USA > Michigan > Kent County > Grand Rapids > Grand Rapids and Kent County, Michigan: History and Account of Their Progress from First. Vol. I > Part 12
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"From 1836 to 1838 there was a great boom. Forests were being cleared for farms, buildings going up in various townships, banks throughout the state could turn out all the money wanted by only signing the bills. Real estate was in demand and rapidly advancing. Everybody on a high horse, and happy, when, in the early part of 1837, a cyclone came. No gold or silver for redemption of 'wild cat,' or sale for town property or farm lands."
There are many others who might be mentioned as pioneers of the county, but enough has been said to show the energetic, progress- ive character, and sterling integrity of the great bulk of the new pop- ulation and to give the chief elements in the drama of Kent County development and civilization. Others will be spoken of as they came, and as they play their part in the history of Grand River Valley.
The Legislature of what claimed to be the State of Michigan, al- though it was not then recognized as such by the National Congress, passed an act on March 24, 1836, organizing the County of Kent and providing for the election of the proper officials. The county as or- ganized included but sixteen townships, the tiers to the north being added later, when the Indian title had been quieted. The county was given the same name as the township of Kent, which had been cre- ated two years before under the jurisdiction of Kalamazoo County. The village was not incorporated, but an annual meeting was held in April, at which a bounty of $5 was offered for wolves killed within the town, and, for the first time, the inhabitants took part in a Presi- dential election, although but comparatively few of the residents had been here long enough to be voters. That the large majority of the pioneers were members of the old-time Democratic party is shown by the vote, which was 64 for Van Buren, and 7 scattering. The neces-
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sity for schools was met by Miss Sophia Page, who taught a school which held its sessions in a little barn to the southeast, across the street from the present Morton House. It was built of boards set up endwise and with a floor of boards laid down without matching. A school for young men was taught by Daniel Smith, and for young women one was taught by Miss Mary Hinsdill in rooms in the Na- tional Hotel; but no attempt was made to conduct a school under the district organization of the previous year. In church affairs the Bap- tist mission was closed when Rev. Leonard Slater removed to Gull Prairie and the need for a Protestant organization of some kind was met when a little band of the faithful met, on Sept. 18, 1836, in the dining room of Myron Hinsdill's home, which stood where the Morton House now stands. There were twenty-two persons at this little meeting, over which Rev. S. Woodbury presided, and Samuel How- land and George Sheldon were chosen as elders and Myron Hinsdill and Ebenezer Davis as deacons of the new church, which adopted the Presbyterian form of government. A Sunday School was organized and services were held at the Hinsdill home. The beginning of the Episcopal Society was also made when David J. Burger was sent to Grand Rapids, in August, 1836, as a lay reader. His ministrations led to a call for the organization of a church, and a meeting was held on Oct. 6, at which time "St. Mark's Church of the Village and County of Kent" was given birth. Many of the most prominent of the pio- neers were connected with this organization, of which the first officers were: Wardens, George Coggeshall and Jefferson Morrison; vestry men, Charles Shepard, W. A. Richmond, John Almy, D. A. Lyman, John Thompson, S. M. Johnson, H. P. Bridge and Edward Emerson ; treasurer, George Coggeshall. Among other residents who signed a call for this meeting were J. B. Calder, John Beach, James Thompson, J. W. Peirce, S. L. Fuller, Michael Deemes, C. I. Walker, G. C. Nel- son, William and James Annis, and A. N. Lothrop. Mr. Burger soon left Grand Rapids and the church organization languished during the next few years. The interests of the Catholic people were cared for by Father Andreas Viszoczky at the old mission buildings.
In the organic act, by which Michigan was recognized as a State, it was provided that the State should be granted six sections of land adjoining the supposed location of salt springs, not to exceed twelve. These selections were made upon surface indications, but this was the first step toward the exploitation of the salt wells, which played such an important part in giving Grand Rapids wide publicity in the early days. The presence of gypsum was known, but no steps were then taken to develop this vast industry. Quite naturally the first and greatest necessity of the settlers was for grist and saw-mills. There were two primitive mills before 1836, and in this year the foundations for the "Big Mill" were laid by the Kent Company, and the erection of the grist-mill on Coldbrook was commenced by Dwight and James Lyman. Several saw-mills were already in operation, and in 1836 a new one was built on Plaster Creek, and Josiah Burton built one on a tributary of the same creek for Louis Campau, but no real steps were taken to develop the lumber industry and the saw-mills were simply for the convenience of the settlers for local domestic purposes. Two or three of the first settlers brought foot lathes with them and there were some rather crude attempts at home-made furni-
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ture. Such a shop was established by David Wooster and Zephaniah Adams, and in their employ was John L. Smith, who is said to have made the first chairs manufactured at Grand Rapids. Another in- dustry was that of brick-making, established first by John Davis, in 1834, and next by Solomon Withey, at the corner of Ionia and Cold- brook streets, in 1836, the first output being used to build the chimney for the residence of George Coggeshell. It is said that owing to the large amount of lime in the clay the first rain caused this chimney to slack and it was soon a heap of ruins. This compelled the location of another clay bank and this was soon done by A. O. Withey, the industry was resumed on Division street, near Oakes street, and of its product many of the earlier brick buildings were made. Other in- dustries have been spoken of in connection with the individual pioneers mentioned. The river was the great channel for transporta- tion, and by the end of 1836 much progress had been made on the east- side canal under direction of the Kent Company. Pole boats were the only boats of any considerable size used on the river at this time, and these were owned by Louis Campau, Francis B. and Thomas D. Gilbert, and Richard Godfroy. The hotel industry was a prominent and necessary one with the large floating population, and the taverns, all of which had bars in connection, were the most prosperous insti- tutions. In 1836, there was the Eagle Tavern, "kept" by Louis Mar- sac, and the Hinsdill Hotel by Myron Hinsdill, and practically all the residences were filled by transients. The only places for public gath- erings were the "old yellow warehouse" and the ball room of the Hins- dill Hotel. Thus we have a picture of Grand Rapids as it was at the opening of 1837, when Michigan first stepped forth into full-fledged Statehood. Money was plentiful, hope was high, strangers were com- ing by the score. Louis Campau, who had been a struggling French trader a few years before, now found himself practically the head of an enterprising and growing community. The land which he had pre- empted and platted in 1832 had become of value. Men were bidding against each other for favorable locations, and Mr. Campau was estimated to have been worth at least $100,000, which, by comparison with present day conditions, made him more than a millionaire. The Kent Company was headed by no less a person than a United States senator, who was interested in the development of the community, and in position to give Grand Rapids the widest publicity ; and it may well be believed that New Years Day, 1837, found Grand Rapids one of the most active and promising settlements in all the West. John Ball returned to the East and did not locate in Grand Rapids perma- nently until 1837, when he boarded again at the Eagle Tavern. His daughter, Lucy Ball, in Volume 38 of the Pioneer Collections, tells of his experiences during this year. Having become widely acquainted through his travels in Michigan, and being known as an ardent Demo- crat, he was nominated for State representative for the counties of Ottawa, Kent, Ionia and Clinton. The pioneers took to politics as the proverbial duck does to water, and there was no lack of interest in this earliest campaign. Stevens T. Mason was the Democratic candi- date for Governor against Trowbridge, the Whig nominee, and Miss Ball tells of a dodger circulated in the Grand River Valley warning settlers that one Conrad Ten Eyck was coming with the avowed pur- pose of electioneering for Mason, but in reality to arrest the settlers
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on Government lands, and that settlers might be dragged 300 miles to Detroit for trial. Grand Rapids was the polling place for all of Kent and Ottawa counties, and Miss Ball said: "Seventy men came down the river on a steamboat and marched in line to the polls. Father received 397 votes out of the 505 cast. He was the third rep- resentative from the district after the organization of the State gov- ernment, the first being Maj. Roswell Britton from Grandville, and Judge John Almy, of Grand Rapids, being the second. It was the middle of the summer before Grand Rapids began to feel the effects of the great financial panic of 1837. It was so far away from the center of civilization that it was several months before it felt the de- pression that was affecting the Eastern cities. When it came time for Mr. Ball to take up his duties in Detroit he practically had no business to leave behind him, for buying and selling of land had ceased. So all he had to do was to put his effects in a saddle-bag and mount his horse. The organizing of townships took up consider- able time. The number of townships was quadrupled in Mr. Ball's district, and Grand Rapids was incorporated as a village. It was this winter that the Canadian Patriot war occurred, which helped to bring immigrants to Michigan. General Scott came to Detroit on business connected with this war, on a steamboat, during a January thaw. That thaw occasioned a great flood in Grand Rapids, quite as large if not larger than anything it has experienced in these days. The Legislature did not adjourn until April 7. Mr. Ball sold his horse and returned in a wagon to Grand Rapids, in company with Mrs. O'Flynn, Mrs. Watson and Miss Lucy Genereau (John Godfroy's first wife), ladies well known in pioneer days. The passage took them six days, but they had such a good social time that the journey did not seem long. On arriving home he found things sadly changed. Grand Rapids was no longer the lively little place he found when he first came there. A blight had fallen on Michigan, its lands and its finances were at a discount, for this was the time of wildcat banking. The People's Bank, of which Mr. Louis Campau became president, had commenced operations, but not having the required specie on hand when the bank commissioner called, this commissioner, Mr. D. V. Bell, after giving them a month's grace to raise the funds, put it in the hands of a receiver, appointing Mr. Ball. The summer was passed in winding up that business. He made but one trip at that time and that was to Port Sheldon, a village that was started by Philadelphians and was expected to outrival Grand Rapids. Everyone was leaving Grand Rapids that had money enough to get away. Mr. Ball went east to visit, but returned, for he was in love with Michigan and thought that there was no more beautiful site in that State than at Grand Rapids."
Of these boom days, Albert Baxter, in his excellent history of Kent County, says: "The speculative fever which became general, in 1836, gave a great impetus to prices, not only of real estate but of all commodities, and the reaction which came, in 1837, was inevitable. Splendid villages, and cities also, suddenly came into view-on paper -and plats and lots were sold at fabulous prices. Grand Rapids caught the fever. Village lots here rose quickly from $25 to $300, and from that still upward, for choice locations, till speculators ran wild in the haste to grow rich. But the revulsion came, not only in
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property but in currency, and knocked the foundation from many an air castle. Visionary banking schemes, which had been thickly plant- ed all over the State, went with the rest. Nearly all went largely in debt, and many soon had cause to bemoan their disastrous invest- ments and speculative ventures."
Among the arrivals of this year-who were to become prominent -may be mentioned briefly the following: Canton Smith, known in pioneer days as the landlord of the Eagle and then of the National Hotel, and who later started the first water works system, owned the first cab in the city, was interested in the Battle Creek stage line, joined the gold seekers in California and returned to spend his declining years in Grand Rapids, glorying in the great record made by his son, Gen. Israel Canton Smith, who was born in Grand Rapids in 1839; Truman Kellogg, whose farm on Lake avenue became noted as a nursery, and who introduced the mulberry tree to the Grand River Valley, and for a time engaged in the manufacture of silk, although he did not allow business to interfere with his violent Abolition be- liefs. He died, in 1845, while Grand Rapids was still a village. Loren M. Page led a long and useful life as a painter. William G. Mosely, whose overland trip from Detroit with a two-horse wagon required six days, was an active young man, was a clerk in the postoffice in Grand Rapids, in 1849, later figuring as a grocer and then as real estate dealer. Luman R. Atwater, who was prominent in the Old Settlers' Association of later days, and a great temperance worker, was a member of the Board of Education and superintendent of the Sunday School of the Division Street Methodist church for twenty- five years. He was also connected with the plow-making industry before the Civil War. John R. Godfroy came as a thirteen-year-old lad, although he had already had experience with his older brother in the Indian trade, with which he remained connected for a number of years, being known to the Indians of both the upper and the lower peninsula. In Grand Rapids his career was that of a merchant and prominent real estate dealer, and he became recorder of the city, in 1853. H. H. Ives came as a carpenter, via the Erie Canal to Buffalo, and on foot from Detroit. His first work here was to build a house for Solomon Withey, on Ottawa and Coldbrook streets. In 1838, he married Miss Sarah Peck, and their son, Calvin L. Ives, was promi- nent in the later history of Grand Rapids. He built the saw-mill for Wm. H. Withey, in 1837, and was for several years an alderman and later a member of the Board of Supervisors. Beginning life as a Methodist, he became one of the leaders of the Spiritualist faith. James D. Lyon, son of Heman H., began life in Grand Rapids at this time as a cook with John Ball's exploring party. He held numerous city and county offices, was the first to attempt the manufacture of woolen goods, and was later connected with Mr. Hathaway in the manufacture of axes. In the early days he was best known, however, as owner of the book-store at the corner of old Canal and Lyon streets, from 1848 to 1856. He was prominent in the Democratic party, in the Congregational church, and as a dealer in real estate. Edward S. Marsh was one of the first tailors, living in Grand Rapids until his death, in 1892. W. I. Blakely, after whom Blakely avenue is named, was one of the best known early contractors and builders. He had the contract for the Court House building, in 1838, and erected
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the first district schoolhouse, in 1839. He was in the saw-mill busi- ness with Leonard Covell and R. W. Morris, and held city and county offices, being a supervisor following the Civil War. Owing to his early friendship with President Millard Fillmore, he was appointed Deputy United States Marshal, in 1850. Aaron Dikeman established the first jewelry store in Michigan, north of the Michigan Central Railroad in Grand Rapids, in 1837. He was comparatively an old man when coming here, being forty-one years of age. He was promi- nent as a Mason and was one of the founders of St. Mark's Church. He became popular at once, and within a year of his coming was elected county treasurer. The first burglary of importance occurred at his store. He was also known as the builder and owner of the steamboat "Empire," which ran between Grand Rapids and Grand Haven. He was a county supervisor, superintendent of the poor, and city alderman, dying in 1882.
Leonard Covell, who was born in Vermont, in 1816, came as a young man of twenty-one. His first occupation was that of a car- penter and builder. He erected the First Episcopal Church on Divi- sion and Crescent streets, the contract being for $800. Later, he embarked in the drygoods business and, still later, was known as a hotel man and liveryman. Noted for his public spirit, he acquired a competence and was one of the founders of the Fifth National Bank. In 1855, he was marshal of the city. His grandson is the brigadier- general of Michigan troops in France these days. Henry Stone was the pioneer iron worker. His home was on Bond street, below Cres- cent. With his son, Henry G., he established the second foundry in Grand Rapids, and he had the honor of being the first plow-maker in the city. W. S. Levake established the first foundry, at the corner of Mill and Bridge streets. His plant was operated by water power and he abandoned the business in a few years. John Kirkland was a cooper, establishing himself on South Division street, near Cherry, where he made barrels by hand, and where he was established until the end of his life, some twenty-five years later.
Harry Dean came from Massachusetts, where he was born in 1799, and died in Grand Rapids in 1887. He was known for his cheer- ful disposition. He held high rank as a Mason, having been a charter member of Grand River Lodge No. 34, in 1849, and at his death was the oldest Mason in Michigan. Despite his cheerfulness he was city sexton in 1857, and one of the first trustees of the Division Street Methodist Church, later becoming connected with the Swedenborgian organization. He was an assessor in 1853, and in the earlier years he was one of those employed to toll the Congregational church bell upon occasion. Harry Eaton, a Vermonter, was first known as a mer- chant and lumber dealer, and his grocery and restaurant in the Sweet's Hotel building was a popular resort. He was the first treas- urer of Walker township, and was county sheriff in 1841. The Grand Lodge of Masons attended his funeral, in 1859. Simeon M. Johnson, the first fire insurance agent, and later editor, lawyer and politician, was a leading spirit during the early days, dying in New York City in 1853. John M. Fox first came to the Grand River Valley in 1837, but he did not become prominent in Grand Rapids until some years later. The last years of his life were spent at Lowell. He was register
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of deeds, from 1847 to 1852, and also served as a supervisor. With Wilder D. Foster, he was a contractor for the completion of the canal at the Rapids, in 1851, and was director of the Grand Rapids & Northern Railroad Company, in 1857. Edmund B. Bostwick left a strong impress upon the community. He was known as a very public spirited man and a great "booster" for Grand Rapids. He platted the Bostwick addition and was one of the men mentioned by John Ball in his account of early days in Grand Rapids. By 1846 a few scattered houses had been built on his addition. He was one of the early asses- sors and his home, on the corner of Cherry and College, was one of the best and most hospitable in the city. An enthusiastic planner, he was handicapped by lack of capital. In connection with John Almy he published a pamphlet, in 1845, setting forth the advantages of Grand Rapids, and he was one of the founders of St. Mary's Episcopal Church, donating a lot for the purpose of its erection, in 1847. In 1844, he was one of a party of Grand Rapids explorers in the copper region of Lake Superior, but met with no great success. In 1850, he joined a party, led by Canton Smith, to the gold fields of California, and on this journey met his death. The popular esteem in which he was held was shown by the fact that a public meeting was held in Grand Rapids at the time in honor of his memory. Archibald Salmon was one of the first cabinet-makers. He removed to a farm in Wyom- ing township, in 1851, dying in 1857. His first shop was on Prospect Hill, and, with William Haldane, he was one of the first chair-makers.
George Young was forty years old when he came to Grand Rapids, having been born in the Netherlands, in 1797. His first home was near Albany, N. Y., and he was the pioneer Dutch settler of Grand Rapids, later being influential in bringing many Hollanders to this vicinity. His home was on a farm just outside of Grand Rapids and he was one of the founders of the First Reformed Church, in 1842, being an earnest supporter of Hart E. Waring, who came as a missionary in that year, and he was one of the first elders of the church. He served as a supervisor from Grand Rapids, in 1841, and was president of the Agricultural Society, in 1851, dying in 1860. James A. Rumsey was a young man of twenty-three years when he came to Grand Rapids, working with Henry Stone for $15 per month and also helping in the construction of the Big Mill which was the first on the canal bank. His compensation in this work on the mill is said to have been $1 per day. He later became superintendent of the mill, and in this connection the lack of barrels for flour shipments first started him in the cooper's trade. It is stated that in an emer- gency he bought a consignment of staves intended for Chicago and constructed flour barrels for the mill, and, later, barrels for packing pork. He was known as a mill operator, having a mill on Plaster Creek and a saw-mill nearby. He was also known as one of the pioneers in the plaster business. Rumsey street was named in his honor. He lived in Grand Rapids to a ripe old age. Orson C. Kellogg came with his father, Truman, and later became prominent as a horti- culturist ; also as a soldier in the Civil War. Gouverneur B. Rathbun came, in 1837, and was later connected with Amos Rathbone as a merchant on Monroe and Market streets, and, later, on Monroe and Ottawa, in the building known as the "Wedge," which was burned in I-7
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1857. He was interested in the establishment of the "Daily Times" at a much later period, but his chief career was that of a merchant. William C. Davidson, who was one of the first trustees of the Division Street Methodist Church, and prominently connected with the early history of the organization, was a newcomer and was one of the contractors who built the stone Catholic Church, in 1849. He was a member of the Board of Supervisors and was marshal of Grand Rapids, in 1852. He was the mason who built the first chimney of Grand Rapids brick which fell into ruins after a heavy rain. Joseph H. Baxter was a carpenter and millwright and one of the pioneer wagon makers, coming from Vermont, in 1837. His business career was varied, including the keeping of a livery stable, a grocery and feed store, and a manufacturer of bed springs. His first home, built on Fountain and Division streets, stood for many years. He was one of the founders of the Grand Rapids Hydraulic Company, in 1848; served as constable, in 1850, and it was from him that land was purchased for the Hebrew burial place, in 1857. In 1842 he was asso- ciated with Hezekiah Green in a wagon-shop on Ionia street, south of Fountain, and, in 1848, he conducted a livery stable near the "Old National Hotel," before that having been engaged in the meat market business in the basement of what was known as the Faneuil Hall building, on Market street, at Monroe.
Josiah L. Wheeler was another of the pioneers of 1837 and was early recognized by election as one of the trustees of Grand Rapids, in 1840. He was the master mason who built the First Reformed Church, in 1842, and was a supervisor in 1844. In 1858, he put the first gravel roof on a Grand Rapids building and was the first pioneer in this industry, and was well known as among the early masons and brick layers.
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