USA > Michigan > Calhoun County > History of Calhoun county, Michigan, With Illustrations descriptive of its scenery > Part 29
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Until the year 1849, Mr. Mitchell affiliated with the Democratic party, but the pro-slavery tendencies of the party became too strong for him, and he left his old associates, and upon the organization of the Republican party cast in his fortunes politically with that organization, and has been a stanch and leading partisan thereof to the present time.
His wife died, without issue, January 20, 1849 ; and on the 15th of January, 1851, he was united in marriage to Mary, daughter of Samuel Thomas, who has borne to him five children, three daughters and two sons, as follows : Sara E., born February 4, 1852 ; Carrie M., born June 22, 1854; Thomas P., born May 20, 1856; Frank D., born May 30, 1860 ; Grace E., born October 23, 1863. All are now living save Thomas P., who died in his youth. Sara E. is married, and is now Mrs. Charles E. Gill, of Chicago.
HON. WILLIAM POWELL.
Among the prominent citizens of the city of Marshall, William Powell, the subject of the present sketch, is accorded by his fellow-citizens a place. He was born in Victor, Ontario county, New York, March 31, 1830, his parents, John and Docia (Boughton) Powell, being natives of the same State. His mother was of the original family of settlers of Victor. Mr. Powell resided in Victor until he was twenty years of age, during which time he attended the common schools of that place. When twenty years old he entered a large dry-goods store in Rochester, New York, as salesman, and pursued a preparatory course of study nights and mornings, reciting to the tutors of the Rochester university, with the intention of passing through that institution. At his first examination he evinced that degree of proficiency requisite to entering the sophomore class. He pursued this course of business and study combined for one year, at the end of which he secured the position of librarian of the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics' Association, a public library and reading-room, where he remained two and a half years, in the mean time continuing his studies with diligence. But an incident common to young mankind changed his purposes, and led him, perhaps, into a different line of life's history on March 18, 1853, at which date he was united in marriage to Martha L. Paddock. She was the daughter of John Paddock, of Rochester. On his marriage he accepted a position offered him as discount clerk in the Rochester city bank, where he remained seven years. In the fall of 1859 he came to Marshall, Michigan, and with a brother engaged in the grocery busi- ness for a few months only, disposing of his interest to his brother in the spring of 1860, and engaging in the bank of H. J. Perrin & Co. as cashier, where he remained six years, at which date, on account of the ill health of his wife, he removed to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he engaged in a general insurance agency with a Mr. Etheridge for two years, after which he accepted the local agency of the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York for a time, until the death of his wife, when he went to Detroit, where the general northwestern agency of the company was located, and engaged as a special traveling agent through the six northwestern States for one year for the same, and then for another year was located in Chicago as the general agent of the Widows' and Orphans' Benefit Life Insurance Company, New York. Following this agency, he was engaged with H. J. Perrin as his agent for the sale of the products of his machine-shop and flour- ing-mills, being established at New Haven, Connecticut, in the latter line, and also at Providence, Rhode Island, for more than a year. In the spring of 1872 he returned to Marshall and re-entered his former position of cashier of the National Bank of Michigan, of which, and the Bank of Michigan which preceded it, he was the first cashier. He still occupies the position. Mr. Powell is a stanch, unyielding Republican in politics, and was elected mayor of the city of Marshall in 1876 by the largest majority ever before given to a Republican candidate, and this, too, with the most popular candidate of the opposite party pitted against him.
Mrs. Powell died in St. Paul in 1868, leaving a daughter, Kate Inez, who still adorns the cosy home of her father in the city of Marshall. Mr. Powell subse- quently married Anna Moeschler, who was of Saxon parentage, but survived her wedding-day scarcely a year. His present wife was Sarah Francis Bacon.
Mr. Powell and his wife and daughter are members of the Church of the Re- deemer, of Chicago (Universalist).
He has been for the past four years the Worshipful Master of St. Albans lodge, No. 20, F. A. M., and for three years of the time was also Eminent Commander of Marshall commandery, No. 17, K. T., and is the Prelate of that body now, and also High-Priest of Lafayette Chapter, No. 4, R. A. M. He was also chair- man of the committee on finance of the Masonic grand lodge of Michigan for two years during the same period.
MRS. I. P.HART.
I. P. HART.
RESIDENCE OF I. P. HART , BATTLE CREEK TP. CALHOUN CO., MICH.
F. H. TOMPKINS, DEL.
THE CITY OF BATTLE CREEK.
THE history of the early settlement and of the subsequent progress and develop- ment of the city of Battle Creek, presents features at once wonderful and interest- ing. A retrospection of less than half a century would carry us beyond the time when the first white settler had trodden upon its site, to the time when it consti- tuted part of a dreary wilderness, ere civilization had penetrated its solitary bosom, or the voice of the pioneer had echoed amid its timbered shades. In the year of our Lord 1831 the first attempt at settlement was made. That it was successful, was owing to the dauntless and persevering energy of the first pioneers, for it was no enviable task to clear the forest and to undergo the hardships incident to genuine pioneer life. But it was during this year that
".His echoing axe the settler swung, amid the sealike solitude, And rushing, thundering down, were flung the Titans of the wood."
But ere we proceed to narrate the incidents of the early settlement, it were well to give the historic signification of the name of the river after which the city was called. " It appears that during the survey of this section of the State, under the direc- tion of Colonel Mullet, in the winter of 1823-24, the Indians had become some- what jealous of the encroachments made by the whites on their sugar-camps ; and as the surveyors ran their lines through the maple-groves, they interrupted their work by various devices, and particularly by placing themselves between the surveying party and their 'sight tree.' Annoyed by their persistent attempts, Colonel Mullet on one occasion raised his ' Jacob's staff' (the iron standard upon which the surveyor placed his compass), with the apparent purpose of running it through one of the savages, but a Frenchman belonging to his party interposed and prevented the act. About this time the event occurred that gave name to the stream, and finally to the city built at its juncture with the Kalamazoo. While the entire surveying party were engaged in the performance of their duties in the woods, two men-Taylor, the cook, and Edwin Baldwin-having been left at the camp, were attacked by two Indians of large size and great strength, evi- dently with the intention of robbing them of their provisions, and thus interrupting the survey. Taylor was slight-built, but muscular, while Baldwin was of herculean frame and possessed of remarkable physical power ; and the two were pitted with their assailants, man against man, at first in a sort of scuffle, but which shortly became a very serious fight. The Indian engaged with Baldwin, seeing himself likely to become overpowered, caught up a rifle (Colonel Mullet's), which stood in the cabin, and fired it at his foe, without injury, however, to the person of Mr. B., but making a hole in the blanket coat he wore. The rifle soon changed hands, the white man wresting it from his antagonist, and knocking him down with it and breaking his skull. Taylor, meanwhile, had thrown his Indian upon the ground, and being nearly exhausted by the exertion of holding him, called upon his victorious comrade for aid, who soon made the remaining savage hors du combat by a blow with the rifle. This took place in the afternoon, and when the rest of the party returned at night and found that a fight had occurred, with serious and probably fatal results to at least one of the red men, they thought it to be the wiser course to return to Detroit until satisfactory arrangements could be made with the wily and now exasperated enemy. They did so; and the difficulty having been adjusted by General Cass, the Indians repairing to Detroit for that purpose, the survey was resumed the following June.
. " A twin brother of Baldwin returned with the party in the latter expedition, and was closely watched and pursued by an Indian somewhat emaciated, whose head had evidently been submitted to the rude surgery of the wild inhabitants of . the forest, having been trepanned with leather, an evidence that his skull had previously received a crushing blow. This was supposed to be the antagonist of Baldwin. Taylor settled in St. Joseph county, afterward kept tavern, and was the first sheriff of that county. Colonel Mullet was one of the United States commissioners who located the lands for the University of Michigan. The above facts are given on the authority of Mr. Andrew Morton, of Marshall, who learned them from persons who served in the survey, and who also saw the coat which had been pierced by the rifle-ball in the fight, of which a lasting monument will exist to future generations in the name, ' Battle Creek.'"
We quote the subjoined from an article written by Mr. Erastus Hussey, a gentleman who has resided in this State for half a century, and in Battle Creek for about forty years :
" I don't like the English translation of the Indian name Waupokisco, which an old Ottawa chief informed me means ' River of battle,' or ' River of blood,' from a great battle that was fought on its banks many generations ago, by hostile tribes. This fact is confirmed by historical proof from Canadian Indians."
EARLY SETTLERS.
It was in the early part of June, 1831, that Sands McCamly, in company with George Redfield, visited the present site of the city, and being favorably im. pressed with the eligibility and centrality of the location, determined to procure an interest in it .. The land-office at White Pigeon was opened during the month, and all the land in this vicinity was put into the market at the usual government price of one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. On arriving at the land-office, he found that he was not without rival contestants for the honor of planting a city in the wilderness. It appears that J. J. Garnsey had also fixed his attention on this site, as also had Lucius Lyon and Robert Clark, government surveyors, who had marked it in their list of desirable localities. The latter rivals waived their right to bid against the others upon the receipt of one hundred dollars. It was then agreed that J. J. Garnsey should enter eight hundred and thirty-seven and forty-one one-hundredths acres, all lying in what now constitutes the township and city of Battle Creek, the township of Emmett, and covered the confluence of the two streams, but with the understanding that Judge McCamly and Daniel G. Garnsey were each to share it equally with him upon payment of their proportion of the cost. They, with their families, were to meet in Detroit the following October, when the original purchaser was to quit-claim to the other two, and give them each a title to an undivided third of the whole; and it was agreed that they all should come on and begin operations, each placing two thousand dollars in the bank, as the means for commencing the development of an embryo city at the mouth of Battle creek. McCamly reached Detroit at the time agreed upon, and so did J. J. Garnsey and his brother-in-law, Sackett, and their wives; but the latter said they had been to look at the place, and could not live there. So from the failure of the Garnseys these first plans fell to the ground. The principals in the contract went their several ways-the original patentee to become financially embarrassed and transfer his claim to Phineas P. Sackett and Ezekiel B. Garn- sey, and McCamly and his family to a home in Nottawa prairie, where he had entered land the previous summer. Meanwhile, the country hereabouts began to receive settlers, particularly in Goguac prairie, where, during the year 1831, some ten or more persons settled thereon, among them being Daniel, Jonathan, and Isaac Thomas, who arrived in May ; John Stewart, Sr., and John Stewart, Jr., his son, with Peter, Enoch, and Levi, and two daughters, all of the former's family, arrived in August, Josiah Goddard and others, whose names and the in- cidents of their settlement are given in the history proper of Battle Creek township.
The year 1832 was more prolific in its accessions to the infant village. In this year Samuel Convis,* who possessed an interest in the Garnsey purchase, came in and erected his log house on the spot where Deacon Leggett's resi- dence now is. He went east for the purpose of moving his family, preparatory to making a permanent settlement here. During the same year Moses Hall arrived, purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, but returned east, and did not permanently settle until the following year, when he became a prominent settler, of whom more anon. Polydore Hudson, who figured conspicuously as a pioneer, arrived early in 1832. The Langley brothers, Roswell Crane, and John Conway came in this year, but we believe none of them made a permanent settle- ment here. We find the Langleys in South Battle Creek, John Conway in Bed- ford, and Roswell Crane in Emmett, each as early as 1835.
In 1833, Nathaniel Barnly and family came in, and with them came the family of General Ezra Convis. Nedebiah Angell also arrived this year. The year 1834 saw some accessions to the settlement. This year Judge Tolman W. Hall came in, and has resided here ever since; General Convis also came this year, both arriving in July. Warren B. Shepard and Dr. Asahel Beach (who settled in Em- mett township, but has resided in Battle Creek for the past thirty years) came in
# See sketch under head of Pennfield township, in biographical department.
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
during this year. Josiah Gilbert, Joseph Farnsworth, Deacon David Salter, and others filled the complement for the year 1834.
SETTLERS OF 1835.
The year of our Lord 1835 was one of great moment to the embryo city, and a much more promising prospect was presented in this than perhaps during any year in its early history. Indeed, the commencement of actual development was inaugurated this year, the result of which has left a beneficial impress on the future growth and progress of the place. Foremost among the permanent arrivals this year was Judge Sands McCamly,* who, with characteristic enterprise, began to utilize the excellent water-power which during the first four years of the settle- ment had remained idle. After which he erected a saw-mill, the first in the village.
William H. Coleman and David H. Daniels, the pioneer merchants, settled here this year, as also did Captain John Marvin, the first blacksmith, Eli L. and David Stillson (came this year but did not permanently settle until 1836), John S. Van Brunt, A. P. Rawson (who married a daughter of Moses Hall, Esq., and now resides in Victor, New York), John Meacham (who moved to Bedford and resided there a short time, returning to the city and has since lived there, and for many years was a justice of the peace). Ella G. and Cephas A. Smith took up the eighty acres on a part of which Judge Graves' residence now stands. John Champion, Ogden Green, and Anson Inman arrived in the winter of 1835-36. Rev. Robert Adams came in June 7, 1835, and was the first Baptist minister in the place. Three of his sons survive-Samuel, a merchant of Battle Creek, John B., at Rockford, and William, at Grand Rapids, Michigan. Deacon Stephen W. Leggett and James Conklin. Among those coming in 1836 were Samuel W. and Gilbert W. McCamly, nephews of Sands McCamly, Alonzo Noble, now re- siding in the city, Almon Whitcomb, Abraham, Joseph, and Isaac Merrett, and Jonathan Hart, Leonard Starkweather, Edward Packer, Theron A. Chad- wick, Deacon Fayette Cross, William Merrett. Among those settling in Battle Creek between 1836 and 1840 were Erastus Hussey, W. M. Campbell, M.D., Edward Cox, M.D. (now the oldest medical practitioner in the city, Dr. Asahel Beach not now being in practice), Charles S. Gray, A. L. Clark, Platt Gilbert, Henry Willis, E. C. Manchester, Henry B. Denmore, Leicester Buckly, John L. Balcom, and others.
Among the early settlers of Battle Creek, whose enterprise entitles them to an extended notice in its history, we might mention the following:
JUDGE SANDS M'CAMLY
came from Orleans county, New York, in June, 1831. Impelled by a desire to make a successful venture in the new country to which he had come, he made extra exer- tions to secure the present site of the city of Battle Creek, as before mentioned, on account of its general eligibility, and because it contained a water-power equal to any and excelled by none at any other place which he had previously visited. Failing, however, to secure the coveted tract of land, he moved his steps to the beautiful and fertile Nottawa prairie, where he and his family lived for about a year, and in the summer of 1832 settled at Marshall. It would seem as though the impression he had received of the site of the future city had been indelibly stamped upon his memory, for he returned to it in 1835, and at once commenced to utilize the fine natural advantages of the place. In February, 1834, Judge McCamly bought an equal and undivided half of the original Garnsey purchase, and removed on it in February, 1835, and began operations. General Convis had control of the other half, and it was agreed between them that Judge McCamly have full possession of the whole water-power, provided that he would improve it. A body of twenty-five or thirty men, including many sons of Erin, were engaged in building the long race, which, in its day and under the circumstances, was a monument of enterprise worthy the man who accomplished it.
Judge McCamly, on the admission of Michigan into the Union as a State, in 1835, was elected from this district a State senator. He possessed a strong and clear intellect, a sound judgment, a resolute will, and much sagacity. He was a good judge of men and things, and was inclined to view the sunny side of every- thing. He possessed high social qualities, fine conversational powers, and was an interesting raconteur. He left at his death, which occurred April 30, 1864, five children : three daughters, Mrs. L. H. Stewart and Mrs. D. W. Burnham, of Battle Creek, and Mrs. J. W. Oakley, of Chicago ; and two sons, George, now in California, and Mark W., of Battle Creek.
GENERAL EZRA CONVIS
came from Silver Creek, Chautauqua county, New York, in company with Nede- biah Angell, in 1832. He returned after a visit of a few months, and did not
permanently locate here until July, 1834. He purchased a half-interest in the site of the town from Garnsey, but retained it only until 1835, when he sold it to Jonathan Hart and his three brothers-in-law, Abraham, Joseph, and Isaac Merrett, and transferred his interest in the water-power to Sands McCamly, as above stated. He then turned his entire attention to the building up of a town on his former purchase, north of Battle creek, the present village of Verona, which place was for a few years the rival of Battle Creek, under his admirable energy and enterprise. However, the larger place procured the railway, and Verona fell back to a mere settlement. General Convis was elected a member of the lower house of the first State legislature, in 1835, and was made the first speaker of that body. He was re-elected for a second term. In the winter of 1837-38, while returning from a wedding, his sleigh was upset, and he sustained injuries which terminated his life. He died at Detroit in the spring of 1838, his faithful wife remaining with him to close his eyes, and to attend the last sad rites of his funeral.
Ezra Convis was a man whose strength lay chiefly in his general ability. He was fond of society, courteous and genial, and of gentlemanly bearing. In his business he was energetic and industrious. In person he was handsome, and possessed a quiet dignity which was very pleasing. He had a decided turn for politics, and enough of the suaviter in modo to make himself popular with the people, and of the fortiter in re so as not to be led by party cliques. The only surviving members of his family are two daughters, Mrs. John Van Arman, of Chicago, and Mrs. King, of Battle Creek, and one son, Albert, now in Illinois. His younger son, Wallace, was accidentally drowned in Battle creek, and Ezra, another son, died in Illinois.
NATHANIEL BARNEY.
Touching this gentleman, we quote verbatim from A. D. P. Van Buren :
" Of this pioneer tavern-keeper of Battle Creek the people retain kindly recol- lections. It would be very difficult to find two words more inseparably connected with the memory of the early days of Battle Creek than these old familiar words ' Barney's Tavern.' The old log hostelry on the hill, just west of the creek, and the kind-hearted old landlord, whose hospitality has been extended to so many emigrants and travelers during the settlement of this part of the State, will be long remembered. Nathaniel Barney and his family came from Chautauqua county, New York, arriving at Battle Creek March 9, 1833. He and his son- in-law, General Ezra Convis, were two of the original proprietors of Battle Creek. He was made postmaster of the new town in 1834. He also, at an early day, carried the mail from Marshall, by way of Gull prairie, to Kalamazoo. After keeping tavern for a number of years in the old log building near the creek he settled down two miles northwest, and there was landlord and farmer also. At this time he died, October 18, 1857. His sons, Milton and Oliver, yet live near the old homestead, in Bedford township."
NEDEBIAH ANGELL
was born in Vermont, and subsequently removed to Hanover, Chautauqua county, New York, from whence he, in company with some score of others, started with them on teams for Battle Creek, in February, 1833. He served as justice of the peace while on his farm, and for a number of years while he lived in town. He had a practical and legal turn of mind, and was noted as an early " pettifogger" in the justices' courts of Battle Creek. His daughters, Mrs. Samuel Gregory and Mrs. Henry Andrews, of Goguac, and Mrs. Jacob Clark and his son George W., of Battle Creek, are the only surviving members of his family.
MOSES HALL.
In the spring of 1832, Moses Hall left his home among the green hills and vales of Rutland county, Vermont, for a journey westward, and came to Battle Creek, where he made a purchase of land for himself and brother Tolman W., who still resides in the city. He traveled by " line boat" on the Erie canal to Buffalo, and by schooner up the lake to Detroit, and from thence on an Indian pony to Marshall. He met Rev. J. D. Pierce at the latter place, of whom he purchased one hundred and sixty acres just east of the limits of the present city of Battle Creek, for which he paid one dollar and seventy-five cents per acre. He returned home again the same year, and in 1833 made a permanent settle- ment. He immediately set about " rolling up logs" for a shanty, which he roofed with " shakes," which served as a shelter for himself and family, consisting of a wife and five children. He soon after purchased the old Foster house, which he occupied until 1837. In the meanwhile he had been at work improving his original purchase, of which he eventually made a fine farm.
Moses Hall held various local offices, and performed their duties with marked ability and efficiency. He served one term in the State legislature with satisfaction to the people and credit to himself. He was a justice of the peace for many
* See personal sketch.
PHOTO. BY CRISPELL.
Maria Mapes
PHOTO. BY CRISPELL .
Anson Makes
( E. A. S. DEL.)
RESIDENCE OF ANSON MAPES, BATTLE CREEK TP, CALHOUN CO, MICH.
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
years, and was an acting magistrate at the time of his death, which occurred May 12, 1860.
Moses Hall was a man of commanding figure and noble appearance, of strong intellectual faculty, of clear outspoken views, and a self-poise that was admirable. He was firm in the administration of justice, never allowing himself to be biased by partisan feeling or influenced by a wrong motive. He was one of the founders of the Presbyterian church at Battle Creek, and remained one of its most active and influential members to the day of his death. Socially, he was a valuable member of society ; a man of noble impulses, of generous feelings; quick to aid the distressed or to espouse the cause of the defenseless or injured. His general reading and culture, his close observation of men and things, and his fine collo- quial powers, made him an agreeable and companionable man. His general worth was duly appreciated, and his works and goodness will be long cherished and re- membered. Of Squire Hall's family, three daughters, Mrs. A. P. Rawson, of Victor, New York; Mrs. Ellen Stebbins, of Dowagiac, Michigan; and Mrs. Loren Chadwick, of Chicago; and three sons, Ed. H., of Emmett, and Henry C. and Chas. T., of Battle Creek, survive.
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