USA > Michigan > Ionia County > History and directory of Ionia County, Michigan: containing a history of each township: the name, occupation, location, and post-office address of every man in the county, 1872 > Part 10
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The land on the west side of Grand River was entered by Thomas Shepherd and Philo Bogue, soon after the entry made by Mr. Newman.
Mr. Shepherd leaving the country, his land passed into the possession of A. S. Wadsworth, who in 1838 divided his land into village lots, and immediately com- menced the building of a dam across Grand River and the erection of a grist-mill, near the present flouring-mill of Hon. R. B. Smith. Mr. Wadsworth also built a saw-mill on Grand River.
The hydraulic power of the rivers can scarcely be estimated, being (with the excep- tion of Grand Rapids) the best in the State of Michigan. On Grand River, three-fourths of a mile below the village, the river presents as good a location for a dam of eight feet fall as can be found on its whole course, while above the present dam nearly as good a privilege exists. Neither of the last-named are yet occupied, but in the hands of an enterprising company they would be highly remunerative.
On the Looking-Glass, about one and a half miles above the village, is also a very good mill site, which can be easily turned to good account.
INCORPORATION.
The first charter election to incorporate the village of Portland was held in Scho- field Hall on the 3d day of May, 1869. The result of the first election was as follows : President, Robert B. Smith ; Treasurer, James M. Webster; Assessor, George Hill ; Trustees, Wm. W. Bogue, Almeron Newman, Hervey Bartow, Lorenzo K. Showman, William Dinsmore, and Milton Sawyer.
OFFICERS OF 1872.
President, George Hill ; Clerk, S. M. Snell ; Treasurer, John Benson ; Assessor, Ira Hamlin ; Marshal, Norman T. Sandborne; Street Commissioner, Alanson Knox ; Trustees, Hervey Bartow, James Newman, Harvey Knox, J. D. Woodbury, Charles Culver, and John C. Cotharin.
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF IONIA COUNTY.
MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS.
The Portland Iron Works and Machine Shop was erected in 1866 by Hill & Co., and went under that name for three years, when it was changed to Hill & Storm, who are now doing all kinds of custom work ; also is manufacturing saw-machines, wood-lathes, agricultural implements, etc., using annually about sixty tons of iron.
ROSELL & BLANCHARD,
Manufacturers of sash, doors, and blinds ; also doing a large amount of custom-planing, scroll-sawing, etc.
EUREKA FOUNDRY
Was built by Bower & Baker in 1852, and runs by water and steam power., It is now owned and operated by S. K. Gates, who manufactures agricultural implements, saw - machines, horse-powers and shafting.
HILL & SANFORD,
Manufacturers of furniture of all kinds, wholesaling, shipping in the white.
THE SCHOOL-FURNITURE CO.,
Is a new enterprise. The firm is composed of R. B. Smith, James M. Webster, and Jacob M. Benedict. They manufacture the revolving seat, called the Roberts' patent. It is very popular. They are constantly receiving large orders from all parts of the State.
PORTLAND STAVE, HEADING, AND BARREL FACTORY,
Owned and operated by C. W. Bailey, runs by steam ; does a large amount of business, employing thirty hands.
PLANING, SASH, AND DOOR FACTORY,
Carried on by Bowser, Griffin & Co .; are doing a good business ; runs by water.
THE NE PLUS ULTRA MILLS
Were erected by Bower & Stewart in 1856; size, sixty-four by sixty ; three stories high ; has four runs of stone, with a capacity to grind 100 barrels per day, besides grinding 30,000 bushels per year in custom work. The mill is now owned and operated by R. B. Smith.
PORTLAND CUSTOM AND FLOURING MILL,
Erected in 1842 by James Newman, is thirty by fifty, three stories high; has three runs of stones, capable of grinding one hundred barrels per day. It is now owned and operated by Newman, Hixson & Co.
PORTLAND WOOLEN-MILLS CO.
Their factory was erected in 1868; dimensions twenty-four by eighty feet, and four stories high, and cost $18,000. It contains the best of machinery, and is capable of manufacturing fifty thousand yards annually. At present it is principally under the management of A. N. Hixson, and is doing a good business.
HINMAN & PERRIGO,
Manufacturers of wagons and carriages, are erecting a large building on Maple street, where they will have ample facilities for their increasing business. The building has a front of seventy-four feet, and is sixty feet deep and two stories high.
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF IONIA COUNTY.
BUILDINGS.
The village is principally built of wood, but has several substantial brick blocks of two and three stories, one of which, not excelled in the county, was built the present year by the Bowser Brothers. It is probable that hereafter most of the good buildings will be built of brick, for there are ample facilities since a good brick-yard has recently been started by Porter & Perce near the the village.
PORTLAND UNION SCHOOL.
The building containing the primary and intermediate school was built in 1860; is twenty-five by forty-two, and two stories high.
The grammar and high schools are located in a building in the south part of the village, in the midst of a beautiful grove, containing four acres. The school is kept open forty weeks each year, at a cost of $2,500 for teachers' wages. The number of children of school age is three hundred and ninety-five. The schools are well furnished with apparatus, and the high-school has an organ. Mr. Geo. E. Haliday is the present principal.
CHURCHES.
The M. E. Church of Portland was organized in 1838, by Elders Chatfield and Blow- ers, with a class of five members. The society bought the old school-house and used it for a church for five years previous to the erection of the present church edifice, which was built in 1865. It is built of wood, forty by seventy, costing $5,000. A very fine bell was put in during the present year, weighing one thousand two hundred pounds. The Church has a parsonage and five lots. The membership is over two hundred. Rev. A. P. Moores is Pastor. A good Sunday-school is connected with the church.
The Presbyterian Church was organized in 1867. The Rev. Augustus Marsh has been its minister since its organization, and was installed as its pastor in 1869. The membership is forty-nine, with a good Sabbath-school of fifty scholars.
The Congregational Church was organized February 4, 1843, by the Rev. L. M. S. Smith. The church edifice was erected in 1853, and is a neat and commodious build- ing, thirty by fifty feet in size, containing a good bell. It has a Sabbath-school of eighty scholars, and a church membership of fifty-one. Rev. L. P. Spellman, Pastor.
The Universalist Church was organized in 1852, with ten members. Rev. J. H. San- ford was the first pastor. The church edifice was dedicated in 1855, is thirty-five by fifty, with a basement. The spire is one hundred and ten feet high. The member- ship is fifty, with a Sunday-school of an average of forty scholars. The Rev. A. W. Sowles is the present pastor.
The Baptist Church was organized in 1840, with eleven members, two of whom are now living. Rev. Moses Clark was the first pastor. The present church building is but a small one, but they are preparing to build a new one, and have selected a very good location in the central part of the village. They also have a parsonage. The ladies of the Church have organized a Mite Society, the object of which is to raise funds to furnish the new church, and have now collected $550. One class in the Sun- day-school has pledged $100 for a memorial window. The membership is one hundred and sixteen. The Sabbath-school averages one hundred scholars. The Rev. Alfred Cornell is the present pastor.
NEWSPAPERS.
The first newspaper published in Portland was commenced October 24, 1867, by J. H. Wickwire, under the name of the Portland Advertiser, and continued under that 11
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF IONIA COUNTY.
name till August, 1870, when it was enlarged, and the name changed to Portland Observer. The present publisher and proprietor has published the paper since Octo- ber, 1868, and is well patronized by the village and community. At first the paper was printed by a hand press, but this not being adequate to the demands, was changed for a power press, which gives the Observer office excellent facilities for jobbing.
HOTELS.
The village cannot boast much of its hotel buildings. There is an excellent opening for capitalists to build up the village in that direction, as one of its principal hotels was burned the present year. The Portland House is kept by S. A. Morrison & Co., and the Union Hotel N. M. Sickles.
The village contains, besides the business houses and establishments already men- tioned, four boot and shoe stores, six blacksmith shops, seven dry-goods stores, two foundries, seven groceries, one harness shop, three wagon-makers' shops, two photo- graphic galleries, three restaurants, two hardware stores, three drug stores, two furni- ture stores, one livery stable, five millinery shops, two marble-shops, three jewelry- stores, and two book-stores, besides having a bank, and a good supply of lawyers and doctors.
STEBBINSVILLE
Is a station on the Detroit, Lansing, and Lake Michigan Railroad, and was platted in 1872 by J. Stebbins. It is a good point for shipping wheat, and contains one dry goods store, one grocery, and postoffice, called Collins', and begins to assume a business aspect.
RONALD.
T THE agriculturist who travels in this part of the State finds few more attractive townships than Ronald, either in the character of the soil, the number and purity of its living streams, or the enterprise and prosperity of its inhabitants. It is located in the northern tier of sections of Ionia County, between North Plains and Orleans, and possesses a soil diversified between what is known as "openings " and "plains." The openings preponderate, however, with here and there a patch of timbered land. Its main stream is Prairie Creek, which passes through eight sections in the eastern part of the township. Every section has on some part of it a never-failing spring, or stream of living water.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first settlers in this township were Mr. George Younger and Mr. Joshua Shepard, who came in the spring of 1837, and built each of them a small log-house on section thirty-three. The land located by Mr. Shepard now constitutes the county poor farm. Their nearest neighbor in Ionia was Mr. Samuel Yates, who settled near the township line in 1835, locating a part of his farm in Ronald. Mr. Shepard died a short time after his arrival, but his widow and children remained on the farm and cleared it up. His boys were named Chauncey, William, and Norman. In the autumn of the same year Rev. John Van Vleck came and settled on section two, in what is now the village of Palo, and Mr. William Wood settled on section nineteen.
During the succeeding winter Matthew Van Vleck, John Van Vleck's father, came and took a look at the country, which pleased him so well that he returned to New York and brought his family back with him in July, 1838. The family consisted of Matthew Van Vleck and wife, with their three sons, John, Albert, and Peter, and two daughters, Catharine and Sarah. Catharine subsequently married Mr. George D. Tasker, their marriage being the first celebrated in the township. A wild turkey of unusual size constituted a part of the wedding feast. Mr. Tasker has since died. Sarah married Leander Millard, who now lives near Palo. The entire family are still living, residing near together, blessed with abundant wealth, and widely known and respected. Few towns are as fortunate as Ronald in the character of its early pio- neers. Rev. John Van Vleck is the oldest settler now living in the township.
In 1838 Mr. Alanson Snow, with a large family, came and settled on section twenty- one. His father-in-law, Pangborn, an old revolutionary soldier, come with him. Mr. Snow's mother was the Mrs. Snow whose murder, in Ohio, by the Indians, furnished one of the darkest pages in the history of Indian atrocities. Mr. Lafayette Church, now a minister in Gratiot County, located a farm and made some improvements, but soon after went away. Mr. J. J. Foote also came, but only remained about two years.
In 1839, Stephen and Wellington Page came and located farms, which they remained to clear up, becoming among the most prominent men in the township. Both are now living in Ionia village, and are wealthy and enterprising men.
Mr. Eli Soule came to Ronald in 1840, and remained to clear up a prairie. IIe is now
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF IONIA COUNTY.
residing in the east part of the State. William and James Jennings came in 1842, and settled about half-way between Palo and the south line. William now resides in Palo, and James is a resident of Ionia. Mr. Joseph L. Freeman and family came in 1843. Mr. David Dodge also came in the autumn of 1843, and located a farm, settling on it with his family in 1844. His sons, A. W. and E. W. Dodge, are now well-known in the county ; the former being an attorney in Ionia, and the other pursuing the same profession in Hubbardston. One of Mr. Freeman's sons, Frank S. Freeman, is engaged in business in Ionia, and the other, William H. Freeman, is cashier of the National Bank of Muir.
In 1845 the Mosher family came from Clinton County, New York, and settled on section fourteen. One peculiarity of this family was that all the children had names be- ginning with L; Loren, Lawrence, Laura, etc. Mr. George Sessions located during the same year on section thirteen, but left a few years later, and subsequently went to California, where he was killed by the caving in of a mine. Mr. Phineas Hutchings, now residing in Ionia, also came to Ronald in 1845.
The first Sunday-School in the township of Ronald was organized by Mrs. David Dodge, in the summer of 1845. This lady died at Ionia in the autumn of 1872, and was buried in the family burying-ground near her former residence.
Mr. Alpheus Hawley came in 1846, and has improved one of the finest farms in the county. He has been a successful farmer, a notable hunter, and is an experienced dealer in fur, purchasing large quantities every year for a Detroit company.
The township was organized in 1845, and there were twenty-six votes cast at the first election, William Jennings being elected Supervisor, and W. J. Clark, Clerk.
For the first ten years settlers came in quite slowly, and roads were few and rough. The Van Vleck family had no neighbors nearer than two and a half miles for several years. At first the nearest settlement in what is now the town of North Plains, was five and a half miles distant. The plains and creek bottoms were in many places cov- ered with almost impenetrable thickets of underbrush, and travel was restricted to certain paths or trails.
PALO.
Albert Van Vleck began trading in what is now the village of Palo, about eighteen years ago, but it is only a few years since the town arrived at anything like its present importance. The steam grist-mill in Palo was erected four years ago, the people of the village raising a premium of $2,000 for the man who built it-a good indication of their enterprise and liberality.
The Baptists organized the first Church Society about twenty-four years ago, and built their present church-building eleven years afterwards. The Disciples built a church- building near Woodward's Lake, about eleven years ago. In the meantime the Methodists organized a society, but did not build a church till about three years ago, when they erected their present church in Palo.
The principal manufacturing establishments of Palo are Russell & Steele's grist-mill and planing-mill, the foundry and machine shops of H. and R. Miller & Co., at which are also manufactured agricultural implements and pumps ; the Rork Bros.' pump fac- tory, John Gauss' wagon factory, John De Pew's wagon shop, and William Scott's wagon shop. There are four dry-goods stores, three drug stores, two boot and shoe shops, one harness shop, three millinery shops, and one hotel.
The village received its name soon after the battle of Palo Alto, in Mexico, and was named in honor of that victory, the name being suggested by Rev, John Van Vleck.
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF IONIA COUNTY.
ANECDOTES.
Whoever inquires into the early history of Ronald, at once meets with a rich vein of anecdotes, many of which are well worth preserving. One relates to the killing of the first deer by one of the settlers. On the first spring after his arrival, Rev. John Van Vleck mounted a fleet bay mare, and started to follow an Indian trail that led to Lyons. It was the first time that he had traveled that way. About a mile from home he met a large, fine buck, that turned to run along the trail. Adopting the first impulse, Van Vleck gave chase, and, somewhat to his surprise, the mare kept pace with the deer, keeping close to him for quite a distance. Finally, the buck turned at bay, and attacked the horse with hoof and horns. The rider did not want to take his turn of being pursued, and at once jumped to the ground, and seizing a stout club from the brands where a recent fire had been, began a desperate fight with the infuri- ated animal, sheltering himself from its assaults by dodging round a small sapling. After some lively skirmishing, he managed to hit the deer a stroke on the nose that brought it to the ground. Following up his success with a series of heavy blows, he leaped on the deer's neck and caught it by the horns. Then he began to look about for something to cut its throat with, but found himself minus a knife of any kind. He had, however, a small pair of scissors, brought from the store in New York, and with these he managed to cut an artery, and bled the huge animal to death. This was while his father was in Palo the first time, and the old gentleman's surprise, when John came back to get him to go with him after the deer, may well be imagined.
It is related of a certain old-time justice of the peace in this township, that he once usurped the powers of a higher court in a very amusing manner : Soon after he was elected, a stalwart youth and buxom maiden came before him to be united in the bonds of matrimony. The 'squire had prepared himself for the occasion, and made them one with due form and dignity. They paid him for his services, and departed for their home in the woods farther north. But the event proved that they were not " affini- ties," and ere half their honeymoon was over they were quarreling like cat and dog, and came back to the 'squire with the request that he would " unmarry " them. The 'squire hesitated. He was not sure that the law gave him power to do as they asked. But finally he told them to wait and he would examine the "statoots " on that point. Spectacles on nose, he pored over the compiled laws, but found nothing satisfactory with regard to the matter. He was in a dilemma. But the case was an urgent one ; and, after much deliberation, he said that he could find nothing in the " statoots " that gave him authority to unmarry them. "But," said he, "it is a maxim of law, and common sense, too, that what a man has done himself he can undo." Now, you, John, and you, Jane, take hold of hands. You, and each of you, do solemnly promise that you will separate, and never trouble each other any more." The couple assented, and went on their way rejoicing in a sense of freedom and single-blessedness.
SEBEWA.
S LEBEWA is in the southern tier of townships of Ionia County, and is bounded on the north by Orange, on the east by Danby, on the south by Sunfield, in Eaton County, and on the west by Odessa. The soil of Sebewa is mostly a clay loam, though in some parts slightly sandy. It is well adapted to wheat-growing, and is quite largely under cultivation. Near the center of the town is a large swamp extending nearly the whole length of the town. This swamp is mostly covered with timber, though in the north- ern part is an open huckleberry marsh. It lies high enough to be capable of being con- verted into good grass land by thorough drainage. The timber is mostly beech and maple, and sugar-making' is quite extensively carried on every spring, some farmers making as high as four thousand pounds in one season. Fruit of nearly all kinds suit- able to this latitude is sucessfully raised. In the eastern part of the township are many fine farms under good cultivation.
ORGANIZATION.
Sebewa was organized March 19, 1845, being previous to that time a part of Berlin. The first town meeting was held at the house of Jacob Showerman.
FIRST TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
Supervisor, Wm. Hogle ; Clerk, John C. Smith ; Treasurer, John F. Terrill; Justices of the Peace, Paul Steele, John C. Smith, and Wm. Hogle; Commmissioners of Highways, John F. Terrill, Jacob Showerman, Orrin Merchant; School Inspector, Anson H. Hulbert ; Overseers of the Poor, John F. Terrill, Richard Fultham ; Con- stables, Benjamin D. Weld, Edmond Sandburn, John Maxim.
OFFICERS IN 1872.
Supervisor, Lucius E. Showerman ; Treasurer, Joshua J. Gunn; Clerk, J. H. McClelland ; Highway Commissioners, James H. Creighton, Jacob H. Lapo, Thomas Leak; Justices of the Peace, John H. Cook, Pierce G. Cook, Elkanal Carpenter ; School Inspectors, Irving A. Brown, O. V. Showerman; Constables, Henry W. Rogers, Samuel W. Oberhaltzer, James H. Creighton, Jerome B. Heaton.
MILLS.
The Sebewa Flouring-mill, on Sebewa Creek, was built in 1850, by Messrs. Lot & Green, at a cost of about $2,500, and is now owned by Egbert Y. Lowe, who has re- paired it, and it is now doing an excellent busines under the superintendence of Des- mond C. Jourdan. Rogers and Ingalls own a grist-mill, not at present in operation, a mile below Sebewa mill, on the same stream. The steam saw-mill of Carter & Davis is located on section six. It has one five-foot circular saw, capable of cutting eight thousand feet of lumber per day. A small water-power saw-mill, located on Sebewa Creek and owned by Jacob Collingham, has one upright saw, and will cut two thou-
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF IONIA COUNTY.
sand feet per day. Pierce's steam saw-mill and spoke-factory stands on section one, on the north line of the town. It has one large circular saw, a planing-mill, and other machinery, and is doing quite an extensive business, having a capacity of ten thousand feet of lumber per day. The first saw-mill in the town was built in 1843, by John Terrill and A. W. Halbert. It has since rotted down.
EARLY SETTLERS.
As near as we can learn from the memory of the early settlers, John Terrill, Charles W. Ingalls, and John Brown, were the first settlers in Sebewa, they having come thither from Vermont in 1838. Mr. Terrill settled on section twenty-five; Mr. Ingalls and Mr. Brown on section thirty-six. In the fall of 1836, Mr. Jacob Showerman, now the oldest settler living in the town, came in and located one hundred and sixty acres of land on section twenty-two; and in the fall of 1839 he moved in with his family. He cleared up this farm and lived on it till quite recently. It is now owned by Charles Deatsman. In 1841 Thomas Waddell settled on section fourteen. In 1844 Benjamin D. Weld settled on section thirty-two; and the following year Rufus Goddard settled on the same section. Mr. Goddard had located his land in 1837, but did not move on with his family till 1845. In 1840, Stephen Pilkington settled on section thirteen, and during the same year Moses Hogle, Wm. Hogle, and John C. Smith arrived, Moses and Wm. Hogle settling on section twenty-five. Among the list of early settlers we find the name of Orrin Merchant, Edward Sandburn, Peter Mapes, Joseph Munn, John Maxim, Elkanah Carpenter, William Estep, Pierce G. Cook, Nathan Stewart, Chauncey Lott, and Jacob Greene. Messrs Lot & Greene built the first grist-mill in the town, which is still standing on section twenty-five. The first assessment roll of the town bore the following names, eighteen in number : John Waddell, Edward Sand- burn, Orrin Merchant, John Maxim, Peter Mapes, Joseph Munn, Wm. Packard, George W. Dickinson, Anson W. Halbert, John F. Terrill, William Hogle, Charles W. Ingalls, John Terrill, Eleazer Brown, Jacob Showerman, Benjamin D. Weld. The assessment for 1872 has 251 names.
SCHOOLS.
The schools in the township are well kept up, and will compare favorably with those of any neighboring township of the same wealth and population. The first school- house in the town was built on the bank of Sebewa Creek, in 1843, on section twenty- five.
District No. 1, fractional with Danby, has its school-house on section twenty-four. It is an old wooden structure.
District No. 2 has a cheap wooden building, erected in 1853, on section thirty-two.
District No. 3 has a very good white framed building, costing $800. It was built in 1867, and stands on section five.
District No. 4 has a framed building on section twenty-two; cost $400.
District No. 5, fractional with Portland, Orange, and Danby, has a fine building. standing just into the corner of Portland. Its cost was over $1,000.
District No. 6, fractional with Danby, has a good framed building on section twenty- four, erected in 1858. Cost $300.
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