USA > Michigan > Kent County > History and directory of Kent County, Michigan > Part 10
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The G. R. and I. R. R. entering the town on section 1, and leaving it near Plumb's mill, on section 31, crosses this stream six times within two miles, hence, as may readily be seen, it is very crooked in its course, and being very rapid, pre- sents vast facilities for manufacturing purposes.
In 1840, Gideon H. Gorden erected on section 15, the first mill placed upon the stream. It is only a saw mill now, and owned by Mr. Watters, of Grand Rapids, but then it had a small grist mill attached, and there the settlers and Indians carried their eorn to be ground.
In 1848, a saw mill was erected by Roberts and Winsor, on section 2, at a point then called Gibraltar. It is now owned by II. B. Childs & Co., who erected in its near vicinity, a paper mill in 1866, which was destroyed by fire in 1869, but re- built the second year by the enterprising proprietors. It is on the line of the G. R. and I. R. R. and the place is now known as Child's Mills Station.
In 1850, a saw mill was erected by Robert Konkle some forty rods from the mouth of the Rouge. It is now owned by Tradewell & Towle. Save the above, no use is made in this town of the immense water power of the stream, amply sufficient to drive a continuous chain of machinery, several miles in extent.
Mill Creek runs through the southwest corner of the town, and as early as 1838, a saw mill was erected on this stream on section 31, by Daniel North. It is now owned by Eli Plumb, who erected a flouring mill at the same place, in 1866. It lies on the line of the G. R. & I. Railroad, and is known as North's Mills Station. There is also a railway station at Belmont, about six miles northeast of Grand Rapids. It lies in the midst of a fine farming district, and has a large hotel, kept by Mr. Post, for the accommodation of parties of pleasure ; otherwise, it possesses no particular advantages or attractions.
Plainfield village is a very small place, at the foot of the bluffs on section 23. It was the old ferrying post, when a ferryboat was the only means of communication -if we except the Indian canoe-between the two banks of the Grand River. It has a sunny site, and a pleasant outlook up and down the river.
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
Plainfield has ten district school-houses, but its Union school interests are merged at the present with Rockford, in Algoma, and the same may be said, in a measure, of its church interests. It has but one church edifice, which belongs to the Episcopalians. It is picturesquely situated on the bluff above the village of Plainfield, is a wooden structure 30x60 feet in size, is painted brown, and has a tower sixty feet high. It was erected in 1852. Its officiating clergyman was Rev. Mr. Van Antwerp, of Grand Rapids. It has no pastor at the present time.
Among the early settlers, we find, in 1837, George Miller, Esq., located on sec- tion 23 ; James Clark, on section 24 ; Thomas Friant, on section 24; and Warner Dexter, on section 14. In 1838, Cornelius Friant, on section 24; Zera Whitney, on section 15 ; Gideon II. Gordon, on section 15; and Daniel North, on section 31; and in 1844 Samuel Post settled on section 8, while his father, Jacob Post, and seven other sons, settled about the same time.
In 1835, Samuel Gross made his way with his family, by the and of his axe, to a home on section 2; and in 1846 Chester Wilson settled on section 12.
The first family on the ground was Mr. George Miller, and the deprivations which fell to their share was the common lot of all who made their homes in this new land, at that early day. Grand River was the only thoroughfare and means of communication with the outside world, hence the settlers depended mainly on what they raised, and their own ingenuity, to prepare it for food. Pork, if im- ported, was $60 per barrel. The nearest flouring mill was sixty miles away, and the bread eaten in the family of Mr. Miller, for eighteen months, was ground in a coffee mill.
In the fall of 1838, the first birth occurred among the whites, in the family of Mr. Miller, a twin girl and boy, living but a short time, making the first deaths, also, among the settlers; and the greatest delicacy loving friends were able to offer Mrs. Miller during her confinement, was boiled wheat.
In the winter of 1838, the accidental shooting and subsequent death of Mr. Peleg Barlow, who had come to seek a home, but had not located, cast a sadden- ing gloom over the little band of pioneers.
Although the lands were being surveyed and rapidly located, they were not in market, and it was no uncommon thing to see white men and Indians tilling their corn in the same fields, in amicable proximity to each other. But in the fall of 1839 the great land sale came off, when the settlers secured their claims, and the red man vanished from the scene, leaving naught in memoriam but the benes of his dead, on section 23, where the burial mounds, worn by the attritions of the plow, are fast being leveled with the surrounding country.
Of those who bore a conspicuous part in the settlement and organization of the town, Warner Dexter, James Clark, Thomas Friant, Daniel North and Gideon H. Gordon are dead; but by their tireless energy, they helped to open up a town- ship possessed with natural resources of wealth, surpassed by none in the country. Smiling vineyards should terrace its sunny slopes, and teeming factories line the rapid flowing Rouge, for fabulous wealth lies hidden there, awaiting the fiat of combination and enterprise, surer to the seeker than in the golden gorges of the mountains that lean against our western skies.
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
SOLON.
This township lies in the north part of the county, between Algoma on the south and the township of Ensley, of Newaygo county, on the north ; with Tyrone on the west, and Nelson on the east.
It was first settled in 1834. Some of the residents claim that a Mr. Beals, who is not now a resident of the township, was the first settler, and others that J. M. Rounds, who now resides in Algoma, was in advance. They were soon followed by John and Martin Hicks, from Indiana; also Robbins Hicks, from Ohio. In 1856 and 1857 the Jewells, Smiths, Roys and Whispels came, followed in 1858 by Ansel Rogers. J. D. Watkins, now a resident of Alpine, settled on section twenty- six in 1835.
ORGANIZATION.
This township was attached to Algoma (and called north Algoma) until 1857, when it was organized as a separate township, under the name of Solon. The first annual meeting was held at the house of Walter Rowe, one mile south of the center.
FIRST TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
Supervisor-Edward Jewell. Clerk-John E. Roys. Treasurer-John D. Watkins. Justices-Andrew Fluent, Munson Robinson and Obadiah Smith.
For several years the annual township meetings were hekl at the school house o" district No. 2. In 1865 the place of meeting was changed to Cedar Springs- where they are now held.
PRESENT TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
Supervisor-Benj. Fairchild. Clerk-John Thetge. Treasurer-Wm. Johnson. Justices-John Thetge, C. B. Ford and J. D. Clark.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
The elevation of Solon is probably as great as any township in the county, it being nearly on the divide between Grand and Muskegon rivers. It is compara- tively level, and, in the eastern part, somewhat swampy.
The timber is chiefly pine throughout the whole township, being interspersed with some grand old oaks in some parts, and in others with beech and occasion- ally a little maple.
The farms are generally new, with but small improvements. The farms of M. II. Clark, Jewell, and one or two others might be mentioned as exceptions to this. Fruit does well on this pine land wherever orchards have been set. The south- eastern part of the township is the most thickly settled, while nearly the whole of the northwest quarter is an unbroken forest.
LAKES, STREAMS, ETC.
In describing the lakes and streams of this township we will commence at the north.
First, then, there is a small lake on the north line of section four, lying partly in the township of Ensley, Newaygo county. This is sometimes called Lampman Lake. On the Kent county map, published in 1863, there was a large sized stream marked as the outlet of this lake, but we failed to find any such stream. It has
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
no outlet. One and a half miles east of this, on the northwest corner of section two, is a large, flowing spring, known as Crandall's Spring. which is the source of the west branch of Duke Creek. The stream flows southeasterly through three lakes, known as the Chain of Lakes; the first being on the line of sections two and three, (chiefly on three); the next near the center of section two; and the third on the south line of two and partially on seven. This stream then flows a little east of south, to the north part of section twenty-four, where it unites with the east branch, which rises in Jordan Lake, on section one, flows out into Nelson, where it receives some additional water, and again enters Solon at the southeast corner of section twelve. At the junction of these two streams Wellman & Co. con- structed a dam in 1856, at a cost of $1,000, with the intention of erecting a large saw mill, which, however, was never built. From this point Duke Creek flows in a southwesterly direction across the township, and passes out on section thirty, into Tyrone. It is filed by several small streams, the largest of which comes from a small lake near the center of section fourteen, (for which We heard no name), and flows into the main creek on the north side of section twenty-eight. This stream has been much used for running logs to the Rouge, and thence to Grand River.
There is a small lake on the north line of section fifteen, known as Mud Lake, which has no outlet.
The size of these seven lakes varies from ten to one hundred acres each.
Cedar Creek rises in Nelson, flows across the southeast corner of Solon, and southwest into Algoma, in the history of which it will be mentioned at greater length.
In the southwest corner are Long Lake, and some smaller ones, which will be farther spoken of in connection with the lakes in the northwestern part of Algoma.
THE VILLAGE OF CEDAR SPRINGS
was platted in 1859, and probably will be incorporated at the next session of the State Legislature.
It is situated twenty miles northeast from Grand Rapids, by the G. R. & I. Rail- road, and lies about half in Solon and half in Nelson, one mile from their south line.
The first settler here was Robbins Hicks, who came in 1855, and was previously mentioned as one of the early residents of Solon. He now resides with his family in the northeast corner of the township.
There were but few inhabitants and but a very limited amount of business in Cedar Springs until 1867, when the railroad was completed to that point. This immediately infused life into the place, and it continued to grow rapidly as long as it was the terminus of the railroad north, which it was for nearly two years. Since that time, although it has not grown as rapidly, and business has not been quite as good in some respects, still it is steadily progressing, and new enter- prises are being engaged in.
A line has been surveyed the present season, for a railroad from this place to Muskegon, in connection with a road projected from Greenville hither, which, in connection with the road now running from Lansing to Ionia, and the one being
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
constructed from Ionia to Greenville, would make a continuous line from the lake shore to our state capital, directly through Cedar Springs.
We are informed by Mr. Fairchikl, who, by the way, is wide awake on railroad matters in that vicinity, and in fact on matters of every kind connected with the growth and prosperity of the village, that the Continental Improvement Con- pany contemplate building a branch railroad from this place to Newaygo. A state road passes through here from Grand Rapids to Big Rapids ; also, one from here to Muskegon.
A Flour-Barrel, Stave and Heading Factory has been erected the present sea- son, by Richards & Sharer, which seems to be doing a good business, cutting 20,000 staves and 10,000 headings per day, besides circling fitty to seventy-five barrels per day for their own use, in packing the heading which they ship.
The village contains six Steam Saw Mills, which cut in the aggregate 50,000 shingles and 50,000 feet of lumber per day. These mills have all been erected since 1866, and are severally owned and operated by the following gentlemen and firms : W. L. Barber & Co., Byron Prentiss & Co., Mr. Slawson and J. II. Shaw, all of this place ; and Isaac Newton and Chauncey Pelton, of Grand Rapids.
It also contains about twenty stores, three or four restaurants, three hotels, kept respectively by Benj. Fairchild, J. S. Tisdell, and C. W. Denison, one livery stable, four blacksmith and several other shops, such as wheelright, cooper shops, etc.
The Baptist Society have a very good frame church, 36x60 feet in size, which was erected in 1868, at a cost of about $4,000.
The Methodist Episcopal Society are erecting a nice, frame structure, in size 40x70 feet, which is to be finished in good style, with stained glass windows, and a spire one hundred feet high. This will be the best church building north of Grand Rapids, and will cost from $5,000 to $6,000.
The Masonic Order have a nice little Hall, tastefully fitted up for their accom- modation. There are also two or three halls for public meetings, the largest of which is a new one christened Union Hall, just completed by Paine & Manly. The Post-office is kept at present by Mr. II. C. Russell, in his drug store. A weekly newspaper, called the Wolverine Clipper, is published by Maze & Sellers.
The schools are on the graded system, and consist of three departments, which are kept in three buildings, for want of a good Union School House.
MILLS.
Outside of the village there are a number of mills, which cut a large amount of lumber and shingles.
We will first mention that of George Frenchi, of Rockford. This is a steam saw mill, capable of cutting 10,000,000 shingles and 2,000,000 feet of lumber per year, and stands on the southwest corner of section twelve. It was erected by Mr. French in 1868.
We next come to a first-class steam saw mill, on the north line of section one, which was erected in 1869, on the site of one built the year previous and destroyed by fire. Capacity of this mill, 20,000 feet of lumber and 16,000 shingles per day. Proprietor, John B. Wagner.
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
A small, Water-power Saw Mill is to be erected the present year, on the north- east corner of section twenty-eight, on Duke Creek, by Lewis S. Hancock. This is intended to be used as a lumber and shingle mill.
Andrew J. Fluent has a Portable Steam Shingle Mill, on the west side of sec- tion twenty-two, which cuts 15,000 shingles per day.
The Portable Steam Saw Mill, situated on the south side of section ten, is capa- ble of cutting 10,000 feet of lumber and 15,000 shingles per day. The lumber mill is owned and operated by H. Morse & Co., and the shingle attachment by C. A. Tower & Co.
The Portable Steam Saw Mill of Willard Barnhart, set up in May, 1870, on the west side of section thirteen, is capable of cutting 10,000 fect of lumber per day.
Solomon Ipe's Portable Steam Shingle Mill, on the south side of section twenty- three, was erected by him in 1866, and cuts 14,000 shingles per day. It will be noticed that every mill now running in this township is run by steam, although good water power could be obtained on almost any section which now has a mill.
SCHOOL HOUSES.
District No. 1 was organized in 1858, and a small frame house erected, which was used until 1860, when a good frame building was erected at a cost of $600. It is located one and one-half miles west of Cedar Springs, on the north side of section thirty-five.
District No. 2 .- Solon Center-was organized in 1858, and a small log house erected. In 1869 a nice frame building was erected on the southeast corner of section sixteen, at a cost of $700.
This School House is really an ornament to the district, and, in fact, to the township, showing, as it does, that the people of Solon are wide awake, and un- derstand the effect of good educational advantages on the growth and prosperity of a new country, and are willing to provide for the comfort of their children.
We mention this house more particularly because it stands in a much newer portion of the township than the one previously mentioned.
District No. 3 (fractional with Nelson) was organized in 1860, and a small log house was erected, which still stands on the west side of section thirteen, near the residence of A. B. Fairchild. This district is about to raise money for a new house, to be built on the same site, at a cost of $600 or $700.
District No. 4 (fractional with Algoma) was organized in 1869. In the spring of 1870, a nice little frame house was erected at a cost of $250, located on the south- west corner of section twenty-nine, four and one-half miles west of Cedar Springs, on the C. S. & M. State Road.
District No. 5 was orgrnized in 1866, and a small frame house erected the same year on the west side of section eleven, at a cost of $180.
There are many older townships which can erect large churches and other public buildings, but fail to do as well for their school interests as this " back- woods " township of Solon.
12
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
SPARTA.
This is one of the western tier of townships, adjoining Chester, Ottawa county, on the west, and Algoma on the east, and lying between Alpine on the southi, and Tyrone on the north.
This township was first settled in 1844, when Lyman Smith-now residing at Grand Traverse-settled on section 25, near the southeast part. Very soon after, Norman and Edwin Cummings went on section 34, on the south line, and commenced chopping on the farm now owned by Norman. So far there was no house (worthy of the name) in the township-they only having small shanties.
In a short time, Lewis W. Purdy came from Genessee county, settled on the southwest corner of section 28, and erected the first log house in the now thickly settled township of Sparta. Mrs. Purdy was the first white woman in the town- ship. In January, 1845, Joseph English and family came direct from England, and went just over the line on section 36, in the southeast part of the township.
Mr. English, although unable to read or write when he came to Sparta, being a man of great perseverance, succeeded, in the course of a few years, in erecting a large steam saw mill, which drew quite a number of men, who bought lots and erected small houses, thereby making a little village, which was called English- ville. This mill being destroyed by fire, Mr. English moved to Laphamville, now known as Rockford, which was then considered about dead.
By buying some of the mills and renting others, he succeeded in getting con- trol of nearly all of the mills on Rouge River, from which he shipped a large quantity of lumber to Chicago; but owing to a decline in prices, he failed to make it pay, and was obliged to give up in that quarter, but not until he had -- by his great energy and venturesome spirit-infused new life into the whole lum - bering district of Rouge River.
He afterwards, with his sons, erected a water mill on the north part of his farm, which is now run by his sons, William, Joseph and Richard. The post office still known as Englishville, is about all that remains to remind us of the once flourishing little Ville, which will probably again revive, if the Grand Rapids and Newaygo Railroad, which has been surveyed, is constructed, and a station established therc.
In the spring of 1845, Mr. Cummings-the father of Norman, Edwin and Nel- son Cummings-came with his family to the place where the sons had previously began.
The parents are long since dead, but the three sons still remain on the south line, one in Sparta and the others in Alpine, where they have large farms with good buildings, as the fruits of their early labors in pioneer days.
Mr. Lyman Smith and Mr. Purdy did not long remain residents of Sparta, but the marks made by them still remain.
In June, 1845, John Symes, Elihu Rice, and Anthony Chapman, met in Alpine, while on their way to settle in Sparta. They were strangers, but soon found, by comparing descriptions, that the lands which they had respectively bought or pre-empted, all lay adjoining, and, going on the principle that "in union is strength," they, after some consultation, decided on the course they would take ; and the next morning Rice and Symes started from the house of Joseph English
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
to underbrush a road from there west, along the present town-line of Alpine and Sparta. Meanwhile Chapman had returned to Mill Creek for provisions. After cutting west to the section corner, now known as Rouse's Corners, they turned north, and followed the line between sections 34 and 35. Toward night they were beginning to think of returning to the house of Mr. English, but at that moment they heard a wagon approaching, and on waiting for it to come up, found it was Chapman, who had come with supplies. They now built a fire by the side of a log, and camped for the night, with the wolves howling around them while they slept; and in the morning completed their road to what was to be their homes.
Mr. Rice's land was on section 27, and Mr. Symes' and Mr. Chapman's on 26. Three trees were found on the line of Symes' and Chapman's land which would do for three corner posts of a shanty ; and by putting in one post, and the use of a few boards which had been brought along from Mill Creek, a shelter was soon formed, to which the families were taken the next day, where they lived together until houses were erected. About this time David B. Martindale, who now lives just east of Sparta village, settled on section 36.
During the following fall and winter, Hiram HI. Meyers settled east of Rouge River, on section 24, and was soon followed by his father and family from Canada. This family took a large tract of land in the east part of Sparta, where they have engaged quite extensively in lumbering, especially Hiram, Jolin and Myron Bal- com near the centre of the township, and William Blackall and family southwest of the center. Myron Balcom is now in Missouri, and John, commonly known as Deacon Balcom, is now living in the village of Sparta. William Blackall has long been laid beneath the sod ; but his sons, Benjamin and Charles, still remain.
We neglected to mention Mr. Clark Brown, who came from the state of New York, early in 1845, and is still living on the farm where he first commenced, on the south line of section 33.
In 1846, J. E. Nash, from Massachusetts, settled where he now lives, one mile east of the center of the township.
Among other early settlers who were pioneers in various parts of the township, were the Spangenburgs, Amidons, Bradfords, Hinmans, McNitts, Taylors, Steb- bins', R. D. Hastings, and Ira Blanchard, most of whom still reside in Sparta. Hon. Lyman Murray settled in Sparta at an early day, but soon removed to Alpine.
ORGANIZATION.
Sparta was organized very soon after it was settled. The first annual meeting was held in April, 1846, at the house of Clark Brown, on the south line of the township, at which time there were only eleven votes cast. As the full ticket requires sixteen officers, there could not have been much opportunity for a choice.
The present township of Tyrone was attached to Sparta from the time it began to be settled, until 1855.
FIRST TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
Supervisor-Lewis W. Purdy. Clerk-John M. Balcom. Treasurer-Myron H. Balcom.
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
At a subsequent annual election, John M. Balcom was elected to the office of Constable by one vote.
The township meetings are now held at the school-house in the village of Sparta.
OFFICERS IN 1870.
Supervisor-Volney W. Caukin. Clerk-Ervin J. Emmons. Treasurer- Charles C. Eddy. Justices-A. B. Cheney, Volney W. Caukin, Albert Finch.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
The general surface of Sparta is high and rolling, and it contains but little waste land.
There are several small swamps in various parts of the township, but none of much account, except in the north and northwest parts.
On sections 2 and 3 is a swamp of some extent, requiring the services of the Drain Commissioners. Also a series nearly or quite connected, extending west across sections 4 or 5, and passing off into the south part of Tyrone. There are two quite extensive swamps which commence on the west part of section 6, and run west into Chester. Between them is the ridge, well known to those accus- tomed to travel the G. R. & Newaygo State Road, as the Hog-back Hill. The highest hills and deepest valleys are in the northwest ; still it contains some as nice farming lands as are to be found in the township.
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