USA > Michigan > Van Buren County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 40
USA > Michigan > Berrien County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 40
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lain, Three Oaks; George Weimer, New Buffalo; John C. Miller, Chickaming.
The first annual meeting was held at the court-house at Berrien Springs, June 7, 1876. After transacting the routine business the meeting adjourned to Dr. L. A. Bar- nard's grove, where an address was delivered by D. A. Winslow, of St. Joseph ; a poem was read by the Hon. Worthy Putnam ; and brief accounts of pioneer life were related by Messrs. John Jenkins, Uzziel Putnam, Sr., R. T. Twombly, E. M. Plympton, Rev. J. W. Robinson, and Albert L. Drew.
At that time a piece of ground, owned by Dr. L. A. Barnard, was offered by him for the use of the association as a place of holding future meetings. The offer was ac- cepted, and pioneer meetings have been held upon it until the present time. This ground is situated upon the high plateau which forms the bank of the St. Joseph River at Berrien Springs. It comprises about seven acres, mostly covered by a delightful grove, which has been cleared from underbrush, and beautified and improved by Dr. Barnard for the particular purpose to which it is devoted. The association has a lease of this ground for a term of eighteen years from 1876, and has erected upon it a commodious log cabin in the pioneer style, with speaker's stand, seats, and other necessary fixtures, and a basin, which is kept filled with clear water by means of a hydraulic ram. It is not only a beautiful place but a most appropriate one for the holding of pioneer reunions, and the meetings held here are regarded by those attending them as occasions of great in- terest and enjoyment.
Following is a list of the names and dates of settlement of those who have become members of the association from its organization until the present time, viz. :
Andrew L. Burke, 1830. Michael Hand, 1830.
Geo. H. Murdock, 1830. Hiram Brown, July 4, 1834.
Thomas Marrs, April, 1830.
John G. Shuarts, April, 1830. Wm. Dougherty, April, 1830.
John Tate, April, 1830.
Thos. K. Clyborne, Nov. 1828. Levi Sparks, Oct. 1828. Maria Sparks, Sept. 1832.
Jesse Helmick, Sept. 1835. Ezra D. Chilson, June, 1835.
A. Van Patten, Nov. 1844.
H. S. Helmick, 1836. A. G. Abbe, June, 1832. C. A. Hall, Oct. 1832.
Alonzo Sherwood, Feb. 1833. Kingsley Olds, Dec. 1833. C. P. Wray, Feb. 1830. Joshua Feather, Jr., May, 1836. Francis Johnson, April, 1834. Chas. H. Bostwick, Sept. 1847. Silas Ireland, Oct. 1839. W. B. Gilson, Aug. 1844. John H. Nixon, May, 1836. Damon A. Winslow, May, 1838. John Defield, Dec. 1842. Samuel Graham, Nov. 1846. N. Hamilton, June, 1834. E. P. Morley, Sept. 1845. L. A. Barnard, June, 1828. C. S. Boughton, May, 1843. Albert L. Drew, July, 1834.
Thomas Love, 1834. Daniel J. Claypool, March, 1832.
Royal T. Twombly, April, 1836.
John M. Platt, March, 1843. Otis Stearns, -May, 1848. James F. Higbee, June 7, 1837. L. P. Alexander, Oct. 1840. Tamour M. Winslow, Oct. 1840.
Nellie S. Drew, Sept. 1838. Asa W. Sherwood, Nov. 1834. Reed Ferris, Aug. 1850.
J. H. Jakeway, Sept. 1840. Matilda Ireland, Oct. 1827. John Irwin, March, 1842. Newton R. Woodruff, Aug. 1837.
J. S. Weaver, 1838. James Badger, June, 1843. A. W. Marrs, April, 1830. D. C. Higbee, June, 1836. Wm. B. Davis, Sept. 1847. Wm. Hazlett, June, 1837. W. H. Breese, Nov. 1840. C. D. Nichols, Sept. 1829. D. T. Wilson, May, 1829. Wm. H. Rector, July, 1835. H. C. Morton, May, 1834. R. Babcock, June, 1828. - Griffin, April, 1828. James B. Sutherland, Nov. 1841. Samuel Marrs, April, 1831. Moses A. Sylvester, Sept. 1844. Edwin F. Dickson, Oct. 1828.
152
HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
B. F. Pennell, April. 1844. Augustus Kephart, Philip Kep- hart, Oct. 1841. James M. Platt, Oct. 1846. O. W. Rose, Nov. 1842. Richard A. De Mont. May, 1841. J. L. Harkins, Jan. 1844. Wm. Smyth Farmer, Dec. 1848. Joseph Feather, May, 1832. Garrett Van Vranken, May, 1837. Emily Van Vranken, June, 1836. P. W. Guernsey, June, 1838. Ann Feather, May, 1832. Reuben A. Kibler, April, 1834. Susan Irwin, Aug. 1832. Rosanna Alexander, Sept. 1836. Mary Pennell, Oct. 1832. Eliza Brown, Sept. 1831. Isabella Platt, Aug. 1843. Rebecca Reynolds, Feb. 1830. Orrin D. Snow, 1838. Fanny Snow, 1838. B. M. Pennell, June, 1843. Elizabeth Pennell, Nov. 1834. Susie L. Dickson, 1837. Lucy Ann Brownell, Aug. 1829. P. J. Pierce, May, 1840. E. M. Scott, "Nov. 1850. H. W. Guernsey, June, 1838. J. Cribbs, Feb. 1839.
J. Mertzler, July, 1836. N. R. Woodruff, Aug. 1837. Wallace Taber, Sept. 1833. Julia Taber, 1836.
Nelson Harper, Oct. 1835. Henry Chamberlain, Oct. 1843. Isaac French, Sept. 1856. I. F. Sorell, Oct. 1836. Minerva Sorell, Oct. 1836. Nathaniel Brant, Oct. 1836. Norman Nims, Dec. 1856. Joel Layman, Oct. 1837. Martha M. Brant, Oct. 1836. Mary Higbee, June, 1837. Robert Cassiday, July, 1831. James A. Kirk, Oct. 1835. Nathan Fitch, Nov. 1836. M. W. Jennings, April, 1855. Levi Logan, May, 1848. Jacob E. Miller, June, 1830. Sarah Miller, March, 1856. George Reynolds, May, 1855. John D. Miller, April, 1841. Mrs. C. R. Barnard, Feb. 1841. Buckman, April, 1855. Charles F. Howe, Nov. 1835. John Byers, July, 1836. Sarah A. Byers, Dec. 1830. M. D. Burk, Sr., June, 1832. Michael Hess, Oct. 1855. Julia A. Hess, 1840. H. P. Keigley, May, 1851. C. C. Sutton, Sept. 1836. James W. Robinson, Oct. 1833. Minerva S. Robinson, 1835. Henry Worthington, Sept. 1837. Mary Worthington, 1832. Cynthia Sutton, March, 1835. Hugh Marrs, April, 1830. Adam Small, April, 1835. George Graham, Oct. 1842. William Chamberlain, Oct. 1843. Susan Kephart, May, 1833. E. M. Plimpton, Aug. 1848. John H. Royce, Dec. 1850.
Sophronia C. Royce, Nov. 1853. George H. Scott, May, 1837. Susan Barnard.
Chauncey Smith, Sept. 1858. Mrs. Abigail Smith, Sept. 1858. Mrs. Mary Abaley, Sept. 1859. Fred. M. Phillips, April, 1833. Samuel Van Vlear, April, 1833. Oliver C. Spaulding, April, 1842. Roswell Enos, May, 1846. Charles H. Walker, Feb. 1835. Orlando Hart, 1831. Nancy Fisher, Sept. 1844. Joseph Fisher, Sept. 1844. Daniel Neidlinger, Oct. 1844. Royal J. Tuttle, Nov. 1857. Susan M. Tuttle, Nov. 1857. John C. Miller, Aug. 1835. Barbara A. Miller. Benjamin Keigley, July, 1834. Miles Davis, Oct. 1848. Mrs. Helen Saunders, 1837. Jerry Painter, 1844. John Redden, Oct. 1835. Sidney Spencer, 1844. Samuel Simmons, 1832. Varna Simmons, 1832. Henderson Ballengee, Aug. 1833. M. C. Barnes, Aug. 1835. Mrs. Maggie J. Spaulding, 1854. Mary Rigger, 1832. Mrs. Harriet Marrs, 1831. B. D. Townsend, 1840. Darius J. Barber, 1842. Franklin Muzzy, 1846. James Farrell, 1845. James G. Portman, 1863. Jennie A. Portman, 1850. W. H. Miller, 1849. Mrs. Eva Miller, 1841. George F. Weidman, 1856. Louisa Weidman, 1856. Aaron Church, 1856. Jesse Gray, 1855. - Gray, 1842. Jacob Helmick, 1836. Mollie Helmnick, 1860. W. L. Hogue, 1854. Maria Hogue, 1854. Josephus Fisher, 1854. Phebe A. Fisher, 1854. James Smith, 1832. Malvina Sınith, 1832. Roscoe D. Dix, May, 1852. Virginia M. Dix. Henry Asharp, 1854. Elizabeth Asharp. Julia A. Hamilton, May, 1836. . F. F. Clark, May, 1840. Celinda Clark, 1840. William Burns, May, 1836. Mary A. Burns, May, 1836. Mahala Mansfield, June, 1842. Joseph Mansfield, June, 1832. Germon C. Gilson, Sept. 1854. Charlotte Gilson, 1854. Maria Van Vlear, Oct. 1845. George Ewalt, May, 1836. Margaret Ewalt, 1836. Fleming Boon, Oct. 1848. Nicholas Michael, Oct. 1832. Samuel Spry, Feb. 1834. Elizabeth Michael, 1832. Mary R. Small, 1854. James Groat, Jan. 1838.
Lucinda Groat, Aug. 1835.
Reuben M. Shafer, Aug. 1855.
Rachel Shafer, Aug. 1835.
Samuel Messenger, 1844.
-Jacob Bechtel, 1847.
Richard McOmber, 1834. John Johnson, Jr.
Abel Garr, Sept. 1832.
Moses Feather. Joseph Marrs.
Harriet Garr, Sept. 1836.
C. C. Kent, Oct. 1840.
Francis Wells, 1831.
Charles Evans, Nov. 1838.
Mary Evans, 1847.
George Smith, 1840. Juda Smith.
Jacob F. Hahn. Mrs. G. Kirk.
William Green, 1853.
Cynthia Green, 1857.
Jacob Messenger, 1835. Thomas Ford, 1841. Eliza Ford.
Isaac Smith, 1830. Mrs. James Brooks, 1853.
B. W. Sutherland, 1839.
Julia Ann Bechtel, 1854.
James Brooks, 1850.
Nelson H. Terry, 1859.
Charles A. Spencer, 1846.
Mrs. N. H. Terry, 1859.
John Gillespie, 1834.
The officers of the society for 1879 are as follows : Presi- dent, William Chamberlain ; Vice-Presidents, C. C. Kent, Henry Chamberlain, Nathaniel Hamilton ; Treasurer, Dr. Lyman A. Barnard ; Secretary, Charles D. Nichols ; Execu- tive Committee, Thomas Marrs, Ezra O. Wilson, Norman Nims, Aaron Van Patten, O. C. Spaulding.
YOUNG PEOPLE'S PICNIC ASSOCIATION OF BERRIEN COUNTY.
" The design of this association is to afford the young people a more favorable opportunity of becoming generally acquainted, and to cultivate a genial feeling towards each other, thereby enabling them to know the traits, character, and ability of those with whom they must some day act in discharging the duties of life and citizenship."
Pursuant to call (issued through circulars and the county press), the young people from all parts of the county met at Dr. Barnard's grove, at Berrien Springs, on Thursday, Aug. 9, 1877, for the purpose of organizing a "Young People's Association" of the county. George M. Valentine was called to the chair, and Gus M. Dudley* was appointed secretary.
The committee, appointed for the purpose, reported a constitution, which was adopted. By the terms of the con- stitution, " every person under the age of thirty-five years is eligible to membership." The committee on permanent organization reported, and the following officers were declared elected, viz. : President, George M. Valentine, of Benton Harbor ; Vice-Presidents, C. F. Sischo, Berrien Springs ; Edward C. Griffin, Niles; Frank Plimpton, Buchanan ; H. F. Heath, Benton Harbor; W. B. Plumb, St. Joseph ; H. N. Chamberlain, Three Oaks; John A. Crosby, New Buffalo; M. D. Osgood, Coloma; Secretary, Gus M. Dud- ley, Berrien Springs ; Treasurer, Charles A. Johnson, Niles.
The annual meetings are held on the first Wednesday in August in each year, at Dr. Barnard's grove.
At the meeting in 1878 about six thousand people were present. William Hurly, of Berrien Springs, was elected President, and Gus M. Dudley, of Berrien Springs, Sec- retary.
* It is understood that Mr. Dudley was in a great degree the orig- inator of the association.
Isaac Smoke. Godfrey Boil. George Boil.
Jacob Weaver, 1832. Orpha Weaver, 1848. Willie Foster, 1837. Caroline J. Hildreth, Sept. 1836.
Mrs. Amanda Weaver, 1831.
153
CITY OF NILES.
The officers of the association for 1879 are : President, Henry N. Chamberlain, of Three Oaks ; Secretary, Fre- mont D. Nichols, of Berrien Springs; Treasurer, Orin L. Churchill, of Three Oaks; Vice-Presidents, Gus M. Dud- ley, Oronoko; Charles Harter, Niles; James Hatfield, Three Oaks; C. M. Edick, Benton; George Morrison, Lincoln ; John Thursby, Chickaming; John Crosby, New Buffalo ; Clarence Tibbs, Pipestone; Joel H. Gillette, Bertrand; Asa Ham, Buchanan ; William Hogue, Sodus ; C. H. Wheelock, Lake; M. D. Osgood, Watervliet; C. W. Chambers, St. Joseph; Charles E. French, Oronoko; C. N. Valentine, Hagar ; Asa Danforth, Royalton ; Merritt M. Wilson, Galien ; William Henderson, Weesaw ; Isaac Murphy, Berrien ; Eugene Cribbs, Bainbridge.
NILES HORSE-THIEF ASSOCIATION.
This association was organized on the first Saturday in May, 1853, with twenty-three members, and embraced ori- ginally the townships of Niles and Berrien. It was after- wards enlarged to include Bertrand, Buchanan, Pokagon, Howard, Jefferson, and Milton. The object of the society is the detection and apprehension of horse-thieves.
The first officers were Daniel Fisher, President; Daniel McClung, Secretary ; L. Harter, Treasurer; Joseph Mc- Clung, Foreman of Riders. The present officers are John H. Young, President; George Lambert, Vice-President ; E. Walter, Secretary ; E. P. Ely, Treasurer. The present number of members is 41.
The mode of proceeding is to use the telegraph and post-office instead of riders, as formerly, except by special order of the executive committee. Since the organization of the society only one animal has been stolen within its territory, and that one was recovered.
THE RESERVE HORSE-THIEF DETECTIVES.
This association was organized in April, 1865, by the election of the following officers : President, James Badger ; Treasurer, Samuel Messenger ; Secretary, Ebenezer Mc- Ilvaine. Membership is confined to the city and township of Niles and the townships of Bertrand and Buchanan. Meetings are held once a year.
During the existence of the society two horses have been stolen in their jurisdiction : one was found, and the thief captured, tried, convicted, and sent to the penitentiary ; the other was stolen from the fair-ground, in the evening, and was never found. Two-thirds of its value was paid to the owner by the association. The present membership is eighteen. The officers for 1880 are S. C. Thompson, Presi- dent ; Joel N. Gillette, Treasurer ; Samuel Messenger, Sec- retary. There are five riders and three appraisers.
LAKESIDE HORSE-THIEF ASSOCIATION, OF BERRIEN COUNTY.
This association was organized July 6, 1876, under the State law of 1859, at the brick school-house, district No. 1, Chickaming township, with twenty-eight charter members. The territory included in the range of the association com- prises the townships of Chickaming, Galien, Lake, Lincoln, New Buffalo, Royalton, St. Joseph, Three Oaks, and Wee- saw. Its object is mutual protection, the maintenance of law and order, the prevention of thieving, and the detection and apprehension of horse-thieves in particular.
The first officers were John C. Miller, President; Aaron K. Clark, Vice-President ; Charles H. Bostwick, Secretary ; Richard M. Goodwin, Treasurer. Six riders were elected, and invested with the power of constables.
The following are the officers for 1879 : President, Geo. A. Blakeslee ; Vice-President, Alonzo Sherwood; Secre- tary, C. H. Bostwick ; Treasurer, Richard M. Goodwin ; Executive Committee, Orr Henderson, A. McDaniels, Wm. Chamberlain. The association now numbers two hundred and twelve members and twenty-one riders.
CHAPTER XXV.
CITY OF NILES .*
Early Settlements-Early Public-Houses-Ferry and Bridges Across the St. Joseph River-Post-Office and Postmasters-Plats and Ad- ditions-Village Incorporation-City Organization -Union School -Religious Organizations-Cemeteries-Societies and Orders- Water-Works-Fire Department-Railroads-Gas Company-In- surance and Banking-Manufacturing Interests-The Niles Nur- series.
THE cause that led to the selection of the site of the village (now the city) of Niles was the excellence of its water-power privileges ; but prior to that time settlers had been attracted by the Carey Mission, and located near the river, east of the mission tract, for purposes of trade with the Indians. The route from Fort Wayne, Ind., was the only one in this section of country at that time, except the Indian trails, and along this rude thoroughfare came the advance-guard of the host that in a few years filled this part of the Territory. The first one who followed this track was Squire Thompson, from Union Co., Ind., who came late in the fall of 1822, before the mission buildings were completed. He spent a few days examining the country, and returned to Indiana. In the spring of 1823 he again came to the mission, and, after a few days' survey, made choice of a location, and built a cabin on the bank of the river. He cleared and planted several acres of land, and returned for his family, consisting of his wife and four children. They remained at the new home without neighbors during the winter, but early in the spring of 1824, William Kirk, an old acquaintance of his, emigrated from Indiana, and lived for a time in the cabin with Thompson. After- wards he erected a cabin on the bank of the river, on section 26, where John Comley now lives, near the depot. He moved West after a few years. Squire Thompson remained on his first location until 1826, when he removed to Pokagon Prairie, and subsequently to California. His daughter Rachel was born in 1825.
.
During the summer of 1824, Baldwin Jenkins, from Ohio, visited Carey Mission, and selected a home on Poka- gon Prairie, now in Cass County. He returned to Ohio, and in the following spring Benjamin Potter and Nathan Young came with him. They cleared land, planted corn, and remained. Benjamin Potter built a cabin and lived for a time on the bluff near Lacey's dam.
# By Austin N. Hungerford.
20
154
HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
John Lybrook, in the fall of 1824, came and worked at the mission, and for Mr. Thompson during the winter, and located where William B. Davis lives. He returned to Richmond in the spring, and persuaded others to go back with him. In company with John Johnson and Joel Yard, they set out on foot, carrying their packs containing clothes and provisions. John Johnson settled on section 29, in Berrien township, and cleared several acres of land and planted it to corn. The family remained at this place, and David Johnson, a son, assisted in scoring the timber for Mr. Ford's dam in 1827-28. John Johnson was a shoe- maker, and was employed as such at the mission. The family were also employed to take provisions to the mission on Grand River. The sons of Mr. Johnson are living in this section of country. Joel Yard settled on La Grange Prairie.
In the fall of 1824, John Johnson, Sr., came and settled on the Berrien road, on section 15, in this township. Dur- ing the years 1825-26, emigrants were settling on the Poka- gon prairie, attracted thither by the fertility of the soil.
In the latter part of 1827, Eli Ford emigrated from Ohio, and as the only mill in that region of country was the horse- power mill used at the mission, he determined to utilize the water in the Dowagiac Creek. Finding a suitable location, and getting the assistance of the neighbors in money and labor, he commenced building a dam upon the Dowagiac Creek, at the place now occupied by the " Cascade Mills" of Badger & Barnard.
Garrett Shuerts emigrated in the spring or summer of 1828, and located on section 25, where M. B. Randall lives, and soon after his brothers, Isaac and Samuel, came in and lived with him for a time. Isaac lived in a cabin on the bank of the river near the gas- house. Samuel lived on the east side of the creek from Dodge's machine-shop.
In the spring of 1828, Eli Bunnell and Abram Tietsort emigrated from Ohio, located in what is now Niles, and built cabins. They sold soon after to Walling & Lacey.
During the summer of 1827, Ephraim and Elijah Lacey, Samuel B. Walling, Isaac Gray, William Justus, and A. Thornberry came on a tour of discovery, to find a location affording good water-power and advantages for founding a settlement. They followed the St. Joseph River, and on arriving at Elkhart found that the water-power at that place was occupied, and they kept on down the river until they arrived at the Dowagiac Creek. After an examination they decided to locate at this place. The land in this region on the east side of the river had been ceded to the United States at Chicago in 1821, but was not surveyed and ready for sale until 1829. In October, 1828, Obed P. Lacey, Samuel B. Walling, and William Justus, with the families of the latter two, came to Niles. Walling bought the double log cabin of Eli P. Bunnell, and moved into it with the stock of goods which they had brought with them. William Justus built a double log cabin on the north side of Main Street, near the river, about where Davis' auction rooms now are. Mr. Justus was a carpenter. The first town election was held at his house, in 1829. He lived here sev- eral years, and finally moved to Rolling Prairie.
In October, 1828, the books of the first mercantile busi- ness in Niles were opened, as follows :
"ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN TERRITORY, Oct. 27, 1828. " The firm of Walling & Lacey."
The first entry was
"S. B. Walling,
"To 1 pr. of Shoes, $1.75."
The customers whose names appear on these books during the remainder of the year 1828 are as follows: Isaac Shuerts, Samuel Shuerts, Garrett Shuerts, Thomas Thomas, William Justus, Elias Holloway, Cavener Lawrence, Wil- liam Emmons, William Kirk, Joseph Cruissman, Abram Tietsort, Jr., Wm. Huff,* John Lybrook, Jacob R. Claw- son, Francis Barker, William Wright, and Joseph Simerwell, the last named being the person in charge of the Carey Mission.
In the following year the books of the firm commenced with the heading, " Pog-wa-tigue, Jan. 1, 1829," and the customers to August 1st of that year were Abram Tietsort, Abram Lowks, Thomas Burk, Reef Snodgrass, Antoine Antille, Chester D. Ball, Jacob Inglewright, Thomas Ed- wards, Joseph Bay, Mr. Adams, Levi Tietsort, Alexis Provencilli, James Kavanagh, Miss Lybrook, Fred Garver, John Johnson, Thomas Kirk, Dr. James M. Martin, Joseph Bertrand, Ezra Beardsley, Eli Bunnell, James Gardner, George Crawford, Sear Adams, John Ritter, Henry Ly- brook, Isaac W. Dackett. July 13, 1829, Col. Alamanson Huston purchased a stock of goods to the amount of $31.52, such as is usually found in a peddler's stock. Alexis Coquillard and Daniel Wilson appear July 29, 1829. Thomas K. Green's name appears in October, 1829; Mor- gan Wilson, in May, 1830; Benoni Finch, T. Denniston, Titus B. Willard, and Dr. E. Winslow, in June, 1831.
Isaac Gray, a native of Ireland, emigrated to this coun- try and settled in Virginia, and, with Justus and the La- ceys, moved to Richmond, Ind. In the fall of 1828 he moved with his family to this place, and lived with Samuel Shuerts in his cabin, on the east side of the creek from Dodge's machine-shop, until his own dwelling could be fin- ished. This was a double house, two stories high, built of hewn logs. In one side the family lived; in the other the store was kept. The family moved in on Dec. 31, 1828. The mails were distributed from Walling & Lacey's store, Mr. Obed P. Lacey acting as postmaster. Early in 1830, Mr. Gray was appointed postmaster. While on a trip to Detroit, in October of that year, he contracted an illness which resulted in his death. Samuel B. Walling died in the same year, and prior to the death of Mr. Gray. They were buried in the cemetery in the rear of the Presby- terian church, where Ephraim Lacey, the father of Elijah, David, and Obed P. Lacey, was buried about 1835. The remains of Mr. Gray were afterwards removed to the City Cemetery. Mrs. Gray, after the death of her husband, re- turned to Richmond, Ind., where she lived about a year, and then the family returned to Niles. Miss Margaret Gray, a daughter, afterwards married Rufus W. Landon, and William B. Gray is still living at Niles, having served the city at different times as supervisor and recorder.
Ephraim Lacey, and his sons Elijah and David and daughter Asenath, removed to this place in April, 1829.
* Hotel-keeper at St. Joseph.
.
155
CITY OF NILES.
They soon built a log house near Dowagiac Creek, a short distance above the bridge.
The lands in this vicinity were thrown upon the market in 1829, the land-office then being at Monroe.
Samuel B. Walling, as agent of the Laceys, purchased 190 acres of land, including the water-power now owned by Badger & Barnard and the land along the Dowagiac Creek, about half a mile above the present dam. He also purchased, as agent for Mr. Justus, the land upon which the business portion of Niles now stands. Justus deeded all that portion of land lying south of Main Street to Elijalı Lacey, and Aug. 1, 1829, a village plat was laid out by Wil- liam Justus, S. B. Walling, and Ephraim and Elijah La- cey. The lots of Mr. Justus were on the north side of Main Street, and Walling's and Laceys' on the south side. Additions were made from time to time to this plat as the village increased. Obed P. Lacey was for several years town clerk and supervisor, and member of the Legislature in 1843. He was active in every movement that tended to advance the interest of the community, and died in 1844. He left a widow and two daughters. Mrs. Lacey afterwards married Thomas Fitzgerald, and one of the daughters married T. G. Wickham. They still live in the city. Elijah Lacey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1835, member of the Senate in 1840-41 and 1861, and died in 1862. Of his children, Solon and Granville are engaged in the coopering business; David and W. K. Lacey are owners of the Volant and Dacota Mills, in Niles.
Eber Griswold and Rowland Clark came from Lockport, N. Y., in the fall of 1830. Mr. Clark settled on section 23, where Mrs. Brethschneider now lives. Mr. Griswold built a log house on Sycamore Street, in rear of the hard- ware-store of G. W. Platt. They sent a team back to Detroit after their families, who arrived about the 1st of November, having been eight days on the road.
Mr. Griswold started the first bakery, on the west side of Front Street next below the Woodruff store. Mrs. Crocker, a daughter, and Edward Griswold, a son, are still living in Niles.
In 1829, David and Daniel Wilson, with their father, emigrated from Ohio to Niles, and lived first in a log cabin on the farm afterwards sold to Rowland Clark. The next spring they went up the river and started a tannery that was kept up for several years. David married Malvina Huston in 1835, and after her death moved to Chicago. Daniel soon moved to St. Joseph, and was captain of the " Matilda Barney" on her first trip on the river, in 1833. He afterwards removed to Calumet, Ill. It is stated by Wm. B. Gray, who came in 1829, that when the settlers began to cluster about this place, Joseph Bertrand, Jr., and Job Brookfield lived south of where the dam property now is, on the east side of the river, in a double log house, with several cabins or outhouses, a barn with a thatched roof, under the hill, and half a dozen old apple-trees about 15 inches in diameter on the place. These families cultivated the flat west of the road. Bertrand was the son of Joseph Bertrand, the old Indian trader, and Madeleine (Borasseau), a Pottawattamie woman, and was born at Parc aux Vaches, the old trading-post established by his father. The sup-
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