USA > Michigan > Calhoun County > History of Calhoun county, Michigan, With Illustrations descriptive of its scenery > Part 45
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A private subscription was circulated, in 1856, by an association comprising most of the old board, and the proceeds were applied to the erection of an academy, built of brick, at a cost of about six thousand dollars. Among the instructors in this building were J. N. Westcott, Tenney M. Gibbs, and B. Fancher. Later the academy was transferred to the district, and reopened as the "Homer Union School."
The first village school was taught by Hannah Leach, about the year 1835, in the old frame formerly used by Mr. Barney as a store.
A burying-ground, two acres in area, west of the village, and north of Homer lake, was set off in 1835 by Mr. Barney, and in August of the following year the body of William Powers was therein interred. The death of Mr. Powers was the first in Homer township. A few years later a Mrs. Castiline was buried in a private grave-yard laid out on land owned by John Bent. A plat adjoining, and belonging to Mr. Barney, was donated by him, and the two, having an area of two and a half acres, constituted the Homer cemetery prior to 1874. A new cemetery was laid out in 1874 on land purchased from the heirs of Dr. Parks, and located adjacent to the corporation limits. It is comprised in a tract of ten acres, and is laid off in five blocks, ranging from thirty-four to one hundred and thirty-nine lots each.
INCORPORATION OF HOMER.
The village was incorporated in 1871, and at the first election the following corporated officers were chosen : for President, George H. French ; Trustees, G. H. French, Thos. Lyon, Henry Churchill, James W. Vanderburg, Alexander Arthur, and E. Potter ; Assessor, B. F. Wetherby ; Treasurer, Thomas Lyon ; Recorder, Edward Lewis; Marshal, A. J. Anson ; and Street Commissioners, Jas. H. Cook and A. B. Waterman.
HOMER BUSINESS INTERESTS.
George Ballentine, in 1836, engaged in carriage-making, and sold in the year succeeding to Messrs. Benton & Dorsey. In 1835, Asel Woodruff opened a cabinet-shop, and David C. Morgan began chair-making. The boot and shoe business was begun in 1837, by N. B. Eaton, and in 1840 Harvey Foot opened a harness-shop. Samuel Shaw started tailoring in 1835, and A. J. Chestney intro- duced painting in 1838. The tin and sheet-iron works of Messrs. Letts & Wether- wax were an institution of the early days; and, among others, Allen Potter, late member of Congress from Kalamazoo, worked as journeyman in their shop. Allen Deming commenced law practice in 1839. Champion Eslow was the blacksmith of 1835, and was the following year succeeded by Messrs. Dorsey & Benton, who continued till 1842. D. Benton, A. Dorsey, and E. Thornton, uniting under the firm-name of D. Benton & Co., during the year 1840 engaged in the manufacture of fanning-mills. A foundry was started by E. G. Champion, whose interest was purchased by Messrs. Potter & Hill ; the latter-named of the firm sold to L. Cham- pion. The new firm of Potter & Champion connected a machine-shop, planing- mill, and a moulding establishment with their foundry. The firm built the first steam-engine in the place.
The first newspaper in the village was issued by J. H. Wigmire, by whom it was entitled The Homer Index. Within a year it passed into the hands of Messrs.
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RESIDENCE OF JOHN POWERS, HOMER, CALHOUN COUNTY, MICH.
T. E. ESLOW .
MRS. T. E. ESLOW.
RESIDENCE OF THOS. E. ESLOW, HOMER, MICH.
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Lane & Burt. The latter retiring, the publication was continued by Mr. Lane, until the purchase of a half-interest by Mr. Van Mumbrane. The present pub- lishers are therefore Lane & Van Mumbrane.
For their business hours the citizens of Homer have habits of close attention, and for gayer times a cornet band, led by W. H. Lane, leads in music and recreation. The first postmaster, Milton Barney, kept his office in the store on the corner opposite the hotel. The mail was for some time carried on horseback by Henry Dorsey from Jonesville. The present postmaster, E. Henderson, has held the position for sixteen years.
In 1837-38, Andrew Dorsey was elected to the State legislature. Hiram Smith was chosen representative in 1847-48, and in 1861 and 1863 George H. French was elected to the senate. Thus it is seen that in trade, education, finance, public works, manufacture, and official position the citizens of Homer have been con- spicuously active.
INTERESTS OF TO-DAY.
Messrs. Cowan & Adams are proprietors of the Homer and Calhoun mills. William Raby controls the planing-mills. Hiram L. Hopkins is proprietor of a planing-mill and machine-shop, while coopering is done by Horace Anson, David B. V. Victor, and D. Swartz. George Sanford is engaged in tin and sheet-iron manufacture, Andrew Dorsey in wagon-making, and A. V. Vrooman and Bradford Hew are in the carriage and blacksmith business. The druggists are M. W. Hatch, W. A. Lane, and E. Henderson & Son. Three dry-goods establishments are con- trolled respectively by C. J. Murray & Co., George H. French, and R. H. & C. T. Howe. Henry Green and Messrs. Thorn & Bradley are engaged in the boot and shoe trade. Mrs. E. M. Henshaw is confectioner ; R. F. Church is jeweler ; and J. M. Palmer, O. W. Mumbrue, and Mahany Bros. are grocers. Banking is conducted by Thomas Lyon, of Homer Exchange bank, and by Messrs. Parks & Pratt. Hotels are kept respectively by A. M. Osborn, of the Osborn House, and E. Richardson, of the Richardson House. The market men are Messrs. Wells & Powers, William Harris, and John Adams. Livery stables are kept by John Hoffman and Clarence Wilber. Two hardware stores are kept by E. P. Potter and B. F. Goodrich ; a store for sale of harness and trunks, by J. J. Banford ; and a store for furniture by Hezmalhalch & Dolph. Shipment of produce is engaged in by Messrs. Powers & Cook, J. B. Brooks, B. F. Wetherbee, and A. Collins. The village has seven physicians,-G. W. Blair, E. A. Collins, W. A. Lane, J. M. Higby, O. S. Phelps, S. T. Van Horn, and H. S. Holmer; and one dentist, C. E. De Bow. There are two resident attorneys, Byron Smith and George Westcott.
SOCIETIES.
Satisfied that lasting and substantial benefit has resulted from union in the mystic ceremonies of the lodge, members of lodges coming west hastened to plant there these institutions.
Humanity Lodge, F. A. M., was established in 1848, at a meeting held at the Dorsey House, with the following charter members : Caleb Shearman, J. S. Valen- tine, Michael Miller, John Burt, Joseph Gibbs, Nathan Eslow, Arza Lewis, and John Ballentine. The first officers were Caleb Shearman, W. M .; Isaac Van Fossen, S. W .; James Valentine, J. W .; Nathan Eslow, Treasurer ; Michael Miller, S. D .; Peter Arthur, J. D. ; Jonathan Robinson, Tyler; and James F. Wooley and Joseph Gibbs, Stewards. The present officers are Wesley Snyder, W. M .; Chas. D. Burt, S. W .; W. A. Lane, J. W .; M. W. Camburn, Treasurer ; I. J. Nelson, Secretary ; C. A. Slauson, S. D .; O. A. Allen, J. D .; S. S. Dorsey, Elias Richardson, Stewards ; and A. E. Howel, Tyler.
Patrons of Husbandry .- Homer Grange, No. 200, was organized January 10, 1874, by General Deputy C. L. King, and elected the following-named officers : Abram Gridley, Master; De Alton P. Hatch, Overseer; Leonard Graves, Lecturer ; Thomas E. Eslow, Chaplain ; E. H. Leech, Treasurer ; Charles C. Worthington, Secretary; Chandler Murry, Steward; George Aldrich, Assistant Steward; George Agnew, Gate-Keeper ; Mrs. T. F. Lacy, Ceres; Mrs. S. E. Eslow, Pomona ; Mrs. E. H. Leech, Flora; and Mrs. George Aldrich, Lady Assistant Steward. The present officers of the grange are-Abram Gridley, Master ; Thomas E. Eslow, Overseer ; Mrs. E. H. Cook, Lecturer ; Alexander Cunningham, Steward ; A. E. Howell, Assistant Steward; A. C. Sabin, Chaplain ; E. H. Leach, Treasurer ; D. P. Hatch, Secretary ; W. Snyder, Gate-Keeper ; Mrs. S. E. Eslow, Ceres ; Mrs. D. P. Hatch, Pomona; Mrs. E. L. Owen, Flora ; and Mrs. A. E. Howell, Lady Assistant Steward.
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Homer Loyal Orange Lodge, No. 69, was organized April 23, 1873, by District Master Robert Wiley, with the following-named charter members: Samuel Hannah, D. P. Hatch, William J. Caldwell, John Morrison, James Adams, and James McIlvane. The first officers were Henry Martin, W. M. ; George Armour, D. M .; James Linton, Chaplain ; Thomas Hamilton, Secretary ; Francis Hannah, Treasurer ; and Joseph Sloan, Tyler. The present officers are-D. P. Hatch, W.
M .; Henry Martin, D. M .; James McIlvane, Chaplain ; James Linton, Secre- tary ; Francis Hannah, Treasurer ; James Patterson, Tyler.
Homer Division, No. 20, Sons of Temperance, was organized on January 19, 1875, with ten charter members, named as follows : W. J. Webster, Frank Mead, E. H. Knapp, H. Hopkins, H. A. Bunnel, J. R. Hutchinson, I. J. Nelson, Mrs. W. J. Webster, Mrs. E. H. Knapp, and Mrs. Z. P. Eslow. Present officers are : I. J. Nelson, W. P .; Hattie Larlow, W. A .; Charles Dorsey, R. S .; Phebe Dorsey, A. R. S .; Charles Hatch, F. S .; Abner Sabin, Treasurer; L. T. Van- horn, Chaplain ; James McDonald, C .; Lydia Potter, A. C .; Addie Hollister, I. S .; and C. Agnew, O. S. The lodge enrolls eighty-eight members.
THE CHURCHES OF HOMER.
The Methodist Episcopal church society was formed in May, 1837, and initial meetings were held in private houses, then in the store-house of Messrs. Smith & Lewis, and later in the school-house on the farm of John Burt. The first circuit preacher was Rev. Perkiser, and H. Colclazer was the first presiding elder. The following were members of the original society : Benjamin Sabin and wife, Michael and Lydia Miller, Edmund and Delia Champion, and Orrin Ball and wife. Among the first preachers were Zebulon Brown, George Breckenridge, Elijah Pilcher, and George Smith. Michael Miller, named above, was the first superintendent of the Sunday-school instituted contemporary with the organization of the church. The present pastor is Rev. Noah Fassett. A church edifice was built by Milton Barney in 1839, and completed in the year following. E. P. Potter was the con- tractor. The cost was three thousand dollars. The dimensions are thirty by sixty feet. The society numbers one hundred and seventy-nine members, and the Sab- bath-school enrolls two hundred and six scholars. They have a library of over three hundred volumes.
THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN SOCIETY
was organized on the 4th of September, 1837, and A. Lewis, A. Finch, and D. Jaynes were chosen trustees. On the same day these officers met to concert measures regarding the erection of a house of worship. A subscription was started, a site secured, and a contract made; then work progressed, and on the 23d of April, 1838, the building was accepted and the contractors paid. The house, a frame, thirty-six by twenty-four feet, was located on the present site of Dr. Collins' dwell- ing, and cost seven hundred and thirty-nine dollars. The house, sold in 1854, is now occupied as a private dwelling. The first minister was the Rev. Dr. Concklin. Permanent organization of the society occurred June 2, 1838, with thirty-four members, some of whom united by letter, and others from a Congregational society formed on Cook's Plains some years before by Rev. John D. Pierce, of Marshall, and dissolved simultaneous with the founding of the Presbyterian church by Rev. Elijah Buck. Surviving original members are John and Elizabeth Jaynes, David Jones, Edward Henderson, and Arza Lewis. The following is the roll of pastors: Revs. J. W. Allen, Gurney, Smith, Bennett, E. Buck, H. J. Hammond, Dr. Morehouse, H. H. Northrup, G. C. Wood, Samuel Fleming, Bela Fencher, W. F. Rose, and John Gerrish, the present pastor. A vote was passed in 1851 to build, but action was delayed until 1855, when the present brick edifice was built at a cost of well-nigh nine thousand dollars. In 1877 a lecture-room was added, and a furnace placed in the basement,-improvements costing two thousand dollars. In 1869 a bell was secured for the tower, and two years previous a fine par- sonage had been built.
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
was organized as " Christ Church, of Homer," on May 25, 1840. Occasional services had been held for several years by Rev. William N. Lyster, of Brooklyn ; Rev. Darius Baker, of Jonesville; Rev. Charles Fox, of Jackson; and Rev. Montgomery Schuyler, of Marshall. Rev. William N. Lyster presided at the meeting called for organization, at which the following officers were elected: Wardens, Dwight Nims and Anthony Doolittle; and Vestrymen, Andrew Dorsey, E. Thornton, A. I. Chestney, S. Shaw, H. Smith, H. D. Garrison, and T. Hamlin. The Rev. Darius Baker officiated as rector the first year, and held services alter- nately at Homer and Jonesville. His successor, in 1842, was E. C. Hodgkin, who served three years, giving half his time to Albion. The Rev. D. Baker remained from 1845 till 1854, and from this time till 1865 the supply was irregular. Revs. Corson, of Jonesville, and William Lyster preached occasionally. Rev. Hudson was rector from 1862 to 1864; Rev. Marcus Lane, for a few months; Henry C. Randall from 1865 to 1867 ; L. L. Rogers, 1868; and Rev. L. H. Corson is the present rector. The church edifice was built during the year 1842.
VILLAGE IMPROVEMENTS.
As may be supposed, the enterprise of Homer citizens has found expression in various directions, seeking uniformly the greatest good to the greatest number.
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
An artesian well was sunk in the square. A reservoir of three hundred barrels was constructed. A brick engine-house was built at a cost of three thousand dollars, fire apparatus secured, and about five miles of plank walk laid. Lyon's block was erected with its three stories. In the highest story is a large hall, and in the basement are three stores. Improvements continue, and brick buildings are in progress of construction. With a population of a thousand, the above record is one of which the citizen may well be proud. The following statistics present in brief a statement of the resources of the township at large :
Population of Homer .- Males, 922 ; females, 850; total, 1772.
Live-Stock .- Horses, 536; work oxen, 28; milch cows, 601; neat cattle, other than work oxen and cows, 529; swine over six months old, 818; sheep over six months old, 3106; sheep sheared 1873, 3317 ; mules, 16.
Wheat on the ground, May, 1874, 4097 acres ; wheat harvested 1873, 3515 acres ; corn harvested 1873, 1438 acres; wheat raised 1873, 41,204 bushels ; corn raised 1873, 39,886 bushels ; other grains, 19,808 bushels ; potatoes raised 1873, 4779 bushels ; hay cut 1873, 1948 tons; wool sheared, 15,656 pounds ; pork marketed, 169,254 pounds ; cheese made, 285 pounds ; butter made, 60,100 pounds ; fruit dried for market, 18,681 pounds ; cider made, 483 barrels ; acres of orchards, 362; apples raised 1873, 20,502 bushels ; pears raised 1873, 23 bushels ; cherries raised 1873, 274 bushels ; melons and garden vegetables, 956 bushels.
Thanks are tendered E. Potter, Thomas Dorsey, Daniel Dorsey, and Dr. Wil- liam H. Lane for courtesy and information supplied.
ยท
HON. GEO. H. FRENCH.
GEORGE H. FRENCH was born in Junius, Seneca county, New York, January 18, 1820. His parents were Nathaniel and Louisa French, who emigrated from Berkshire county, Massachu- setts, to western New York when it was a comparative wilderness. His father was a farmer, and here upon the farm, in this new region, the son spent his boyhood, receiving only such an education as the common schools of that early day afforded, with the single exception of a winter term of three months in a select school in the village of Waterloo, six miles distant. So well, however, were these limited advantages improved that, when eighteen years of age, he commenced teaching, and for several years during the winter months was thus engaged, and secured the reputation of being an excellent teacher. He studied while he taught, thus making his education practical. During the intervening summers he worked on the farm.
September 23, 1841, he married Miss Julia A. Fancher, of the same neighborhood, and the next spring removed to Tekonsha, Calhoun County, Michigan, and settled upon ninety acres of new land, two miles north of the village of Tekonsha, on the main road to Marshall. On this land a rude log house had been previously built, and a few acres of " clearing" had been made. Here he and his young wife commenced with high hopes for the future; but deep sorrow soon fell upon the humble home, blasting all these hopes and anticipations. The sudden death of his companion in the autumn of the same year, leaving him with an infant son alone in a new country and among strangers, was a blow as crushing as it was unexpected. The following spring found him returning with his motherless child to his native home, where he resided about two years.
He was again married, September 19, 1844, to Miss Sarah D. Redfield, of Clyde, Wayne county, New York, and again journeyed west.
Arriving at Tekonsha in October, he taught the village school during the winter, and com- menced again upon his land in the spring of 1845. Here he remained improving his farm till the fall of 1848.
He then removed to Homer, his present residence, and engaged soon after in the mercan- tile business, in which he still continues. For over twenty-five years he has steadily pursued an honorable business career, and by industry, economy, and integrity has accumulated a moderate competency, meantime giving to his children the advantages of a liberal education, and always contributing generously of his means to promote the cause of education and re- ligion, and to advance the general interests of the town. In Tekonsha and in Homer he has been frequently called by his townsmen to positions of public trust, and in the fall of 1860 he was elected to the State senate,-re-elected two years later,-thus representing the county in the legislature two regular and three special sessions during the exciting and perilous times of the great rebellion.
His whole public course during those eventful times was characterized by an earnest, enlight- ened, patriotic love of country and of freedom; and in general legislation his action was uni- formly judicious and practical,-such as to commend itself to his constituents and command their confidence.
To him belongs the honor of introducing into the legislature the first resolution asking Con- gress to enact, as a war measure, a law "providing that all persons held to service or labor by those engaged in rebellion shall be discharged therefrom, and endowed with freedom."
This measure, at the time the resolution was offered (January 8, 1862), was in advance of public opinion ; yet, in a somewhat modified form, it passed both houses. And so rapidly did public sentiment concentrate in favor of striking a death-blow at slavery, impelled thereto by the reverses of our army, and the manifest necessities of the terrible struggle for the nation's life, that in less than a year thereafter the emancipation proclamation was issued, and the policy of the nation in regard to slavery became an accomplished fact. The ringing, patriotic resolutions on the "state of the Union," adopted a year later, were mainly his production. The following extract shows their spirit :- " That to weaken the enemy by cutting off his supplies,-taking
away his means of support,-stripping him of his property, and depriving him of his slaves, is no less a duty than actually fighting him in the field ; and is demanded alike by the priceless blood of the gallant soldiers of our army, and the sacredness of the cause in which we are engaged."
During the same session of 1863 he introduced a resolution, which was unanimously adopted, to provide " suitable means for perpetuating the memory of the brave soldiers who fell on the field of battle or died in the service of the country, to the end that their names and heroic deeds, their sacrifices and sufferings, may be transmitted to posterity upon the enduring records of the State in a glorious and imperishable ROLL OF HONOR."
To him, therefore, must be given the credit of being first in originating, and of taking the initial step in providing, the invaluable memorial record which is now carefully preserved in the archives of the State,-a record in which every citizen has an interest, and of which all the people of the State may justly be proud.
To him also is the village of Homer and its surrounding country largely indebted for the two competing lines of railroad built through the town within the last ten years. For these valuable public improvements, affording at the present time such excellent facilities for travel, for the transportation of merchandise, and shipment of produce, he labored long and persist- ently, spending both time and money freely. Called to be a director in both of the companies that built the roads, and thus having a large share of the preliminary work of the organiza- tions in the locality he represented to do, large drafts were necessarily made upon his time and energy.
In obtaining subscriptions, in adjusting rights of way, in legislation in the boards of directors, in arranging details, and overcoming difficulties, his patience and judgment, his wisdom and perseverance, as well as his practical knowledge of men and of public affairs, were called into full and most successful exercise.
His admirable capacity for such enterprises was fully established, and his enlightened and liberal public spirit universally conceded.
Accustomed to attend upon the services of the sanctuary from a child, the subject of our sketch received in early life strong religious impressions, leading to such convictions of truth and duty that, at the age of seventeen, he made a public confession of his faith in Christ, and united with the Presbyterian church of his native town.
Soon after his return to Tekonsha (there being then no church of his denomination there), he, in company with Rev. Calvin Clark, a devoted pioneer home missionary, visited all the scattered individuals residing in the vicinity who entertained the same religious preferences with him- self, the result being that these isolated persons were gathered together, a nucleus formed, and a Presbyterian church organized with eight or ten members, which has now become a pros- perous organization.
After his removal to Homer he still continued to take a lively interest in the little band, and aided them in building a new house of worship.
For twenty-five years or more he has occupied an official position in the church at Homer, and, with slight interruptions, has for the same length of time been the superintendent of the Sabbath-school, seldom being absent from his post of duty.
In official as well as in private life, his character and bearing has been that of an honest, conscientious Christian man. His benefactions, like his labors, have been constant and unre- mitting. In his habits, plain, temperate, and unostentatious; in opinion, clear and intelli- gent ; in judgment, candid, judicious, and impartial; having strong, decided convictions, and standing firmly, unfalteringly in their support, and in defense of truth, of right, and of justice, his is a type of character and conduct well worthy the imitation of those who, like him, must be to a great extent the artificers of their own fortunes and destinies.
L.S.& M. S.R.R.
RESIDENCE OF HON. GEO. H. FRENCH, HOMER, MICHIGAN .
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THOMAS CHISHOLM
MRS. THOMAS CHISHOLM
RESIDENCE OF THOS. CHISHOLM, SEC. 29, MARENGO TP., CALHOUN CO., MICH.
MARENGO TOWNSHIP.
BY an act of the Territorial legislature of the year 1834 the township of . Marengo was organized, and contained the townships of Sheridan, Lee, and Clarence. In 1836-37 these were constituted separate townships, unchanged in formation, as platted on the maps of the United States survey. Marengo proper is there known as township 2, south ; range 5, west. The northern surface is rolling, the southern undulating, and comprises what are designated as "burr oak plains," and the scattering growth constitutes the " oak openings."
The township is traversed by the Kalamazoo, which enters from the southeast, and flows westward through the southern portion. Rice creek crosses the eastern border, and, flowing through the centre of the township to section 17, diverges in a southwest course. Small lakes exist in various localities. To the north is Fish lake, to the northeast is Water lake, in the centre is School lake, and southwest is Buck Horn lake. Numerous springs contribute to furnish an unfailing supply of water. The upland soil is a sandy loam, while on the plains is a rich dark loam, especially well calculated for the growth of winter wheat, corn, and oats. Spring wheat on new ground did well, but of late has not encouraged growth. Root crops yield a large return. Fruit is raised in abundance. Opportunities for grazing encourage sheep-raising, and the wool crop is a staple product. Events prove that pioneers in this locality were fortunate in their choice of lands for homes. Concurring statements substantiate the inviting character of place and surrounding. As settlers halted here in early summer, they beheld the plains decked in wild-flowers of surprising loveliness. Birds of many kinds and numerous flew from tree to tree, and, singing, filled the air with sweet melody. The deer were daily seen grazing upon the rich herbage, or nimbly bounding over the surface. It was a scene for the painter. Prior to the organization of the town- ship, leading men assembled to decide upon a name. Mr. Seely, among others, proposed one of these two,-Marengo or St. Cloud. The former was selected and confirmed.
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