USA > Michigan > Cass County > A twentieth century history of Cass County, Michigan > Part 25
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
frame schoolhouse on lot 112, west of the present school building, the lot being donated by Abiel Silver. This structure served until the "old brick" schoolhouse was erected on lot 132, adjoining the M. E. church lot on the east, in 1847, and which many years afterward served as a private residence. Its dimensions were 24 by 30 feet, with a parti- tion across the north end, leaving the room 24 by 24, and as many as 115 scholars attended the school each day during the winter of 1850-57. an assistant teacher being employed. The next building was constructed in 1861 at a cost of $3,000.
In 1886 District No. 3, comprising Edwardsburg, was made a graded school by Prof. G. W. Loomis, who was the first principal. Since that time the school has had the following principals :
1887-8-William Jessup.
1889-90-John B. Boyd and Michael Pemberton.
1890-1-Edmund Schoetzow.
1891-2-Miss Clare Pemberton.
1892-4-H. R. Foster.
1894-5-F. A. Preston.
1895-9-Lemuel L. Coates.
1899-1901-V. D. Hawkins.
1001-2-Luther Ettinger and J. G. McMacken.
1902-4-J. G. McMacken.
1904-6-Clifford N. Brady.
1906-7-Claude L. Pemberton.
The course of study through the regular twelve grades compares favorably with village schools of similar size and from time to time has been revised and adjusted to local needs and educational progress throughout the county and state.
The board of education at this writing is: Henry Andrus, director : William K. Hopkins, moderator; J. D. Bean, treasurer ; Marcus S. Olm- sted. trustee; Edwin Harris, trustee.
The faculty for 1906-07: Claude L. Pemberton, principal ; Miss Charlotte Preble, grammar; Miss Anna Hafelt, intermediate: Miss Nellie Williams, primary.
Informal commencement exercises were held in 1887, the year the school was fully graded, and Lillian Krome was then graduated.
Following is the list of graduates, dating from 1888.
1888-Laura Snyder. Merta Miller, Ida Harwood, Genevieve Hanson. Bertha Thompson.
1893-Henrietta Hadden, Dora Silver.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
1894-Lisle Shanahan, Hugh Beauchamp, Blanche Williams, Flor- ence Holdeman, Letta Lukenbach.
1890-Clifford Brady, Jessie Thornton, Mabel Parsons, Carrie Hadden, Anna Beauchamp, Alice Brady, Grace Hogmire, Matie Cobb, Mamie Graham.
1897-Inez Smith, Andrew Hadden, Fred Harwood.
1898-Claude Reed, Robert Hadden, Verna Paul, Constance Brady, Jessie Rickert.
1899-Walter Thompson, Maxa Cook, William Parish.
1900-Harley J. Carlisle, Ida Perkins, Florence Parsons, Harry Kitchen, Warren Quimby, Margaret Hadden. Marion Brady. Ida Runkle. Lizzie Runkle.
1901-Winnifred Smith, Arthur Runkle, John Kitchen.
1902-George Andrus, Arthur Brady, Carl Manchow, Lloyd Dun- ning. Harry Meredith, Eleanor Bacon, Martha Hadden, Ella Truitt. Minnie Rogers.
1903-Maude E. Kelsey, Lewis H. Runkle, Adah B. Curtis, Gene- vieve Light. George L. Hadden, Winifred Hanson.
1904-Zendella Truitt. Lottie M. Rose, David Bacon. Charles A. Bement, Flora E. Martin.
1905-Leona Bean, Mary Snyder. Bessie Oliver. Lydia Thornton. Belle Harwood, Blenn Van Antwerp.
1906-Elizabeth Hadden, Thomas Head. Leidy Olmsted. Harry George.
MARCELLUS SCHOOLS.
The founding of a village at Marcellus Center soon made necessary the formation of a school of higher grade than the ordinary district school, the children of the villagers at first attending the school east of town. In 1874 district No. 9 was organized within the village, the first meeting being in August. The first school board were: Levi Bridge. W. O. Matthews, David Snyder. Under the supervision of George W. Jones, Leander Bridge and David Hain, as building committee, $1.000 was expended in the erection of a one-story brick schoolhouse. 24 by 36 feet in dimensions. Joel Booth was the first teacher. In 1876 a second story was added at a cost of $844, and thereafter two teachers employed. Miss Kellogg being the extra teacher. The number of scholars in- creased so that rooms had to be rented in Centennial hall. The last teacher in the old building was Eugene Bradt, assisted by Estella Hois- ington and Mrs. John Baent.
It was not until 1881 that the Marcellus schools attained to the full possibilities of usefulness and classified efficiency. At the regular school meeting in 1880 it was voted to raise $7.000 by issue of bonds for new
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
buildings. Twelve lots were purchased of G. W. Jones, located in the cast part of the block bounded by Arbor, Center, Woodland and Burney streets.
In the fall of that year was completed the two-story, four-room brick building on the south side of the village, at an expense of $8,000, and in the following spring was occupied. The building committee who had charge of this construction were George W. Jones, David Snyder, John Manning, Alex. Taylor, Manning Taylor, Dr. . \. Carbine.
At the regular school meeting of 1882 it was voted to grade the school. The board of trustees at that date were: Dr. Horace Carbine, H. M. Nottingham, Levi Burney. W. O. George, Dr. C. E. Davis, L. B. Des Voignes.
The principals, or superintendents, of the Marcellus graded school have been, R. T. Edwards, who published the first catalogue in 1882: George DeLong, Mr. Montgomery, J. W. Hazard, C. H. Knapp. Ed- mund Schoetzow, W. L. Taylor, Edmund Schoetzow, who, with the exception of two years, has served since the fall of 1891. C. H. Knapp, in 1887, got out a catalogue for a ten-grade course of study. When Mr. Schoetzow took charge, in 1891, he organized the full twelve grades and completed the regular high school curriculum.
The school was so crowded that in June, 1892, it was voted to bond the district for $2,500 to build a two-story addition, which was com- pleted about January, 1893.
For 1906-7 the Board of Education are: Dr. C. E. Davis, presi- dent : F. M. Ketcham, treasurer; F. S. Hall, secretary; I. S. Smith, G. W. Kroll. trustees. Faculty: Edmund Schoetzow, superintendent ; Grace Templeton, principal : Leone B. Dennis, assistant principal ; Eva C. Ditzell, second grammar : Frances Volkmer, first grammar ; Katherine Brennan, second primary : Inez Willard, first primary. Inez Willard is teaching her seventeenth year in the first primary room, having taught nine years the first time. The total number of graduates is 119. Of these 100 were under Edmund Schoetzow's administration.
MARCELLU'S GRADUATES.
1889-Edwin Drury. Maude Bogert, Guy Keene.
1800-Julius Stern, Charles Giddings, Homer Kidney, Pearle An- derson. 1891-Grace Arnold, Bertha M. Hartman, Margaret R. Hutchin- son.
1893-Guy Snyder.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
1894-Earle R. Clemens, Mae Manning, Belle Taylor, Enoch G. Bogert, John M. Alexander.
1895 -- Harriet L. Vincent, BeDee M. Poorman, Helen B. Munger, Grace E. Taylor, Jessie I. Mayhard.
1896-William C. Hartman, Edith L. Hall, Mabel A. Vincent, Parthenia M. Stillwell, Ola M. Nicholson, Charles R. Welcher, Maude M. Palmer, Mabel C. Easterbrook, Pearle E. Swift, *Barton C. Notting- ham, Bert J. Vought.
1897-Roy E. Goodspeed. Mamie V. Sherman, Willard J. Gunter. Annis M. Mikel, Willard C. Davis, Eliza A. Reynolds.
1898-A. Florence Taylor, Tacie R. Udell, V. Mande Marr.
1899-Clyde Clemens, Vera M. Jones, Carolyne L. Stern, Margery 1. Kern, Florence McManigal, Burt L. Loveridge.
1900-Bertha Harris, Elma Mohney, Mary Remington, Susie Lutes, Georgia H. Hartman, L. Clare Poorman, Leroy S. Long, Nellie Batchelor, Earle J. Gould.
1901-Carl G. Fulton, Leona Kent, Irene Cropsey, Harry A. Brad- ford, Louella Apted. Clella E. Davis, Genevieve Mumford, Gay .A. Webb. Merle Mack, Edna R. DeCou.
1902-Clair Smith, Sarah M. Hall, Frances C. Streeter, Mabel S. Long, Sarah E. Lutes. Lura Rosewarne, Jennie Lowry, Anna Bachelor, Mabel S. Fletcher, Lulu M. Franklin, Jennie Cleckner, Abby R. Munger. John H. Maxam.
1903-Neva F. Kent, Birdie Walker, Hattie R. Potter, Harry P. Jones. Albert J. Carpenter, Helen H. Stern, Ethel Apted, Hollister H. Savage, Deane E. Herbert, Daisy E. Lewis. Jennie M. Thompson.
1904-Rosa Hartshorn, Esther George, Mary Long, Alice Street- er. Benlah Potter, Clark Whitenight, Bessie Thurkow.
1905-Henriette George, Mary DeForest, Neva 1. Arnold, Ethel M. Holliday, Emar Hice. Florence Stern, Vera Thurkow, Jessie M. East.
1906-Vaughn R. LaBarre, Jennie M. Spitler, Leona Mae Moxley (colored ), Fanny M. Saulpaugh, Mildred I. Krise, Cleta Beatrice Kern, Sarah Orril Mack. Clarence A. Bradford, C. Blanche Waldron. Rena Hoisington, Grace M. Lewis, Kathryn B. Colburn, V. Kathryn Taylor. Verna B. Siegel.
VANDALIA PUBLIC SCHOOL.
The Vandalia Public School was graded by Jesse Borton, the prin- cipal, in 1873. Mr. Borton had been at the head of the school some time before and remained there until 1876. His successors have been :
1877-8 J. Handschue. 1879-89 Michael Pemberton.
* Killed in the Spanish-American war.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
1 890 Thomas Chalmers.
1891-3 Chester E. Cone.
1894-5 A. F. Probst.
1896-8
C. L. Pemberton.
1899 C. L. Catherman.
1900 S. J. Bole.
1901-3 L. O. DeCamp.
1905
H. S. East.
1900 *R. T. Baldwin, John Myron.
The school has graduated one hundred and nine students notwith- standing there were no graduating classes in 1884, 1886, 1896, 1899 and 1904, and the first class in 1883.
GRADUATES.
1883-Rose Bonine, Minnetta Thurston, Robert Coats, Florence Thomas, William Shillings, George D. Smith, Ella Carrier, Elroy Alexander.
1885-Ida Tinker, Fred Jefferson, Herman S. East, *Mattie Cross, Henry Lane, *Dena O'Dell.
1887-C. H. Bonine, Erma Faulkner, Eva O'Dell, William Oxen- ford.
1888-Samuel Stephens. Clare Pemberton, Leroy E. Deal, G. E. Campbell, Bertha Bonine.
1889-Edna Fellows, Charles Wetherbee, Frank Lewis, J'Net O'Dell. John Setzler, *Edith Roys, Loren Miller.
1800-Pearl Bump. J. C. Faulkner, M. Lena Lynch, Carrie Kirk, Minnie Lambert. * Cora Thomas.
1801-Frank E. Faulkener. #Charity Mulrine, Earl Merritt, Ralph Bogue.
1802 -* Eva Jefferson, Bertha Arnold, Mary Seager.
1893-Frank Blood, Nellie Royer, Cora Arnold, Blanche Simpson, Lola Thurston, Iva Cussans. Clara Whited.
1894-Ella Symons, Nellie Kirk, Ada Phillips, Guy Van Ant- werp. Charles Setzler, Bernice Mckinney, Myrta Shillings, Mary Smith, Albert Roys, Ethel Orr. Margaret Pemberton, Cora Royer, Odessa Seager, William Setzler.
1895-Belle Lynch, Meda Weikle, Etta Train, Mary Skinner, Han- nah Bogue.
1807-Leona Hollister. Ethel Deal, Blanche McCabe, John Simp- son, Verna Rover.
1808-Minnie Wilson, Vesta Lewis, Hattie Mealoy. Clarence Faulkner, Edna Barnum.
* Resigned.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
1900-Glennie Heslet, Flora Hollister, Ruby M. Johnston, Anna Setzler, Vera Lynch, Marie Denison, Mabel Honeyman.
1901-Blanche Wiltse, Arlie Bonine, Blanche Denison, LuVada Copely.
1902-Leon Alexander, Ward . Bump, Florence Doan, Wayne Beardsley, Mabel A. Bonine.
1903-Clara Seidl, Fancheon Lewis, *P. Jay Freer, Carl Johnson, G. Belle Freer.
1905-Sadie Bonine. Clara Bonine, Mabel Curtis, Deva Brickell, Floyd Keller.
1896-Georgiana Longsduff, Onear Fisher, Reta Van Antwerp, Burt Pullin.
The faculty for 1906 and '07: John Myron, principal; Mrs. Mae Dunning and Miss Ruby M. Johnston, assistants: Miss Minnie Wilson, intermediate ; Miss Mabel Bonine, primary.
* Deceased.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
CHAPTER XVII.
LIBRARIES.
LADIES' LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OF CASSOPOLIS.
In October, 1870, an organization under the name of "Cassopolis Reading Room and Library Association" was effected, and the fol- lowing February incorporated with the following named incorporators : W. W. Peck, W. P. Bennett, C. S. Wheaton. J. T. Stevens, A. Gar- wood. A. B. Morley, A. Maginnis, II. Norton, O. Rudd, M. L. Howell, John Tietsort, J. M. Shepard. L. H. Glover, J. B. Boyd. The declared objects of the organization were, "the establishment and maintenance of a library and reading room ; the procuring and furnishing of lectures on literary and scientific subjects ; and the affording of such other means of literary, scientific and intellectual improvement as the association by its by-laws may provide." The public reading room feature of the organization was kept up less than a year, but the library has been maintained to the present time, and contains about fifteen hundred volumes of choice fiction, history and travels, sheltered in the Pioneer Room of the Court House.
A few of the ladies of Cassopolis have managed the library since the discontinuance of the reading room, and September 5th, 1905, new articles of incorporation were executed by the following women, who were made directors under the new organization-Ladies' Library As- sociation of Cassopolis: May S. Armstrong, Lucy E. Smith, Allie M. Des Voignes, Addie S. Tietsort, Hattie J. Holland. Maryette H. Glover, Sarah B. Price.
Its officers are: Sarah B. Price, President ; Maryette H. Glover, Secretary: Addie S. Tietsort, Treasurer.
Article VII of the articles of association is as follows : The officers shall be women twenty-one years of age and residents of Casso- polis, and members of the association. Any person paying the mem- hership fee provided for in the by-laws may become a member.
The membership fee is one dollar, and the further fee of seventy- five cents each year after the first year. This payment authorizes the
DOWAGIAC PUBLIC LIBRARY.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
member to draw books from the library, which is open to its members Saturday afternoons, and in charge of the ladies.
*THE LADIES' LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.
The library movement in Dowagiac was begun by the ladies of the city in 1872. April 9th a meeting was called and a constitution and by-laws were presented and adopted. The city was then canvassed for subscribers to the capital stock, the amount of which was fixed at $1,000, divided into 500 shares at $2.00 each. About 200 shares were sold. With this money books were purchased and the enterprise was fairly started. Books were loaned under proper regulations. The sign- ers of the constitution, or charter members, were: Mesdames Maria Palmer, Amanda W. Jones, Mary E. Lyle, May E. Bowling, Emma E. Van Riper, Jerusha E. Bailey, Lorraine Dickson, Caroline J. Mul- vane, Lillie A. Curtis and Miss Gertrude ReShore. A room was rented for the library until 1888, when P. D. Beekwith became interested in the cause and knowing the need of a permanent home for the library, built for it a small frame building and fitted it up with cases for the books and all necessary furniture and, with the lot on which the building stood. deeded it to the Association. Until his death Mr. Beekwith was ever a good and generous friend to the library cause.
By the will of Wm. K. Palmer, an old and respected citizen, the Association received $1.200, the only gift of money ever received. In 1902 the charter of the Association was renewed for thirty years.
To the ladies of the Association who worked so long and earnestly the people of Dowagiae are indebted for the splendid Public Library they now possess.
Feeling the need of a wider influence than a subscription library could have. they interested their friends in an effort to seeure a Carne- gie Library for the city, and on receipt of the offer, went before the eity couneil and pledged their books and income to the support of a publie library. The money from the Palmer estate furnished the foundation of a permanent book fund for the library, and the income from the rent of the former library building is expended quarterly for books for the Public Library.
The Ladies' Association, while co-operating with the Public Li- brary board and having its only purpose in advancing the interests of the library, is still maintained as an independent organization. The
* NOTE-This article was contributed to the history by Grace RcShore.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
officers for the current year are: Mrs. Mable Lee Jones, President : Miss Frances M. Ross, Vice President; Mrs. J. O. Becraft, Treasurer ; Mrs. E. N. Rogers, Secretary.
DOW AGLAC PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The building is the gift of Andrew Carnegie, the grounds the gitt of the Beckwith Estate. The Public Library and Reading Room were established by a resolution adopted March 16th, 1903; at a meeting of the common council of the city, and at the same meeting the mayor appointed as the first board of trustees, Mrs. E. N. Rogers, Mrs. F. J. Atwell, Mrs. A. B. Gardner, Miss N. A. Atwell, Miss Grace ReShore, Messrs. Wm. F. Hoyt. C. W. Hendryx, Rev. L. M. Grant. F. L. Be- craft. The board organized and elected officers. C. W. Ilendryx, presi- dent; Mrs. A. B. Gardner, vice president ; Miss Grace ReShore, secre -. tary. Building committee: W. F. Hoyt, Mrs. Gardner, F. L. Becraft.
The architect selected was Berkeley Brandt of Chicago. The material used for the building is vitrified brick in two colors-with columns and trimmings in Bedford stone. The interior finish is in weathered oak. walls tinted terra cotta with light buff ceilings. At the right of the entrance is the children's room, with low shelves on three sides of the room for books. The delivery desk is in the center, with the steel book-stacks at the back; the general reading room at the left of the entrance. At the right from the stack room is the librarian's room, and at the left is the reference and trustees' room.
The lighting is a combination of electricity and gas. The furniture is oak in Mission style. In the basement is an assembly room seating about 250, which will be used for the children's league and other small gatherings.
The Library received from Mr. Elias Pardee, an old resident of the city, a valuable museum consisting of stuffed birds and small ani- mals and some very fine deer and elk heads: birds' nests and eggs, shells. etc., which add greatly to the attractiveness of the rooms and interest and instruct the young people.
In November, 1903, the cornerstone of the building was laid with appropriate ceremonies by the Michigan Grand Lodge of Masons. No- vember roth, 1904, the library was opened with an informal reception in the evening. and the next day began issuing books. At the time of opening the library contained 3.535 volumes-2,752 of which were from the Ladies' Library Association, 783 from the public school library,
CHILDREN'S ROOM, DOWAGIAC PUBLIC LIBRARY.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
1,026 volumes have been added since. The circulation for the past year was 21, 198 volumes. Readers' cards have been issued to 1,703 persons.
The officers of the library board for the current year ( 1900) are : Wm. F. Hoyt, President; Frances M. Ross, Vice President; Grace ReShore, Secretary and Librarian.
BECKWITH MEMORIAL THEATRE.
The Beckwith Memorial Theatre, dedicated by Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll in January, 1893, is constructed of Lake Superior red sand- stone with backwalls of brick. The building is 85x115 feet in dimen- sions, and is three stories in height. The front has a genuinely monu- mental effect, the first story being a magnificent arcade of four great arches, with twenty feet to each span, and showing the depth of the walls. On each pier is the portrait of a noted woman in bold relief. such famous women as George Eliot, George Sands, Mary Anderson, Sarah Bernhardt, Rachael and Susan B. Anthony being represented. Above this space smoothly chiseled stone reduces the effect again, and the top story front consists of semi-circular headed arches which form another arcade. Upon the bay directly over the main entrance is a large medalion portrait of Philo D. Beckwith, beneath which a mag- nificently carved panel bears the name "Beckwith." In the other front bays are portraits in medalion of Beethoven. Chopin, Rossini, Wagner. Verdi, Liszt, Voltaire. Ingersoll, Payne, Hugo, Emerson. Whitman, Goethe and the immortal Shakespeare.
The main entrance to the building is in the middle division of the ground floor front and is eighteen feet in width. This also furnishes the entrance to the corner ground floor room, which is occupied by Lee Brothers & Company's bank, than which there is no finer banking room in the country. On the opposite side is the entrance to the postoffice. which is fitted up with the latest appliances for the expeditious handling of the mails. From off the arcade a magnificent flight of stairs leads to the second floor, the front portion of which is occupied by the offices of the Beckwith estate.
The stage is fifty feet wide and thirty-eight feet deep, with beauti- fully ornamented boxes on either side. Everything has been done with a lavish hand. There are fifteen elegantly furnished dressing rooms, in which are all the conveniences for the comfort of the disciples of Thespis who visit this house. The drop curtain is a composite work of art. The general design is an original figure composition in classic Greek,
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
and is montimental and decorative in contradistinction to the realistic school and apparently inspired by the artist's study of the theatre itself. The figures are superbly drawn and painted, and the landscape portion is magnificent. The whole presents a fitting picture by the greatest artists of the time. Each has done well his part. No one mind could have conceived it ; nor could any one hand have executed it. It will live as a classic work of art when its makers shall have passed away.
The scenery is designed for the cyclorama effect which has been found so effective, and which was first used in the Auditorium in Chi- cago. By this arrangement a scene can be set as a street or a garden by simply moving the scenes, which are profiled on both sides and top, anywhere desired. Every set of machinery is a finished piece of art. It is, after the latest fashion, lashed together with ropes, and is capable of being made into seventy-five distinct stage dressings.
All the ornamental work in the house is after the fashion of the Grecian school, and everything possible has been done to make this, the first memorial theatre erected in the country, the most beautiful play- house in the land. There are 499 over-stuffed mohair plush chairs, dyed in a light fawn and flesh colors, 329 of which are in the parquette and 170 gracing the balcony. The gallery seats 200 comfortably.
The problem of electric lighting of theatres has been solved in this house by the use of a large switchboard, in which there are twenty- five levers and nine powerful resistance coils. The lighting of the stage itself is exceptionally complete, four hundred electric lamps in three colors being utilized for this purpose. The heating and the ventilation have been well looked to, and there never was a theatre whose air was more pure and whose warmth was more regular and comfortable.
There is a roomy foyer and an abundance of fire escapes; in fact nothing has been left undone which could add to the attractiveness and completeness of this house. It is a new and splendid model which time will demonstrate to be almost, if not quite, the acme of human skill in architecture, design and decoration.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
CHAPTER XVIII. THE CASS COUNTY PRESS.
In the year of this writing there are eight newspapers published regularly in Cass county. Of these there is one daily, and one pub- lished twice a week. Outside of the two large centers Edwardsburg and Marcellus support each a paper.
In one respect, at least, the newspaper history of Cass county is noteworthy. All but one of the eight papers have had a continuous existence-though not all under continuous proprietorship-for at least a quarter of a century. The newspaper graveyard of Cass county is surprisingly small. The live ones are not so much troubled by the ghosts of defunct enterprises as in many other counties that might be named. Not that journalism has been without the usual reefs and shallows in this county. Not that there are no wrecks to record. Here, as elsewhere, some newspapers, delivered in hope, have died in blameless infancy; one or two, having served their ephemeral purpose, passed out without the sting of failure; the existence of one or two others was fitful and stressful from the first. and the end was the happiest part of their career.
The early settlers of the county had no newspaper. Perhaps the most familiar paper that could be considered a "home paper" was the Niles Herald, which was published by A. E. Draper from 1833 to 1838. being suspended at the latter date. In its columns, no doubt, were pub- lished the legal notices from Cass county. The only other paper in southwestern Michigan that was regularly published at that time, so far as is known to the writer, was the Kalamazoo Gasette, which was established in 1834, and is now in its 73rd volume.
More than fifteen years elapsed after the organization of Cass county before the first newspaper enterprise ventured a permanent abode in the county. The Cass County Advocate issued its first number March II, 1845. The publishers got their equipment from the old Niles E.r- press. It announced a regular weekly appearance, but, as is well known, the intentions of early editors-often, too, of those still with us-did not possess the breadth and height and irresistible force needed to over-
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