USA > Michigan > Kent County > History and directory of Kent County, Michigan > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32
The timber is mostly beech and sugar-maple, with some pine in the northeast and southeast parts. There is some bemlock interspersed with the pine in the northeast. The soil is generally a rich loam, suited to the production of wheat, corn, oats, grass. potatoes, etc. Nearly all kinds of fruit which can be raised in the county, do well here.
Among the large farms of Sparta, we would mention that of Mrs. John Manly, in the southwest part of the township, which contains 280 acres, and that of Elias Darling, farther north on the same road, containing 320 acres. The large farm of Moses Bradford is now divided between his sons, Jason and Perry. The farm formerly owned by Nathan Earl, is now owned by his son-in-law, Charles M. Chapman. Norman Cummings has 240 acres on the south township line, which is, however, in two separate parcels.
STREAMS.
Rouge River is the principal stream of Sparta, entering it on section 1, from Tyrone, and passing south and southeast through the east tier of sections ; thence out into Algoma, from the east part of section 25. It is used for running logs, having been cleared for that purpose nearly twenty years ago, through this township.
Ball Creek, which has also been considerably used for logging, enters Sparta from Tyrone, near the central part of the line, and flows in a southeasterly direc- tion across sections 3, 2 and 11, into Rouge River, of which it is the principal branch from this township.
Nash Creek, formed by several small branches from the west, flows through the central part, and empties into Rouge River on the southeast corner of section fourteen.
93
HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
Symes Creek rises in the southern part of the township, and flows northeast- erly into Rouge River, on the southwest corner of section twenty-four.
A small stream, sometimes known as the River Jordan, comes in from Alpine, and flows in a northerly direction across sections twenty-five and twenty-six, and empties into Rouge River near the center of the latter section.
Two small streams empty into Rouge River from the northeast, on section one, being the outlets of a chain of lakes in the west part of Algoma. These streams have also been used for running logs.
VILLAGES.
The village of Sparta, not yet incorporated, is a flourishing little town of about 200 inhabitants, located on Nash Creek, one mile east of the geographical center of the township, and 15 miles from Grand Rapids. This place was first settled by J. E. Nash, in 1846, and for some time known as Nashville. It now contains a Post-office, known as Sparta Center, two churches-Baptist and Methodist Epis- copal-both of which were erected in 1866, at a cost of about $3,000 each, a good steam saw mill, five stores, two blacksmith shops, and one wagon shop; also a very good hotel, known as the Sparta House, and kept by John M. Balcom. But as yet no graded school building has been erected, although it is greatly needed. A small, frame, district school house, erected in 1849, is the only public school building in the place. A good select school is kept during the winter months by Mr. Amherst Chency. The steam saw mill already mentioned, is now owned and operated by Wm. Olmsted and Sons. It has a planing machine attached ; also one run of stone for grinding flour and feed.
LISBON VILLAGE,
on the west line of Sparta, is sixteen miles from Grand Rapids, on the Grand Rapids and Newaygo State Road. It was first settled by John Pintler, who came here from the State of New York, in 1846. In 1848 a Mail Route was established from Grand Rapids to Newaygo, with a Post-office at this point, under the name of Pintler's Corners, Mr. Pintler being the first Postmaster. In 1859 the name of the office was changed to Lisbon. The first goods sold from a store in this place were by Miner Atherton, in 1855. In March, 1869, it was regularly incorporated as a village, including half a mile each way from the northwest corner post of section 30. It will be noticed that this includes half a section-or, more properly, two quarter sections-from the township of Chester, Ottawa county ; but, as the vil- lage is under the jurisdiction of Kent county, we will include the whole in our History and Directory.
This village now contains nine stores, three blacksmith shops, two wagon shops, one hotel, a good, two-story frame school house, and three good sized frame churches: also a good steam grist mill, and a saw mill.
The Hotel is a good, frame building, owned and kept by Lorenzo Chubb.
The Graded School building, erected in the summer of 1869, is a good, substan- tial frame structure, two stories high, 36x46 feet in size, and cost $2,700.
94
HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
SPENCER.
The township of Spencer is situated in the norteast corner of the county, and is bounded on the north by the township of Maple Valley, Montcalm county, on the east by Montcalm, Montcalm county, on the south by Oakfield, and on the west by Nelson.
The first white inhabitant of Spencer was an old trapper, by the name of Lin- coln. He had a shanty on the bank of the lake of that name, and there he lived, Boon like, for a number of years.
The first regular settler of the township was Cyrus B. Thomas, who located in the summer of 1846. Henry Stroup, the second settler, located in January, 1848. Both of these settled on a plain in the southeastern part of the township, near the Oakfield line; and, for a number of years, were the only actual settlers. Matthew B. Hatch, the present Supervisor of Spencer, and one of the carliest settlers, came to the township in 1853. In the list of early settlers may also be mentioned the names of S. B. Cowles, B. G. Parks, Jacob Van Zandt. Wm. H. Hewitt, Win. T. Parshall, Daniel Haskins, the Cooper family, and others.
The township of Celsus was organized in the year 1861, aud the first township meeting was held on the first Monday of April, in the same year, at the residence of Thomas Spencer. Matthew B. Hatch, Thomas Spencer, and Shepard B. Cowles, acted as inspectors of election. The election resulted in the choice of the follow- ing named persons as
FIRST TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
Supervisor-Freeman Van Wickle. Clerk-Henry A. Freeman. Treasurer- Daniel Haskins. Commissioners of Highways -- Wm. W. Hewitt and Freeman Van Wickle. Justices-Wm. W. Hewitt, Edwin D. Clark. School Inspectors- Hiram Conse and Alfred Hulburt. Constables-Wm. H. Smith, Geo. MeClelland, Henry Strope, and Darius Gray.
The name of the township was subsequently changed to Spencer, in honor of Thomas Spencer, one of the early settlers.
PRESENT OFFICERS.
Supervisor-Matthew B. Hatch. Clerk-Aaron Norton. Treasurer-Beriah G. Parks. Justices-Warren F. Getman, Samuel Van Wickle, Avery J. Sutton, Edward H. Smith. Commissioners of Highways-Edwin Wilson, John Moran. School Inspectors-Wm. B. Powell, Shepard B. Cowles. Constable-Joseph De- Graw.
THE SOIL
of Spencer is, as might be supposed, rather poor, the timber being principally pine. There are, however, some pieces of good land, which it pays to cultivate. There are some fine farms within its limits, among which are those owned by M. B. Hatch, Owen D. Cooper, Berialı G. Parks, Edward II. Smith, Fayette Hough, and Wm. Rittinger.
Spencer is inconveniently located, having no railroad within its limits, and no railroad station within a number of miles; nevertheless, it is fast settling up, and everything indicates that a few years will greatly increase its population and wealth. The first
95
HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
/
LUMBERING
establishment, on Black Creek, was commenced in 1853. During the year 1870, one million feet were run out of that stream. The Van Wickle saw mill is located on the same creek, near the south line of section twenty-five. It was built in the year 1856 : H. Van Wickle, proprietor. The Powell steam saw and shingle mill, combined, is situated on the bank of Lincoln Lake, on section twenty-seven. It was built in 1867 : Wm. B. Powell, proprietor. The Parks steam saw mill, near the center of section seven, was built in 1868 : E. H. Gibbs, proprietor. The Gris- wold steam saw and shingle mill, combined, is located near the southwest corner of section twenty-nine. It was built in the year 1868: Jabes W. Griswold, proprietor. The Spencer Mills, from which the Post-office and settlement derived its name, was built in 1855, by Thomas Spencer, near the southeast corner of section twen- ty-seven. It was burned in the year 1861.
BLACK CREEK
is the principal stream that flows through Spencer. It enters from the northwest and passes southeasterly through the township. It is of sufficient width and depth to float logs, and a number of millions of feet are run out every year. It has several small tributaries, among which are Clear and Butternut Creeks.
Among the
LAKES
in this township, Lincoln is the largest. It is a fine sheet of water, situated a short distance east of the center of the township, and is nearly one and one-half miles in length, by one-half mile in width. Cooper Lake, in the easterly part of section thirty-five, is a narrow strip of water, surrounded by a marsh. There is a lake in the southwesterly part of section thirty-four, composed of two distinct sections, connected by a narrow neck. Conjointly they are about one-half mile in length. North of Lincoln Lake is an assemblage of small lakes, extending through the township into Maple Valley, in Montcalm county.
Our list shows but three
SCHOOLS
in Spencer. The first is held at the Griswold School House, in fractional district No 1. The building is a fine, wooden structure, painted white, and stands near the southwest corner of section twenty-nine. It was built in 1869. The second is held at the Hatch School House, in district No. 3. This is a substantial wooden building, is located at the center of section seventeen, and was built in 1867. The third is held at the Mill School House, in regular district No. 1. The building is a fine, slate-colored wooden structure. It was erected in 1861.
The only
POST-OFFICE
in Spencer is in the southeast corner of section twenty-seven. Oliver P. McClure, Postmaster.
-
96
HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
TYRONE.
This is the northwest corner township of Kent county, lying north of Sparta, and west of Solon; and being bounded on the north by Grant township, Newaygo county, and on the west by Casnovia, Muskegon county.
Tyrone was first settled in 1849, by Mrs. Louisa Scott and family, who went in to board workmen on the State Road then being made on the west line of this township, by John Brooks, of Newaygo, who had the contract from the State. The family were deprived of the father, by insanity, a short time after going into the woods ; but, owing to the great perseverence of Mrs. Scott, they remained, and have succeeded in building up a good home, and making a fine farm on section thirty-one, in the southwest part of the township. In 1850 Lot Ferguson, from Hillsdale county, went about one mile farther and settled on the southwest part of section nineteen, where the Casnovia House now stands. Alfred Bonner set- tled on section thirty, but remained only a short time.
In 1852 Jacob Smith, from Cleveland, Ohio, and Harlow Jackson, from Branch county, Mich., settled one mile east from the state road, and a mile north from the township line, on the present state road from 'Cedar Springs to Muskegon. There was not a white settler east of them nearer than Greenville.
In 1853 John Thompson came into the same neighborhood, from Tioga county, New York, and about the same time, Joseph Kies came from Hillsdale county, Mich., and settled near Mr. Fulkerson.
In 1855 Uriah Chubb, who had been living for a few years in Chester township, \ Ottawa county, settled on the west part of section thirty, and Leander Smith, from Otsego county, New York, went into the Jackson neighborhood.
About this time Asa Clark and family, from Steuben county, New York, pene- trated the forest northeast from Sparta Center, or Nashville, as it was then called, and built their cabin on section thirty-six, in the southeast part of the township. Here they had no neighbors, except those who came for a few months at a time to cut pine logs along the river; and during the war they were the only regular settlers in the east part of the township.
James Blackall, from Sparta, also went on section thirty-two in 1835. From that time to the commencement of the war there were many additions, and since the war its population has increased very fast.
ORGANIZATION.
This township was for some time attached to Sparta.
In 1855 it was organized as a seperate township, under the name of Tyrone, the first annual meeting being being held at the only school house, which stood on the west line, near the residence of Mrs. Scott. The township meetings are still held in the same school district, the house now used being about a mile north of where the old one stood.
FIRST TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
Supervisor-Uriah Chubb. Clerk-Albert Clute. Treasurer-Harlow Jackson. Justices-Patrick Thompson, Albert Clute, and Uriah Chubb.
PRESENT TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
Supervisor-James M. Armstrong. Clerk-Harlow Jackson. Treasurer-B. S. Treadway. Justices-J. M. Armstrong, U. Chubb, L. V. Hoag, and David Clark.
97
HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
About three-fourths of this township is timbered with pine, which extends along the Rouge River in the east, and across the north part in connection with the great Muskegon belt. The southwest portion is timbered with beech and maple, interspersed with some pine throughout nearly the whole extent-tliere being but two sections (thirty and thirty-one) which had none. The pine timber- ed portions liere, as elsewhere, are principally sandy, while the beeech and maple timbered part is mostly clay soil, or rather a clay loam, which makes excellent farming land. This township is high and rolling, and is a good fruit region.
There are no very large improvements yet; those of Messrs. Smith, Jackson and Hemsley, one mile from the south line, and about the same distance from the west line, are probably the largest. Mr. Daniel Hanson, and others, a mile north, are making a good start, and, juding from present appearances, will soon have splen- did farms. The same may also be said of H. C. Wylie, and others, east of those first mentioned. On the west line the land is divided into smaller parcels, with one or two exceptions. Mr. Edward Hayward has a nice, large farm lying partly in this township and partly in Casnovia.
STREAMS AND LAKES.
Rouge River is the principal stream of Tyrone. It rises in Rice Lake, in the township of Grant, Newaygo county, about three miles north of the township line, enters Tyrone about one ond one-half miles west from the northeast corner, flows a little east of south, and then flows out near the southeast corner into Sparta. It is fed by several small streams, among which Duke Creek, which flows through Solon and comes in from the northeast on section thirty-six, is the largest. Ball Creek rises in several small streams in the west part of the township, flows southeast, and passes out into Sparta near the middle of the township line.
A curiosity may be found on this stream, on the farm of H. C. Wylie on section thirty-three, which is worthy a description.
It is no more nor less than an old Beaver Dam. This dam was about sixty rods long and rose to a hight of three, four, and even five feet in some places. It was built in a zig-zag form, the sections being uniformily about two rods in length. It must have been built a long time ago, for large trees are found growing on the embankment. Where the pond was, the timber has been killed by the flowing, leav- ing nothing but a marsh. This pond had apparently covered from ten to fifteen acres, and perhaps more. The remains of trees, cut down by those curious and wonder- ful animals, have been found there, showing plainly the prints of their teeth in the wood. The stream has broken through in three places. The river, and these creeks, have been much used for floating pine logs.
South Crockery Creek, in the southwest part of the township, rises in Sparta, flows northwest through two small lakes, on section thirty-two, thence across thirty-one and out into Muskegon county, on the west.
There is a lake of about twenty acres on the line of sections seventeen and eighteen, the outlet of which flows southeast across the township into Rouge River. Another, nearly as large, near the center of section twenty-two, also has a small stream flowing from it to Rouge River. 13
98
HISTORY AND DIRECTORY, OF KENT COUNTY.
There is considerable wet, swampy land, in the northeast part of the township, and a few small swamps in various other parts ; but none of any great extent.
CASNOVIA CORNERS
(not incorporated) is nearly as much of a village as some which have been platted and incorporated many years. It was first settled by Lot Fulker- son (before mentioned) in 1850. Mr. Fulkerson was the first to open his doors for the accommodation of travelers, and soon put out his sign, and kept a regular country tavern. In a short time his little one-story log cabin became too small for the accommodation of his guests, and he therefore erected a good frame building for that purpose, which was afterwards kept by Mr. Mizner, and later by Mr. Heath, who erected a large hall adjoining. These buildings are now owned and kept by Mr. John Tuxbury, formerly of Alpine.
In 1853, a post office was established, with Daniel Bennett, who lived just over the line, as postmaster. The first store goods were sold by H. Hamilton, in May, 1862.
There are now four stores, a blacksmith shop, etc .; also, a steam saw mill, which was erected in 1864, now owned by Patterson Brothers. They are doing a good, fair business, and have pine enough within reach to run the mill twenty years.
Asher and Robert Post have a portable steam saw mill three miles nortlı of here ; also one on the west line of the township.
SCHOOL HOUSES.
District No. 1, (fractional with Casnovia) was organized in 1853 with nine scholars in attendance at school. A small log house was erected and used until 1861, when the present frame building was erected at a cost of about $500. The former stood on section 31, and the latter stands on the west side of section 30, near the residence of Mr. Chubb.
District No. 2, (fractional with Sparta), erected a frame house worth about $400, in 1863. This house stands on the northwest corner of section 36, and is commonly known as the Clark school house.
District No. 3, (fractional with Casnovia), erected a small frame house in 1864, on the southwest corner of section 6, known as the Murray school house.
District No. 4, was organized in 1861, and a nice frame house was built, worth $500, the following year. It stands on the southeast corner of section twenty- nine, and is known as the Leander Smith school house.
District No. 5, was organized in 1868, and a good frame house erected at a cost of $500, known as the Ross' school house. It stands on the northeast corner of section nineteen.
District No. 6 was organized in January, 1870. It has four scholars in summer, and about twenty in winter-being in the midst of a pine country, which brings in the people in winter, and drives them out in summer. This district has no school house yet, school being held in the house of Mr. L. R. Burch. It has been chiefly sustained by Mr. B. thus far, at a cost of $50 per term.
District No. 7, was organized in 1870. A house is to be erected on section twenty-two or twenty-seven at a cost of about $500.
99
HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
Tyrone has no churches, and only one hotel, besides the one mentioned, situated at the Corners, in the village of Casnovia.
This other hotel is generally known as the Block Tavern, being made of hewn logs, and stands on the Cedar Springs and Muskegon state road. It is now kept by Allen Cumings. Mr. L. V. Hoag, and others, are quite sanguine of getting a Post-office established here soon, and building up a village. This is nearly twenty miles from Grand Rapids, and Casnovia is about twenty-two miles from the same. The Cedar Springs and Muskegon state road crosses this township on the section line, one mile from the Sparta line. The surveyed route of the C. S. & M. R. R. runs nearly parallel to the state road, and very near it. The surveyed line of the G. R. and Newaygo R. R. also crosses this township, and strikes Casnovia Corners.
VERGENNES.
Vergennes is bounded on the north by Grattan, on the east by Keene, Ionia county, on the south by Lowell, and on the west by Ada.
Sylvester Hodges, the first white settler in the township, came from the State of New York, in the year 1836. He transplanted the first apple trees put out in the township of Lowell, also assisted in building the first house where the village of Lowell now stands. The trees referred to, may now be seen standing on a lot owned by Mrs. Caroline Snell, near the bank of Flat River, a short distance from the road leading from the village to the D. & M. Railroad depot.
The township of Vergennes was organized in the year 1838. The first town- ship meeting was held on the second day of April, of the same year, when the fol- lowing persons were chosen as
FIRST TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
Supervisor-Rodney Robinson. Clerk-M. Patrick. Assessors ~Lewis Robin- son, T. I. Daniels, John M. Fox. Collector-Porter Ralph. School Inspectors- Everett Wilson, Lewis Robinson, George Brown. Directors of the Poor-Everett Wilson, Chas. Newton' Commissioners of Highways-Lucas Robinson, Henry Daines, P. W. Fox. Constables-Porter Ralph, A. D. Smith, O. HI. Jones, Jas. S. Fox.
We are informed by Benj. Fairchild, Esq., that at this time there were only about nineteen families in the township. This gentleman, who went there during the year 1838, says that, as he passed through the township of Lowell, on his way from Canada, he counted but three houses. For several years the farmers in that vicinity were obliged to take their grist to Ionia, to Grandville, or to Kalamazoo to be ground. Considering the poor roads which the scattered community were then tormented with, and the bridgeless streams which must be crossed, such journeys doubtless seemed quite uninviting.
Reader, have you ever traveled through a new country ? If you have, you can understand the meaning of the expression, " poor roads," "horrid roads." You who have not, I would advise to take a trip into the northern part of the State of Michigan immediately after a heavy rain. A trip of that kind will benefit your health as much as a voyage on the lakes, during rough weather.
100
HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
The entire county was then a howling wilderness. Grand Rapids could boast of but half a score of houses, with most of them owned by one man ; and two stores, one kept by " Uucle Louis," and the other by a man named Watson.
Among the early settlers may be mentioned the following : Silas S. Fallass, who settled in the year 1838, J. Wesley Fallass, in 1839, Lucas Robinson, in 1837, Thompson I. Daniels, in 1837, James Wells, in 1842, A. R. Hoag, in 1842, Sylves- ter Hodges, in 1836, James S. Fox, 1836, William P. Perrin, in 1837, Alexander Rogers, in 1837, Alanson K. Shaw, in 1839, Emery Foster, in 1837, Newcomb Godfrey, in 1838, Amos Hodges, in 1838, Eliab Walker, in 1838, Christopher Misner, in 1838, Morgan Lyon, in 1838, Benjamin Fairchild, in 1838, John Bran- agan, in 1837, Alfred Van Deusen, in 1838, Adam Van Deusen. in 1840.
THE SOIL
of Vergennes is mostly heavy ; yet along the banks of Flat River we found some quite light and sandy. The greater portion of the township consists of what might be called oak openings. We noticed a belt of timbered land extending south from Eagle or Horse Shoe Lake, one and one-half miles wide, and four miles in length, reaching into sections twenty and twenty-one; also a short strip of timbered land on the west side of the same lake.
The township is well watered by Flat River, and numerous little tributaries, through the easterly and central part, and Honey Creek, which passes through three sections on the westerly tier.
THE PRESENT OFFICERS
of the township are: Supervisor-J. W. Walker. Clerk-John L. Covert. Treas- urer-James Casey. Justices-Joseph S. Jasper, J. L. B. Kerr, Dennis Driscoll, John L. Covert. Constable-John Hall.
The site now occupied by
THE VILLAGE OF FALLASSBURG
was settled upon about the year 1840, by the family or families from which it de- rived its name.
The two mills and the hotel therein situate were erected before the present thriving village of Lowell had commenced to be built up. Fallassburg Grist Mill, situated on Flat River-a three-story wooden building-was erected in 1840 : Proprietor, J. Wesley Tallass. Hecox's Saw Mill, situated here. is an old, wood eolored, three-story building. The upper part is occupied as a chair manufactory. It was erected in 1839: Proprietor, Charles Hecox.
Fallassburg supports one store, which has been in operation for many years ; and the building was erected before any similar structure in the village of Lowell. The village school house, located in the easterly part of the burgh, is a fine wooden structure, painted white. It was built in the summer of 1867.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.