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 5
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Keene is peculiarly an agricultural township, having no railroad, mill, hotel or church within its limits. Ephraim Abbott & Co., have a fine establishment for the manufac- ture of chairs, rakes, etc., built in 1869, and situated in the western part of section twenty-two. This, and the blacksmith shop of George H. Hart, on the south line of section nine, are the only manufactories of the township.
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF IONIA COUNTY.
The first postoffice was established about 1845; it was named Avon, and the post- master was Asaph C. Smith. This office was afterward removed to Easton. Another postoffice, called Rix, was maintained for several years, near the center of the town, but was finally discontinued and the present postoffice of Keene established, on the eastern part of section twenty-one.
Keene has two cemeteries, one on section seventeen, and the other on section twenty- eight.
The first school-house was built in 1842, where the Potter school-house now stands, in District No. 1. Miss Ruth Hunt of Lyons, was the first teacher. The present house was built some years after.
The Sayles school-house, in District No. 2, is a fine brick building, erected in 1870, on the western part of section thirty.
The Day school-house, in District No. 3, is a brick building of fair size, situated on the west line of section twenty-seven, and was built in 1869.
The White school-house, in District No. 4, is a medium-sized frame building, built some fourteen years since, and situated on the south line of section thirty-four.
The Marble school-house, in District No. 5, is a small frame building, standing on the northeast corner of section seventeen, and was erected in 1848.
The Tasker school-house in District No. 6, is a small frame building, located near the center of section eleven.
The Stevens school-house, in District No. 7, is a small frame building, situated on the southeast corner of section twenty-six, and was built in 1870.
The Bowen school-house, in District No. 8, stands on the west line of section twenty- one. It is a small frame building, erected in 1855.
The Striped school-house, in District No. 9, is a fair-sized frame building, on the northern part of section fifteen, and was built in 1864.
The present township officers are : Supervisor, Amasa F. Lee ; Township Clerk, Thomas Daniels ; Township Treasurer, Ephraim Abbott ; Drain Commissioner, Geo. R. Sayles ; Justices of the Peace, Ensign Rexford, William Clark, and Eddy Morrison ; School Inspectors, Wilbur H. Moon and Robert Thompson ; Commissioners of High- ways, Geo. W. Lee, John Reid, and William R. Parker; Constable, Benjamin Rexford.
LYONS.
T THIS town is located in the eastern tier, bounded on the north by North Plains ; east by Dallas, Clinton County ; south by Portland ; west by Ionia. It formerly embraced territory belonging to Ionia and North Plains, which has been set back to the respective towns, leaving only the surveyed township, six miles square. The first settler was H. V. Libhart, who came in April, 1833, and selected his land, went back to Naples, Ontario county, New York, and returned with his family,-arriving at the site, where the village of Lyons now stands, on the 4th day of July, 1833, having been twenty days on the road from Detroit, and being obliged to cut roads for the passage of his ox teams, laden with supplies and machinery for constructing the first saw mill in the county. Mr. Libhart accompanied the teams on the route, as far as Laing's, now called Laingsburg, Shiawassee County, where he took two of the horses, placing a man's saddle on one for his wife to ride and with a blanket on the other, and his little daughter (Mrs. E. B. Armstrong, of Saranac) in his arms, they rode the whole distance to the mouth of the Maple in one day, following Indian trails and fording streams, arriving just as the sun was setting in the west, gilding with its departing rays the unbroken forests on the surrounding hills. Before them lay the sparkling river and the broad expanse of green prairie, dotted here and there with the villages of the red men, who were the sole tenants of the soil and the only inhabitants except the traders, Hunt, Belcher, and Brown, who some time previous (1830) had established a post for the purpose of trading with the Indians for furs and skins. Mr. Hunt, in 1834, brought his family and settled here, where he remained until his death. Belcher and Brown left the place and appear no more in this history. It was at this point that Mr. Lib- hart made his home, with no settlement this side of Pontiac, Jackon, or Kalamazoo, and none west, except the trading post at Bock-a-tink (Grand Rapids), this side of the great lake. This place, called by the Indians "Co-coosh," was the headquarters of the principal tribes inhabiting the Grand River Valley. Here were the villages of Cocoosh, Muck-a-to-quet, Pewamo, O-san-gee, Muc-a-teb-a-nee, O-kee-mosse, and sev- eral other minor chiefs with their bands. This was the home to which the pioneer brought his young wife, and the only society for six long months was such as the surrounding Indian villages could offer. During the season several settlers arrived, swelling the number in one year to twenty persons, among whom were William Moore and family, also his two sons, William and Daniel, John Knox and family, Nathan Benjamin, Daniel Hart and family, Thaddeus O. Warner, John Gee and Wm. Merrill. Benjamin Hunt, Warner, and Gee settled on what is known as East Plains. The rest settled in and west of the village.
On the 4th of July, 1834, the pioneers had a celebration, II. V. Libhart delivering the oration, that being the first 4th of July celebration held in the State west of Pontiac. "' Hail Columbia" and "Star Spangled Banner" were sung, a pole was raised bearing a spread Eagle, and an oak stump, with an auger-hole, was substituted for a cannon. The day was fine, and the festivities were continued during the day and greatly enjoyed
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF IONIA COUNTY.
by the settlers, as well as by the Indians who participated. In this manner our early settlers wore away the tedium which otherwise would attach to deprivation of social enjoyment and the many privileges denied them in this new country.
Many settlers continued to arrive, and in 1836 the fame of the Grand River Valley had spread over the eastern states, and speculators came in herds to secure our rich lands and valuable water-power, and make for themselves fortunes in the new and growing State. Among those who had arrived and located previous to 1836, were Henry A. Leonard and Mr. Huntz, A. L. Roof and A. F. Bell, both young sprigs of the law, who have made for themselves homes and names that will last as long as there remains a Grand River Valley. Messrs. Roof and Bell each rose to the top of the ladder in their profession and both have done good service in our State Legislature ; and both still live to enjoy what their early industry and ability aided them to accu- mulate.
About this time Hon. Fred Hall (now of Ionia), then a young man tall and straight as an arrow, came from Vermont and settled at Lyons, where he remained several years actively engaged in those pursuits which ultimately resulted in furnishing him with a competency sufficient to satisfy the most avaricious. Speculation was rife at this time and every available spot, and some places not available, was platted into villages with fine-sounding names, and corner lots that had only a mythical existence, sold for fabulous prices. A good story was told the writer by Thos. H. Dewey, who came in 1835 with Peter Coon. To premise the story, we will say that Arthursburg, located on the high bluff north of Maple River, just below the village of Union, was one of the class of villages platted in the air and drafted on paper, showing public parks, com- modious hotels, large manufacturing establishments, in fact all the accompaniments of a large and flourishing village. Very many lots in this plat found ready purchasers in the eastern states, many of whom were toiling factory girls who had earned their money by a single thread at a time, and other hard-working mechanics, on whom the loss of a few hundred dollars fell heavily. But better than the above, among the fish that took the bait were a number of the class called " sharks," who purchased exten- sively at what to them appeared low prices, anticipating a rapid rise in corner lots in the fast-growing young city of Arthursburg. It is of one of the class that we would write. One afternoon, in the summer of 1836, Mr. Dewey was at work on the prairie below the village, and was accosted by a well-dressed man carrying a heavy valise, who inquired if he could direct him to Arthursburg. Mr. Dewey told him that it was about three- fourths of a mile and on the opposite side of Maple River. The shores being high, the person supposed the village to be concealed by the intervening woodland, and inquired as to facilities for crossing, whether by bridge or ferry. When being informed that swimming was the usual manner of reaching the place, unless fortunate enough to find an Indian to carry him over in a canoe, the traveler looked amazed and expressed the opinion that the citizens of Arthursburg must be lacking in enterprise to neglect the construction of bridges to accommodate travel to and from so important a place. He stated during the conversation that he was the fortunate owner of some of the most valuable lots in the village, from the sale of which he anticipated receiving a sum sufficient to pay him well for the perils and dangers of a journey from Connecticut; and as it was nearly night he proposed to move down to the river and find some means of crossing, and locate himself comfortably at one of the principal hotels and wait, like the great Micawber, for something to turn up. On being informed by Mr. Dewey that the hotel accommodations of Arthursburg were limited to a camp on the ground, earth for a bed, rock for a pillow, and blue skies for a canopy, our traveler was greatly agi- tated; and when informed further, that the village of Arthursburg never had been surveyed and only existed on paper and in the fertile brain of some graceless and
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF IONIA COUNTY.
unscrupulous speculator, and that the whole ground-work of the village was there laid out before him, embracing a few paltry acres of worthless land stretching from the river bank up the almost perpendicular slope to the top of the high bluff, now known as Arthursburg hill. The look of blank amazement, chagrin, anger, and mortification, all blended together, that spread itself on his countenance, can better be imagined than described. With bitter anathemas mingled with smothered curses against all specula- tors, and the originators of the Arthursburg swindle in particular, he departed from the spot where his brightest hopes had been blighted, a wiser man and equally as rich as though he possessed every lot in that fictitious village. About this time, with the great influx of immigrants, came the late Truman Lyon, Asa Bunnell, Giles Isham, Phineas Varnum, Judge Thompson, and many others that cannot be mentioned in our limited space.
ORGANIZATION.
In 1837 the township was organized, under the name of Maple, embracing four sur- veyed townships, and the first meeting was ordered to be held at the house of Wm. Hunt. March 20, 1840, the bill to change the name to Lyons was approved by the Governor. We cannot find the record of the first township meeting ; consequently cannot give the names of the officers. The names of the present officers are: D. C. Spalding, Supervisor; J. F. Baker, Clerk ; H. V. Staley, A. Amsden, A. R. Roof, C. L. Hungerford, Justices ; J. O. Probasco, Treasurer ; D. Speer, W. A. Carpenter, and J. Dunlap, Highway Commissioners ; G. A. Hendrick and A. Abbey, Assessors.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
The surface near the streams is high and rolling, except the prairie at the junction of the Maple and Grand River, and the northern and eastern portions are nearly level, with only slight undulations. There is but little waste land, that being on the river bluffs, and no swamps of any importance. The soil varies from the rich alluvial deposits to gravel, clay, sand, and loam. The northern part of the town is embraced in what is known as the North Plains; the eastern portion embraces the East Plains ; the central part is heavily timbered openings, and the southern is openings and plains. There are but few acres in the township that will not produce wheat, and the samples shown in our market are equal to any in the State. The high, rolling lands in the vicinity of the rivers, are well adapted to the cultivation of fruit of all kinds, and our citizens are engaged quite extensively in fruit culture. The farms in this town are generally under a high state of cultivation, and the owners, in almost every instance, have erected for themselves, large, beautiful, and commodious residences, and farm buildings far superior to many in the farming districts of the older States. A good soil and fine climate, together with a good share of industry and enterprise, will soon convert a howling wilderness into almost an Eden.
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The privations and hardships endured by the early settlers can hardly be realized by those who have more recently settled in the country. It will be recollected that there were no mills this side of Pontiac, and all breadstuffs were brought from there, or transported from Detroit to Grand Haven and from there by canoes or batteaux to this place, and many times from unavoidable causes the early settlers were entirely without food ; many subsisting on wild fruits, boiled wheat, and maple sugar. Many incidents are mentioned by S. H. Sutton, Esq., of Naples, N. Y., in his sketches of pioneer life, to whom we are indebted for the following item: " We remember the instance of a pioneer, Mr. Lambert B. Barnum. Going twelve miles to borrow some pork, he was refused. He then wanted to buy it; he was still refused. He wanted to look into the pork barrel, and that was refused. He then offered twenty-five cents to
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF IONIA COUNTY.
be allowed to smell of the barrel, and that too was refused !" Those that hunted cattle were often lost in the woods, and would find refuge in the trees during the night to avoid wild beasts. Hardships and privations were on every hand, and many a young man was then here that had been tenderly reared, who sighed for home and its comforts. But homesickness, hardships and poverty are better to graduate a young man than a cozy home, a rich inheritance, and all the luxuries that wealth can give.
The first steamboat that visited Lyons came up the river on the first day of Decem- ber, 1837, which event was made the occasion of great festivities. The trip of the boat was not repeated, and transportation was continued as usual with pole boats and canoes until 1848, when steamboats were again launched above the rapids, and there- after made regular trips during their season until obstructed by the bridges of the Detroit & Milwaukee Railway.
The first birth in the township was Antoinette, a daughter of Franklin Chubb (now Mrs. Hungerford, of Williamston, Mich).
The first death was Harry, an infant son of Franklin Chubb.
The first marriage was that of Stephen Bunker (now in Kansas), to a daughter of Wm. Hunt, the old pioneer and trader.
VILLAGE OF LYONS.
There are three villages in this township, Lyons, Muir, and Pewamo. The village of Lyons was platted long before the township was organized, and its early history is identical with the history of the township. This was the point of first settlement, and here transpired all of the events that make our history. The property platted and the surrounding lands was owned by Lucius Lyon, who was at that time a member of Congress, and who projected many schemes for the advancement and aggrandizement- of the place ; but unfortunately for us, the pressure of 1837 caused the end of many well laid plans, and Lyons was destined to wait future developments for the further- ance of her interests. In 1836, an effort was made to improve the water-power on Grand River at this place. A portion of the canal or race was excavated, and a com- mencement made on the dam, but " wild-cats " were too many for the enterprise, and that too collapsed. In 1856, Daniel Ball, of Grand Rapids, having come into posses- sion of certain real estate in this village, proposed to improve the water-power, .provided the citizens would contribute something toward the expense. Our citizens and the farmers in the country came forward and subscribed nearly $8,000, which was expended in making a race, throwing up a dyke around the contemplated pond, and building a dam part way across the river, where the work stopped. Some time later a number of our enterprising citizens associated themselves together and organized the Lyons Water-Power Company, purchasing from Mr. Ball his interest, since which time much money has been expended in perfecting the dam and race, and now we have a power second to none but Grand Rapids in the State. There is running on this power the saw-mill, pump-shop, spoke and felloe factory of H. V. Libhart; the sash, door and blind factory of F. E. & A. D. Moore; the plaster-mill of Wm. C. Hawley ; A. Amsden & Co.'s woolen factory ; wooden bowl and turning shop of Phelps & Hiser ; also, the large "Gothic " flouring-mills of Hale Bro's., who have this year added a large brick building to the structure, making it one of the largest and finest mills in the valley.
The village was first incorporated in 1857, and under the supervision of the Board many improvements were made by grading streets, building side-walks, and other things necessary. In 1868 the people procured a new charter, under which improve- ments have steadily been made until our streets and side-walks have been placed in a condition that will compare favorably with any of our sister villages. The village
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF IONIA COUNTY.
now contains 1 National Bank, 12 stores, 5 blacksmith shops, 2 good hotels, 3 car- riage shops, 1 large furniture establishment, 1 foundry and pump shop, 1 wholesale boot and shoe factory, 3 shoe shops, 2 harness shops, 2 large churches, together with the manufacturing establishments mentioned in connection with the water-power. With the railroad facilities that we now have and are sure to have in another year, in connection with the extensive water-power, located in the midst of the finest country in the State, producing everything necessary for prosperity, the future of Lyons can be only bright and full of promise.
MUIR.
The first settlement of Muir was made by Dr. W. Z. Blanchard and his son, John C., who improved a farm on the present site and built a barn and tenant house. The place was occupied for farming purposes until 1855, when the late A. L. Soule and R. L. Robinson, from Ohio, purchased the property and platted the village of Montrose, which name was subsequently changed to Muir. About this time the D. & M. R. R. was under contract, and through the influence of Messrs. Soule & Robinson and others, the station was located at that point. There was little done in the shape of improvement for some time, until Messrs. Soule & Robinson, who, having previously purchased extensively of the pine lands on Fish Creek, conceived the project of con- structing a steam saw-mill at Muir. The mill was built, and the manufacturing of pine lumber was considered a success. Soon after the death of both Messrs. Soule and Robinson, Messrs. J. & J. Begole of Mount Morris, New York, purchased the property, and are still engaged in the manufacture of lumber. Viewing the success of these par- ties, others were induced to construct mills, and now Muir has 4 steam saw-mills, 1 shingle-mill, and one planing-mill, sash, door and blind factory. Having no water- power, the whole business of the place is dependent on the lumber interests for sup- port. In seasons when lumber is abundant and logs easily obtained, the village pre- sents an active, lively, and prosperous appearance ; but in seasons like the present, with little rain and no water, and but few logs, it looks rather discouraging to the com- mercial interests as well as to lumbermen. The interests of the whole business portion seem to be identical, and with a fixed determination on the part of business men that all branches of trade shall share alike in the prosperity of the place, and by courteous interchanging of accommodations no branch has as yet suffered to any extent from unfortunate circumstances not under their control. With the enterprise of its business men, combined with their unbounded liberality, there can be but one result,-success.
Nearly 15,000,000 ft. of lumber are cut annually at the mills in Muir, although their capacity is much greater. The extensive gang mill of Wagar, Armstrong & Co., is the first on the river, and lies eighty rods east of the depot directly on the railroad. Next is the mill of C. J. Rumsey ; third, is the mill of J. & J. Begole & Co. ; next below this is the shingle-mill of Hewitt & Gould, and the last is the mill of Abby, French & Co., on the railroad track below the village.
This village now contains two churches, one National Bank ; also the Exchange Bank of S. W. Webber & Co., 4 dry goods stores, 3 grocery stores, 1 bakery. 2 drug stores, 1 hardware store, 1 jewelry store, 4 blacksmith shops, 1 harness shop, 5 saloons, 1 furniture store, 1 steam flouring-mill, 2 hotels. The village was incorporated in 1870.
PEWAMO.
This village, named after the Ottowa Chief, Pewamo, is situated on sections twelve and thirteen, comprising in its boundaries the south half of twelve and north half of thirteen. This village was first laid out at the time of constructing the D. & M. R. R., by Dr. Blanchard, J. C. Blanchard, Hampton Rich, Robert Higham, and others, who
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF IONIA COUNTY.
purchased the property from Mr. Mosher and Hunt. The first building erected in the new village was the large brown store, now occupied by R. G. Mattison. This store was built by Mr. Morse, who brought a stock of goods from Matherton, continued trade for a short time, sold out and " went west." About this time H. W. Blanchard, Esq. (lately deceased), came from Canada and located here, building a store and resi- dence in connection, and continued business until his death.
For several years but little improvement was made in the village, the business being confined principally to getting out wood for the railroad company. The village being located on a low piece of ground, the roads were many times in a horrible con- dition ; but through the liberality of the township, appropriations were made for draining and turnpiking the roads, which are now in a good condition. This is quite an import- ant shipping point, as all freights for Matherton, Hubbardston, Carson, Elm Hall, Estelle, and all points north are delivered here, and the business of the place has steadily increased, until now they have three fine churches, three dry-goods stores, two drug stores, one hardware store, two groceries, three hotels, one steam flouring-mill, one stave and heading factory, two blacksmith shops, two carriage shops, one boot and shoe shop, and all the small accompaniments of an ordinary village. The village was incorporated 1870.
SCHOOLS.
The first school in the township was organized in 1834, with five pupils, Miss Susan Moore (now the widow of the late Joshua Boyer, and residing in Grand Rapids) being the teacher. The school-room was a small log shanty, erected by H. V. Libhart, Esq., on the site of the present residence of Thomas Mckenzie, in the village of Lyons.
The township is now divided into cleven districts, a part of them fractional with other towns, and has a large number of fine and substantial, and some dilapidated and worthless, school buildings, which we have not sufficient space to describe.
The village of Lyons has a large school-house on the west side of the river. It is two stories high, with two large session-rooms and two recitation-rooms. The school can accommodate three hundred pupils, employs four teachers, and is in a flourishing condition. The grounds are ample, and thickly set with maple trees. The officers of the district are : G. A. Hendrick, Jr., Director; A. K. Roof, Moderator, and M. F. Baker, Assessor.
There is a large, elegant school-building on section thirty-four, which cost $2,500. On section number one is another fine building which cost $1,500. On section thirty- five is what is called the Crane school-house, a handsome building which cost $1,500.
There are three small school buildings in the village of Muir, with a large attendance of pupils. The late A. L. Soule set apart in his will the sum of $10,000 for the purpose of maintaining a public school in Muir, which sum the District Board are taking meas- ures to secure for use in the construction of a suitable school-building.
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