USA > Michigan > Calhoun County > History of Calhoun county, Michigan, With Illustrations descriptive of its scenery > Part 35
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THE POLITICAL SENTIMENTS
of the citizens of the city are revealed by the tally-sheets of the presidential elections occurring since the municipality assumed its city government. In 1860, the vote stood as follows:
Republican .- First ward, 203; second ward, 97; third ward, 140; fourth ward, 104. Total Republican, 544.
Democratic .- First ward, 101; second ward, 46; third ward, 47; fourth ward, 41. Total Democratic, 235. Republican majority, 309.
In 1864, the poll lists revealed the following figures :
Republican .- First ward, 228; second ward, 87; third ward, 121; fourth ward, 116. Total, 552.
Democratic .- First ward, 96; second ward, 49; third ward, 44; fourth ward, 40. Total, 229. Republican majority, 323.
In 1868, the vote was as follows :
Republican .- First ward, 344; second ward, 95; third ward, 197; fourth ward, 162. Total, 798.
Democratic .- First ward, 147; second ward, 61; third ward, 52; fourth ward, 60. Total, 320. Republican majority, 478.
In 1872, the vote stood thus:
Republican .- First ward, 294; second ward, 93; third ward, 150; fourth ward, 171. Total, 708.
Democratic .- First ward, 157; second ward, 61; third ward, 40; fourth ward, 83. Total, 341. Republican majority, 367.
In 1876, the vote was as follows :
Republican .- First ward, 385; second ward, 109; third ward, 188; fourth ward, 216. Total, 898.
Democratic .- First ward, 215; second ward, 105; third ward, 71; fourth ward, 100. Total, 491. Republican majority, 407.
Peter Cooper received 15 votes from his admirers, the " greenback" men. This last vote-1404-would indicate a population of 7000 persons, reckoning five persons to one legal voter.
IN THE REBELLION.
During the late war, Battle Creek was patriotic, brave, and earnest. Her Mason, Barnes, Rogers, Preston, Byington, Hicks, and many others bore gallant testimony, in the face of the foe, to the standard of Battle Creek soldiers, and those who fell were in the fore front of the charge, leading where danger was most to be feared. The people faltered not as the long years passed wearily by, but the gaps in the ranks, made by disease or torn open by shot and shell, were filled and refilled by the flower of the city, until the bloody and dreadful struggle was over. Then their shattered columns returned, to settle back again into routine of peaceful avocations, and fight their battles o'er again by the fireside, or on the anniversary of their muster-in to clasp again their comrades in fraternal embrace, with the old warmth gendered on many a bloody field or midnight bivouac.
BATTLE CREEK TOWNSHIP.
THE present township of Battle Creek was formerly included in the original township of Milton, which was regularly organized in 1833, and contained the area that now constitutes the eight congressional townships of Bedford, Pennfield, Le Roy, Athens, Burlington, Emmett, Newton, and Battle Creek. The first township meeting was held at the house of Samuel Convis, who was elected the first township clerk. No records of the township prior to 1836 exist, but we find that in that year the following entry was made by Judge T. W. Hall, who was then township clerk. "The township of Milton as now organized includes townships Nos. 1 and 2, south of ranges 7 and 8 west, according to the United States survey, April 4, 1836." It remained as above until 1839, when, by an act of the legislature passed during that year's session, it was again altered so as to contain township 2 south of range 8 west (Battle Creek township as at pres- ent), township 1 south of range 8 west having been set off as the township of Bedford. No other changes have been effected in the area of the township, except that caused by the incorporation of the city, which took sections 1 and 12 from the township and annexed them to the corporation. By an act of the legislature, approved March 19, 1840, the name of the township of Milton was changed to that of Battle Creek.
The first settlements made in what now constitutes Battle Creek township were on Goguac prairie, in the year 1831. It was quite natural that the influx of immi- gration should concentrate on the easily cultivated and fertile prairie land; and so we find that ere scarcely a location was made on the oak openings, or heavily timbered land, Goguac had become quite a busy settlement.
Among those who were prominent in effecting the early development of this portion of the township were Josiah Goddard, Isaac Thomas, Uncle John Stewart, Dorrance Williams, and others.
Josiah Goddard came to Michigan in 1829, and settled in Detroit. We find that he brought Sherman Comings into the State in the fall of that year. He drove two fine span of horses before a Pennsylvania wagon, traversing the un- broken wilderness along the old Chicago trail from Detroit to Ypsilanti, thence to Jonesville, Sturgis, Bronson's prairie, Prairie Ronde, and Grand prairie, from which place Mr. Comings came to Toland's prairie.
Mr. Goddard returned to Detroit by the old Territorial route, and was so pleased with Goguac prairie that he selected it as his future home, made a purchase of lands, and moved his family there in the fall of 1831, and settled on section 15, on the farm now owned by David Young. He had been a soldier in the war of 1812, and was in every respect a model and patriotic pioneer. The only near representative of his family now residing hereabouts is his daughter Mrs. William Reese, of Battle Creek.
Isaac Thomas came in from New York and settled on section 14 in 1831. He was an honest and upright citizen, a good neighbor, and a hardy, intelligent pioneer.
" Uncle" John Stewart, Sr., settled first at Ypsilanti in 1824. His family consisted of his wife, five sons, and two daughters. He was married three times, having children born to him by each wife, in all twenty-one, of whom twelve are
PHOTO BY CRISPELL.
PHOTO, BY CRISPELL
FATIMA
WOOD.
BARNETT
WOOD~
RESIDENCE OF BARNETT WOOD, BATTLE CREEK TP., CALHOUN CO ., MICH.
95
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
now known to be living. Of those who settled in Battle Creek township, only John, Joseph W., and Levi remain, the others being scattered all over the Union, and one, James, resides in Canada.
Dorrance Williams first came here as a surveyor in the employ of the United States government, in 1828, and assisted in surveying the lands included within the present limits of Battle Creek township. Having an eye to fertility and beauty, he selected the northeast fractional quarter of section 14, now owned by J. F. Foster, and late in the fall of 1831 settled on it. He was a man of pecu- liar disposition, and perhaps is better remembered as being the participant in numerous lawsuits than by any other personal characteristic. We quote from Mr. Van Buren the following description of a scene at a lawsuit in which Mr. Williams was plaintiff :
" The following nice distinction we have never heard equaled in any court- room. The complainant in a lawsuit in which Dorrance was plaintiff, was testi- fying, as the latter thought, falsely; this he would not brook, and rebuked him with 'You lie, sir !' Whereupon the court censured Dorrance, saying it could not allow such language to be used. This put the chivalric bachelor on his dignity, and he thus explained : 'Your honor, had I said to this man you lie, I ought to have been fined for contempt of court. But I said, You lie, sir! Which last word " sir" raised the expression from any vulgar meaning, and instead of slandering the man I honored him by its use.' The court, no doubt astonished at this pro- found distinction, waived all censure and proceeded with the trial."
At one time Dorrance attempted to satisfy his curiosity concerning the Indian mound in his farm, by digging into it. The Indians, observing him at work on the mound with his spade, threatened him to such a degree that he was afraid to remain in this part of the country. He was gone something over a year before he returned.
A notable acquisition to the settlement of the township arrived in the fall of 1835, in the person of Rev. John Harris. Perhaps to no man in Calhoun County is its religious development more indebted than to him. He was an earnest and faithful worker in the Lord's vineyard, affiliated with the Baptist denomination, but not of that strongly sectarian character that ignores the claims of others to the benefits of denominational Christianity. He was not only a forcible and lucid expounder of the Scriptures, and a good preacher, but was also practically identified with the physical development of the township, as well as intimately so with the spiritual. He was born in Nassau, Rensselaer county, New York, September 16, 1790, converted in 1815, and was ordained a minister of the Baptist church in 1816, and after a faithful ministry, extending over a period of forty-eight years, he died in the Lord, on the 15th day of October, 1864, rever- enced by many and esteemed by all who knew him.
Deacon Solomon Case arrived in 1835, but did not permanently settle with his family until the year following. He was a man well qualified to assume the role of pioneer, and did much towards the development, both physical and spiritual, of the then infant settlement. His widow and his son, Thurlow, and daughter, the wife of Morgan G. Beach, are the only representatives of the family now re- siding in Calhoun County.
The years 1835 and 1836 were very prolific in arrivals to the township. Among those coming in as permanent settlers in 1835, were Anson Mapes, who settled in section 30, where he resided forty years, and died there March 31, 1875 ; his widow still lives in the old homestead. Aaron and Bradley Morehouse ; the former settled on section 26, and the latter on section 35. Asa Langley came from Kentucky, and settled on section 26. Andrew Reese was born in West Stockbridge township, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, February 4, 1790. Was married to Electa Burghardt, July 16, 1812, moved from thence to Berk- shire, Broome county, New York. In the fall of 1835, he, with his family, moved to Battle Creek township, from Monroe county, New York, and settled on the farm which continued to be his home until his death, September 2, 1875. His widow still survives, being eighty-five years old. There are also ten children living.
In 1836, among others, came Peter Dubois, and settled on section 25; Fred- erick P. Peet, on section 14 ; Giles Andrus, on section 11; Henry Eberstein, on section 9 ; William McCollum, on section 26 ; Joseph Young, on the farm now owned by his son David, on section 15, which he purchased of Josiah Goddard ; Harvey B. Lewis, on the farm now occupied by his son, Jonah K., in section 25 (1835) ; Deacon Herman Cowles, on section 36, on the farm now occupied by Egbert Stone; Dr. John Beach, on the farm now occupied by his widow and . their son, E. Darwin Beach, on section 34; Allen Willard, father of Hon. George Willard, editor and proprietor of the Battle Creek Daily Journal, who settled a little north of the farm on which he died in 1876, aged over eighty years.
Henry Thiers located in South Battle Creek, and was one of the early justices of the peace of the township. Martin and Ephraim Van Buren, sons of Ephraim Van Buren, Sr., came in the spring of 1836, and settled on the northwest quarter
of section 21, which the latter had located the year previous. He and his wife and daughter, Eliza, and son, A. D. P. Van Buren, now of Galesburg, Kalama- zoo county, came in October, the same year.
Deacon William Betterly came from western New York, and settled north of Goguac prairie, in 1836. During the latter part of his life he lived in Battle Creek, and died there on the 10th of July, 1870.
THE FIRST FARM OPENED
was by Isaac Thomas, and the first soil plowed within the limits of the township was on this farm, and done by James Simonds, in 1832.
The first grain was also sowed in it in the spring of 1833.
THE FIRST ORCHARD
was set out by Uncle John Stewart, on the farm now owned and occupied by William C. Foster, in section 14. It still exists, though repeated grafting has impaired its productiveness.
THE FIRST LOG HOUSE
was erected by Isaac Thomas, in 1831. After building it he returned east for his family and arrived in his place here the following fall to find that his house had been destroyed by fire. The accident was caused by the Indians; whether inten- tionally or not was never rightly known.
THE FIRST BIRTH
in the township was that of Calhoun Goddard, son of Josiah Goddard, who was born in a log house which stood on the farm now owned by David Young, in 1833.
THE FIRST MARRIAGE
was solemnized on the same day that Calhoun County was organized, namely, March 6, 1833. The parties to this interesting coincidental contract were John Stewart, Jr., and - Anser, and the event was celebrated on Goguac prairie. The parties went to Marshall to be united by General Crary, then a justice of the peace, but were informed by him that he could not legally tie the knot until they had procured the necessary license, which could only be accomplished by a journey to Kalamazoo. Three days were spent in this preliminary, and then the expec- tant couple were made one.
THE FIRST DEATH
that occurred in the township was that of Mrs. John Stewart, who died Sep- tember 17, 1832. Her funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Hobart, of Marshall, and was undoubtedly the first religious discourse delivered in the town- ship.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
Speaking of the settlements on the prairie in 1836, A. D. P. Van Buren, in his series of excellent papers on the early history of Battle Creek township, published in the Battle Creek Journal, says,-
" The day following we passed by Polydore Hudson's tavern at the Gulf, just east of Battle Creek. Here we took the old road by way of Joe Farnsworth's, Isaac Tollands, Warren B. Shepard's, and up Conway hill to Goguac prairie. The first house west of Conway's was Mott's. Dorrance Williams lived on the south side of his farm, near the woods. The old road formerly went this side of the prairie. East of him was Daniel Thomas, then Mrs. Peter Michael, in Fred- erick P. Peet's log house, Uncle Isaac Thomas, his sons, Frank, Hiram, and Orson, and last, John Stewart, were all on the south side of the prairie. On the Territorial road, west of Mott's, was first Samuel Gregory's log house, and a log building on the northeast corner of his farm, tenantless ; then came Rice's, now W. B. Frink's ; Giles Andrus, where his son Henry now lives, was next; then Uncle John Stewart's, in a small frame house, where W. G. Foster now lives. There was a small log structure just west, on the same side of the road, unoccupied ; Deacon Joseph Young lived next, in a log house, where his son David now lives ; Enoch Stewart had a log house on his "eighty," just opposite; Taylor Stewart's log house was next, and Ebersteine lived in the log house in the southeast corner of Andrew Helmer's farm ; Mr. Simonds and his son John lived just north of the prairie; and still farther north were Betterly Reese and Shepard, and west of them were Van Woert, Moyer, and the Tobys. Crossing the prairie and turning at Deacon Young's, southwesterly, we drove into the woods, some two miles farther, and,
'As Twilight let her curtain down, And pinned it with a star,'
we halted before the new log house, our future home in Michigan. We looked around for neighbors. Nothing visible but the beautiful oak openings ! We were alone in the silent woods."
.
96
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
The country improved very rapidly after 1836, and where once existed thickly- timbered land sprang up fine and well-cultivated farms. For the betterment of their farms, improved stock and machinery were introduced, the first
IMPROVED STOCK
having been brought in by Judge Eldred, of Kalamazoo, who used to bring in good graded cattle and sheep, and trade with the pioneer farmers as early as 1840, taking in exchange hogs, which he would ship east. About the same time Messrs. Joseph Roly, of Genesee county, New York, and John F. Kilkey, of Gull prairie, brought in sheep. They used to bargain them off on the basis of one-half the wool raised, and at the expiration of three years double the number of sheep received should be returned to them. Money was very scarce in those days.
THE MANUFACTURING INTERESTS
of the township have been represented by a
SAW-MILL,
erected by Asa Langley, about 1837. He operated it about ten years, after which it was conducted by a man by the name of Onderdonk, and discontinued about 1860.
Abraham Minger erected a
GRIST-MILL
in the township at a later day, and although we have endeavored to obtain infor- mation of it both from him and from the present proprietor, it was of no avail. All that is known is that it has frequently changed hands, and no one now knows precisely who owns it.
It will be remembered by some of the old pioneers that in 1838 Major and Nelson Mott came in and started a settlement, and made some preparations for a village, to be known as Hamilton. Their efforts were futile as regards the village, although their laudable endeavor was perpetuated by naming the vicinity " Hamilton Lane," which it has retained for many years.
THE FIRST STONE HOUSE
was built by Joseph Young, and bears the date " July 4, 1841" on the slabs in the front wall. It is now owned and occupied by Deacon David Young, son of the original owner.
THE FIRST BRICK HOUSE
was built by Harriett, widow of Dr. John Beach, in 1849. It has been occupied by herself and son, E. Darwin, and his family, since its erection.
THE FIRST ROAD
running through the township, or any part thereof, was the the old Territorial road, surveyed and laid out in this neighborhood about 1831 or 1832.
THE FIRST SCHOOL
was taught on Goguac prairie, in a small log school-house, by Aranthus Thomas, in 1833 or 1834. Among the first scholars were the Stewarts, Goddards, Thomases, Conways, and others.
No records exist of the district schools, and no person whom we have interro- gated on the subject remembers the date of their organization.
RELIGIOUS MEETINGS
by Methodist itinerants were held as early as 1833, notably at the house of Daniel Thomas, when the Rev. Mr. Hobart, of Marshall, preached the gospel to the early settlers. Meetings were held quite regularly at the house of Deacon Joseph Young, in 1836 and 1837. A Rev. Mr. Mason, of the Presbyterian persuasion, is also remembered by some as preaching among them as early as 1836.
: There has been no regularly organized religious society in the township outside of the city except the
SOUTH BATTLE CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH,
which was organized by Rev. John Harris in 1839, and legally instituted and recog- nized as a society in 1842. Among the original members were Rev. John Harris, Deacon Solomon Case, Alexander Dane, Bradley Morehouse, David Fish, Levi Vedder, and their wives, and a number of others. They first held their meetings in private houses, and subsequently in the school-house, until 1847, when the present church edifice, a neat frame structure, was erected, and dedicated to the service of God the same year. Rev. John Harris was the first pastor, and Solo- mon Case the first deacon. In 1850, Mr. Harris was succeeded in the pastorate of the church by Rev. Samuel Jones, who remained with the congregation about
two years. Then Rev. George Hickox succeeded to the pulpit, and occupied it for three years. In 1855, Rev. T. Z. R. Jones became pastor, and after him Revs. William Roberts and George Harris. Until recently, students from Kala- mazoo have officiated, and the church, by reason of deaths and removals of mem- bers, discontinued their services temporarily. They are now repairing their house of worship, and will doubtless ere long renew their meetings. For a number of years Mr. O. B. Green acted as clerk to the society and church, but removed to Battle Creek recently, where he now resides.
A Sabbath-school was organized about the same time as the church, and was sustained irregularly for perhaps a quarter of a century. No statistics of either the church or Sabbath-school are furnished.
FIRST TOWNSHIP MEETING.
" At a meeting of the electors of the township of Milton, legally held at the house of Ezra Convis, in said township, on the fourth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six, the following township officers were chosen for the ensuing year, and the following votes passed, viz .: E. G. Smith, supervisor; Tal- man W. Hall, clerk; David H. Daniels, Warren B. Shepard, Jeremiah Gardner, and John H. Michael, assessors; John Farnsworth, collector; Moses Lowell, John V. Henry, Harvey B. Lewis, commissioners of highways; Joseph Farnsworth, John S. Holliday, Enoch Stewart, Napoleon B. Harper, constables; Tolman W. Hall, David W. Howell, Joseph S. Weed, John Balckom, and Asahel Beach, inspectors of common schools; Nedebiah Angell, Isaac Thomas, overseers of the poor; David W. Howell, Polydore Hudson, and Jonathan Thomas, commis- sioners of common schools; Moses Hall, Cephas A. Smith, Stephen Collins, and Samuel Robinson, justices of the peace. Overseers of highways for the districts numbered according to the order of their names: Jeremiah Gardner, Warren B. Shepard, Moses Hall, John Harper, Samuel Convis, George Johnston, James Worden, Daniel Thomas, Taylor Stewart, Stephen Gilbert, William D. Eaton, David W. Howell, William Knowles, Otis Williams, Samuel Robinson, Benjamin Harper, and John Wolf.
"On motion, it was voted that swine weighing over thirty pounds, horses, cattle, and sheep be lawful commoners.
"That fifty dollars be raised for the support of the poor the ensuing year.
"That one hundred and fifty dollars be raised for the purpose of building bridges in said township.
"That the next township meeting be held at the house of Leonard Stark- weather, in the village of Battle Creek.
"On motion, adjourned.
" NEDEBIAH ANGELL, Moderator.
"SAMUEL CONVIS, Township Clerk.
" POLYDORE HUDSON, Justice of the Peace."
Supervisors, 1837 .- Asahel Beach, Moses Hall, Warren B. Shepard, Sidney Sweet, Orlando Moffatt (four years), John Champion (two years), Joseph Barton, John Stewart, Harvey B. Lewis, Abner E. Campbell (six years), John Meachem (two years), Simon S. French, Otis B. Green (two years), Charles Coy (three years), Edward White, William Harris (two years), George Bently, Charles Rowe, Hector Adams, George I. Brown (three years), Abraham Minges (five years), present incumbent.
Clerks .- Tolman W. Hall, Benjamin Richards, Eli L. Stillson, Isaac Van De Bergh, Erastus Hussey (two years), Joseph Barton, Abner E. Campbell, Samuel C. Merrill, Charles S. Gray (two years), Leonard Stillson, Myron H. Joy (two years), Joseph Babcock, Leonidas D. Dibble, Justin G. Averill, Eli L. Stillson, Joseph Dodge, Edwin J. Dickinson, Cornelius Byington, William F. Neale, John B. Root, Frederick P. Root (four years), Charles Coy, Thurlow W. Case (two years), Ralph B. Cummings (two years), W. H. Chadwick, Charles Rowe (three years), Charles H. Joslyn (three years), William J. Forster (two years), present incumbent.
Justices of the Peace .- David H. Daniels, Heman Cowles, Moses Hall (eight years), John Meachem, Henry Tears, Cyrus Hewitt (vacancy), Eli L. Stillson (eight years), Nedebiah Angell (eight years), Elias C. Manchester, Aaron More- house, Henry Andrus, Benjamin F. Graves (eight years), Simon V. Carr, John L. Balckom, Samuel S. Jennings, Myron H. Joy, Dwight May, Anson Mapes, Stephen Gilbert, Henry Andrus, Erastus R. Wattles, Levi Mosher, Solon E. Robinson (seven years), Henry J. Champion, Edward White (four years), Milton H. Gregory (three years), Isaac P. Hart (two years), Elijah Trumble, Lewis A. Nichols, William F. Halladay, Peter Crosby, Warren Frink (vacancy), Isaac P. . Hart (eleven years), Morgan G. Beach, Barnett Wood, David Young, William McCollum (vacancy), William Fuller, Abraham Minges, Henry D. Ward, Henry D. Ward (vacancy), Samuel B. Nichols, Gilbert Warner, Frederick P. Peet, David Young, Hector Adams (one year), E. L. Jackson, J. B. Ashley, William E. Fuller, Caleb Boylan (three years), 1877.
OLD HOMESTEAD.
PHOTO. BY CRISPELL.
PHOTO. BY CRISPELL.
ERASTUS' HUSSEY.
MRS. SARAH E. HUSSEY.
RESIDENCE OF ERASTUS HUSSEY, BATTLE CREEK, MICH .
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
97
BATTLE CREEK GRANGE, NO. 66,
was organized September 6, 1873, at the residence of N. and C. Chilson, in the township of Emmett. The following were the first officers and charter members :
Master, N. Chilson ; Overseer, Charles Merritt; Lecturer, L. K. Phelps ; Steward, Chester Chilson ; Assistant Steward, H. L. Munn ; Chaplain, Daniel Caine; Treasurer, I. W. Caine; Secretary, J. A. Robinson ; Gate-keeper, Miles Townsend; Ceres, Miss I. V. Chilson ; Pomona, Mrs. D. Phelps; Flora, Miss Delie Chilson ; Lady Assistant Steward, Miss Hattie Robinson ; Mesdames H. A. Chilson, H. M. Chilson, Myra Caine, P. L. Munn, E. M. C. Merritt, Hattie Townsend, and Mrs. James Haryhan.
.
The present officers are-Master, N. Chilson ; Overseer, A. Minges ; Lecturer, Albert Dickinson ; Chaplain, Mrs. H. B. Hoagland ; Steward, J. M. Paul; As- sistant Steward, William Paul; Treasurer, David Young; Secretary, Chester Chilson ; Gate-keeper, John Newman ; Ceres, Mrs. A. Minges ; Pomona, Mrs. D. Simons; Flora, Mrs. A. Stringham ; Lady Assistant Steward, Miss D. Newman. The present membership of the grange is one hundred and forty-five. Its place of meeting is in Grange hall, Finley block, Battle Creek. In January, 1874, N. Chilson was elected a member of the executive committee of the State grange,
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