USA > Michigan > Kent County > History and directory of Kent County, Michigan > Part 4
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Messrs. Jerry and William Boynton soon located farms on sections nine and eight, respectively, and commenced improving their present homesteads, which by their skill and energy they have rendered both attractive and productive. In 1837 Mr. John Harmon settled on section nine. During the same year Mr. Har- mon Kellogg settled on section three, and Mr. James B. Jewell on section nine. We cannot find that any one settled in the township in 1838 except Mr. Ella Judson, who during this year settled on section eight. Mr. Judson says that when he built his log house he had to go a distance of four miles for men to help "raise" and only had eight men at that. In 1839 Mr. Larkin Ball settled on section twenty, at which time he was the only man south of the center of the
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
township. Soon after, Peter Goldin settled on the same seetion. Mr. William Boynton says that four of them eut the logs, carried them, and raised Mr. Goldin's house. This house was standing as late as 1859. During this year Mr. Eli Cros- sett settled on seetion seventeen ; also Mr. Amelek Taylor on the same section. Mr. Alden Coburn on section seven, and Mr. Benjamin Robinson on section six. During 1840 there was but one new settler in the town, Mr. William Olinstead, who settled on section eight. 1841 went by without any augmentation of the numbers of this sturdy band of pioneers. In 1842 Samuel Hubbel settled on sec- tion twenty-eight, Joseph Gallup on section thirty-two, and Henry A. Vannest on section five. Mr. William Boynton says that when they "raised " either Mr. Gallup's or Mr. Hubbel's house, he has forgotten which, they did not get it up the first day, and it was so far to go home that they stayed and camped out over night, and finished "raising " the next day. And all they had for supper and breakfast was roast potatoes.
During the year 1843 Mr. Fox was the only man who settled in the "South Woods." Oliver Harris settled on section fourteen about this time, but we have not been able to fix the exact date.
During 1844 Mr. Ezekiel Cook settled on seetion thirty-five, Mr. Tuft on sec- tion twenty-three, and Messrs. E. R. Ide and James K. McKenney on section twenty.
Mrs. Cook tells us that when they moved into the woods they had no neighbors nearer than four miles, they being the first to settle in the southeast part of the township. And their nearest Post-office was at Grand Rapids, a distance of four- teen miles through an unbroken wilderness. At the time Mr. Kenney moved on his place there was no road from there to Grandville except as he followed the trails that wound around through the woods. Mrs. McKenney says that they moved into their house the 19th day of November, 1844, and that there were neither doors nor windows in the house, and no floor below. They moved into the loft or chamber, and the next day Mr. MeKenney was taken sick and was confined to his bed for two weeks. And before he was well enough to build a fire- place and chimney there was two feet of snow. And that during all this time she had to do all of her cooking out of doors by a log fire. Mrs. Tuft says that they moved on their place the last day of December, 1843, and all the signs of a house they had was a small sled load of lumber. Mr. McKenney says that for some time he used to carry his " grist " to Jerry Boynton's, a distance of three miles, on his shoulders, get him to take it to Grand Rapids to mill, and when he re- turned, carry it home again.
During the year 1845 Messrs. Corkins Barney, Clark S. Wilson and William Davidson settled within the limits of the township. Among the early settlers whose names we have been able to procure are Josiah R. Holden, Bradley Weaver, Daniel Prindle, Carlos Weaver and Prentice Weaver, who settled in Byron from 1846 to 1849. During 1850 and '51 Messrs. Eli Young and James M. Barney settled on seetion thirty-two. About this time is famous among the old set- tlers as the " wolf year." Mr. Young says that he killed one within four rods of his door, with his dog and corn cutter. Mr. William Boynton says that frequently, before this time, however, when he was obliged to work at Grandville to get pro-
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
vision for the support of his family, he would work all day, get the proceeds of labor in provisions, and at dark start for home, a distance of about five miles, through the woods, while the wolves were howling all around him and sometimes coming almost within reach of the good, stout cudgel which he carried. Mr. James M. Barney says that during the first summer that he lived on his place he had to keep his cow and calf in a high log pen near his house, nights, to keep them from the wolves. He says that one night, after being kept awake until almost morning, he took his gun just at daylight and sallied forth, determined on vengeance. When he went out the wolves retreated for a short distance. But when he came into a thicket of bushes they surrounded him, and he backed up against a tree, and they kep him there for abont two hours, until broad daylight. He shot at them several times, but the bushes were so thick that he did not kill any, although they would come so near that he could hear them snap at each other. The wolves were never very thick after this season, and as they decreased, until about 1856, deer increased and became very thick. Mr. Barney says that he has had during the winter from forty to fifty deer hung up in the woods at one time.
ORGANIZATION.
The first township meeting (the township of Byron then embraced Wyoming also), was held at the house of Charles H. Oaks, in Grandville, on Monday, the second day of May, A. D. 1836. The following officers were chosen, viz :
Supervisor-Gideon H. Gordon. Township Clerk-Isaac A. Allen. Assessors- Eli Yeomans, Ephraim P. Walker and Justin Brooks. Justices of the Peace- Gideon H. Gordon, Robert Howlett and Ephraim P. Walker. Collector-Lorenzo French. Commissioners of Highways-Gideon H. Gordon, Eli Yeomans, and H. Pitts. Commissioners of Schools-Joseph B. Copeland. Sanford Buskirk and James Lockwood. School Inspectors-Gideon H. Gordon, Isaac A. Allen and Eli Yeomans. Overseers of the Poor-Ephriam P. Walker and Justin Brooks. Con- stables-Lorenzo French and Sanford Buskirk.
At the first general election held at Grandville, November, 1836, the highest number of votes cast for electors for President and Vice President was twenty.
The following are the present township officers, viz. : Supervisor, William P. Whitney ; Township Clerk, Silas L. Hamilton ; Treasurer, Samuel A. McKenney ; Justices of the Peace, William P. Whitney, James M. Brown, George W. Ewing and Isaac M. Winegar, Jr. ; School Inspectors, George W. Ewings and William P. Whitney ; Commissioners of Highways, Jerry Boynton, George W. Ewings and John Homrich ; Constables, A. A. Palmer and William D. Tibbits.
The whole number of votes cast at the last general election held at Byron Center. November, 1868, was 337.
For the first few years the settlement of Byron progressed very slowly. It re- quired a brave heart and a strong arm to encounter the dangers and hardships consequent to the opening up of a new and heavy timbered country. But gradually the forest yielded to the axe of the pioneer ; beautiful fields, thrifty orchards, comfortable dwellings, end well-filled barns have taken the place of the little log cabin and unbroken forest. Byron is now fast becoming one of the foremost agricultural townships in Kent County. With a varied soil, adapted to
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
nearly all of the different branches of husbandry, and especially to fruit growing, and the very best facilities for marketing its produce, its farmers must soon stand among the best. Byron is traversed by two railroads, viz. : the northern branch of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern R. R., and the Grand Rapids and Indiana R. R. The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern runs north and south through the town, and has two stations on its line, in Byron, viz. : Byron Center and North Byron. The Grand Rapids and Indiana runs north and south through the eastern part of the township, and has one station near the south part of the town. The present population is 1,328.
Mr. George L. Tobey carries on the manufacture of lumber, at his mill, on sec- tion twelve, and Rosenberger Bros. & Co. carry on the manufacture of flour, feed, lumber and heading, at the village of Cody's Mills, on section twenty-five.
POST-OFFICES.
Cody's Mills, Byron Center and North Byron.
SCHOOL HOUSES.
Byron has eight school houses, ranging from first-class to indifferent. District No. 1 has a fair wooden house ; District No. 2 has one of the finest country school buildings in the county ; it was erected in 1858. There is a very good school house at Cody's Mills. The people of this township support their schools liberally.
CALEDONIA.
Caledonia is one of the southern tier of townships of Kent County, and is bounded on the north by Cascade, on the cast by Bowne, on the south by Thorn- apple, Barry County, and west by Gaines. It is traversed from south to north by the Thornapple river which divides it into two equal parts. The banks of the river are high and the country on both sides of the river is high and rolling. On the east side of the river the land is what is known as " openings," the soil being sandy and gravelly with a slight mixture of clay, and is timbered principally with oak and hickory. The soil on this side of the river is especially adapted to wheat and fruit, but produces good crops of all kinds of grain and most grasses. There are several lakes on this side of the river. There is a lake on sections one, two, eleven and twelve, about one mile long, and from eighty to one hundred and sixty rods in width. The shore on the southeast side is sandy and on the north- west side mucky and marshy. Barber's Kake is on sections twenty-five and twenty-six. Tobey's Lake is on section twenty-three. Lovejoy's Lake is on sec- tion twelve. The Coldwater or Little Thornapple enters Caledonia on section thirty-six and empties into the Thornapple on section thirty-five. The west side of the river is all " timbered lands," producing all of the kinds of timber that usually grow in this climate on such lands. The surface of most of this part of the town is high and somewhat rolling, with a clayey loam soil, that is well adapted to all kinds of farming purposes, especially to grazing. All kinds of fruits grow almost to perfection on this soil. There are a great many fine farms in this town- ship, and its agricultural resources are being developed very fast.
The Thornapple is a very rapid stream here, and with its high banks is capa-
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
ble of affording a great amount of water power. Mr. Warren S. Hale informs us that there are at least nine chances for water powers, only three of which are de- veloped, within the limits of this township, with a fall at each of from five to eight feet without overflowing the banks at any place. This river is full of pic- turesqne islands, varying in size from one-half acre to three acres. With the rich agricultural country tributary to it, with its unfailing water power, the time inst come when this town will be the " Lowell " of Western Michigan, when the busy hum of machinery will be heard from its northern to its southern boundary.
Nestled among the hills on the banks of the Thornapple, in the northern part of the township, is the thriving little village of Alaska, formerly known as North Brownville. It has a very pleasant location and is an active, enterprising place. It contains one dry goods and grocery store, one dry goods, grocery and drug store, one grocery store, one hardware store and tin shop, one flouring mill, two saw mills, one furniture manufactory, which ships a great deal of cabinet work in the white besides finishing for the home market; one carriage and wagon fac- tory and one hotel, besides the usual number of blacksmith shops, boot and shoe shops, &c. There is not a saloon in the place. Surrounded by a rich agricul- tural country, its growth must be rapid and its future prosperous.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Mr. Asahel Kent was the first settler in the township, settling on section thirty- five in 1838. Mr. Kent, and after his death Mrs. Kent, kept a public house, which became famous for its good cheer, all over the surrounding country. A gentleman who lived at that time in New York State, tells us that he used to hear people who had been to Grand River tell about " Kent's Tavern," and when one would return, others who had traveled on this route-the "Gull Trail" --- would always inquire after the Kents. Mrs. Kent afterwards married Mr. Peter McNaughton, and the place became equally well known to travelers on the Battle Creek and Grand Rapids stage route, as McNaughton's. And while talking of this subject there are some reminiscences of this stage route that Mr. Edward Campau relates, that we may as well give now, and which will help contrast the mode of traveling in those days with that of the present. Mr. C. says that in 1839, he, then a boy of 14, made the journey with three or four others from Grand Rapids to Detroit, and that they stopped at "Kent's " over night, and he with others of the men had to sleep out in a sort of shed, as the house was so small it would not accommodate them. At this time this was the only house from Ada to " Leonard's," a distance of seventeen miles. About two years after this he commenced to drive stage on this route, and drove for several years. The road at this time wound round through the woods, and it was no uncommon thing to get " stuck " in the mud or to overset. At one time, a very dark, stormy night, they broke an axletree about six miles south of Ada, and the pas- sengers, five or six in number, had to walk through mud and snow to that place, as it was the nearest settlement. At another time IIon. John Ball, Mrs. Thomas B. Church and others were in the stage ; they overset in a mud-hole and the pas- sengers were all landed (?) in the water. It was quite dark, and Mr. Fred. Church, then an infant, was nearly suffocated before they found him. At another time 6
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
Hon. Wm. A. Richmond and Hon. Harvey P. Yale were his only passengers, the roads were muddy and badly rutted out and the night dark. Mr. Yale fell asleep and the wheel striking into a deep rut pitched him out into the mud. After a hearty laugh he resumed his place and they labored along. There is a great contrast between travel over that route, and over the different railroad routes, with their elegant passenger coaches, now leading from the Valley City.
To go back to the settlement of Caledonia : Mr. James Minsey settled on sec- tion thirty-six in 1838 or 1839. Among the carlier settlers were Orsemus Rath- bun, Eber Moffitt, Hiram McNiel, Peter McNaughton, Levi Tobey, John Sinclair, O. B. Barber, John Pattison, Henry Jackson, Wm. H. Brown, and Warren S. Hale. Mr. Lyman Gerrald was the first settler on the west side of the river. Mr. Win. HI. Brown erected the saw mill at Alaska, now owned by L. W. Fisher, in 1848, and the flouring mill now owned by J. W. Boynton, in 1853, and is now one of the proprietors of the Caledonia mills, two miles above Alaska, on section twenty-two. Mr. Orsemus Rathbun is the oldest settler now residing in the township.
Among the incidents connected with the carly settlement of the township, showing some of the hardships the pioneers had to endure, we have the follow- ing : Mr. Wm. II. Brown, previous to his settlement at Brownsville, but after he located his land, lived at " Scale's Prairie " or Middleville. Having occasion to go there one winter, he started from home in the morning on horseback, intend- ing to return the same day. After making his observations and examining bis land about where the village of Alaska now stands, he started for home; night soon came on, and after endeavoring to follow his track for a while he found out that he was lost. IIe dismounted, and as he had nothing to kindle a fire with, cleared the snow out of a path, with his feet, and some bark from a dry tree, and walked backwards and forwards in it all night. When morning came he mounted his horse and after riding for some time came out at the Green Lake House. Ilis friends had started after him in the morning, expecting to find him frozen to death, and followed his tracks until they found him at Green Lake.
At the mouth of the Coldwater was a great Indian camping ground and burial place. They did not leave here entirely until within a very few years. One of them, old Soh-na-go, or " Squirrel," has been since seen visiting the burial place and the hunting grounds of his fathers, but the " White man's axe" had been there, and it was no longer a home for him.
Caledonia has nine school houses, all wooden buiklings, and two churches, viz: The Baptist Church at Alaska, and a Catholic Church on section twenty-five, both wooden structures. There are two hotels in this township, the Alaska Hotel, at Alaska, Wm. H. Lock, proprietor, and the Oak Grove House, O. B. Barber, pro- prietor, on seetion twenty-six. There is a saw mill on section twenty-seven, Jacob Brown, proprietor.
The postoffices are as follows .- Alaska, Warren S. Hale, P. M .; Caledonia, O. B. Barber, P. M .; Caledonia Station, Adam B. Sherk, P. M.
The Grand River Valley Railroad crosses the southwest corner of the township and has a station on section twenty-nine.
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
ORGANIZATION.
The township of Caledonia was organized in 1840 by the choice of the following named officers :
Supervisor-John P. McNaughton. Clerk-Justus G. Beach. Justices of the Peace-Justus G. Beach, Loren B. Tyler, Malcolm P. McNaughton, Asahel Kent. Treasurer-Norman Foster. Assessors-Roswell F. Tyler, Malcolm P. McNaugh- ton, John A. Campbell. Highway Commissioners-Asahel Tyler, Asahel Kent, Norman Foster. School Inspectors-Norman Foster, William G. Wooley. Direc- tors of the Poor-Roswell Tyler, John Campbell. Collector-Roswell F. Tyler. Constables-Roswell F. Tyler, Frederick B. Thompson.
OFFICERS IN 1870.
Supervisor-Adam B. Sherk. Clerk-Daniel S. Haviland. Treasurer-Sher- man T. Colson. Justices -- Adam B. Sherk, Levi White, Hugh B. McAlister, Elijah V. E. Pratt. Highway Commissioners-John Patterson, David Kinsey, Isaac Stauffer. School Inspectors-Alfred W. Stowe. Levi White. Constables- Fayette McIntyre, Charles E. Emmons, Eliphalet Scott.
CANNON.
Cannon, originally a part of Plainfield, lies northwest of Grand Rapids, having Courtland on the north, Grattan on the cast, Ada on the south, and Plainfield on the west.
In the year 1837 the first farm was entered within its territory by Andrew Watson, who came with his family, accompanied by A. D. W. Stout and family, and settled on section thirty, where Mr. Watson and his aged wife yet reside. In the next year came Isaac Tomlinson, Sen., locating upon section twenty-seven, in a beautiful situation commanding an extensive aud enchanting view of Grand River and its beautiful valley. In 1839 Wm. M. Miller settled upon section nine- teen. Steadily now a tide of emigration set in, rolling the wilderness back by the sturdy energy of the hardy and determined pioneer, swiftly multiplying farms and broadening cleared acres.
Prominent among the new comers in 1840 were James Thomas, on section twenty-seven, Oliver Lovejoy, on section seven, Mr. Rood, and Rev. Mr. Frieze, on section nineteen, the first Minister of the Gospel who took up his residence within the town.
Among the early settlers who bore a conspicuous part in the development and organization of the new town, we would make honorable mention of M. A. Pat- rick, locating on section twenty-six, and Ebenezer C. Smith, on section twelve, in 1844. About the same time Mr. Samuel Steel located five lots for as many sons, in the near vicinity of Mr. Smith, thus fixing the name of Steel's Corners to a most beautiful and productive part of the town. Mrs. John Hartwell, on section thirty- four, and Demas Hine, on section thirty, settlers of 1845, and James Dockery, on section four, who settled in 1846.
In 1845 a separation from Plainfield was effected, and the township was erected
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
into a separate town, under the name, by a mistake in the Legislature, of Church- town, assuming its present name, however, in honor of its principal village, at its first town meeting, held to complete its organization, on the first Monday of April, 1846, at the house of C. Slaght, in Cannonsburgh. At that time it had a population of about 290, and the whole number of votes cast were 64. Its present population is 1,126
FIRST TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.
Supervisor, Andrew Watson ; Clerk, Henry H. Worden; Treasurer, Lewis D. Dean; School Inspectors, Loyal Palmer, M. A. Patrick; Directors of the Poor, Ebenezer C. Smith, Martin Johnson ; Commissioners of Highway, John Hartwell, Cornelius Wample; Justices of the Peace, Harlow T. Judson, John Bishop, Demas Iline, Jared Spring; Constables, Robert Howard, Major Worden, Isaac Tomlin- son, Mindrus Whitney.
OFFICERS IN 1870.
Supervisor, Asa P. Ferry; Clerk, Thomas Noy; Treasurer, Charles A. Provin ; Justices of the Peace, Nathaniel Steel, James Nesbit, Demas Hine, M. A. Patrick ; Highway Commissioner, Wm. C. Young; School Inspector, John C. Chapman ; Constables, John S. Baker, John M. Thomas, Charles A. Provin, Henry C. Watkins.
Cannon presents a great variety of surface. soil and productions, being quite hilly and broken along Bear Creek and in the vicinity of Grand River, but in other parts, more gently rolling, or beautifully undulating scenery meets the view. In the southern part there are patches of becch aud maple timber land, with a sprinkling of pine along the streams, but, mainly, the town is oak openings, plen- tifully interspersed with hickory. Its main staples raised for the market arc wheat, wool, corn and apples. Of the former, large quantities are exported, and its rolling lands and dry, healthful climate make its wool growing a success. Lying within the great Western fruit belt, and being blessed with a deep, pliable soil, it is eminently adopted to horticultural pursuits ; of this its people are fully aware, and we find in many flourishing orchards. Apples, pears, peaches, cherries and currants abound, while grapes and the small fruits are fast becoming speci- alities.
Whatever may be said of its business centers, thrift and enterprise mark its rural districts. Comfort smiles from its tasteful dwellings, nestled amid shade and bloom, and an abounding plenty peeps from its well filled and commodious barns. Indigence is scarcely known among its population. All are, to a remark- able degree, independent in worldly goods.
Bear Creek, the exclusive property of Cannon, rises in the northwest corner of the town, on section one, in a large spring having the peculiar power of petrify- ing all substances that may chance to lie in its waters. The creek, fed by springs all its length, takes its devious way south and southwest, cutting the town nearly in two, debouching in Grand River on section thirty, the southwest corner of the town. This stream, being fed by springs, presents a never failing supply of water, and, running rapidly, gives an opportunity for a number of mill sites, and excel- lent facilities for manufacturing purposes.
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HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
Cannonsburgh, the only business center of any note within the town was foun- ded in 1842, an Indian war trail its main thoroughfare, and the settler's ax the only key that would open the forest gates that guarded its entrance. In 1844 and 1845 its mills were erected by E. B. Bostwick, H. T. Judson architect, and a store opened. As an inducement to permanent settlement, the village was platted in 1845, and Mr. Bostwick, the enterprising business agent of LeGrand Cannon, its proprietor, (an eastern capitalist and large land holder in the town,) was in - structed to give a village lot to each resident not otherwise provided for; thus twenty-five lots were given away. The town received the name it now bears in honor of its founder, who testified his appreciation of the distinction conferred by presenting the village with a small ordnance bearing his name and the date. This is treasured as a memento of early times, and used on the 4th of July and other holiday occasions, wakening the echos of memory in many a heart as its thunders reverberate among the hills that completely surround the little village. Cannonsburg is situated upon both sides of Bear Creek. Laterly it has suffered much by fire. It has one store, one grist mill, one woolen mill, with a cider mill attached, one saw mill, one cooper shop, two wagon shops, three blacksmith shops, and one hotel. It has no dedicated place of worship, but the Methodists are about erecting a fine church, to be constructed of wood, 38x60 feet in size, and costing $3,300. It has a Union School House, situated on a picturesque bluff overlooking the town; it is built of wood, two stories high, 34x56 feet in dimen- sion. Two teachers are employed in its schools.
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