USA > Michigan > Kalamazoo County > Compendium of history and biography of Kalamazoo County, Mich. > Part 13
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business until January 10, 1876, on which date E. B. Dyckman & Company commenced business with a capital of fifteen thousand dollars. The members of the firm of E. B. Dyckman & Com- pany were E. B. Dyckman, I. W. Pursel and M. R. Cobb. The officers were E. B. Dyckman, president, and M. R. Cobb, cashier. They con- tinued in business until, after the death of Mr. Pursel, in 1878, Myron M. Cole purchased the interest of Mr. Pursel, and the business continued under the same firm name until after the death of Mr. Dyckman, in October, 18881. Nesbitt & Mil- ler commence business in January, 1882, and the business of E. B. Dyckman & Company was closed up. The firm of Nesbitt & Miller was com- posed of Thomas Nesbitt and Philip D. Miller, both of Schoolcraft. They continued in business until February, 1891, when the Kalamazoo County Bank, of Dwiggins Starbuck & Company, was started, with E. W. Bowman as cashier. In 1893 a state bank was organized by Mr. Bowman, under the name of the Kalamazoo County Bank, a state bank; E. W. Bowman was president and Charles E. Stuart cashier. In July, 1897, the present bank, the Kalamazoo County Bank of C. C. Duncan & Company, was organized with C. C. Duncan, president, and C. E. Stuart, cashier.
CHAPTER XI.
THE CHURCHES AT ALAMO.
The Methodist church has the distinction of being the oldest organization. It had its origin in a class that was formed in a log house on the township line north of Jug Corners, in 1842, by Rev. F. Gage. The members of this class were Thomas G. Carpenter and wife ; F. Montague and wife; T. Johnson, J. Johnson and others. Ser- vices were held at various places in the township, as convenience dictated. The brick school house at the Center, the Hackley school house and one known at that time as the Spalding school house were the principal places.
In 1867 the societies of the Methodist Epis- copal and Presbyterian churches united to form a house of worship, which was dedicated and
opened for services in 1869. At the time of their union and occupancy of the new edifice, they numbered fifty members. In 1880 they numbered seventy-five members.
From the erection of the church to 1880, the following ministers have officiated. Rev. T. J. Congdon, Rev. William Cogshall, Rev. E. D. Young. Rev. C. T. Van Antwerp, Rev. J. S. Valentine, and Rev. E. H. Day.
The Rev. Congdon retired from the ministry soon after he closed his pastorate here. He bought a house and store at Alamo Center and moved his family from Cooper (he resided at Cooper and preached at Cooper and Alamo) to his new home. Here for several years he kept a general store and the postoffice. Well does the writer remember, when but a little schoolgirl in company with her mates of receiving many treats of candy from the kind old gentleman. After a time he sold the store and purchased a farm on the op- posite side of the street, where he erected a fine dwelling. After a few years, as he realized that age and infirmity were creeping upon him, he sold his property at the Center and, with his family sought the genial climate of California. After a short residence in that sunny climate, he heard the call of the Master to that "Great Beyond" where we trust he heard the welcome words, "Well done; enter thou unto the joys of thy Lord."
Rev. Van Antwerp now resides at Lake View. Montcalm county, Mich. He has retired from active work on account of his health and it is hardly expected he will be adequate to perform the duties of a pastor again. His aged and in- firm father-in-law resides with him.
Rev. E. H. Day died of pneumonia at Cad- illac, Mich., March 31, 1904, at the age of seven- ty-six years. Mr. Day closed a five-years pastorate in Lawton, and retired from the ministry, in which he had served fifty-one years. He enter- ed the ministry at the age of twenty-four years and was sent by the Methodist Episcopal church to the Indians west of Lake Superior. Arrived at the Sault, he waited two weeks for a steam- boat to be drawn over the rapids by horse power. By the first trip of this steamer, the first on the
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lake, he reached La Pontie, a post of the Amer- ican Fur Company, thence by a small boat to his station, a small place about twenty-five miles above what is now Duluth. Here, one hundred miles from a white man, from supplies and a postoffice, he labored three years. His next work was among the miners at Cliff mine, on Eagle river and Ontonnagon, at each place he spent two years and built a church. Then he went among the Indians in Allegan county and near Hastings; there we see him on his first appointment among the white churches, at Char- lotte, Hastings and vicinity, making the rounds of eighteen stations, one hundred and forty miles, on foot, once in three weeks. He, with Rev. Bush, his able helper, was a leader in the great revival at Alamo in 1878. During his life he witnessed some five thousand conversions. Well done, faithful servant, it is meet you should enter your reward. Of the other ministers spoken of the writer can give no account. Since 1880 the names of some of the ministers who have served the people are Rev. C. T. Van Antwerp, Rev. Wal- lace, deceased, Rev. Cottrell, and Rev. Boswick. During the present summer the church was struck by lightning, the steeple demolished and other damage done. It has been nicely repaired and with its symmetry and fresh coat of paint is an imposing structure, an honor to Alamo.
The Presbyterian church was organized May 17, 1865, by Rev. S. Osinga, acting pastor. The individuals who enrolled their names as its first members were J. Tallman, S. D. Barbour, C. W. Barber and wife, S .. Love, Jane E. Love, Mrs. H. Maregang and Lydia Bachelder. S. D. and C. W. Barbour were elected as the first elders and a peti- tion was forwarded to the Kalamazoo presbytery to be taken under its care, which was granted. The first communion was held in the school house at Alamo Center, June II, 1865. The society united with the Methodist church in 1867, for the purpose of erecting a house of worship. After the erection of the edifice some of the members united with the Congregational church. As far as my knowledge extends, there is at present no Presbyterian organization in Alamo.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH .- The following
extract was taken from the early records of the church referring to its organization :
"ALAMO, MICH., October, 1849.
"At a council, called by letters missive, by the brethren interested, and by the Rev. Isaac C. Crane, for the purpose of organizing a church in this place, there was present I. C. Crane, of this place ; Rev. A. S. Kedzie, of Kalamazoo ; Broth- er M. Everett, of the Congregational church, Kalamazoo ; Brother L. Fasler, of the Congrega- tional church of Otsego, and Brothers James Tall- man and Julius Hackley, of this place. The Rev. I. C. Crane was appointed moderator and the Rev. A. S. Kedzie was appointed scribe. The council was opened with prayer. After a full discussion of the subject by the council and by the brethren interested, it was resolved that this council recom- mend to their brethren that they be formed into a church. The following persons then presented letters of admission and recommendation from the churches with which they were connected, viz : James Tallman and Elizabeth Tallman, from the church at Lodi Plains, Mich. ; Julius Hackley and Dorothy Hackley, from the church at Otsego, Mich .; Searles D. Barbour, from the church at Oxford, Mass .: Charles Barber, from the church at Kalamazoo, Mich .; Rev. I. C. Crane, from the Methodist Prostestant church; Agnes Tallman and Martha Green were received on pro- fesion of faith. The church then made choice of Brothers Julius Hackley and C. W. Barber as deacons, who were then set apart to the office with prayer by the council. Brother Searles D. Bar- bour was appointed scribe. The church then ad- journed.
Isaac C. Crane, Moderator."
"A. S. Kedzie, Scribe."
Their first pastor was Rev. I. C. Crane and in 1853 the following officers were unanimously elected : Malon Everett, Julius Hackley, dea- cons ; Charles W. Barbour, clerk ; Julius Hackley, treasurer of benevolent fund. Rev. B. F. Mon- roe began his work as pastor in 1853, and con- tinued his pastorate for three years, after which the church became. extinct. An effort was made to revive the organization in 1863, and in June of
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that year Rev. S. Ozinga began his labors and continued them until May 5, 1867, when his fare- well sermon was preached. In the summer of 1867 Rev. B. F. Monroc returned to this field of labor, and in December of that year the church was organized. At the next meeting the follow- ing persons presented themselves for member- ship: S. D. Barbour, C. W. Barber and wife, Ju- lius Hackley and wife and Mrs. Selkrig. Julius Hackley and C. W. Barber were elected deacons, and S. D. Barbour, clerk. All the above men- tioned have been called from the church terrestrial to the church celestial. The first and youngest to receive the call was S. D. Barbour, who passed away at the age of fifty-four ; he died September 13, 1873. The last in this list to receive the call was his brother, C. W. Barber, whose summons came August 24, 1903, at the age of seventy-six years. Agnes Barber, his wife, departed this life October 8, 1893, at the age of sixty-three years. Lydia Bachelder's death occurred February 12, 1888. Mrs. Selkrig died about 1877 or 1878. Mrs. Hackley's work closed June 24, 1890, at the ripe age of eighty-one years. Mr. Hackley, her husband, traveled on nine lonely years without his helpmeet, after which he was called to mcet her where loneliness is unknown. Mr. Hackley lived to be the oldest of the group, he having reached his ninety-first milestone. Mr. Monroe was the first minister to serve in the new edifice, he acting as pastor during its construction. The two churches added matcrially to the growth of our little village. The day of the raising of the church here the children scampered upon the back seat of the old brick school house, where, from the windows they could watch the men heave the ponderous beams in position ; with what keen ap- petites they viewed the long tables set in the par- sonage vard, being piled with choice viands by the noble and good women of Alamo. The little people's turn came at last. The men feasted and departed. There was a superabundance for all. The tables fairly groaned under their weight.
After a pastorate of three years Rev. Monroe resigned in March, 1870. He was succeeded by Rev. Elam Branch, who began his labors in July of the same year and closed them April 1, 1872.
The following year Rev. Armstrong served Alamo and Cooper. Rev. E. Dyer camc June 29, 1873, and continued to minister to the people until Rev. F. W. Bush was installed April 1, 1877. He re- mained about four years. He worked harmoni- ously with his Methodist brother, Rev. Day, and through their efforts many were added to the churches. Mr. Bush has visited Alamo several times since his pastorate here. A few years ago he delivered the Memorial Day sermon at Alamo. Quite recently he was called to officiate at the funeral of one who used to listen to his sermons during his pastorate here. Mr. Bush, though past the prime of life, is still in the ministry and at present located at Clarksville, Mich.
The church membership in 1880 numbered ninety-two. The deacons at that date were Jo- seph Coshun, Penuel Hobbs and C. W. Barber ; the trustees, H. C. Van Vranken and Oliver Brocway; clerk, C. W. Barber.
Since 1880 the church has lost greatly through death and removal; the present membership is about ninety. The following are some who have served as pastors since 1880: Mr. Lanphere, Mr. Bradley, Mr. Keightley, the latter two were na- tives of England : these two have passed to their reward. Mr. Keightley died at his daughter's in Detroit, June 24, 1894, at the age of three score years. His first work was as a missionary in the east part of the state; his health failed and he gave up this work and preached at several places, Alamo being among the number and nearly the last place.
"Beautiful toiler, thy work all done, Beautiful soul, into glory gone ; God giveth thee rest."
His widow has visited Alamo three times, the last time being during the last summer. We all enjoy the visits of so genial and Christian a woman as Mrs. Keightley. May she make many such sojourns in Alamo.
The next minister to Alamo was Mr. Web- ster, then Mr. Hurbert, then Mr. Andrus, then Mr. Lillie, then Mr. Randal, next Mr. Snyder, Mr. Malar, Mr. C. Maxfield, Rev. Malar and Mr. O. Johnson.
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KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
This church, like her sister church, received a touch of the electric fluid ; but it did much less damage. I do not just remember the date, but think it was about 1894 or 1895.
Joseph Coshun is'still serving as deacon, one of the oldest members of the church, a faithful and stanch member. May it be many years before he hears the bugle call to join the soldiers over the river. The other deacons are Alvord Peck and Westley Edwards.
Both churches are provided with furnaces and are well lighted. Services are held nearly every Sunday. In the Congregational in the morning and in the afternoon at the Methodist; in the evening at both. Memorial Day services, in charge of H. P. Shutt, are held annually, alternating with each church.
CHAPTER XII. .
STATE ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE.
This admirable institution, which represents the finely organized charity of the state to one class of its unfortunate citizens, has been in opera- tion for many years, and its history is peculiar and unique. The Michigan Asylums for the Insane, the Deaf, Dumb and Blind, were established in' 1848. "The reasons for associating, under a single board, three institutions, having nothing in com- mon, either in their general object, construction, organization or management, do not appear in any state document or paper, but in that year petitions from various sections of the state were presented to the legislature, asking for the adop- tion of some method of care for the insane, and the superintendents of the poor of Kent, Saginaw and Wayne counties also asked for some provision for the same object.
In a special message, dated February 28, 1848, nection which had obtained from the first legis-
Governor Ransom recommended that "provision should be made for the establishment of a hos- pital for the insane and an asylum for the deaf and dumb at the earliest period consistent with the existing obligations of the state." This mes- sage was soon followed by an enactment, estab- lishing such institutions, providing for the ap-
pointment of a board of trustees, which was to se- lect suitable sites and erect buildings, and appro- priating eight sections of salt spring lands for these purposes. In 1849 the Governor announced that from the conditions then existing, he would defer the appointment of the board and renewed his recommendation that other provision than that made in the previous act should be . speedily made and that suitable grounds should be selected and set apart for the erection of proper buildings.
In 1850 Messrs. Hascall, Stuart, Cook, Taylor and Farnsworth presented their first report as trustees, saying that they had located the Asylum for the Insane at Kalamazoo, the citizens of that place giving to the state fifteen hundred dollars in addition "to a site for the asylum, containing ten acres of land." The legislature this year ap-' propriated five thousand as an asylum fund. In 1851 the trustees recommended the sale of the ten acres at Kalamazoo and the purchasing of one hundred and sixty acres in the vicinity and urged a more liberal appropriation. In 1853 Governor McClelland commended the asylums of the state to the favorable notice of the legislature, which appropriated twenty-three thousand dollars to be used as a purchasing and construction fund in 1853 and 1854. The trustees, Sheldon McKnight, Bela Hubbard, P. J. Spaulding, Israel Kellogg, and Joseph B. Walker were authorized to sell the ten acres formerly donated. By this time the very beautiful, attractive and desirable location where the asylum now stands had been purchased. It contained one hundred and sixty acres, for which eight dollars an acre was paid.
Before 1856, $17,487.48 had been' expended in preliminary work to the construction of buildings, in labor on the central building, etc. In 1855-6 sixty-seven thousand dollars was appropriated as an asylum construction fund. In 1857 the con- lation on the asylums between the Flint and Kala- mazoo institutions was severed and a separate board appointed for each. The state building commissioner 'at the time reported to the legisla- ture that the building was "very perfectly adapted to the purposes of its erection, losing nothing when compared with the most expensive asylums
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in sister states." They adopted for their rule of action the embodied experience of the Associa- tion of Medical Superintendents of American Asylums, and by the early appointment of a medi- cal officer, "with the view of having the building erected so far under his supervision as to secure his approbation when finished, all capricious modi- fications and changes in plan and policy have been avoided." The buildings and surroundings were erected in accordance with plans furnished by that eminent specialist in the care of the insane, Dr. John P. Gray, who was elected superintend- ent in 1855, one year later resigning to become the superintendent of the New York State Asy- lum. From 1856 to March1, 1878, Dr. Edward H. Van Deusen guided the affairs of the asylum.
On February 11, 1858, the central building was totally destroyed by fire, which seriously de- layed progress, but in 1859 the trustees reported to the legislature that they were nearly ready to care for ninety patients, and asked for sufficient monies to increase the capacity so that they could provide for one hundred and forty-four patients. The progress was greatly hampered at this time by the difficulty of obtaining funds, although the state made a liberal appropriation, and the im- possibility of obtaining the appropriations of 1859 and 1860 was a serious blow to the state's interest in this direction. The asylum was fully equipped and organized for the reception of patients by February 24, 1859. Eleven years had slowly passed from the time of the first organization until it was formally opened (this event occurring on August 29, 1859), and much suffering had re- sulted. From the organization and opening of the south wing to the building of the north wing, seven years of time, three hundred and fifty pa- tients could be accommodated. From the com- mencement of the north wing until provision was made for the male department (which offered ac- commodations for three hundred) five years elapsed.
In 1859 the act of organization, under which the affairs of the asylum are yet conducted, be- came a law. The first board of trustees was Dr. Z. Pitcher, Messrs. Coggeshall, Montague, Pratt, Trask and Woodbury. The first meeting was
held on March1 30, 1859, when L. H. Trask was chosen president of the board and J. P. Woodbury, secretary. Dr. Edwin H. Van Deusen was re- elected superintendent, and on April 23d the first patient was received. David A. McNair was elect- ed treasurer on March 30, 1859, and on April 28th the code of by-laws was adopted. William Brooks succeeded J. P. Woodbury as secretary of the board on June 14, 1859. The first religious serv- ices were held in one of the little parlors of the south wing on November 6, 1859. The north wing was completed, furnished and prepared for occupancy in September, 1869, at a cost of $27,- 091.70, this building being the completion of the originally planned asylum, the foundation of which was laid in April, 1854.
In 1871 two additional buildings, an "asylum extension" of sufficient capacity to accommodate two hundred and fifty patients, was ordered erected, and eighty thousand dollars was appro- priated by the legislature to be expended in 1871 for that purpose and one hundred and forty thou- sand for 1872. These buildings increased the size of the asylum so much that more than five hundred and fifty patients could be cared for easily and raised it in rank and efficiency to the standing of the large and admirable institutions of New York and other older states. The rooms were made commodious and cheerful and the solidity and excellent character of the work were vouched for by experienced builders.
The chapel building was completed in 1872, the dedicatory services being held on June 30th. Many citizens of Kalamazoo and citizens of Mich- igan and other states gave generous contri- butions to this work. From the time the first patient was admitted for treatment in April, 1859, the total number of inmates of the asylum up to July 27, 1904, was 9,576; 1,591 receiving treatment at that time. The es- timated annual increase from the admission of the first patient to the present time in the number yearly is fifty patients.
On April 5, 1872, the trustees met with a great loss in the death of one of their number, Dr. Zina Pitcher. He was a trustee of the asylum from its separate organization in 1859 until his death-
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KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
thirteen years. Standing high as an authority in his special field, he held, with marked ability, the office of president of the board of trustees of the Michigan State Asylum for the Insane and for the Deaf and Dumb from 1856 to 1859, when he commenced his official connection with the Kalamazoo work. Dr. Pitcher was eminently fitted to discharge the duties of his onerous office. Having conscientious fidelity to duty, a broad professional experience and an enlightened judg- ment, he had in a high degree the qualities essen- tial to the proper inauguration of a beneficent public institution. Among those not heretofore mentioned, his acute and vigorous intellect, his great Christian philanthropy and his heartfelt sympathy for not only the insane, but for all suf- fering persons, must be especially noted. During his long term of service he acted on the commit- tee on the appointment of the medical staff, dis- charging the difficult and delicate duties with a wise and far-seeing sagacity.
What is known as the "colony system," the most advanced and beautiful system yet devised to the treatment of the class of diseases known as mental disorders, has been fully adopted here. The asylum farm proper has been enlarged until it now embraces in its area three hundred and forty acres. In 1885 the Brook farm, lying north of the city of Kalamazoo, was purchased. This contains two hundred and fifty-six acres and is admirably adapted to give healthful labor and cheering recreation to the class of patients as- signed to its care and labors. Forty-seven men are now under treatment here and the duties of the farm are largely attended to by them. In 1887 the Hinds farm, now known as the Colony farm, at this writing comprising three hundred and fifty-seven acres, became tlie property of the asylum. Here the cottage plan was first inaugu- rated and has been most fully carried out. On this farm, which was most beautifully adapted by nature for its present mission, are now located four cottages, the Van Deusen, giving a home to thirty-five women; the Palmer, furnishing rooms to twenty-nine women; the Pratt, occupied by seventy-two men ; the Mitchell, caring for seventy- nine women. "Fair Oaks" is devoted to the use
of the medical staff of the asylum as a residence. The colony system deserves a word of atten- tion in this connection. It is like a pleasure re- sort in many of its features, combining, however, more of the characteristics of a home, where the household duties and the work of gardening are done under freedom of action, thus affording regular occupations to distract the mind from troubled thoughts, and at the same time making the patient self-supporting to quite an extent. In other words, construction of quarters for four hundred patients, under the "room" method, would cost the state four hundred thousand dol- lars; under the colony plan, one hundred and twenty thousand. By large pleasure grounds, long walks within the inclosure "far from the maddening crowd," the complete isolation of the quieter patients from the noisy ones, and the ad- vantages, mentioned heretofore, of exercise at liberty in the open air and an opportunity to keep busy at pleasant employment, a very beneficial effect is produced. This colony method does not obtain, however, in treating persons suffering from acute diseases, accompanied by great ex- citement and uncontrollable impulses. For the most part these privileges are enjoyed by chronic cases of mild character and of long standing.
The site of the asylum is a most admirable one, on a height of land overlooking the beautiful valley of the Kalamazoo river at an eleva- tion of over one hundred feet. Over one- fifth of the grounds is covered with a fine, thrifty growth of forest trees, principally oak and hickory, and the extensive grounds in front of the buildings are covered with a scatter- ing growth of oaks, that stand out clear and free from underbrush, adding to the general beauty of the place, and furnishing highly appreciated shade to the inmates in the hot days of summer. Arcadia creek, a clear, rapid stream, runs through the asylum farm and the land gradually falls away, presenting knolls, hollows, plains and ravines in a great variety until the valley of the creek, west of the buildings, had attained a low level, suffi- cient to give the best of drainage facilities. The soil of this farm is a sandy loam, very product- ive and easily tilled.
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