USA > Michigan > Calhoun County > History of Calhoun county, Michigan : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 22
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The Athens Hardwood Lumber Company is one of the important industries of the village, employing at some seasons of the year as high as twenty-five men. It is the only band mill in southern Michigan. The Athens Creamery Company is one of the successful concerns of the town. Two large grain elevators, one owned by P. I. Simons, of Jack- son, with S. W. Lehr as local manager, meet the wants of the rich farm- ing community all about. Wood and Woodruff, local lumber dealers, carry one of the largest and finest assortments in southern Michigan.
Its generally well-to-do people live in comfortable homes. Its side- walks are as good, and there are as many miles of them in proportion to the number of inhabitants, as will be found in any village in the state. Its shaded streets and well kept lawns give a general atmosphere of homelikeness to the village.
F
NEW HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, ATHENS
The Athens News was the first newspaper to be printed in the village and was established by McDowell Brothers, of Mendon, in 1880. The plant was brought in by wagon, for Athens had no railroad until 1888. This paper was very small in size and survived but a short time.
The Athens Times was established in 1883 by L. H. Love, who printed a four page 8 x 12 sheet on a job press, for a number of years when it was enlarged to a five column quarto and later to a six column quarto, only two pages of which were printed at home. Mr. Love owned the paper, with the exception of a few brief intervals, until June, 1908, when his health failed and he sold to H. O. Eldridge, who sold to George H. McMillen, August 1st of the same year. The hand equipment was at once discarded for a modern power plant and the Times now prints four pages at home and enjoys a splendid advertising and job printing patronage, while the subscription list has almost doubled. Mr. Love, to whose pluck and ability the Times owes its existence, died in February,
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1909. Ile was a printer of the old school and his versatility as a writer made him a capable country editor.
Only one paper ever arose in Athens to compete with him, the Athens Bee, which was established in 1896, by Jerome F. Culp, with his son-in-law, R. H. Newman as editor. This paper lived for seven or eight years and suspended publication, the plant being sold to Vicksburg parties who moved it to that city where it formed the nenelcus of the plant now used by the Vicksburg Herald.
The Times is independent so far as polities are concerned.
BATTLE CREEK TOWNSHIP
By Mrs. Laura Ringes
Battle Creek township which was formerly included in the original township of Milton, was established by the act of the legislature in 1839.
The first township meeting was held at the home of Samuel Convis, who was elected the first township clerk.
Samuel Convis came from New York state in 1832, making the journey with an ox team. He located land on the present site of Battle Creek where there was at that time but one settler.
The first settlements made in Battle Creek township were on Goguac prairie in 1831, the settlers being attracted hither by the easily cultivated and fertile prairie land.
Among the first pioneers was Josiah Goddard who purchased the farm on section 15 later owned by David Young. The only surviving member of the family living near is Mrs. William Reese of Battle Creek.
Calhoun Goddard, son of Josiah Goddard, was the first white child born in the township in 1833.
Isaac Thomas settled on section 14 in 1831 and erected the first log house in the same year. This house was burned by the Indians the fol- lowing year. Mr. Thomas plowed the first soil within the limits of the township in 1832, and sowed the first grain in 1833.
Dorrance Williams came here in 1828, when he was employed by the U. S. government in surveying the land ineluded within the present limits of Battle Creek township. He selected a fractional quarter of seetion 14 where he settled in 1831. This farm is now owned by William J. Foster.
"Uncle" John Stewart, Sr., bought of Dorrance Williams the farm now owned and occupied by William J. Foster. Here Mr. Stewart planted the first apple orchard in the township, of which thirteen trees are still standing in 1912.
The death of Mrs. John Stewart which oceurred in September, 1832, was the first death in Battle Creek township.
The first marriage solemnized in the township was that of John Stewart, Jr., and Miss Anser, which was celebrated on Gognac prairie March 6, 1833.
Henry C. Eberstein, a native of Germany, who with his family started for America in 1832, in June, 1833, arrived on Goguac Prairie, and set-
-
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tled on section 15 on a farm now occupied by his son Charles and daughter Lillian. Here he was identified with the growth of the com- munity until his death in 1885, when he was the oldest pioneer of the township.
Aaron Moorehouse located on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 26, which he entered from the government in 1835. These letters patent were signed by Martin Van Buren, and the land has never been transferred, but descended to the original owner's daughter, and at her demise to her son Gilbert Nichols of Battle Creek, who is the present owner.
In 1835 Asa Langley settled in section 26 on a farm later owned by Cassius Pearl. In 1837 he built the first saw mill of the township which was discontinued in 1860.
Also in 1835 came Anson Mapes who located in section 30 where he resided for forty years, and died there in 1875. And Andrew Reese, who was born in Massachusetts in 1790 and who came here in the fall of 1835. He settled on the Reese road where he lived until his death which occurred in 1875. He was survived by a widow and ten children. The only living members of the family are Mrs. Flora Burrell of Battle Creek, and John Reese who lives on a farm east of the city.
To this fertile prairie also came Joseph Young with his wife and nine children in 1835. He bought the land which was later owned by his eldest son, David, and now is owned and occupied hy a son of the third generation, Myron Young. On this farm Joseph Young built the first stone house in the township in 1841. This house was burned in the summer of 1910. Joseph Young operated his farm until 1861, when he moved to Battle Creek, where he lived until his death which occurred in 1878, at the age of 87.
David Young who came here with his parents from the Empire state, in 1835, did his share in the pioneer work of the neighborhood. He watched the city of Battle Creek grow "from a village of one house and that a log cabin." Mr. Young was ninety-two years old at the time of his death which took place in 1909 on the old homestead.
Dr. John Beach and his wife Harriett, natives of Vermont, in the summer of 1835 purchased a quarter section of land in the southwest part of the township. Dr. Beach wished to discontinue his medical practice and had chosen the pursuits of farming in hopes of recovering his health. However it was soon learned that he was a physician and so great was the demand for his professional services that he could not refuse. There was at that time only one physician in Battle Creek, and he had no horse, so that his calls were limited to walking distance. The remaining large territory extending north to Bellevue, west to Comstock, and east to Marshall, was visited by Dr. Beach who traveled on horse back. There was no medicine to be purchased hereabout in those days, so after the supply which he brought from the east was exhausted, Dr. Beach had recourse to the products of the forest. This overwork exhausted his physical strength, and brought on lung trouble which caused his untimely death.
After the death of Dr. Beach, his widow erected in 1849 the first brick house in the township. This was occupied by herself and son, E.
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Darwin, until she died in 1882, having reached nearly four score years. This farm was held by members of the family until the spring of 1912 when it was sold by Carl F. Beach, grandson of the subject.
Allen Willard first settled in the neighborhood of Dr. Beach in 1836. He later bought the Hernes Sweet place, on the east side of Lake Goguac. Here he quietly spent the evening of his life passing away in 1876, at the age of eighty-two. Mr. Willard was a man of rare intelli- gence and scholarly habits. He possessed an ardent love for literature, and made a thorough study of the New Testament and the Constitution of the United States. He was survived by two sons, George and Charles, who became prominent and influential citizens.
In this part of the township in 1836 also settled Deacon Heman Cowles who purchased on section 36 the farm now owned and occupied
Photo by J. H. Brown
DAVID YOUNG FARM HOUSE, COMPLETED JULY 4, 1841. BURNED IN 1911.
by his grandson, Fred W. Cowles. "Deacon" Cowles was a man of more than ordinary intelligence and decision of character. He felt com- plimented to be called an abolitionist when others looked upon it as a disgrace. He was prominent in affairs both religious and educational until his death which occurred at the age of eighty-three years. He lies buried in the Sonth Battle Creek cemetery.
The first grist mill was erected by Abraham Minges in 1862. The first flour ground between its stones was made into biscuits by Mrs. O. Amadon for the wedding of her daughter Eugenia to the builder of the mill. Mr. Minges operated the mill two years and sold it to one George Jones. The property has been in the possession of several individuals, now being owned and operated by the widow of the late George Yanger and her sons, Leon and Harry. It is also used as a cider mill and is a useful enterprise in the community.
The brick manufacturing plaut now the property of Jasper Adams
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is the oldest enterprise in the township. The land in which the clay deposit is found was entered from the government in 1831 by Aranthus Thomas. The clay was not used for manufacturing purposes until the property was purchased by Simon Carr in 1839. In 1840 Mr. Carr began the manufacture of brick by means of the crude hand molds, and for twelve years he carried on this business. They were well made however, for the first brick houses in the township were built of his brick and are still standing, occupied and in a state of excellent preserva- tion. In 1851 the property was sold to Lyman Godfrey and S. D. Crane, Mr. Godfrey becoming sole owner the following year. For thirty years Mr. Godfrey operated the plant with the hand mold method, until 1882 when the property was purchased by Jasper Adams. Mr. Adams installed machinery and equipped it with modern methods of drying and burning. For a time from 1885 until 1890 the yard was run by the firm Adams and Ilall Brothers, Charles and Henry Ifall, builders and contractors of Battle Creek. Mr. Adams again resumed the business alone and continued with the manufacture and sale of briek until 1903, when he closed the plant because of broken health, the yard at that time having been in operation for nearly seventy years.
Three railroads cross the township, the Michigan Central which passes across the northeast corner, and its southern branch, called the Goshen Division of the Michigan Central, crossing the southern part of the township with a flag station and side track at Adams brick yard. This branch line was constructed in 1889. The third line, the Grand Trunk, extends across the western portion nearly the entire length north and south. It has a flag station and side track at Renton. This railway was completed in 1869.
The first school was taught on Gognac Prairie in a small log school house, by Aranthus Thomas in 1833 or 1834. Among the scholars were members of the Stewart, Goddard, Thomas, and Conway families. In 1858 this school house was displaced for a brick building which is the present distriet No. 3 of the township.
The first religions meetings were held by the Methodists at the house of Daniel Thomas as early as 1833, when the gospel was preached by Rev. Mr. Hobart of Marshall
The South Battle Creek Baptist church was the first recognized religious society. This was organized by Rev. John Harris, in 1839, and was legally instituted in 1842. The meetings were held in private houses until 1847, when the present church building, a neat frame structure, was erected. Rev. Harris was the first pastor and Solomon Case the first deacon. A Sabbath school was organized about the same time and was sustained for over sixty years.
The Battle Creek Township Grange No. 66 was organized September, 1873, at the home of Nathaniel Chilson. Mr. Chilson was the first master, which office he held several years. Other charter members were Charles Merritt, E. M. C. Merritt, Miles Townsend, Hattie Townsend, Alonzo Robinson, Hattie Robinson, H. L. Munn, L. K. Phelps, I. W. Caine, Myra Caine, Chester Chilson, Daniel Caine, Miss I. V. Chilson, J. A. Robinson, Miss Delie Chilson, Mesdames D. Phelps, H. A. Chilson, H. M. Chilson, and James M. Haryhan.
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For several years the grange meetings were held in various halls in the city of Battle Creek, then for a time they met in the South Battle Creek Baptist church. In 1899 the present grange hall was built, near the prairie road on a lot purchased by the grange joining the No. 3 school district. The grange hall is equipped with election booths, and is used for other town meetings.
Battle Creek township gave loyally her sons to the cause of the Union in the Civil war. The names of those who served are as follows: Anson Beckley (mustered out 1865, still living) ; Leno W. Bloss, (mustered out 1865, now dead) ; Thomas J. Cook, (discharged for disability, still living) ; Judd Cummings, (deceased) ; Lansing Fairchild, (deceased) ; Jasper Gregory, (deceased) ; Walter Gregory, (still living) ; Thos. Jen- nings, (deceased) ; Philetus Karr, (deceased) ; Capt. James B. Mason, (resigned Lieut. Col. 11th Michigan Cavalry, killed) ; George McCul- lum, (discharged for disability, 1864, now dead) ; De Witt Miller; James Miller, (discharged at expiration of service 1865) ; John Miller; William Miller, (killed at Nashville, Tenn., 1863) ; P. B. Mitchell, (mustered out September, 1865, still living) ; IIenry Oldfield, (deceased) ; Spencer Old- field, (still living) : Eugene Perry, (deceased) ; Samuel Pugsley, (mus- tered out September, 1865, (still living) ; Wm. Picauld, (deceased) ; James Robinson, (mustered out August, 1865) ; Robert Sharp, (de- ceased) ; Iligh Stewart, (mustered ont November, 1865).
Those who represented the township in the late Spanish-American war were: A. Shirley Adams, Vernon E. Cummings, and Earl M. Perry. These young men were in active engagement in the Battle of San Juan Hill. All returned uninjured but in poor health because of the un- sanitary conditions of the island.
Gognae Lake is an interesting feature of the township because of its historieal interests, and its value as a summer resort. The Indian name was Goghawgiac-spelled Gogognac by the pioneers. It is located in section 14, 22, and 23, and is connected with Battle Creek by an electric line. Along its shores are hundreds of cottages, which afford quiet resting places for busy city dwellers during the summer months, when it is an active scene of the outdoor sports of nature lovers and pleasure seekers. Traces yet remain of an Indian mound which is located on the lake's border directly west of Ward's Island, and once over its waters glided the bark canoe of the red men.
BEDFORD TOWNSHIP
This is the most populous township in the county, numbering by the census of 1910, 2,076. This increase in population is largely due to the thriving village of Urbandale, a suburb of Battle Creek but lying within the township of Bedford.
We take pleasure in submitting the following interesting historical matter pertaining to Bedford township, furnished by Mr. C. E. Bradley. It not only shows how and what town business was done in Bedford seventy-three years ago, but it shows also who were the then male resi- dents, all of whom were pioneers and helped to make Bedford's history.
First annual township meeting held at the house of Josiah Gilbert on the 1st day of April. 1839.
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The meeting was organized by appointing Caleb Kirby, moderator, and John Meachem, Joseph Kirby, Erastus R. Wattles and John L. Bolkcom, inspectors of the meeting, who, having qualified, appointed Lucian M. Weaver, clerk.
The meeting then proceeded to vote for township officers which re- sulted as follows: Supervisor, Caleb Kirby ; town clerk, John Meachem; treasurer, Isaac Sutton ; assessors, Schuyler Goff, John P. Ames, Harvey Cooley ; collector, John Armstrong; school inspectors, John Meachem, Caleb Kirby, Abraham Lockwood; directors of the poor, Isaac Sutton, Jacob Frost; commissioners of highways, Isaac Sutton, Erastus R. Wattles, Stephen H. Carman; justices of the peace, John P. Ames, one year; John Meachem, two years; George B. Hamilton, three years; Noah P. Crittendon, four years ; constables, John Armstrong, John Hamilton ; overseers of highways, district No. 1, John Stringham; district No. 2, Solomon Tupp; district No. 3, Jacob Stringham; district No. 4, John Meacham ; district No. 5, Harvey Sam ; district No. 6, Josiah Gilbert ; dis- trict No. 7, Thomas H. Thomas; district No. 8, John Hamilton; district No. 9, Schuyler Goff. Voted that there be a pound erected in the center of the town, also that John Meachem be pound master. Erastus B. Wat- tles was appointed deputy township clerk, April 3, 1839.
"At a meeting of the township board held the 18th day of April, 1839, the following vacancies were filled by appointment : Josiah Gilbert, overseer of highways in district No. 6; Erastus B. Wattles, school inspec- tor in place of Abraham Lockwood, who neglected to qualify.
"To the Clerk of Calhoun County: We do certify that we believe the persons herein named possess the requisite qualifications for jurors for the year 1839, viz: Abraham Frost, Noah P. Crittendon, David Stillson, Joseph Kirby and Lucian M. Weaver.
"Bedford, May 25, 1839.
"H. COOLEY, "J. P. AMES, "SCHUYLER GOFF, Assessors.
"JOHN MEACHEM, Town Clerk.
"Voted : That the sum of $200 be raised for the purpose of building bridge across the Kalamazoo river in district No. 9.
"Voted: That no boars over three months old shall run at large, with a penalty of one dollar to be collected of the owner by any person who shall prosecute for the same.
"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.
"We, the undersigned inspectors of the township meeting, held on the 1st day of April, 1839, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a cor- rect statement of the proceedings of said meeting.
"JOHN S. BOLKCOM, "E. R. WATTLES,
"JOHN MEACHEM,
"JOSEPH KIRBY.
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"At a meeting of the township board held on the 22nd day of June, 1839, the following compensation was allowed to township officers: town board, town clerk, treasurer, each member one dollar per day; assessor, highway commissioner, each one dollar and fifty cents; collector, five per cent on gross footing on assessment roll, ten per cent on state tax for 1838. Incidental expense for year $349.67. Building bridge, $200.00.
"JOHN MEACHEM, Town Clerk."
BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP
is located in the southwest part of Calhoun county ; its southern boundary meets the north line of Branch county, with Tekonsha on the east, Newton on the north and Athens on the west. The government surveys designate the township as town 4 south, range 7 west. The southern half of the township is described as "very level, interspersed with beautiful plains, well watered by small streams and is generally free from stone, the soil being a sandy loam, in places mingled with clay." The northern por- tion of the township is more uneven. "Wet Prairie" in the northeast corner is a very fine level tract of land. The Saint Joseph river enters the township from Tekonsha, flowing through section 24, by the village of Burlington and continues in a southwesterly direction until it enters Branch county, through section 38. Some of the earliest and finest farms in the township were located on either side of this stream. It was on section 26, in the valley of the Saint Joseph, that Eleazer MeCamley, the earliest pioneer, settled with his family in the year 1832. Richard Tucker, another of the early comers, settled on this same section 26. It was on this section the first log house in the township was built by Mr. Tucker. Joseph Sanders, a Vermonter hy birth, hut a New Yorker by adoption, came from the latter state in the fall of 1833 and settled on Section 24. He was one of the last of the early pioneers to pass away and is still well remembered by the older residents of the township. In 1834, two brothers, William and Ansel Adams, came with their widowed mother and invested largely in land lying in sections 23 and 24, buying the water power where the village of Burlington is now located, and building there in 1837 the first saw mill in the township. Here, too, was erected the first grist mill by Rufus Oshorn, in 1861. The first tavern in the township was built of logs about 1835 and stood within the present limits of Burlington village. The first bridge of any consequence in the township was over the Saint Joseph, built in 1838 by the Adams brothers and did good service for thirty years when it was replaced by a new one.
VILLAGE OF BURLINGTON
The village of Burlington was surveyed and platted by William and Ansel Adams in 1842, and incorporated in 1869. The first frame house was built by these brothers and which they and their mother occupied. It was here that the first store opened; here, too, the Baptists in 1841 built the first house of worship in the township ; the first school house was opened in 1837, the school being taught by Miss Mary Buckingham.
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Here, too, was established a post office which is still serving the people, sending out mail by rural carriers daily to all the farmers round about. The Methodists early came into the town and the Burlington circuit supplied the people at Abscota, Clarendon, Tekonsha, Lyon Lake and Eckford with preaching services.
The Free Will Baptists organized in 1840. The Seventh Day Ad- ventists came into Burlington in 1857 and in 1861 effected a church organization which resulted in erecting in 1876 a neat frame church.
The village of Abscota is located on Wet Prairie, a fine agricultural section in the northeast part of the township. Until taken up on the introduction of rural free delivery, a postoffice was maintained at this point. A village church, store, school, blacksmith shop and other con- veniences that go with the country village, are maintained here.
Among the more prominent of the early day pioneers was Homer C. Hurd, who came into the township in 1834 and settled on the southwest quarter of Section 27. Mr. Hurd served for eight years on the Board of Supervisors and four years represented the county in the State legis- lature. Theron Hamilton, another of the comparatively early settlers, served the county as probate judge from 1864 to 1869 inclusive. Besides those already named, there may be mentioned David Dexter, Zachariah Thomas, Cornelius Kirkendall, John L. Meserole, David Ripley, Reuben Van Fleet, G. P. and Elijah Olmstead, James Pendill and Luther Wilson, all of whom came about 1835. From 1836 to 1840 many more came, among them, Edwin A. Hayden, who was long a prominent citizen in the county, holding as he did various county offices; Allen Wood, A. Me Withey, Josiah, Brodish, Sylvanus Reed, Gilbert B. Murray, E. N. Edmonds, Anson Strong, Lewis Miller, F. Burnett and Alonzo Colliers. These, with others equally worthy, have helped to make the Burlington township of today what it is, for they cleared the farms from which others reap, they built the homes in which others live, they planted the orchards from which others eat the fruit, they built the churches in which others worship. They are held in honor by the later generation, as they should be.
The "Air Line" Railroad, a branch of the Michigan Central, built in 1870, crosses the southeast corner of the township. Burlington station is about one and a half miles from the village.
CLARENCE TOWNSHIP
In the extreme northeast corner of Calhoun county is located the township of Clarence. According to the United States government sur- vey it is designated as town 1 south, range 4 west. Originally it was confederated with Lee, Sheridan and Marengo. This was done by an act of the territorial legislature in the year 1834.
It was not until the spring of 1836 that Benjamin P. Gillette, the recognized pioneer of Clarence, settled with his family on sections 23 and 24 in the southeast part of the township. The same year there came C. W. Clapp, Andrew Bell and Archibald Green, all locating in the same vicinity as Gillette, while Cook Tyler, William B. Noble, John Austin, Frank and John Dyer settled the following year in the central
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