Compendium of history and biography of Hillsdale County, Michigan, Part 6

Author: Reynolds, Elon G. (Elon Galusha), 1841-
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago, [Ill.] : A.W. Bowen
Number of Pages: 554

USA > Michigan > Hillsdale County > Compendium of history and biography of Hillsdale County, Michigan > Part 6

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Nor were the people much mistaken in think- ing that the railroad would be the harbinger of an era of great prosperity. The road, in connec- tion with the great improvement in business, cer- tainly worked· marvelous changes in Hillsdale county. The products of its farms, so long im- prisoned by the unfathomable roads between here

and Lake Erie, now found ready egress to the East, and brought back returns of money which, in comparison with the supplies of previous years, might be called abundant. New facilities were also furnished for immigration, and for several springs and summers, not a week, hardly a day, passed without some newcomer from the East making his home amid the dense forests or fer- tile openings of Hillsdale county.

Improvement began to be observed in the con- dition of the farms and character of the buildings. The massive stumps began rapidly to disappear under the destructive influences of time. Al- though log houses still remained the rule, yet here and there a modest framed house was to be seen even outside of the two villages.

On January, I, 1843, a law was enacted de- claring that "the present seat of justice of Hills- ciale county is hereby vacated" and establishing a new county seat "on the courthouse square in the village of Hillsdale," at which place the courts were directed to be held, and, after the county building was burned with most of the county rec- ords in 1847, the legislature of 1850 empowered the supervisors to borrow money to built a court- house, which was completed and occupied in Feb- ruary, 1851. This was ample in convenience and room for many years, and lasted until the erection of the present stately and beautiful building, which was completed and dedicated with imposing ceremonies in the closing year of the last cen- tury. To show coming generations how the peo- ple celebrated this occasion we give the program of the day and the names of the officers, etc.

Program .- 8 to 10 a. m., reception of distin- guished guests. 10:00 a. m., band concert, Hills- dale City Band, Northwest Band, Deal's Band. Jonesville, Litchfield Band. 10:30 to II :30, bi- cycle contests, on Howell street : First, quarter mile : second, slow race ; third, one-half mile ; the fourth, 100-yards dash. First, second and third prizes, each event. II:30 to 1230, din- ner. 12:30, overture by Northwest Band, followed by selections by Jonesville, Litch- field and Hillsdale City Bands. 1:00 to 1:30 p. 11., dedicatory exercises ; Invocation, Prof. Ran- som Dunn, D. D .; welcome, by Judge Guy M.

HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

Chester, President of the day ; welcome on behalf of city, Mayor Frank M. Gier ; song, "Michigan, My Michigan," chorus of fifty voices, Charles S. Wolcott, leader ; dedicatory oration, Judge Martin B. Koon, Minneapolis ; song, "Marching Thro' Georgia," by the chorus ; remarks, by Judge Vic- tor H. Lane, Judge Watts and Judge Pratt ; song, "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp," by the chorus ; remarks by Col. O. A. Janes, Judge John B. Shipman, Judge Erastus Peck ; song, "When Johnny Comes Marching Home," chorus ; remarks, by Congress- man Henry Smith, Hon. Grant Fellows, Hon. Will W. Cook; song, "Tenting on the Old Camp Ground," by the chorus ; remarks, by favorite lo- cal speakers ; song, "America," by the entire audi- ence, led by chorus. 3:30 p. m., selections by Deal's Band, of Jonesville. General sports. First, 100-yards shoe race. Second, pole vault. Third, egg race. Selection, Litchfield Band. Fourth, high jump. Fifth, 100-yards dash. Sixth. bottle race. Selection by the Northwest-Band. Seventh, brotherly carrying race. Eighth, Tug-of-war. (Prize box of cigars.) Ninth, greased pole. (Sil- ver dollar on top of pole.) In all events but two, first, second and third prizes were given. 6 p. m., supper. 7:00 to 7:30, band concert. (At point of Waldron Block.) 7:30 p. m., fireworks, finest ever shown in Hillsdale county. Officers: Presi- dent of the Day, Judge G. M. Chester. vice-presi- dents, Allen, Fred Rothlisberger ; Amboy, Joseph Edinger ; Adams, John M. Williams; Cambria, David S. Card; Camden, Sherman Haughey ; Fayette, E. S. Gregory; Jefferson, Andrew L. Davis ; Hillsdale, Henry Hart; Litchfield, L. B. Agard ; Moscow, Guy Conklin ; Pittsford, Charles Wood; Reading, Fred Rogers; Ransom, A. J. Cornell ; Scipio, William Weldon ; Somerset, John Mercer ; Wheatland, C. W. Williams; Wood- bridge, Eugene Divine; Wright, Lewis Hackett. Committees : Program, Marin E. Hall, F. H. Stone, C. F. Cook, C. M. Barre, W. J. Sampson. Finance, First Ward, Wm. O'Meara; Second Ward, J. B. Whitney ; Third Ward, W. H. Frank- houser ; Fourth Ward, E. O. Galloway, Esq. Advertising, F. P. Robards, G. E. Gillam, H. C. Blackman. Invitation, Judge Chester, C. M. Barre, A. L. Guernsey, O. J. Cornell, L. A. Good-

rich. Special trains, W. J. Samson, J. B., Whit- ney. Grounds and decoration, Frank M. Hall, E. T. Beckhardt, F. O. Hancock, C. A. Shepard, S. D. Bishopp, H. W. Samm, Dr. Whelan. Recep- tion, Mayor F. M. Gier, F. A. Lyon, WV. H. Saw- yer, Frank Masters, Judge M. McIntyre, Judge D. L. Pratt, A. B. Cummins, Ed. Davis, James O'Melay, J. S. Galloway, George F. Gardner, F. M. Stewart, E. J. March, George D. Harding, F. W. Stock, President George F. Mosher, C. F. Cook, Wm. MacRitchie, C. E. Lawrence, Amos H. Kendall, A. W. Lewis, F. M. Thompson, Burr Wilbur, F. T. Ward, L. S. Ranney, H. W. Gier, B. E. Sheldon. Music, C. S. Wolcott, F. C. Thatcher, Prof. M. W. Chase, W. H. French. Sports, F. P. Robards, C. W. Terwilliger, L. H. Frensdorf, L. F. Beckhardt, Prof. D. M. Martin. It may not be uninteresting to record that the last case tried in the old courthouse was the divorce suit of Mary A. Campbell vs. Frank Campbell, while the first case heard in the new courthouse was also a divorce suit, in which Myra Chapman was released from her marriage with William Chapman.

The population of the county by the census of 1850 was 16,159 and the increase both in popu- lation and improvements went steadily forward. The remaining forests were rapidly going down before the woodman's axe, thousands of fertile acres were yearly uncovered to the sun, smiling orchards took the place of gloomy elms and tow- ering oaks.

The decade from 1850 to 1860 also witnessed the change from log houses to framed houses. Outside the villages of Jonesville and Hillsdale there were almost no framed houses erected be- fore 1840. From 1840 to 1850 a small number had taken the places of their rude predecessors, but between 1850 and 1860 a majority of the farmers were able to enjoy the luxury of framed, brick and stone houses. Pumps took the place of the picturesque "sweeps," which in every pioneer's dooryard greeted the eye afar, and from which depended the "old oaken bucket." Changes from inconvenience to convenience were'to be seen in every part of the county, and prosperity was the order of. the day. In 1851 the railroad company

HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

resumed construction on the railroad, and rapidly rushed the building, going much west of the county line in that year and completing the road to Chicago in 1852. The "crisis" of 1857 only slightly checked the tide. It was so light in com- parison with the terrible crash of 1837 that old settlers scarcely considered it as worthy of the name of crisis, and, after a year or two of depres- sion, the business of the county again began to manifest its old vitality.

The census of 1860 showed a population of 25,675, an increase of fifty-nine per cent. in ten years.

The great Civil War affected this county as it did all parts of the North. The taking away of so many young and stalwart men to fill the ranks of the Union army was seriously felt in business circles and in the industrial development, for, until the war closed in 1865, labor was at a prem- ium. With the issuing of "greenbacks" by the government, prices, not only of labor, but of all commodities, greatly increased and a period of inflation was inaugurated, which no doubt was beneficial to the county, as the products sold brought high prices and the large amount of . money sent home by the soldiers added to the wealth of the various communities. All kinds of business flourished. Before 1870 had closed the Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw Railroad had been built diagonally across the county and also the Detroit, Hillsdale & Indiana Railroad, which passed through Hillsdale southwesterly to its junction with the above mentioned road. Not- withstanding the great drain on the population during the first half of the decade, the number of inhabitants increased to 31,688 in 1870, an addi- tion of nearly twenty-four per cent. in ten years.

The decade from 1870 to 1880 saw the com- plete fulfillment of the development of the orig- inal wilderness. The county had now become as old as the counties of the East from which had come its original settlers. and under the law of progress, the ultimate had been attained. Aside from the reclamation of a few marshes, and the drainage of some low-lying lands, the agricul- tural possibilities of usual country farming had here been fulfilled. The natural law that draws

men to centers and away from the country had commenced its operation, and it is most probable that this era had here the greatest population that the county will reach for many years, the census of 1880 showing 32.726 inhabitants. Even with the attempts to introduce industries and industrial plants, for many years Hillsdale county will be most truly an agricultural county and the diligent husbandmen who hold in fee simple its fertile lands will ever have a source of wealth that will render them independent of all financial cata- clysms. The character of the farming is chang- ing. Long noted for its grainraising and dairy productions, stockfeeding is largely prevailing. The prosperous farmer purchases cattle in the Chicago markets, brings them to his Michigan home, and, after feeding them for a series of months, sends them, with greatly added weight, to Eastern markets. And yet the same principles of business that brought prosperity to the early pioneer have to. be borne in mind if the stockman would be proportionately successful.

In 1880 the report of the county treasurer shows a total amount received of $68,946.33, and these items appear therein : State tax, $36.651.99 county tax, $20,200 ; primary school funds, $4,- 530.33 ; paid to county officers, $1.965. Real es- tate as equalized in assessment, $15.204.994, per- sonal estate, $2,845,241, with a total valuation by towns as follows: Amboy, realty, 464,050 : per- sonal, $44,650. Allen, $968,930 ; $102,000. Ad- ams. $1,144,145 : $143,651. Camden, $753.150 ; $58,335. Cambria, $1,028,650: $154.765. Fay- ette, $1,118,000 ; $326.220. Hillsdale, $410.885 ; $41,289. Jefferson, $752,920: $88.570. Litch- field, $1,146,250 ; $158,040. Moscow, $897.000 ; $106,610. Pittsford, $1, 106,685 ; $156.295. Read- ing, $1, 160,670 : $288,190. Ransom, $634.990 ;

$87,010.

Scipio, $711,240 : $64,840.

Somerset,

$747,995 ;

$73,160.'

Wheatland, $1, 173.755 ;

$III.735. Wright, $834.965 : $94,535. Wood- bridge, $579.955 : $52,600. First and second wards of Hillsdale, $516,770 ; $288.600. Third and fourth wards, $873.450 : $464,220.

To give an idea of the value attached to of- ficial service in 1880 we give the salaries of some of the county officers and resolutions adopted by

HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

the board of supervisors: County clerk, $1,000; prosecuting attorney, $1,200; treasurer, $1,000; probate register, $200. "Resolved, That the sum of $650 salary, fixed by the board of supervisors of 1878, and the additional amount of $800, or thereabouts, perquisites of the said office are inad- equate, and not a fair and just compensation for services rendered this county by said clerk ; there- fore, Resolved, That the sum of $350 be, and the same is, hereby appropriated and paid to the said clerk as additional pay for clerk hire."

The decade from 1880 to 1890 shows a de- crease in population, the census of the latter year giving the number of inhabitants as $30,160. Nothing out of. the regular routine of ordinary business and social life occurred, only a steady improvement in the character of the buildings, some of these rivalling counties of greater. wealth, while in Hillsdale and the prominent villages busi- ness blocks, that would well adorn the metropoli- tan cities of the country, contain large and varied stocks of merchandise and attractive professional offices. A slight increase in the wealth is shown by the assessment roll, which gives the valuation of real estate as '$15,560,923 and the personal property as $2,557,466, divided among the towns thus : Adams, $1,002,390; $155,330. Allen, $893,668 ; $100,466. Amboy, $463,635 : $25,255. Cambria, $880,555 ; $95,965. Camden, $718,350; $72,650. Fayette, $1,000,080 ; $267,600. Hills- dale, $350,940 ; $28,920. Jefferson, $712,870; $84,870. Litchfield, $993,530; $119,220. Ran- som, $609,666 ; $61,530. Reading, $1,088,095 ; $241,080. Scipio, $655,120; $39,300. Somerset, $709,750 ; $76,490. Wheatland, $908,445 ; $106,- 810. Woodbridge, $610,470; $40,210. Wright, $834,590 ; $83,950. First and second wards of Hillsdale, $484,365; $203,000. Third and fourth wards, $970,600 ; $590,000.

The last decade of the Nineteenth Century passed much the same as the previous decade, the national shrinkage in country real estate being perhaps less felt here than in many localities, the assessment on real estate being only $14,007,555 while the assessed value of personal property in- creased to $3,698,282. The population, also, is less than that given by either the census of 1880

or that of 1890, showing only 29,865 people as res- idents, distributed thus : Adams, including North Adams Village, 1,552; Allen, 1,328; Amboy, I,- I37 ; Cambria, 1,355 ; Camden, 1,926 ; village, 376 : Fayette, 1,941 ; Jonesville, 1,367 ; Hillsdale city, 4,121 ; Hillsdale township, 447 ; Jefferson; 1,601 ; Litchfield, 1,617; village, 645; Moscow, 1,090; Pittsford, 1,537 ; Ransom, 1,215 ; Reading, 2,163, village, 1,096; Scipio, 957; Somerset, 1,216; Wheatland, 1,195; Woodbridge, 1,318; Wright, 2,149.

Hillsdale county stands at the threshold of the new century full of the honor derived from an honest citizenship and an industrious and loyal people, its distinct intelligence being shown by the fact, that besides the large library of 13.300 books in Hillsdale College, there were 102 well selected district libraries in the county. Politically it is true to the antecedents of the New England ances- try, for, while it was Democratic in the early years of its settlement, and at the time of the Know-Nothing excitement party lines were wiped off the political slate, it has been steadily Republi- can on national issues for many years, the Demo- cratic party being a worthy opponent, however, and regularly polling a large vote at the polls.

The last year of the last century was quite fruitful in happenings of local history. The rural free delivery of the U. S. mails was established in July, three carriers in that month collecting 1,626 letters and packages and delivering 8,035. In September, 1902, four carriers were employed, who delivered 35,576 letters, etc., and collected 9,441. Jonesville completed its fine electric light- ing plant and water-works system. The alert, progressive and thriving village of Reading suf- fered a loss of $80,000 by fire. The beautiful Presbyterian church of Hillsdale was erected at a cost of $15,000, and the county agricultural soci- ety, which has for years been one of the notable institutions of not only the county, but a much wider range of territory, paid out the handsome sum of $12,160.17 in premiums, etc., showing what a good work it is accomplishing.

The dignified, yet attractive and beautiful city of Hillsdale, strong in its position as the county seat, is yearly adding to its conveniences for its

HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

residents and the strangers within its gates,""town's first and oldest established bank. It has Hillsdale College, with its twenty-six instructors a capital of $5,000 and has been ably conduct- ed by A. J. Lovejoy & Co. Individual responsi- bility from $50,000 to $75.000. and 400 students, being one of its desirable feat- ures as a residence town. This celebrated school receives appropriate and full recognition on other THE EXCHANGE BANK of Litchfield dates from 1894. H. N. Turrell, president ; D. R. Haw- ley, cashier. It has a large and representative class of depositors. An exchange business has been done for twenty years. Capital and surplus $10,000. Individual responsibility. $40,000. pages of this work. The following villages, each possessing distinct merits as a business center. serve to facilitate commercial transactions and to accommodate the public, and of each of them a chapter might be written did the scope of this work permit. They are Jonesville, Reading. THE STATE BANK of Reading was organized in December. 1889. with a capital of $25,000, and H. F. Doty, president ; George G. Clark, vice- president ; W. B. Northrop, cashier. These gen- tlemen, with A. R. and J. W. Chapman, consti- tuted the directorate. Litchfield. North Adams, Camden, Allen, Pitts- ford, Osseo, Cambria, Moscow, Ransom and Frontier. A eoneise and comprehensive sketel: of the carly history of each town, giving the early events in compaet form for reference follows later in this history.

The healthful financial state of Hillsdale county can be best shown by noting the number and solidity of its banking institutions and we herewith give convineing statisties in corrobora- tion thereof.

THE CITIZENS BANK of Allen was established i11 1893 by F. A. Roethlisberger. (See his biog- raphy elswhere in these pages for further details. ) The capital stock is $15,000 ; surplus and profits, $2,000 ; loans and discounts, $21,000 ; deposits, $16,000. Mr. Roethlisberger is president and \V. N. Benge, cashier.

THE BANK OF O. D. CHESTER was opened at Camden in 1890. to do a banking and real estate business. O. D. Chester was the proprietor ; B. R. Alward, cashier ; E. M. Lash, assistant cashier. This bank was closed on November 7, 1902, on the death of Mr. Chester, and was succeeded by the Bank of Camden, organized in 1902, with B. R. Alward as cashier. Its correspondents are Chase National Bank, New York City, and the Hillsdale Savings Bank.

THE GROSVENOR SAVINGS BANK of Jonesville was established in 1854 and has done a valuable service to the people. In the biography of Mr. Grosvenor and elsewhere in this work a more ex- tended account is given. E. V. Grosvenor is president ; W. M. Wetmore, cashier.

THE CITIZENS BANK of Litchfield is the

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK is one of the solid institutions of Hillsdale. It was organized on February 24, 1863, being the fifth national bank in Michigan. William Waldron was its first president and its leading spirit until his death, on December 11, 1877, when Hon. Henry Wal- dron succeeded to the presidency. At his death, Rev. Charles N. Waldron was elected president, but deelined to serve, and on January 16. 1881, Frank M. Stewart was elected his successor, and for twenty-two years has served as such. Charles F. Stewart is cashier and the directors are W. A. Waldron, F. M. Stewart, C. H. Winchester, H. K. Bradley, C. E. Lawrence and Wm. MeRitchie. Its report made to the Comptroller of the Curren- ey on June 9. 1903, showed a capital of $55,000 ; surplus and profits, $47,932.68 ; deposits, $735,- 296.27. Total resources, $853.861.86.

THE HILLSDALE SAVINGS BANK Was organ- ized in June, 1884, and Hon. John P. Cook was its first president, but at his death, on December 15, 1884, C. F. Cook was elected, and since that time has been president. A. B. La Fleur is the nom- inal, but L. D. Walworth the acting cashier. The directors are C. F. Cook, H. S. Walworth, John F. King, John T. Crume and A. B. La Fleur. The official report on June 9, 1903, showed capital of $60,000, surplus and profits, $32,984.72 : depos- its, $457.266.06. Total resources, $550,250.78.

THE FIRST STATE SAVINGS BANK opened for business on June 16, 1902. F. A. Roethlisberger

HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

is president, Paul W. Chase, cashier. The direc- tors are Guy M. Chester, E. Frensdorf, W. N. Benge, F. H. Stone, E. S. Segur, C. M. Barre and F. A. Roethlisberger. Its published report on June 9, 1903, showed capital, $50,000 ; profits, $6,798.50 ; deposits, $218,883.96. Total resources, $275,682.46.

CHAPTER VI.

EARLY PLACES, PEOPLE, ETC.

JONESVILLE is the oldest village of Hillsdale county. It contained the first taverns, stores, mills, and was the first .county-seat, holding that distinction for twelve years from the organiza- tion of the county in 1831. Until Hillsdale came into being it was the most important place of the county, standing high among the early settlements of the entire territory of Michigan. The historic connection of the early settlement of all of this section is inseparably fastened upon Jonesville, and a list of the early settlers of this village in- cludes many men of excellent character and great capabilities, and among distinguished citizens and public officers of the state and country will be found men who took up their abode here in the pioneer days, and won honor, fame and a national reputation, some of whom are John P. Cook, see Hillsdale and biographical sketch elsewhere in this volume; C. W. Ferris, see Hillsdale ; Stephen Hickok, the fourth settler of the village ; Henry Packer, a member of the state legislature, judge of the Probate Court and the organizer and first president of the Hillsdale Agricultural Society ; Jonathan B. Graham, member of the legislature and a delegate to the state constitu- tional convention, later the leader in the erection of the Jonesville woolen mills ; Hon. E. O. Gros- venor, see sketch; E. P. Champlin, from 1834 to 1851 a successful merchant, postmaster from 1840 to 1844, representative and state senator ; Gen. George C. Munro, prominent in the agri- cultural organizations of the county and state, the first president of the village ; he formed in this village the first union school of the section and also erected- the first brick house of the county ; Hon. Levi Baxter, at one time a chief justice of

Lenawee county, and, while a resident here, a state senator ; Rockwell Manning, postmaster in 1838 and 1839, landlord of the Fayette House and Hillsdale House at Hillsdale, of which village.he was an original proprietor and later the first agent of the railroad at Hillsdale ; John G. Gardner, who built the well-known Genesee mills on the St. Joseph river, north of Jonesville; F. M. Hollo- way, one of the best-known early pioneers and a most popular county official, register of deeds for two years, for twenty-five years secretary of the county agricultural society, twice a Demo- cratic candidate for auditor-general of Michigan, and in 1880 candidate for governor ; Hon. W. W. Murphy, who, with W. T. Howell, opened here the first law office of the county, member of the legislature and for nine years U. S. consul-gen- eral at Frankfort-on-the-Main; John T. Blois, publisher of the first gazetteer of the state in 1838, register of deeds, circuit court commissioner ; Hon. W. J. Baxter, prominent in banking and in educational matters of the state, for over a quarter of a century a member of the school board of the village, president of the state and county pio- neer societies and a state senator. Very few places of even a much greater population can ex- hibit such a galaxy of distinguished names, and "there are others."

Among the early lawyers were George C. Gibbs, who coming here early, had little practice and removed to California ; Salem T. King came in 1836 or 1837 ; William T. Howell came about 1837 ; Hon. W. W. Murphy came in 1837; John T. Blois came in 1839 and with S. T. King opened the second law office of Jonesville; Z. M. P .- Spaulding, Wolcott G. Branch, J. K. Kinman, I. A. Holbrook and A. P. Hogarth, all came in 1838 or 1839. Nathaniel T. Howe, John Manross, C. M. Wisner, J. C. Wyllis, H. Townsend, R. W. Boynton, Luther Hanchett, N. J. Richards, L. M. Hartwick, William N. Hazen and A. H. Nelson were attorneys of later date, many of them being students of Murphy & Baxter. Hon. W. J. Bax- ter was a prominent lawyer and public citizen, coming here in 1848. These were the legal lights up to the breaking out of the Civil War.

Physicians .- Dr. William Mottram came early

HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

in 1832 and engaged in pedagogy, paying little attention to medicine. Dr. Chase came soon after Mottram, also taught school and gave little time to his profession. Dr. Brooks Bowman came in 1834 and acquired an extensive practice. Then came Dr. Brockway, Dr. Daniel Stillwell, Dr. Stillman Ralph, Dr. Manning and the older Dr. Delavan. Of a still later date were Dr. L. A. Brewer. Dr. W. B. Hawkins, Dr. L. R. Wisner and Dr. G. Chaddock. Dr. H. M. Warren is said to have been the first homeopathic physician of the county. Many of these physicians were able practitioners, who took long rides in all kinds of weather, rain, snow and sunshine, and at any hour of day or night, to relieve suffering human- ity. They did their life's chosen work well and in due time were called from their labors to a land where medical services are not needed.

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Compendium of history and biography of Hillsdale County, Michigan, Part 6

Author: Reynolds, Elon G. (Elon Galusha), 1841- Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago, [Ill.] : A.W. Bowen Number of Pages: 554

Author: Reynolds, Elon G. (Elon Galusha), 1841-
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago, [Ill.] : A.W. Bowen
Number of Pages: 554