USA > Michigan > Branch County > History of Branch county, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 30
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In 1836, L. D. Halsted came from New York State and opened a tailor-shop. Bringing with him nothing but a thimble as the badge of his eraft, he has continued to reside in Coldwater, where by industry and application to business he has earned a competence.
In 1837 the village of Coldwater was organized, with a president, board of trustees, and other officers necessary to a village government. We have been so fortunate after much research and labor as to find the original record of the first election, and herewith afford our readers an excel- lent fac-simile of the document.
The same year the Coldwater Bank was organized, and forms so important a part of the early history of the city that we have devoted some space to it under the head of the " Banks."
The first ball given in Coldwater occurred Jan. 8, 1838. IFull and Arnold's orchestra furnished the music. Mr. Hull taught the first daneing-school, in the winter of 1839, and gave the musie at the inauguration ball of Gen. Harri- son, in 1841, of James K. Polk, in 1845, at the American Ilouse, and of Gen. Taylor, in 1849, at the Franklin Hotel. They have continued from that time to the present to fur- nish excellent music on all prominent social occasions, being now in the forty-second year of their organization.
At this time there were two hotels,-the Eagle and American,-both of which did a flourishing business. The first Methodist church was also erected at this period, which was a substantial structure, built of wood, and six years later the first Baptist church was constructed. All supplies at this time were brought from Detroit, the round trip being a distance of two hundred and forty miles. Prices were high, -a barrel of salt costing twelve dollars to deliver, and nails eight dollars, with three dollars added for transportation.
The first brick building was erected for Messrs. Porter & Wendell and Skeels & Lewis, who occupied it as a store, the site being the present location of the Michigan South- ern Bank. Later, Dr. Wm. B. Sprague erected, on Chicago Street, a pretentious residence, which is still standing.
One of the events of the year 1840 was the Tippecanoe campaign. The citizens of Coldwater held a Ilard Cider Log Cabin eclebration, which rivaled in zeal if not in num- bers the political rallies of the present day. It was the great occasion of the year, and the growing village was the centre of such an enthusiastic crowd of patriots as was sel- dom gathered together in the Territory.
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Farmers from the East came in numbers, and the country adjacent to the village was rapidly settled and improved.
In 1842 the wheat crop was almost entirely blasted by insects, and prices rose correspondingly ; but, as a compensa- tion for this disaster, the year following produced the largest wheat erop ever known since that period. In 1847 and 1848 brick houses became more numerous, Bradley Plato having established a brick-yard at Branch, and supplied the increasing demand. Roland Root had previously built a house which had a stone foundation, and was regarded as one of the finest residences of the time.
We give a résumé of the business aspect of the village at this time. There were four hotels,-the Morse, kept by Christopher Dickenson ; the Eagle, kept by John J. Cur- tis, and standing on the site of the present Southern Mich- igan ; the American, kept by Anselum Arnold; and the National, at the west end of the village, kept by Alanson Bacon. These, with one exception, were all burned at later periods. The Franklin was built in place of the American, and kept by Dr. Hanchett, and the present Southern Michigan superseded the Eagle. The leading business men were Lockwood & Williams, Mr. Williams having died in 1849; Bullard & Cole, A. T. Groendyke, Roland Root, John T. Haynes, Asa Parish & Co., and Coon Brothers. The lawyers were E. G. Fuller, who still survives and is in active practice ; George A. Coe, who died in this city in 1869 ; John W. Turner; H. C. and James Gilbert. The physicians comprised the following names : Drs. William H. Hanchett, H. B. Stillman, Darwin Little- field, and Napoleon Byron Welper. Dr. Isaac P. Alger began practice in 1848, Dr. S. S. Cutler, the year pre- viously, and Dr. John H. Beach in 1850. A more ex- tended review of the medical profession and the bar of the city will be given in its appropriate place. The tailors were William H. Harpham, John D. Wood, and Lorenzo D. Halsted. The druggists were Drs. Littlefield, Hlauchett, and Stillman. There were two newspapers, the Coldwater Sentinel, published by Albert Chandler ; and the Branch County Journal, issued by Thompson Brothers.
The first school, of nine pupils, had developed in num- bers so rapidly that three district schools were the outgrowth of this early effort ; and, after some agitation of the matter by the citizens, the present Union school was organized, its roll now embracing eleven hundred scholars.
The painters were Silas Bellamy, Morris Howe, and one Melvin. The wagon-maker was Burt Etheridge, who also enjoyed a considerable reputation as a millwright. The machinists were O. C. Graham and William Walton. The blacksmiths, Levi Burdick and John Hyde. Henry Moore was watchmaker for the citizens of the little village, and his work bore evidence that he had learned his trade thor- oughly. Ramsdell, Pelton & Co. were the proprietors of the only oil-mill and distillery. An event of much interest in 1849 was the first general training. General Stevens commanded the brave militia, who performed their evolu- tions on this occasion much to the delight of the youth of the neighborhood and the amusement of the older heads.
In 1852 the present court-house was built, and though not now remarkable for architectural grace, is superior in convenience to the edifice as it originally stood. The awk-
ward arrangement of certain appointments connected with the court-room elicited from one of the judges the remark that the architect who designed it deserved to be sentenced to the penitentiary.
About this time occurred the robbery of the county treas- ury. The treasurer had drawn sixteen hundred dollars to be distributed among the various school districts. He placed the funds in his safe, which was apparently no more secure against the cunning of the skillful eracksman than are those of the present day. During the night the lock was broken and the money abstracted. Several parties were suspected, and one Sandy arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced to the penitentiary. The township of Coldwater had already been paid, but the loss fell heavily upon other less fortunate townships. By a special act of Legislature the money was reassessed back to the State, and the various townships were reimbursed, the State sustaining the loss. The year 1850 is remembered from the disastrous fire that occurred on the south side of Chicago Street, and which consumed the early records of the village, then in the village clerk's office. This was but the forerunner, however, of a confla- gration on the opposite side of the street the year following, sweeping the whole block in its progress, and creating great havoc among the inhabitants. As a remarkable evidence of the energy and ambition of the business men of that day, it may be stated that immediately new and commodious buildings rose phoenix-like from the ruins of the old, and in a very brief time all evidence of the late calamity was effaced.
During that year the Michigan Southern Railroad-the track of which had been laid the preceding year-was completed, and the road in operation. With this railroad came an era of prosperity to the country. Farmers found an outlet for their produce, and at rates much below the ordinary cost of transportation, while the little village was rendered easily accessible to purchasers.
The inhabitants of Coldwater were thrown into conster- nation during the building of this road by a riot among the laborers who were employed in its construction. The agent of the company was one Sargent, who had allowed his finances to become sadly entangled, and the men, not having for some time received any pay, rebelled and became very boisterous. They advanced en masse to the portion of the road adjacent to the city, and proceeded to tear up the track and fill the space with dirt. Matters at length be- came so serious that a resort to extreme measures was ne- cessary. The marshal with a posse of men was ordered to the scene of the disturbance, and for a time it seemed that bloodshed was inevitable, but by the excellent tact of the marshal, Mr. Roland Root, the matter was finally quieted, and the men eventually received a portion, if not all their pay.
At this period money was not as plenty as it afterwards became. Mr. John Roberts relates as an instance of this fact that he and a brother purchased a tract of land, giving a mortgage therefor, the interest payable in good potatoes at eash price. The mortgagee found it difficult to sell from the peculiar character of the interest payment.
Among the most interesting pioneers whom it has been the writer's pleasure to meet, are Mr. and Mrs. Caleb B.
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Peckham, who came from Cayuga County, N. Y., in 1836, and located upon a tract of land one mile south of the city.
They have been united in marriage sixty-seven years, and are still hale and active, though this venerable gentle- man is able to indulge in a retrospeet embracing nearly ninety years. They now reside in the city, having retired from the busy cares of the farm.
The goud citizens of the village wore resolved to main- tain the moral character of the community, as the following ordinance indicates :
"AN ORDINANCE TO PREVENT GAMBLING.
" The President and Trustees of the Village of Cohlwater ordain as follows :
" SECTION I. If any person shall keep, or knowingly suffer to be kept, in any house, building, yard, garden, or dependency thereof by him actually used or occupied, within the limits of this corporation, any table for the purpose of playing at Billiards, or suffer any person to resort to the same for the purpose of playing at Billiards, Cards, Dice, or any unlawful game, every person so offending, shall, for each and every such offense forfeit the sum of One Hundred Dollars.
"SECTION 2. If any person shall keep, or knowingly suffer to be kept, in any house, building, yard, garden, or dependency thereof, or in any field by him owned or occupied, within the limits of this eor- poration, any Nine-Pin Alley, or any Alley to be used in the playing of Nine Pins, or any other like game, whether to be played with ono or more balls, or with nine or any other number of pins, or shall suffer any person to resort to the same for the purpose of playing at any such game, every such person so offending shall, for each and every such offense, forfeit the sum of One Hundred Dollars.
"SECTION 3. All penalties and forfeitures mentioned in this Ordi- nance may be recovered in an action of Debt, before any Justice of the Peace, residing in this Village, in the name of the ' President and Trustees of the Village of Coldwater,' for the use of the Corporation. " SECTION 4. This Ordinance shall take effeet and be in force imme- diately after it shall have been published in the Coldwater Sentinel three weeks successively.
" l'assed Sept. 18, 1851.
" IT. WARNER, President. " E. G. FULLER, Recorder."
The village continued to increase in dimensions and im- portance, though no events of special moment transpired. The churches were rebuilt, and new and imposing structures took the places of the old. In no one thing does Coldwater indicate her advance and the moral sentiment which per- vades the community more than in the devotion of her citi- zens to church interests. The various denominations vic with each other in the elegance of their church edifices, and an unusual proportion of the whole population are regular attendants ou divine service. During this period many public and private buildings were creeted and various enterprises established, which aided greatly in advancing the interests of the place. Some of these are already treated more fully as separate organizations in this history.
In 1861 the citizens, having become more ambitious in the science of government, obtained a city charter, and the village became from that time known as the city of Cold- water, with its regularly-elected mayor and board of alder- men.
The following are the original entries made on territory now comprised within the city limits :
SECTION FIFTEEN.
John Morse, S0 acres, Oct. 11, 1830. A. F. Bolton, 80 aeres. Jan. 15, 1831. L. L. Bingham, 80 acres, Jan. 27, 1832.
John Morse, 80 acres, Dec. 11, 1832.
Enoch Chase, 80 neros, July 15, 1834. Robert .I. Cross. 80 acres, Jan. 21, 1831. Robert IT. Abbott, 80 acres, Jan. 6, 1831. James Fisk, 80 acres, Jan 12, 1835.
SECTION SIXTEEN-PUBLIC SCHOOL LAND.
Harvey Warner, 5 neres, Aug. 8, 1837.
E. G. Fuller, 5 acres, Sept. 1, 1812. W. H. Hanchett, 5 acres, Sept., 1842.
D. Waterman, 27% aeres, Aug. 8, 1837. C. 11. Williams, 27og acres, Aug. S, 1837. James Pierson, 5 acres, Sept. 1. 1842. James Pierson, 5 acres, Sept. 1, 1812. John T. Haynes, 5 acres, Sept. 1, 1842. W'in. HI. Cross, 5 acres, Aug. 8, 1837. Roland Root, 3 acres, Sept., 1842.
L. D. & P. II. Crippen, 17100 acres, Sept. 1, 1842.
J. T. Haynes, 270% avres, April 20, 1847.
1 .. D. & P. 11. Crippen, 410% aeres, Sept. 1, 1812.
Wm. L. Gilbert, 1% acre, Feb. 27, 1843. L. D. & P. H. Crippen, 5 acres, Sept. 1, 1842.
1. D. & P. 11. Crippen, 5 acres, Sept. 1, 1842. Ira Pairlock, 10 acres, Ang. 8, 1837. Thos. Douherty, 10 acres, Ang., 1837. Wm. L. Gilbert, 10 acres, Sept. 1, 1842. A. Chandler, 5 acres, Sept., 1842. Roland Root, 5 acres, Sept .. 1842. L. D. Crippen, 10 acres, Sept., 1842. E. W. Crippen. 10 acres, Dec. 7. 1842. P. H. Crippen, 10 acres, Ang. 8, 1837. P. H. Crippen, 10 acres, Aug. 8, 1837. Isaac Pierce, 20 acres, Sept. 1, 1842. Joseph H. Hanchett, 20 acres, May 1, 18-13.
John A. MeCrea, 40 acres, April 26, 1855. W. H. Paddock (almin.), 20 acres, April, 1855.
George Quick, 20 acres, April, 1855. Asa Parish, 20 acres, April, 1855. D. Littlefield, 20 acres, April, 1855. W. Chapman, 20 aeres, April, 1855. S. A. Ilolbrook, 20 acres, April, 1855. B. Crippen, 374 acres, Aug. 8, 1837. 11. Buell, 10 acres, Sept. 1, 1842. Isaac Pierce, 9725% acres, Aug. 8, 1837. B. Crippen, 10 acres, Sept. 1, 1842. J. Il. llard, 10 acres, June 10, 1846. T. Doogerty, 10 acres. Aug. 8, 1837. James Pierce, 20 acres, Ang. 8, 1837. B. Crippen, 20 acres, Aug. 8, 1837. J. G. Warner, 20 acres, Sept. 1, 1842. B. W. Crippen, 20 aeres, Sept., 1842. A. Parish, 20 acres, Sept., 1842.
J. F. Haynes, 40 acres, Sept., 1842.
J. F. Haynes, 21% acres, Jan. 15, 1851. J. F. Haynes, 5 acres, Jan., 1851. George Quick, 5 acres, Jan., 1851.
E. G. Parsons, 2186 acres, Jan., 1851.
J. G. Parkhurst, JAJo aeres, Jan., 1851.
SECTION SEVENTEEN.
Abram F. Bolten, 8910% acres, Dec. 1, 1829. Junius H. Hatch, 63,30 Too Heres, Ang. 23, 1833. Junius HI. Hatch, 63386 arres, Sept. 10, 1833. Sylvester Smith, 7315% neres, June 11, 1835.
SECTION TWENTY.
E. S. & J. 1I. Hanchett, 52 acres, April S, 1835. - Joseph llanebett, 625G acres, June 12, 1835. Parley Stockwell, 5120's heres, Aug. 31, 1835.
SECTION TWENTY-ONE ..
- Joseph Hanchett, Jr., 80 acres, Oct. 9, 1830. Elisha Warren, 80 acres, Nov. S. 1831. Peter Martin, 80 acres, May 28, 1832.
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HISTORY OF BRANCHI COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Joseph Hanchett, 40 aeres, Oct. 9, 1834. Ephraim Priest, 40 acres, Nov. 18, 1834. Elijah Ferguson, 40 acres, Jan. 6, 1835. Andrain Abbott, 80 acres, June 6, 1831. Robert J. Cross, 80 acres, June 21, 1831. L. D. Crippen, 40 acres, June 12, 1835. Joseph Hanchett, 40 acres, June 12, 1835. L. D. & P. H. Crippen, 40 acres, July 18, 1835. Hugh Campbell, 80 acres, Oct. 9, 1830. Robert J. Cross, 240 acres, Oet. 9, 1830. Wm. H. Cross, 80 acres, Oet. 9, 1830. Robert J. Cross, 80 acres, Nov. 1, 1830. Win. II. Cross, 80 acres, Nov. 1, 1830. Allen Tibbetts, 80 acres, June 21, 1831.
Among the chief attractions of the city is the Lewis Art Gallery, an extensive collection of foreign and American works of art, which by the munificence of the owner are enjoyed by the public at stated times. The refining influ- ence of such a collection can scarcely be measured, and its effect in creating taste for art and a correet eye for color is very apparent in the immediate parts of the State from which the gallery is easily accessible. A comprehensive idea of the enterprise and its merits will be given elsewhere. The Ladies' Library Association, which was established some time after, in its quiet way has accomplished equally as much, and merits a more extended history in its proper place.
It is the province of the city historian not so much to relate facts and occurrences that have come within the ob- servation of present inhabitants, or trace the later progress of the city, which is to most readers already as familiar as " household words," but to bring down from the musty records of the past such early pioneer experiences as will enable us to eonneet the past with the present.
This we have very briefly done, and the little hamlet of nearly half a century gone was but the germ which, fostered and encouraged by the spirit of enterprise born in the sturdy hearts of the early emigrants, has developed into the attract- ive and beautiful city of Coldwater, with its long, wide streets, lined with elegant residences and rich foliage, its costly churches, its well-developed business enterprise, and the refinement and culture of its inhabitants.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The first society of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Coldwater was organized by Rev. E. II. Pileher, preacher in charge of Tecumseh circuit, June 19, 1832, in the log house of Allen Tibbits. Its membership consisted of four persons, viz., Allen Tibbits, local preacher, Caroline M. Tibbits, his wife, Joseph Hanchett, and Nancy Hanchett.
This was the first religious society organized in Brauch County.
The first sermon preached in what is now the beautiful city of Coldwater was delivered by Allen Tibbits, in his own little log house, on the fourth Sabbath of July, 1831. In October, 1831, Rev. E. H. Pilcher preached the first funeral discourse ever delivered in Branch County. It was the funeral of a daughter of Allen Tibbits, the first white person who had died in the county.
In the fall of 1832, Rev. William Sprague became the pastor of this little flock, and during his pastorate Miss Amelia Harrison was added to the membership. Rev. Henry Colelazer became the pastor in 1833, and continued
for one year. In the fall of 1834 it is probable that Elna- than C. Garret, or Rev. Mr. Manier, succeeded Henry Col- clazer in the pastorate.
The society remained the same in numbers up to the fall of 1835, when it was greatly strengthened by the coming of a colony of Methodists, consisting of the following- named persons : Bradly Crippen and family, his three sons, Lorenzo D. Crippen, Philo H. Crippen, and Elliott M. Crippen, and their wives; Dr. Wm. B. Sprague and wife; Dr. D. Littlefield and wife; Thomas Daugherty and wife; James Fisk and wife; and Rev. Francis Smith and wife. Some of the children belonging to these families were also connected with this society at the same time. During this year Coldwater Mission was organized, with Richard Law- rence as missionary. It was embraced in what was then known as the Ann Arbor district,-Henry Colclazer pre- siding elder. It only remained a mission one year, however. At the close of the year 1835 the society ceased to be a mission, and was organized into a self-supporting circuit, and remained so until 1846, when it became a station. In 1836, Peter Sabin was preacher-in-charge, and Lewis Smith assistant. In 1837, Peter Sabin was preacher-in- charge, and Lorenzo Davis assistant. In 1838 the Cold- water Society was attached to Marshall District, E. II. Pilcher presiding elder, Jas. F. Davidson preacher-in- charge, and Levi Warriner assistant. In 1839, Roswell Parker was preacher-in-charge, and Jonathan Jones assist- ant. In 1840, Roswell Parker was preacher-in-charge, and Benjamin Sabin assistant.
In 1840, James Fisk and several others withdrew from the Methodist Episcopal Church, in consequence of some difficulty in regard to the use of instrumental music in the church, and organized what is now the Wesleyan Church in this city.
The first house of worship built in Coldwater was built by this society in 1836-38. It was a wooden structure and cost about thirty three hundred dollars, and stood upon the same ground now occupied by the present edifiee. It was dedicated in June, 1838, Rev. Henry Colelazer preaching the dedicatory sermon. Two sessions of the Michigan Annual Conference were held in that building. The first was held in 1844, Bishop Hamline presiding. The second was held Oct. 1-7, 1856, Bishop T. A. Morris presiding. During this session of the Conference the present pastor, Rev. J. I. Buell, was received on trial into the itinerant ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The second house of worship built by this society was the one it now occupies. It is a beautiful brick structure, having an auditorium with a seating capacity of about 800, a commodious lecture-room, two class-rooms, a fine suite of parlors, an organ-loft, and a pastor's study. It is lighted with stained glass of the most elegant design and work- manship, the front window unsurpassed by any in the State. This building was erected in 1865-69 at a eost of twenty-five thousand dollars. It was dedicated Jan. 26, 1869, by Rev. F. M. Eddy, D.D.
In 1878 an addition to this building was erected. This addition is eighteen feet by thirty-seven feet, and gives the suite of parlors, the organ-loft, the rear-entrance, and the beautiful study for the pastor. It was built at a cost of
ALONZO WATERMAN.
ALONZO WATERMAN.
The life of Mr. Waterman was comparatively uneventful, marked by few incidents save such as occur in the life of every successful merchant and business man. He was emphatically a "man of affairs," industrious, sagacious, enterprising, and public-spirited, early developing those qualities which so largely contributed to his success in after-life, and made him so apt in originating, and prompt and efficient in carrying out his well-laid plans.
He was born April 10, 1810, near Syracuse, N. Y., and came to this county in 1832, settling in Bronson. He engaged in mercantile business there with his brothers, but during the next two years spent some of the time East. In 1834 he returned for a permanent residence.
While living at Bronson he married Miss Ma- tilda, daughter of Dr. Hiram Alden, one of the early settlers and prominent men of Coldwater,
who died in Detroit while attending the Legisla- ture.
When the county-seat was changed to Coldwater, and that promised to be the important point in the county, Mr. Waterman moved there, and engaged in the hardware business for several years, and there died, July 29, 1877. In 1845 his wife died, leaving two children,-Mrs. H. C. Fenn and Miss Alma Waterman.
1n 1849 he married Mrs. Adelia Williams, who departed this life in 1870. Mr. Waterman had by his active, industrious, and frugal habits accumulated a large property, and for the last twenty-five or thirty years of his life his time was principally taken up in loaning money and renting his property. He was very unpretending, and never made a display over what he contributed to public enterprises. He was always liberal in his gifts to the church of his choice,-the Methodist Episcopal.
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HISTORY OF BRANCHI COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
about thirteen hundred dollars. During this year, also, an elegant pipe-organ was placed in the church. This was a gift to the church from the estate of one of its honored, but now sainted members, Alonzo Waterman, and his two daughters, Mrs. Mary C. Fenn and Miss Allie A. Water- man. It cost two thousand two hundred and fifty dollars ; is very highly appreciated by the society, and stands as a speaking monument to the generosity of its donors.
At different periods since 1835 this church has received valuable accessions by immigration, though nearly all of those who came during the few years that immediately fol- lowed have passed to their heavenly home. David Holmes and a few others of this class still remain to honor the church.
Of the large number of those who have been converted in this church, and who, from the active part which they take in bearing its burdens and sharing its responsibilities, may be honorably mentioned, are Albert Chandler and wife, William S. Gilbert, John Roberts, and L. Vanvalkenburg. Some of the men who have been converted in this church and counted among its membership have arisen to places of distinction in the nation and in the ministry. General Clinton B. Fisk may be mentioned in connection with the former, and Rev. L. R. Fisk, D.D., president of' Albion College, and Rev. M. A. Daugherty among the latter.
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