USA > Michigan > Van Buren County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 136
USA > Michigan > Berrien County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 136
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"School District No. 1, Town 1 South, Range 15 West [now Columbia], to contain the following Sections, viz., Sections No. 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33. This Dis- trict has become a legally organized School District under Section 11 of an act relating to Common or Primary Schools.
"School District No. 2, Town 2 South, Range 16 West [now Bangor], contains the following Sections : Nos. 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15.
" HARVEY MANLEY, J. N. HOWARD, School Inspectors."
WM. N. HURLBUT,
March 24, 1845, School District No. 2 was reformed to contain the following sections : Nos. 1, 12, and 13, in town 2 south, range 16 west (Bangor), and sections Nos. 6, 7, and 18, town 2 south, range 15 west (Arlington), and to be known as District No. 2 of South Haven and Arlington.
Between the time of the meeting of the inspectors, March 24, 1845, and the meeting of May 3d, given below, the township of Columbia had been organized. "The Board of School Inspectors met, pursuant to notice, at the dwell- ing-house of O. S. Brown, and proceeded to examine Eliza Hoppin in regard to her qualifications for teaching a primary school, and gave her a certificate."
September 13th of the same year fractional school dis- trict No. 1 was formed of South Haven and Arlington, and contained section 25, the west half of section 36, and south- east half of section 24, in town 2 south, range 16 west (Bangor).
At the same time was formed district No. 1 of South Haven, containing sections No. 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, and 14 of town 2 south, range 16 west (Bangor). At a meeting held May 2, 1846, William N. Hurlbut was appointed librarian.
A fractional school district was formed of South Haven and Hartford, and March 17, 1851, there was apportioned to school district No. 1, $6.54-48 ; to fractional district No. 1 of South Haven and Hartford, $2.43; to fractional dis- trict No. 1 of South Haven and Arlington, 75 cents; and to district No. 2, $2.43. At this meeting district No. 3 was formed in township 1 south, range 17 west (now South Haven), and contained sections Nos. 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15, and a district, to be known as district No. 4, was set off from district No. 3, and comprised sections Nos. 2, 3, 10, 11, 14, and 15.
June 11, 1853, the school inspectors of the township of South Haven and Ganges (Allegan County) met pursuant to notice and divided district No. 4 as follows : "So much of the territory as is enclosed by the base line, South Black River and Lake Michigan, be united with fractional section 35, and the whole of Section 36, Town 1 North, Range 17 West; also Section 31 and south half of Section 30, Town 1 North, Range 16 West, to form a Union School District,
TOWNSHIP OF SOUTH HAVEN.
541
to be known and distinguished as Fractional District No. One of the townships of South Haven and Ganges."
It is shown that no district was laid out in what is now the township of South Haven until March 17, 1851, when one was laid out, which included the nine north sections of the townships, and was known as district No. 3. This dis- trict was divided several times before 1854.
Bangor and Deerfield had been set off into separate town- ships from 1853 to 1854, and the inspectors' record for 1854 shows that the board met at the office of the town clerk April 15, 1854. Present : A. S. Dyckman, Samuel F. Foster, and S. B. Morehouse. Prior to this time no names of residents in the present township appear among the officers.
May 2, 1857, a new school district was formed, known as No. 3, and embraced of territory not before laid out sec- tions 23 and 24, and a strip 160 rods wide on the north part of sections 25 and 26, also section 1 and that part of 2 lying south of Black River, and the whole of sections 11, 12, 13, and 14. This district was enlarged May 26th of the same year, and embraced in addition, a strip 160 rods wide on the north part of sections 27 and 28 to the lake, and northerly along the lake to the mouth of Black River, and on the south side of the river to the intersection of sections 2 and 3.
Many changes were made in the districts, but no new territory added until Jan. 30, 1864, when that portion of sections 27 and 28 not before embraced was included in a district, and on May 5, 1865, new territory was added to the district so as to comprise that portion of sections 25 and 26 not previously embraced, also the north half of sections 35 and 36. The township was redistricted Feb. 20, 1874.
A statement of the condition of the schools of the town- ship in 1879 is shown by the subjoined report for 1879 :
SCHOOL REPORT FOR 1879.
Number of Number of
Dis- trict.
Children be- tween 5 and 20 Years.
Frame School- Houses.
Seating Capacity.
Property.
Value of Number of Wages of Teachers. Teachers.
No. 1 ..
378
1
320
$5000
6 $988
No. 2 ..
56
1
50
1200
1
No. 3 ..
48
1
50
700
180
No. 4 ..
90
1
60
1000
1
112
No. 5 ..
40
45
1000
2
......
No. 6 ..
22
25
200
1
128
Totals.
634
550
$9100
11
$1408
RECEIPTS.
District.
Moneys on hand Sept. 2, 1878.
Two-Mill Tax.
School Taxes for from other sources for Fund. all Purposes. Sources.
No. 1
$292.12
$458.75
$203.92
$1900.00
$123.66 30.00
the Year. $3054.45 516.55
No. 4 ..
93.65
47.18
191.17
332.00
No. 5 .....
12.51
53.00
19.26
157.00
241.77
No. 6 ....
9.90
40.50
9.61
142.50
1.21
214.72
Totals ... $445.50
$701.67 $316.78
$2390.67
$154.87
$4359.49
EXPENDITURES.
Total Expendi-
District.
Paid Teachers.
For all other Purposes.
1879.
Year .*
No. 1
$1888.00
$427.82
$738.63 175.46
$3054.45 516.55
No. 3 ..
151.51
No. 4
112.00
15.00
77
241.77
No. 6
128.00
64.63
11.09
203.72
Totals
$2403.00
$598.54
$1077.46
$4348.49
Including amount on hand.
The school directors for 1879 were Calvin Fletcher, H. M. Avery, Charles Gibson, J. J. Moulthrop, J. F. Hopkins, L. K. Jillson.
Following is a list of persons examined by, and who re- ceived certificates from, the school inspectors down to the year 1867 :
Eliza Hoppin, May 3, 1845.
Mehitable Northrup, May 2, 1846.
Eliza Camp, July 11, 1847.
Joseph Hurlbut, Nov. 4, 1851.
Hannah Hawks, March, 1852.
Amanda Haynes and Mary McKnight, July 10, 1852.
Lesbia E. Fox, April 9, 1853.
Lucinda Haynes, June 11, 1853.
Sarah E. Reynolds, Aug. 12, 1853.
Samuel Follett, Nov. 18, 1854.
Samuel P. Wilson, Dec. 1, 1854.
Miss E. J. Eaton, April 14, 1855.
Austin Harman, Dec. 4, 1855.
Samuel A. Tripp, April 22, 1856.
Edward H. Lounsbury, Oct. 18, 1856.
Angeline Foster, May 2, 1857.
A. D. Taylor, April 10, 1858.
Sarah Dow, April 17, 1858.
A. S. Dyckman, Nov. 6, 1858.
Mrs. H. Bradley, Dec. 3, 1858.
Mrs. E. P. H. Lee, April 18, 1859.
Frances Hale, Jan. 21, 1860.
Harriet Morehouse, March 31, 1860.
Miss Frank Wright and Miss Mary Potter, April 4, 1860.
Ella Conger and Elisha Moon, Nov. 3, 1860.
Ruth Hunt, May 21, 1861.
Julia Morehouse, April 12, 1862.
- Nelson, April 12, 1862.
Eliza Longwell, Nov. 18, 1862.
Anna McDowell, Dec. 28, 1862.
Charles J. Monroe, Sept. 19, 1863.
Martha E. Grover, Nov. 14, 1863.
Mrs. Frances W. Moon, Emma Brent, Ann McNitt, April 30, 1864. Julia A. Church, May 7, 1864.
A. J. Dyer and Anna McDonald, Nov. 9, 1864.
Theodore Hoppin and Mrs. Edward Napier, Nov. 14, 1864. Mr. Hoppin to teach in the principal department of the union school.
Mrs. N. Phelps, same date.
Miss Lesbia Warner and Miss Orpha Williams, April 29, 1865.
Miss J. Van Dyck, May 25, 1865.
Miss Ann Atwater, May 27, 1865.
Hattie Morehouse, Louisa Wood, Georgie S. Williams, Jane Wright, and Mrs. P. C. Napier, April 12, 1866.
Helen Briggs, May 8, 1866.
Nathaniel Earl, H. Farnham, Mrs. S. A. Simmons, Nov. 3, 1866. Mary L. Bryant, Julia Morehouse, Carrie Grover, April 13, 1867. Ellen Horr and Lesbia Warner, April 27, 1867.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
The Congregational Church .- An ecclesiastical council was held at South Haven July 2, 1856, composed of the following persons : Rev. A. H. Reed, American Home Mis- sionary Agent; Rev. T. Jones, Galesburg; Rev. Edward Taylor, Kalamazoo ; Rev. A. Rowe, Lawrence; and Deacon Mills, of Galesburg. The First Congregational Church of South Haven was organized at that meeting, with the fol- lowing-named persons as constituent members, nine of whom presented letters from other churches, viz. : Joseph Wagoner, from Congregational Church of Kalamazoo ; Mrs. T. McDowell, from Congregational Church, Jamestown, N. Y .; Mrs. Joseph Dow, Samuel F. Foster, Mrs. Jane Foster, Miss Angeline Foster, and Mr. H. C. . Wells ; Mrs. L. Wells, from Plymouth Congregational Church of Chicago; George W. Wallace, from Congregational Church,
Primary-
District
Raised
Total Re-
No. 2 ...
130.97
55.77
29.81
No. 3 ....
Amount on hand Sept. 1, ture during the
No. 2
275.00
66.09
No. 5.
25.00
332.00
...
1 1116 1 6
542
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Bradford, Vt. ; Dr. Charles M. Lee, from church at Phoenix, N. Y. Dr. Charles M. Lee was elected deacon, and Samuel F. Foster clerk.
Preaching was held at the school-house and at the hall of the Forest House (now Pacific) during the winter.
June 14, 1857, the Rev. Nathaniel Grover was ordained as pastor of the church, and remained in charge until his death, May 10, 1863. He was succeeded by the Rev. William Pattinson, who commenced his labors in November of the same year, and closed them in August, 1865. He was succeeded by the Rev. David Wirt. Under his charge a chapel was built, and dedicated Dec. 19, 1867, the Rev. E. Andrews, of Allegan, preaching the dedication sermon. The Rev. Joseph Anderson accepted a call Sept. 13, 1869, and remained till Nov. 19, 1871, when he re- signed. He afterwards preached about six months in 1872.
The present pastor, the Rev. E. A. Paddock, was called to the pastorate Sept. 3, 1876. A church building was erected on Phoenix Street, at a cost of $6000. A town clock was placed in the tower, at a cost of $1000. The dedication services were held Nov. 18, 1878. The sermon was preached by the Rev. H. N. Burton, of Kalamazoo. The church has a present membership of 160. A Sunday- school with about 200 pupils is in connection, of which the pastor is superintendent.
First Baptist Church .- Aug. 22, 1846, pursuant to notice, the following-named persons met for the purpose of organizing a Baptist Church : E. D. Farnham, A. C. Merritt, G. H. Clark, Mrs. Harriet James, J. H. Farnham, C. H. Wigglesworth, Mrs. A. J. Wigglesworth, Thomas W. Merritt, Mrs. Hannah D. Merritt, and S. A. Simmons. E. D. Farnham presided. It was resolved to hold Sunday services, and the hall of Pomeroy & Worthington was secured for that purpose. A. C. Merritt, a resident of the locality and an ordained minister, preached alternately with Dr. William Hewson. Five trustees were chosen Aug. 28, 1867, and at this meeting it was " resolved that this church be known as the First Baptist Church of South Haven." E. D. Farnham was chosen deacon.
After the erection of the Congregational chapel, services were held for some time on Sunday afternoons, but finally discontinued on account of the ill health of Dr. Hewson. Mr. George Hannahs presented the society with a deed of two lots where the church now stands. The board of trus- tees were appointed a building committee April 7, 1869. The church was visited by the Rev. C. Johnson, of Lan- sing, then superintendent of State Reform School, who offered them $200 towards building a church edifice. Sub- scriptions were then taken up, and the church built on the present site, at a cost of $2102.96.
Nov. 7, 1870, it was resolved to call a council to recognize the church, and letters missive were sent to the churches of Benton Harbor, Kalamazoo, Paw Paw, Keeler, Watervliet, Plainville, and Cheshire, and to the Rev. C. Johnson and the Rev. Mr. Mather, Missionary Agent. At this meeting 32 persons presented letters from other churches to become constituent members. Dr. Hewson, A. C. Merritt, and C. H. Wigglesworth were appointed to represent them in the council.
The council met on Saturday, Nov. 19, 1870, when the
church was regularly constituted, and the next day (No- vember 20th) the church edifice was dedicated. The morning sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Mather, and the evening sermon by the Rev. C. Johnson.
The church has at present about 70 members, and a Sunday-school of 60 pupils, of which Charles H. Pleasants is superintendent.
A Universalist Society was organized in South Haven about 1863, when the Rev. W. N. Burton was living there, but it declined upon his leaving, in 1868. He is now living in Boston.
A Church of the United Brethren was also organized, and a church edifice was built that was sold to the Catholics in 1877, and the society declined.
Episcopal Church .- A call, signed by E. Rathbone, Calvin Fletcher, Marshall D. Talcott, Joseph Lanning, and Charles Rathbone, was extended to those interested in the formation of an Episcopal society, April 5, 1870, for a meeting to be held April 18th, at which time an organiza- tion was perfected. C. Fletcher, E. Rathbone, Joseph Lanning, George Hale, C. Delamere were chosen vestrymen. The Rev. J. B. Dooley became their rector. Services are held in Grange Hall. The church is now supplied occa- sionally by the Rev. G. P. Shetky, rector of St. Mark's Church of Paw Paw.
Reformed Church of America .- This society was organ- ized with 12 members, April 18, 1872, and was first under the pastoral charge of the Rev. - Kickentwelt, suc- ceeded by the Revs. H. K. Boer and D. G. Dangremond, who is the present pastor. The church edifice was erected in 1872. The society now has a membership of 42, and a Sunday-school in connection, of which C. Van Brussel is superintendent, has 25 pupils.
Catholic Church .- This church was organized in Janu- ary, 1877, with five families, under the care of Father Tyson, of St. Joseph, under whose charge it still remains. Services are held once in three months. The edifice of the United Brethren was purchased soon after the organization.
Methodist Church. - The earliest knowledge of any preaching by members of this denomination was in May, 1852, when the Rev. Mr. Doughty preached in the house of S. B. Morehouse. About 1855 the Rev. Mr. Colwell came on the circuit. A class was then formed, in which Jared P. Breed, Sarah, his wife, and Jesse L. Lane were among the early members. From that time until 1865 but little information is obtained, except that the circuit preach- ers, Pendlan, Van Wyck, and Berry, were here occasion- ally. The pastors from that time have been the Revs. William M. Paddock, E. L. Kellogg, J. W. H. Carlisle, E. H. McChesney, H. H. Parker, W. A. Hunsberger, and N. D. Carroll, the present pastor. The present membership is 160. Connected with the church is a Sunday-school of 80 pupils ; J. J. Atherly superintendent.
Worship was first held in the school-house. In 1867 a church building was erected, which was destroyed by fire in 1871, when the present edifice was erected.
FRUIT INTERESTS OF SOUTH HAVEN.
The interest in fruit culture in this township began soon after the actual settlers took possession of the land. The
.
543
TOWNSHIP OF SOUTH HAVEN.
first to venture in this untried field was Stephen B. More- house, who came here for that purpose. It was not, how- ever, entirely an experiment, for the success that had crowned the efforts of Eleazer Morton and George Par- melee, of Benton Harbor, and Gaius Boughton, B. C. Hoyt, and others, of St. Joseph, was a guarantee of suc- cess in this locality, it being under the same thermal influ- ence.
Mr. Morehouse, after getting his land in proper condi- tion, purchased trees in Kalamazoo, and planted an orchard of three acres, mostly apples. Randolph Densmore, about the same time, set out a small orchard adjoining that of Mr. Morehouse. These orchards were within the present village plat. James L. Reid, about 1857, planted an orchard on the lake-shore, on section 16. This was afterwards enlarged by Thomas Hoppin. About the same time A. S. Dyckman planted an orchard of four acres of peach-trees, and in 1858 the first vineyards were planted. Mr. Dyckman set out one acre, and Orris Church one and a half acres, and in 1864 Aaron Eames set out the Dela- ware grape largely, having planted orchards much earlier. Slowly, but surely, these pioneers in fruit culture felt their way, realizing every year by the wider experience gained, and the results which followed their efforts, that the lands of South Haven were well adapted to successful and con- tinuous fruit-raising.
A pomological society was organized in January, 1871, and it has been instrumental in promoting a general in- terest in fruit culture of all kinds. The members of this society have been prominent in the State society, it having furnished two presidents,-A. S. Dyckman and T. T. Lyon, its present president, the latter of whom is widely known throughout this and other States as a contributor in all departments of horticulture and pomology.
A meeting of the State Pomological Society was held at Pomological Hall, at South Haven, June 19, 20, and 21, 1877, and to this society is the State indebted, to a certain extent, for the law authorizing a commissioner to destroy peach-trees affected with the "yellows," and the seizure of all fruit affected by it. Upon the first appearance of the dreaded disease at St. Joseph this society appointed a com- mittee, who acted with the concurrence of the fruit-growers of the vicinity, and destroyed all trees found affected. In the winter of 1874-75 the society presented a petition for a law having the above provision applicable to Van Buren, Allegan, and Ottawa Counties, which law was passed.
The facilities of South Haven for marketing are now unsurpassed, the port being but eight hours from Chicago by steamer, and connected with the main line of the Michi- gan Central by a branch from Kalamazoo. The exports of fruit for 1879 are given in another place.
South Haven Pomological Society .- In December, 1870, a number of fruit-growers met at South Haven to consult on the propriety of organizing a society that would draw more closely together those who were interested in the cul- tivation of fruit, and by an interchange of thought enlarge their general knowledge of the best means and methods for the successful prosecution of the business. This meeting resulted in an organization formed in January, 1871, when the following officers were elected : President, Norman
Phillips ; Vice-President, C. H. Wigglesworth ; Secretary, C. T. Bryant ; Treasurer, C. J. Monroe. Succeeding offi- cers of the society have been as follows : 1874, President, Norman Phillips ; Secretary, C. T. Bryant ; Treasurer, C. J. Monroe. 1875, President, T. T. Lyon ; Secretary, H. E. Bidwell ; Treasurer, C. J. Monroe. 1876, President, T. T. Lyon ; Secretary, H. E. Bidwell ; Treasurer, C. H. Wig- glesworth. 1877, President, H. E. Bidwell ; Secretary, A. S. Galley. 1878, President, William H. Hurlbut ; Secre- tary, J. G. Ramsdell ; Treasurer, H. Chatfield. 1879, President, C. H. Wigglesworth ; Secretary, J. G. Ramsdell.
The society has steadily increased in numbers and in- terest. Meetings are held weekly, and discussions are held on the differerent questions that are constantly arising. The society adopted a trade-mark, under which members ship their fruit, thus holding the members responsible for the credit of the society. Exhibits of fruit from the society were sent to the Vienna Exposition, for which was received a bronze medal ; also at the Centennial Exhibition in 1876 and at Chicago, where they took more prizes than any other society.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
WILLIAM H. HURLBUT.
William Harrison and Wealthy (Cross) Hurlbut were married Jan. 4, 1816, and were the parents of the follow- ing children : William H. (the subject of this sketch ), born Aug. 25, 1819 ; Charles B., born Jan. 15, 1826; George, born June 14, 1828; Joseph, born Dec. 25, 1830; and Albert, born Dec. 4, 1842.
William Harrison was a native of the town of Richland, Oswego Co., N. Y. When he was four years of age his parents removed to St. Hyacinth District, Canada, remain- ing there about eight years, and it was there that Charles B. and George were born. About 1830 they moved to and made St. Lawrence County their home, where Joseph B. was born ; and in 1833 returned to Richland, where Al- bert was born. After arriving at the age of sixteen, young Hurlbut, with the consent and blessing of his parents (that being all they had to give him), a cash capital of seventy- five cents in his pocket, and worldly effects to the extent of one shirt tied up in a cotton handkerchief, left the paternal home to make his fortune. About sunset of the third day, tired and foot-sore, and with but five cents in money left, he found himself a stranger in the pleasant village of Ham- ilton, N. Y. Here he succeeded in obtaining employment with Samuel Payne, Sr., deacon of the First Baptist Church, and one of the founders of the Baptist Theological Semi- nary of Hamilton. For nearly five years young Hurlbut remained with the deacon, working for wages summers and doing chores for his board and attending school in the village winters.
In the fall of 1840, with his carefully-hoarded savings in his wallet, his effects packed in one small trunk, and with the fatherly counsel and blessing of the good deacon, he started for the " far West," which at that time meant any- where beyond Lake Erie.
--
544
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
In October, 1840, he arrived in Van Buren Co., Mich. (then an almost unbroken wilderness), with barely money sufficient to enter eighty acres of wild land, which so far had been the height of his boyish ambition.
He located on section 11 of what is now the town of Bangor, but then known as South Haven.
Here Hurlbut pursued a bachelor life, spending his sum- mers mostly in chopping, either on his land or in cutting roads, and teaching district school winters in a neighboring township until 1845, meanwhile having exchanged his eighty acres with improvements for a wild one-hundred-and- sixty-acre tract on section 13 of the same township, in- curring in the transaction an indebtedness of four hundred dollars.
In May, 1845, he was united in marriage with Fanny, daughter of Robert Christie, of Lawrence, she bravely con- senting to settle in the woods, and with her companion to share all the labors and privations of pioneer life ; and it is only justice to say that with fortitude and cheerfulness she has borne her full share of the trials and vicissitudes to be encountered in rearing a family on the frontiers of civiliza- tion, and in helping to build up a home in the wilderness.
Immediately after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hurlbut set- tled down in a hastily-constructed board cabin in the woods, erected near where now stands the old homestead, having at that time no neighbor within half a mile, no clearing in sight, and no road, save a blazed sled-track through the woods. Here in earnest commenced the second stage of life's battle, and it is now the testimony of both that whatever of success has attended their efforts may be credited in no small degree to the firm resolution with which they started out-rigidly adhered to-never to run into debt.
From 1846 to 1861 he was prominently identified with all the public enterprises and improvements introduced into this portion of the county, and officially connected with town and county during that period. He assisted in build- ing the first school-house in Bangor and the first saw-mill, eventually becoming half owner.
In 1850 he was elected register of deeds for Van Buren County, which position he held two years.
His good judgment and sterling integrity had secured him a position high in the estimation of the people, whose voluntary suffrages had throughout this period almost con- tinually kept him employed in some official capacity, and in 1868, by a large majority, he was elected to represent his district in the State Legislature. He was re-elected in 1870. This position he filled with his usual ability and fidelity.
In December, 1861, he removed to South Haven, and in the spring of 1862 erected his present residence, a view of which, together with his old home, appear on another page. Mr. Hurlbut's knowledge of pioneer life is of a practical nature. Besides his Bangor farm of one hundred and sixty acres, he has also cleared one hundred and twenty acres here, on which he has a peach orchard of thirty acres.
Mr. Hurlbut's family consists of his wife and five chil- dren, viz. : Janet, Caroline, Jane, Irene, and Frank, all of whom live in this vicinity.
In politics he was a Democrat up to the organization of
the Republican party, when he became identified with it, and so continued until 1876, when he united with the National or Greenback party.
Coming here with but small capital, he has by industry and competent management acquired considerable property, and by his ability and integrity established for himself an enviable reputation ; while he has so discharged the duties of the positions of honor and trust that have been be- stowed upon him as to merit and receive the confidence and approbation of all.
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