USA > Michigan > Cass County > History of Cass county, Michigan > Part 2
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Lolland, Joslina.
17
Lybrook, Ilenley ('.
202
Lyle, Daniel.
Lybrook, Baltzer. .
.. between 360, 361
Lee, Ishmael ..
3.9
Miller, Hev. Adam ... ...
81
Met ool, Father ..
83
Morse, Dr. ( W.
101
Mulvane, Dr. P. I.
Me Master, Dr Hamilton S ..
10
Morgan, Dr. Charles .\.
Moor, Dr. Olis.
Mellvain. Moses
McOmber Fan lly.
Mosher Family
-. 202
Marsh, Austin C
:74
Morris, Samuel.
508
Mench' in, Hon. George lacing 300
Matthews. Warren ().
between 248, 249
Newton, llon, George.
fachnig 284
Beanchamp, James 11.
Bilderback, Wmn ..
facing : H
Bradt, John (*
Miller, Rev. Adam MeMaster, Dr. II. S
... ..... facing AU
... maeing 96
Marsh, Austin (.
Morris, Samuel between 264, 265
209
Matthews, Warren O .. .. between 392, 393
Meacham, Ilon. George
facing 300
Nixon, Mr. and Mrs. John.
between 218, 24++
Newton, llon. Mr. and Mrs. George.
facing 254
Norton, Pleasant.
.. faring 372
Norton, Levi lì.
.. facing :34
Ora, George B., residence of.
.facing 314
Olds, Milis.
facing 417
Putnam, Orlean ..
between i, 57
Puluam, L'zziel.
between ati,
Price. Rev. Jacob
facing
I'rindle, Dr. ('. P.
facing
Prindle. Dr. (. P., residence of the late.
.facing 1:12
Putnam. Hon. l'zziel, Jr ..
facing 20+
l'tcher, Mr. and Mrs. Slas A.
helween .132, 333
Parsons, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin.
... facing 352
Kedfeld, Hon. Alexander H
. between x8, x9
Republienn, office of. 107
Reed, S. T., portrait and residence .. facing 1x0
Rodgers, Mr. and Mrs. John, portraits and residence.
facmg 20x
Rodgers, Mr and Mrs. William A., portraits and residence .. bet. 216, 21; Redfield, Ilon. George. between 264, 2G.
Rodgers, George. facing 276
Rinehart Brothers .. 5. facing 304
Runkle. Mr. and Mrs. t'ool.
between 344, 317
Rider, Horatio W
.. facing :44
Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. Nathan .facing 30ti
- Reynolds, Ilon. Edwin W.
between +08, 409
Shurte, Isaac .. Sullivan, James.
between, 88
Smith, Judge Andrew J.
.between x8, x9
Sweetland, Dr. John B., portrait and residence.
.. between 2014, 105
School, Cassopolis Union
facing 164
Sebermerhorn, B. W.
between 184, 1KG
School, Dowagiac I'nion ..
Simpson, Mr. and Mrs. Moses W. .
Simpson, Mrs. Sarah H., residence of.
facing 220
Shanafelt. William H., residence of ..
facing :3x
Smith, Hon. Amus.
.. faring 60
Silver, Orren, residence of.
facing 268
Squier, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel (*
facing 5:2
spencer, E. R , residence of.
between 3.2. : 3
Shaw, James ...
Smith, Mr. and Mrs. George
facing : 2
Savage, John.
.between 392, :03
Sutton, Mr. and Mrs. l'olemon
facing 40%
Townsend, Gamaliel.
.. facing 56
Tompkins, Dr. 1 .. D.
Tice, Isaac T ...
Townsend, George J
facing ur;
Taylor, E. O., residence of ..
facing 330
Trultt, James M., residence of.
.helween 344, 345
Tharp, S. (
facing 36x
Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. J. Hubbard ..
facing 4te
Wells, Mr. and Mrs. II. B.
between 200. 201
Wright, Stephen 1)., portrait and residence.
facing 926
Wells, Mr. and Mrs. Homer, portraits and residence
facing 12x
Whitbeck, George, residence of. .between 328, 329
Zimmerman, Jacob 11.
.Jacing 318
BIOGRAPHICAL ..
Adams, John T
Atwell, Freeman J
Aldrich, Dr. Les !.
100
Allen, Dr. Jacob ...
Allison, C. C.
Adams, Thomas W
Anderson, Samuel F.
Andrews. G W.
Aldrich. Henry
Ashley, Rev. James ...
415
Bradford, Vincent 1.
Blackman, Daniel. ... .
Browu, Isaac
Bloodgood, Dr. James.
Bonine, Dr. E. ..
Bugbee, Dr. Israel (
1001
Bennett, William ]'.
17.
Banks, Charles G. Beekwith, Philo D) ..
1×0
Bowling, Shawther ..
.41
Berraft. I. S.
Bock, Nicholas ..
Beeso ), Ilon, Jesse Gi.
fac ng
Bucklin, William ]'
facing - 1
Bogne, Stephen ..
Tacing 441
Brady, Mr. and Mrs. James T
facing
Bacon, Hon. Cyrus ...
Bacon, Cyrus, Jr., M. 1).
.between
Bronson, O. P
Nixon, John
Beauchamp, Manlove (
Norton, Pleasant.
fae ng 372
100
Storey Mr. and Mrs. Ozial
facing :308
.facing :36
School, Marcellus I'nion
.facing 400
Turner, Hon. George B.
between 88, 89
facing 100
facing 1:1
Thomas, Sherwood, residence of ...
facing 314
Truitt, Peter, portrait and residence.
between 344, 345
Byrnes, Rey John. .
Brayton, Dr. Thomas.
Blakely, Dr. Thomas
200
Miller, George.
facing
Jaeing
Rickert, ('. (., residence of. ... facing :80
facing d4
.facing 212
between 1:4,
TOCE
('lark, Joseph B ...
Beebe, Abel ..
PACE
facing : 24
viii
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE.
PAGE.
Norton, Levi f) .. ..
Osborn, Dr. Leander ..
Smith, Joseph.
Oren, James
261
Shaw, Johu.
Osborn, Charles ...
316
Orr, George H
418
Olds, Mills. ............
X3
Price, Elder Jacob
99
l'enwell, Dr. Enos
100)
Phillips, Dr. H. H
10
Prindle, Dr. ('. 1'
Silver, Rev. Abiel
279
Silver, Orren Silver ..
249
Peck, William W
181
Peck, A. E ... .....
203
Palmer, Wm. K
221
Putnam, L'zziel ..
204
Putnam, Hon. I'zzici, Jr
240
Putnam, Orlean ...
333
Pitcher, Silas A ...
...
353 86
Redfield, Alexander II
96
Turner, Hon. George B.
94
Reshore, Frank H.
Talbot, John A ..
95
Republican Omce.
105
Robertson Dr. John.
17
Treadwell, Dr. A. R.
99
Treat, Dr. John.
100
Thorp, Dr. A. L.
103
Taylor, Dr. James 1).
אזו
Turner, S. A
178
Tietsort, John
facing 192
Tice, Isaac T ..
facing 256
Townsend, George J
317
Thomas, Sherwood
333
Taylor, Emery O
350
Truitt, Peter.
354
Rider. Horatio W.
379
Truitt, James M
378
Rickert, Charles ('
Thomas, J. Hubbard.
431
Reynolds, Hon. Edwin W ..
430
Rodgers. John.
facing 6-1
Shurte, Isaac ..
8
Sherman. Ehas B
88
Stuart, Charles E.
89
Sullivan, James ..
90
Smith, Ezekiel S
91
Shanahan, ('lifford
91
Smith, Judge Andrew J ..
92
Spencer, James M ...
95
Smith, Hlarsen 1).
96
Zimmerman, Jacob 11
facing 318
Starr, Joseph La.
Sampson, W. ...
389
Sweetland, Dr. John B ..
103
Stebbins, Dr. Edward Sawyer.
177
Shepard, James M.
.between 184, 1×5
Shermerhorn, B. W
202
Smith, Joel Il ..
.facing 212
Simpson, Moses W
243
Shanafelt, William H
facing 260
Smith, Hon Amos
10
Prindle, Dr. E. (
1×0
Squier, Daniel C
316
Storey, Ozial.
331
Shaw, James ..
352
Smith, George.
40-
Savage, John ...
between +08, 409 57 .between 56,
Townsend Gamallel.
90
Raymond, Dr. I. R.
Thompson, M. A
97
Tompkins, Dr. L. I).
98
Reed, S. T.
178
koot, Eber ..
179 200
Ross, Fred H.
.facing 20x
Rodgers, John.
between 216, 217
Rodgers, William A ......
275
Redfield, Hon. George
facing 276 3170,317h
Rinehart Bros
35
Runkle, ('ool
365
Robinson, Nathan
390
Tharp, & C
416
Townsend, George J.
Van Riper, Jacob.
Wright, J.
96
Wooster, Jobn
103
Wheeler, Dr. J. H
105
Wells, Dr. Charles P
between 200, 201
Wells, Hon. H. H.
239
Wells, Homer.
239
Wright, Stephen 1)
332
Whitbeck, George
99
100
1x
180
180
Spencer, Joseph facing 336
.facing
Sutton, Polemon
Parsons, Benjamin.
101
10
Ritter, George K.
Rodgers, George ..
between 408, 409
HISTORY
OF
CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
BY ALFRED MATHEWS.
CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY AND DESCRIPTIVE.
Plan and Scope of the Work-The Region Represented in the History Described-Topography of Cass County -- Actual Land Areas In the Several Townships-Varieties of Soil-Dimensions of the Principal Prairies and Lakes-The Pre-historic Garden Beds and Mounds.
THE pages of this volume are intended to present a complete and exhaustive history of Cass County, * and they contain incidentally many fragments of the history of Michigan and of the West. An effort is made, in many instances, not only to chronicle facts, but to explain their relations as causes and effects in the great chain of events through which a wilderness has been reclaimed and added to the mighty realın of civilization. In the first few chapters of the book, a chronological order of arrangement is maintained, but in subsequent ones which treat of subjects in the narrower field, which is our especial province, the topical form is resorted to for reasons which will be obvious to every reader. Following the brief description of the county and of the traces of a pre-historic population, which is given in this chapter, is a condensed account of the French exploration of the Northwest, written
with especial reference to " the St. Joseph country," which was the theater of many of the operations of La Salle and of other indomitable pioneers of France in the New World. This chapter is supplemented by one upon the contest of France and England for su- premacy in the West, and this in turn by one upon Michigan, under American rule, as Territory and State. Two chapters are devoted to the Pottawatomie occu- pation of the country, and contain much curious information in regard to this tribe, drawn from the most authentic sources. Then follows a chapter giving a synopsis of the titles to Michigan, an account of the survey and sale of lands and of the Indian treat- ies by which cessions of territory in Southwestern Michigan were made. The Carey Mission, founded near the site of Niles, in 1822, is brought into prom- inence as a cause and center of settlement. Succeed- ing this is a chapter entitled "The Advent of the White Man as a Settler," which, like each one of those that follow, pertains wholly to Cass County. The chapters preceding relate to the county only in part. The chapter on settlement is followed by a description of pioneer life, of cabin building, “ break- ing," the occupations of men and women, the perils and the discomforts they endured. This is followed by an account of the erection and organization of the county, its division into townships, the establishment of courts, the early meetings of the Supervisors and the erection of public buildings. The chapter is sup- plemented by a complete and carefully compiled roster of civil officers. Religious and educational matters, the Cass County bar, the medical profession, the press and internal improvements have each a place, and are considered at length. The history of the Under- ground Railroad and the Kentucky Raid is given in
"The county was named In honor of Lewis Caes, Governor of Michigan from 1813 10 1831, who, in the language of u hi torlan, "did more for the prue- perity of Michigan than any other man living or dead." Cass was born io Exeter, N. H., October 9, 1782. He erttied in Marietta, Ohio, about 1A(H1; Was H member of the Legislature, and Marshal of the State; came to Michigan in 1812 aa Cok Bel of the Third Regiment Ohle Volunteers; took a distinguiubed part in the war, and Was promoted to the rank of a Brigadier. In October, 1813, he was appolnted Governor of Michigan Territory by President Madison. This position he held for eighteen years advancing, by his wise and energetic administration, the material Interests of the Territory in a large degree. In July, 1831. ha was appointed, by President Jackson, Secretary of War. From 1836 to 1842, be was Minister to France. The Legislature of the State of Mich- Igun elected him to the United States Senate JB 1845-on office which he re- migned three years later, when he became the candidate of the Democracy lor the Presidency. After his defeat, lo 1849, the Legislature re-elected bilin to the Senate lur the expiration of his original term ile was succeeded by Zachurlah Chandler, the Republican party having come Into the ascondency. Presi-
dent Buchenao, however, appointed him as Secretary of State, and he re- maiued In that position until the early part of 1860, when he resigned. For the next six years ho rceided In Detruit, where he owned a largo property, jie died In July, 1866. Gon. Caps was an able lawyer, a polished and +loquent orator and an accomplished scholar. He possessed large executive ability, and great an- ergy of character. Je had the confidence and respect of the people, and life One social qualities, hia genial, courteous way and liberal hospitality, combined with bis intellectual worth and illustrious services, made him the most popular mon of his time In Michigan.
10
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
detail. Two very valuable chapters show what Cass County did in the war of the rebellion, and contain a roster of the soldiers enlisted, together with important facts concerning them. The Cass County Pioneer Society, the Agricultural Society and a compilation of statistics upon population, politics and productions, constitute the concluding chapters of the general his- tory. The history of the county is followed in its minor details in seventeen voluminous chapters upon the townships, the village of Cassopolis and the city of Dowagiac. In these will be found carefully made records of the early settlement, and accounts of all local institutions.
CASS COUNTY.
The region of which this history treats is one fair to look upon-beautiful alike to the eye of the husband- man and the lover of nature. It is true there are here no scenes of grandeur or the rugged picturesque, but all of the elements of gentler beauty are present, and they compose a panorama of varied and exquisite loveliness. The sparkling lakes, the undulating ex- panse of forest and cleared fields, the level prairies-in summer clothed with luxuriant growth which proclaims the fertility of the soil-combine to form a thousand fresh and beautiful landscapes. Everywhere the kindliness of nature to man is suggested. *
* * " Nature's hand.
Has showered all blessings on this fruitful land."
The county of Cass lies approximately between 41° 49' 5" and 42° 7' north latitude and 8º 48' and 9º 16' longitude west from Washington. The latitude of Cassopolis is approximately 41° 50' and the longi- tude 9° 2". The county is bounded upon the north by Van Buren County, on the east by St. Joseph County, on the south by the counties of Elkhart and St. Joseph, in the State of Indiana, and upon the west by Berrien County.
The county is composed of the Congressional town- ships Nos. 5, 6 and 7, and the fractional Town- ships 8, south of the base line, in Ranges 13, 14, 15 and 16 west, of the Principal Meridian. Were the southern townships full, the county would be a quad- rangle, measuring twenty-four miles upon each side, and containing 576 square miles, or 368,640 square acres. But the four southern townships are only a little more than half townships, and the area of the county is further lessened by the detachment of about two and a half square miles lying east of the St Joseph River. The actual area of the county is not far from 512 square miles. The area of a full Con- gressional township is thirty-six square miles, or 23,- 040 acres, but the actual land area is in each much less. The following is an accurate table* of the
amount of lands in each township of the county, deduc- tions being made for the lakes, etc. :
Actual Land Areas in Acres.
TOWNSHIPS.
Newberg
22,167.24
Marcellus. 21,394.77
North Porter
21,780.57
South Porter
.10,917.40
( Porter, total. 32,697.97)
Volinia.
.22,012.51
Penn ..
21,468.55
Calvin. 22,007.82
Mason ...
.12,945.66
Wayne.
22,775.10
La Grange
.22,698.02
Jefferson.
.22,126.16
Ontwa .. 12,351.70
Silver Creek
21,463.14
Pokagon.
22,353.04
Howard
22,639.50
Milton
13,482.48
Tolal, actual land area of county (in acres) ... 314,584.66
While exhibiting the general characteristics of a comparatively level region, the surface of the county presents, nevertheless, considerable variety. It is for the most part gently undulating, and in the northeast- ern part reaches that degree of roughness which may be denominated as " broken." The leading feat- ures may be classed under the headings of heavy timbered lands, oak openings and prairies. Three distinct varieties of soil are to be found in these divi- sions. That of the heavy timbered regions is a gravelly soil often mixed with sand or clay. The soil of the oak openings is usually light and sandy, but has proven far more productive under judicious culti- vation than the pioneers anticipated. Richest and best is the soil of the prairies. It is a black, sticky and soft soil, sometimes partaking of the character of clay. The subsoil is sand or gravel. It is commonly believed that the fertile soil of the prairies has been produced by the accumulation of vegetable mold-the product of centuries of annual growth and decay. There are various theories in regard to the causes which have produced the prairies or natural meadows which are so numerous in Southern and Southwestern Michigan, but the scientific students of nature offer in their writings nothing that is conclusive upon the subject. Cass County is rich in prairie lands-the mellow, warm soiled meadows which have for ages been in readiness for man's cultivation. The approxi- mate areas of the principal prairies are as follows :
Acres.
Peardsley's ..
4410
Youog's
2880
Litle Prairie Ronde.
1590
La Grange.
1580
Pokngon.
500
Baldwin's
500
McKinuney's ..
400
Sand Pokagoo
200
Gard's ..
100
Shavehead.
70
Total (about). 12,230
* Computed, as are also the areas of the principal pralrles and lakes given In this chapter, by Amos Smith, County Surveyor.
11
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
The foregoing are the areas as computed from the Government survey. Since the country has become thickly settled, and the timber lands surrounding the prairies cleared and carefully cultivated, it is often impossible to distinguish the original line of demarka- tion between timber land and prairie, and the size of the prairies has been consequently very cominonly overestimated.
Cass County is beautified with a fair proportion of the five thousand lakes of Michigan. One hundred and eighty lakes and ponds are designated upon the map in this work. The largest is Diamond Lake, the area of which is 1,083 acres (minus the area of the island which is 40.79 acres), and the most peculiar is Stone Lake-so named from the fact that its shores were originally very thickly strewn with stone, in the form of bowlders. This lake has no visible inlet or outlet; its water is very fine and very soft. That of Diamond Lake, only half a mile distant, is hard. It is supposed by many people that Stone Lake is one of the surface spots of the great subterranean stream by which Lake Superior is believed to discharge its waters into the Gulf of Mexico ; and, it is averred in support of this theory, that the rise and fall in Stone Lake corresponds closely with that of the "shining, big sea water." There is known to be a chain of soft- water lakes extending for a considerable distance across the country from north to south.
Following is a statement of the size of the principal lakes in the county :
Acres.
Diamond
1,083
188 Stone
Barren.
255
Baldwin.
352
Birch ..
802
Christianna
664
Dewey
239
Donell
274
Eagle ..
411
Fish
335
Indian 410
Lilly and Hutchings (surveyed together).
257
Long and Cloverdale.
295
Magician (less islands of twenty-five acres) 492
Mud ..
185
Shavehead
287
Chief among the water-courses of the county are the Christianna Creek (so named by the Rev. Isaac McCoy, founder of Carey Mission, in honor of his wife, in 1822), and the North and South Branches of the Dowagiac. The name of this stream is of Indian origin, and its meaning is "fishing water." The North Branch of the Dowagiac rises in Van Buren County and enters Cass near the center of the north line of Wayne Township. Its general course is south- westerly, and it flows through the townships of Silver Creek and Pokagon, and, crossing the county line near the northwest corner of Howard Township, it emptics into the St. Joseph River near Niles, in Berrien
County. The stream is sluggish, and of little conse- quence as a source of mill power. The country through which it flows is low, flat, and a considerable portion of it marshy. A very different stream is the south branch, which flows quite rapidly, and affords a valu- able water-power. It has its source in Marcellus Township, flows through Volinia and the north part of La Grange, makes short meanders in Pokagon and Silver Creek, and forms a confluence with the North Fork near the dividing line of these townships. Chris- tianna Creek rises in Penn, runs south westerly through Calvin into Jefferson Township, and thence southerly near the eastern line of Ontwa, beyond the southern boundary of the county, and to the St. Joseph, which it reaches near Elkhart, Ind. The drainage of the entire county is into the St. Joseph River, which, in addition to the streams we have described, receives the waters of two other small tributaries which rise in Cass County-Rock Creek, of Marcellus, and Mud River, of Porter.
Geologically, the county presents very little that is interesting. Its surface is composed entirely of " drift "-the mass of debris consisting of loose stone, gravel and sand, which covers nearly the whole of the Michigan Lower Peninsula. It is undoubtedly true that in Cass County this deposit is several hundred feet in thickness. Nowhere have the streams cut their way through this great diluvial deposit, and nowhere does rock appear in situ. Minerals exist only in very small quantities, and detached particles mingled with the drift.
ANCIENT REMAINS.
A description of Cass County would not be com- plete without an account of the pre-historic remains to be found within its limits-the relics of those races which passed away before the Indian came. The ancient works of Michigan may be classed as (1) tumuli and inclosures, universally ascribed to the race known as the Mound-Builders, and (2) the gar- den beds, which many students of archæology deem the work of another people.
The former class of works are found in greatest number, variety, size and perfection in the valleys of the Ohio, the Mississippi and their tributary rivers, while in Michigan and the lake region generally, they are comparatively few, and as a rule small. On the other hand, the class of ancient remains, commonly designated as garden beds, are found in Southern Michigan in their greatest perfection, and are prac- tically unknown in those parts of the country where the other forms of earthworks, the mounds und for- tifications most abound. Unfortunately, the garden beds (so called from their close resemblance to the beds of modern gardens), have nearly all disappeared.
12
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
The slightness of their elevation, and the fact that they were nearly always upon the richest lands, were circumstances conducive to their destruction by the plowshare.
When Cass County was first settled, various forms of ancient garden plats were to be seen upon the sev- eral prairies and in the woods. Many have been spared by the agriculturist until recent years, but at present there are few specimens remaining. As a rule, the garden beds were not over eighteen inches higb, and sometimes they were much less. The most common form of platting, appears to have been one similar to that now practiced in the vegetable garden, viz., that by which parallel beds of uniform length and breadth, separated by narrow paths, were arranged in blocks or parallelo- grams. There were many other forms, however, among them squares, circles, triangles and a wheel- shaped plat, consisting of a circular bed, with beds of uniform shape and size, radiating from it, all sepa- rated by narrow paths. A garden bed of this kind was discovered in Pokagon Township by Lewis Ed- wards, when he first came to the county.
The area covered by the beds was usually not more than three to five acres, but according to HIenry R. Schoolcraft, who wrote of them as "forming by far the most striking characteristic antiquarian monu- ments of this district of country," they have been found in some localities to extend over as many as three hundred acres of land.
By whom the garden beds were made inust forever remain a mystery. There are many people who believe them to have been the work of some large and ad- vanced tribe of Indians, who, centuries ago, occupied the Michigan Peninsula. The method of cultivation which they would indicate, however, had no parallel in the rude agriculture of the Indians known to his- tory, and the Indians possessed no knowledge of the origin of the ancient plats. The fact that the garden beds have seldom or never been observed in those regions where are found the most stupendous earth- works in the forms of tumuli and fortifications, is strong presumptive evidence that they were not con- structed by the Mound-Builders.
The tumuli or mounds in Cass County are of far greater interest, archæologically, than the garden beds, because of the character of their contents, which throw a faint light upon the nature of the lost race who reared them.
The Mound-Builders are supposed to have passed away from the region of the great lakes and the val- leys of the Mississippi and Ohio at least a thousand years ago. Investigators have discovered facts which support strongly that belief. A great majority of the
best authorities agree that the race, either pressed by a more warlike and powerful people or seeking a milder climate, emigrated, by a mighty movement, from their vast Northern domain to the South, follow- ing the valley of the Father of Waters, and event- ually penetrated Mexico ; that they there reached the height of their civilization and greatness, and devel- oped into the magnificent nation of Montezuma. That they were, while they dwelt in the North, a semi- civilized people, is unquestionable. The great extent of many of their works, their wide distribution geo- graphically and the contents of the mounds, in many cases, amply testify to this. They had settled habi- tations, carried on agriculture very extensively (as was a necessity with their vast population) and had a knowledge of the ruder arts, such as the manufacture of pottery and the making of cloth. There are evi- dences that they were a homogeneous people, and it is conjectured that they were under a single and a strong government.
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