USA > Michigan > Calhoun County > History of Calhoun county, Michigan, With Illustrations descriptive of its scenery > Part 44
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THE FIRST POST-OFFICE
was established in the village, and kept by A. C. Waterman. It had been formerly kept by Mr. Onderdonk, some distance from the village. Frank A. Mann was also among the early postmasters. The present incumbent is Samuel R. Kulp.
THE FIRST CHURCH EDIFICE
erected was a Union church, erected by members of several religious denomina- tions in 1869. It is now under the control of the Episcopal Methodists.
THE FIRST PHYSICIAN
who located in the village was J. W. Lee, M.D., who came in 1859. He was of the regular school of medicine (allopathic).
STATISTICAL AND GENERAL.
The growth of the village during the first decade of its existence was rapid, and, though retarded by the general financial depression which began in 1873, yet its progress has been above that of the average village in this portion of the State. It now contains three dry-goods and two general stores, one hardware-, one drug-, and two millinery-stores ; one grist- and one saw-mill, one sash-, door-, and blind-factory, one foundry and machine-shop, four blacksmith-shops, two carriage- and wagon-shops, two harness-shops, two paint- and three shoe-shops, one tin-shop, a photograph gallery, two hotels, two livery stables, a church, and a district school and a post-office. It has " Athens Lodge, No. 200, of Free and Accepted Masons," and three physicians. Its estimated population is four hun- dred. The amount of its entire business for the year 1876 was about one hundred and sixty-five thousand dollars.
Those prominently identified with the mercantile interests of the village since William Simons are Channing Huxley, John Smith, Amasa Underwood, Asaph Holcomb, Samuel R. Kulp, William Lewis, Ann Lewis, Kingsbury and Doty, James and Hiram Watkins, and L. B. Smith.
RELIGIOUS.
The first religious service held in Athens was at the residence of Mr. Alfred Holcomb, in the winter of 1832, by a missionary by the name of Dickinson, of the Methodist persuasion. He was sent out from Kentucky, and assigned the circuit embracing Battle Creek, Athens, Cold Water, Jonesville, Albion, and Mar- shall. Among those who were present were Mrs. Watkins, widow of Martin Watkins, now residing in Nebraska, and Mrs. Arnold Howard, deceased, who used to walk from Leonidas, a distance of ten miles, to attend the early religious meetings. Mr. and Mrs. Holcomb, Mrs. Ferris, and some few others remain of the early band of primitive worshipers.
A Methodist class was regularly organized about the year 1850, and a hewn log frame house of worship erected, about four miles north of Athens village, in 1852. The pastor was Rev. Phineas P. Lee. The house was used as a church for only a few years, for in 1858 Luther Mason, the genial stage-driver, took up his residence in the old church edifice, and has ever since been permeated with deep religious sentiments. The old building yet remains as a monument of the early struggles of Methodism ; but its dilapidated condition shows that it has long been in disuse.
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
After the discontinuance of worship in the old building, those of the society remaining concentrated their exertions at Athens, and, assisted by those of other denominations, erected in 1869 a commodious church edifice, which was dedicated with impressive ceremonies by the Rev. G. B. Jocelyn, D.D., late president of Albion college, the same year. The first pastor installed was Rev. L. M. Bennett, and the first officers were Samuel R. Kulp, S. S. Ware, David Kyes, Elmus Al- vord, Alva Tenney, and Justin Keyes, trustees ; Rev. Phineas P. Lee and Horace Lee, stewards ; David Kyes, class-leader. The church society under the new régime got on but slowly, and under the present pastorate a serious conflict with the church authorities is pending. It appears that the Rev. Martin V. Rork, the incumbent pastor, has attempted to introduce what he terms "reforms" into the church, to which the presiding elder of the circuit and others in authority object. The matter has been called before the conference, and is still under advisement. It seems that under the preaching of Rev. Rork the society has greatly flour- ished, and the most successful revival known in the history of the appointment has been held under his ministrations during the year 1876. The church now num- bers about one hundred and twenty-five members. There is also a flourishing Sunday-school connected with the church, which enrolls one hundred and eighty- six members. The superintendent is Mr. George Stimpson.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
In the spring of 1841 Deacon S. J. Rundle came into the north part of Athens, and in the spring of the following year Captain James Winters came into the same township with his family, himself, wife, and one daughter being members of the Baptist church. Soon after, Mrs. D. N. Willards and Mrs. H. Richardson came ; and John Cullen and family, and a few others, members of the same church, fol- lowed. Meetings were proposed, and worship was held in the house of D. N. Willard, participated in by the persons whose names appear above, and E. Chese- brough. Afterwards the log houses of S. J. Rundle, Charles Dolph, and James Winters were dedicated to the service of God, by holding prayer-meetings in them alternately. The nearest Baptist church was at South Battle Creek, to which the members here united, and were designated as a branch of that church. But as these members resided ten miles therefrom it afforded but little benefit to them, and they resolved to form themselves into a church at home; and on the 23d day of August, 1848, the Athens church was organized with the following members, namely : S. J. Rundle, F. M. Rundle,* E. Willard, James Winters, T. Winters, L. M. Winters, J. H. Winters, R. Self, Mary Self, D. Riley, S. Jacobs, J. Mc Lain, B. McLain, H. Richardson, M. A. Richardson, J. Grodavant, Asa Wiseon, J. Cullen, C. Cullen, E. Cullen, G. Johnson, P. Johnson, P. Underwood, C. Underwood, S. A. Underwood, and M. Jacobs.
The church was legally organized January 7, 1851, by electing S. J. Rundle, J. Grodavant, and James Winters trustees. The first pastor was Elder L. L. Wisner; first clerk, James Winters; and first deacons, S. J. Rundle and John Cullen. The pastors following Elder Wisner were Revs. J. Gould, H. S. Knowles, Alpheus Wisner, H. C. Beals. The latter was installed in the fall of 1867. The result of his labors was an addition to the church of nearly one hun- dred members, and the building of a neat house of worship, without leaving any debt upon the same.
This sacred edifice was dedicated appropriately on the 1st day of January, 1868, and the dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. L. D. Palmer, now stationed at Battle Creek. Elder O. S. Wolfe, the State missionary, was the next pastor, and served the church six years. He was followed by Rev. J. F. Foy, who served one year. The church is now served by Rev. A. Wisner, one of its members, who devotes half of his time to it.
The present officers of the church are : Deacons, S. J. Rundle, Warren Bowker, William Weeks, and W. J. Rundle ; Trustees, J. D. Weeks, W. J. Rundle, Wil- liam Weeks, G. W. Patterson, George Bruce, and James Stancer ; Clerk, James Winters ; Building Committee, S. J. Rundle and James Winters. There is a Sabbath-school connected with the church, which was organized in 1845. James Winters was the first, and William Weeks is the present superintendent.
THE LADIES' SOCIETY
is an auxiliary to the church, and was formed in 1846, with the following mem- bers : Mesdames D. N. Willard, H. Richardson, L. L. Wisner, and J. Winters, and Misses L. Ludden, L. H. Winters, and Susan Wisner. The society now num- bers fifty members, and has taken the lead in all the benevolent objects of the day. It was nearly twenty years in accumulating the first hundred dollars, but since that was accomplished it has been eminently successful. Among its noble charities was the contribution of a large sum of money and a supply of sanitary stores to the " boys in blue." And when the destroying element swept over the northern portion of our State, desolating many a comfortable home, the society promptly came to the rescue, and forwarded to the commission a large quantity of provisions, clothing, and money.
In the fall of 1867, when the church was nearly ready for dedication, it re- sponded with five hundred dollars, which had been laid aside for the purpose of furnishing the church edifice. In 1875 a number of horse-sheds were erected at the church, when the society headed the subscription with one hundred dollars, and in the summer of 1876 it paid over two hundred dollars towards a parsonage which the church is building.
We are pleased to acknowledge our obligations for assistance rendered in the compilation of the history of Athens to Alfred Holcomb, Mrs. Benjamin F. Fer- ris, Captain James Winters, Salmon Walker, S. S. Ware, and Thomas H. Cave.
* Those in italics have since died.
*
RESIDENCE OF JAMES WORTHINGTON, HOMER, MICH .
HOMER TOWNSHIP.
THE township as originally formed included not only its present territory, but that of Eckford, Albion, and Clarendon. Subsequent to the formation of Calhoun County, and prior to 1834, Homer formed part of Marshall, and as such received its pioneer population.
An act was passed in 1834 by the legislature whereby the township was organ- ized with a surface twelve miles square, thus including four townships of United States survey. The name Homer was given at the request of James Hopkins, and others originally from Homer, Cortland county, New York. It constitutes the southeast portion of Calhoun County. The surface varies from hills and valleys to undulating plains. These latter, known to civilization as " Burr-Oak Plains," were a favorite resort of the Indians, and in the " openings" maize-fields were cultivated. Traces of Indian corn-hills were recognized on the site of the present village of Homer. An Indian corn-hill was formed by gathering earth into a small pile, in whose top seed was planted. Once made, it lasted for years by annually removing the old stalks and inserting fresh seed. The soil of Homer varies with the altitude of lands. On the low grounds there is a deep black vegetable loam, excellent for meadows and famous for corn ; on the uplands the lighter loam is blended with sand and gravel, whereupon fruit thrives. The country is well timbered. There is maple, beech, ash, and elm on the plains, while oak predomi- nates on hill and slope, with occasional growth of hickory. The surface of the " plains," naturally almost devoid of timber, save scattering burr-oaks of small size, was covered in summer with a dense grassy vegetation, diversified by flowers, and reaching a height exceeding four feet. Beauty and fertility were attractions which led to the selection of these places for the settlers' homes. On each of the following pioneer settlements in Homer were made : Cook's Plains, northwest of Homer village; Homer Plains, included between the Kalamazoo and Bent lake ; Pennsylvania settlement, north of the river; and the Fisher settlement, in the southeast.
The Kalamazoo flows from the east, northwesterly to Homer village, thence northeast to Albion. Several small lakes are scattered through the township.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
In the spring of 1832 two brothers, Henry and Richard McMurtrie, and Powell Grover, single men, came from Pennsylvania, and, traversing this region, camped on the plains northeast of the present Homer, where they entered land, built log houses, and inaugurated the settlement of the township. William Win- terteen came hither the same year, and, having chosen and entered land, went to Pennsylvania for his family. He returned in 1833, driving his own team and stock. Traversing Ohio by way of Adrian, Jonesville, and Litchfield, he camped at night by the roadside. These settlers, who constituted the Pennsylvania settle- ment, are still living on the same land, or if any have deceased, their descendants occupy the land of their fathers.
In 1834 the Fisher settlement was formed by Cornelius Fisher and his -six sons, Philip, Matthias, John, Benjamin, Enoch, and Joseph. The same year dates the settlement in the Fisher neighborhood of Christian Mench, his son Philip, John Kerns and sons, Jeremiah and Aaron, and James McGregor. Abram Kehl came out in 1835, and thenceforward the lands rapidly found individual ownership.
Cook's Plains were settled in May, 1832, by Henry Cook, of Cayuga county, New York, and Anthony Doolittle, formerly of the same State, but later of Ohio. These men had halted and located in Washtenaw county, but further exploration discovered these lands, to which they removed via Jackson and Concord, driving through their stock and hauling their families and household goods by ox-teams. Their last camp prior to reaching their location was on the ridge opposite the mills east of Homer. Cook purchased of Hastings land entered by Dr. Hays, of Marshall, and now located in the township of Eckford. The price paid by the settler was one dollar and eighty-seven and one-half cents per acre. The land settled by Doolittle is located in Clarendon. A few months elapsed and other settlers had come in and contributed to settlement and improvement.
Some time in 1832, Milton Barney, from Lyons, New York, entered a large part of the land, including the village site and the water-power of the Homer mills. Early in September, Mr. Barney and family came through, following the St. Joseph trail leading to Chicago. He first purchased a quarter-section at the crossing of the south branch of the Kalamazoo, where, camping on the river-bank, he con-
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structed a log house, near the present site of the Homer mills. In 1833 he built. a saw-mill, and also laid out the plat of a village, which was called Barneyville.
There came out with Mr. Barney several mechanics to build mills, and necessary material had been brought along, including mill-irons. Timothy Hamlin, of Clarendon, Henry Stanchell, Richard Norris, and McGuire were of these mechanics who preferred the couch of an Indian wigwam to the open air on the first night after arrival. Almost contemporary with the arrival of this party, Robert McCully settled about a mile northwest of the present village. Barney occupied his log house nearly two years, boarded his workmen, and kept a house of entertainment for the public. A small frame building was built, a miscellaneous stock of goods laid in, and in this, the first framed house in Homer, the pioneer store was kept. The village site was well chosen, and occupants soon gathered in. There were Frederick R. Hatch, Samuel W. Hamilton, James Parsons, Chauncey C. Lewis, Arba Lambson, and Stephen S. Powers. Hatch was a carpenter and joiner and cabinet-maker. He assisted in constructing the Homer House, built in 1835, and in the erection of some of the first buildings. His family became residents of Homer in 1835. James Parsons assisted Barney in the store. Lewis, Powers, and Lambson settled on farms at the corners, a mile south of the village. In 1834, John Burt bought a large tract of land near the village, and the Leaches, Timothy and Elihu, located three miles to the southeast. A fresh arrival took place in 1835. Their enumeration supplies the names of Nelson Dorsey, Nathan Eslow, Isaiah Eslow, Elisha Thornton, Dr. Benner, Moses and Israel Shaw, Abram Letts, Willet Hopkins, John Ballentine, Jesse Champion, and David Woodward. Dorsey settled on the Hillsdale road, two miles south of the village. Dr. Benner, a botanic physician, settled on the same road, a half- mile from the village, and Letts on the Worthington farm, with the Eslows for neighbors. Thornton, at first a clerk in the store, later became its proprietor and one of the leading business men of the town.
In 1836, Joseph Gibbs, Andrew Dorsey, John M. B. Wetherwax, Dr. George W. Blair, Elery P. Potter, and Rufus Hill moved into the township. Gibbs settled on a large farm a mile and a half south of Homer village, and his family still remain in possession. A. Dorsey was magistrate for years, and represented the county in the State legislature during 1837-38. He commenced running a stage in 1836, leaving Jonesville and Marshall on successive days. Thomas Dorsey was the first driver upon this route. Wetherwax and A. Letts, partners in trade, took the lead in merchandising for several years.
Dr. Blair entered upon the practice of his profession, and has but recently retired therefrom. He relates the following incidents of the pioneer period : riding along the road one evening, he saw before him what seemed a black cat ; another, and yet others appeared, until no less than five occupied the route, a few feet in front of his horse, whose movements indicated great uneasiness. Presently a large bear came in view and rose upon her hind feet, and the doctor hurriedly withdrew from the scene. At another time, returning late at night from a call, a pack of wolves joined in hot pursuit, which drove him to the protection of a tree, whence he looked down upon the baffled brutes, whose fearful howls ceased only with the light of day, when they dispersed and he was free.
Among the settlers of 1837 were David Burt, who entered land three miles from the village, Arza Lewis, and Hiram Smith, from Clyde, Wayne county, New York, Edward Henderson, David L. Mahany, and Michael Miller. Messrs. Lewis and Smith brought on a large stock of goods, and in June opened a store. Miller bought, but did not occupy, the land now owned by Andrew Herrick. He started a nursery at the village, and cultivated for eight years ; made an unsuccess- ful attempt to raise silk-worms ; and, hiring the log house formerly occupied by Barney, therein kept boarders. Mrs. Miller at the age of seventy-nine is a smart old lady. In 1875 she passed her seventy-fifth birthday with a daughter in Portland, Oregon, to which she journeyed without escort. She also visited Mr. Barney in San Francisco, his present place of residence.
In 1838, four brothers, David, John, Huntington, and Eleazer Jaynes settled in the southwest of the township, and formed what has since been called the "Jaynes settlement."
Two doctors, Vernon Parks and Dwight Nims, moved to Homer in 1839, and there began the practice of medicine. In 1840, Henry Churchill located in the village, and four years later James Worthington settled on a farm two miles from
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122
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Homer, and thereon still resides. It is related concerning the first year of settle- ment that the McMurtries sought seed-corn as far as Ann Arbor, and obtained it from farmers in small amounts and at a cost of five dollars per bushel. Late in the fall of 1832 they bought two pigs at White Pigeon, but their main depend- ence for meat was the Indians, who sold venison, turkey, and honey. Richard McMurtrie is supposed to have headed the long line of marriages celebrated in the township. His wife was Nancy Ansterburg, daughter of Frederick Anster- burg, a settler of 1833. Henry McMurtrie married Viletta Leach in 1836. This lady taught the first school in Homer, being engaged by William Winter- steen to teach his own and his neighbors' children. An orchard was set out by John Burt in 1835. Milton Barney raised the first peaches in 1836. Bent erected a cider-mill in 1859. A reaper and mower, made by Smith, of Chicago, was used by Joseph Gibbs in 1852. It was attached to the forewheels of a wagon, and is yet used. Bent owned the first stationary thrasher, and in 1847, Messrs. De Bow and Van Horn brought an improved thrasher and separator into the town. A school-house, eighteen by twenty-two feet, and framed, was erected in 1835, on the farm of John Burt. J. Cross was the first teacher.
The building was moved east of the site of the present Methodist church, and after several years was dismantled to give place to another, which, in time, was sold and used as a dwelling. The township supports eight schools, including the graded institution located at the village.
TOWN-MEETING.
A civil event always important with a free people, the first town-meeting as such, is regarded with unusual interest. The first in Homer was held April, 1834, at the house of Milton Barney. The moderator was Henry Cook, and Osha Wilder officiated as clerk. Stephen S. Powers was chosen supervisor, C. C. Lewis town clerk, E. L. Rogers, John Fabrique, and Anthony Doolittle were as- sessors, and George S. Letts constable and collector. Mr. Barney served as justice, under appointment, until 1837, when the system changed, and Andrew Dorsey, Freeman Rathburn, James McGregor, and S. S. Powers were elected by the people.
VILLAGE OF HOMER.
Milton Barney is justly entitled to the credit of having founded the village, and to the discernment which foresaw the advantages to be realized from the water-power here furnished. Nor did he, as a speculator, sit idly by and wait upon the enterprise of others and block the wheels of progress. Successive events found him their manager. In 1832 he built a saw- and grist-mill. In 1833 he opened a small store, and in 1834 and 1835 had begun and completed the Homer Hotel. He also erected a store building on the corner opposite the hotel. A joint stock company, consisting of Walter Wright, Nelson D. Skeeles, Asahel Finch, Jr., and M. Barney, was formed in 1837; to these the mill and hotel were sold, and they the same year built the Homer mills, involving a cost of twenty thousand dollars.
In 1838 the Calhoun mills, one mile north of the village, were built by a second company, composed of James Hopkins, Henry Cook, John M. B. Wether- wax, Abram Letts, and Lewis Smith. During 1837 and 1838, Frederick R. Hatch built the Homer Exchange, and died soon after moving into the house. The property was variously owned until it became the property of William P. Hooker, of Vermont. Hooker changed the name to Green Mountain House, and served as its landlord until 1853, since which it has not been used as an inn. The house built by Barney and sold to the company was kept by him as the Barney House. In 1848, Thomas Dorsey caused it to be remodeled and known as the Dorsey House. It was then a station of the Hillsdale, Jonesville, and Marshall stages. The house is now owned and kept by E. Richardson, as the Richardson Hotel. Subsequent to the sale of the hotel property, Barney built a commodious stone house, into which he moved in 1838. The structure is now the home of Albert Collins. The project of a canal to connect the Detroit river and Lake Erie with Lake Michigan, following the channels of the Huron and St. Joseph rivers, was considered by Barney and other leading men. A survey showed the plan to be feasible, and the people of Homer became deeply interested in the proposed work. Later, when the Michigan Central railroad was contem- plated, Homer was found on the direct line; but the commissioners found the people so absorbed in their canal scheme as to refuse all support, and the road was constructed more circuitously, building up neighboring villages and leaving Homer to one side. The railroad was then considered more expeditious than the stage for passenger conveyance, but impracticable for conveyance of freight. The canal scheme failed, and the Homer people regretted their great mistake; and when, at a later date, the Air-line and Northern were projected, each received a cordial, hearty support, and the completion of the Air-line, September 10, 1870, was observed by a general gathering and grand celebration. Three years later the Northern Central was an accomplished work.
BANKING INTEREST.
In 1837 a new system of banking sprang into existence in Michigan. Its basis was real estate security. Bill-holders were secured by bond and mortgage on real estate, which consisted principally of town lots and unimproved lands, whose value was fixed at very high rates. The first bank of the kind had its origin in Homer, and the scheme spread rapidly throughout the country. Known as the "Wild Cat" banks, these institutions became the instigators of speculation, and speedily terminated an inglorious existence.
Of the Homer bank, the president was Milton Barney, and Asahel Finch was cashier. Eight directors were chosen, namely: Milton Barney, Asahel Finch, Elisha Thornton, Arza Lewis, Hiram Smith, N. D. Skeeles, and Walter Wright, of Homer, and Leonard Stow, of Concord. The bank was established in Barney's store, and the paying out of the first bills was from the back window. In 1838 a fine bank building was erected by the directors. It was of brick, and was com- mandingly located in the central part of the village. The bank ceased existence before the completion of this building, and it was diverted from the use originally intended.
EDUCATIONAL.
In 1845, the citizens of Homer canvassing the subject of a higher grade of school for the village and vicinity, several leading citizens, including Hiram Smith, Arza Lewis, Henry Churchill, Dwight Nims, Vernon Parks, and B. S. Redfield organized a board of education, who remodeled the old banking-house, and therein established a school during the ensuing fall. This, the first school in which class- ical studies were taught in the township, was conducted by Josiah N. Westcott, of western New York, for several years.
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