without knowing there was any village there, and frequently inquired at the tavern for the location of the town.
During Dodge's career as a landlord, Dr. Warner opened an- other public house in the village, but it had only a brief exist- ence. James Crane put up the Exchange Hotel on the site of the present Dyckman House, which latter was built by Judge E. B. Dyckman and John Smolk, after the destruction of the Exchange by a disastrous conflagration that burned a number of the busi- ness places of the village.
Judge Evart Brown Dyckman, from whom the hotel, the prin- cipal public house in the village, takes its name, who was of the old Knickerbocker stock, was born on the 25th day of September, 1799. He assisted in the construction of the Erie canal, and when that work was completed he established a boat yard and carried on the business of boating and an extensive coopering establish- ment for a number of years. He came to Detroit in 1836, where he purchased a pony and rode across the state on the Territorial road to St. Joseph. Receiving discouraging reports of the country beyond the lake, he concluded to settle in Michigan, buying about a thousand acres of land in Van Buren county. His wife died in 1838, and the following autumn, with his seven children, his father and mother, two nephews and two nieces, he settled on lands near Paw Paw, where he began farming operations. He was elected an associate judge of the circuit court in 1841. He married his sec- ond wife in 1839, who lived less than a year. In 1841 he was again married, and changed his residence to Schoolcraft, in the county of Kalamazoo, where he died at a ripe old age. Judge Dyckman was the grandfather of Evert S. Dyckman, who was the first mayor of the city of South Haven and who is one of the leading citizens of that prosperous "City by the Lake."
Another improvement that Mr. Gremps desired to have was a store, and so he procured the services of Williamson Mason, a young man from Wayne county, New York, who had been working in
580
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
the west at his trade as a carpenter, to build him a store. Mason at once proceeded to erect a substantial building, which stood just west of Dodge's tavern on the corner of what is now Main and Gremps streets. Mr. Gremps occupied a part of the building as a residence and opened a store, the first one in the place, and be- gan business with Edward Shultz as his clerk.
Mason took up his residence in the village where he became one of its business men. He died at his Paw Paw home on the 18th day of September, 1890. Rodney Hinckley had built a black- smith shop, but there was little work done in it and so Gremps got Craig Buys, a brother-in-law of Hinckley's, to come and open a shop. Buys occupied a shop which Gremps had Mason build for him. He plied his trade there for about six years and then moved to Ohio.
The first shoeshop was opened in 1836 by Charles G. Harring- ton, who subsequently removed to Lawton where he followed his trade for many years.
Madison Eastman, a carpenter, came to the village in 1835. He afterward removed to Decatur, but returned to Paw Paw, where he died.
Myron Hoskins came to Paw Paw in 1836. He afterward became a resident of the northern part of the county, but returned to Paw Paw where he died, November 7, 1900, aged eighty-nine years.
The second store in the village , was opened by Nathan Mears, who afterward became a merchant in Chicago. Edwin Mears and James Crane were also among the earlier ones to engage in the mercantile business.
Mr. Gremps, in company with Isaac W. Willard, opened a store in 1838 on Main street. Willard afterward bought out Gremps' interest and took in Edward Shultz as a partner. Later the firm was Willard & Moffat. Willard was one of the founders of the village of Paw Paw, and was a man of note, not only in the im- mediate community, but had a wide reputation both in the county and state. He was chosen as a member of the second "convention of assent" which met at Ann Arbor in December, 1836, to take ac- tion on the admission of Michigan into the Union. He was also a member of the constitutional convention of 1850. Mr. Willard was a very peculiar man and many anecdotes are related of his eccentricities. He was a friend to a man whom he liked, but wanted nothing to do with a person to whom he took a dislike. The writer is glad that he bore very friendly relations with Mr. Wil- lard after forming his acquaintance several years prior to his death. Mr. Willard was a bachelor, which may, to some extent, account for his personal peculiarities. He was closely identified with the interests of Paw Paw up to the time of his death. He was the
581
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
moving spirit in the organization of the Prospect Hill Cemetery Association and was its first president. This cemetery is located about a half mile south of the village and is one of the finest ceme- teries to be found in the state of Michigan, consisting of a series of hills rising one above another. A fine view of the town can be obtained from the summit of some of these hills. During the lat- ter years of Mr. Willard's life this cemetery was his especial care and pride. He erected a wooden tower on its topmost pinnacle, one hundred and twenty-five feet in height, which was visible for many miles around. This tower was christened by some irreverent ones as "Willard's folly." It stood as a landmark for several years, and until its builder was laid to rest almost at its foot, when one morning. the elements having weakened its foundation, it fell to the ground with a mighty crash.
Other early business men of the village were Alonzo Sherman, E. J. House. H. L. Dickinson, F. H. Stevens, Loren Darling, Capt. Edmund Smith and William R. Hawkins. Mr. Hawkins was an- other somewhat eccentric man. He was for a time engaged in the mercantile business, but eventually became a broker and built up a very successful and profitable business in that line. He was familiarly known as Colonel Hawkins. He died at his Paw Paw home on the 21st day of February, 1895, aged eighty-seven years.
Captain Smith. who came to the village in 1843, built one of the most successful mercantile establishments in Van Buren county. Starting a general store, he converted it into a gentlemen's fur- nishing establishment, and E. Smith & Company's "Long Brick Store" was well known throughout the county. It is still con- ducted under the same firm name, although its founder has been dead for nearly eighteen years.
Peter Gremps was the first postmaster of Paw Paw, his appoint- ment dating from 1835. He was succeeded in 1842 by George L. Gale, who was followed successively by John McKinney, John Smolk, A. J. Goodrich, F. H. Stevens, James M. Longwell. Joseph W. Huston. E. J. House, A. J. Sortore, O. F. Parker, Thomas B. Irwin, George W. Matthews, Dr. L. K. Woodman, Robert O. Beebe, Peter Mackellar, Kirk W. Noyes, William Killefer and Bangs F. Warner, who is now rounding out his third consecutive four years term.
It is usually considered that the postoffice receipts are a fair indication of the prosperity of the community. Judging by this standard, the residents of Paw Paw have little reason for com- plaint. A communication received by the compiler from the auditor of the postoffice department at Washington says: "The earliest record of business transacted at Paw Paw is that of the quarter ending September 30, 1836, in which the gross postal receipts were
582
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
$31.21. The gross receipts of each decennial year from 1840 to 1910 are as follows : 1840, $261.28; 1850, $807.42; 1860, $1,131.60; 1870, $2,504.05; 1880, $3,219.96; 1890, $3,502.37; 1900, $4,068.70; 1910, $8,647.64." The receipts of the office for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1911, amounted to $9,256.
The lawyers and doctors of the village are mentioned in the chapters of this work devoted to the Bench and Bar and the Med- ical Profession. The various newspapers that have been pub- lished in the town and that are now in existence will be found in their appropriate place in the chapter dedicated to the Press.
The first flouring mill of the town was built for Willard & Gremps in 1838, and called the Paw Paw Mills, which are still doing business, having been thoroughly remodeled and converted into a modern plant in all respects. It was built by Stafford God- frey, a millwright, together with R. E. Churchill, the same par- ties who built Van Buren county's first courthouse. Mr. Godfrey continued to make Paw Paw his home until his decease which oc- curred November 2, 1889, at the age of eighty-two years.
The first wedding in Paw Paw was that of Miss Hannah Mead and one Bellfontaine, in 1833. The bride was a "hired girl" in the employ of John Thomas and the groom was one of the sawmill "hands," an employe at Job Davis' sawmill. There was neither minister nor civil magistrate to be had to perform the marriage ceremony, but Davis declared that he had once been a justice of the peace and thought it would be all right if he mar- ried them, and, as they agreed with him, he married them. They afterward removed to Indiana, and for aught that is known, they lived as happily, or unhappily, as the case may be, as though there had been pronounced over them a legalized ministerial or judicial ceremony.
The first death was that of the wife of Daniel O. Dodge who died in 1837. She was buried in the tavern garden, but her body was afterward removed to the cemetery in the north part of the vil- lage.
On the last day of December, 1835, Peter Gremps moved into his new house, which is still known as the Gremps house. That evening he was informed by his clerk, Shultz, who had learned something of Indian customs, that the red men would make him and his family a New Year's call the next day, and, somewhat to the trepidation of the ladies, a delegation of some twenty-five Indians, decked out in paint and feathers, made the promised call. It was their manner of ratifying friendship with the whites for another year. The braves insisted on kissing the women, despite the violent protests they made. It was rather a jolly affair, notwith- standing the kissing; but Mrs. Dodge donned her war paint when
583
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
the visitors called on her and offered to kiss her, and drove them from the house at the point of the rolling pin.
The first fourth of July celebration was held in 1836. The ceremonies of the day included a patriotic oration by Hon. F. C. Annable, of Almena; a written address to the three veterans of the War of 1812 who were present, which was presented by a daughter of Peter Gremps, afterward Mrs. Alonzo Shultz; anvil salutes fired by Rodney Hinckley, and a banquet to everybody. The affair took place in an open space in the woods just west of the old courthouse grounds, which was then dignified with the name of "Public square."
Paw Paw has an up-to-date system of electric lights, and mod- ern water works and sewers. The first attempt at lighting the town was made a number of years ago by a private company. This did not prove to be entirely satisfactory and so the municipality purchased one of the water powers (of which there are three in- side the corporation limits and two more just outside), and pro- ceeded to construct an electric plant of its own. This was first put in operation in 1903 and was continued for five years. As the demands for domestic lights increased, the power proved inadequate and it was found necessary to devise some other means of furnish- ing the needed lights, both public and private. While there were, at the time, five good water powers accessible, they were all of them located on a single branch of the river, no attempt ever having been made to build a dam across the stream below their junction. A survey was made and it was found that at a place about half a mile beyond the corporation line a dam could be constructed that would not only afford ample power for lighting the town, but also for operating the water works, which latter had theretofore been operated by steam power. And not only this, but at the same time a handsome lake would be created, which would extend between high banks through the center of the village; and this was the origin of beautiful Maple lake, which is one of the most attractive features of the town. After a full investigation of the matter, the citizens of the place appropriated the sum of $50,000 for the purpose of putting this plan into operation. The work was completed in the summer of 1908 and has proved to be all that was hoped and ex- pected. Not only has the power been ample, but the lake has become so attractive that cottages have been constructed on its banks, and resort grounds bordering on the lake have been platted around it. Water of the purest quality is piped to all parts of the town. It is pumped from wells that, before so large a demand was made upon them, were natural springs or flowing wells.
The public buildings of the town are the fine courthouse and jail,
584
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
a fine and commodious schoolhouse, churches, Opera House and corporation hall.
The schools rank among the very best in the state. The official figures for the last school year are as follows: Number of per- sons of school age in the district, 335; number of non-resident pupils in attendance, seventy-three; average daily attendance, 309 ; number of volumes in school library, 2,000; value of school prop- erty, $25,000; indebtedness, none; teachers employed, thirteen ; amount paid for teachers' salaries, $5,427.25. Since the filing of the above report, the district has purchased the Free Baptist church building and converted it into a gymnasium for the use of the school.
Paw Paw is fairly well supplied with churches for a town of its size, in fact it might well be claimed that it is over-churched.
The first preaching of the Gospel in the town was by Rev. Junia Warner, in 1835. Services were held in Hinckley's blacksmith shop. In the fall of that year a Methodist class was organized. David Thorp was the first class leader and for a time services were held in his log chair-shop, afterward in a house belonging to Myron Hoskins, and then the village schoolhouse. In 1844 a house of worship was erected, which was occupied until 1876, when it was sold to George W. Longwell, removed to another site and converted into an opera house, for which purpose it is yet used. A new and commodious building was erected on the site of the old one and dedicated on the 16th day of December, 1876. The church now has about 200 members and is in charge of Rev. Alex. Luther.
The First Baptist church was organized on the 8th day of August, 1844, with eight members. Meetings were held rather ir- regularly for a number of years thereafter. The corner stone of the present church building was laid in September, 1857, and the building was completed in due time thereafter. A couple of years ago the Free Will Baptists, who had had an organization in the town since 1841, transferred their membership to the First Bap- tist, increasing its numbers until the present membership of the church is 130. At one time the Free Will Baptists were among the most prosperous of any of the churches in the town, but removals, deaths and changes of population had weakened the organization until it was thought wise to consolidate the two churches into one strong organization.
The Christian church, sometimes called the Disciple church, was first organized about the year 1842. The present house of worship of the society was erected in 1861. The frame of the building was raised by the help of the La Fayette Light Guard, the first com- pany from Van Buren county to enter the military service in the
585
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
Civil war and which was subsequently known as Company C, of the Seventieth New York, one of the regiments of the famous Sickles brigade. The church record at the close of 1861 states that the membership was 234; that 101 had been received during the year, and that eleven had "gone to war." The church now has about 150 members.
The Presbyterian church was organized in the fall of 1843 at the residence of Capt. Edmund Smith. For a time after its organization worship was held in dancing room of the Exchange hotel. In 1845 a house of worship was erected near the courthouse. This building was burned in 1856 and a couple of years afterward the present church building was built. A few years ago this building was remodeled and is now the finest arranged church building in the town. The society at the present time is under the pastoral charge of Rev. M. L. Marshall and has a membership of about 125.
St. Mark's Protestant Episcopal church was organized in 1851. Its house of worship was erected in 1876. The membership of the church is small and services are held only occasionally.
St. Mary's Church of the Immaculate Conception (Catholic) has a commodious house of worship, which was completed in 1872. As early as 1848 Father Barron, of South Bend, Indiana, used oe- casionally to visit Paw Paw for the benefit of Pe-pe-yah and other Indians and their families. In 1855, there being several Catholic families in the village, Father La Belle, of Kalamazoo, held oc- casional services, generally at the residence of James Bennett. The church now has a membership of about 125 and is under the pastoral care of Rev. Father George Clarson.
There is also a Second Adventists' church in the town. They have a small church building and a limited membership. Reg- ular services are not held at the present time.
The Christian Scientists also hold meetings in one of the pub- . lic halls of the place, having no house of worship.
Of secret orders, Paw Paw has its full complement Paw Paw Lodge, No. 18, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted November 19, 1846, with the following charter members: John Mckinney, Emory O. Briggs, Frank Taylor, C. R. Moffit and John Smolk. It has had its times of prosperity and of adversity, but is now in a very flourishing condition having 160 members.
Paw Paw Encampment, No. 30, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, was instituted March 26, 1868. The following named gentle- men were the charter members : C. M. O'Dell, B. O'Dell, C. Lich, S. H. Blackman, T. W. Melchor, E. Martin and J. M. Brown. Of these only B. O'Dell survives. He still belongs to the institution, which now numbers forty-four members.
586
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
Fidelity Rebekah Lodge, No. 70, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, is also a prosperous branch of the order and has a mem- bership of 113 at the present time.
The Odd Fellows own their own hall, which is commodious and well equipped with all the furniture and paraphernalia required for successful work.
Paw Paw Lodge, No. 25, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, was instituted under dispensation on the 6th day of May, 1848. On the first day of the next year a charter was issued A. W. Broughton, B. F. Chadwick, D. O. Dodge, Peter Gremps, Hub- bell Warner, Oliver Warner and John Mckinney. The lodge has its own finely equipped lodge room and has a membership of 172.
Paw Paw Chapter, No. 34, Royal Arch Masons, was instituted on the 19th day of January, 1865. It has a membership of 129 at the present time.
Paw Paw Chapter, No. 257, Eastern Star, is also a prosperous factor in the order and has a present membership of about 180.
Paw Paw Grange, No. 10, Patrons of Husbandry, was organized on the 31st day of December, 1872, with a membership of about twenty. It has been in continuous operation ever since its organiza- tion and has had, at some periods in its history, a large membership, but at present it is no greater, numerically, than when it was first instituted.
Of the more modern societies, combining insurance features with the fraternal, there are the Knights and the Ladies of Maccabees, Modern Woodmen and the Royal Neighbors, Mystic Workers, Mod- ern Romans, Fraternal Brotherhood, and possibly some others; if not there probably will be as soon as some promoter can formu- late plans.
The principal club in the village is a ladies' club, called the "Coterie." This is a literary club and has been in existence for several years. The ladies have a convenient club house of their own which is situated on Kalamazoo street near the center of the town. This club is not a secret society in the usual acceptation of the term, yet its meetings are only for its mem- bers and invited guests, except when public entertainments may be given. The programs are devoted to literature, music, art, science, education, etc. The club, like other similar clubs in dif- ferent localities of the county, is a member of the State Federation of Women's Clubs and derives, as well as confers, benefits from this membership.
The Maple City Club is a gentlemen's club and was organized and exists mainly for amusement. The club meets in its own room in the postoffice block.
587
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
The Fellowship Club is also a gentlemen's club, organized and carried on not only for entertainment, but for instruction and study as well. Its programs are literary, historical, musical, scien- tific, etc. This club holds its meetings at the residence of some one of its members.
The manufactories of the village, all of which are doing a suc- cessful business, are as follows: The Paw Paw Grape Juice Fac- tory, an institution that crushed 800 tons of grapes during the past season and made 100,000 gallons of grape juice; two large pickle processing establishments ; one basket and fruit package fac- tory, manufacturing fruit baskets by the hundreds of thousands ; two flouring mills, one operated by water power, the other by electric power; one saw and planing mill, one fruit and vegetable cannery; one steam power heading mill; one cigar factory; one steam laundry ; and one artificial bait factory, called the Moonlight Bait Company. This company makes various kinds of artificial lures for the enticement of the finny tribe, but its specialty is a luminous bait to be used in the night, a patented article invented by the promoter of the company .*
There are four warehouses in the town, principally used for the storage of fruit baskets and other fruit packages. Some idea of the demand for fruit baskets may be formed when it is known that there were shipped from Paw Paw during the fruit season of 1911, 1,122 carloads of grapes, the equivalent of 3,366,000 eight- pound baskets, which is the ordinary size, although some are shipped in larger baskets called "jumbos" and some in four-pound baskets called "ponies." Besides this, there were large quantities of ber- ries of various kinds, cherries, peaches, pears, etc., some of these being packed in crates, some in small baskets and much of the tree fruit in bushel baskets. There are also two very large ice houses containing many hundred of tons of ice used for refrigerating pur- poses in the shipment of fruit.
The Paw Paw Fruit Growers Union is one of the incorporated companies that handle the immense fruit crop that is grown in Paw Paw, Antwerp and some of the adjoining towns. During the past fruit season this company shipped a thousand cars of grapes and other fruit; 479 carloads of grapes were shipped by the man- ager from the station at Paw Paw, and the balance from Lawton, Mattawan, Decatur, Lawrence, Hartford, Kendall and a few cars from other places. W. C. Wildey has been manager since the com- pany was organized.
Many car loads of potatoes and other produce were also shipped
*Since the above was written and put into type, and on Sunday, February 11, 1912, at two o'clock a. m., the cannery mentioned was totally destroyed by fire. It will probably be rebuilt.
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.