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 28
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Henry H. Crapo, Governor; inaugurated January 2, 1867.
Henry P. Baldwin, Governor; inaugurated January 6, 1869. Henry P. Baldwin, Governor; inaugurated January 4, 1871. John J. Bagley, Governor ; inaugurated January 1, 1873.
John J. Bagley, Governor; inaugurated January 6, 1875. Charles M. Croswell, Governor; inaugurated January 3, 1877. Charles M. Croswell, Governor; inaugurated January 1, 1879. David II. Jerome, Governor; inaugurated January 1, 1881.
Josiah W. Begole, Governor; inaugurated January 1, 1883. Russell A. Alger, Governor; inaugurated January 1, 1885. Cyrus G. Luce, Governor; inaugurated January 1, 1887. Cyrus G. Luce, Governor; inaugurated January 1, 1889. Edwin B. Winans, Governor; inaugurated January 1, 1891. John T. Rich, Governor; inaugurated January 1, 1893. John T. Rich, Governor; inaugurated January 1, 1895. Hazen S. Pingree, Governor; inaugurated January 1, 1897. Hazen S. Pingree, Governor; inaugurated January 1, 1899. Aaron T. Bliss, Governor; inaugurated January 1, 1901. Aaron T. Bliss, Governor; inaugurated January 1, 1903.
Fred M. Warner, Governor; inaugurated January 2, 1905.
Fred M. Warner, Governor; inaugurated January 12, 1907. Fred M. Warner, Governor; inaugurated January 1, 1909.
(Under the Constitution of 1909.)
Chase S. Osborn, Governor; inaugurated January 1, 1911.
2 Resigned Feb. 23, 1841. Elected senator Feb. 3, 1841.
3 Resigned March 3, 1847. Elected United States senator Feb. 2, 1847.
4 Resigned March 7, 1853. Appointed Secretary of the Interior by President Pierce.
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
FEDERAL OFFICIALS FROM CALHOUN COUNTY
Members of Congress.
24th Congress; Isaac E. Crary,1 Marshall, 1835-1836.
25th Congress; Isaac E. Crary,2 Marshall, 1837-1838.
26th Congress ; Isaac E. Crary,2 Marshall, 1839-1840.
30th Congress; Edward Bradley3, Marshall, 1847.
43rd Congress; George Willard, Battle Creek, 1873-1874.
44th Congress; George Willard, Battle Creek, 1875-1876. 56th Congress; Washington Gardner, Albion, 1899-1900.
57th Congress; Washington Gardner, Albion, 1901-1902.
58th Congress; Washington Gardner, Albion, 1903-1904.
59th Congress; Washington Gardner, Albion, 1905-1906.
60th Congress; Washington Gardner, Albion, 1907-1908. 61st Congress ; Washington Gardner, Albion, 1909-1910. J. Wright Gordon, Marshall ; United States Consul to Pernambuco. Abner Pratt, Marshall; United States Consul to Honolulu.
Charles T' Gorham, Marshall; United States Minister to the Hague. Charles T. Gorham, + Marshall ; Assistant Secretary of the Interior.
Charles Dickey, Marshall; United States Marshall for Michigan, 1861-1866.
Ira Mayhne, Albion; United States Collector of Internal Revenues.
Delegates to 1835 Constitution Convention.
Isaac E. Crary. Ezra Convis.
The delegates to this convention were elected April 4, 1835, in pur- suance of an act of the territorial council of January 26, 1835. Con- vened at Detroit, May 11, and adjourned June 24, 1835. The consti- tution as framed was adopted by the people in October, 1835, there being 6,299 yeas and 1,359 nays. It remained in force as the funda- mental law of the state until the constitution of 1850 went into effect.
Delegates to the 1850 Convention.
Isaac E. Crary. Milo Soule. William V. Morrison. John D. Pierce. Nathan Pierce.
The delegates to this convention were elected May 6, 1850. On the 3rd of June following, convened in Lansing, and on Angust 15th ad- journed. The constitution as framed by this convention was submitted
1 Delegate representing the entire Territory of Michigan.
2 Represented the whole State in Congress.
3 Died enronte to Washington. Never qualified.
4 Asst. Secretary nnder parts of administrations of both Grant and Hayes.
222
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
to the people on Nov. 5, 1850, and was adopted by a majority of 26,736 votes. It remained in force until the constitution of 1909 went into effect.
Delegates to the 1907-08 Convention.
Edwin C. Nichols, Battle Creek. Delos Fall, Albion.
The delegates to this convention were elected September 17, 1907. Convened at Lansing, October 22, and completed the revision March 3, 1908. The new constitution was submitted to the people November, 1908, and was adopted by a vote of 244,705 to 130,783.
STATE OFFICIALS FROM THE COUNTY
Lieutenant Governor: James Wright Gordon, Battle Creek, 1840- 1841.
Secretary of State: Washington Gardner, Albion, from March 20, 1894, to January 1st, 1899. First appointment by Governor John T. Rich, to fill vacancy.
State Treasurer : Victory P. Collier, Battle Creek, January 1871 to 1874.
Superintendents of Public Instruction: (Appointed under the con- stitution of 1835) : John D. Pierce, Marshall, July 26, 1836 to 1841; Oliver C. Comstock, Marshall, May 8, 1843 to 1845; Ira Mayhew, Al- bion, April 17, 1845 to 1849; Francis W. Shearman, Marshall, March 28, 1849 to 1850.
Superintendents of Public Instruction, elected under the constitution of 1850: Francis W. Shearman, Marshall, 1851 to 1854; Ira Mayhew, Albion, 1855 to 1858; Delos Fall, Albion, 1901 to 1904.
Members of the State Board of Education, appointed under the consti- tution of 1835: Isaac E. Crary, Marshall, March 29, 1850 to March 20, 1852.
Elected under the constitution of 1850: Isaac E. Crary, Marshall, Nov. 2, 1852, died during term of office; George Willard, Battle Creek, Nov. 4, 1856, for 6 years; William J. McKone,1 Albion, April 3, 1905.
Elected under sthe consitution of 1909: William J. MeKone, Albion, April 5, 1909, for 6 years.
Regents of the University : Isaac E. Crary, Marshall, March 21, 1837 to 1847; George Willard, Battle Creek, January 31, 1864 to December 31, 1865; George Willard, Battle Creek, January 1, 1866 to December 31, 1873; Victory P. Collier,1 Battle Creek, March, 1877; Victory P. Collier, Battle Creek, January 1, 1878 to December 31, 1885.
Commissioner of Labor Statistics: Joseph L. Cox,2 Battle Creek, April 29, 1897 to 1900.
Members of the State Senate (from 1835 to 1911 inclusive) : Charles Austin, Battle Creek, 1883, 1885; Arthur D. Bangham, Homer, 1901, 1903; Edward Bradley, Marshall, 1843; William H. Brockway, Albion,
1 Appointed to fill vacancy.
2 Appointed by the governor.
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
1855; Frank W. Clapp, Battle Creek, 1893, 1895; Victory P. Collier, Battle Creek, 1865, 1867; William Cook,1 Homer, 1875, 1877; Philip H. Emerson,2 Battle Creek, 1871, 1872, 1873; John C. FitzGerald, Marshall, 1869, 1870; George H. Freneh, Homer, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864; James Wright Gordon, Marshall, 1839; Charles T. Gorham, Marshall, 1859; Henry Ilewitt, Marshall, 1842; William F. Hewitt,3 Marshall, 1874; Albert C. Kingman, Battle Creek, 1909; Loren Maynard, Marengo, 1846, 1847; Perry Mayo, Battle Creek, 1887; Sands MeCamly, Battle Creek, 1839, 1840; John C. Patterson, Marshall, 1879, 1881, 1882; Nathan Pieree, Marengo, 1853, 1857, 1858; Abner Pratt, Marshall, 1844, 1845; Campbell Waldo, Albion, 1848, 1849.
Secretary, State Senate : Isaae W. Wilder, Marshall, 1855 to 1857.
Representatives of Michigan Legislature, who served from Calhoun county from 1835 to 1911, inclusive : Isaae C. Abbott, Pine Creek, 1863, 1864; Charles Austin, Battle Creek, 1881, 1882; John L. Balcombe, Battle Creek, 1851; John Barbour, Battle Creek, 1846; Joseph P. Beach, Battle Creek, 1865; William E. Bosley, Marshall, 1905; William Boyd, Albion, 1901; William If. Brockway, Albion, 1865, 1871, 1872; George I. Brown, Battle Creek, 1871, 1872; Chester Buckley, Battle Creek, 1857, 1858, 1863, 1864; Philo II. Budlong, Marshall, 1875; Abner E. Campbell, Battle Creek, 1848; James H. Campbell, Marshall, 1879, 1881, 1882; Frank W. Clapp, Battle Creek, 1875; Benjamin Clark, Albion, 1869, 1870; Darius Clark, Marshall, 1851; Hovey K. Clarke, Marshall, 1850; Henry A. Clute, Marshall, 1897, 1898; Ezra Convis,' Battle Creek, 1835 to 1836, 1837; Asa B. Cook, Marshall, 1857, 1858; Hervey Cook, Homer, 1840; William Cook, Homer, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864; Isaae E. Crary, Marshall, 1842, 1846; Will A. Crosby, Battle Creek, 1899, 1900; Miles S. Curtis, Battle Creek, 1889; Charles Dickey, Marshall, 1859; Andrew Dorsey, Homer, 1838; Daniel Dunakin, Homer, 1855; Alva D. Eldred, Tekonsha, 1885, 1887 ; Fenner Ferguson, Albion, 1849; John W. Fletcher, Marshall. 1877; William J. Foster, Battle Creek, 1901, 1903; George C. Gibbs, Marshall, 1839; Justus Goodwin, Burlington, 1839, 1843; Justus Goodwin, Union City, 1842, 1847; Henry C. IFall, Battle Creek, 1889; Moses Hall, Battle Creek, 1844; Talman W. Hall, Battle Creek, 1855; Jonathan Hart, Battle Creek, 1840; Patriek Hart, Battle Creek, 1893; Martin Haven, Albion, 1867; Andrew L. Hays, Marshall, 1845; Eben F. Henderson, Battle Creek, 1861, 1862; James Henry, Battle Creek, 1907, 1909; Frederick F. Iloaglin, Albion, 1887, 1889; Norton P. Hobart, Athens, 1849; John Houston, Marshall, 1875; Brad- ley P. IIndson, Marshall, 1853; Ilomer C. Hurd, Union City, 1855, 1861, 1862; Erastus IInssey, Battle Creek, 1850; Loomis IIutehinson, Cereseo, 1869, 1870; Riehard Keeler, Battle Creek, 1877; Edward P. Keep, Tekonsha, 1899, 1900; Newell J. Kelsey, West Le Roy, 1883; Wil- lard A. Knight, Battle Creek, 1905; Sands MeCamley,? Battle Creek, 1837, 1843; George R. MeKay, Marshall, 1865; Orlando Moffatt, Battle
1 Vice Lewis Durkee, deceased.
2 Resigned before extra session of '74 and succeeded by Wm. F. Hewitt.
3 Vice Philip H. Emerson, resigned.
4 Died February 27, 1837, and succeeded by Sands MeCamley.
5 In 1837, vice Ezra Convis, deceased.
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
Creek, 1849; James Monroe, Albion, 1857, 1858, 1859; Ephraim W. Moore, Battle Creek, 1897, 1898 ; Charles Olin, Marshall, 1841; John R. Palmer, Albion, 1853; John D. Pierce, Marshall, 1847, 1848; Nathan Pierce,1 Marengo, 1850, 1851 ; Abner Pratt, Marshall, 1863; Almon E. Preston, Battle Creek, 1857 ; Harvey Randall, Tekonsha, 1867; George Robertson, Albion, 1879, 1881, 1882; Lote C. Robinson, Eckford, 1903; Solon E. Robinson, Marshall, 1873, 1874; Rodolphus Sanderson, Battle Creek, 1865, 1873, 1874; James Sheldon, Albion, 1844; James F. Smiley, Mar- shall, 1895; Hiram Smith, Homer, 1848; Stephen F. Snyder, Marshall, 1883, 1885; Eli L. Stillson, Battle Creek, 1845; Henry W. Taylor, Mar- shall, 1847 ; John Wagner, East Le Roy, 1869, 1870; James Walkinshaw, Marshall, 1877; George Willard, Battle Creek, 1867; George E. Willitts, Marshall, 1907; James Winters, Pine Creek, 1853; Walter W. Wool- nough, Battle Creek, 1859.
Speakers of the House of Representatives, from 1835 to 1911, in- clusive: Ezra Convis, Battle Creek, 1835 to 1836; Isaac E. Crary, Marshall, 1846; Charles Dickey,2 Marshall, 1859.
Circuit Judges: William A. Fletcher, 1833-1836; Epaphroditus Ransom, 1837-1843; Alpheus Felch, 1843-1845; George Miles, 1846- 1850; Abner Pratt, Calhoun County, 1850-1857; Benjamin F. Graves, Calhoun County, 1857-1866; George Woodruff, Calhoun County, 1866- 1876; Phillip T. VanZile, 1876-1878; Frank A. Hooker, 1879-1893; Clement Smith, 1893-1901 ; Herbert E. Winsor, 1901-1903; Joel Hop- kins, 1903-1905; Walter H. North, 1906-1912.
Judges of Probate : James P. Greeves, 1834-1835; Henry P. Phelps, 1836-1844; Horace P. Noyes, 1845-1857; Joseph C. Frink, 1856-1860; Martin D. Strong, 1861-1864; Theron Hamilton, 1865-1867; Eden F. Henderson, 1868-1873; Charles Dickey, 1874-1878; George Ingersoll, 1879-1896; William A. Lane, 1897-1904; George W. Hamm, 1905-1908; William H. Porter, 1909-1912.
Sheriffs: H. C. Goodrich, 1837-1838; Loren Maynard, 1839-1842; Charles A. Church, 1843-1844; Charles Dickey, 1845-1848; Joseph Hollon, 1849-1850; James Monroe, 1851-1852; Artemas Doane, 1853- 1854; Harvey M. Nixon, 1855-1858; Marcus D. Crane, Albion, 1859- 1862; John Houston, 1863-1866; William C. Richfield 1867-1868; Wil- liam L. Busk, 1869-1870; William Richfield, 1871-1872; David R. Smiley, 1873-1876; John C. Barber, 1877-1880; Samuel I. Henderson, 1881-1882; Loral C. Kellogg, 1883-1884; John C. Barber, 1885-1888; Alonzo K. Prentice, 1889-1892; David Walkinshaw, 1893-1896; Wil- liam D. Stone, 1897-1898; H. R. Williams, 1899-1902; Charles B. Furner, 1903-1906; Frank A. Graham, 1907-1910; LaVerne Fonda, 1911- 1912.
County Clerks: Marvin Preston, 1837-1838; John A. VanHorn, 1839-1844; Edwin A. Hayden, 1845-1846; John Meachem, 1847-1850; Erastus Hussey, 1851-1854; Sammel S. Lacey, 1855-1860; Levi Mosher, 1861-1864; William Howard, 1865-1868; S. P. Brockway, 1869-1872; John E. Stetson, 1873-1876; Charles C. McDermid, 1877-1880; William
1 Took his seat Feb. 7. 1839, as successor to Calvin Smith, deceased.
2 Speaker pro tempore.
225
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
F. Neale, 1881-1884; Leonidas H. Brockway, 1885-1888; William J. Gregg, 1889-1896; Edward Austin, 1897-1902; Frank E. MeNary, 1903-1906; Ray E. Hart, 1907-1912.
Treasurers: Marvin Preston, 1833-1835; Sidney S. Alcott, 1836- 1842; Milo Soule, 1843-1848; Preston Mitehell, 1849-1852; J. B. Cook, 1853-1854; Preston Mitchell, 1855-1856; Silas W. Dodge, 1857-1862; Eden T. Henderson, 1863-1866; Henry W. Hemstead, 1867-1872; Earl Smith, 1873-1878; Wellington Bidwell, 1879-1882; George S. Woolsey, 1883-1886; James W. Wood, 1887-1890; Ephraim Marble, 1891-1894; Edwin N. Parsons, 1895-1896; Abram C. Wisner, 1897-1898; Guy Fiske, 1899-1902; Irvin A. Doolittle, 1903-1906; Frank J. Dibble, 1907-1910; George S. Barnes, 1911-1912.
Registers of Deeds: Randall Hobart, Marshall, 1835-1838; Ira Til- lotson, 1839-1846; Joseph C. Frink, 1847-1848; Robert B. Porter, 1849- 1850; Joseph C. Frink, 1851-1852; Stephen Gilbert, 1853-1854; George Ingersoll 1855-1856; F. S. Clark, 1857-1860; John T. Ellis, 1861-1864; Henry P. Cook, 1865-1868; William F. Neale, 1869-1872; Charles D. Holmes, 1873-1876; Stephen F. Snyder, Marshall, 1877-1882; Earl Smith, 1883-1886; Frank B. Snyder, 1887-1888; Albert H. Geddes, 1889-1892; Newell J. Kelsey, 1893-1896; Byron E. Cole, 1897-1898; C. H. Daskam, 1899-1902; Charles O. Ball, 1903-1906; C. II. Daskam, 1907-1912.
Proseenting Attorneys: Cephas A. Smith, 1833-1835; S. H. Pres- ton, 1836-1838; George C. Gibbs, 1838-1839; D. L. Johns, 1840-1841; Edward Bradley, 1842; George C. Gibbs, 1843-1845; William C. Row- ley, 1846-1848; Abner Pratt, 1849-1850; Hovey K. Clark, 1851-1852; Charles S. May, 1853-1854; W. H. Brown, 1855-1858; Levant C. Rhines, 1859-1862; John C. Fitzgerald, 1863-1866; Joseph C. Lodge, 1867-1870: James A. Miner, 1871-1874; Frank W. Clapp, 1875-1878; Fred M. Wadleigh, 1879-1882; William HI. Porter, 1883-1884; Joseph S. Noyes, 1885-1887; Ilerbert E. Winsor, 1888-1890; John E. Foley, 1891-1892; O. Seott Clark, 1893-1896; Leslie E. Clawson, 1897-1898; J. M. Hateh. 1899-1902; J. L. Hooper, 1903-1906; Louis E. Stewart, 1907-1908; H. W. Cavanagh. 1909-1910; R. H. Kirschman, 1911-1912.
From the organization of the county in 1833 to the adoption of the constitution in 1850 the proseenting attorneys were appointed by the governor; after that elected by the people.
Circuit Court Commissioners: George C. Gibbs, 1853-1854; George Woodruff, 1855-1860; Sidney Thomas, 1861-1862; George Woodruff, 1863-1866; James B. Greenough, 1863-1864; Joseph G. Lodge, 1865- 1866; James A. Miner, 1867-1870; Phillip H. Emmerson, 1867-1868; Rienzi Loud, 1869-1870; Moses D. Russell, 1871-1876; William D. Adams. 1871-1878; Herbert E. Winsor, 1877-1880; Eugene M. Con- verse, 1879-1882; M. D. Weeks, 1881-1882; Charles E. Thomas, 1883- 1884; Joseph S. Noyes, 1883-1884; Stephen S. Hulbert, 1885-1886; George H. Southworth, 1885-1888; George W. Mechem, 1887-1892; Jesse M. Hatch, 1889-1892; M. D. Weeks, 1893-1896: Geo. W. Nichols, 1893-1896; L. E. Clawson, 1894-1896; E. R. Lond, 1897-1900; Henry P. Lewis, 1899-1902; L. E. Stewart, 1901-1902; J. L. Hooper, 1903- 1906; Adrian F. Cooper, 1903-1904; J. Howard Green, 1905-1906; Vol. I-15
226
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
Walter H. North, 1907-1910; Walter L. Cornell, 1907-1910; Lawrence S. Page, 1907-1910; Albert N. Ford, 1911-1912; Charles O. Miller, 1911-1912.
Surveyors: Edwin A. Hayden, 1841-1842; Cyrus Hewitt, 1843- 1844; Cyrus Robertson, 1845-1846; Cyrus Hewitt, 1847-1848; Cyrus Robertson, 1849-1850; Cyrus Hewitt, 1851-1852; Cyrus Robertson, 1853-1854; Cyrus Hewitt, 1855-1858; Globe D. Lewis, 1859-1860; Loren Wing, 1861-1862; John Meacham, 1863-1864; David H. Miller, 1865-1866; William A. Sweet, 1867-1872; David A. Lichenor, 1873- 1876; Benjamin F. Wells, 1877-1880; Globe Lewis, 1881-1882; James M. Giffor, 1883-1884; Benjamin F. Wells, 1885-1886; George Marsh, 1887-1888; James M. Gifford, 1889-1890; Uriah M. Gifford, 1891-1892; Pratt A. Cortright, 1893-1904; Edward Hoyt, 1905-1906; Arthur H. Chase, 1907-1912.
Drain Commissioners: George Johnson, 1870-1871; William A. Sweet, 1872-1873; Otto L. Johnson, 1874-1875; George Marsh, 1875- 1876; J. H. Laberteaux, 1882-1883; B. F. Wetherbee, 1886-1888; A. D. Eldred, 1889-1891; Uriah Gifford, 1892-1893; Jacob Blind, 1893- 1897; Charles B. Mead, 1898-1901; Edward D. Dickinson, 1902-1910; L. Chester Williams, 1911-1912.
Commissioners of Schools: A. G. Randall, 1891-1897; Emma S. Willitts, 1897-1899; Ernest Burnham, 1899-1904; Frank D. Miller, 1904-1912.
Coroners : Granville Stowe, 1841-1842; James Winters, 1841-1842; Granville Stowe, 1843-1844; Wright J. Esmond, 1843-1844; Wright J. Esmond, 1845-1846; H. B. Tud, 1845-1846; James D. Potts, 1847- 1848; Charles Harkins, 1847-1848; Nathan Davis, 1849-1850; Aaron Ismond, 1849-1850; John Houston, 1851-1852; Silas Sheffield, 1851- 1852; Jolm Barbour, 1853-1854; Nathan Chidister, 1853-1854; David H. Miller, 1855-1856; Benjamin Chamberlain, 1855-1856; Tracey II. Swarthout, 1857-1858; Renben E. Waldo, 1857-1858; John F. Hinman, 1859-1860; Isaac Beers, 1859-1860; Alanson Graham, 1861-1862; George Mc Allister, 1861-1862; Isaac Beers, 1863-1864; Charles M. Bardwell, 1863-1864; Thomas Knight, 1865-1866; Ira Nash, 1865-1866; Moses B. Russell, 1867-1868; Willoughby O'Dononghue, 1867-1868; John S. Evans, 1869-1870; Alanson Graham, 1869-1870; Sylvester S. Granger, 1871-1872; Zeno Gould, 1871-1872; Peter Kocher, 1873-1874: Willough- by O'Donoughue, 1873-1874; W. O'Donoughme, 1875-1876; Tracey C. Southworth, 1875-1876; Morgan J. Alexander, 1877-1878; Tolman W. Hall, 1877-1878; Elias Hewitt. 1879-1880; Zeno Gould, 1879-1880; Elias Hewitt, 1881-1882; Charles Rowe, 1881-1882; Alex. H. Briggs, 1883-1884; William Howard, 1883-1884; Myron Joy, 1883-1884; Devillo Hubbard, 1883-1884; Alex. HI. Briggs, 1885-1886; Elias Hewitt, 1885- 1886; Elias Hewitt, 1887-1888; Alex. H. Briggs, 1887-1888; Thomas H. Briggs, 1889-1892: Elias Hewitt, 1889-1892; H. M. Merrill, 1893; Leon Gillett, 1893.
POPULATION AND PROPERTY VALUATION
Calhoun county ranks seventh in population, being surpassed by Kalamazoo, Bay, Houghton, Saginaw, Kent, and Wayne, in the order named.
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
Valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State board of Tax Commissioners in 1906, $42,937,800; as equalized by Board of Su- pervisors in 1906, $40,402,371 ; as equalized by State Board of Equaliza- tion in 1906, $41,000.000.
Percentage of state tax paid by county according to equalization of 1906, .02364.
Aggregate of state tax in 1910, $111,809.58.
In 1910, of all the counties in the state Calhoun was surpassed in ag- gregate of state tax only by Saginaw, $117,263.75; Kent, $299,976.93; Houghton, $381,788.81; and Wayne, $970,834.43.
POPULATION OF CALHOUN COUNTY (1837-1910)
1837
7,959
1874 35,655
1840
10,599
1880
38,452
1845
.15,769
188-4
41,585
1850
19,162
1890
43,501
1854
22,517
1894
47,472
1860
29,564
1900
49,315
1864
30,770
1904
.52,963
1870
36,569
1910
56,638
POPULATION BY TOWNSHIPS AND CITIES
Divisions
1864
1874
1910
Albion, Village and Township
2,251
2,614
734
City
5,833
Athens, Village and Township
1,032
1,307
1.491
Battle Creek, Township
1,078
986
1,064
Battle Creek, City
3,856
5,323
25,267
Bedford, Township
1,323
1,356
2,076
Burlington, Township
1,128
1,524
1,150
Clarence, Township
892
1,032
804
Convis, Township
945
1,009
749
Clarendon, Township
1,060
941
914
Eekford, Township
1,017
1,141
915
Emmet, Township
1,160
1,280
1,033
Fredonia, Township
869
984
720
Homer, Village and Township
1,173
1,772
1,803
Lee, Township
912
1.115
880
LeRoy, Township
1,194
1.207
1,046
Marengo. Township
847
1,253
1,029
Marshall, Township
1.076
953
648
Marshall, City
4.192
4.623
4.236
Newton. Township
957
891
856
Pennfield, Township
999
1,110
1.124
Sheridan, Township
1,487
1,687
826
Tekonsha, Township
1.040
1,547
1,407
30,488
35,655
56.638
Township
CHAPTER XV
FOUNDING OF MARSHALL
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF MARSHALL (BY MARY WHEELER MILLER) -LAND- MARKS OF MARSHALL (BY AMELIA FRINK REDFIELD) -THE CHOLERA SCOURGE (1832)-MARSHALL BANKS-MANUFACTURING IN MARSHALL -THE CALHOUN COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
The following articles relate mostly to matters connected with the early times of the village and city of Marshall which resulted in its firm establishment as a progressive municipality.
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF MARSHALL
By Mary Wheeler Miller
The accounts of the taking up of a wild, unoccupied region of ter- ritory, and the settlement of the same are ever of thrilling interest, yet how much deeper is the interest to us, if the story of how cultivated, intellectual men and women went into the wilderness, subdued the land, and made homes for themselves and their posterity, be the recounting of events in the lives of our own forbears, and that, to us, the region brought a civilized state by them, bears the hallowed name of "home."
Historically, the story of the settlement of Marshall over eighty years ago, is one of notable interest, the hardships and conditions of a life in the wilderness having been met bravely and courageously, by men and women whose distinguished traits made the town, for many years, the most important in the state outside of Detroit.
Because of the idea, prevalent ninety years ago, that Michigan was a land of swamp, unfit for settlement, the western tide of immigration had avoided its borders; it had even escaped the encumbrance of soldier bounty lands. The Territorial Governor, Lewis M. Cass, (term 1813-1831) did much to destroy the popular illusion regarding Mich- igan, and to his efficient administration is due the rapid settlement of the country after 1830. Under him two roads were opened across the territory ; the "Chicago Turnpike" which began at Detroit and termi- nated at Chicago and had been worked at government expense, and the "Territorial Road" which diverged from the Chicago road at or near Ypsilanti, passed directly west to the mouth of the St. Jo river
(FOOT NOTE. The territorial road is marked iu Marshall by a boulder placed by the Mary Marshall Chapter, D. A. R.)
228
229
IIISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
and had only been surveyed and marked. Both roads followed deep cut Indian trails, and over them came the immigrants to settle the new land.
Of the great beauty of Michigan in its virgineal state all early set- tlers agree. The Indians burned all underbrush every fall, and this kept the country like a vast park; at intervals the giant forest trees, shading a beautiful greensward, which, in the spring was covered with many hned flowers. It is said of Jabez Fitch and Littlejohn, that upon beholding the beauty of the scene for the first time, they knelt and offered a prayer to the God of the Universe.
It was in the summer of 1830 that Mr. Sidney Ketchum of Peru, Clinton county, New York, decided to visit the territory of Michigan. He was provided with letters of introduction to Gov. Cass, and landed in Detroit in August. Having obtained all possible information, he proceeded into the interior and at Ann Arbor procured the aid of two men who had some knowledge of the country. They went west over the Territorial Road, and at Jackson found several newly erected log houses. Pushing further west, they reached the junction of Rice creek with the Kalamazoo river. Here, having determined that both streams possessed good water power, and having bought up floating claims which might interfere with ownership rights, Mr. Ketchum located his claims. Because the land was not yet subject to entry, Mr. Ketchum arranged with a certain MeKinstry of Schoolcraft, for a commission of $75.00 to locate the land for him upon the opening of the land office in Monroe the following October. Mckinstry did locate these lands, Octo- ber 15th, 1830, but in his own name. Mr. Ketchum subsequently pur- chased them, the deed bearing date May 11, 1831.
Late in the fall of 1830 two young men, Isaac N. Hurd a civil engineer, and Calvin Smith a lawyer, were seeking in Calhoun county for a suitable location, and upon hearing that the lands at the junction of Rice creek and the Kalamazoo river had been located, they con- cluded that that would be a proper site for a county seat. They, to- gether with Hon. J. Allen, procured floating claims, and laid these claims on the map at a certain point between two eighties belonging to two different sections. This was the site of the old Calhoun county court house, now the West End Park. Sidney Ketchum, hearing of this, hastened back from the east, bought Allen's share in the pro- posed county seat, and then returned to bring his family ont to their new home.
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