USA > Michigan > Kent County > Grand Rapids > Grand Rapids and Kent County, Michigan: History and Account of Their Progress from First. Vol. I > Part 32
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William F. Woodworth was born in the town of Ovid, Seneca county, New York, May 8, 1852. He was reared to agricultural pur- suits on his father's homestead. In May, 1881, he came from New York to Michigan and purchased 100 acres of partially improved land in Courtland township. He gave especial attention to sheep raising, Shropshire being his favorite. In 1891 he entered extensively into fruit growing. In 1898 he sold about 1,000 bushels of plums. In the raising of potatoes he was quite successful, having sold, in 1892, 5,000 bushels, and in 1896 about the same quantity. He served his township as supervisor in 1887 and in 1888, and again in 1891 and 1892, and for five years served as school director, taking great interest in public education.
CHAPTER XVI. PARIS TOWNSHIP
WHEN CREATED - HIRAM H. ALLEN - PHYSICAL FEATURES - EARLY SETTLERS-TRIALS AND HARDSHIPS-ACCIDENTAL KILLING-OR- GANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP-FIRST OFFICERS-LIST OF SUPER- VISORS.
This township was formed of territory included in the original township of Grand Rapids, which, at the time of its organization, ex- tended to the southern boundary of the county. In 1839 the township
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of Paris was created by an act of the State legislature, the territory to include also the present township of Gaines, and the first township meeting was held at the house of Hiram H. Allen.
Hiram H. Allen was born, May 14, 1804, in Williston, Chittenden county, Vermont. He came to Michigan, in the fall of 1830, and settled at Tecumseh, Lenawee county, purchasing 160 acres of land, on which he resided seven and a half years, when he sold it and pur- chased 400 acres in Paris township, Kent county. After the organiza- tion of the township he served as justice of the peace thirty-five years, supervisor several terms and as superintendent of the county poor ten years. It is said that as justice of the peace he joined in marriage about sixty couples. Mr. Allen's grandfather was cousin to Ethan Allen, of Ticonderoga fame, and his stepmother was sister to the great preacher, Lorenzo Dow. Two of his father's brothers were soldiers in the Revolution and he himself, as a boy of nine or ten years, was an eye witness to the naval engagement on Lake Champlain in the War of 1812, for that purpose climbing to the top of a beech tree overlooking the lake.
The surface of the township, in common with a good portion of the territory embraced within the county, is level and in some places slightly rolling. The soil is quite good, having some poor land as well as other townships, but, considered as a whole, it is considerably above the average. The soil in the southeasterly and central parts is heavy clay, while in the northerly and westerly parts it is sandy, and it produces the finest crops of grain and vegetables known to this part of the State. There is very little waste land in the town- ship, and the condition of the farms, buildings, and surroundings are indicative of thrift and prosperity. As a grain-growing and stock- raising township it is not excelled in the county, and it is also noted for its heavy yield of fine grass. What is known as Plaster creek and other small streams form the drainage system of the township.
The township of Paris was mainly covered with timber, espe- cially in the southeasterly and central parts, where it was originally quite heavy; but that in the northerly and westerly parts was light, and what was called oak openings. In the southwesterly part of the township was some pine, in places mixed with elm, black ash, etc. Some of the choicest timber was used for building, making rails, and sawing into lumber, but much of it which would now be very valuable was burned in clearing the land.
In point of settlement, Paris is next to the oldest township in the county. As long ago as the year 1833, Barney Burton, Edward Guild, Joel Guild, Daniel Guild, and James Vanderpool located within its present limits.
Alexander H. Clark and Abram Laraway settled in the year 1835; Jacob Patterson, Miner Patterson, James Patterson, Orleans Spauld- ing, and Philanzo Bowen, in the year 1837; Nicholas Carlton in the year 1837, and Hiram H. Allen in the year 1838.
Alexander H. Clark was born in Trenton, N. J., May 21, 1804. He came to Michigan, in 1828, and settled in Wayne county, pur- chasing forty acres of land, but a year later he sold it and went to Plymouth, purchased forty acres, and again sold out, and this time went to Superior, Washtenaw county. Three years later he settled in Paris, and in 1836 purchased 160 acres in Section 14. A year later
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he sold his claim and purchased 160 acres in Sections 8 and 9. He was one of the earliest if not the first white settler in the present limits of the township. He afterward lived in Gaines about thirty years, but returned to Paris and purchased 106 acres on Section 30. Mr. Clark adhered to Greenback doctrines, politically. He served as jus- tice of the peace fourteen years, township clerk three years, and supervisor three years.
The Pattersons came from Steuben county, New York, and in 1828 settled in Washtenaw county, Michigan, where the father died, in 1831. The mother, with five boys to rear, educate, and fit for the responsibilities of the future, proved equal to the emergency and con- tinued the management of the homestead six years, when she came with her family to Paris township and purchased forty acres of land in Section 13, where she spent the remainder of her life. The first two years after her removal to this county she herself labored for wages. Her energy was wonderful and her perseverance indomitable, and with the aid of her sons she paid for her land and spread its borders until the tract in the possession of the family included 350 acres. Her sons all settled near her and she was to the end of her life, March 1, 1864, their wise counsellor and most judicious friend.
Among the other early settlers were DeWitt Shoemaker, Clinton Shoemaker, Robert I. Shoemaker, Alvin H. Wansey, Jared Wansey, James Ballard, Stephen Hinsdill, and Robert Barr.
James Ballard, who came in 1838 from Vermont, was especially a representative Congregational minister and school teacher here. He went upon a farm in Paris in an early day, and cultivated it many years, coming to town regularly on his duties, clerical and scholastic. He was a native of Massachusetts and a graduate of Williams College. During several years after the war he labored as a teacher among the Freedmen of the Southern States.
Stephen Hinsdill was a descendant of a family of sturdy York- shire "dalesmen," who came from England near the end of the Seven- teenth century and settled in Connecticut. Before coming to Michi- gan he had been engaged in wool manufacture in Vermont, where he was one of those who suffered by the great financial revulsion of 1837; but, possessed of the energetic and persevering spirit of his ancestors, he came to Grand Rapids with the determination to try again. After living a few years in Paris township, in 1843 he set up machinery for wool carding, cloth dressing and the making of satinets in one end of the building then known as the "big mill," on the east bank of the river, a short distance above Michigan street, and the early settlers of the valley rejoiced over the prospect of having a good home market for wool. His factory was in operation in 1844, with several looms running, and the business was continued by himself or under leases for several years. Mr. Hinsdill died in 1848, and his "Grand Rapids Woolen Factory" was afterward purchased by Truman H. Lyon, who continued it for some years.
Among the old settlers of Paris township special mention should also be made of "Captain" Davis, as he was familiarly called, and who was the father of Ezekiel W. Davis, commonly known in his day as "Judge." "Captain" Davis settled in the township in the year 1834, and remained a resident up to the time of his death, which occurred about 1845.
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The trials and hardships endured by the pioneers of those days seem to have been unusual. Nearly all of the settlers were poor, and consequently were unable to relieve the more serious distress of the less fortunate among them. The lots of some were peculiarly distress- ing. Orleans Spaulding, who was before mentioned as having settled in 1836, informed an earlier writer that, in the month of June, 1837, he was afflicted with sore eyes, and that for six years he was thereby unfitted for labor. During three years of that time he was totally blind, and that, too, while his family was dependent upon the produc- tions of their little farm for a living. But there were trials of a gen- eral nature which had to be endured at this period, occasioned by the "hard times," or "wild cat times," as they were commonly called. Many of the new settlers had.but a small part of their farms cleared, and a still smaller part cultivated, and consequently were obliged to buy their provisions. Those who had been in the country longer, and had larger improvements, raised a few bushels of wheat more than was required for their own use, but they could sell it neither for money nor for groceries. Usually it could be given in exchange for "shelf goods," as they were called, provided that no more than 50 cents per bushel was charged. While wheat was selling at only 50 cents per bushel, flour was selling at $15 per barrel, pork $36 per barrel, potatoes $2 per bushel, and butter 50 cents per pound.
Mrs. Barney Burton informed the same previous writer that when she commenced keeping house in Paris township, on what later became well known as the Garfield farm, she had no neighbors on the south nearer than Gull Prairie, none on the east nearer than Ionia, and none whatever on the west. Uncle Louis Campau, Joel Guild, and Jonathan F. Chubb were the only residents of Grand Rapids. Rix Robinson was in the township of Ada, trading among the Indians. Mr. Burton built the first log house in the township of Paris, and he erected the first barn in the county. He also erected the first frame house in the township, upon the aforementioned Garfield farm. The following incident illustrates the condition of the country at an early day. When Mr. Burton was on his way from Gull Prairie to Grand Rapids, one night, he and his few companions halted, as usual, hob- bled their horses and took their rest. In the morning the horses belonging to Mr. Burton were nowhere to be seen, so he started out in search of them. He wandered about in the thick woods for several hours, without success, and finally turned about with the intention of returning to the camp. He traveled until the sun was low in the west, and no camp could be found. Night came on, and he rested him- self, a lost man in a dense forest. The experience of the succeeding day was similar to that of the first, and it was not until the third day that he reached a settlement. By following a creek which he found in his wanderings, he reached the Thornapple river, tracing which to its mouth brought him to what is now the village of Ada. Thence he proceeded to Grand Rapids, where he found the settlers quite ex- cited over the fact of his disappearance, which had been reported by his companions, and Mr. Campau had already dispatched a number of Indians in the direction he supposed Mr. Burton would be, to search for him.
At one time in the winter of the years 1835 and 1836, the cries of what was supposed to be a man were heard in the vicinity of Mr.
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1
Burton's residence. He was answered, horns were blowed, and other noises made to attract his attention, with no result. About the same time a gray horse came to the residence of Abram Laraway, not many miles away, which none of the settlers claimed. Early in the spring a saddle was found by Robert Barr in the woods not far away. Still later the body of a man was found near where the Oak Hill ceme- teries are now located, in the southeastern part of the city. Its ap- pearance indicated that death had taken place some months previously. A few dollars in money, a watch, and some papers were found on his person, the latter indicating the name of the man to have been Moore. Nothing further was ever ascertained in regard to the matter. He probably lost his way in the pathless woods, wandered about for several days, perhaps lost his horse, and finally starved to death ; or, overcome with weariness, sank down to rest and perished by the excessive cold.
It is related that in the year 1835 or 1836, a man by the name of Sizer was shot by an Indian, near Plaster creek. At that place on the creek was a deer lick, which of course was watched by the early settlers, as well as by the natives. The parties concerned in the affair to which we refer were both looking for deer, the one not knowing of the presence of the other. As the white man was moving about in the bushes, the eye of the Indian caught a glimpse of his white shirt bosom, which he mistook to be a spot upon a deer about to run. A second more and the white man fell dead with a bullet through his heart. The terror of the Indian can be imagined when he discovered what he had done, as he supposed his own life must pay the forfeit. It seems to have been the custom of the Indians to demand a life for a life. But in this instance the Indian went immediately to the missionary, Mr. Slater, who lived on the west side of the river, related the happening and gave himself up. Mr. Slater advised him to go back, arouse the whites and tell them what he had done, and assured him that he would not be punished. He did as he was advised, and the affair there ended.
During the first few years of early settlement there was no regu- lar camp of Indians in the township. Occasionally they would pitch their tents for a few days on their hunting and fishing excursions, but the first regular colony was formed about the year 1840, on or near Section 33. They lived there for several years, but when the county became more thoroughly settled they sold their lands and left. They were very tenacious of their "happy hunting grounds," in this part . of the country at least.
At the organization of the township, in 1839, the following gentle- men were selected as the first corps of officials: Supervisor, Joel Guild; clerk, Hiram H. Allen; treasurer, Robert Barr; assessors, Stephen Hinsdill, Foster Kelley, and Joseph H. Blain; justices of the peace, H. H. Allen, Hezekiah B. Smith, Barney Burton, and Alexander Clark; commissioners of highways, Joseph Blain, Jacob Patterson, and John Kirkland; school inspectors, James Ballard, Rensselaer Mesnard, and Joseph K. Palmer; directors of the poor, Andrew Mes- nard and Daniel Guild; collector, Jacob Patterson; constables, Jacob Patterson, Joseph J. Baxter, and Palmer Allen.
John Kirkland came here in 1837, and after a few years devoted to farming in Paris township, established a cooper shop near South
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Division street, where he made barrels by hand. He lived to be nearly eighty years old, and died greatly beloved.
Joseph J. Baxter came from Vermont. He was a carpenter and millwright, and was among the pioneer wagon makers. Later he was in the livery business, grocery and feed trade, and bed spring making, successively. In 1843 he built a house which was standing, until a comparatively few years ago, at the corner of Fountain and North Division streets.
The first school-house erected in the township stood on the corner of the northeast quarter of Section 7, now included within the boun- daries of the city of Grand Rapids. It was used for many years. All of the school buildings in the township at the present time are above the average character of such buildings.
The county infirmary is located in Paris, on Section 16. The farm contains about 144 acres, and has the appearance of being well culti- vated. At the time of the original purchase by the county, a log house was standing on it, and this was used for a number of years as the infirmary building. It was removed in 1860, a fine frame building was erected in its stead, and since then a great many improvements have been made, so that now it is a commodious and nicely appointed in- stitution.
The Bostwick grist and saw mills were erected many years ago on Plaster creek, on the east line of Section 17. Four dams were constructed at different times, but in each instance they were carried away by the current in times of high water. The mills were thus only able to run at intervals, and never for any great length of time, and they were finally abandoned. The Tanner mills, situated on the southeast corner of Section 20, were operated for a number of years, but have long since been numbered among the things of the past.
Paris is settled by a sturdy American citizenship, and from their ranks have come many of the leading business men and some of the prominent officials of the county. Although not especially favored by nature, the township enjoys the distinction of being one of the best agricultural townships in Kent county. Its soil is adapted to diversified farming and fruit growing, in which pursuits, combined with stock raising, the intelligent and industrious farmers have met with phenomenal success. The pleasant homes and thrifty surround- ings are abundant proof of this, while an occasional handsome man- sion, with modern improvements and appliances, affirms the conclu- sion that even in this favored land, some have been more successful than their worthy rivals.
Following is a list of the Supervisors of Paris township from its organization down to the present time: 1839, Joel Guild; 1840, James A. Davis; 1841, Foster Kelly; 1842, Hiram H. Allen; 1843, Stephen Hinsdill; 1844, James A. Davis; 1845, Clinton Shoemaker; 1846, James A. Davis; 1847, Benjamin F. Freeman ; 1848, William S. Par- sons ; 1850, Sluman S. Bailey ; 1852, James A. Davis ; 1853, Sluman S. Bailey ; 1855, Timothy S. Smith ; 1856, Hiram H. Allen ; 1857, Timothy S. Smith ; 1859, Sluman S. Bailey; 1861, Timothy S. Smith; 1863, Samuel M. Garfield; 1866, Timothy S. Smith ; 1867, Isaac D. Davis; 1868, Horace Henshaw ; 1869, John P. Wykes; 1870, Samuel M. Gar- field ; 1873, Wright C. Allen; 1874, Samuel Langdon; 1876, Christian
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P. Friend; 1878, Samuel Langdon; 1879, Jerome E. Phillips; 1880, Christian P. Friend; 1883, Jerome E. Phillips; 1885, Hugo B. Rath- bun ; 1886, Everett Hurd ; 1888, Jerome E. Phillips ; 1889, Fremont E. Skeels; 1891, Connor H. Smith; 1894, W. T. Adams; 1896, L. I. McCrath ; 1898, W. T. Shafer ; 1907, Robert B. Patterson ; 1914, Henry Simerink, present incumbent.
William S. Parsons was a native of Dover, Me., and came to Michigan in 1837, settling in Paris township in 1844. He there pur- chased eighty acres of land on Section 5, now within the limits of the city of Grand Rapids, and afterward increased his real estate holdings until at the time of his death, Aug. 2, 1877, he owned 200 acres. He was active in all public matters in his township, especially in school interests, and served as supervisor two years.
Sluman S. Bailey came into Paris, in 1846, and lived on a farm there fourteen years, when he moved into Grand Rapids. He was born at Somerset, Niagara county, New York, Dec. 14, 1821. Farm- ing was his favorite occupation, but he was a busy man in public as well as private life, in various town offices, also as sheriff, and fifteen years as collector of internal revenue.
Isaac D. Davis was born in Oswego county, New York, Dec. 27, 1818. With his parents he came to Michigan, in 1820, and settled in Oakland county, and the same year his father was elected sheriff. The latter died the following year and his wife and son returned to New York. In 1836 Isaac came with his uncle to Grand Rapids, then a hamlet with eighteen houses. At the age of twenty-one he purchased eighty acres of land in Section 3 of what later became Paris township, but ten years later sold that tract and purchased eighty acres in Section 29, where he resided the remainder of his life. Mr. Davis was elected supervisor in 1867, and he also served as township clerk two years.
Wright C. Allen was born in the village of Tecumseh, Lenawee county, July 22, 1831. His father was Hiram H. Allen, already given mention in this chapter. The son was reared to agricultural pursuits, early took an interest in civic affairs, and succeeded his father as justice of the peace, discharging the duties of that office with satis- faction to all concerned for a number of years. He was also called to other positions, including those of township treasurer and constable, and in 1873 was elected supervisor of Paris township.
Samuel Langdon was born in Wethersfield, Wyoming county, New York, Jan. 22, 1832. His father died in 1848, and though but sixteen years old the son took charge of the home farm and man- aged it five years. At the age of eighteen he began to teach school, teaching winter terms, and in 1853 decided to come to Michigan. On reaching this State he settled in Kalamazoo county on 120 acres of openings, which he mainly cleared himself, and he also taught school five or six winters. In 1871 Mr. Langdon secured a farm of 150 acres near Bowen Station in Paris township and resided there the remainder of his life. In 1881 he was made president of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of Kent county, and occupied that position for more than twenty years. He was elected supervisor of Paris township, by a union of various elements, and served three years in that position.
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CALEDONIA TOWNSHIP
Jerome E. Phillips was born Dec. 30, 1838, in Newfane, Niagara county, New York. He was engaged in farming in his native State until 1868, when he came to Paris township and purchased 150 acres of land in Section 19, where he spent the remainder of his life. He served as school moderator three years, justice of the peace a number of years, and was supervisor of Paris township four years.
Hugo B. Rathbun was born, Nov. 30, 1841, in Owasco, Cayuga county, New York. He came with his parents to Michigan in 1844. He enlisted as a soldier in the Civil war, Sept. 11, 1861, in Company D, Second Michigan cavalry, and at the expiration of his period of enlistment-three years-was honorably discharged, but re-enlisted the same day as a veteran and was commissioned lieutenant. He was ultimately discharged in February, 1865. He followed farming in Paris township from 1869 until his death, which occurred May 30, 1898. He served as township treasurer, and in 1885 was elected supervisor.
Everett Hurd was born in Dutchess county, New York, Dec. 19, 1826. He came with his parents to Paris township in 1843 and lived there the remainder of his life. He served as township treasurer ten years, and in 1886 was elected supervisor, being re-elected in 1887.
CHAPTER XVII. CALEDONIA TOWNSHIP
PHYSICAL FEATURES-ORGANIZATION-FIRST OFFICERS-FIRST ENTRY OF LAND-WILLIAM H. BROWN-KENT'S TAVERN-DIFFICULTIES OF TRAVEL-EDWARD CAMPAU-VILLAGE OF ALASKA-CALEDONIA -LIST OF SUPERVISORS.
This township, territorially, corresponds with a Congressional township, as do all but six of the townships of Kent county. It occu- pies a portion of the Thornapple River Valley. The surface is gen- erally rolling, and several streams of running water and numerous springs contribute to the fertility of the soil, and form an abundant supply for stock and other purposes, and the township is admirably adapted to all classes of diversified agriculture. The principal stream is Thornapple river, which drains the township from the southeast portion to the northward, and the other streams contribute to the facilities for grazing, an industry which is well represented in con- nection with general farming and fruit growing. The banks of the river are high and the country on both sides of the river is high and rolling. On the east side of the river the land is what is known as "openings," the soil being sandy and gravelly with a slight mixture of clay, and was originally timbered principally with oak and hickory. The soil on this side of the river is especially adapted to wheat and fruit, but produces good crops of all kinds of grain and most grasses.
The township is, of course, rectangular in shape, bounded on the north by Cascade, on the east by Bowne, on the south by Barry county, and on the west by Gaines township. Like all other territory in the county, the system of Congressional survey is regular, the land being
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described by the section and quarter section system, and the township contains thirty-six sections, comprising 23,040 acres. As has been stated, the territory was originally covered with an abundant growth of excellent timber, and these desirable features early attracted crowds of immigrants, who had followed the original pioneers into the new country.
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