USA > Michigan > Van Buren County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 81
USA > Michigan > Berrien County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 81
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The Champion Planing-Mill, and Sash- and Blind- Fac- tory, W. A. Preston proprietor, has been operated on the present site since 1872, and was begun in the southeast part of the village in 1862. Fourteen men are employed in the manufacture of all kinds of builders' materials, and lately a shop for making boxes for canned goods has been added, which employs 8 men more. All these mills are operated principally on hard woods, and are favorably located for busi- ness on the St. Joseph River and the ship-canal.
The Michigan Basket-Factory of A. W. Wells & Co., on Water Street, was established near the south pier in 1867, by Wells, Ward & Wilcox, and was first operated in the manufacture of fruit-packages. Changes in the firm followed, some of the members retiring, and W. W. Cook and John Higman becoming connected. In 1874 the firm of A. W. Wells & Co. purchased the interests of the "St. Joseph Basket Manufacturing Company," on Water Street, which had been organized some time previously, and has since carried on its business there. The works have been enlarged, and at present embrace a shop three stories high, 50 by 60 feet, and a large iron warehouse, 40 by 90 feet. The best machinery is used, and a large variety of work is manufactured, which finds a ready sale. One hun- dred and twenty-five men are employed, and three car-loads of baskets and fruit-packages are shipped daily.
William R. Wilcox & Co.'s Fruit-Package and Veneer- ing-Factory is the pioneer of this branch of industry in Berrien County. In 1864, Mr. Wilcox began making
fruit-packages by hand, in the township of Lincoln, cutting the splints from planks. Other improvements followed, and horse-power was used. In the fall of 1865 he patented a berry-box, the use of which became very general, and which solved the problem whether it would pay to grow small fruits, as it was furnished to growers for the nominal sum of one cent, and by its use fruit remained in good condition until it reached the consumer. Mr. Wilcox is also the patentee of other useful machinery for making fruit-pack- ages and cases, and has lately devised an ingenious machine for the manufacture of planed shingles. The present steam- factory is located near the railroad depot, and gives employ- ment to 40 men.
The Industrial Spinning- and Knitting- Works are in the same locality. They were established in 1878 by S. F. Cooper & Sons, and have since been managed by J. W. Hart. The main factory is 40 by 100 feet, two stories high, with large engine-house, dry-rooms, and store-houses connected. The machinery has been in operation since October, 1878, and embraces two sets for making cotton and woolen yarns, and knitting- and weaving-machinery for the manufacture of hosiery, mittens, and underwear. More than 100 operatives are employed, and the products of the factory have been received with much favor by dealers.
A. H. Morrison's Wooden- Ware Works have also been in operation since 1878. The factory is on the canal, in the eastern part of the village, and embraces eight buildings, namely, the main shop, 40 by 120 feet, two stories high ; turning-shop, 36 by 70 feet, three stories high ; dry-kilns, 24 by 144 feet, three stories high; warehouse for manu- factured goods, paint and varnish shops, office, etc., which are warmed by steam and hot air. The motive power is furnished by a 120 horse-power engine, and 150 hands are employed in the daily production of 2000 pails, 360 tubs, broom-handles, clothes-pins, and pail and tub handles. The capacity of the factory admits of a larger product, and is in- creased from time to time.
THE RAILROAD.
St. Joseph was the first contemplated terminus of the Michigan Central Railroad, as is shown in the chapter on internal improvements in the general history. There also will be found a full description of the Chicago and West Michigan, originally the Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore Railroad. It is sufficient to say here that the completion of the road between New Buffalo and St. Joseph was celebrated by a grand jubilee on the 2d of February, 1870, and that it was extended northward the following year. The station is located at the foot of the bluff, below the village.
ST. JOSEPH SECRET ORDERS.
It was the purpose of the writer to make the following society sketches more complete, but the absence of the proper records, and the indifference of the official members who were asked for information, necessitates him to limit the accounts to a simple statement of the facts connected with their organization.
Occidental Lodge, No. 56, F. and A. M., was the first established in the place. It was instituted in 1852, with L. Church, W. M .; J. Enos, S. W .; A. P. Stinson, J. W .; A. B. Leeds, Sec. ; and Phineas Pearl, Treas.
RESIDENCE OF HON . A. H. MORRISON, ST JOSEPH, MICH .
TOISHING SHOP
A .Y
PAPER PAIN
A. H. MORRISON'S MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENT, ST. JOSEPH, MICH.
321
TOWNSHIP OF ST. JOSEPH.
The lodge at present has 66 members, and its principal officers are A. H. Scott, Jr., W. M .; H. M. Zekind, S. W .; C. H. Moulton, Sec. ; and John Wallace, Treas.
Pomona Lodge, No. 28, F. and A. M., has held its meet- ings as a chartered body since Jan. 13, 1871. O. W. Oviatt was the W. M. at that time; A. K. Webster, S. W .; and R. B. Duncan, J. W. These offices are at present filled by John F. Gard, W. M .; L. C. Fyfe, S. W .; Samuel Richey, J. W. ; T. J. De Puy, Sec .; H. W. Guernsey, Treas. The membership of the lodge is small. Its meet- ings are held in Odd-Fellows' Hall.
Calvin Britain Chapter, No. 72, R. A. M., was insti- tuted April 20, 1870, with the following original members : Lawrence Phillips, Samuel G. Langley, H. M. Zekind, A. B. Leeds, Joshua Feather, Fred A. Potter, Alfred Shep- ard, P. D. Montgomery, and A. J. Brush.
In 1879 the chapter had 40 members, and H. M. Zekind, H. P .; Alfred Baldrey, K. ; Horace W. Guernsey, S .; Law. C. Fyfe, Sec. ; and John Wallace, Treas.
St. Joseph Council, No. 44, R. and S. M. A., was insti- tuted Nov. 23, 1875, with the following officers : F. A. Pot- ter, T. I. M. ; J. J. Pearl, D. I. M. ; C. S. Boyle, P. C. W .; Alexander Elon, C. of G. ; A. B. Bisbee, G. S. and S .; H. M. Zekind, C. of C .; J. W. Brewer, Recorder ; and John Bell, Treas. The council has at present (1879) 22 mem- bers, and the following officers in the order named above : Alexander Elton, J. H. Fassett, Geo. S. Clapp, Alfred Bal- drey, J. J. Pearl, E. F. Platt, J. W. Brewer, and Law. C. Fyfe.
Burnett Lodge, No. 119, I. O. O. F .- On the 26th of May, 1868, a charter for a lodge with the above name and number was granted to A. H. Morrison, A. E. Perkins, C. H. Chamberlain, O. W. Oviatt, and W. R. Graham. The lodge has maintained a flourishing existence ever since, and assembles in a neatly-furnished hall.
St. Joseph Encampment, No. 37, I. O. O. F .- This order received a dispensation from the Grand Encamp- ment of Michigan, Dec. 30, 1869, and on the 18th of Feb- ruary, 1870, received a charter from the same source. The constitutent members were Lawrence Phillips, H. M. Zekind, Orrin W. Oviatt, Joseph J. Pearl, C. H. Cham- berlain, J. W. Smith, H. Noel Elkington, John M. West, John F. B. Thompson, Edward M. Edwards, and Charles H. De Witt. The encampment has prospered, and enjoyed a liberal increase of membership.
St. Joseph Lodge, No. 92, I. O. G. T .- This temperance organization was instituted March 11, 1879, with 31 char- ter members and the following principal officers : William B. Plumb, W. C. T .; Miss Adelia Smith, W. V. T .; E. M. Plumb, W. R. S .; Henry Reder, W. F. S .; Miss Jen- nie Clapp, W. Treas. ; Will Hart, W. Marshal ; and George Jennings, P. W. C. T. The lodge has been very prosper- ous, having already, in August, 1879, more than 100 mem- bers, and promises to be a valuable agency in promoting the temperance cause.
A few other societies have had an existence in the vil- lage, but as they have long since disbanded, and the re- cords have not been preserved, no account of them can here be given.
ST. JOSEPH PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The people in the settlement were early interested in the cause of education. A log school-house was erected in the southeast part of the village, where the ground begins to descend eastward on Church Street, between Pearl and Market. The following passage from the village records indicates that the school-house was built before 1832 : " At a meeting of the freemen of the village of St. Joseph, held at the school-house (it being the usual place of holding town-meetings), on the first day of May, 1834." This meeting was the first village election. Edwin Richardson came in this year, and taught in this log school-house.
At a meeting of the village council, Nov. 25, 1835, it was, on motion, ordered, " That all proceedings heretofore had on the subject of building a school-house in the village of St. Joseph be declared void. On motion, Fowler Preston is hereby authorized to purchase lumber and contract for building a school-house in the village of St. Joseph, that shall not cost to exceed $500." The building then erected has long been known as the " Old White School-House," and stands now on the corner of Ship and Main Streets, and is used as a marble-shop. It still belongs to the corpo- ration.
About 1840 a dwelling-house belonging to Charles Ranous was purchased by Dr. Talman Wheeler, moved down on the lot where the Methodist church now stands, fitted up for a school, and donated by him for that purpose. The Rev. -
Hawley, a clergyman, now of Van Buren County, was the first teacher, and remained three years, preaching occasionally in the Old White School-House. Among the early teachers were Donald C. Snyder, Miss McNamana, and Miss Clarinda Searles. It is remembered as the " Old Red School-House." The building now used as a city hall was erected by the district in 1858-59, and used as a school-house until the completion of the present brick structure. It stood on the site of the present school building.
The first records of the board of school inspectors of the township of St. Joseph that are preserved are found in an old volume in the township clerk's office. The first recorded meeting of the board was held on the 10th day of April, 1837. There were present Benjamin C. Hoyt, Thomas Fitzgerald, and James Randles, who composed the board. After organization the board adjourned until Saturday, May 16th.
At the time appointed the board was in session, and it was ordered, " That all that part of St. Joseph in Fractional Township No. 4, South of Range 19 west, be formed into a School District, and designated as Dist. No. 1," and that the first meeting of the inhabitants of District No. 1 be held at the school-house in said district, on Saturday, the 27th day of May. It was also ordered, " That all that part of St. Joseph set off by the State Legislature as Paw Paw township be formed into a school district, and designated as No. 2, the first meeting to be held at the house of I. Moffatt, on the first Monday of June next." It was fur- ther ordered, " That Benton Township, as set off by the State Legislature, be formed into a school district, and des- ignated as No. 3, and the first meeting to be held at the house of Jehial Enos, on the first Monday of June next."
41
322
HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
The school inspectors' report, dated Oct. 17, 1837, showed as follows : " Number of districts in St. Joseph township, 3; districts which had reported, 1, viz., district No. 1 ; number of scholars in district No. 1 of school age, 110; number attending school under five and over seventeen years of age, 10; whole number attending school, 107; length of time a school has been taught by a qualified teacher, five months and two weeks; amount of money received of school in- spectors, none; amount received for use of library, none ; amount raised in each district, $185; purposes for which it was used, $90 for teachers, $20 for bookcases, $50 for incidental expenses, $15 for desk, $10 for library ; books used in each district school, Murray's Reader, American First Class Book, Hale's History of the United States, First Book of History, Olney's Geography, Parley's Ge- ography, Peckham's Grammar, Comstock's Philosophy, Blake's Philosophy, Daboll's Arithmetic, Adams' Arith- metic, Colburn's Arithmetic, Webster's Spelling-Book, Walker's Dictionary.
"School in the above-mentioned district was taught by two experienced and qualified teachers, one male and one female. A school has been taught most of the year by one of the teachers ; a tuition school is in the district.
" L. S. LILLIBRIDGE,
" GEO. C. THOMPSON,
" IRA C. DOE,
" Inspectors of Schools in the Township of St. Joseph."
Nov. 8, 1838, District No. 4 was formed from District No. 3, and comprised sections Nos. 13, 14, and east half of 15, in township 4 south, range 18 west.
March 1, 1829, at a meeting of the Board of Inspectors the collector of school-tax reported as collected $80.67; the township received, from primary-school fund, $70. It was ordered that both these sums be applied to District No. 1 .*
The report for 1842 has reference to but one district, containing 97 scholars between five and seventeen years of age, and 113 attending school. In 1843 three districts were reported, and in 1846 the sum of $42.16 was appor- tioned to District No. 1, " there being no other district in the township."
Fractional school districts were made with Royal- ton and Benton in 1854-55. At the present time the township comprises one district. The report for 1879 shows as follows : number of districts, 1; Director, R. F. Stratton ; number of children between the ages of five and twenty years, 884; whole number of children attending school during the year, 663; number of school-houses and construction, 1 brick and 1 frame; number of pupils who can be seated, 800; value of school property, $40,000; number of qualified teachers, 1 male, 13 females; total wages paid teachers during the year,-males, $806; females, $2715.95.
The financial report of same date shows,-
RECEIPTS.
Money on hand Sept. 2, 1878. $685.25
Two-mill tax ...
488.20
Primary-school fund 410.44
District taxes for all purposes
1,042.03
Raised from all other sources. 162.68
Total resources for the year. 12,182.65
EXPENDITURES. $806.00
Paid male teachers
Paid female teachers. 2,715.95
Paid for building and repairs. 200.00
Paid on bonded indebtedness. 5,782.00
Paid for all other purposes.
1,777.80
Amount on hand Sept. 1, 1879.
900.09
Total expenditure for the year ..
12,282.65
Bonded indebtedness of the district Sept. 1, 1879. 36,600.00 Total indebtedness of the district Sept. 1, 1879 36,600.00 Number of private or select schools in township 1
Number of pupils attending private or select schools.
20
Early Teachers .- The first examination and certificate granted by the school inspectors was that of Harry Lyon, Nov. 6, 1839; and others followed as they are here given : John I. Beaup, Nov. 14, 1839; Amos Gray, Nov. 28, 1839 ; William Jones, Oct. 2, 1841; William L. Jakeway, Nov. 11, 1842 ; John Mitchell, Dec. 9, 1843; A. S. Burt, May 18, 1844; Miss Ruth Mead, March 27, 1845; Donald C. Snyder, Nov. 12, 1847; A. Van Sawn, Oct. 26, 1848; Angeline Woodruff, April 28, 1853 ; Oscar McClaugherty, Jan. 4, 1854 ; Romelia M. Spencer, March 30, 1854; E. E. Fish, May 15, 1854 ; Seymour L. Butes, May 18, 1855; Miss E. Butes, June 11, 1855; L. J. Brown, June 13, 1857 ; Marcelia Brown, July 25, 1857 ; A. D. Brown, Nov. 21, 1857; A. Aldrich, Elizabeth Dunn, Belle Chapman, and Mary J. Condon, April 3, 1859 ; Flavilia Quint, Delia A. Brown, L. Valeria Abbott, A. J. Wood, Nov. 12, 1859 ; Miss Abbott, Nov. 26, 1859 ; A. L. Aldrich, April 13, 1861; William R. Lyon, Helen Haight, Sept. 7, 1861; Adaline Brown, Mira Abbott, Nov. 2, 1861.
Library .- The following is taken from the records, and is the first record of any action being taken thereto, but in the school report of 1838, under the head of " Purposes for which it was used," is noted " $10 for library."
" At a meeting of the Board of School Inspection, held at the ' National,' on Saturday, March 22, 1845, present, A. Murray, Chairman, R. E. Ward and A. M. Church : ' whereas, upon mature deliberation, and assisted by advice of eminent council, the Board unanimously agreed to expend $47-5% in purchasing books for a school library. The Board selected the Massachusetts School Library, consisting of 38 volumes, and 62 volumes from Harper's Library, in all amounting to 100 volumes, for the sum of $47.50, for which an order was given on the treasurer.'
" A. M. CHURCH, Township Clerk.
The books were received April 9, 1845. July 13, 1845, 27 volumes were added by purchase. Additions were again made in 1861, and May 14, 1868, 75 volumes were added. In the spring of 1874 the library was given to the Union District, and has increased by purchase by students and do- nations of citizens and the use of library fund to 487 vol- umes.
The Union School .- In 1859 all that part of the town- ship south and west of the St. Joseph River was organized as a district for the maintenance of a union school, which was opened under the principalship of Dr. A. D. Brown,
* It will be remembered that in the report made in 1837 the town- ship claimed three districts,-Paw Paw and Benton, as first organized. In this report Districts Nos. 1 and 4 only are claimed, the latter set off from District 3 the November previous.
323
TOWNSHIP OF ST. JOSEPH.
and other early principals were A. L. Aldrich and W. R. Lyon. In 1871 the present school building was begun, and it was completed in 1872, at a cost of $40,000. The plans were prepared by Rufus Rose, and the builders were Daly S. Moore and Harrison Paine. The superintending committee were W. S. Maynard and John Whittlesey, and the other members of the Board of Education were Wm. C. Stewart, Geo. S. Clapp, B. Williams, and J. W. Brewer. The edifice has a fine location on a spacious lot, and is built of brick and stone, 86 by 102 feet, three stories high, with basement. There are fourteen school-rooms and a number of recitation-rooms, which are heated by hot-air furnaces. The building presents a fine appearance, and its erection reflects great credit on the village and township.
In 1879 the Board of Education was composed of E. D. Crane, Moderator; Wm. E. Higman, Assessor and Treasurer ; R. F. Stratton, Director ; and John H. Lee, James A. Canavan, and Geo. E. Smith. The entire enroll- ment of pupils in the district was 850, and the expense of maintaining the schools $5550.
J. H. Fassett, A.M., has been the superintendent of the schools for the past four years. He has been assisted by an able corps of ten teachers, and the instruction imparted has been thorough and extensive, giving the people excellent educational advantages at home.
In the Heath neighborhood, which forms a joint district with that part of Benton township lying east and south, is a very fine school-house, in which excellent schools are maintained for the people living east of the St. Joseph River.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
In St. Joseph, as well as in most other places in Western Michigan, the Methodist missionaries were the first to proclaim the gospel to the early settlers. It is believed that the Rev. Erastus Felton, a member of the Detroit district of the Ohio Conference, visited this part of the State in 1829, and preached several times as part of his work in the St. Joseph Valley. In 1830 the Rev. L. R. Gurley was his co-laborer. In the following year a sepa- rate mission was formed, still bearing the name of St. Joseph, which was attached to the Laporte district of the Indiana Conference, and retained that connection until 1839, when it became a part of the Michigan Conference. That year (1831) the missionaries were the Revs. Benja- min Cooper and William Sprague. A number of changes in the districts and circuits followed. Since 1856 the ap- pointment has constituted a station. The ministers who have preached at St. Joseph, as appointees of Conference or other authority, from 1832 till the present time (1879) have been the following :
1832, Revs. R. S. Robinson, G. L. Bostwick; 1833, Rev. Newell S. Smith; 1834, Rev. R. S. Robinson; 1835, Rev. E. L. Kellogg; 1836, Revs. Thomas P. McCool, R. C. Meek ; 1837, Rev. W. Todd; 1838, Revs. J. Ercambrack, F. Arnold; 1839-42, Revs. F. Gage, D. Burns, F. B. Bangs; 1843, Rev. T. Jakeway; 1844, Rev. Charles Barnes; 1845, Rev. E. L. Kellogg; 1846, Rev. R. Pen- gelley ; 1847-48, Rev. R. Goodale; 1849, Rev. George King; 1850, Rev. E. R. Kellogg; 1851, Rev. T. Clark; 1852, Rev. J. W. Robinson; 1853, Rev. W. T. Jenkins; 1854, Rev. T. H. Big- nall; 1855, Rev. T. Jakeway ; 1856-57, Rev. W. C. Bliss; 1858- 59, Rev. Thomas Lyon; 1860-61, Rev. R. Pengelly ; 1862, Rev. A. Y. Graham ; 1863-64, Rev. L. M. Edmunds; 1864-65, Rev.
J. I. Buell; 1866, Rev. T. Edwards; 1867-70, Rev. Joseph Jones; 1871, Rev. J. T. Iddings ; 1872-73, Rev. R. C. Crawford; 1874, Rev. W. H. Perrine; 1875, Rev. G. S. Barnes; 1876-79, Rev. I. R. A. Wightman.
The labors of Father McCool in 1836 secured a perma- nent place for Methodism in St. Joseph. The members of the class which was formed about that time constituted the germ from which sprang the present
First Methodist Episcopal Church .- So encouraging was its future in 1836 that it was proposed to at once build a meeting-house, the project being encouraged by many people who did not belong to the class. An unfortunate circum- stance* caused the withdrawal of the latter support, which prevented the project from being carried out, and for many years the purpose to erect a place of worship consecrated to Methodism could not be given effect. Neither did the members of the class increase proportionately, there being in 1846 only 18 persons belonging to it.
In Ransom Goodale's pastorate (1847-48) 16 persons were added, but the members were poor, and the interest in religious matters at St. Joseph was very meagre .; The meetings were held in the school-house and other places, and all those years the village had no church edifice. In 1856 the idea to provide a special place of worship again took hold of the minds of the people, and for this purpose a board of trustees was selected, which was composed of Theodore Pew, Franklin Pew, John Spink, Leicester Olds, and Charles Marsh. They entered upon their duties June 13, 1857, and the various plans for building a house were considered. It was finally determined to build a frame edifice, 38 by 58 feet, and provide it with a tower and bell. This house, built after many sacrifices and efforts, was ap- propriately dedicated, Aug. 18, 1859, by the Rev. Hooper Crews, of Illinois. About the same time a parsonage was begun, but was not completed until several years later. The aggregate value of the property was set at $6500.
# Some of the members of the congregation wished to introduce instrumental music as a part of the service, and it was proposed to introduce a bass viol. This proposition met with decided opposition on the part of the minister and some of the members of the church, and disaffection and lack of interest in the proposed church was the result.
t The religious condition of the people of St. Joseph in the early years of the settlement is exemplified by the following incident, re- lated by Hiram Brown, Esq., of St. Joseph :
In 1843 the Rev. Hiram Kellogg, of Oneida Co., N. Y., was appointed president of Knox College, Galesburg. While on his way to assume his duties he arrived at St. Joseph by stage early one Sunday morn- ing, and stopped at the " Mansion House," then kept by Judge Daniel Olds. Not wishing to travel Sunday, he decided to remain. It did not seem to him that the day was observed as it should be by the people, for they were engaged as on week-days, and many were pitch- ing quoits in front of the tavern. Mr. Kellogg, on inquiring if there was a church in the place, was informed there was not. Wishing to be quiet, he inquired of Judge Olds if there was any person in St. Joseph who feared the Lord. The judge replied, "No," but after a moment's reflection, said, "Well, yes ; there is Hiram Brown, up the street a little ways; I guess he fears him a little," and directed him to the residence of Mr. Brown, where he called, and was invited to stay. He related the incident, and, after a little conversation, they found that both were from the same section in the East, and that the reverend gentleman was well acquainted with the friends of Mrs. Brown. IIe was requested to preach, and accepted the invitation. Notice was sent out to the people, who gathered at the old white school-house and listened to a good sermon. Mr. Kellogg remained two days before continuing his journey.
324
HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
The church soon suffered from a disaster, which greatly retarded its prosperity. On the 21st of June, 1866, the meeting-house was destroyed by fire, involving an almost total loss. Chastened but not disheartened, the society took immediate steps to rebuild. In the spring of 1868 the basement of the present handsome brick edifice was ready for occupancy, and in the summer of 1869 the church was formally dedicated by the Rev. Dr. Hatfield, of Chicago. The entire cost was nearly $23,000, which left a debt that was not fully liquidated until within a few years. The church presents an attractive appearance, and has ample ac- commodations for the congregations which assemble at this place. It is at present controlled by Trustees G. S. Clapp, Francis Jordan, S. T. Cooper, W. P. Ward, and W. S. Maynard.
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