USA > Michigan > Calhoun County > History of Calhoun county, Michigan, With Illustrations descriptive of its scenery > Part 69
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Erastus R. Wattles settled on section 3. John Armstrong settled on section 10. Noah P. Crittenden settled on section 33, in 1837, and resided there until 1843, when he came to his death under very melancholy circumstances. He was a pas- senger on the steamer "Erie," which was totally destroyed by fire, near the mouth of Silver creek, on Lake Erie, and he was among those either burned to death or drowned in that catastrophe.
John M. Cole came in and settled on section 3, in 1837. Also David Stillson, "brother of Eli L. and George L. Stillson, who settled on section 29; and John and Abraham Frost, on section 19, the same year. In 1838, Caleb Kirby settled on section 17, on the farm now occupied by his widow, Mrs. Susan N. Kirby. Mr. K. was elected first supervisor. John Meachem, Esq., came into the township in 1835, and assisted in the erection of Hutchinson's saw-mill, and attended to other' business, but did not settle on his place, the farm now owned by Dwight Cole and others, until 1840. He was elected the first township clerk.
The first farm was opened by Roswell Crane, on section 28, in the spring of 1833, and also by him was sowed the first wheat in the township, the same season.
The first log house was also erected by him, in January, 1833. The first frame house was built by Noah P. Crittenden, on his farm in section 33, in 1837 or 1838. The first brick house was built by George W. Angell, on section 35, in 1850. It is now owned and occupied by N. G. Austin.
The first birth was Abraham, son of John Hamilton, born in June, 1838. The first marriage and death we have been unable to ascertain with sufficient definiteness to hazard their statement.
The first tavern was built and kept by Nathaniel Barney, in 1836, on the Battle Creek and Hastings road, on 'section 34, near the present residence of his son, Oliver Barney. It was a log house, and he kept it for a number of years.
THE FIRST SCHOOL-HOUSE
was erected in the southern district about 1839. It was built through the energy of Isaac Sutton, who was desirous of giving his children the advantages of edu- cation. The school was first taught by Miss Lydia Mott, who resided at Hickory Grove, Jackson county. The first scholars were the Suttons, Mills, and Coxes; in all about a dozen.
THE FIRST ROAD
running through the township we learn from the following record :
" Field notes of a road surveyed April 22, 1833, in the township of Milton, and county of Calhoun (this was prior to the organization of Bedford, and when Milton was a confederation of future townships).
" Commencing at a stake on Territorial road, 4 chains and 44 links north from quarter-post between sections 28 and 29, town 1 south, range 8 west.
" 1, north 72º 15" west, 143 chains, 70 links to stake; 2, north 88° west, 55 chains ; 3, north 78° 30" west, 12 chains, 25 links; 4, south 78° west, 12 chains, 12 links to west side of creek on the west line of section 30, near the southwest corner of said section, on the bank of the Kalamazoo river,-section corner not to be found,-intersecting a road in Kalamazoo county.
" M. PRESTON, Surveyor.
" We have laid out and established a public highway road .according to the above survey.
" JEREMIAH GARDNER, " ISAAC THOMAS, " Commissioners of Highways.
"SAMUEL CONVIS, Township Clerk."
FIRST IMPROVED STOCK.
The first thorough-bred merinos were introduced into Bedford township (just over the Pennfield line) by Colonel William C. Fonda, in 1854. He purchased a Vermont buck, for which he paid five hundred dollars, and had several fine sheep of that breed, which cost him from two hundred and fifty to four hundred dollars.
The first improved " short-horns" were imported from Pennsylvania in 1853. They consisted of some fine Durhams, from the John North stock farm, in Chester county, and also some splendid Alderneys, which Colonel Fonda procured from John Burton, and he from the well-known breeder, Bates, of England, and from Samuel Sharpless and Richard Darlington, of Chester county, Pennsylvania. He also imported some fine Chester White hogs in 1860.
This stock furnished the surrounding country, and supplied a want long felt by stock-raisers. It did much towards the improvement of stock, and fine-graded animals are now plentiful in various parts of the county.
THE FIRST SAW-MILL
was erected by John Conway, near the mouth of a small branch of the Kalamazoo river, in 1834. He conducted operations until about 1839, when it was discon- tinued, and a new mill was erected on the same water-power, a little east of the original site, by Joel G. Goff. He continued the mill until about 1856, when the present one was built, about forty rods east of its predecessor. The same dam has served all three of these mills, only being differently tapped, so as to be the better utilized. The proprietor of the present mill, which, as above stated, was built in 1856, is Philo Pratt.
The saw-mill at Bedford Centre was built by John Armstrong, John Meachem, and Hon. V. P. Collier, for Matthias Hutchinson, in 1837. It was operated for many years, and finally repaired and converted into a wagon-shop by Jonathan H. Halstead. The remnant of the old mill still stands, a solitary and venerable land- mark and memento of "ye olden time."
THE FIRST GRIST-MILL
was erected by H. M. Marvin in 1855, and put in operation in the year following. He conducted the mill until 1866, when he disposed of it to Messrs. Kane & Meachem. After various changes in the copartnership,-through all of which Mr. Meachem remained,-the present firm was established by the admission of George Colborn in February, 1876. The style of the concern is now Meachem &
194
.
PHOTO. BY CRISPELL.
PHOTO, BY CRISPELL.
JOHN COX.
MRS.JOHN COX.
RESIDENCE OF JOHN COX, BEDFORD TP, CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
י
195
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Colborn. The amount of custom-work of all kinds for the year 1876 was twenty thousand bushels.
CIVIL ORGANIZATION.
The township was organized in 1839, and includes a single surveyed township- township 1 south, range 8 west-within its limits.
The following extracts from the township records show that the first township- meeting was held at the house of Josiah Gilbert, on the 18th day of April, A.D. 1839:
" The meeting was organized by appointing Caleb Kirby moderator, and John Meachem, Joseph Kirby, Erastus R. Wattles, and John L. Bolcom inspectors of election, who, having qualified, appointed Lucian M. Weaver clerk.
" The meeting then proceeded to vote for township officers, which resulted as follows :
" Supervisor, Caleb Kirby; Township Clerk, John Meachem; Treasurer, Isaac Sutton; Assessors, Schuyler Goff, John P. Ames, and Harvey Cooley; Collector, John Armstrong; School Inspectors, John Meachem, Caleb Kirby, and Abra- ham Lockwood; Directors of the Poor, Isaac Sutton and Jacob Frost; Commis- sioners of Highways, Isaac Sutton, E. R. Wattles, and Stephen H. Cannon; Justices of the Peace, John P. Ames (one year), John Meachem (two years), George B. Hamilton (three years), Noah P. Crittenden (four years); Constables, John Armstrong and John Hamilton; Overseers of Highways, John Stringham (district No. 1), Solomon Trip (2), Jacob Stringham (3), John Meachem (4), Harvey Lane (5), Josiah Gilbert (6), Thomas H. Thomas (7), John Hamilton (8), Schuyler Goff (9).
" Voted, that there be a pound erected in the centre of the township, and that John Meachem be pound-master.
" Voted, that there be two hundred dollars raised for the purpose of building a bridge over the Kalamazoo river, in road district No. 9.
" Voted, that a map be procured from the land-office for the use of the assessors.
" Voted, that the next township-meeting be held at the house of John Meachem.
" April 3, 1839, E. R. Wattles was appointed deputy township clerk.
" At a meeting of the town board held on the 18th of April, 1839, the follow- ing vacancies were filled by appointment: Josiah Gilbert, overseer of highways in district No. 6; E. R. Wattles, school inspector in place of Abraham Lock wood, who neglected to qualify.
" To the Clerk of Calhoun County :
" We do hereby certify that we believe the persons herein named possess the requisite qualifications for jurors for the year 1839, viz., Abraham Frost, Noah P. Crittenden, David Stillson, Joseph Kirby, and Lucian M. Weaver.
" H. COOLEY, "J. P. AMES,
Assessors.
"SCHUYLER GOFF,
"JOHN MEACHEM, Township Clerk.
"BEDFORD, May 25, 1839."
The township clerks from 1840 to 1876, inclusive, have been John Meachem (eight years), Thomas Halbert (three years), Wm. W. Lobdell, Benjamin J. Weed, George W. McAllister, Charles C. Swift, Adam Crozier, John C. Wilde, Dwight Cole (three years), Julius Ramsford, Frank A. Ford (two years), Silas H. Corwin (three years), Edwin F. Avery, Benjamin F. Reynolds, Joseph R. Godsmark (two years), Geo. W. Nichols, Lorenzo H. Fish (two years) P. M. Fish (three years), Simeon E. Bryant, Orson A. Nichols,-appointed to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Fish removing.
The supervisors from 1840 to 1876, inclusive, have been Isaac Sutton (two years), Caleb Kirby (six years), Abraham Lockwood, Asa U. Sutton (two years), Platt Gilbert (two years), Artemus Doane (two years), Harry Harman (six years), John C. Wilde (five years), Elias C. Manchester, Chester W. Eldred, David S. Swift (two years), Orson A. Nichols (two years), Haman Bradley, Edward White (two years), Harry Harman (two years, present incumbent).
The justices of the peace for the same period have been Erastus R. Wattles (eight years), Geo. W. Angell (nine years), John Meachem (eleven years), Geo. B. Hamilton (sixteen years), David Stillson (vacancy), Geo. W. McAllister, John Armstrong, Daniel P. Chase (vacancy), John Fellows, James W. Pugsley, Caleb Kirby (eight years), John Sweeney (vacancy), Cephas B. Hubbard, Austin G. Rowell, John C. Wilde (eight years), J. C. Bryant, C. B. Hubbard (ten years), Charles Austin, Abraham Frost, Milton Barney, David S. Swift (eight years), Stanley Meachem (eight years), Erastus W. Jones (vacancy), John Stringham (vacancy), Elias C. Manchester (nine years), John W. Wilkinson, Orson A. Nichols, Joseph C. Cook, Geo. W. Nichols, Geo. M. Evans (vacancy), Joseph P. Cook (four years), Homer Case (three years), R. B. Jones (two years), Seth
Pratt (four years), John Godsmark (one year), Charles Sloan, W. C. Dumphrey (vacancy).
DRAINAGE.
The township is watered in the southern portion by the Kalamazoo river, cen- trally by Wabasacon creek, northerly by Wabasacon lake, and easterly by Seven- Mile creek and St. Mary's lake.
The name of the township was suggested by Josiah Gilbert, at a preliminary meeting, for the reason that he came from Bedford, Westchester county, New York.
The lake located in the northern part of the township, spelled Ohosecon, on Farmer's map of Calhoun County, and in the more recent atlas Wabasacon, was named by the Indians who used to live in the neighborhood.
LAKE ST. MARY,
partially in Bedford and Pennfield townships, received its name from Henry Willis, who used to reside near its eastern bank.
ANCIENT MOUND.
An Indian fort and mound formerly existed on section 10, near the present village of Bedford. The fort was elliptical in shape, and in dimensions about six by four rods. A short distance northeast of the gateway was a well-defined mound, twenty-five feet in diameter and three feet high. Scarcely any trace of either remains at the present.
INDIAN VILLAGE.
Prior to and at the time the first white settlers arrived, there existed on sec- tion 16 a small Indian village, where the " noble red men" (or rather their squaws) cultivated a small parcel of land, probably about three acres in extent.
THE FIRST BRIDGE
over the Kalamazoo river, in Bedford township, was erected in pursuance of a vote passed at the first township meeting, in 1839, appropriating two hundred dollars for that purpose. The contract was let to John Armstrong, and the bridge was constructed in 1840. It was built of oak timber, hewn, with mud-sills rest- ing on the bed of the river, running with the stream, and posts mortised, with caps and stringers reaching from one bent to another. It was planked with oaken boards, and had a railing on each side.
ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1.
At the first meeting of the school inspectors of Bedford township, held April 18, 1839, Caleb Kirby was elected chairman, and John Meachem served as clerk. They then proceeded to organize district No. 1, as follows, to wit :
" Beginning at the northeast corner of section No. 1, thence south to the quarter-line on the east side of said section ; thence south, including the west half of southwest quarter of section 6 and the west one-half of section 7, in the township of Emmett, to the southeast corner of section 12, in the township of Milton ; thence west to the Kalamazoo river ; thence down said river to the east and west quarter-line of said section 12; thence west in said quarter-line to the west side of section No. 11; thence with the town line; thence easterly to the place of beginning, including the south half of sections Nos. 35 and 36, in the township of Bedford.
" JOHN MEACHEM, " CALEB KIRBY, " ABRAHAM LOCKWOOD, " Board of School Inspectors.
" JOHN MEACHEM, Township Clerk."
The first and only record of the appointment of teachers in early times is the subjoined :
" At a meeting of the board of school inspectors, held on the 30th day of December, 1843, David Sutton was authorized to teach a school in district No. 1, and Aaron Sutton in district No. 3, in the township of Bedford."
The following item is of interest :
" Apportionment of school moneys for the year 1842. Fourteen dollars and eighty cents to the several districts in the township of Bedford, as follows,-viz. :
Scholars.
Amount.
1. Bedford and Pennfield
7
$2.59
2. Johnstown and Bedford ..
6
2.22
17
6.29
3. Bedford
10
3.70
4. Bedford and Ross
40
$14.80
196
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
THE FIRST POST-OFFICE
was kept by Erastus R. Wattles, at his house, about one mile north of Bedford Centre, in section 3, in 1839. The mail was carried on horseback, by a man named Salter. The route was from Marshall to Hastings, via Verona. A few years subsequent, the post-office was removed to Bedford Centre, and kept by John Reynolds, and successively by John Meachem, S. H. Corwin, J. R. Gods- mark, and at present by J. B. Cookson, and by others at various times, whose names we did not learn.
The first stage was established by Colonel John Stuart, about 1842. It ran tri-weekly at first, from Battle Creek to Grand Rapids, and daily from Battle Creek to Bedford Centre.
BEDFORD CENTRE
was laid out on land owned by Matthias Hutchinson, in the year 1838 or 1839, who erected a saw-mill there in 1837. He started the village by donating lots to those who would effect a permanent settlement therein.
The first log house erected was the house in which Mr. Hutchinson boarded the men who built his mill. This was completed in 1837. It was a primitive affair, one of the old hewn log structures with a stick chimney. From this time to 1840 quite a number availed themselves of the inducements offered by Mr. Hutchinson, but the class of citizens who came in were not of the good, substan- tial kind calculated to enhance the prosperity of an intended village, consequently the venture was not a brilliant success. After discontinuing the " free gifts" of lots, a better class of residents came in, and from about 1842 to 1850 the village increased in proportion to the surrounding settlements.
In 1842, the first school-house was erected, pursuant to the annexed proceeding of the inspectors of primary schools :
" Be it remembered that on the 8th day of November, A.D. 1842, we, the un- dersigned inspectors of primary schools, in the township of Bedford, did ordain and establish a school district in said township, to be known as School District No. 6, in the Township of Bedford, County of Calhoun, and State of Michigan, to be bounded as follows, to wit :
"Sections 9 and 10, and all of section 11, also the north half of sections 14, 15, and 16, in the township of Bedford; and we do further order, that the first meet- ing in said district be held at the house of John P. Ames, on the 16th day of November, at two P.M. of that day, A.D. 1842.
" CALEB KIRBY, " E. R. WATTLES, " School Inspectors.
" JOHN MEACHEM, Township Clerk."
THE FIRST CHURCH
regularly organized in the village was the Congregational, June 21, 1848, and the first sacred edifice was erected by the same denomination in 1855. Immediately after the provision for intellectual and spiritual culture, however, stores and other business enterprises were of course established !
THE FIRST STORE
having been erected by Stephen Gilbert, in 1858, was stocked with a small and miscellaneous assortment of goods, such as are usually to be found in a general country store.
Prior to this was erected the first tavern, which was built and kept by Thomas Jefferson Peabody, as early as 1850, in the house now owned and occupied by H. M. Marvin as a dwelling. The present hotel was built by Messrs. Avery & Higley, in 1862, and is now under the proprietorship of Charles Shepard. The building of the saw- and grist-mills, with other matter pertaining to the history of them, is severally treated elsewhere.
The first physician who became a resident of Bedford Centre was Henry Wat- son, M.D., who came in 186 -. Previous to this the ailments of the villagers were attended to by Dr. Doane, who resided for many years on the farm now owned by C. R. Richtmyer.
The prosperity of the village has been varied and fluctuating. Its business and material interests are now represented by two dry-goods, two grocery-, one drug-, and one hardware-store, one saw- and one grist-mill, a wagon-shop, two black- smithies, a school, a church, one hotel, and a post-office established about 1840, -John Reynolds first postmaster,-having a daily mail. The village enjoys a daily stage, connecting it with both Battle Creek and Hastings. The amount of busi- ness in 1876 aggregated about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
RELIGIOUS.
The first religious body regularly organized in Bedford township was the Con- gregational society, which was formed June 21, 1848, by the Rev. Mr. Bradley,
in the barn of William T. Hamilton, with twenty-six members, among whom were Solon Hale and wife, Jacob Demorest and wife, Mrs. H. M. Marvin, Jacob Bryant and wife, William T. Hamilton and wife, John Hamilton and others. The succession of ministers, as near as we can ascertain in the absence of the necessary records, includes the following : Revs. Bushnell, Shaw, Scotford, Jones, Van Aussen, Fitzmorris, McFarland, Crane, and Sanderson. The present officers are George Swanson, Henry Mantell, Solon Hale, deacons; John Gods- mark, George Swanson, and Jacob Mandy, trustees; Charles Fellowes, clerk ; George Swanson, treasurer. The present membership is seventy-five.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The first religious meetings held in the township were under the auspices of the Methodist church, and were held as early as 1838, by Henry Worthington, but no regular class was formed by him. He was succeeded in the itineracy by the Fabin brothers, and they by Elder Sapp, who organized a class at Bedford Centre. About 1850 a circuit was formed consisting of the towns of Pennfield, Bedford, Assyria, Ross, and Johnstown, under the direction of Rev. R. Sapp, presiding elder. Rev. Benson was the first circuit-preacher, who has been suc- ceeded in the work by Revs. M. I. Smith, Lewman Gee, A. E. Gore, J. Mosher, I. N. Tomes (whose health failing him, a supply was sent in the per- son of Rev. John A. Banfield), John Hoyt, E. C. Chambers, S. W. Chapin, William Rice, E. H. Day, C. T. Van Antwerp, - Hurlbert, S. S. Wilson, A. E. Ketchum, and the present incumbent, Rev. J. S. Valentine. The official mem- bers of the charge are: Class-leaders, R. Brunny, H. C. Fisher, J. T. French ; Trustees, W. T. Dunn, Frank E. Doty, H. H. Mershon, A. C. Styles, C. W. Moore, R. Brunny, R. Webster, R. Phillips, M. Aldrich, J. C. Lampman, D. B. Bryant, S. E. Bryant, J. T. French, A. Newton, Charles Turton, and M. Pil- giner ; Stewards, Frank E. Doty, R. Webster, R. Brunny, C. W. Moore, Mary King, H. H. Mershon, H. C. Fisher, M. Aldrich, J. T. French ; Sabbath-school Superintendents, R. Brunny, H. W. Hodges, and S. E. Bryant. The present membership of the charge (which includes Bedford and Johnstown) is one hun- dred and twenty; number of Sabbath-school scholars, ninety. The churches and Sabbath-schools are all in a flourishing and prosperous condition, owing to the exertions of the officers and active members.
BEDFORD GRANGE, NO. 65, PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
The above organization was effected September 2, 1873, by C. L. King, State deputy, at the residence of E. D. Baright, where they continued to hold their meetings till in good working order, when they rented the hall over the store of O. A. Nichols, at Bedford Centre, which they still continue to occupy. The charter members of this grange were E. C. Manchester, John Stringham, W. W. Lobdell, J. C. Wiald and wife, E. D. Baright and wife, Job Manley, P. V. Fiero and wife, George Risbridger and wife, E. Carpenter and wife, C. N. Fellows, E. Stringham and wife, John Laramy, Wilmot Tagg, Charles String- ham and wife, Frank Manchester, and Mary Manchester. The first Master elected at this meeting was E. C. Manchester, who was re-elected at the annual election in December following, making him the continuous occupant of the Master's chair for a period of sixteen months. The complement of officers elected at the first meeting included John Manley, Overseer ; W. W. Lobdell, Lecturer; C. N. Fellows, Steward; C. H. Brown, Assistant Steward; Mrs. E. C. Manchester, Chap- lain ; J. C. Wiald, Treasurer ; E. D. Baright, Secretary ; P. V. Fiero, Gate-keeper; Mrs. H. Wiald, Ceres ; Mrs. C. H. Brown, Flora ; Mrs. W. W. Lobdell, Pomona : Mrs. E. D. Baright, Lady Assistant Steward. Mr. E. C. Manchester was twice a delegate to the State grange at its annual session, and Edward White being Master of the grange was eligible to membership in the State grange, and was once chosen a delegate to that body. The membership, December 31, 1876, was eighty-seven. At the last regular meeting the following members were chosen to fill the various offices for the year 1877 :
M. Burt, Master ; David Anthony, Overseer; E. White, Lecturer; Job Manley, Chaplain ; William Fiero, Steward ; George Manley, Assistant Steward ; Horner Case, Treasurer; Mrs. M. Burt, Secretary ; Mrs. A. C. Hall, Ceres; Mrs. J. Huntley, Flora ; Mrs. George Risbridger, Pomona; Mrs. George Manley, Lady Assistant Steward. The grange is in an eminently prosperous condition, and holds a prominent position among similar organizations in Calhoun County.
FIRST CEMETERY.
The first regularly laid out burying-ground in Bedford township was the one at Bedford Centre. We quote the following entry in the township records :
" Pursuant to a call of the inhabitants of the township of Bedford made upon the board of health of said township, said board did on the 3d day of December, A.D. 1850, select and appropriate to the use and purposes of a place of the dead
197
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
of the said township a parcel of land situated on section 10 of said township, given for the purpose by Matthias Hutchinson, of Geneva, Cayuga county, New York."
MINUTES OF THE SURVEY.
" Beginning at a stake on the quarter line, 59.07 chains north of the quarter- post, on the south side of section 10, Bedford; running thence north 3º 40" west on the quarter-line 5.44 chains ; thence north 82° 50" west 3.02 chains; thence south 70° 50" west 4.41 chains ; thence north 82° 50" west 4.50 chains to the centre of the highway ; thence south 70° 50" west 97 links; thence south 82° 50" east 8.75 chains to the place of beginning, containing 2.02 acres, more or less. " W. W. LOBDELL, Township Clerk."
In 1850 a village was laid out in the southern part of the township of Bedford, and named
HARMONIA,
deriving its name from the fact of the establishment there of the " Bedford Har- monial Seminary." The Cornells, who had previously resided in Battle Creek, and been identified with the society of Friends, after becoming Spiritualists, orig- inated the Harmonial school, and caused to be built quite an extensive establish- ment for educational purposes, which was located on the south side of the river. An association of a few families was formed, and the development of the village looked for a time promising. To add to the brightening prospects, Dr. Haskell came in from Rockport, Illinois, and made a large purchase, intending to establish a manual labor school. The whole matter fell through, however, and the site of the village now consists of cultivated fields, nothing remaining to denote the once contemplated greatness but the vacant school buildings and a few scattered dwellings.
HAMBLIN LAKE.
Quite an interesting feature of Bedford township is Hamblin lake, a small but very lovely sheet of water located on the farm owned by A. C. Hamblin, Esq., of Battle Creek, and situated on section 23. Mr. H. has recently stocked this lake with eighteen thousand fish, of which ten thousand are salmon and eight thousand white-fish. He intends erecting a summer residence on his place ere long, and we venture to predict that it will be one of the finest in this part of the State. It is only three and a half miles from Battle Creek,-just far enough, in fact, to be enjoyable as a country residence.
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