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 24
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The leading dairymen are William T. Saekrider on section 14, John Cronkhite on section 9, Charles Hutchinson on section 27, and Ray Fan- ning ou section 24.
In 1838 a town meeting was held at Jeremiah Gardner's, on Monday, April 2. Michael Spencer, was chosen moderator and Samuel Robinson, clerk of said meeting. Present, David H. Daniels, justice.
The following resolutions were then adopted.
"Resolved, that fence four and a half feet high, well made of sub- stantial materials shall be lawful fence.
"Resolved, that we raise fifty dollars for relief of the poor.
"Resolved, that we raise fifty dollars for the support and repairing of bridges in said township.
"Resolved, that our supervisor be instructed to present to the town- ship of Milton a elaim for our reasonable share of all money and prop- erty belonging to original township of Milton.
Photo by J. H. Brown
JERSEY CATTLE ON SUTFIN FARM
"Resolved, that the supervisors of Calhoun county be authorized to borrow twenty-eight hundred and eighty-eight dollars to finish the court house at Marshall.
"Resolved, that the legislature of this state be and is hereby re- quested to change the name of this township from Cady to Andover.
"Resolved, that each and every overseer of highways shall be fence- viewer and pound master and his own yard a pound."
"The following persons were then elected overseers of highways in their respective districts : Michael Spencer, district No. 1; Asahel Beach, district No. 2; Auson Inman, distriet No. 3; David N. Salter, distriet No. 4; Otis Williams, distriet No. 5; Samuel Robinson, district No. 6; George Bean, district No. 7; Samuel G. Wallace, district No. 8; Augustus Mather, district No. 9; Truman Allen, district No. 10; Arly N. Craw-
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ford, district No. 11; Daniel Wooden, district No. 12; William Newman, district No. 13; Alanson Cantine, district No. 14.
"On canvassing the ballots, the following persons were found to have been elected officers of the township of Cady for the ensuing year : Levi Morton, Supervisor; Samuel Robinson, Township Clerk; Asa Lowell, David Howell and Samuel G. Wallace, Justices of Peace; David W. Gibbs, Collector; Michael Spencer and Asahel Beach, Directors of Poor; Samuel G. Wallace, David Calkins and Caleb O. Ferris, Com- missioners of Highways; David Howell, Fordyce Rhoades and Robert Adams, Inspectors of Schools; David Gibbs, John Lowry, George More- house, John DeGroat, Kenyon Johnson, John Rhoades, Constables; Asa Lowell, N. Salter and Smith Berry, Assessors.
"Resolved, that the next annual meeting shall be held at. the house now kept by Moses Lowell.
"Michael Spencer, Moderator, "David H. Daniels, Justice, "Samuel Robinson, Clerk."
The township has always been a Republican one, and has only been Democratic for five years since 1892. During that time some of the leading men have been: Ray Fanning, two years treasurer; Charles Kistler, clerk ten years and highway commissioner four years; Clayton Strait, highway commissioner three years; John Cronkhite, clerk one year and treasurer for two years; Jake Paul, treasurer one year ; George Blake, treasurer two years and clerk three years; and Julius Crosby, supervisor twelve years. At the present time, Charles Hutchinson is the supervisor. It might be well to say here that his father, Loomis, held that office from 1865 to 1875. Some of the leading Democrats are William Hall, George Reese, Charles Eyre, Ransom Markham and Eri Cowles.
The Union Grange, No. 292, was organized during the month of March, 1874. Some of the first members were, John Woodworth, Mrs. Whiting Hutchinson, Theresa Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Sharpsteen, and Herbert Merchant. The society owned a hall where they held all of their meetings.
In 1892, a club was organized under the name of the Ceresco Farmer's ('lub. Some of the first members were, Mr. and Mrs. John Reese, Mr. and Mrs. Ned Hough, Mr. and Mrs. John Woodworth, Mr. and Mrs. Melzar Canright, Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Mills, Mr. and Mrs. Orson Avery. Mr. and Mrs. George Brininstool, Mr. and Mrs. Mort Nye, Mr. and Mrs. Julius Crosby, Mr. and Mrs. Ransom Markham, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Merchant and Mr. and Mrs. L. L. Lewis. All of these members, except Mr. Lewis, are living and still attend the club and have built it up until now there are 200 members, and this club is the largest in the state. The meetings are held the last Wednesday in every month at the re- spective houses and after a picnic dinner, a fine literary program is en- Joyed and some topic of the day is discussed.
FREDONIA TOWNSHIP
Fredonia is noted for its fine farms, its beautiful lakes and its excel- lent churches. Among its numerous lakes may be mentioned Lyon, one
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of the most beautiful and best known sheets of water in the county. Its waters which are deep and pure abound with fish. Its high and wooded banks furnish delightful locations for cottages, which are utilized by season resorters, while the fine grove overlooking the lake furnishes a popular place for holding large gatherings of the people. Cedar, Long and Fish are other lakes of considerable size in the township, while the Nottawa Creek with its characteristically low marshy banks flows from the south, north and out into Newton through the west central part of the town. Originally, Fredonia was abundantly supplied with a fine growth of hard wood timber; red, white and burr oak; ash, black and white, maple and elm predominating. The surface is generally level, except in localities in the west part where it is rolling. The soil, as a whole, is of good quality, some parts being exceptionally fine. There are, in Fredonia, farms which for beauty and fertility are not surpassed in the county.
The township is designated by the United States surveyors as town 3 south, range 6 west. It was organized in 1838. The first town meet- ing was held at the home of Ebby Hyde on the second day of April, 1838, when officers for the new township were chosen. John Houston being the first supervisor, an office to which he was several times chosen, and Putnam Root the first clerk.
Thomas Burland is the recognized first pioneer. Born and reared in Yorkshire, England, he with his wife and three daughters left that country in 1831 and in May, 1833 settled on section 24 in the town- ship of Fredonia.
On the first day of October, 1833, John Houston left Rochester, New York, to which place he had previously moved from Hanover, New Hampshire, where he was born, with his wife and three children for Michigan, arriving at the place in November, settling on section 9, which was ever after his home. Upon the section named he built the first frame house in the town. Mr. Houston died in October, 1869, at seventy- five years of age. To the day of his death he was regarded as one of the leading men of the town. Ilis son, John Houston, was sheriff of Cal- houn county, for four years a member of the Michigan legislature and vice-president of the City National Bank of Marshall. Joel Houston who now resides at the old home, is one of the honored citizens of the county.
Among others of the early settlers in Fredonia was Ezekiel Blue, who, in 1834, located on seetion 13, where his son Peter now owns 200 acres. Stephen Maynard came in 1836 and settled on section 12, south of Brace Lake, near the Eckford township line. Caleb Tilton came from Massachusetts and in 1834 located on section 2. In 1836 John B. Fre- denburg brought his family from Orleans county, New York, and set- tled on section 23. Mr. Fredenburg was three times elected supervisor.
Besides those above mentioned, there may be named among the early settlers, Thomas P. Briggs and family, who settled on section 35 in the year of 1836; Frank B. Wright, came to Marshall in 1836, but did not locate in Fredonia until some years later. David Jagor came with his family from Sussex county. New Jersey, in December, 1836, and settled on section 36. He became one of the more prominent citizens of the
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county, being four times elected to the office of supervisor. Ebby Hyde, father of the late A. O. Hyde of Marshall, settled in 1835 on section 3. It was at his house that the first town meeting was held in 1838. G. G. Collins, Oliver Bailey, Solomon Platner, David Aldrich, Edward M. Kingsbury, Putnam Root, Hiram Carey, Thomas Chambers and Arnold Markham, all deserve to be mentioned among the pioneers and early settlers in Fredonia and who helped to make the town what it is. Schools and churches from the beginning have found a congenial atmosphere and have thrived in the town, they in their turn doing much to make the later generations worthy of the former.
HOMER TOWNSHIP
The township of Homer is located in the southeastern portion of the county. It has an undulating surface. Generally speaking, the soil is fertile. Originally it was in part a plain "oak openings," much of which was cleared and upon which the Indians raised maize. Other portions were heavily timbered with maple, beach and ash, while oak and some hickory were found on the hills and slopes. A number of small lakes are located in different parts of the township. The Kalamazoo river enters the town at the east side and flowing in a northwesterly direction deflects to the north at Homer village and from there flows in a northeasterly direction. This stream furnishes excellent water power at different points and it was the water power that determined the loca- tion of Homer village.
Ilomer was fortunate in the number and character of its early settlers. In this respect it compares most favorably with Marshall, Battle Creek and Albion. What Jesse Crowell was to Albion, Sidney Ketchum to Marshall and Sands McCamly to Battle Creek, Milton Barney was to Homer. It was in 1832 that Mr. Barney came from Lyons, New York, and entered a large part of the land on which the village of Homer now stands, including the water power of the Homer mills. In 1833 he brought his family, and that year he built a log honse near the site of the Homer mills. About this time he laid out a plot for a village, which then, and for some time after, was called Barneyville. Mr. Barney built the first saw mill and also the first grist mill. These were constructed by mechanies, whom Barney had induced to come west. He also built and run the first hotel. He built, stocked and conducted the first store. He gave the plot of the ground, two acres in area, for a cemetary. He was president of the first bank, started in Homer in the year 1837. It was first located in his store, but in the following year the directors put up a fine brick structure in the central part of the town. The first town meeting was held at the home of Mr. Barney in 1834. He was one of the prime movers in the project to connect the waters of Lake Michigan with those of the Detroit River and Lake Erie by means of a ship canal, following in its general course the channels of the Saint Joseph and Huron Rivers. Surveys were made, levels were struck and the project regarded so feasible, that a favorable recommendation was made by the engineers. At one time it really looked as though Homer might be an important point on the line of a ship canal connecting the waters of
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two of our great inland seas. That it was not altogether visionary may be inferred from the fact that for some time there has been before con- gress a bill to build a ship canal through southwestern Michigan, north- ern Indiana and northwestern Ohio, which shall intermingle the waters of these same two lakes. It is not among the impossible things and some day the dream of the Homer fathers may be realized though with another setting.
By act of the legislative council in 1834, the township of Homer was organized with an area of twelve mile square. For judicial purposes this tract embraced the present townships of Homer, Albion, Eekford and Clarendon. The early settlers bunched their holdings, resulting in the formation of settlements in different sections with Homer as a sort of center. What for many years was known as the Pennsylvania settle- ment on the plains northeast of Homer was begun in 1832, when Henry and Richard MeMurtrie and Powell Grover, all single men, came in from Pennsylvania, entered land and put up log honses. The same year Willam Winter eame and having located his land in the same neighbor- hood, went back to Pennsylvania, and in 1833 brought his family and stock with him. The descendants of these hardy pioneers still possess more or less of the original holdings of the ancestors.
In 1834 came Cornelius Fisher and with him six sons, viz: Philip, Matthias, John, Benjamin, Enoch and Joseph, instituted what has since been known as the Fisher settlement. About the same time came John Kerns and his sons Jeremiah and Aaron, and James McGregor and Abram Kehl. These led the way for others and the building up of a thickly settled and prosperous community. It was in 1832 that Henry Cook, of Cayuga county, New York, eame via Homer and located on what for many years has been known as Cook's Prairie, in Eckford township, and started a settlement, which in the course of the years has exercised great influence on the county. About the same time Anthony Doolittle came up from Ohio and selected a location a little to the west of Homer, in what is now the township of Clarendon.
It 1834 Timothy and Elihu Leach located three miles to the south- east. In 1836 Joseph Gibbs, Andrew Dorsey, John M. B. Weatherwax, Dr. George B. Blair, Elery P. Potter and Rufus Hall became residents of the township. In 1837, David Burt, Arza Lewis, Hiram Smith, Ed- ward Henderson, David L. Mahoney and Michael Miller were valuable acquisitions to the rapidly increasing population. "The Jaynes Settle- ment" was instituted in 1838 by the brothers David, John, Huntington and Eleazer Jaynes, who located in the southwest part of the township.
These sturdy pioneers, with others who have not been named but equally worthy, laid secure and strong the foundation upon which their descendants, with the later comers, have built up one of the most pros- perous and intelligent townships in the county.
HOMER VILLAGE
To Milton Barney is dne the credit of selecting the site for the village of Homer, which was incorporated in 1871. Time has proven the wisdom of that selection. For beauty of location it is not surpassed in
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the county. For the character of its business blocks, its fine churches and superior schools, its excellent class of private homes, its spacious and well kept lawns, its finely shaded streets and long stretches of well constructed and durable sidewalks, it will bear favorable comparison with many much larger places. The superior electric lighting plant, which was established in 1890 and its recently, 1911, installed system of water works, place within the reach of all its people the enjoyment of what are termed modern improvements.
Three lines of railroad make it very accessible. The "Air Line" of the Michigan Central system runs from Jackson to Niles, connecting with the main line at both of these places. The Lake Shore and Michigan
HIGH SCHOOL, HOMER
Southern gives a direct line to the capitol of the state and on to the northeast; to the south it not only intersects the main line at Jonesville, but gives direct service to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Cincinnati, Ohio. The third road runs from Toledo at the southeast, to Allegan at the northwest. This last named road gives access to the ports on Lake Michigan and through Toledo a fine outlet to the markets of the East. The water power located by Barney and conserved by a fine cement dam, recently built, is now as it was eighty years ago, one of the most valuable of the village assets.
Education has from the first been encouraged in Homer. As early as 1845, through the enterprise of some of its leading citizens, the classical studies were taught in the then village. In 1856 its people erected a brick building to be used as an academy. Later, this became the home of the high school and that in turn gave place to a modern high school building, erected in 1890, that is rarely equalled in any com- munity of like size. A study of that portion of this volume treating
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on the war for the Union will show that Homer in that crucial period acted well its part. The memories of her heroes of 1861-65 will stir the patriotic blood of her youth for generations to come.
THE TOWNSHIP'S PUBLIC MEN
It is not surprising that a community of the intelligence and charac- ter of those composing the township and village of Homer should be recognized beyond local limits and from time to time her representative citizens be called to public service. In this regard Homer has been ex- ceptional, when the number of her people is considered. In 1838, An- drew Dorsey served the county as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives. In 1840, Harvey Cook was chosen to the same honor- able office. In 1848, Hiram Smith was elected and in 1855, Daniel Duna- kin. William Cook served the people of the county and the state in the same capacity from 1861 to 1864, during the Civil war period. George H. French, a name still much honored in Homer, was state senator from 1861 to 1864, inclusive. It is a Ittle singular and at the same time to her great credit, that Homer should have furnished during the critical period of the war, both the senator from this district and the member of the State House of Representatives. William Cook served in the senate from 1875 to 1877, and Arthur Bangham, then and for a long time previous a resident of Homer, but now and for some years a citizen and postmaster of Albion, ably represented this district in the senate from 1901 to 1904. M. H. Lane, for many years editor and still owner of the Homer Index, served as probate judge of the county for a period of eight years. Perhaps no one thing better indicates the standing of Homer, village and township, in the county than this list of men chosen from her people to serve the county and state in re- sponsible positions.
HOMER BANKS
The first bank of Homer, which also bears the distinction of being the first bank of its kind in the state of Michigan, was known as the Farmer's Bank of Homer, incorporated August 19, 1837. Its president was Milton Barney, and cashier Asahel Finch, Jr., with Milton Barney. Hiram Smith, N. D. Skeels, Henry Cook, Arza Lewis, Leonard Stowe, Walter Wright, and John Burt as directors. It was what was known in those days as a "Wild Cat" bank, pure and simple, but did a flourishing busi- ness during its three short years of life. Mr. Andrew Dorsey, an old time resident of Homer, has in his possession several pieces of the "cur- rency" floated by the institution during the time it did business. The bank first commenced operations in the rear of Milton Barney's store, but later erected a brick building on the site now occupied by the Calhoun State Bank.
The next bank to be started in Homer, of which we have any record, was that of Thomas Lyon, opened in March 1870 and known for many years as the "Exchange Bank," later as Thomas Lyon & Co. In 1891, Mr. Lyon organized and incorporated the First State Bank of Homer with a capital stock of $25,000, later increased to $35,000, he being its president. E. P. Allen, Earl J. Fellows, and W. M. Kellogg acting as
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cashiers at different periods. In 1896 the First State Bank absorbed the Farmer's State Bank, and in 1897 it was dissolved and succeeded by the Homer Banking Co., with Thomas Lyon, Lottie L. Lyon and J. W. Breakey as co-partners. This institution was later absorbed by the Calhoun State Bank, Mr. Lyon having died in April, 1898. In speaking of Mr. Lyon and his banking enterprises one speaks largely of both the banking history and the progress of the town during the twenty-eight years of his life there. Naturally a progressive, and optimistic as to the future of his adopted home he threw himself into the task of building up his own business and that of the town, and many of Homer's finest buildings are the direct result of his handiwork and foresight.
In 1875, Albert V. Parks and Wells Pratt started a private bank known as Parks & Pratt and did a flourishing business for a number of years, finally closing their doors in the summer of 1888.
The firm of Andrus & Webster opened a banking office in May, 1887. the firm being composed of Albert Andrus and William J. Webster. In 1892 they incorporated as the Farmer's State Bank with $15,000 capital, Geo. W. Aldrich, president, Albert Andrus, vice-president, and W. J. Webster, cashier, and were absorbed by the First State Bank in August, 1896. Again in December, 1896, the same parties started another private bank under the firm name of Webster & Andrus, and conducted a very successful business until March 1, 1911, when they sold out to the Homer State Bank. The latter bank, capitalized at $20,000.00 with Fred S. Cortright as president, Geo. D. Cleveland, vice-president, and Frank J. Dibble, cashier, continued to do business at the same stand until ab- sorbed by the Calhoun State Bank, July 29, 1912.
The latest and only banking institution in Homer at the present time was originally started as a private bank in the old Raby building at the west end. Dr. E. M. Nix, a prominent physician, and vice-president of the Boies State Savings Bank, of Hudson, Michigan, with his son-in-law, Earl J. Fellows, opened up for business on March 28, 1898, under the firm name of Nix & Fellows, E. J. Fellows acting as manager. Dr. Nix died in the fall of 1901, and Mr. Fellows organized and incorporated the Calhoun State Bank in February, 1902, taking over the business of the old firm. The bank was capitalized at $20,000 with E. J. Fellows, presi- dent, William A. Lane, vice-president, Marcia J. Nix, Mabelle C. Fellows and Rollo E. Goodrich as directors and stockholders. R. D. Gardner acting as cashier. Both institutions have met with signal success and have enjoyed to the fullest extent the confidence of the people of the com- munity, and the Calhoun State Bank bears the distinction of having absorbed both its original competitors. At the present time the capital stock is $30,000 with surplus of $6,000 and resources of over $375,000.00. Officers and directors are E. J. Fellows, president; John C. Snyder, vice-president ; R. D. Gardner, cashier; John Hoffman, R. E. Goodrich, C. R. Church, and A. E. Hunter. Elbert L. Andrews is assistant cashier.
LEE TOWNSHIP
In the north tier of townships and lying between Clarence and Convis, is located the township of Lee. Originally nearly one-half of the township
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was taken up by the "Tamarac Swamp," which ran through its centre. Much of this swamp has been drained and is now under cultivation, the drained part constituting some of the best land in the county. The town- ship, aside from the swamp was originally, heavily timbered with oak, beach, maple, ash, whitewood and basswood. Much of it was fine saw timber, but the difficulty of transportation caused some of the best timber in the county to be cut and burned in log heaps that the land might be cleared and cultivated.
There are several small streams in the township. Of these, Big creek takes its rise near the centre and flows northeast into Eaton county ; Indian creek crosses the northwest corner. A southern branch of this stream rises in School lake and Lake of the Woods, which together with Purdy lake are situated in the western part of the township.
No railroad touches the township at any point. Generally speaking, the public highways are in good condition and afford avenues over which the abundant products of the farms are transported to the markets.
The earliest comers into Lee township were Amos Hadden and Nicholas Stanley. In the spring of 1835 they entered and occupied a part of section 36 in the southeast part of the town. Two unusual tragedies befell the Stanley family. One of these is perhaps the most pathetic incident in the history of the county.
One evening in the fall of 1837, hearing the tinkling of a cow bell a short distance from his home, Mr. Stanley sent his six year old son to drive in the cows. In the gloom of the evening the cows came walking leisurely up to the house but no child with them. The deepening shadows already enveloped the woods. Repeated calls brought no reply from the child and a hurried and frantic search by members of the household was unrewarded. For three days all the settlers in that immediate section searched the woods, covering an area of ten miles, but no trace of the lost child was found. At last, but a half mile from the home he had left buoyant with pride at the manly errand he was sent to do, the little fellow was found in a sitting posture at the foot of a tree cold in death. Alone in the forest he had perished with cold and hunger and fright. The services attending his burial were the first of a religious nature held in the township of Lee. The Rev. Mr. Hobart, of Marshall officiated. For many years in all that region the cry of the children was hushed by the recital of the story of the lost child.
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