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 39
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These, with others whose names might with propriety be hung in this cluster, together with the bankers who stand at the head of her solid and secure financial institutions, her merchants and business men, her enterprising press, her able bar and her well conducted schools, have caused Battle Creek to ontstrip many of her competitors of the earlier years and to place her in the forefront of the enterprising and growing cities of her class.
RAILROADS
Battle Creek is fortunate in having the service of two important trunk lines of railroad. The Michigan Central entered the city in December, 1845, and as it is one of the oldest so it is probably the most important of any that passes through our state.
The Chicago and Grand Trunk is another great traffic artery traversing the state from a northeasterly to a southwesterly direction. It puts Battle Creek in direct touch with the Atlantic seaboard at Portland, Maine, and through the empire city of Chicago, with the great west. A third line running from the southeast to the northwest gives the city a direet ontlet to the east through Toledo and by way of Lake Michigan to the northwest. A fourth line gives access to the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern and other systems to the south. Besides these steam lines, there is a third rail electric road, one of the best in the middle west, which with its connections gives hourly service from De-
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
troit through Battle Creek to Kalamazoo. An extension of the system is now being built from Kalamazoo to Grank Rapids, where it will con- nect with a line already in operation from the last named city to Muskegon. A second interurban electric line has been surveyed and the right of way secured from Battle Creek to Coldwater. It is hoped that the work of construction will soon be commenced. From every point of the compass these various lines give ways out from, as well as ways into, Battle Creek. Locally the people are served by a well man- aged electric urban line.
FIRE DEPARTMENT 1
The Battle Creek fire department is not without a history. The high character of its personnel from the beginning to the present writing, together with its great work at different times in saving both life and property, commend it to the favor of all our people.
The original Tempest No. 2, hand engine company, was organized Angust 2, 1856, while Battle Creek was yet a village of a few hundred people. On the day named, a public meeting of citizens was held to organize a fire company. Chester Buckley presided and L. II. Stewart acted as secretary. A temporary organization was perfected by the election of N. Fillis as foreman ; Victory P. Collier, afterward state treasurer for two terms, was assistant and C. H. Stewart, secretary. At a meeting of the company held August 12, the following were elected permanent officers and "Tempest" selected as the name of the new company : Foreman, John Nichols, founder and president of the Nichols and Shepherd Company; first assistant, John J. Wheeler; second as- sistant, George Hyatt; third assistant, W. G. Morehouse; secretary, N. Fillis; treasurer, Victory P. Collier.
From its organization to the outbreak of the Civil war, this company maintained a leading position among the volunteer fire companies of the state. The company took part and won victories in the old time state tournaments.
Among the names on the roll besides those already mentioned, we find W. W. Woolnough, Iong one of Battle Creek's most prominent citi- zens; Edwin C. Nichols, the present president of the Nichols and Shep- herd Company ; William H. Neal; David Shephard; George W. Hyatt; Thomas Hart; James C. Halladay ; P. H. Barnes; W. II. Green; S. S. French, who became a surgeon; L. H. Rhines, who rose from the rank of captain to that of colonel and fell at the head of his regiment in one of the many engagements before Petersburg, Virginia; George C. Barnes, who became a major of volunteers and gallantly gave his life in battle for his country ; Cornelius Byington, who also rose to the rank of major and while commanding his regiment in a desperate assault on the enemy during the siege of Knoxville was mortally wounded, falling into the hands of the enemy and dying a few days after; Captain George C. Knight; Lieutenants, Charles Galpin, George Hicks, M. Fish and Sergeants, Martin Wagner and Richard H. Freeleigh, all members of old Tempest No. 2.
During the Civil war No. 2 disbanded. It was not until 1872 that.
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
another volunteer company was organized with Charles II. Jeffers as foreman ; James Finley, first assistant; and Lewis Williams, second assistant ; secretary, 11. Phelps; and A. A. Ellsworth, treasurer. This company came to be regarded as the model fire company of the state. It repeatedly carried off the first prize at state tournaments, its victo- ries heralding the name of Battle Creek through the commonwealth.
On the eleventh of May, 1863, the common council appointed a committee with authority to purchase a Button and Blake steam fire engine. The committee reported they had selected such engine, weigh- ing four thousand four hundred pounds, which, with a hose cart and eight hundred feet of hose, the city could purchase for five thousand dollars. The committee was authorized to buy the same. In 1874 the
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Battle Creek, Mich.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Goguac Ilook and Ladder Company was organized and equipped with one thirty foot practice ladder, one scaling and two extension ladders and eight Babcock extinguishers.
This year, 1912, the equipment, strength, personnel and cost of the department is as follows: No. 1 Station-W. P. Weeks, chief; Charles HI. Ireland, assistant chief; D. P. Kibby, captain; N. J. Hicks, lieu- tenant ; and fourteen full paid firemen. One motor car for the chief; one combination chemical engine and hose motor car; one combination pumping engine, chemical engine and hose motor car; one 65 ft. aerial hook and ladder truck, three horse.
No. 2 Station-George W. Collins, captain ; A. V. Fuller, lieutenant ; four full paid firemen. One combination chemical engine and hose wagon, horse-drawn; one extra first size steam fire engine, 1,000 gallons per minute, horse-drawn.
No. 3 Station-E. E. Sager, captain: F. M. Huggett, lieutenant ; Vol. 1-21
ARATORS
THRESRING MACHINES
ASETCULTURAL WORKS
JEFTS & ADAMS PATENT LETERGION TABLER
VAR ..............
ADAMS & SMITH
HARTS FLOURING MILLS, THY HART "Proprietor
KELLOGG" FLOURING MILLS L.C.KELLOGG
FURNITURE, COFFINS &A LEGGETT& NUWE PLANING MATCHING & 7 SCHOLL 5
W. WALLACE. WOOLLEN GOODS
WARD' FLOURING MILLS J.SI.WARE, COMMISSION MERCHANT
J.C.KNIGHTS&BRO.
A.C. ARNOLD.
JONES, LOCKWOOD& LAINT
DOORS. SASH. BLINDS.
WOODPUMPS & WATER PIPE FONCE, DETA SUCTION PVRMS
DOORS, SASH & BLINDS
Pak Faster Surowsắc
E.A. GARDER.
& STEIGKS -----
MILLS & MANUFACTORING ESTABLISHMENTS of the City of BATTLE CREEK. CALROUR CO MICH 1861
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IHISTORY OF CALIIOUN COUNTY
three full paid firemen. One combination chemical engine and hose wagon, horse-drawn.
No. 4 Station-W. HI. Fisher, captain; R. B. Burnham, lieutenant ; three full paid firemen. One combination chemical engine and hose wagon, horse-drawn; one third size steam fire engine, 500 gallons per minute, horse-drawn. Gamewell Fire Alarm system with 92 street boxes; 10,000 feet 216 inch cotton rubber lined fire hose. The yearly maintenance of the department $40,000.00.
BATTLE CREEK AND ITS MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
"The village of Battle Creek was first surveyed in 1835 by General Ezra Convis assisted by Jolin Meachem, though no regular plot was made from that survey. During this year Messrs. Joseph, Abraham and Isaac Merritt and Jonathan Hart purchased the interest of General Convis and the year following, in conjunction with Sands MeCamley, engaged the service of Samuel D. Moore, a practical civil engineer to re-survey the village and make a plot of the same, which was accordingly done." In 1837 the community at Battle Creek contained an estimated population of four hundred. At that time it had six stores, two taverns, two saw mills, two flouring mills, two machine shops, one cabinet fac- tory and two blacksmith shops. There was an air of thrift and enter- prise about the village that gave promise of a future. In 1850 the first charter was obtained and Battle Creek became an incorporated village. William Brooks; Charles Mason, two years; Edward Cox, M. D .; R. T. Merrill, two years; Chester Buckley, two years; Jonathan Hart; Leander Ethridge, appointed the same year to fill the vacaney occasioned by the death of Mr. Hart, served as presidents. During the same time the office of clerk was filled by Isaac C. Mott; Dwight May ; Leonard H. Stewart, two years; Charles S. Gray, resigned July 13, 1854; Eli L. Stillson, appointed to fill vacancy ; Joseph Dodge; William F. Neal ; Cornelius Byington and William F. Neal.
BATTLE CREEK A CITY
Such was the growth, development and prospects of the town that in the winter of 1858-59 a public meeting was called to consider the advisability of procuring a new charter and adopting a city government. The proposition was regarded favorably and a committee consisting of Leonidas D. Dibble, Myron II. Joy and Walter W. Woolnough was appointed to draft a charter for the city.
There seems to have been a considerable difference of opinion as to what name the city should bear. There is a legend that in the long ago two powerful tribes of Indians fought a bloody battle on the banks of the stream flowing through Battle Creek near where the city is now located. So sanguinary was the contest that the waters of the river were stained with the blood of the warriors. Another seemingly well authen- ticated story is that one of the earliest surveying parties in this section had an encounter at this point with some Indians in which the blood of the aborigines flowed quite freely, but that the whites were so alarmed
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
that they left their work of surveying unfinished and hurried to Detroit, followed by the aggrieved Indians where both parties laid their case before Governor Cass leaving to that astute, but withal just official, the task of settling the difficulty to the satisfaction of both parties. What- ever of truth there may be in legend or story, certain it is that the river on which Battle Creek is located was known to the children of the forest as Waupokisko, which signifies in the Indian tongue "bloody river" or "river of blood." The honorable committee which drafted the city char- ter recommended that the Indian name rather than its English transla- tion be given to the new city. The recommendation of the committee was submitted to a vote of the people and all but sixty registered in favor of giving the city its present name.
The fifty-three years of Battle Creek's existence as a city have been years of growth, development and progress gratifying to the whole
Photo by J. H. Brown
OLDEST BUILDING IN BATTLE CREEK First stood on Monument Square; has been moved several times
county. By the census of 1910 the population was 25,267. The old city hall built nearly a half century ago is soon to be abandoned for a new structure to be erected at the intersection of Division and Marshall streets, at a cost of about $200,000.00. The county has an alternate circuit court held in the city of Battle Creek, which is presided over by Judge Walter H. North. Its municipal court rooms are at this time in the old Ward building. This court is presided over by Justice John C. Davis and Justice Maxwell B. Allen, with Charles R. Young as clerk. The city is supplied with water from Goguac lake. The arc and cluster lighting system is used with admirable effect. The gas plant and the electric light plant by which the homes, public buildings and streets are lighted are owned by private corporations. The city has about twelve miles of brick pavement and thirty-one and one-half of sewer.
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
Goguae lake and park and the MeCamley park are popular and much frequented resorts. The Post Theater and the United States postoffice buildings are reeent but much needed improvements.
The first election under the city charter was held in April, 1859, and the following gentlemen have served as mayors and recorders, re- spectively, during the intervening years :
Mayors-E. W. Pendill, 1859; E. W. Pendill, 1860; E. W. Pendill, 1861; Alonzo Noble, 1862; Chester Buckley, 1863; E. W. Pendill, 1864; Talman W. Hall, 1865; Theron II. Traey, 1866; Erastus Hussey, 1867; William Wallace, 1868; Thomas Hart, 1869; Thomas Hart, 1870; Nel- son Eldred, 1871; George N. Wakefield, 1872; Edward Cox, 1873; Edward Cox, 1874; Vietor P'. Collier, 1875; Charles Austin, 1876; Charles Austin, 1877; James L. Whitcomb, 1878; C. R. Thompson, 1879; Edwin C. Nichols, 1880; George E. Howes, 1881; William C. Gage, 1882; Simeon S. French, 1883; Simeon S. French, 1884; Frank M. Rathbun, 1885; Henry C. Hall, 1886; Henry C. Ilall, 1887; Henry C. Ilall, 1888; James Green, 1889; John W. Bailey, 1890; Fred M. Wadleigh, 1891; Joseph L. Cox, 1892; A. S. Parker, 1893; A. S. Parker, 1894; J. II. Mykins, 1895; Frank Turner, 1896; A. T. Metcalf, 1897; M. S. Curtis, 1898; E. Z. Moore, 1899; L. M. Gillette, 1900; L. M. Gil- lette, 1901 : Fred H. Webb, 1902; Fred H. Webb, 1903; Frank W. Clapp, 1904; George S. Barnes, 1905; George S. Barnes, 1906; C. C. Green, 1907 : C. C. Green, 1908; John W. Bailey, 1909; John W. Bailey, 1910; Thos. Zelinsky, 1911; Thos. Zelinsky, 1912.
Recorders-William F. Neal, 1859; William F. Neal, 1860; Paul Geddes, 1861; II. H. Hubbard, 1862; H. H. Hubbard, 1863; Paul Geddes, 1864; II. II. Hubbard, 1865; II. H. Hubbard, 1866; H. II. Hubbard, 1867; II. II. Hubbard, 1868; Paul Geddes, 1869; C. Il. Ilod- skin, 1870; Charles S. Gray, 1871; Charles S. Gray, 1872; Charles S. Gray, 1873; M. II. Neale, 1874; Charles S. Gray, 1875; Charles S. Gray, 1876; Loyal C. Kellogg, 1877; Loyal C. Kellogg, 1878; Alfred H. Chase, 1879; M. II. Neale, 1880: Loyal C. Kellogg, 1881; Loyal C. Kellogg, 1882; Ilenry A. Whitney, 1883; Hlenry A. Whitney, 1884; Henry A. Whitney, 1885; Henry A. Whitney, 1886; C. R. Thompson, 1887: C. R. Thompson, 1888; C. R. Thompson, 1889; C. R. Thompson, 1890; C. R. Thompson, 1891; C. R. Thompson, 1892; C. R. Thompson, 1893; C. R. Thompson, 1894: C. R. Thompson, 1895; C. R. Thompson, 1896; A. B. Simpson, 1897; Il. A. Whitney, 1898; George W. Hamm, 1899; George W. Hamm, 1900; George W. Hamm, 1901; George W. Hamm, 1902; George W. Hamm. 1903; George W. Hamm, 1904; Thos. A. Thorne, 1905; Thos. H. Thorne, 1906; Thos. HI. Thorne, 1907; Thos. II. Thorne, 1908; Thos. H. Thorne, 1909; Thos. H. Thorne, 1910; Thos. H. Thorne, 1911; Thos. H. Thorne, 1912.
BATTLE CREEK POSTOFFICE (1877-1912)
The article on the postoffice, which appears in another chapter, gives its general history, but for the purposes of comparison and showing the remarkable growth of the city in postal business, we submit the re-
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
port for the year ending April 1, 1877, and the report for the year ending June 30, 1912.
1877
1912
Postal receipts
$13,880.51
$194,377.53
Expenses, including postmaster's salary
6,453.97
76,314.75
Net postal receipts
7,426.54
118,082.78
Number of money orders issued.
3,760
49,107
Amount for money orders issued.
$42,212.43
$337,770.40
Fees on money orders
436.65
3,164.53
Total receipts, money order department
42,648.48
340,934.93
Number of registered letters originally
dispatched
525
12,268
Number of packages deposited
1,568
4,381
Registered letters and parcels received.
3,126
22,396
Number of officers and employes.
5
71
Officers in 1877-William Wallace, postmaster; J. Donald Ferguson, assistant postmaster; John K. Lothridge, Miss Alice Wallace, and Philo D. Ferguson, mailing clerks.
Officers and chiefs of divisions in 1912-Miles S. Curtis, postmaster ; J. Donald Ferguson, assistant postmaster; Charles S. Jones, superinten- dent of mails; Frank Zang, superintendent of city delivery; Freeman Jeffers, superintendent money order division; Geo. Hamilton,, superin- tendent of registry and postal savings division; Earl Minor, superinten- dent of stamp division; Ernest Willbur, superintendent of general delivery.
The office force is divided as follows: Office force proper, including postmaster and assistant postmaster, 27; city letter carriers, 26; rural letter carriers, 11; mail messengers, 2; special delivery messengers, 2; janitor and firemen, 3; total, 71.
POSTMASTERS (1832-1906)
By William H. Mason
The following is a complete list of postmasters at Battle Creek, giv- ing date of appointment and the presidents, under whom they served. The office was originally established May 7, 1832, and was called Garn- sey, with Samuel Foster, postmaster. Mr. Foster served until September 18, 1832, when D. G. Garnsey was appointed. Previous to this it was called Waupakisco. May 8, 1834, Nedabiah Angell was appointed post- master and the name of the office was changed to Battle Creek. The above men served under Andrew Jackson, then followed:
Sands McCamley, March 23, 1835, Jackson and Van Buren.
John L. Balcom, June 15, 1841, Harrison and Tyler.
Alonzo Noble, April 9, 1845, Polk.
Homer Marsh, February 28, 1849, Taylor. Leonard H. Steward, March 22, 1849, Taylor.
Alonzo Noble, April 12, 1853, Pierce.
Wm. S. Pease. June 14, 1858, Buchanan.
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
George Mead, August 25, 1858, Buchanan.
William M. Campbell, March 1, 1859, Buchanan.
George Mead, July 25, 1860, Buchanan.
Tolman W. Hall, March 27, 1861, Lincoln.
Edward Van Demark, October 5, 1866, Johnson.
Chandler Ford. March 28, 1867, Johnson.
James S. Upton. July 8. 1869, Grant.
Digby V. Bell, May 19, 1871, Grant.
William Wallace, November 4, 1871, Grant, Hayes, Garfield and Arthur.
John W. Fletcher, June 23, 1886, Cleveland.
William II. Mason, June 2, 1890, Harrison.
Charles E. Thomas, June 16, 1894, Cleveland.
Frank H. Latta, July 7, 1898, MeKinley, Roosevelt.
Miles S. Curtis, June 26, 1906, Roosevelt, Taft.
Photo by J. H. Brown.
RURAL MAIL CARRIERS, BATTLE CREEK
From this it will be seen, that, while Sands McCamley was the second postmaster of Battle Creek, Nedabiah Angell was the first. But there was a postoffice here May 7, 1832, originally called Garnsey, till May 8, 1834, or just two years, during which time Samuel Foster and D. G. Garnsey served.
City delivery service was established July 1, 1886, with four letter carriers. There are now employed 26 letter carriers, six of them being mounted.
Rural delivery service was established April 2, 1900, with one mounted carrier. There are now employed 11 rural carriers, all of the territory adjacent to Battle Creek within the radins of six to eight miles now being served by these carriers.
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HISTORY OF CALIIOUN COUNTY
In 1870 there was a total of five employees in the office, including the postmaster and assistant, where now 28 are employed.
In 1904, Hon. Washington Gardner, congressman from this district, secured an appropriation of $110,000.00 for a federal building. Mr. Gardner later secured an additional appropriation of $19,500.00, with which to purchase additional grounds, making a total of $129,000.00. The new federal building was opened to the public May 5, 1907.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF BATTLE CREEK By Eva Warriner
Battle Creek is proud, and justly so, of the high reputation she has earned for providing the most advanced educational facilities for her youth. From the first, the people have afforded the best means possible, and the condition of the schools at present shows that this interest has been kept in the foreground and engaged the attention of the best citi- zens, and she has a system unsurpassed by a city of its size in the state.
The first school for the early settlers of Battle Creek was opened under the old territorial law: "Every township, containing fifty in- habitants or householders shall employ a schoolmaster of good morals to teach children to read and write, and to instruct them in the English and French languages, as well as orthography and decent behavior." This school was outside the present city limits on Goguac Prairie, in an abandoned grocery building. It was a small, one story structure, rudely built of oak logs. The roof was composed of shakes, held in place by long poles laid lengthwise; the floor was of puncheons. There was a fireplace with a stiek chimney outside; one window; and one door; which swung upon oaken hinges and had a latchstring. The logs were chinked. If the building was crude, the furniture was more so. The desks ( ?) were broad boards resting on pegs which were driven into the logs about three feet from the floor, and rough boards on pegs formed the seats. There were no blackboards.
A few books, slate and pencil, and a homemade writing book of fools-cap paper comprised the equipment of the scholar; a ruler, whip, penknife and brains, that of the teacher. School was called by rapping upon the window sash with a book.
The first school district within the city limits was organized in 1834, embracing twelve sections and known as, District No. 3, Township of Milton. Sixty dollars was raised by tax and a log house built on the corner of East Main and Monroe streets. This answered the purpose for three years only, when the numbers, rapidly increasing by the ar- rival of settlers, a larger five hundred dollar building was erected on Jackson street (the old wood market). This building would now be call- ed "a social center." It was used as a meeting-house for all denomina- tions and for public meetings of the citizens. In 1840 a library was added and resolutions adopted to have school through the academic year.
The first high school was established in the early forty's by Mr. and Mrs. Nichols. This was for young ladies and had an attendance of fifteen or twenty. The curriculum covered, besides the ordinary branches, music, painting, drawing and botany.
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
In 1844, feeling that district and select schools were inadequate to meet the wants of the community, the active and liberal friends of education started the project of a union school and began to canvass the subject with determination. They were, however, met by strong op- position from those, who not realizing the importance of such a system, preferred the old district system with its rate bill. The large number of children seemed to demand action in the matter, the subject was constantly agitated, and finally a plan was adopted, 1847.
The schools under this new plan were held in hired apartments in different places and known as, Union School District, of Battle Creek, Emmett and Bedford, being composed of fractional parts of these districts; in 1859 the name was changed to Union Graded and ITigh School.
NEW HIGHI SCHOOL, BATTLE CREEK
In 1850, a fine, three-story brick building, old No. 1, which with the two acres on which it stood, cost $5,500, was opened. It was forty by sixty feet, there were three departments with two teachers in cach, an enrollment of four hundred thirty-six pupils, who furnished their own desks and chairs. On account of its size and grandeur the struc- ture was known as The Capitol.
In 1870, the needs of the community having outgrown the Old Capitol, although there were four three-room buildings in the different wards of the city, a large brick and stone $90,000 building was erected upon the old site. This was one of the most complete school buildings of the time, having rooms for library, museum and laboratories. It is still in use and accommodates about one thousand grade pupils. It has been recently remodeled and modernized.
On the Old Capitol grounds, which were enlarged by purchasing adjoining property, is the pride of the city-the new high school building,
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
which was completed and opened September, 1909. It is one of the most beautiful and commodious, the most completely equipped school building in the state. No expense was spared in obtaining the best possible furnishings and apparatus for each line of work. Spacious laboratories with adequate facilities for study of the sciences, a science lecture room, which, with stereopticon and slides is open to the use of clubs and societies in the city of an educational nature, Nature Study Club, Conversational Club, etc. Reading rooms and department libraries for history and literature classes; museum, aquarium, vivarium, con- servatory for biology; revolving tower, with the necessary instruments for astronomy, are only a part of provision made for thorough work.
The departments for domestic science and domestic art are also fully up to date.
'The gymnasium, with track, baths, lockers, apparatus, appeals to the boys, girls and teachers alike.
Excellent records in debating, oratorical and athletic contests are made by the students, who after graduating, whether in college, pro- fessional or business life have given the city cause to be proud of their achievements.
The enrollment was seven hundred and eighty in 1911-12, and the faculty numbering twenty-one.
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