USA > Michigan > Van Buren County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 128
USA > Michigan > Berrien County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 128
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 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137
During Mr. Dodge's career as a Paw Paw landlord, Dr. Warner opened a tavern about opposite where the post- office is now, but it had only a brief existence. James Crane put up the Exchange Hotel on the site of the Dyck- man House, which latter, erected by E. B. Dyckman and John Smolk, was built soon after the burning of the old Exchange. The Willard House, remodeled by I. W. Wil- lard from an old store building, was a popular hotel many years ago, but has long since ceased to be a public-house.
The Great Immigration of 1836 .- The year, 1836 brought a great army of land speculators and settlers to Michigan, and all along the Territorial road stages and taverns had more business on hand than they could com- fortably manage. Travel was then at its flood on that highway, and travelers coming weary and footsore to a roadside inn with the glad expectation of rest and food, often found that neither could possibly be obtained ; that the beds were all filled (having at least two persons in each), and that the larder had been completely exhausted. A participator in that bustling era says that Dodge's tavern was at that period like a bee-hive, and even then could not accommodate one-tenth of the people who sought its shel- ter. "Why," remarks this old settler, "I've known the time when the rush at Dodge's was so great, and the de- mand for lodging so pressing, that travelers offered as high as a dollar for the privilege of leaning against a post." This probably exaggerates but also illustrates the situation.
Early Merchants .- It has already been observed that Peter Gremps opened the first store in Paw Paw. The next store-keeper was Nathan Mears (now a merchant in Chicago), whose store was west of where the bank is. After him Edwin Mears opened a store on the corner now occu- pied by E. Smith & Co. James Crane was an early mer- chant, and kept store on Smith's corner.
Willard & Gremps opened a store on Main Street in 1838, and intrusted its management to Edward Shults. Willard afterwards bought Gremps' interest, and took Shults as a partner. Later the firm was Willard & Moffat. Isaac W. Willard was a man of considerable note in the community, and from 1838 until his death was closely identified with the interests of Paw Paw as a miller and merchant, and was a man of prominence in the community.
Alonzo Sherman came from the State of New York to Paw Paw in 1844, and engaged in mercantile business in the village as a partner with E. J. House, who was then keeping store in the building previously occupied by Edwin Mears. Since that time Mr. Sherman has been contin- uously engaged in trade at Paw Paw, and is now a member of the firm of Sherman & Avery, as well as extensively concerned in milling. H. L. Dickinson bought out Nathan Mears in 1845, and in 1847 became a partner with Alonzo Sherman. Mears went into business again, soon after selling to Dickinson, and in 1846 disposed of his store to William R. Hawkins, who had settled in Kalamazoo County in 1836, and had resided in Paw Paw since 1846. F. H. Stevens and Loren Darling opened a store in 1844 on the corner where Sherman & Avery now are, and remained there until 1847, when they retired from business. In that year Edmund Smith, a resident in the town since 1843, and a carpenter by trade, commenced in Paw Paw as a merchant, and still carries on that business.
The village has now five dry-goods stores, four grocery- stores, five drug-stores, one clothing-store, and numerous minor marts of business.
Lawyers, Doctors, and Newspapers .- The lawyers and physicians of Paw Paw are mentioned in the chapters de- voted to the legal and medical professions in the general history of the county, and in the chapter on the press will be found notices of the various papers which have flour- ished or languished there.
The Postmasters of Paw Paw .- Peter Gremps was the first postmaster of Paw Paw, his appointment dating from 1835. Mr. Gremps, however, paid very little attention to the post-office, Edward Shults, his clerk, being also the deputy postmaster, and transacting the business of the office. Gremps was succeeded in 1842 by George L. Gale, and he was followed successively by John McKinney, John Smolk, A. J. Goodrich, F. H. Stevens, J. M. Longwell, J. W. Huston, E. J. House, A. J. Sorter, O. F. Parker, T. B. Irwin, and George W. Matthews, the latter being the present incumbent.
During the three months ending Dec. 31, 1879, $800 worth of stamps were sold at the office, money-orders were issued to the amount of $6624, and $3817.53 were paid out on such orders.
Mills and Millers .- The building of the first saw-mill at Paw Paw and its transfer to Gremps & Daniels have been elsewhere mentioned. Gremps & Daniels controlled the property until the death of the latter, after which the mill passed to a numerous succession of owners, until it was worn out and eventually demolished. The mill-site is near that occupied by the Phoenix Flouring-Mill, which uses the same power. The latter establishment, containing two run of stones, belongs to Thomas L. Stevens, and is carried on by M. Wells.
In 1837, Stafford Godfrey, a mill-wright, came from Chautauqua Co., N. Y., in response to an invitation from Peter Gremps, and in 1838 began, with R. E. Churchill, the erection for I. W. Willard and Peter Gremps of the grist-mill long known as the Paw Paw Mills, which now contains six run of stones, and is carried on by A. Sherman & Briggs. The castings and stones were brought from St.
RESIDENCE OF PHILIP SHERROD, PAW PAW TP., MICH.
RESIDENCE OF A.C.WEBB, PAW PAW TP., VAN BUREN CO., MICHIGAN.
-
509
TOWNSHIP OF PAW PAW.
Joseph, and that its completion gave much satisfaction may be understood from the fact that people had previously to go to Kalamazoo and to Flowerfield, St. Joseph Co., to mill. A. Sherman & Briggs also carry on the Central Flouring-Mills, formerly used as a woolen-mill.
Stafford Godfrey, here mentioned, settled in Paw Paw in a house which stood upon the site of the Dyckman House, and in 1842 and 1843 he and Churchill built the present county court-house. His next important work was effected in 1856, when he built the brick Baptist church. Mr. Godfrey, aged eighty, now lives in the village.
Free & Martin have a planing-mill in the village, and near there Williamson Mason occupies a building which was put up by J. H. Simmons in 1840, and in which Mr. Mason has a planing-mill, turning-shop, etc. In the same building George Birkenshaw has a woolen-mill, in which he operates the first carding-machine brought to Paw Paw, one Frank Taylor having introduced it into the village.
Aside from the manufacturing establishments above named, the principal ones are the foundries of M. Snow & Sons and W. H. Randall, both of which are engaged chiefly in the production of plows.
First Wedding, Birth, and Death .- The first wedding in Paw Paw was that of Hannah Mead and one Bellfon- taine, in 1833. The bride was a servant-girl in the service of John Thomas, an employee at Job Davis' saw-mill, while the groom was one of the mill-hands. There was neither minister nor justice of the peace in the vicinity, but Job Davis, who declared that he had once been justice of the peace, said he knew the form of the ceremony, and thought it would be all right if he married them. They thought so, too, and were accordingly married by Davis, and began living together as man and wife. They soon moved to Indiana, and for aught that is known have lived as hap- pily (or unhappily) as if a regular ministerial or judicial functionary had celebrated their nuptials.
The first child born in Paw Paw-Simeon, son of Arch- ibald Buys-is still living in the township.
The wife of Daniel O. Dodge died in 1837, and was the first who died in Paw Paw. She was buried in the tavern garden, but in 1838, when the cemetery in the northern portion of the village was laid out, her remains were con- veyed thither.
Indian New-Year Calls .- On the last day of the year 1835, Peter Gremps moved into the new house built for him by Williamson Mason and Joseph Royes. That even- ing Edward Shults-who by reason of a year's residence knew something of Indian customs-told the family that on the morrow they would be visited by a delegation of Indians, whose fashion it was to make New-Year calls on the white settlers, for the understood purpose of ratifying friendships for another year. Sure enough, on the ensuing day a band of about twenty-five Indians, gayly adorned with paint and feathers, called in force, somewhat to the trepida- tion of the women, whom the Indians insisted upon kissing despite violent protests. Altogether the affair was a jolly one, notwithstanding the kisses. Mrs. Dodge put on her war-paint when the twenty-five Indians demanded to kiss her, and by a sudden attack routed and drove them from her house at the point of the rolling-pin.
The First Fourth of July Celebration .- The first celebra- tion of the national holiday in Paw Paw occurred in 1836, and, according to tradition, was a very patriotic and enthusi- astic affair, though confined to a limited number of patriots and enthusiasts. The ceremonies attendant upon the cele- bration included an oration by F. C. Annable (now living in Almena) ; an address to three veterans of the war of 1812 (of whom Harmon Van Antwerp, aged ninety, was one), presented by a youthful daughter of Peter Gremps, now Mrs. Alonzo Shults, of Paw Paw ; periodical " anvil" salutes, fired by Rodney Hinckley ; and a banquet to every- body ; the scene of the demonstration being the so-called " Public Square," an open space in the woods just west of the present court-house grounds.
Village Incorporation and List of Officers .- Paw Paw village was incorporated under an act of the Legislature passed in the spring of 1867, and on the 6th of May of that year the first meeting for the election of village officers was held at the court-house. The judges of election were Russell Parker and J. Whittaker, and the clerk was A. J. Sorter. Two hundred and eighty-six votes were cast, of which Thomas H. Stevenson received 159 votes for president, and C. F. Allen, 127. A full list of the persons chosen annually to be president, trustees, recorder, and treasurer from 1867 to 1879 is here given :
1867 .- President, Thomas H. Stephenson ; Trustees, F. W. Selleck, Alonzo Sherman, Charles Selleck, E. G. Butler, Chandler Richards; Recorder, A. J. Sorter ; Treasurer, Edwin Barnum. 1868 .- President, E. O. Briggs ; Trustees, G. J. Hudson, W. II. Ran- dall, E. A. Park, Alonzo Sherman, Chester F. Allen; Re- corder, A. J. Sorter; Treasurer, Charles R. Avery.
1869 .- President, E. O. Briggs; Trustees, George Voke, J. W. Van Fossen, Joseph Davey, T. W. Melchor, William H. Randall; Recorder, A. J. Sorter; Treasurer, George W. Longwell.
1870 .- President, Edwin Martin ; Trustees, Sydney Cox, A. M. Har- rison, E. C. Palmer, P. I. Bragg, Aaron Van Auken; Re- corder, John Knowles; Treasurer, John W. Free.
1871 .- President, Peter H. Gremps ; Trustees, Joseph Davey, E. C. Palmer, Russell Parker, Peter H. Gremps, Sydney Cox; Recorder, A. M. Harrison ; Treasurer, Charles R. Avery. 1872 .- President, G. J. Hudson ; Trustees, J. H. Freeman, William Wiley, John W. Free, Joshua Hunt, Aaron Van Auken; Recorder, A. M. Harrison ; Treasurer, Charles R. Avery.
1873 .- President, J. H. Freeman; Trustees, Joshua Hunt, George Voke, P. H. Gremps, William Read, A. W. Miller, James Meyers ; Recorder, William H. Mason; Treasurer, Charles R. Avery.
1874 .- President, I. W. Willard; Trustees, J. C. Rousseau, Joseph Kilburn, James Bennett ; Recorder, W. H. Mason ; Treas- urer, C. R. Avery.
1875 .- President, Peter H. Gremps; Trustees, E. O. Briggs, Joshua Hunt, A. W. Miller; Recorder, W. H. Mason; Treasurer, C. R. Avery.
1876 .- President, Edmond Smith; Trustees, George W. Longwell, C. R. Ocobock, William C. Macullar; Recorder, William H. Mason; Treasurer, C. R. Avery.
1877 .- President, Loyal Crane; Trustee., Joshua Hunt, A. W. Miller, R. E. Quick ; Recorder, Seigfried Shafer; Treasurer, E. P. Hathaway.
1878 .- President, Charles S. Maynard; Trustees, James Phillips, N. P. Conger, Charles Flanders ; Recorder, Edgar M. Snow ; Treasurer, E. P. Hathaway.
1879 .- President, J. W. Ball; Trustees, Alonzo Shults, James L. Tyr- rell, A. F. McNeil; Recorder, E. M. Snow ; Treasurer, E. P. Hathaway.
Paw Paw Fire Department .- This department was or- ganized Sept. 29, 1868, with one engine company and one
510
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
hose company, H. L. Eggleston being the chief engineer. A hand-engine and hose-cart were then purchased and fur- nished to the companies ; later a hook-and-ladder company was added. The original engine is still in use, although efforts are being made to supersede it with a steamer. The officers of the department are William Wiley, Chief Engi- neer ; A. W. Showerman, Assistant Engineer; S. H. La- mont, Secretary ; and M. P. Allen, Treasurer. The engine company numbers 37, Henry Hopping being the foreman. L. W. Melchor is the foreman of the hose company, which has 18 members, and R. E. Quick of the hook-and-ladder company, which numbers 14 members.
Fires .- The business centre of the village has on three occasions been ravaged by severe fires, and two of them were especially disastrous. The first conflagration of any note took place in 1859, when the old Exchange Hotel, standing upon the site of the present Dyckman House, was destroyed. In 1866 the flames swept both sides of Main Street west of Kalamazoo Street. The loss was a severe one, but the citizens afterwards found some consolation in the presence of the fine brick blocks which now line both sides of Main Street upon the district burned over in 1866.
On the 8th of January, 1868, the north side of Main Street between the Dyckman House and the post-office was ravaged by fire, which incident has thus far been the last important conflagration in the village.
The Peninsular Electric Telegraph Company was organ- ized in 1876, for the purpose of providing local telegraph conveniences. About two miles of wire are in use, and about 25 families enjoy the convenience of direct telegraphic communication between their homes and all parts of the village. O. W. Rowland is the President, E. E. Rowland the Superintendent, and F. J. McEntee the Secretary and Treasurer.
The Press of Paw Paw .- The first newspaper in Van Buren County was published at Paw Paw in January, 1843, and was named the Paw Paw Democrat. Mention of that paper has already been made in the general history of the county, as also sketches of the several newspapers which have been published from time to time in Paw Paw village at later periods, down to the beginning of 1880, when the National Independent went out of existence. Shortly after that event the material of the Independent was utilized by a stock company in the publication of the Paw Paw Herald, which gives promise of success.
Banking .-- The village of Paw Paw had no organized banking institution until Aug. 11, 1865, when the First National Bank of Paw Paw was chartered, with a capital of $50,000. It was the outgrowth of the private banking- house of Stevens, Holton & Co., who had carried on a banking business in Paw Paw for several years previous to 1865, as the successors of Stevens, French & Co. The first Board of Directors of the First National Bank was composed of Thomas L. Stevens, Alonzo Sherman, James Crane, Thos. H. Stevens, Chas. S. Maynard, N. M. Pugs- ley, and E. O. Briggs. Alonzo Sherman was chosen pres- ident, and J. A. Holton cashier.
The bank has now a capital of $100,000, a circulation of $45,000, a deposit account of $65,000, and a loan ac- count of $120,000. The bank building on Main Street
was erected by the directors, and was first occupied in 1867. Mr. Alonzo Sherman is now the president (having filled that place since 1865), and F. E. Stevens is the cashier.
The robbery of the First National Bank in 1867 was for many years after its occurrence an important local sensa- tion. It happened in March of that year, while the bank was occupying temporary quarters in R. M. Buck's hard- ware-store, pending the completion of its new building. The cashier, E. O. Briggs, discovered upon opening the bank-safe one Monday morning that upwards of $22,000 in bonds and currency had been abstracted, and that, too, without leaving any exterior marks to show that the com- bination-lock had been forced. Pinkerton's Chicago De- tective Agency being called upon to furnish a key to the mystery, sent one of its corps to Paw Paw, who managed so cleverly that although he resided at Paw Paw about six months as a professed insurance agent, no one, save two of the bank officials, knew his real business, until he startled the community one day by causing the arrest of R. M. Buck, the hardware merchant (a young man high in popu- lar esteem), on the charge of robbing the bank. The evi- dence against him was complete, and he was convicted and sentenced to three years' confinement in the State-prison. Nearly all the money, which had been buried by Buck on a farm in Keeler township, was recovered.
The Paw Paw Rifle Company .- This organization was formed in 1839. Andrew Longstreet was chosen captain, Edwin Mears first lieutenant, and David Woodman second lieutenant. The command numbered about 40 men, and was attached to the 28th Regiment, 14th Brigade, 7th Division, of the State militia. The " Rifles" maintained an organization until the outbreak of the Mexican war, into which several of the members entered, when the company disbanded.
Paw Paw Lodge, No. 18, I. O. O. F .- This lodge was instituted Nov. 19, 1846, when a charter was issued to John McKinney, E. O. Briggs, Frank Taylor, C. R. Maffit, and John Smolk. It is now in a flourishing condition, with a membership of 78, and owns a handsome lodge- room, the first session in which was held in 1874. The present officers of the lodge are C. W. Ward, N. G .; A. Van Auken, V. G .; O. W. Rowland, Sec .; C. Lich, P. Sec .; E. Martin, Treas. ; C. N. Griffin, W .; O. N. Hilton, C .; Edward Snow, I. G .; William Jones, O. G .; C. A. Harrison, R. S. N. G. ; N. P. Conger, L. S. N. G .; A. F. McNeal, R. S. S .; William Reed, L. S. S .; L. S. Tyrrell, R. S. V. G .; - Chapman, L. S. V. G.
Of the charter members named above only three are still living,-E. O. Briggs, Frank Taylor, and John Smolk.
Paw Paw Lodge, No. 25, F. and A. M .-- This lodge was organized under dispensation May 6, 1848, and on the 10th of January, 1849, a charter was issued to A. W. Broughton, B. F. Chadwick, D. O. Dodge, Peter Gremps, Hubbell Warner, O. Warner, and John Mckinney. Until the charter was obtained the lodge worked under the " An- cient Order." At the first election of officers, Feb. 10, 1849, B. F. Chadwick was chosen W. M .; J. R. Baker, S. W. ; D. O. Dodge, J. W .; Peter Gremps, Treas. ; F. E. Stevens, Sec. ; Hubbell Warner, S. D. ; Williamson Mason, J. D. ; John Smolk, Tiler. On the 13th of February, 1849, the
PHOTOS. BY J. H . PRATER.
B.A. MURDOCK.
MRS.B.A.MURDOCK.
RESIDENCE OF B. A . MURDOCK, PAW PAW VILLAGE, MICH.
.
511
TOWNSHIP OF PAW PAW.
newly-elected officers were installed by John Stewart, G. M. ; C. L. Bird, D. G. M. ; H. Marsh, G. Marshal ; Nathaniel Pullman, G. C. The lodge now owns a finely-appointed lodge-room, and has upon its roll 100 active members. The present officers are E. Curtis, W. M .; W. M. Thayer, S. W. ; J. B. Smith, J. W .; C. G. Nash, Treas. ; F. E. Stevens, Sec. ; and Andrew Harwick, Tiler.
Paw Paw Chapter, No. 34, R. A. M .- This Masonic body was organized Jan. 10, 1865, the charter designating J. R. Baker as H. P .; O. S. Simmons as K. ; and E. O. Briggs as Scribe. The membership is now 60, and the officers are as follows : H. P., G. J. Hudson ; K., William Dole; S., William Thayer ; C. of H., E. A. Blackman ; P. S., Ela Curtiss ; R. A. C., C. R. Ocobock ; 3d V., Jo- seph Davy ; 2d V., R. O. Beebe ; 1st V., S. Shaefer ; Treas., C. G. Nash ; Sec., F. E. Stevens ; Sentinel, A. H. Harwick.
Paw Paw Encampment, No. 30, I. O. O. F .- Paw Paw Encampment was organized March 26, 1868. The charter members were C. M. Odell, B. Odell, C. Lich, S. H. Black- man, T. W. Melchor, E. Martin, and J. M. Brown, of whom all are still living except T. W. Melchor. The membership is now 28, and the officers are as follows : G. W. Matthews, C. P. ; J. M. Brown, H. P. ; William Reed, S. W .; O. W. Rowland, Scribe ; C. Lich, Finan. Sec .; E. Martin, Treas. ; William P. Jones, J. W.
Paw Paw Lodge, No. 37, A. O. U. W .- This is a sec- tion of a new secret society, and was organized Feb. 26, 1878, with 10 members. E. S. Dunning was P. M. W .; O. W. Rowland, M. W .; and John Knowles, G. F. The membership on the 1st of January, 1880, was 26, when the officers were O. W. Rowland, P. M. W. ; Albert Rob- inson, M. W .; G. M. Koons, G. F .; S. M. Wilkie, O .; W. H. Mason, Recorder; B. F. Heckert, Financier ; M. J. McEntee, Receiver ; R. A. Whitman, G .; P. G. Forsyth, I. W .; A. E. Quick, O. W. Regular sessions are held every Thursday.
Martin Lodge, No. 18, A. Y. M .- This lodge was or- ganized in 1874, with 10 members, L. R. Roberts being W. M. ; Jonathan Grinage, S. W. ; and B. F. Roberts, J. W. The membership is now 19. L. R. Roberts is W. M .; Edward Cable, S. W. ; and Francis Smith, J. W.
Paw Paw Lodge, No. 30, Knights of Honor .- The so- ciety just named was organized Dec. 1, 1877, with 13 members, B. F. Stearns being D .; John Ihling, P. D. ; and F. B. Kelly, R. The membership is now 22, and the officers are A. J. Mills, D .; H. Legrave, V. D .; C. W. Ward, A. D .; H. A. Rogers, G. ; J. D. Sherman, T .; B. F. Stearns, R. ; H. S. Williams, F. R ; L. C. Woodman, Chaplain. Regular sessions are held the first and third Thursdays of each month.
Paw Paw Grange, No. 10, P. of H .- The Paw Paw section of the Patrons of Husbandry was organized Dec. 31, 1872, with about 20 members. The Masters to the present time have been Joseph Gilman, J. J. Woodman, T. R. Harrison, David Woodman (2d), A. C. Glidden, T. R. Harrison (second term), and J. C. Gould. The present officers are J. C. Gould, M .; S. D. Searls, O .; D. Wood- man (2d), L .; A. C. Glidden, Chap. ; James Clancey, Treas. ; O. H. P. Sheldon, Sec. ; Peter Brummel, G. ; H. D. Sherrod, Steward; M. Buskirk, Assistant Steward.
Blue Ribbon Club .- At a meeting of seven friends of temperance, held in Dickson's harness-shop in the year 1878, the Paw Paw Blue Ribbon Club was organized, for the sole object of promoting the cause of total abstinence, its seven founders having previously been members of the Red Ribbon Club (since dissolved), from which they had withdrawn in consequence of their dissatisfaction with its management. The Blue Ribbon Club increased in strength rapidly from the outset, and down to Jan. 1, 1880, had re- ceived full 400 members, of whom there were on that date 334 in active membership, inclusive of 54 in the children's department. Weekly meetings are held in the Opera-House, at which pleasant literary entertainments are presented to the public free of charge. The present officers are E. E. Rowland, President; Jared Loveland, First Vice-President ; Charles Stevens, Second Vice-President ; Miss E. E. Crane, Recording Secretary ; E. H. Lindsley, Financial Secretary ; C. C. Hoppin, Treasurer ; and Frank Rawson, Marshal.
The Opera-House .- In 1876, George W. Longwell bought the building previously used for thirty-two years as a Methodist church and transformed it into a commo- dious and tastefully-appointed theatre. It has a seating capacity of 600, is supplied with a gallery, and has a stage well furnished with scenery and mechanical appliances.
Library and Literary Association .- An institution was organized in January, 1880, for the purpose of providing a public library and reading-room, and has received at the outset such encouragement as to give it a strong prospect of success.
PROSPECT HILL CEMETERY.
On the 24th of March, 1859, the Prospect Hill Ceme- tery Association was organized, for the purpose of providing a public cemetery on Prospect Hill. Land was accordingly purchased there and handsomely laid out with lawns, smooth drives, walks, and other attractive improvements. I. W. Willard was chosen president, Elisha Durkee clerk, and T. A. Granger treasurer. Prospect Hill is one of the highest elevations in Van Buren County. Upon its summit, in 1875, Mr. I. W. Willard erected an observatory 127 feet high, from which, on a clear day, it is said may be seen the waters of Lake Michigan and as many as thirty vil- lages. The cemetery, which now covers an area of 30 acres, has many natural beauties, and is adorned with costly monuments. The present officers of the association are F. W. Selleck, President; J. W. Van Fossen, Clerk ; and G. J. Hudson, Treasurer.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES IN THE TOWNSHIP.
Methodist Episcopal Church .- The first sermon (of which there is any present recollection) heard in Paw Paw was delivered by Rev. Junia Warner, Jr., a Methodist Episcopal elder of Almena, in April, 1835, in Hinckley's blacksmith-shop. From that time until 1839, Mr. Warner preached frequently in the village, as did occasionally traveling preachers from Kalamazoo and Silver Creek.
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.