Compendium of history and biography of Kalamazoo County, Mich., Part 8

Author: Fisher, David, 1827-; Little, Frank, 1823-
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago [Ill.] : A.W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 598

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traffic from Kalamazoo to Allegan on November 23, 1868, and to Grand Rapids on March 1, 1869, and had a length of fifty-eight miles. Kalamazoo and Cooper are its stations in this county. Both of these roads were built by Ransom Gardner. The Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad is an im- portant one, running north from Fort Wayne, Ind., to Petosky, Mich. This road reaches with- in twenty-five miles of Mackinaw Straits and was completed to Kalamazoo in 1870. Its stations in this county are Kalamazoo, a division point ; Vicksburg, Austin and Cooper. The Kalamazoo & South Haven Railroad, incorporated on April 14, 1860, "to construct a standard gauge road be- tween the two cities mentioned in the charter," came into being through the active co-operation of the citizens of the territory adjacent to the line of the road. Citizens of the city of Kala- mazoo took twenty-five thousand dollars of the stock, the town of Kalamazoo raising twenty-six thousand dollars by taxation. Alamo voted ten thousand dollars as a township, residents of that township subscribing five thousand dollars. The second of the state roads, the Chicago road al- luded to elsewhere in these pages, aided much in the early development of the country. It ran from Detroit to Chicago, two hundred and fifty- tour iniles, and the travel for years was almost one unending procession. But, as the population of the state increased, this road nor wagon roads could satisfy the people. By 1840 the construc- tion of railroads had become quite general. The state legislature from the first held to the theory that the state "could legitimately and profitably build and manage any kind of public works that the people demanded. Accordingly laws were freely passed to grant monetary aid to contem- plated roads, many of which became failures. As one example, a law was passed in February. 1842, authorizing the commissioners of internal im- provement to pledge the net proceeds of the Southern Railroad for five years in order to build tlie road from Adrian to Hillsdale and to fully iron the road.

The people were not mistaken in thinking that these wonderfully increased means of trans- portation woud be harbingers of prosperity. The-

KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

railroads, acting harmoniously with the great de- velopment of the state, gave rapid movement of crops and merchandise. The products of the farms, that had been so long valueless by reason of the almost impassable and nearly unfathom- able roads leading to the Eastern markets on Lake Erie, now had easy and rapid transportation. The money received from their sale came back in amounts which in comparison with those of previous years were greatly to the benefit of the settlers. The railroads also furnished abundant facilities for incoming emigrants, and during the spring and summer of several of the closely fol- lowing years not a week, not a day even passed without some newcomer from the east arriving to make his home amid the forest trees of the somber woods, on the rich prairies or in the pleas- ant scenery of the fertile "openings."

From 1840 great improvement took place in the condition of the farms and in the character of their buildings. The massive stumps left from the primitive methods of clearing now began to rapidly disappear through the destructive in- fluence of time. Although log houses remained the rule, even outside of the village, here and there modest frame houses were to be seen.

Four great railroads afford transportation fa- cilities for Kalamazoo. Their numerous branches, if counted separately, would almost double the number. The Michigan Central's Niagara Falls Route connections with Lake Michigan, the Chi- cago, Kalamazoo & Saginaw connections with the Pere Marquette & Grand Trunk, together with the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway, and Grand Rapids & Indiana practically control the rate,' situation and competition does the rest. Fifty passenger trains arrive and depart daily, bearing their thousands of travelers to all parts of the county and the aggregate of freight ton- nage in and out of Kalamazoo is the second in the state of Michigan. Much credit is due these railroads for the many advantages placed before the shippers of this city in the way of side tracks, spurs, etc., for the speedy and advantageous han- dling of the enormous amount of freight in and out of Kalamazoo. The Michigan Central Rail- way, the pioneer railway' of the state,. has at all

times maintained a close relationship with the interests of its patrons, both freight and passen- ger, and stands willing and ready at any time to co-operate with any movement which has for its purpose the advancement of Kalamazoo.

To the ordinary observer it is a difficult and by no means satisfactory task to place even a fairly accurate estimate upon the number of miles of track owned by the various transportation com- panies within the confines of the city limits. Much interest, however, is attached to the correct mile- age, inasmuch as the passenger traffic and freight business form an important item in the city's com- mercial life.

There are five transportation companies, with lines entering and crossing the city, and, as a matter of course, side tracks and switching facil- ities must be provided, which increase to a great extent the trackage within the city limits. All of the steam roads have switching yards of greater or less magnitude and numerous switches and in some parts a double-track system adds to the length of track of the Michigan Traction Com- pany. The total number of miles owned by the Chicago, Kalamazoo & Saginaw Railway, includ- ing the various spurs, switches and side tracks, amount to a little over eight miles. Only a single- track passenger service is maintained by this road, the bulk of its trackage being confined to switch yards and other adjuncts of freight service, such as sidings connecting the main line with various manufactories. The Lake Shore & Mich- igan Southern Railway has in the city eight miles of switching tracks, sidings and spurs, besides the three miles of track used for through traffic. The bulk of the company's mileage is located in the north yards and a portion is also devoted to sidings connecting spurs running to many of the large factories, whose freight business is suffi- ciently important to warrant the outlay necessary to put down the sidings.

The Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad track- age is made more formidable by the extensiveness of the switching facilities of the south and north yards. The total number of miles of track owned by this company within the limits of the munici- pality aggregates approximately fifteen miles.

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY OF

The largest number of miles of track possessed by any of the companies within the city limits is owned by the Michigan Central. This com- pany maintains in many places a double-track service which swells the trackage total to a notice- able extent. At present eighteen miles of track are operated by the Michigan Central in this city, distributed in the switch yards and the double- track through-service. With the completion of the new yards near the paper mill, these figures will be materially increased.

The Michigan Traction Company operates in its various local service lines over twelve miles of track, distributed on the street lines and in the switches. Double-track service in many of the streets, which was recently installed, has in- creased the trackage of this company to a notice- able extent. In spite of the excellent switching facilities furnished by the transportation com- panies in this city, the enormous freight traffic is often productive of blockades, which, during the "rush season," frequently, to some extent, tie up the shipping of local firms. Almost every year a stagnation of traffic, caused by insufficient switch track is experienced by the various roads.

State Asylum for Insane .- This institution is situated on what is known as the Lake View drive, within five minutes ride by electric car of the center of the city and, with its grounds, is one of the beauty-spots of Kalamazoo. Situated on the top of Asylum Hill and commanding a view of the city, it certainly is a delight to the sense of sight. As can be seen, the buildings are large and commodious, library and museum facilities are afforded to the inmates, the best of food and treatment is accorded them, and light labor, when deemed expedient by the superintendent, is pro- vided. Every known method of medical and curative treatment is resorted to to restore these unfortunates, when possible, to their right minds. The superintendent of the institution is Dr. Al- fred I. Noble.

Kalamazoo Board of Trade .- With a roster showing two hundred and fifty members,-repre- sentative citizens, and energetic, public-spirited men who have supreme faith in and are entirely loyal to the best interests of Kalamazoo as an

entity,- the newly organized Board of Trade of Kalamazoo began business at 143 South Burdick street, second floor. The first officers were H. B. Colman, president ; Samuel Folz and A. K. Ed- wards, vice-presidents; F. G. Dewey, treasurer ; Charles Hathaway, secretary. The scope of the Kal- amazoo Board of Trade is as broad, primarily, as the limits of the city and county. Any tangible business proposition that will add to the business value of our city or county will receive sincere consideration at the hands of the Board of Trade. Any enterprise of a public character which will make for the advancement of the general welfare will receive the attention and hearty co-operation of the board. It is the policy of the organization to work in harmony with all similar bodies in Mich- igan for the industrial, commercial, agricultural, financial and educational development of the com- monwealth, always, however, with local interests dominating. Kalamazoo has resources of facil- ities second to those of no other city in Michigan and is seeking new enterprises. The Board of Trade does not deal in "bonus" attractions. Every help that can be given will be extended to genuine business propositions, in the way of securing sites for factories, buildings and power for manufac- turers, help, both men and women and wherever possible, concessions in rents, purchase price and the like. Located at the intersection of one of the most important trunk line systems of railways in Michigan, and in the very center of the finest agri- cultural section of the state, Kalamazoo is already one of the leading industrial centers of Michigan, and seeks to add to her good fame in this direction, and the Board of Trade, harmonious, young and strong, is prepared and willing to exert its influ- ence to secure the full realization of this ambition.

Government Lands .- The United States government established in the early territo- rial days five land districts in Michigan for the convenient sale .of its lands-De- troit, Monroe, Kalamazoo, Saginaw and Grand River. The "principal meridian" from which all government surveys were made was a line run- ning due north from the mouth of the Auglaize river, a subsidiary stream of the Maumee which empties into the Maumee at Defiance, Ohio. The

KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

base line of this meridian crosses the Auglaize fifty-four miles north of the south boundary line of Michigan and forms the northern boundary of Wayne, Washtenaw, Jackson, Calhoun, Kal- amazoo and Van Buren counties. The Kalama- zoo land district was bounded on the east by a line commencing at the northeast corner of town- ship 3 north, range 7 west, and running south to the base line and by the line dividing the third and fourth ranges of townships, west, commenc- ing at the base line and running south to the southeast corner of township 4 south, range + west, also by the line dividing the fourth and fifth ranges of townships west, commencing at the northwest corner of township 5 south, range 4 west, and running south by said line to the southern boundary of the state; on the south by the line dividing Michigan and Indiana; on the west by Lake Michigan ; on the north by the line dividing townships 3 and 4 north, com- mencing at the northwest corner of township 3 north, range 6 west, and running with said line west to Lake Michigan; and by so much of the base line as divides the fourth, fifth and sixth ranges of the townships west.

This district embraced all of the counties of Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph, Branch, Calhoun, Kal- amazoo and Van Buren and all of the counties of Allegan and Barry except the northern tier of townships in each, which were placed in the Grand River district. The land office of this district was located at White Pigeon in 1831 and removed to Kalamazoo in 1833. Two or three townships were offered for sale, and some lands were entered in 1830, notably by Titus Bronson and Stephen Richardson. The sales in 1831 were 93,179.36 acres at a cost of $117,128.26; in 1832, 74,696.17 acres at a cost of $98,060.23 ; in 1833, 95,980.25 acres at a cost of $123,465.25. The year of the largest sales was 1836, when a grand rush of easterners crowded all of the houses of entertainment and the amount of business was so great at the land office that they were months behind in their work. During this year 1,634,511.82 acres were sold, the government re- ceiving $2,043,866.87. The vacant lands remain- ing unsold in the district in 1837 were 449,056.19

acres ; the school lands, 95,862.60 acres ; the uni- versity lands amounted to 35,914.84 acres, while the Indian reservations amounted to 83,001.69 acres.

The population of the county by the census of 1850 was thirteen thousand, one hundred and seventy-nine and the wealth of population and improvements went steadily forward. The re- maining forests were rapidly falling before the settler's axe, thousands of fertile acres were yearly uncovered to the sun and smiling orchards took the place of gloomy elms and towering oaks. The decade from 1850 to 1860 also witnessed the full change from log houses to framed ones. Out- side of the villages few framed houses were erected before 1840. From 1840 to 1850 a small number had taken the place of their rude prede- cessors, and between 1850 and 1860 a majority of the settlers were able to enjoy the luxury of comfortable framed, brick or 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 con- venience were to be seen everywhere in the county, and prosperity was the order of the day.

An important factor in the growth of this section of the state was the opening of the rail- road to Chicago in 1852. The disastrous panic of 1857 but slightly left its impress on the per- manent prosperity of the county. It was so slight in proportion to the terrible crash of 1837 that after a year of depression the business of the county manifested its old vitality. The popula- tion which in 1837 had been 6,377, in 1840, 7,389, and in 1850, '13,179, in 1860 had nearly doubled, showing the grand record of 24,746.

As would be expected; from its Puritanic or- igin, the politics of the county has ever been Whig and Republican. In 1836 the Democratic party had innings, Martin Van Buren re- ceiving two hundred and thirteen majority over William H. Harrison. In 1840 the New England element manifested itself, the vote standing 954 for Harrison, 744 for Van Buren. In 1848 Tay- lor, Whig, had 1,010 votes, Cass, Democrat, 880, and Van Buren, Free Soil, 495. In 1856 Fre-

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY OF

mont, Republican, had 2,803 votes, Buchanan, Democrat, 1,620. In the momentous election of 1860 Lincoln received 3,230 votes; Douglas, 2,031.

The great Civil war affected this county as it did all parts of the North. The taking away of so many men as volunteer soldiers, the young, stalwart and vigorous being usually the fated ones, to fill the ranks of the Union army, was seriously felt in all business circles and in the industrial development of the county, for until the war closed in 1865 labor was at a premium. With the issuing of "greenbacks" by the gov- ernment, prices, not only of labor, but of all com- modities, greatly increased, and a period of in- flation ensued which was probably beneficial to this section, as the products brought high prices and the large amount of money sent home by the soldiers added much to the wealth of the various communities. All kinds of business flourished and "times were good." Notwithstanding the great drain on the population during the first half of this decade the number of inhabitants in- creased to thirty-one thousand, four hundred and forty-six by 1870.

The decade from 1870 to 1880 saw the com- plete fulfillment of the development of the origi- nal wilderness conditions to the highest civiliza- tion of modern times. The county had 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 agricultural possibilities of usual country farming had here been fulfilled. The natural law that draws men to centers and away from the country had com- menced its operation, and it is very probable that this decade indicated the greatest population that the county will reach for many years.

It may be of interest for purposes of com- parison to know what were the agricultural and manufacturing interests thirty years ago, so we will give some statistics of the conditions of these industries in 1874. There were then 343,467 acres of taxable lands ; lands exempt from taxa- tion, 1,874.25, the value of the latter being $333,-

165. The number of farms was 1,520. These contained 158,078 acres. There were 72,691 acres in wheat, about 27,000 in corn and 96,888 bushels of potatoes were raised; 22,870 tons of hay were produced, 283,991 pounds of wool. 2.743.476 pounds of pork, 16,128 pounds of cheese. 728,266 pounds of butter, 48,387 pounds of maple sugar and 61,457 pounds of fruit were harvested and marketed. The apple and grape industries were well represented. Celery culture had not attained sufficient proportions to attract much attention. The stock of the county con- sisted of 9.411 horses, 88 mules. 278 oxen, 8,260 milch cows, 16.740 hogs, while 63,854 sheep were sheared in 1873.

The manufacturing establishments in 1874 numbered ninety-one, of which twenty-eight were operated by steam and twenty-six by water. These industries employed 1,766 operatives, and with their capital of $853,650 produced goods valued at $1.748,369 yearly. There were fifteen flour- ing mills, two operated by steam; nineteen saw- mills, one shingle mill, five planing mills, four foundries and machine shops, two steam imple- ment works, one "musical instrument" factory, one carriage factory, one fanning mill factory, three chair factories, one stave factory, four wind- mill factories, one "novelty" factory, one wooden- ware factory, one paper mill, three shoe factories, one cooperage plant, four breweries, two soap and candle factories, two marble and stone shops, two tanneries, one "stove works" and various other plants of this character.

During the latter portion of the nineteenth century the population of both the county and the city advanced rapidly, as did also the commercial importance of the city. In 1880 there was per- haps no town of its size in the state that did a larger business. One thing that did much to bring about this result was the increased facili- ties offered to manufacturers by the important railroads.

An historical event worthy of preservation here was the Kalamazoo County Pioneer meet- ing, which occurred at the "court house yard" in the city on August 5, 1880. The program of this enjoyable reunion of both early settlers and later

VIEW OF THE CITY OF KALAMAZOO IN 1832.

The cabin on the right was the residence of Titus Bronson, proprietor of the Town and one of the Judges of the Court. The cabin on the left was occupied by the first County Court. On the extreme left in the distance is a log cabin occupied by Elisha Hall. Doctor J. Abbott sits upon his horse conversing with Judge Bronson, across the fence. Elder Merrill is coming on his little black pony from a mission with the Indians.

From a large oil painting by Anthony Cooley, a resident of the place at that time.

KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

residents was thus printed: Meeting to be called to order by the Hon. L. F. Brown, presi- dent of the Kalamazoo County Pioneer Associa- tion, at 10 A. M .; prayer by the Rev. J. T. Robe, the first minister of any denomination that ever preached in Kalamazoo; address by President Brown; response by Hon. H. G. Wells, president of the Pioneer Society of Michigan; adjourn- ment to partake of a dinner spread on tables in the court house yard ; music by the band at I P. M., which is the signal for assembling at the speakers' stand." Then followed addresses by Hon. Charles E. Stewart, of Kalamazoo; John J. Adams, Lenawee; Albert Miller, Bay; M. Shoemaker, Jackson; W. J. Baxter, Hillsdale ; O. C. Comstock, Calhoun; Levi Bishop, Wayne; F. H. Thompson, Genesee; Jonathan Shearer, Plymouth. These were followed by vocal music. "The Young Pioneer," and the benediction by Rev. M. Bradley. Speeches were then made by old pioneers.

Hon. H. C. Briggs gave an interesting "talk." He said in part that in 1836 his father, mother. brother, sister and himself left the far East in a one-horse wagon, having a sheet thrown over the wagon bows, and found their way to Allegan county after four weeks of hard travel. Upon their arrival their cash capital was one dollar, which was paid for horse feed. "For two years the family subsisted on suckers and milk for the reason that it was 'brain food.' The diet failing in good results in that direction, the family re- moved their home into the wild woods eight miles from a settler or a road. Here they struggled for years in clearing a way for a home. At that time there was not five dollars in money in the town- ship. There were no aristocrats. Everybody had the best of land. Company both ate and slept in the parlor and was not tucked off into a back room. People had a fine ear for music. I have traveled one hundred miles to hear a cowbell. For years there were no schools and when one was finally established in a log house the teacher was paid one dollar and twenty-five cents a week in store pay. There was no money to buy either tea or coffee or to pay postage, which cost twenty- five cents where now we pay but two. Tea was

made from sage, and coffee from browned bread crumbs. People were, however, just as happy then as now."

Hon. Levi Bishop, of Detroit, said that in 1836 he left New York state for Michigan. On reaching Marshall he started on foot for Kalama- zoo county. When he reached Comstock he was so fatigued that he could go no further, but, after refreshing himself with a bowl of bread and milk at a settler's cabin, he again started on his way to Kalamazoo, where he arrived with his feet blistered and very sore. He entered land and returned. He traveled all over the state in pio- neer days and was never molested, never seeing any of the dangers some of the old pioneers told of experiencing in the early days from bears, wolves and Indians. When he entered his land the land office was two weeks behind time in its business, the town was full of people and the old Kalamazoo House fed men night and day as fast as the tables could be cleared off, being then un- able to take care of the crowds of land buyers. The floors of all the rooms and the halls were nightly covered with tired and disgusted men.

Dr. Comstock said that the first salutation that a stranger received here was "What will you have to drink ?"

Hon. Erastus Hursey, of Battle Creek, said that he came to Kalamazoo September, 1830, from the South in search of a farm. The only white man he found here was Judge Basil Har- rison, who kept a ferry at the mouth of the Port- age and ferried him across the river.

This ferry was in operation from the very earliest settlement, Nathan Harrison succeeding his father in the ownership. It was put out of business in 1835 by the building of a trestle bridge across the river. This bridge cost four hundred dollars, of which the federal government paid one-half.

At a town meeting held in April, 1834, it was voted to raise one hundred dollars as a wolf bounty, four dollars to be paid for each scalp taken in the town until the money was expended.

An old Thanksgiving dinner is thus de- scribed: In the fall of 1838 invitations were sent out to all the settlers in the county, and on that

COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY OF l'

especial day teams were sent for those who could not come otherwise. The good matrons superin- tended the cooking of the dinner, which consist- ed of wild turkeys brought in by the Indians, im- mense spareribs roasting before the great open fireplace, huge mince pies, pumpkin pies and pud- dings, all baked in the large brick oven, for cook stoves no one had. The turkeys and meats were suspended by stout tow strings before the open fire and slowly turned. The sauce of the meal was stewed cranberries brought in by the Indians. Not a fruit tree was here to bear fruit like that of the old Eastern homes. Extensive tables were spread and the many guests passed a very enjoy- able day and fun and mirth and jollity ruled su- preme.

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Compendium of history and biography of Kalamazoo County, Mich., Part 8

Author: Fisher, David, 1827-; Little, Frank, 1823- Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Chicago [Ill.] : A.W. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 598

Author: Fisher, David, 1827-; Little, Frank, 1823-
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago [Ill.] : A.W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 598